Western Artist Left a Permanent Legacy East Mountain Water Battle Ends

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 5 • MAY 2021 • FREE IVEN

East Mountain water battle ends D ILL

while statewide concerns remain —B ~BILL DIVEN A section of Albuquerque’s East Mountains, defined as the Sandia Basin, has a lot in common with Placitas. For one, residents live atop a fractured and complex geology and largely rely on groundwater for domestic and livestock uses. That complexity makes it difficult to forecast the decline in water levels in the Sandia Basin, although a consultant’s study for the Office of the State Engineer (OSE) showed average declines exceed- ing current guidelines. Both areas rely on surface moisture, snow in particular, to recharge groundwater, although the complex geology affects what water goes where. The state’s history of periodic severe droughts, combined with climate-change prediction of shorter winters with less snow in the Sandia Mountains, adds to residents’ concerns about the future of their aquifers. The Sandia Basin, including Tijeras and Cedar Crest, covers four-hundred square miles, from south of Interstate 40 to the northeast corner of Bernalillo County, abutting Torrance, Santa Fe, and Sandoval counties. Placitas is in the adjacent and significantly larger Rio Grande Basin. What the Sandia Basin has that Placitas doesn’t is twenty years of community opposition, nearly 12 of those years in court, over a proposal to develop 8,046 acres of a ranch for 4,024 homes, commercial sites, and two nine-hole golf courses. Central to that was tapping up to 350 acre-feet of groundwater annually— about 114 million gallons—although with water from other local sources the developer planned to use about twice that much. The application by a Nevada company to “appropriate” the water was initially denied by one state engineer, saying water in the basin already was fully appropri- ated. After a change of administrations in Santa Fe, a new state engineer spoke in favor of the application. Ultimately a District Court judge late in 2019 denied the application as “being inconsistent with applicable principles of conservation” and its significant threat to Edmond “Ed” DeLavy existing water rights. The case remains on appeal over how much the Nevada company owes the opposition for legal costs. Then in March, current State Engineer John D’Antonio Jr. ordered the Sandia Western artist left a Basin closed to further appropriations. In the order he cited the December study by consultant Tom Morrison, a professional engineer and former chief of the OSE permanent legacy Hydrology Bureau. ~BILL DIVEN The order also covers a roughly two-by-seven-mile piece of the Rio Grande Basin directly north in Sandoval County, taking in the community of La Madera. Carpenter and artist Edmond “Ed” DeLavy was looking for a The closure still allows for new and replacement domestic and livestock wells and peaceful and somewhat isolated place to land a few years after transfers of existing water rights. serving as an Army surgical technician in North Africa and Europe While the judge’s ruling and the OSE closure order don’t directly affect Placitas, during World War II. they do point toward more statewide regulatory oversight, expanded technical The war interrupted his budding career as an illustrator of west- research, and growing public concern with implications for future development ern stories working for a publisher of dime novels, magazines, and decisions. pulp fiction in New York City. Fascinated by the West after that “There are some new efforts on the part of the state, New Mexico Tech, and the 1947 trip, he returned to New Mexico in 1959, stopping at what state engineer’s office to get a better handle on the resource and the groundwater was then the Coronado State Monument across the Rio Grande levels and decline rates,” said hydrologist Reid Bandeen. “It might be time to take from Bernalillo. another look at those for Placitas.” Already widely known as a talented illustrator, DeLavy’s second Bandeen, who founded Truchas Hydrologic Associates, Inc. in Placitas in 1999, visit led, in the decades ahead, to a featured and unplanned role in testified as an expert witness for the opposition in the Sandia Basin litigation. historic preservation in Sandoval County. The go-to document for understanding the water beneath Placitas has been DeLavy had found a place to his liking, Martha Liebert, past Hydrogeology and Water Resources of the Placitas Area Sandoval County, New president of the Sandoval County Historical Society told the Mexico, published in 2000 and updated in 2008. The authors, Peggy Johnson with Signpost. But he also was about broke, she added. the state Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources and Andrew Campbell of New Here, John Sinclair, a published author of Western fiction Mexico Tech, relied on past reports and their fresh research to produce a nearly and superintendent of the Coronado monument, enters this saga. two-hundred-page report mapping surface water, the underlying geology, and the Sinclair pointed to nearby land, divided into two-and-one-half-acre potential availability and quality of groundwater. parcels, designated for veterans to homestead under the last gasp of As part of their work they studied more than three-hundred private wells, two- a law that first benefited Union Civil War soldiers. dozen springs, and sources of surface water. Among their findings were isolated All Ed had to do within five years was build a house, move in, aquifers, water flowing between some aquifers, a high reliance on infiltration from and the place would be his. snowmelt and rain and some groundwater levels rising after the 1995-96 drought “So he did,” Liebert said. “He lived in (Albuquerque) Old Town that caused alarm as wells began drying up. —continued on page 4 —continued on page 5

Find the Signpost online at www.sandovalsignpost.com • Mailed subscriptions are available PAGE 2 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Up Front 1 Health 18 Youth 26 Election 10 Arts 20 Animal News 26 Around Town 12 Calendar 22 Animal Prints 28 Real People 15 Time Off 23 Classifieds 29 Night Sky 16 Gauntlet 25

MAIL: Signpost, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043 PHONE: (505) 867-3810 WEBSITE: www.sandovalsignpost.com EMAIL: [email protected] CALENDAR: [email protected] ADVERTISING: [email protected] DEADLINE: 20th of each month DROP BOX: Inside The Merc, at Homestead Village, 221 Hwy. 165, Placitas, two miles east off I-25 Exit 242.

SIGNPOST STAFF: PUBLISHER: Belknap Publishing Inc. EDITOR/CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Barb Belknap SIGNPOST EDITOR/BUSINESS MANAGER: Ty Belknap NEWS EDITOR: Bill Diven SUBSCRIPTIONS COPY EDITOR/PROOFREADER: Evan Belknap NIGHT SKY FEATURE WRITER: Charlie Christmann RECEIVE A MAILED COPY MASTHEAD & DESIGN SUPPORT: Gary Priester MAY OF THE SIGNPOST TO WEBMASTER: Bunny Bowen SPECIAL! CARTOONIST: Rudi Klimpert (in memorium) YOUR HOME EACH MONTH Second AD SALES & DISTRIBUTION: Signpost office staff Pair Please mail your address 40% OFF Sandoval Signpost is published monthly by Belknap and check for $35/year to: with Publishing, Inc, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043. SIGNPOST, purchase of Bulk postage is paid at Placitas, NM. As a local newspaper of general inter- frame & est to residents of Placitas, Bernalillo, Corrales, Rio Rancho, and other lenses areas of southeastern Sandoval County, we invite readers to submit stories, P. O. Box 889 Blue Light from Smartphones, Tablets and Computer Screens letters, poetry, and photographs of artwork for publishing consideration. We Placitas, NM 87043 has been proven to cause Visual Fatigue, Eye Disease, and Sleep welcome advertising of interest to our readership area. Disruption. Dr. Diedra Casaus at The Vision Store in Bernalillo introduces BluTech® Lenses to help protect our Patients from Blue Ad and submission deadline is the twentieth of the month prior to the or call the office at 505-867-3810 Light. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment and publication month. learn more about BluTech Lenses and the dangers of Blue Light. This issue of the Sandoval Signpost has been mailed to every home in to pay by phone or Placitas—2,700 direct-mail—plus approximately 1,800 direct-mail to 505-771-3937 for further information. Bernalillo. An additional 1,000 are delivered for free pickup at over thirty Dr. Deidra Casaus, Board Certified Optometric Physician locations in the Placitas-Bernalillo-Corrales-and southeastern Sandoval Voluntary subscriptions from 160 Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo County area, totalling 5,500 copies. Placitas residents Copyright © 2021, by Belknap Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Call for an appointment today! Reproduction without permission is prohibited. The opinions expressed in are appreciated. www.thevisionstorenewmexico.com articles appearing in the Sandoval Signpost are those of the individual Thank you. authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publishers. The Sandoval Signpost is printed with soy ink on recycled newsprint.

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Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 3 Celebrating 25 Years as a Finanncial Advisor

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From page 1—Water UP FRONT The report also noted the population of Placitas grew about 85 percent during the 1970s and another twenty-to-thirty percent from 1980 into the mid- IVEN 1990s. D “A thorough understanding of the hydrogeology ILL of the Placitas area is essential for sustainable —B ground-water development,” the authors wrote, “but this understanding has been hampered by a general absence of detailed hydrologic and geologic data, and by the area’s geologic complexity.” “Peggy Johnson’s report was excellent, but that was last updated 13 years ago,” Bandeen said. The Bureau of Geology and New Mexico Tech manage the Collaborative Groundwater Monitoring Network focused on well data from rural areas and places with little monitoring. “Groundwater data is essential for tracking changes and making informed decisions about water management,” the network website states. Since 2017, nearly seven-hundred well owners around the state, 14 of them in Placitas, have joined the Aquifer Monitoring Program, providing data on well depths and water levels. One four-hundred-foot well in northeastern Placitas showed the water level dropping five feet from January 2019 to early 2021 or about 2.5 feet a year. The Office of the State Engineer, whose focus is (Above) A crew from Murray Drilling Company of Bernalillo bores down several hundred feet regulation and not research, looks at a forty-year to find water for a home in northeastern Placitas. timeline for well production and considers a water- level drop of two feet a year allowable in the Sandia would end production in 32 years. Basin. Hydrologist Morrison’s study of the Sandia Basin analyzed 122 wells “The State Engineer has closed several basins if the life expectancy of finding an average drawdown of 2.5 feet a year, which, under the guidelines, numerous wells is forty years or less,” Morrison wrote.

PAGE 4 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 Reservations 771-0695 • www.bladesbistro.com 221 Hwy. 165 Placitas, NM 87043

UP FRONT—CONTINUED

From page 1—DeLavy for three years, working as a carpenter, while building the house.” Two other men, Valencia Garcia of Santa Ana Pueblo and bricklayer Oscar Lee Turner, helped with construction, the past president of the historical society added. “There was nothing else out there on the mesa at the time,” Liebert continued. “So, it was a lonesome existence, but he loved it.” Kathy McCoy of Cedar Crest also knew DeLavy through her father—professional photographer Elliot Porter, who worked for the Federal Aviation Adminis- tration and lived in Bernalillo (Not Eliot Porter the famous Santa Fe-based nature photographer). McCoy has one of DeLavy’s Red Ryder illustrations and a chair painted with a cowboy watching his bucking mule that DeLavy painted for her as a birthday present. “He was a sweet, sweet man,” McCoy said. “He was a little bit of a loner… We’d usually see him in Among Western artist Ed DeLavy’s many works was this cover for his friend, author town when he was running errands or when he came John L. Sinclair’s “Cowboy Riding Country,” a collection of essays published in 1982 by by to see my father.” the University of New Mexico Press. The picture of him was taken by Bernalillo photographer The photos of DeLavy accompanying this story Elliott Porter and shared with the Signpost by his daughter. The cover painting is in the were taken by her father. collection of the Sandoval County Historical Society. Sinclair, another transplant who valued rural New Mexico, published his first novel before WWII and ing to the Bernalillo monument in 1944. later would be honored by both the National Cowboy Hall of Fame and the He, too, lived on the open mesa west of Bernalillo. Among his nonfiction Western Writers of America. He joined the Museum of New Mexico in the late books were New Mexico: The Shining Land and Cowboy Riding Country, pub- 1930s and was curator of the Lincoln County Courthouse Museum before mov- lished in 1982 with a DeLavy painting on the cover and line drawings inside. —continued on page 7

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PAGE 6 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 UP FRONT— CONTINUED

From page 5 —DeLavy

DeLavy became a recognized figure in Bernalillo, often drinking coffee with friends. Liebert said she first may have met him through the Arts in the Moun- tain Group in Placitas. A brief biography Liebert prepared for the historical society tells of DeLavy joining Las Placitas Presbyte- rian Church, where he helped design its addition and present sanctuary, illustrat- ing numerous articles in New Mexico Magazine and working in oils and pas- tels, being equally proficient with por- traits, landscapes, and animals. He also joined the historical society, founded in 1977, and upon his death in 1989, at age 72, he willed his home and land to the society. Soon thereafter, when Liebert retired as town librarian, the society’s archive and photo collection kept in her Town Hall office moved to what has been known ever since as the DeLavy House. DeLavy was married for several years, in Connecticut in the 1960s, but had no children of his own and soon returned to New Mexico permanently, according to an obituary at PulpArtists.com. The Cowboy Riding Country cover and more of his work were donated to the historical society by his sister Marion DeLavy, herself a WWII veteran of the Women’s Army Corps. Exhibit and program space that will seat 150 OUNTY has since been added to the house where the soci- C ety met monthly before pandemic restrictions set in. The DeLavy House, with its current exhibit of ANDOVAL

Bernalillo photographs, is now open under pan- /S demic restrictions for visits and library research from 10:00 to noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. For more information on the society visit ONTOYA SandovalHistory.org. Also, there are directions to M the DeLavy House, which is on Edmund Road

north of U.S. Highway 550, immediately west of TEPHEN the Warrior Fuel gas station. S — At a County Commission meeting on April 1, Liebert and Lorraine Dominguez, another society past president, accepted a proclamation sponsored by Commissioner Katherine Bruch of Placitas designating April as Historic Preservation Month. “Historic preservation is an effective tool for revitalizing neighborhoods, fostering local pride, and maintaining community character,” the proclamation reads in part. “It is important to celebrate the role of history in our lives and the contributions made by dedicated individuals in helping to preserve the tangible aspects of the Lorraine Dominguez, a past president of the Sandoval County Historical Society, heritage that has shaped us as a people.” holds a proclamation sponsored by County Commissioner Katherine Bruch (right) The proclamation also cites the historical soci- declaring April Historic Preservation Month. Martha Liebert, also a past SCHS president, ety for further increasing knowledge of county’s is on the left and commissioner Chair David Heil is in the background. past through its collections, speakers, and field trips. “We’re just very proud of you,” Bruch said of nearly surround the lobby of the Sandoval County Administrative Building. the society’s work. “That’s been one of our biggest and most wonderful projects,” Dominguez said during the meeting. Among the society’s projects has been identify- The resulting displays with their stories and photos show the veterans’ service not only was recognized ing veterans from Sandoval County who served— then, but the sacrifices they and their families made are honored now, she added. from the Civil War through Vietnam—and Research also revealed two Navajo women who enlisted as Army scouts in the late 1860s, advancing collecting photos of them. The resulting displays by about forty years the earlier known women veterans. —continued next page

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From page 7 Half a billion SERVICES FOR ALL YOUR WATER AND —DeLavy destined to CONSTRUCTION NEEDS Bruch also sponsored a proclamation declaring National Child fund local projects Abuse Prevention Month and prais- ~SIGNPOST STAFF ing broad-based community part- nerships working to prevent child Sometime well after the next state budget year, begin- abuse and protect its victims. The ning on July 1, more than $500 million dollars appro- proclamation singled out one of the priated by the Legislature will reach the local level for many area agencies and organiza- construction projects and related activities. tions, the CASA Partners Known as capital outlay, each senator and represen- 4NMKIDS nonprofit that recruits, tative gets a share to spend within his or her district or DEMOLITION • LOADER • GRADING educates and supports volunteer in collaboration with other legislators. Sandoval PAD PREPARATION • BACKHOE / BOBCAT SERVICE advocates for abused and neglected County’s part of the 2022 fiscal year pie amounts to foster children in Sandoval and $20 million for 69 projects literally spread from A to Z: the Archibeque Community Ditch Association using Valencia counties. $125,000 for construction, and Zia Pueblo using $1.3 million for a childhood development center, plus $138,000 CASA has been operating in for police vehicles. Sandoval County for 25 years and In Placitas, $300,000 is directed to planning and designing a new senior center while Bernalillo will receive currently has nearly sixty volun- $634,000 spread among information technology improvements, a wastewater facility project, and vehicles for the teers in the two counties, CASA Bernalillo Senior Center. Volunteer Coordinator Cindy Other spending ranges from $1.2 million for a gas line at San Felipe Pueblo to $20,000 for improvements to Dunnington said. “We couldn’t do Fenton Lake State Park in the Jemez Mountains. it without the support of our politi- But don’t expect to see shovels flinging dirt immediately, as it takes months for the state and local governments cal leaders and all our community to generate and approve the formal agreements needed to disperse and spend the money. volunteers,” she added. For the first time, the Legislature also published capital outlay spending by individual legislators rather than just “We need more volunteers,” said by county and project. volunteer Dana Squire. “It is so For example, Sen. Brenda McKenna, D-Corrales, and Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert each chipped in $100,000 rewarding to get to know the kids, toward $450,000 in improvements to Sandoval County voting sites. McKenna and Sen. Craig Brandt, R-Rio Ran- spend time with the therapists, all cho, combined to provide $600,000 toward construction of a Sandoval County animal shelter. their caregivers, and their foster Powdrell-Culbert recently told the Bernalillo Town Council that she, Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, and parents, who are truly all working now McKenna put aside political differences when it comes to aiding their districts and the surrounding county. together for the welfare of the Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, whose district includes southeast Sandoval County and a slice of south Santa child.” County, spent much of her funding in Bernalillo County, notably $485,000 toward improving Mountain Valley Road in the Albuquerque’s East Mountains. She and Sen. Benny Shendo, D-Jemez Pueblo, also put in $50,000 each for Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office vehicles.

PAGE 8 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 UP Just Sold FRONT— CONTINUED SOLD OVER LIST PRICE!

County charts course for road 10 San Jose Trail maintenance 3 Bedrooms 2 Bathrooms 2 Car Garage 2105 Square Feet 2 Acres ~SIGNPOST STAFF MLS# 987239 The fate of two roads dropped from Call Sandi Today for a Free Market Analysis of Your Home Sandoval County maintenance in March remains uncertain as the county continues to clarify what is Sandi is a Proud Placitas Resident for 30 Years and is not a public right-of-way. The two roads, Circle Drive in Evergreen Hills in the Sandia Moun- Sandi Pressley tain foothills and Camino Olivas near 8th in the Nation for Coldwell Banker La Jara, may yet be restored to the #1 Top Producing Realtor in county road inventory as discussions New Mexico for 35 Consecutive Years continue. Central to county mainte- Proudly Serving Her Clients For 42 Years nance is a dedicated grant of right-of- Cell Phone 505.980.2999 way from property owners to the [email protected] county, which can be murky as to www.sandipressley.com ColdwellColdwell Banker Banker Legacy Legacy arrangements made in the distant 293-3700293-3700 past. “This is not the only place in this county where we face challenges with road maintenance,” County Man- ager Wayne Johnson said after meeting with an Evergreen Hills IVEN

representative in mid-April. “It’s often D been decades of maintenance, yet we ILL

don’t have a right-of-way dedicated to —B the county.” The county goes by the land plats it has, and if property owners have documents showing a right-of-way, roads can be put back on the inventory, he said. Or they can start fresh with a new dedication. There still are issues, though, with spending public money on roads that don’t conform to current standards, are expensive to maintain, or don’t serve a public purpose, he added. Johnson said that sometime in the next few months, a new road ordinance will come before the County Commission after it completes legal and administrative reviews, in part to align it with the county subdivision ordinance. It will address creating public roads, dealing with noncon- forming roads and, as drafted, estab- lish a tiered system for maintenance. At the bottom tier would be county A sign installed by the Sandoval County Public Works Department last month roads that may be no more than hiking marks the end of county maintenance on Al Pie de la Loma trails and are essentially closed, so in the Placitas Heights subdivision. receive no maintenance. Next would be roads requiring high-clearance vehicles that the county still might not followed by roads seeing more frequent attention and added material. The fifth category would be paved roads. blade. Third would be roads the A bottom line Johnson frequently mentions is that even if the county has maintained a road in the past, if the county might blade twice a year with- road is not formally dedicated to public use, the county runs afoul of the state Constitution, which prohibits spend- out adding gravel or other material ing taxpayer money on private property.

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Politicking returns for special congressional election ELECTION ~SIGNPOST STAFF The abbreviated campaign to succeed newly minted doval County generally east of Interstate 25 to include Secretary of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in Placitas, Bernalillo, La Madera, and Sandia Pueblo. While Congress is now in full swing with four candidates on the Manning lives in San Juan County, residency in the district Commissioner June 1 special-election ballot, plus two write-in candidates. is not a requirement for the office. Haaland, elected in November to a second term from the Sandoval County Clerk Anne Brady-Romero has sent aims to move up state’s 1st Congressional District, resigned in March with information notices with election information to registered party candidates and an independent filing in April to finish voters, but unlike in November, voters must request an to governor out her term through 2022. With no primary election, the absentee ballot by May 18. Those requests can be made state’s major parties’ leadership committees chose their through the voter portal NMVote.org either online or by ~BILL DIVEN candidates, while the independent reached the ballot downloading an application form. Voters have until 7:00 Sandoval County Commissioner through petition signatures. p.m. on Election Day to return ballots by mail or in person Jay Block jump-started the 2022 The candidates are: at a voting site. election year in March, becoming Democratic Party: State Rep. Melanie Stansbury of Early voting begins May 4 at county clerk’s offices, the first Republican to formally Albuquerque grew up in the family landscaping business, expands to more locations on May 15, and continues declare a run for governor. worked as a congressional and White House staffer, and through May 29, the Saturday before the election. Polling Yet while he was quick to attack was first elected to the state House in 2018. sites, fewer in number than in regular elections, will have the incumbent Democratic Gov. Republican Party: State Sen. Mark Moores of Albu- drop boxes for absentee ballots. Michelle Lujan Grisham and stake querque is a former University of New Mexico football Among the early voting sites are Las Placitas Presbyte- out conservative values as his turf, player, served in the Senate since 2013, and, with his wife, rian Church, the Plaza at Enchanted Hills in far northeast Block can expect company when co-owns a health care-related business. Rio Rancho, and the county Voting Machine Warehouse on the official filing day for candi- Libertarian Party: Christopher Manning of Kirtland is an Hill Road in Bernalillo. Nine voting centers open on June dates rolls around in February. For auditor working in the family business and a past party 1, including the addition of Placitas Community Library, now, though, other Republicans candidate for the 3rd Congressional District seat. Bernalillo middle and high schools, and the Corrales planning to run remain coy about Unaffiliated: Aubrey Dunn of Mountainair is a rancher, Recreation Center. their intentions. real estate broker, and former state land commissioner, Candidates’ online presence: Lujan Grisham has said she plans elected in 2014 as a Republican. • Stansbury - MelanieForNM.com to run for a second four-year term, Unaffiliated write-in candidates whose names will not • Moores - MooresForCongress.com so far with no signs of a challenge appear on the ballot are Laura Olivas of Albuquerque and • Manning - Twitter.com/Manning4USCong from within her party in the June 7, Robert Ornelas of Anaheim, California. Ornelas was a • Dunn - Facebook.com/AubreyDunnCampaign/ 2022, primary. • Olivas - Twitter.com/LauraOlivasNM 2016 presidential candidate in California, finishing second Block, 50, was elected to the • Ornelas – none found in the American Independent Party primary, according to Official voter information: County Commission in 2016 and state records there. • Secretary of State voter registration and more - NMVote.org reelected last year. He would leave The 1st District encompasses Albuquerque and Bernalillo • Sandoval County polling locations, sample ballots and more: office under term limits at the end County, Torrance County, a rural sliver of Valencia County, SandovalCountyNM.gov/Elected-Officials/County-Clerk/Bureau- of 2024, unless he moves to Santa three precincts in far southwest Santa Fe County, and San- Of-Elections Fe first. —continued next page

PAGE 10 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 From page 10—Block IVEN

A retired Air Force lieutenant colonel, interested in electing someone who has endorsed D

Block announced his campaign at Veter- far-right policies, failed to protect his con- ILL ans Memorial Park in Rio Rancho on stituents, and shown that he’s unable to lead.” —B April 17, drawing about 150 people. A In his speech, Block, making his first bid for smattering of Trump campaign hats and higher office, also took a dig at unnamed past an open-carry sidearm were visible, Republican candidates who might be pondering a although few in the crowd wore the face run for governor. coverings still required in public under “We believe we need a new generation of the pandemic health orders. candidates in New Mexico that will fight for the That free expression spoke to one of people,” Block said. “New candidates who can Block’s themes as he invoked “We the actually win instead of running for statewide people,” the opening words of the U.S. office multiple times and losing.” Constitution. Among the possible Republican candidates “It has become more and more appar- being mentioned this go-round are recent Lt. ent that the governor has forgotten that Gov. John Sanchez and former eight-term con- she serves the people,” Block said. gressman and current state party chair Steve “Instead her leadership has failed New Pearce. Sanchez lost the 2002 gubernatorial Mexico families and lined the pockets election to former U.S. Rep. Bill Richardson and of her donors and elitist friends here in dropped out of the U.S. Senate race before the Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block delivers New Mexico and outside the state.” 2014 primary, while Pearce lost the 2000 Senate his announcement speech declaring his candidacy for the He went on to cite the businesses and election and the 2018 governor’s race won by Republican nomination for governor in the 2022. Block is jobs lost during the pandemic. On his Lujan Grisham. the first candidate to declare he’s running for the office. first day as governor, he said he would forgive fines levied against businesses and churches for violating public health orders limiting operations and crowd sizes. Block also pledged to veto tax increases, appoint only New Mexico residents to administration positions, and stand with law enforcement, and in opposition of removing qualified-immu- nity protections from their police work. Other speakers, including a veteran who served under Block, praised Block’s leadership skills and his focus since high school on public service. Block also drew from the Republican playbook, endorsing school choice, the Second Amendment, and opposition to public funding of abortions. “I intend to be a governor New Mex- ico can finally be proud of,” he continued. “This is a movement of shared values. Together we will restore liberty and secure our prosperity for years to come.” The state Democratic Party responded shortly after Block’s announcement, calling his record as a county commissioner “anemic.” A party statement said, among other issues, Block failed to respond to the COVID pandemic, put residents and groundwater at risk by supporting oil and gas drilling near Rio Rancho, and aligned himself with Donald Trump, showing his agenda is neither moderate nor reasonable. “Jay Block has shown that he’s an ineffective leader who would rather cozy up to party extremists than support hardworking New Mexicans,” Demo- cratic Party Chair Marg Ellison said in the statement. “New Mexicans aren’t

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 11

AROUND

TOWN Garage Sale Benefiting Haiti Friday May 14th & Saturday May 15th 8 AM—2 PM

Delays, surprises Anchor Point Church—6751 Pasilla Rd. NE, Rio Rancho add months Furniture—Appliances—Collectables—Tools to US 550 Household—Décor—Sporting Goods—Clothes Crafts—Food—New Items! We have it all! construction ~SIGNPOST STAFF ALL PROCEEDS BENEFIT MARANATHA CHILDREN’S MINISTRIES IN HAITI

The timeline for completing the rebuild of U.S. Highway 550 has slipped further into the future with AnchorPoint.Life work yet to begin on one of its showpiece features. When the two-mile, $23.8-million- dollar project began in October, 2019, it was advertised to take five-hundred COVID restrictions affect Bernalillo gatherings days, putting completion this summer. ~SIGNPOST STAFF The latest goal reported by the New Two popular outdoor events scuttled last year by the of 13.32 cases per 100,000 population and a COVID- Mexico Department of Transportation pandemic remain on the Bernalillo town calendar, testing positivity rate of 3.09 percent. While the posi- is to be done by the end of the year. although whether they happen remains clouded by tivity rate is below the five percent benchmark, under Whether that goal is met may state public health orders. current guidelines the case rate would have to drop depend on additional surprises as the The Farmhouse Ale Event scheduled for June 12, below eight cases per 100,000 population to move US 500 intersection at State Road 528 and the Bernalillo Indian Arts Market already moved into the green category. in Rio Rancho is replaced by a com- from early May to July 17-18 are to be held at Loretto Even if that were to happen in time for Farmhouse plex design that will be the first of its Park. Under current restrictions for large outdoor Ale Event and the Indian Arts Market, attendance at kind in New Mexico. events, admittance would be limited 175 people— Loretto Park would be restricted to 350 people at a Already the project has encountered 25 percent of capacity—stressing the bottom line for time. unexpected issues from weather, a either event. As of April 19, three counties were in the green tier two-week COVID shutdown, Town officials were to meet late in April to further and 13 had move up to turquoise after being in the unmapped utility lines, and installa- assess the situation. green tier for two weeks. Colfax County, previously in tion of a sixty-inch storm drain down The state’s Red to Green Framework for loosening the yellow tier, dropped back to the red category in the middle of the highway on both restrictions is based on COVID testing results and the latest report. sides of the Rio Grande. Typical of cases as a percentage of population per county. Red is With the ongoing success of the state’s vaccination such projects, NMDOT and prime the most restrictive followed by yellow, green, and an program, Health Secretary Dr. Tracie Collins recently contractor FNF Construction will added turquoise level. said that may lead to some modification of the criteria wrangle later about money and which At last report through April 19, Sandoval County for the red-to-green tiers. delays were unavoidable and which remained in the yellow high-risk tier with a case rate were not. A date to begin the 550/528 over- haul has not yet been set, but a shift in traffic patterns west of the Rio Grande where work is now focused was planned from April 30 or May 3, Rio Metro ACCESS to off free transportation options according to NMDOT. ~AUGUSTA MEYERS When done, the 550/528 connection On April 5, Rio Metro Regional Transit District clients. will be the state’s first continuous- introduced a new program called Rio Metro ACCESS, “We are slowly coming out of what has been a very flow intersection designed to keep which provides free transportation options for New challenging year for many due to the pandemic,” said more traffic moving with less disrup- Mexico residents who are receiving employment, Terry Doyle, Director of Rio Metro Regional Transit. tion. The plan essentially moves west- housing, personal stability assistance, and other activi- “Our hope is that these free passes will help ease the bound traffic turning south on NM ties to improve their lives. transportation burden on those in central New Mex- 528 to double turn lanes south of the “Transportation is a key service in people’s lives, ico.” main lanes of US 550. and when not available, it is often the issue keeping Rio Metro runs the Rail Runner trains between That would permit left turns on NM people from obtaining employment or accessing med- Santa Fe and Belen, as well as fixed-route and 528 without holding up eastbound US ical services,” says Rio Metro Executive Director demand-response bus services in Sandoval and 550 traffic coming through the inter- Dewey V. Cave. “Rio Metro ACCESS is one way that Valencia counties. section. Northbound NM 528 traffic we can help offer reliable transportation to those who Agencies that would like to learn more about turning east onto 550 would no longer need it.” becoming a Rio Metro ACCESS pass distributor must face a traffic signal and instead would Rio Metro ACCESS is part of Rio Metro’s Social submit a completed application and agreement form to merge with eastbound traffic. Service Fare Program. Its purpose is to provide free [email protected]. For more details on Rio An animation of how this will work transportation options for New Mexico residents living Metro ACCESS, and to view the list of participating along with other project information, in households with income at or below 150 percent of agencies that are currently distributing passes, visit traffic cameras, weekly updates, and a the Federal Poverty Guidelines. www.riometro.org/ACCESSProgram. link to sign up for email updates can Through a grant from the New Mexico Department Rio Metro Customer Service representatives are be found on the project website: of Transportation, Rio Metro ACCESS can issue free available at 866-795-7245 and 245-RAIL (7245) KeepMoving550.com. train and bus passes to social services agencies so that from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. they can distribute free passes to their qualifying

PAGE 12 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 ROOFING

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(Left) Mike Gardiner of Bernalillo walks off with part of his haul from the annual Arbor Day sale sponsored by the town of Bernalillo at Rotary Park.

Landfill on Iris Road NE in Rio Rancho will offer free dump- ing from 8:00 to noon for Bernalillo residents with proof of Plant a tree, recycle a fridge, save the planet residency. And, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., dumpsters will be located ~SIGNPOST STAFF in the Public Works Department yard at 585 Calle Chaparral. Earth Day isn’t just a day anymore. Even began at 3:00 p.m. and nearly sold out by Some waste, such as refrigerators, large drums, medicines, Arbor Day is flexible as its date varies around 3:30. paint, contaminated soil, hazardous materials, tires, and TVs the country to accommodate local conditions. Ann and Mike Gardiner of Bernalillo came will not be accepted. This year, Earth and Arbor days came back to away with two butterfly bushes and two lilac The landfill, however, allows up to eight car or truck tires, back on April 22 and 23 in New Mexico. And trees. two TVs, and ten gallons of hazardous waste per resident. events carried over into April 24 with a “They’re pollinators,” Ann said. “We’ve got A similar event will be held in November. community cleanup day in Algodones. to bring those bees.” PNM also used Earth Day to remind its customers they can The town of Bernalillo, as it has in the past, The town also considers its semiannual Keep earn $50 by recycling an old refrigerator or freezer. Modern supported Arbor Day this year by offering Bernalillo Beautiful cleanup days an offshoot refrigerators use one-third of the energy of one made 25 years $3,000 in trees, bushes, and seedlings for sale of Earth Day and has scheduled the next one ago. PNM also will pick up the old appliance. to town residents. The event at Rotary Park for May 15. On that day, the Sandoval County For more information visit PNM.com/Fridge.

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 13 PAGE 14 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 Jennise Your Trusted Expert…Here to Help My Placitas Neighbors! Representing Vineyard Homes, Placitas Finest Builder Phillips Direct: 505-867-7481 [email protected] ASSOCIATE BROKER Mobile: 505-331-2288 WANTED – your home to sell. Call me! Evening Star Court – $215,000 10 Morning Star Court — $878,000 2.35 acres 3 beds – 4 baths – 4,025 SF PENDING Build your dream home gazing at the national forest. Over two Truly magnificient! The best views in Placitas backing up to the Nation- acres in one of Placitas most desirable neighborhoods. al Forest with miles of hiking, biking and walking trails at your door. 61 Santa Ana Loop – $598,000 Lot 3-A Pinion Court – $159,900 PENDING 3 beds – 3 baths – 2,437 SF Fabulous building .98 acre lot for your Dream Home. Captures Quintessential southwest charm, kiva fireplaces, beamed and all the views of mountains, mesas, Rio Grande Valley and city barrel ceilings, bancos, lighted nicho’s, adobe accent walls. lights. Community water and convenient Placitas location. 6 Martin Road – $348,000 105 S. Wild Primrose Road – $138,000 PENDING This 3.25 acre lot is located at the end of a cul de sac with 2 beds – 2 baths – 1,444 SF outstanding views. Diamond Tail is a gated community that Absolutely charming home with privacy, laminate floors, gas offers trails, star gazing park and exquisite home sites. log fireplace and large living room flooded with natural light. Nice open kitchen with pass through, natural wood cabinets 23 Apache Mesa Road – $225,000 4627 Mijas Drive NW – $550,000 – ABQ Your own 1.03 acre piece of paradise abutting the National 4 beds – 2 baths – 2,609 SF PENDING Forest with miles of hiking, walking and biking trails right Exquisite is the word for this incredible home. Wonderfully and outside your door. Amazing Sandia views, starry night skies. meticulously maintained one-owner home. Greatroom/Dining captures the incredible Sandia Mountain views. 6 Calle Cholla – $938,000 2 Black Mesa Trail – $650,000 3 beds – 3 baths – 4,012 SF 3 beds – 3 baths – 2,467 SF PENDING Wowed at the entry hall and all through the house. Custom Solar Five Gold Star Green Block custom built home with low built & designed for spectacular views & maximum privacy utility bills. Very private walled courtyard and patio. abutting the open space. LA PUERTA REAL ESTATE SERVICES, LLC • ONE RIDGE COURT • PLACITAS, NM 87043 • 505-867-3388

New roof shelters Placitas food program REAL ~SIGNPOST STAFF The generosity of the Placitas community and other The roofing PEOPLE friends of the Casa Rosa Food Pantry has revealed contractor also made itself again, although this time not for food but a donation, which was deducted from the project terian Church and acted somewhat as a grocery and shingles. cost. The work was done at the end of March. used-clothing store before pandemic restrictions Actually, it was more than just shingles, after the “It was a fabulous showing of community sup- ended in-person shopping. Volunteers now assemble discovery of dry rot in the roof fascia led pantry port,” Eaby said. “This gives us much more protec- food packages for drive-through delivery in the volunteers onto the roof where they discovered tion from the elements and keeps our food products pantry parking lot. dangerous soft spots needing repair, pantry board dry… It was time.” While the pantry welcomes cash donations, food Chair Katherine Eaby told the Signpost. In recent months, the pantry also has received and clothing no longer are accepted, given sanita- When the bid for an entire new roof came in at large donations from the regional Rotary Club tion issues related to the pandemic. $14,000, the word went out through social media district, area rotary members, and the Albuquerque Eaby said the pantry currently serves 35-45 fami- and elsewhere that help was needed. Donations of Rotary Charitable Foundation. lies each weekend, down from a peak of near sixty, cash and some materials came in from Placitas and Casa Rosa, which translates to Pink House, is including out-of-town arrivals, during the COVID nearby towns, residents, and businesses. located in a pink house next to Las Placitas Presby- crisis. While some people have reclaimed jobs and —continued on page 17

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 15 NIGHT SKY

May 2021 Night Sky— the lady of the evening

~CHARLIE CHRISTMANN In the south-southeast at 9:00 p.m. in May, the constellation Virgo, the Virgin, can be easily found by looking for Spica, the constellation’s brightest star. Virgo is one of twelve Zodiac signs in our night sky (actually there are thirteen, but since there are only twelve months in the year, Ophiuchus has been conveniently left out of the Zodiac). The constellation Virgo Later in the year, at the Autumn Solstice, the sun crosses from north to south near the star Zavijava, also designated Beta Virginis. This event triggers the transition from summer to autumn in the northern hemisphere. In Greek mythology, Virgo represents the Greek goddess of justice, Dike. Born the daughter of Zeus and Themis, she was not a titan, but a common human mortal. However, her parents sent her to rule over justice on Earth. This was during the golden era of man with peace, prosperity, everlasting spring, and perpetual youth. Eventually, Zeus fulfilled a prophecy and overthrew his father, causing the golden era to fade, and the people quickly abandoned the gods. Before turning her back on humans, Dike warned the people not to leave behind the ideals of culture and traditions, then predicted that more misery was yet to come; she then took to the mountains leaving the humans to their own devices. Soon, humans started fighting among themselves and making war, causing Dike to depart Earth for Heaven. Other mythologies have Virgo representing the Syrian goddess of fertility, Tyche, the goddess of fortune and the Babylonian goddess Shala, representing fertility and the harvests. Spica is the brightest star in the Virgo constellation and the 15th brightest star in the night sky is in reality a binary system of two stars. It is a blue giant star around 250 light- years from our solar system shining at a magnitude of +0.98. The name Spica comes from the Latin spica virginis, which means “Virgo’s ear of grain.” The second brightest star is Porrima with a magnitude of +2.74, also a binary star system about 38 light-years away. Vindemiatrix is the third brightest star and is 110 light-years away. This giant star is about 77 times more luminous than the Sun. Zavijava means “the corner of the barking dog.” This star is about 36 light-years distant. Virgo is known for its large collection of galaxies called, what else, the Virgo Cluster. The cluster has more than two- thousand individual galaxies of shapes and types. The center of the cluster resides around 54 million light-years from our solar system. There are also eleven Messier objects in Virgo, all of which are galaxies. The Sombrero Galaxy (M104) is likely the most recognized as an edge-on galaxy resembling a Mexican hat. Two other notable galaxies are M58 is a barred spiral galaxy and M61, a face-on spiral galaxy. There are two sets of interacting galaxies, each with two galaxies in the process of colliding with each other: the Eyes Galaxies and the Butterfly Galaxies. If you have a telescope, May is the time to go find the myriad of Messier objects in Virgo. In addition to the above • NGC 4526, a lenticular galaxy 55 million light-years distant where two super- objects, look to find the following galaxies: novae were discovered: SN 1969E in 1969 and SN 1994D in 1994. • M49, the brightest galaxy in the Virgo Cluster; • Messier 58, a barred spiral galaxy and one of the brightest If you were born between August 23 and September 22, Virgo is your “sign.” In galaxies in the Virgo Cluster; classical astrology, Mercury rules both Gemini and Virgo, with Virgo being the • Messier 59, an elliptical galaxy about sixty- million light- home of Mercury at night. Virgo was assigned to the sixth house of the Zodiac. If years away; you were born under this sign, you should be exacting and concerned with earthy • Messier 90, a spiral galaxy approximately 58.7 million and hygienic activities. Your strengths are mental agility and adaptability, with a lights-years distant; and skillful, meticulous quality.

PAGE 16 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 —D AVID L ISAK

GREAT NEWS! WE ARE OPENING on MAY 4th for our LOCAL Donations from the friends and the community funded a new roof for PATRONS! the Casa Rosa Food Pantry in Placitas completed in late March.

From page 15—Roof REAL PEOPLE We welcome everyone back! !!SPECIAL!!—20% OFF ALL CLOTHES other pantries have opened, the decline in —CONTINUED numbers doesn’t necessarily mean a decline The Galleria Tamaya uniquely New Mexican gallery features in need, she added. handcrafted jewelry, copper-work, alabaster sculpture, “We still live in very insecure times,” Eaby added. Zuni fetish carvings, authentic pueblo pottery, and much more! Casa Rosa began as an outreach program of the Las Placitas Presbyterian Find gifts and collectibles—truly special and exclusive to this area. Church but is now an independent community-supported 501(c)3 nonprofit overseen by a board of directors. Additional information on the program, its needs, and how to donate is available online at CasaRosaFoodPantry.org or by calling 867-5718. Galleria Tamaya Located at the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort and Spa Amazon Smile customers can go to the Charities List to designate Las Placitas 1300 Tuyuna Trail, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM 87004 Presbyterian, which will send 0.5 percent of purchase amounts to Casa Rosa. NEW HOURS: OPEN MONDAY THRU SUNDAY • 10AM TO 5PM The pantry is open from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturdays. (505) 771-6081 • [email protected]

Placitas library receives national grant for small and rural libraries ~ANNE GREY FROST Placitas Community Library has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that helps library workers better serve their small and rural communities. The competitive award comes with a $3,000 grant that PCL will use to provide a series of events and conversations around the issues in the book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents, by Dr. Isabel Wilkerson. These discussions and events will help to build mutual understanding and respect on a foundation of shared awareness of our history. We hope to do this through open dialogue around issues of race, class, and culture in our community and at large. "I am so pleased our library will have this opportunity to engage our community in reading Caste together,” said Library Director Mary Sue Houser. I am looking forward to coming together for meaningful conversation around this powerful book and its vitally important subject matter." As part of the grant, selected PCL staff will take an online course in how to lead conversations, a skill vital to library work today. Grant funds will be used to purchase a Zoom Business license in order for us to host virtual events and to partially fund several speakers and artists who will provide additional related content for our project and community conversations. These events and conversations will take place from May through October 2021. The more we learn about the problems caused by societal disparity, including health care, life expectancy, depression, cultural and political effects, the better we understand the cost to each of us of this caste system in our culture. Since 2014, ALA’s Libraries Transforming Communities initiative has re- imagined the role libraries play in supporting communities. Libraries of all types have utilized free dialogue and deliberation training and resources to lead community and campus forums; take part in anti-violence activities; provide a space for residents to come together and discuss challenging topics; and have produc- tive conversations with civic leaders, library trustees and staff. “Libraries Transforming Communities: Focus on Small and Rural Libraries is an initiative of the American Library Association (ALA) in collaboration with the Association for Rural and Small Libraries (ARSL).”

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 17 • Women’s Health • Same Day Appointments • Prenatal Services • Family Planning • Comprehensive Family • Behavioral Health Medicine

Steven L. Hartman, MD, Medical Director Rachel Rankin, MD • Rachel Marzec, FNP-PMHNP Felina Ortiz, CNM • Rebecca Casalino, CFNP Brie Anaya, CFNP • Marissa Cortes Mendez, CFNP, CNM Tamara Righettini, CFNP • Stephen V. Roper, CFNP Jennifer Webb, LPCC • Madeleine Stevens, LPCC Sandra Fortier, LCSW

Monday 8 am—5 pm • Tuesday 8 am—5 pm Wednesday 8 am—8 pm • Thursday 8 am—5 pm Friday 8 am—5 pm 121 Calle Del Presidente Bernalillo, New Mexico 87004

meal with beta-amylase, which has no CUSTARD-STYLE OATMEAL glucanase and proteinase activity, in a (patent pending) Flash in the Pan—Oatmeal glory first enzyme treatment step, which This is how I get oatmeal to the specifically generates maltose and mal- ~ARI LEVAUX consistency of custard. The key is to todextrin units.” cook it slowly, and once everything In English, it says that amylase “You have to eat oatmeal or you’ll despite being made from the cheapest is added, no stirring! The butter and enzyme—which I had been using—is dry up. Anybody knows that.” raw ingredient of any of them. It’s no cream form something of a frosting indeed responsible for generating sugar wonder the oatmilk sector has a target on top, while the lower level of oats The above claim has never been from oat starch. I celebrated this moral on its back, with its fellow vegan milk- is drier. Although the active time for disproved. It was authored by Kay victory with one of my favorite late-night makers taking aim. this recipe is barely two minutes, Thompson and uttered by a six-year-old snacks: dry oats with canned whipped Regulators are too, though not out allow an hour for the oatmeal to girl named Eloise, who lived in The cream and maple syrup. of jealously. In 2019 the USDA asked properly simmer and rest. Plaza Hotel in New York with Weenie Eloise would not approve, and this several oatmilk makers to disclose added the dog and Skipperdee the turtle. Ever treat probably won’t make it onto any sugars in their nutritional labels, even Serves two since I first saw that quote, in the margin dessert carts, but I really like the juxta- though technically there are none. But 1 cup whole oats by the oatmeal raisin cookie recipe in position between the moist, fatty whip manufacturers have figured out how to 3 cups water the Silver Palate Cookbook, I’ve won- and plain dry grains. I also enjoy the use enzymes to release sugar that had 1 tablespoon salted butter dered what she meant. esoteric contrast between wholesome been locked up in oat starch. This adds 1 tablespoon heavy cream Perhaps young Eloise understood that oats and trashy canned whipped cream. sugar without adding sugar. ½ cup frozen blueberries (or the fruit oats absorb a lot of water as they cook, Most canned whip is quite sweet, but the I wanted to try my hand at enzymatic or berry of your choice) such that when you eat oats you’re eat- syrup takes this dish over the edge, oatmilk, so I reached out to Oatly, the Syrup to pour on top ing mostly water. Or maybe she meant which is what a midnight snack is all undisputed leader in the oatmilk indus- Add the oats, water and butter to a “dry up” as a euphemism for “slow about. try, hoping for some clues. An Oatly pan and set it on high until it boils, down.” Certainly, oatmeal has a reputa- The next morning, I made oatmeal for representative declined to share which about four minutes. Turn down to tion for keeping you going all day like breakfast, and realized my morning bowl enzymes they use, so after a bit of medium for about two minutes while the Energizer Bunny, thanks to the slow of oats is almost as much of an indul- research I ordered my best guess of you add the cream and blueberries release of sugars from the complex car- gence as my midnight snack, and with a some good candidates, including and stir them in. As you stir this final bohydrates in whole oats. lot more water. There may be less glory amylase and beta-glucanase. A few time, feel the bottom with your Whatever she exactly meant, she was in a bowl of oatmeal than a fresh- weeks later, when my wife acknowl- implement and scrape it well if any- right to cast oatmeal in a positive light. squeezed glass of oatmilk, but there is edged that my latest batch of oat milk thing happens to be sticking. Superfoods and supplements get all the ample joy, and plenty of room for was not awful, I knew I was getting Turn it down to low and cook with hype, but water and fiber are two of the artistry. close to the recipe. Or so I thought. A the lid off for 20 minutes, not stir- biggest missing elements in a healthy Oatmeal is a personal thing. Some like few days later, while working on my ring. Then turn it off and let it rest diet, according to dietitians. And you’ll it soupy, others firm. I prefer mine with a project, I stumbled upon the actual another 20 minutes, covered. find both of those in a bowl of oatmeal. custard-like consistency that vibrates like patent that Oatly had filed. Serve with maple syrup. Nowadays, more and more people As I scrolled through US patent no. Jell-O when you slap the pot, with a reach for oatmilk when they want their 6451369B1, titled “Non-dairy, ready-to- creamy, frosting-like layer on top that oats and water. It’s a rising star in the use milk substitute, and products made results from my special process. Getting Ari LeVaux writes from Missoula, Montana, though a big piece of his heart non-dairy milk category, especially therewith,” I quickly found this passage: to the bottom of a bowl of my oatmeal is among coffee drinkers looking for a hardly a grueling experience. And after haunts the hills, washes, and ditches of “The disclosed cereal suspension is New Mexico. His column appears nation- dairy substitute. It has a creaminess years of enjoying it, I’ve yet to dry up. prepared by treating a suspension of oat- ally in more than 70 newspapers. other nut- and grain-based milks don’t, Eloise’s law remains intact.

PAGE 18 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 HEALTH Gunshot death spurred community concerns ~BILL DIVEN As many as ten Sandoval County sheriff’s deputies responding to multiple reports of a shooting on a U.S. Forest Service road in Placitas found what appears to be the suicide of a Rio Rancho man. The incident, occurring just after 7:00 p.m. on April 13, brought deputies to the east entrance of Forest Loop Road and the trailhead for the Strip Mine Trail, several hundred feet off State Road 165. There they found a blue Hyundai lodged against a post with its front wheels spinning and shredding. The 53-year-old man was in the driver’s seat and clinging to life despite a head wound, according to deputies’ reports. The man died shortly after arriving at UNM Hospital in Albuquerque, the reports added. The man apparently fired one round from a 9 mm pistol, which passed through his head from right to left and then the glass in the driver’s side window. The conclusion of suicide remains tentative, pending a formal determination by the Office of the Medical Investigator. A family member later told deputies that the man was a disabled veteran who was on medication and had been suicidal in past. News organizations don’t routinely report suicides, making exceptions when they occur in public places or generate public concerns about a possible homicide. None of the people who called 911 Rachael Tingen, DMD witnessed or heard the gunshot, and some passersby on NM 165 took to an online community seeking information. Forest Loop Road, also known as Forest Road 445, is a roughly six-mile loop around 1,100 acres of Forest Service open space known as the Bernalillo Watershed Research Natural Area. The area south of NM 165 near mile marker 3 is popular with hikers and fat-tire bicyclists.

Los Ranchos Growers’ Market opens May 1 For the best general dentistry ~COLENE MONTOYA The Los Ranchos Growers’ Market opens its 29th season on May 1, 2021. Any Saturday you may see one of the many local growers, including Loose Leaf Farm, Mary Moses, Cathy Lewandowski, Colene Montoya, Vagabond Cattle Company, Montoya’s Farms, Tim’s Sprouts, or Swiss Alps Bakery. Each market has between thirty and fifty vendors, offering fresh produce, greens, eggs, fruit, honey, jams/jellies, baked goods, jerky, grass-fed beef, seedlings/plants, and flowers. There are several ready-to-eat vendors at the market, including Green Growlers, the Taco Guy, Desert Sky, and Zia Bros Pizza. 3 Homesteads Rd., Ste. B Everyone is encouraged to come early and get the best of farm-to-table seasonal produce. Placitas, NM 87043 COVID protocols will be in place. Face masks are required and safe distances will be practiced. The Art Market, music, food tastings and pets will not be allowed under COVID restrictions. 6718 Rio Grande Boulevard NW in the Village of Los Visitors are encouraged to support the market by selecting one person from each family to do the Ranchos, in the Tennis Court Parking lot. Attendance is shopping. This will allow more social distancing, help keep down the number of visitors at a free and vendors accept WIC/Senior discounts. time, and allow more visitors to rotate through the market each Saturday while COVID protocols For more information, contact volunteer market manager are in effect. Colene Montoya at [email protected] or call The market is open every Saturday, May to November, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The Winter 610-9591. You may also visit Los Ranchos Growers’ market begins the second Saturday in December and runs the second Saturday of the month from Market on Facebook. December through April. Winter market hours are from 10:00 to noon. The market is located at Huge NM success in COVID-19 vaccination rates comes from group effort ~ANDREA BROWN

New Mexico has one of the most successful vacci- As the vaccines became available late last year, registrants. nation programs to fight COVID-19 among the fifty the Governor and NMDOH tasked Real Time Solu- The country is noticing as well. Politico released states. With the highest fully vaccinated rate in the tions with the challenge of creating a centralized a story titled, “The unlikely state setting the U.S. nation, its centralized system for vaccine rollout has system for public registration, scheduling appoint- vaccination pace.” It writes, “New Mexico in recent become the envy of all other states. The state’s ments, sending notifications, and recording and days became the state first to provide at least one approach to vaccination has been different from all reporting the vaccinations. dose to half of its adult population, and a nation- others, and it’s working. Since developing the site that went live on leading 38 percent of adults are fully vaccinated.” According to the Center for Disease Control, New December 23, 2020, Real Time Solutions works on This according to a Kaiser Family Foundation Mexico has ranked first or second in the nation for it continuously to ensure smooth operations as Review. “They are an exemplar,” said George many weeks for vaccination rates—53.7 percent of providers and New Mexico residents sign up. Benjamin, executive director of the American residents have received the first dose and 35.7 per- “We’ve worked around the clock for six months Public Health Association. “Their model works.” cent are fully vaccinated. 1,480,512 shots have been to get this right,” said Chris Schroeder, Chief Oper- In addition, Forbes Magazine published a story given and more than half of the state’s adults have ating Officer at Real Time Solutions. “This has titled, “This State Has Already Vaccinated Most received at least their first dose. been a terrific public-private partnership with the Adult Residents. Here’s How.” What the country is starting to notice is that New Governor and NMDOH to create the most effective And most recently, The New York Times published Mexico’s amazing success came together because system in the country.” a story that says New Mexico “is a vaccination of an unprecedented and groundbreaking partner- The beauty of the system is its ability to bring so pacesetter thanks to decisive political decisions, ship between Real Time Solutions, an Albuquerque many providers and users into one portal. It elimi- homegrown technology and cooperation.” tech company, the Governor, and the New Mexico nated the administrative burden for providers and Department of Health (NMDOH). removed the burden of searching for a shot for the

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 19 Le Chat Lunatique to present gypsy jazz in Placitas Artists Series May concert ~ALLEN BOURNE The Placitas Artists Series (PAS) will wrap up its 34th season with a gypsy jazz performance by Le Chat Lunatique on May 16. The event will be livestreamed at 3:00 p.m. MDT, though rapidly changing live performance guidelines could allow for a limited live audience in a location to be announced closer to concert date on the PAS website. Le Chat Lunatique came about in 2005 and chose the French phrase “The Crazy Cat” for its name. The four-person band features vocalist Muni Kulasinghe; John Sandlin on guitar; Jared Putnam, vocals and bass; and Fernando Garavito on drums. Performances by Le Chat Lunatique typically feature several genres of music, blending Western swing, classical, reggae, doo-wop, and “anything else we damn well please” into strikingly original compositions and audaciously reworked standards alike. May’s performance is generously sponsored by Claudia and Robert Moraga and the Bill Cates Team at RBC Wealth Management, and Del Packwood. Tickets are $25 for the online show and can be purchased at Le Chat Lunatique PlacitasArtistsSeries.org, where the concert program, musician bios, and more may also be found. Following the livestream, ticketholders will be able to view painting; Harriet Neal, photography; and Mike Kimball, linoleum block prints. the concert online through May 23. Additional information is available in our Concertgoers and others may view the virtual art show at Plac- ad on page two of this publication. itasArtistsSeries.org from May 1 through the end of the month. All artwork Presented in tandem with the May concert is a virtual juried video art exhibi- shown is available for purchase. tion, “Black to White and Dark to Light,” which highlights works by five New Placitas Artists Series projects are made possible in part by New Mexico Mexico artists and is accompanied with music created for each artist by PAS’s Arts, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, and the National resident composer, John Bullock. Artists on display include Pea Garr, repur- Endowment for the Arts. posed mixed media; Jim Holley, mixed media sculpture; Mary Luttrell, acrylic

New Mexico Museum of Space History to re-open on May 7 ~CATHY HARPER, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS The New Mexico Museum of Space History, a two items of particular interest to New Mexico: the inside the museum will also re-open on May 7. The division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Omega Chronograph watch worn by New Mexican Space Hall Gift Shop inside the White Sands Mall Affairs, is pleased to announce that it will re-open astronaut Jack Schmitt during the Apollo 17 mis- will continue to operate at that location. For more to the public on National Space Day, Friday, May 7. sion in 1972 and the EKG that John Glenn took at information, including online ordering, visit The Museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. the Lovelace Clinic in Albuquerque just before www.spacehalloffame.org. Wednesday through Sunday, closed on Monday and becoming one of America’s first astronauts in 1960. Access to some areas will be limited or remain Tuesday. A temporary reduced entry fee of $5 per More artifacts will be added to the gallery over the closed until further notice, including museum inter- person will be in effect, due to ongoing renovation next couple of months. This gallery is the beginning active exhibits, the New Horizons Theater, and other projects. Capacity will be limited. of a five-year refurbishment to all the galleries and Tombaugh Education Center classrooms, the “We are all very excited to welcome the public exhibits inside the museum. library, collections storage, playground, and back into the museum,” said Executive Director Construction will soon begin on a major new picnic/snack areas. Group visits, public programs, Christopher Orwoll. “While we have been closed, exhibit, “Science Fact vs. Science Fiction,” giving special events, and volunteer/docent activities will there’s been a lot of work going on and it continues, visitors an unique opportunity to see an exhibit built continue in virtual formats only. Reduced occu- so we ask the public to pardon our dust as we con- from the ground up. pancy might result in a wait to gain entry. While tinue much needed upgrades throughout the build- The gallery will take another two or three months queuing for entry, visitors should observe social ing.” to finish and visitors will see artifact cases being distancing. Visitors will be required to wear a mask A majority of exhibits remain open, and the installed and graphic elements being applied. The or multilayered face covering. newly renovated “Human Spaceflight Gallery” will exhibit will feature both authentic spacesuits and For more information, call 575-437-2840 or open for the first time to the public. Located on the those that were used in popular TV programs such 877-333-6589 (toll free), visit the website at museum’s third floor, the gallery highlights suits as “Stranger Things.” Currently, the gallery high- nmspacemuseum.org, or follow the Museum on and equipment used for the world’s first excursions lights International Space Hall of Fame Inductee Facebook at facebook.com/NMSpaceMuseum/ to space. Several never-before-seen artifacts from Gene Roddenberry, the creator of Star Trek. the museum’s archives will be on display, including The International Space Hall of Fame Gift Shop

PAGE 20 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 ARTS Alan Charlee: The Navajo Way ~ROSEMARY BREEHL The Navajo Way is about balance and harmony with nature. Life on the reservation, where Alan grew up, is still traditional, yet always changing, decade to decade. His oil paintings are dedicated to the land and the people who defined his upbringing. Alan paints in the Old Master style, comprised of layers of glazing and scumbling which makes a painting luminous and rich with color. Charlee explains, “Art is an emo- tional experience. I found my calling through an oil painting class at CNM and greatly admire the work of Jan Steen and Titian. Over the last decade I’ve developed my own technique within the Western Realism style. In this series of oil paintings, I honor the contemporary Navajo way of life, and that of my ancestors.” His work reflects those values with titles such as Grandpa’s Horse and Great Grandmother’s Wagon Wheel. Alan was born in Gallup, NM, and raised on the Navajo reservation. He had an early interest in art that was well expressed throughout his childhood drawings. After high school, he moved on to Central New Mexico Community College where he obtained degrees in Computer Animation and Fine Arts. The artists’ reception will be celebrated with fellowship and Covid-safe refreshments on May 15, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. The number of people in the Watch for our Summer Soiree gallery at one time will be limited to Covid restrictions in effect. ~•~ Artwork, Treats, Fun! ~•~ Wild Hearts Gallery is an artists’ collective, supported by 15 longtime local artists. Wild Hearts Gallery is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. You can also take a visual tour of the gallery and purchase items online by visiting Wagon Wheel, by Alan Charlee Corrales Historical Society wildheartsgallery.com. calls to artists to submit to Placitas Reads: Color, Class, and Caste: annual ﬁne arts show ~DEBBIE CLEMENTE The Other Social Distancing Calling all artists to participate and compete in the 33rd ~ANNE GREY FROST Annual Juried Old Church Fine Arts show in Corrales. Submissions will be collected June 1 to June 15 and the On May 15, at 2:00 p.m., the Placitas Community Library will offer the first in our series of show will take place October 2 to October 10. The show conversations on issues of race, class, and systemic divisions in our culture and community with is presented by the Corrales Historical Society. For more a project entitled, Color, Class, and Caste: The Other Social Distancing. The current situation in information call Debbie Clemente at 688-4117 and stay the world, but especially in the United States, gives us great cause to consider how we came to tuned for more details in upcoming months. be here. The pandemic has exacerbated and laid bare problems and issues that have been imbed- ded in our country since its earliest days. The fact that many of us don’t know or understand this history has allowed these issues to fester. Our discussion will focus on the concepts raised in Isabel Wilkerson’s profound book Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents. Dr. Wilkerson is the best-selling author of The Warmth of Other ing your friends and neighbors, or even the folks you con- Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration, a noted journalist, and the first African nect with in the zooms. There is so much to explore and dis- American woman to receive the Pulitzer Prize for Journalism and the National Humanities cover about our history and experiences. Medal. Caste, itself, has received many awards not the least of which is the publishing indus- A great way to reacquaint yourself with some American try’s “Best Book of 2020 across All Genres.” Caste is a riveting history of three major caste sys- history is by reading the NYT 1619 Project. PCL has copies tems: India, Nazi Germany, and Slavery/Jim-Crow in the United States. Some of the stories are of this NYT Sunday insert available for free in the lobby as hard to read but the author lays out in a direct and thoughtful way how America, through history well as copies of Caste available both for purchase and and today, has been shaped by a sometimes-hidden caste system. check out in book, ebook, and audio. On our Placitas Reads Our first conversation, on May 15, will feature excerpts from several of the marvelous inter- web pages you will find annotated lists of other books, films, views Dr. Wilkerson has had with Ken Burns and Oprah Winfrey. From this common ground we interviews, and other resources for all ages which will add will break into small groups (ah the magic of Zoom) to discuss our perspectives on the issues aspects and nuance to the themes covered in Caste. raised. PCL encourages those who have not yet read Caste to attend this discussion. It may peak In order to attend you must register in advance at plac- your interest to explore further. itaslibrary.com to receive the Zoom link for this program— On June 19, all are invited to gather again on Zoom for a “Book group” type discussion of your name and email are all we need. Hope to ‘see’ you on Caste itself. We encourage you to form your own ‘group’ for more in depth conversation, invit- May 15, at 2:00 p.m.

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 21 State announces creation of new outdoor recreation business directory ~JENNIFER ESQUIVEL The New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division (ORD), a division of the Eco- ers and their customers within this sector. nomic Development Department (EDD) announced that it has created the “There are hundreds of thriving outdoor recreation businesses already in New state’s first digital outdoor recreation business directory. The goal of the free Mexico,” ORD Director Axie Navas said. “Together they comprise the state’s resource is to market the state’s robust outdoor recreation economy, assist busi- $2.4-billion outdoor economy. We want this new, free resource to highlight nesses, and connect people and customers with the resources they need to be these companies and make it easier for directory users to connect with guides, successful and get outside. retailers, manufacturers, glamping outfitters, land advocates, and much more.” ORD’s business directory aims to be a free, comprehensive list of outdoor Categorized by sector, and further organized by name and location, busi- recreation businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, educators, and others nesses and organizations are easy to find and sort on the directory. across the state. Just launched last week, the directory is already populated by Navas is encouraging all businesses related to the outdoor economy to regis- 26 outdoor recreation businesses—all members of Endeavor New Mexico, the ter to be included in the directory. Businesses need to complete a short registra- state’s first outdoor recreation business trade alliance—and is growing tion form, and once approved by ORD staff, the applicant’s organization will fast. Early registrants include Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions, 505 Cycles, Far be listed live on the directory’s website. Your organization must be directly Flung Adventures, and River Source Inc. related to the outdoor recreation industry and be based in New Mexico to be ORD created the directory to support the vibrant network of New Mexico included. outdoor recreation businesses and bring more visibility to their work. The free You can see the directory, and apply for inclusion, at resource will build community and relationships between the diverse employ- www.nmoutside.com/business-directory. SIGNPOST COMMUNITY CALENDAR

MANY OF THESE ONGOING LISTINGS ARE TEMPORARILY CANCELLED DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. PLEASE CHECK VIA THEIR CONTACT INFORMATION TO SEE WHEN AND IF THEY WILL RESUME.

[“First Monday” means the first Monday of each month.] will help you get your FCC license. Visitors welcome. Held at the Placitas Fire to VA benefits and state Veteran benefits. Come learn about your potential Station No. 41, Hwy 165, near the Library. Info: sandiavista.net.. benefits. Bring your DD-214. 383-2414. Daily: The Mayor Hull Show. Go to rrnm.gov/mayorhullshow. Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull talks about issues facing Rio Rancho. First Thursdays: Art and Music at the Loma Colorado Main Library Audi- Fourth Tuesdays: Pathways: Wildlife Corridors of NM monthly meeting. torium, Rio Rancho. Info: riorancholibraries.org, 505-891-5013. Daily: Recreating at Valles Caldera National Preserve. The park landscape 6:30 p.m. Held at Placitas Community Center. Open to the public. path- remains open to vehicles along NM-4 and pedestrian/bicycle access along wayswc.wordpress.com. trails, as designated. For a complete list of activities at the National Preserve, First and third Thursdays: Sandoval County Commission meeting. 6 p.m. go to https://www.nps.gov/vall/index.htm. Fourth Tuesdays: Eastern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Author- Unless otherwise noted, all meetings will be held in the Sandoval Administra- ity (ESCAFCA) meeting. 6 p.m. Held in the Town of Bernalillo Council tion Building, 1500 Idalia Road Building D, Bernalillo. Info or meeting agenda: Monthly: Various community events at Rio Rancho Libraries. Rio Rancho Chambers. Persons wishing to be on the agenda or persons with disabilities www.sandovalcounty.com, 867-7500. libraries—Esther Bone and Loma Colorado—will be hosting a variety of who need accommodations should call 771-7110 by the first Tuesday. Board events all month long ranging from book signings, to poetry readings, lec- meeting agenda is posted on the ESCAFCA website (escafca.com) and at the Second Thursday: The New Mexico Parkinson’s Coalition (NMPC) meets. tures, concerts, arts and crafts, meet and greets, etc. For more information front desk of the Town Hall by Friday preceding the meeting. 1:30-3 p.m. Held at Grace Outreach at 2900 Southern Boulevard SE in Rio about the library or each month’s activities, visit www.riorancholibraries.org. Rancho. The NMPC works to enhance the quality of life for individuals with Fourth Tuesdays: Placitas Democrats and Friends. 6-7:30 p.m. Held at Plac- Parkinson’s through education, awareness and support for those with the dis- Mondays: Bernalillo/Placitas open Al-Anon meeting for families and itas Community Library. Meetings are open to the public and feature candi- ease. For more information, call 219-5065 or visit the website: friends of alcoholics/problem drinkers. 7:30-8:30. Held at the Bernalillo United dates for local, state, national offices. www.sandovaldemocrats.org, 259-5860. nmparkinson.org. Methodist Church, 136 Calle Don Andres (behind Abuelitas), Bernalillo. Maxi- mum: 12 people; masks required. Info: 262-2177. Tuesdays: Haven House Domestic Violence Support Group for women Second Thursdays: Visionary Arts & Crafts Guild (VACG). 6-8 p.m. VACG is whose lives have been touched by domestic violence. 6:30-8:00 p.m. Topics a group of juried artists whose mission is to develop a fellowship among Second and fourth Mondays: Bernalillo Town Council meeting. 6:30 p.m. include: Dynamics of Domestic Violence, Safety Plans, Developing Healthy craftspeople and facilitate a market for crafts. The VACG supports the “Art of Held at Bernalillo Town Hall. Info: call 867-3311, townofbernalillo.org. Relationships, and information about available services. All sessions are confi- Craft” through exhibitions, education and public awareness to promote the dential and free of charge. Held at Rio Rancho First Baptist Church, corner of development and appreciation of craftspeople and theira work. Baptist Church Mondays through Fridays: Placitas Mothers’ Day Out childcare. A caring, Route 528 and 19th Avenue. 896-4869 or 1-800-526-7157. of Rio Rancho Adult Education Center, 1909 Grande Avenue, Rio Rancho. cooperative, community childcare program since 1989. Hours: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. [email protected], 948-3132. daily. Cancelled until further notice because of COVID. Info: Ms. Debbie Steu- Wednesdays: Cub Scout meetings. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Held at the LDS Church ber, 867-3371. Center in Bernalillo, west of I-25’s Exit 240. New members are always welcome. Third Thursdays: Placitas Community Library Board of Directors meet- 867-4689, 867-2047. ings. At the Placitas Community Library, 453 Hwy 165. 6:30 p.m. Open to the Mondays through Saturdays: Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in public. Meeting agendas are posted at the library and Placitas Post Office. Bernalillo. For a complete list of schedules, visit the website at www.albu- Wednesdays: Rotary Club of Rio Rancho Sunrise. 7 a.m. For breakfast, fel- querqueaa.org or call Central Office at 266-1900, open 24/7. lowship, a great speaker, and a chance to get involved in local and worldwide Fourth Thursdays: Sandoval County Development Planning & Zoning service projects. At Club Rio Rancho (used to be Chamisa Hills CC), 500 Coun- Commission. 6 p.m. Held at the Sandoval County Administration Building, Tuesdays and Thursdays: Pickleball at the Bernalillo Community Center. 1- try Club Drive, Rio Rancho. Info: Mac McKinney, 892-4313. 1500 Idalia Road., Bldg. D, Bernalillo. 4 p.m. Pickleball is a game played on a court with paddles and a whiffle ball. The court is smaller than a tennis court and allows people to play who no Wednesdays: Urban Horticulture Class Continuing Series. 1-3 p.m. Spon- Last Thursdays: Sandoval County veteran’s outreach and business coun- longer want to run and jump as they did in their younger years. Anyone can sored by the SandovalMasterGardeners.org. Free and open to the public. Reg- seling. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Held at 433 Meadowlark SE in Rio Rancho. All honor- play, even if they have never played tennis. 934-2649. Cancelled until further istration preferred. SandovalMasterGardeners.org. Sandoval County Ext. ably-discharged veterans may be entitled to VA benefits and state Veteran notice because of COVID. Office, Bernalillo. 929-0414. benefits. Come learn about your potential benefits. Bring your DD-214. 383- 2414. First Tuesdays: Albuquerque Newcomers’ Club Welcome Coffee. 10 a.m. First Wednesdays: Free civil legal clinic offered. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Held in the Held at Sandia Presbyterian Church (not affiliated with church)—10704 Paseo third-floor conference room of the Second District Courthouse, at the south- Fridays: Sandoval County Stroke Support Group. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Pro- del Norte. Membership is open to residents who have lived in the Albuquerque west corner of Lomas and Fourth, NW. Free legal advice on a number of civil vides weekly support to survivors of stroke, their caregivers, adult family area (including Sandoval County) for five years or less, or who are having legal issues. No family law services will be offered. Attendance is limited to the members, and health care providers. Water and light snacks provided. No major changes in their lives. Make new friends and increase your social life. first 25 persons who qualify for low-income assistance. Interpreters and bilin- charge for meetings. Social outings arranged six times a year. Geri: 620-8802. Sign up for monthly luncheons and speakers, dining out, visits to area attrac- gual attorneys will be on hand. Attendees should bring all of their paperwork. tions, book and movie groups, bridge, bunco, mah jongg, walking, wine tast- Expect about a thirty-minute, free legal consultation. 797-6077. First Fridays: Monthly luncheon of the Democratic Party of Sandoval ings, etc. Singles’ and men’s groups. [email protected]. County. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Range Cafe in Bernalillo, 925 Camino del Pueblo. 321-6970. Second Wednesdays: Rio Rancho Art Association (RRAA) monthly mem- Sandoval Democrats gather once a month (most months) to welcome speak- bership meeting. 6:30-8:30 p.m. RRAA is a non-juried/all mediums regional ers, candidates, and government representatives. You pay for your lunch from First Tuesdays: Coronado Kennel Club meeting. 7:30 p.m. All-breed kennel art association. You need not be a resident of Rio Rancho to join. Held in Don the menu, or come for just the meeting. www.sandovaldemocrats.org. club. Schedule changes in August and December. Call 867-4510 for meeting Chalmer’s Ford Community Room, 2500 Rio Rancho Boulevard, Rio Rancho. location. www.rraausa.org, www.rioranchoartassociation.blogspot.com or 301-2009. Second Friday: Luncheon of the San-Bern Federated Republican Women. Starts at 11:30 a.m. Held at Rio Rancho Inn and Conference Center—1465 Rio First Tuesday: Monthly ice cream social hosted by the Kiwanis Club. 6 p.m. Second and fourth Wednesdays: Sandoval County Civitans. 6:00 p.m. Held at Rancho Blvd. SE, Rio Rancho, 87124. The meet-and-greet luncheons are to dis- Held at the Paleta Bar in Bernalillo—510 NM Highway 528. Fair Winds, 920 Riverview Drive SE, Rio Rancho. 898-6884. cuss business and politics for both Sandoval and Bernalillo County Republican interests. Our aim is to promote an informed public through political educa- Third Tuesday: Open meeting of the Sandia Vista Amateur Radio Club. 7 Third Wednesdays: Las Placitas Association Board meeting. 6:30 p.m. Cur- tion and activity. All Republican men and women invited to attend. Contact p.m. Held at Fire Station 41 on highway 165, just east of the Placitas Commu- rently held via Zoom. Attendance by invitation. Visitors welcome. Email: the- Julie Wright at 720- 4883 or go to www.sanbernfrw.org. nity Library. Everyone is welcome to attend meetings, whether or not they [email protected] for an invitation. have an FCC License. Saturdays: Casa Rosa Food Bank. Open 9-11 a.m. Held in the pink house east Thursdays: Sandoval County Historical Society archives and library are of Las Placitas Presbyterian Church at 640 Highway 165, six miles east of I-25. Third Tuesdays: Monthly meeting of the Republican Party of Sandoval open to members and the public for family research, 9 a.m.-Noon. Bernalillo. Community outreach program provides nonperishable food items as well as County (RPSC). 7 p.m. Held at the Gospel Light Baptist Church, 1500 South- Info: 867-2755. dairy, frozen meats, and fresh produce as available for Placitas residents in ern Boulevard in Rio Rancho. www.SandovalGOP.com. need. Donations, volunteers welcome. First Thursdays: Sandoval County veteran’s outreach and business coun- Third Tuesdays: Sandia Vista Amateur Radio Club. 7 p.m. Help provide seling. 1-4 p.m. Held at the Sandoval County Administrative Building, 1500 Third Saturdays: Rio Rancho Northwest Mesa NAACP meets “Virtual.” Pub- emergency communications in Placitas. Become a “HAM” radio operator. We Idalia Road in Bernalillo. All honorably- discharged veterans may be entitled lic is invited. https://rrnaacp.wixsite.com/website

PAGE 22 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 Valles Caldera PLACITAS — $40,000 National Preserve TIME 1.6 ACRES seeks public input on Close OFF to management zoning over 3,000 ~RITA GARCIA acres The National Park Service wants to hear from the public as it considers a of zoning approach to help guide future planning and management decisions at Valles Caldera National Preserve. Public “Public and tribal feedback and engagement are important at this early Land! phase and will help guide how we define and plan future management at Valles Caldera National Preserve, “said Superintendent Jorge Silva-Bañuelos. “Our goal is to preserve and protect fundamental resources and values within PLACITAS — $78,000 the park while enhancing sustainable visitor access, experiences, and opportunities.” 3.5 ACRES Valles Caldera National Preserve created three draft zoning options to guide future planning and management. Management zoning aims to balance how the park supports visitor services and recreational opportunities with the stew- Includes ardship of the special natural and cultural resources and values that bring peo- water, ple to experience the park. Zoning describes the desired future resource conditions and visitor experi- electric, ences to be reached and maintained in geographically distinct areas of a park. phone, It includes considering the types of management activities and visitor uses, and and general types and levels of development that are appropriate and compati- cable! ble in a given area. Zoning does not propose specific developments; rather, it is used to guide future planning and decision-making. The park has hosted two virtual town hall meetings on April 20 and April 22 to give the public a chance to ask questions and learn more. Additional information on this zoning effort can be accessed on the project website at park- planning.nps.gov/VALL_zoning. Call DAVE HARPER 505-263-2266 The comment period runs April 9 to May 5. The public can submit their [email protected] thoughts through the project website. Placitas Realty 505-867-8000 3 Homesteads Rd, Placitas

City of Albuquerque opens registration for summer youth programming ~KINSEY COOPER SANDOVAL Mayor Keller’s One ABQ Youth Connect is ready to help families spring into Summer by opening registration for summer youth programming. Each summer, multiple departments across the City ramp up programming to accommodate families who are looking for opportunities for their children. Programs have registration dates continuing through early May. SignPOSt Parents can visit yc.cabq.gov for dates and to register. “During the pandemic we adapted our youth programs to support working THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT families, and it made a huge difference,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “We never OF SIGNPOST ADVERTISERS wavered on our commitment to safe, affordable, accessible youth development—and this summer we’re grateful to be able to welcome more kids back to fun and engaging programs everywhere from the Bosque and our parks to Find the Signpost online at community centers and pools.” www.sandovalsignpost.com When other cities chose to scale back or shut down their programs due to the pandemic, the City of Albuquerque focused on implementing COVID-safe practices that kept the safety net for essential workers intact. In Summer 2020, Mailed subscriptions available. the City was able to: • Offer 42 in-person programs with 59,460 participants in attendance • Offer 28 virtual programs with 18,119 participants in attendance • Invest $2.3 million dollars in youth wages—hiring 875 youth staff offering 130 internships This summer, the City looks forward to welcoming more youth at locations throughout the City. Registration will work similarly to previous years and • Camp Fearless—Registration coming soon registration for the following programs is open now or will be opening soon: • Jr Golf—Registration coming soon • Early Childhood Centers Community Centers and Multigenerational Centers will open their lottery • Explora Summer Camps process in early May and programs will begin in mid-June. Other programs • Albuquerque Museum School Summer Art Camps will also open registration throughout May. • Adventures in Art! “Summer is an exciting time for the Youth Connect team because we get • Youth Studio to welcome youth from across the City to programs we have been planning • Let’s Make a Movie! Sharing Our Stories in the Digital Age for months,” said Cristin Chavez-Smith, division manager for Family and • The Art and Science of Ballooning in New Mexico Community Services. “Registration is open for some programs now but • Camp BioPark Summer Program (Registration for Camp BioPark is expe- more will be opening in the next month.” riencing technical difficulties but we are working to correct the issue Information on programs across the City and links to registration is quickly and encourage those who are interested to check back). available at yc.cabq.gov.

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 23 PAGE 24 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 Sandoval County senior centers continue to serve meals to public

While activities at all Sandoval County Sen- ior centers are cancelled due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, meals are still available for pick up only and potentially home delivery. The menu will be the same for all of the San- doval County senior centers on any given day. To learn more about the weekly menus or to receive a reopening update from your local senior center, give them a call: Placitas: 867-1396 Bernalillo: 867-9448 Corrales: 897-3818 Rio Rancho: 891-5818 Jemez: 575-834-7630 Cuba: 575-289-3510 Cochiti 505-465-3162

If you are a senior or a disabled adult who cannot access groceries due to COVID-19 (Coronavirus), call the Aging and Long Term Services Department at Eastern Sandoval Citizens 1-800-432-2080 for assistance. Association (ESCA) report —JEAN ROBERTS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, ESCA

Did you know we have an election coming up? If you live in Congressional District 1, you will have the opportunity to select your representative to the US House of Representatives in a spe- GAUNTLET cial election on June 1. In Sandoval County, the district includes Placitas, Bernalillo, and Sandia Pueblo. LETTERS • OPINIONS • LOCAL ISSUES The winning candidate will take the seat vacated by Deb Haaland when she was selected as our nation’s Interior Secre- The Signpost welcomes letters of opinion. Letters are subject to tary. The six candidates for the position are Democrat Melanie Stansbury, Republican Mark Moores, Libertarian Christopher editing for length, clarity, libel, and other considerations. Mail to: Manning, and three candidates who are Independents or declined to select a party, Aubrey Dunn, Laura Olivas, and Signpost, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM, 87043 or send to: [email protected] Robert Ornelas. ESCA urges you to visit the New Mexico Secretary of State website, www.sos.state.nm.us, where you will find an array of election resources. Click on Voting and Elections to bring up Las Placitas Association (LPA) report instructions for registering to vote, requesting an absentee ballot, ~JOAN FENICLE finding a voting location near you, and viewing deadlines for each item. The first LPA sponsored hike of 2021 was held on April 11. LPA’s David Haigh lead hik- Residents who want to vote in the June 1 election and haven’t ers on the Stripmine/Chalkdust Trail loop in Placitas. This 3.6 mile hike features a moder- yet registered to vote can do so online or by mail by the May 4 ate trail. Hike participants were feeling more physically challenged after being cooped up deadline. If you miss the deadline, see the instructions on the during the pandemic and chose to take the upper loop. Everyone enjoyed themselves and website for same day registration. had a great time getting out in nature in our own backyard. We are interested in knowing Absentee ballots will be mailed out beginning May 4 for vot- if Placitans are interested in a weekday family hike before summer heat kicks in. You can ers who have requested them. You can request an absentee ballot message us at [email protected]. now through May 18. Installation of the rain-barrel watering system and slope-stabilizing vegetation at the site May 4 is also the first day that you can vote in person at the of KUPR is underway. We will share what we are learning via video. Sandoval County Clerk’s Office on Idalia Road in Rio Rancho. All of the environmental bills we were watching as they moved from the legislature to Additional early voting locations will be open May 15 through the Governor’s desk (see last month’s Signpost) have been signed into law—including May 29, and include the Presbyterian Church in Placitas and the bills that enable the state to set environmental standards greater than those of the federal Sandia Pueblo Community Center. More sites will open on the government and one prohibiting the use of snares, traps, and poisons on public lands. It’s a June 1 election day, including the Placitas Community Library, huge environmental victory and what one of our favorite NM writers, V.B. Price, calls Bernalillo Middle School, Bernalillo High School. The Secretary “astonishing” and moving New Mexico into an “environmentally sensible modern era.” of State website features a tool to locate a voting location near One bill that got less attention that it deserved was House Bill 51, the Environmental you. Database Act. This will lead to the creation of a map-based database hosted and managed ESCA urges you to vote in this very important election. by Natural Heritage New Mexico, which is a division of the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico. The information that will be included in the database is already available through seven New Mexico agencies. However, the database will put all the information in a single, user-friendly location, increasing transparency. One re: vote for New Mexicans non-environmental victory was Senate Bill 3 which will benefit those hit hardest by the New Mexicans elected large Democratic majorities to the State pandemic—offering long-term, low-interest loans of up to $150,000 to eligible New Mex- House and Senate, sending the clear message that all citizens deserve ico businesses and nonprofits. a better, fairer, and brighter future. And the state legislature deliv- Remember to VOTE. We have a special election June 1 to fill the vacancy left when US ered! Representative for CD1, Deb Haaland, was confirmed as Secretary of the Interior. Early We now have the opportunity to pass a constitutional amendment voting in Sandoval County begins May 4 at the Administration Building on Idalia Road, to significantly increase funding for early childhood education. We and May 15 at locations throughout the county including the warehouse on Hill Road and are on the road to universal broadband, essential for quality educa- Las Placitas Presbyterian Church. tion. —continued next page

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 25 GAUNTLET—CONTINUED Scientists ANIMAL From page 15—Vote Repeal of the State’s abortion ban means women will not have to worry about politicians have named a meddling in our health care. Those with terminal illnesses can receive medical aid in dying. NEWS Employees can now earn sick leave, reducing the risk of spreading contagious diseases to “Godzilla Shark” customers and coworkers. We are making progress toward guaranteed, comprehensive health care for all. ﬁrst discovered in New Mexico Thanks to the state legislature, New Mexico’s economy can expand more rapidly, while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. Legalized recreational cannabis will help ~PATRICK RODRIGUEZ, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS diversity our economy, while expunging cannabis-related criminal records will promote social justice. More small businesses harmed by Covid can receive economic assistance. With assistance from the New Mexico Museum of Natural His- But with few exceptions, the Sandoval County Republicans in the state legislature voted tory & Science (NMMNHS), a team of researchers from multiple NO to these advancements. They have proclaimed, resoundingly, that they represent special institutions has named Dracopristis hoffmanorum, a 6.7-foot- interests and lack the will or foresight to improve public education, protect our health, diver- long shark that lived three-hundred-million years ago. The com- sify our economy, promote social justice, safeguard our environment, and prevent climate plete skeleton was found in the Manzano Mountains, about thirty change. miles southeast of Albuquerque. Last month’s editorial cartoon (Signpost, April 2021) depicts an indignant lobbyist rebuking The research team consisted of John-Paul Hodnett, paleontolo- the New Mexico legislature for ignoring the myriad items on his bottomless wish list. In con- gist and program coordinator for the Maryland-National Capital trast, the clear winners in this legislative session are the citizens of Sandoval County. When Parks and Planning Commission’s Dinosaur Park in Laurel, the time comes to cast our ballots, Sandoval County voters must remember who is working in Maryland; Eileen D. Grogan and Richard Lund of St. Joseph’s our best interest and who is protecting special interests. University in Pennsylvania; Spencer G. Lucas, Curator of Pale- —JUDITH GORDON, Bernalillo ontology at NMMNHS; Tom Suazo, former fossil preparator at NMMNHS; David K. Elliot of Northern Arizona University; and Jesse Pruitt of Idaho State University. The new shark was published in the Bulletin of the NMMNHS. An appeal to parents, Dracopristis had 12 rows of piercing teeth in robust powerful YOUTH jaws, and bore two-and-one-half foot-long fin spines on its back. This combination of features gave this shark the popular nick- grandparents, former Scouters name “Godzilla Shark” when it was discovered in May, 2013. A ~DAVID GARDNER group of scientists who had been participating in a scientific Scouting is more than just a fun activity. It is an investment in the future of our children, our meeting at NMMNHS were visiting the mountains to learn about families, our community, and our nation. the rocks and exceptional fossils of late Pennsylvanian Period For three years, a Tufts University research team worked with a BSA Scout council in the plants and animals preserved there. Just as the group was about Philadelphia area to measure the character attributes of over two-thousand Scouts and non- to leave, Hodnett, a graduate student at the time, came across Scouts. At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences between Scouts something unexpected. and non-Scouts, but after two-and-a-half years, the Cub Scouts reported significant increases “I was just sitting in a shady spot using a pocket knife to split in cheerfulness, helpfulness, kindness, obedience, trustworthiness, and hopeful future expecta- and shift through the shaley limestones, not finding much except tions. There were no significant increases reported among non-Scouts. scouting’s goal is to fragments of plants and a few fish scales, when suddenly I hit prepare young people to succeed in life, and it works! something that was a bit denser,” said Hodnett, a specialist in We hear that during the COVID 19 pandemic, many people have felt lonely and despon- ancient sharks. “At first, I thought what was flipped over was the dent. Involvement in Scouting is an antidote. Here in southern Sandoval County, those young cross-section of a limb bone, which was exciting as no large people participating in Cub Scout Pack 708 and Boy Scout Troop 708 still have positive atti- tetrapod had been found at that site before.” tudes and look forward to the future with plans for success. But fewer youth are joining. We Hodnett’s discovery drew excitement from the crowd of scien- need more children to come into the program to take the place of those who are graduating. tists, and a team from the NMMNHS got to work quickly to Our leaders are trained volunteers with an interest in the future of our children and our coun- expose more of the fossil, as the rest of the meeting participants try. We teach the Scout Law: A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, went back to the Museum. It wasn’t until the next day, while Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent. We can’t help if we don’t have Hodnett was working with a colleague in the NMMNHS collec- members. tions, that he found out what had been uncovered. “The Museum For information on Scouting, contact David Gardner of the pack’s sponsoring organization—the Coronado Optimist Club—at 867-4689, or call Amanda Griego at 507-1305. —continued next page

IN THE

GALLERY

by RUDI KLIMPERT

PAGE 26 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 Excellent care for your family pet Coronado Pet Hospital is a state-of-the-art, clean, and comfortable veterinary clinic with a wide variety of veterinary services for total pet care.

Coronado's compassionate and experienced staff is fully equipped to treat dogs, cats, and many exotic species with general and emergency veterinary services, surgery, dental care, and prescription pet foods. Stop by to meet our staff or call for an appointment today.

A mock illustration of Dracopristis hoffmanorum, a 6.7-foot-long shark that lived three-hundred-million years ago. from page 26 ANIMAL NEWS —Shark —CONTINUED fossil preparatory, Tom Suazo, came in with this cardboard tray in his hand and a huge grin on his face, saying that it wasn’t a tetrapod that I found but a really big shark,” recalled Hodnett. The tray contained bits of rock that had the impressions of the fin spines, Conveniently located at and the pattern was indicative of a ctenacanth shark, a group Hodnett special- 4192 Hwy 528 (just South of 550) ized in. Dr. Spencer Lucas, curator of paleontology at NMMNHS, encouraged Hodnett to research the new fossil, which turned out to be the most Rio Rancho, NM 87144 complete ctenacanth shark fossil to be discovered in North America. After seven years of work in the Museum’s preparation lab to clean and sta- Call 505-771-3311 bilize the fossil, research comparing it to other ancient sharks, helped by a CT scan of the fossil by Presbyterian Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho, Open: Mon-Fri 8am-6pm • Saturdays 8am-4pm Hodnett’s team determined that it was a new kind of ctenacanth shark. The name Dracopristis hoffmanorum, or Hoffman’s Dragon Shark, is in recogni- Closed Sundays and major holidays tion of some of its Godzilla-like traits (the largest fish found at the site so far and having big jaws and large spines), and honoring the Hoffman family, who owns the land where the shark fossil was collected. By looking at the rocks where it was found and the anatomy of Dracopris- tis, the team determined that the Dragon Shark likely lived in shallow lagoons and estuaries, cruising near the bottom of the waterways to ambush prey such as crustaceans, bony fish, and other sharks. The large dorsal fin spines of Dracopristis acted as a deterrent against THE ANIMAL HOTLINE larger predators. “In the same rocks that yielded the fossil of Dracopristis, we have found teeth of a larger shark called Glikmanius, which is known almost To help reunite lost/found pets with their people. worldwide at this time, and it would have been a large and dangerous preda- tor” said Hodnett. The new skeleton of Dracopristis also offers new insight into how cte- If you lose or find an animal in Sandoval County, nacanths fit on the family tree of sharks. Thus, Dracopristis and other cte- email the information to: nacanth sharks represent a unique evolutionary branch of the sharks that split [email protected] off from the modern sharks and rays approximately 390 million years ago, We will place it in the upcoming issue at no charge. but that went extinct by the end of the Paleozoic Era, about 252 million years ago. If the animal you reported no longer needs attention, please email the Signpost by the 20th of the month to have the listing removed.

Governor signs bill banning traps, The Animal Hotline is a free animal-friendly service of the Signpost. snares, poisons on NM public lands ~CHRIS SMITH, WILDEARTH GUARDIANS This month, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law a bill banning traps, snares, and poisons on public lands across New Mexico. Called “Roxy’s Law,” in honor of a cattle dog who was strangled to death in a neck snare on public lands in 2018, this new law will go into effect in 2022 and will save untold numbers of native wildlife—as well as recreationists and com- panion animals—from cruel and indiscriminate traps, snares, and poisons on public lands across the Land of Enchantment. Mexico and for the public lands that they call home. It’s also a day on which the Since 2008, private trappers in New Mexico have killed nearly 150,000 native Governor has signaled that outdoor recreation and public safety are critical to New wildlife species such as bobcats, swift foxes, badgers, beavers, ermine, and coy- Mexico’s economic future. Getting this bill signed into law has been a priority for otes. Critically endangered species, such as the Mexican gray wolf, have also WildEarth Guardians for a decade. We applaud every citizen advocate and elected been killed and injured in traps, including two wolves caught in traps in New official who made this possible over the last decade. It is wonderful to catch up to Mexico in the past six months. our neighbors in Colorado and Arizona and show other western states the way for- This is a monumental victory and a tremendous day for native wildlife in New ward in terms of respecting wildlife and protecting public lands.”

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 27 LALO’S ANIMAL PRINTS Email your animal photos to “Lalo” at: [email protected]

Nice to still see the Cedar Waxwings still around; saw them a lot this Winter, which was great. —All photos this page by TODD RENNECKAR

Playful robins fly through New Mexico.

Starting to get some Squirrel shots. They seem to get really active come Spring.

A Squirrel doing his best bird impersonation

PAGE 28 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 SANDOVAL CLASSIFIEDS To place a classified ad, email your ad or questions to: [email protected] (Includes a free posting on the Signpost website.) For further information, visit: www.sandovalsignpost.com SignA N INDEPENDENT PLOCAL NEWSPAPER St or call the Signpost office at 505-867-3810.

ANIMALS CLASSES FOR SALE: HOMES / LAND

Paws N’ Claws Pet Care Chris Livingston, Master Music Instructor 2 ACRES! SANDIA VIEW!—2 building sites for house and Piano, Guitar, Bass, Ukulele, Theory • All ages/styles In-Home Pet Care serving: studio. Water, utilities, reasonable covenants. Placitas Realty 867-8000, Janice 250-6946. Placitas, Corrales & Rio Rancho More info on my website: chrisfusion.com Overnight Pet Care provided in Placitas LESSONS via Skype, Zoom, FaceTime, or in Studio B.A. in Music • 20 yrs. Instructor & Performer Pet Sitting • Pet Waste Removal Certified in Early Childhood Teaching {505} 440-0875 FIRST CLASS FREE with 1 month sign-up. 505-980-4322 • [email protected] Insured/Bonded Deb Stichmann [email protected]

NON-LETHAL SNAKE REMOVAL ~ ~ ~ Any kind of snake ~ ~ ~ Donations accepted for payment. Call Moises—321-3600 BOSQUE BLUFF—A 19-LOT FULLY APPROVED PATIO HOME SUBDIVISION—In Bernalillo on Sheriff’s Posse Road. Fabulous view of the Sandias and all city services are available. Seller will consider owner financing and/or joint ven- tures to develop this project. Call Porter 263-3662, La Puerta WILDLIFE RESCUE—Call 505-344-2500. Real Estate Services, LLC-867-3388. An all-volunteer wildlife rescue program to assist injured or orphaned wildlife. A service of the Rio Grande Nature Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN PLACITAS ON 7 ACRES DIVIDED INTO 4 PARCELS—The first lot has a well, power, and septic system installed. The other lots have a rough CLEANIING road and pad sites that sit up above the cottonwoods across from Las Huertas stream bed. Only $99,000 and owner financing possible. Call Porter 263-3662, La Puerta Real Estate Serv- ANNOUNCEMENTS ices, LLC -867-3388.

DESERT FLOWER CARPET & STEAM CLEANING CARPET AND FURNITURE SPECIALISTS UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR DEVELOPERS, We steam clean wool and silk area rugs, too, plus your tile, grout and stone INVESTORS OR BUILDERS—7 Platted lots in Placitas

PLACITAS WINERY 867-4493 • www.desertflowercleancarpets.com foothills with a total of 13 acres and it has 3 wells and power to in the Village of Placitas the first two lots. $199,000 and possible owner financing. Call IS LOOKING TO BUY LOCAL NM FRUIT Porter 263-3662. La Puerta Real Estate Services, LLC 867- FOR FRUIT WINE- & CIDER-MAKING 3388. apricots, cherries, plums, apples, crabapples, berries, grapes. Keep fruit off the ground—we can do the harvesting. Please give a call/text to Barb at: 505-363-5606 or send an email to: [email protected]. PLACITAS $40,000 JUST LISTED!—1.6 acres with dramatic mesa views and views of Cabezon and Mt Taylor! Gently slop- WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! PLACITAS HOUSEKEEPING ing land with electricity there! Reasonable covenants include 1200 sq. ft. minimum house size, 17' height restriction, and no HOA. Less than a quarter mile from over 3,000 acres of public land! Dave Harper 505-263-2266, Placitas Realty 505-867-8000 [email protected]. SANDOVAL Local resident • 25 years experience

References provided • Placitas area PLACITAS $40,000—2.5 ACRES—Beautiful hilltop lot! Lesia Graham — 448-1152 / 659-5500 Off the grid land with 360 degree views! And few neighbors! SignPOSt Perfect place to build your environmentally friendly home! Dave Harper, Placitas Realty 867-8000 or 263-2266, Read Signpost [email protected]. BACK ISSUES at PLACITAS $50,000—NEXT TO PUBLIC LAND!— sandovalsignpost.com Beautiful 3/4 acre lot in Placitas backing up to thousands of THANK YOU acres of Public Land! No covenants & no HOA! Placitas • • • Realty 505-867-8000, Dave Harper [email protected], 505-263-2266. News and information of interest for your support to the residents of Sandoval County of Signpost advertisers. —“FOR SALE-HOMES / LAND,” continued next page

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 29 FOR SALE: HOMES / LAND CLASSIFIEDS ~CONTINUED~ ~CONTINUED~

PLACITAS $78,000—3.5 ACRES—Panoramic view lot GROUND WORK HELP WANTED backing up to Public Land! Serene setting in Placitas with little traffic, the land includes water, electricity, phone & cable! LANDSCAPING / WANTED Reasonable covenants; horses, goats & sheep are allowed! Dave Harper 505-263-2266 Placitas Realty 505-867-8000, ~CONTINUED~ [email protected].

Blades' Bistro in Placitas is Hiring PLACITAS $95,000—DIAMOND TAIL—2.7 acres with Looking for Line Cook (Experience Preferred), panoramic views in a private (gated) subdivision! Includes BLOOMING Dishwasher, Server, Busser. water, electric, natural gas, phone, cable & paved road! contact: 505-771-0695 Dave Harper 505-263-2266 Placitas Realty 505-867-8000, NATIVE GARDENS [email protected]. PROFESSIONAL XERISCAPE DESIGN, WANTED—Laborer 3 hrs. per week; carpenter; PLACITAS $130,000—CONVENIENT!—1.5 acres overlook- INSTALLATION older working Nissan or Toyota station wagon; a female ing National Forest with panoramic views! Convenient lot on & MAINTENANCE Maltese dog. Call 891-0773, Leave msg. paved road with underground utilities, community water & natural gas! Huge views of the Sandias, Mt Taylor, city lights NOW SCHEDULING EARLY SPRING CLEAN UP!! and amazing sunsets! This is a rare ridge lot with custom Extensive plant knowledge • Over 30+ yrs experience homes all around. Placitas Realty 505-867-8000, Dave Harper • 10% off labor for new Placitas customers 505-263-2266 [email protected]. Call today to schedule a visit RENT / LEASE 505-440-0875 [email protected] FOR SALE— Recommended by Angie’s List • Placitas resident • Lic/Ins HOME FOR LEASE! BEAUTIFUL SW STYLE!— 3 BR+office, 2 full baths and a half bath. 2-car garage, great MISCELLANEOUS kitchen, patios. Placitas Realty 867-8000, Janice 250-6946.

DALE’S TREE SERVICE—Pruning, removals, stumps, FOR SALE—LASER SAILBOAT—Two sails and rigging. hauling and mowing. 28 years experience. Dale Roberts, Hull needs work. In Placitas. Call 867-5603. 505-473-4129 or 505-977-1981. SERVICES

GROUND WORK WHELCHEL Placitas LANDSCAPING Landscaping and Construction Co. Pool & Spa Service NOW is a great time to SAVE MONEY on Complete Landscaping, Concrete Work, Paver Patios, a HIGH & DRY LANDSCAPES a Service • Repair • Maintenance Patio Covers, Gravel Work & more! Country cottage gardens using native plants & permaculture We’re Specialists in CALL/TXT: SALLY HALL—505-695-0243 797-9680 LANDSCAPING & OUTDOOR LIVING ✃ Pool & Spa Techs Sprinkler & Drip Systems Clip This Ad and Place on Refrigerator for Future Reference FOREVERBLOOM—A HORTICULTURE AND Concrete, Flagstone & Brick Work ARBORICULTURE BUSINESS. Services include: Block Walls & Stucco Work Consulting, landscape design, plant care, pre-purchase inspection and selection. Disease and pest infestation Additions & Remodels control. Tree appraisals and landscape restoration. Kiva Fireplaces • Banco Seating 30 yrs. exp. Please give me a call—Virginia Escamilla at Outdoor Kitchens • Portals • Decks 505-379-8890. Patio Covers • Retaining Walls Terracing • Sod • Gravel & Planting If you can imagine it, we can create it.

Call 221-8052 References/Pictures on Request • www.nmlandscaping.com Licensed/Bonded/Insured/Lic. #380846 A-Rating - Angie’s List • AAA - Better Business Bureau

HEALTH / SPIRIT

RIVER STONE CATE CLARK MASSAGE THERAPY MT#4607 is NM Safe Certified and Certified Member ABMP. Covid-compliant and committted to all our health. Open Mon.-Fri. by appt., 8am-5pm, in new Village of Placitas studio. riverstonecate.com • Call to schedule—505-401-4015

—“GROUND WORK / LANDSCAPING,” continued next column

—“SERVICES,” continued next page

PAGE 30 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988 SERVICES ~CONTINUED~

Painting by Adobe Handyman Services United Services I do it all! N Residential • Commercial AN A Tile Framing Drywall

MA M Stucco Plaster Painting All Paints & Refinishes • Int./Ext. YM Y Windows Doors Roofs General Maintenance DY D Stonework Adobe Landscaping N

Handyman • Stucco Repairs AN A No job too small

HA H N llamsootbojo ! 505.250.6646 FREE EEERF ESTIMATES!STST MI ATAT SE !S Call Scott 600-2394 Licensed, Insured & Bonded ocSllaC tttt 625-043 96

• • • DESERT SERVICE SPRING • • • DAVE’S Garage Door Service ABR Septic Pumping Broken Spring & Operator Repair & Back-Up Service BOBCAT SERVICE 505-252-9722 • WEEKENDS—No Extra Charge Dirt Removal “We Live & Own in Placitas!” Trash Haul • Grading Call Jim: 505-315-5000 Tree/Brush Removal Licensed NEW MEXICO RUBBISH REMOVAL WeWe wearwear masksmasks && glovesgloves forfor youryour protprotection.ection. Gravel • Driveways & Insured WEEKLY TRASH SERVICE Regular septic service & emergencies Snow Removal • Backhoe • Serving the Placitas Area Call • Bi-weekly recycling available • Offering assistance 505-264-1062 to elderly & disabled “Serving Sandoval • Placitas owned & operated THANK YOU for your support County since 1996” Call Jon Dominguez • 239-3971 of Signpost advertisers.

”MAY DAY”—A stereogram by GARY PRIESTER TO VIEW THE STEREOGRAM: Hold the image close to your wide open eyes and look “through” the image, not focusing on it, then slowly move the image away maintaining the blurred focus. Let your brain work to see the hidden image in 3D. Visit: facebook.com/Eyetricks3DStereograms to see images that change each week or visit: eyetricks-3d-stereograms.com.

Sandoval Signpost • Serving the community since 1988 • MAY 2021 • Page 31 What’s Up With New Mexico’s Hard Water? GMX Has Your Solution By Felix Clovelly© When it comes to hard water, residents of New Mexico know what’s up. The water is very hard and is really damaging to our plumbing! Not to mention the dried out skin and hair and reduced efficiency coming from the water heater. But we don’t have to live with it. Instead, call Larry Brown. With 26 years’ experience and thousands of satisfied customers, he preaches a healthier, energy-efficient and economically sound alternative: GMX water treatment. “We believe first that whatever we do to solve one problem should not cause others, for the environment or for our customers” says Brown. “This means The whole-house GMX treatment begins with a series of magnets installed on the main no salt added to the water, no cold water supply line (top left). If the main line is not easily accessible, burying the mag- water wasted in the treatment nets on the main line by the meter is a highly effective installation (bottom left). Another process, no high-maintenance series of magnets is installed as a booster treatment after the hot water heater (right). equipment and no ongoing operating costs!” were introduced to the tech- 98 percent success rate. and I don’t have to add bleach He continues, “And we also nology and became customers That success rate is what or other treatments. It’s obvi- strongly believe it is far better of the product in their own led Albuquerque homeowners ous the magnets are doing their to invest in this preventative home over 27 years ago. “Ruthie Linda Vigil-Lopez and Dan job. We highly recommend the maintenance system one time immediately loved how much Lopez to have the GMX water GMX water system.” instead of paying the price over better her shampoo worked and system installed. “The entire Brown and his team are con- and over again for plumbing the softness of her hair,” recalls process of having the GMX fident that customers will be repairs, faucet and shower head Brown. “Within a week, she water system installed was effi- happy with the efficient, safe replacements, and dishwasher noticed the shower walls were cient, thorough and profession- and maintenance-free GMX and water heater failures.” easier to clean and I noticed al,” says Linda. “The results have water system, which he says How? GMX water treatment the water from our old electric been wonderful, and you see the takes between two and three uses magnetic technology to water heater was getting hotter. benefits immediately. I turned hours to install. Brown gives change the way minerals crystal- We still have that ancient water on the shower the next day every customer a full, one-year, lize in water, ultimately leaving heater and I haven’t even had to and it felt soft like rainwater, as money-back guarantee based on less residue and mineral scale, change a heating element in 27 opposed to the usual softening your satisfaction with the bene- and more effective soap, sham- years!” systems where water feels oily fits in your home. poo and detergents. Unlike salt Calcium is hard on your and soapy. The water tastes real- So, if you are tired of suf- softeners, the patented GMX plumbing, says Brown. “It forms ly good and you don’t notice the fering from hard water issues equipment uses a chemical-free a layered crystalline structure buildup around the fixtures.” around the home, if you believe process that requires no sodium that turns to rock inside your Additionally, Linda says in preventing those problems or potassium, making it safe for pipes,” he explains. “But after she has only been using half of instead of paying to repair them people with heart and blood exposure to the GMX magnetic the typical amount of laundry over and over again, then take pressure issues, and for plants, field, calcium crystallizes differ- detergent. “The clothes come the next step today and call pets and septic systems, says ently.” out cleaner and fresh smelling, Larry Brown at 505-250-7754. Brown. It also operates with- After having the system out electricity so it does not installed in their own home and Your Next Step? increase your utility bills. “There seeing results with their own For a FREE Estimate are no moving parts, and the eyes, Larry and Ruthie become or an Information Package magnets themselves are stability owners and operators of R&L Call 250-7754 or tested and rated to only lose Enterprises, New Mexico’s pre- 800-406-0469 3% of their intensity over 125 mier GMX dealer. Brown has years,” he notes. “The equip- now been working for nearly or email [email protected] ment requires zero maintenance three decades with customers in Senior and never has to be repaired or New Mexico, including home- replaced.” owners, businesses, apartments, & Military Larry and his wife, Ruthie, hotels and schools, and he has a Discounts PAID ADVERTISEMENT Available

PAGE 32 • MAY 2021 • SANDOVAL SIGNPOST • SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1988