NEWS Local news and entertainment since 1969 Bottom Line Special Healthcare Awards edition! Inside Fire chief GREATER LAS CRUCES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE • DECEMBER 2020 • WWW.LASCRUCES.ORG TABLE OF CONTENTS promoted to asst. From the Chair .......... 2 Finally the magic Healthcare Awards of the Season Winners ..................... 3 By DEBBI MOORE over the last couple of years. myself struggling to see GLCCC CEO/President What changes have taken any “magic” in this holiday place! As most of you know, season. The element of the city manager Somewhat exhausted by tremendous loss found me in unknown of COVID and Shop Southern all the decorating, I stepped my life the latter part of 2018, its impact on us personally back and looked around and as I wrote in December and our community has New Mexico ............. 4 my house at the glistening of that year, “…my loss has caused us to be fearful, sad Christmas trees, each rotat- given way to my struggling to and facing the future with ing to the rhythm of the holi- find that ‘Magic of the Sea- trepidation. However, we, day music playing. With the son’ for this year…” Amaz- individually and collectively, reflection of the lights on the page 12 ingly, I somehow found my have faced this pandemic ornaments, I was suddenly pathway through that first with courage, resolve and reminded of the true magic FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 holiday season, and last year tenacity. of the season. For the last 25 COURTESY PHOTO Debbi Moore the second. Throughout this year we GREATER LAS CRUCES years or so, I have collected have grieved the loss of loved Santas. From the smallest rate the entire house even As we welcomed 2020 into CHAMBER OF COMMERCE our lives, we never dreamed ones and the normalcy of life of ornaments to a life-size if I knew there wouldn’t be itself. I miss seeing people 150 E. LOHMAN AVE. guests to enjoy it in person. the journey this year would Santa that greets people in smile, hugs and personal in- I was determined to find the bring us. There were, and LAS CRUCES, NM 88001 our entryway, my fascination teraction. Wearing our masks “magic” of the season. often continue to be, mo- 575-524-1968 with the “jolly ole fellow” has has caused me to remember brought to me the true joy of In preparation for this ar- ments when the grief of loss WWW.LASCRUCES.ORG how my mother told me I I Volume 52, Number 49 the season. And, especially ticle, I reread the December in so many areas of my life this year, I chose to deco- articles what I had written overwhelm me and I find See MOORE | 2 I lascrucesbulletin.com RELIEF FROM JOINT PAIN STARTS HERE. If joint pain or stiffness is keeping you from doing the things you love, we can help you get back to your active life. MountainView Regional Medical Center is the only hospital in Las Cruces to offer a full range of services for joint pain relief, including advanced robotic-assisted knee and hip replacements. To find out more about treatment options NEWS that may be right for you, attend one of our free joint pain seminars. Learn more about joint pain treatment options at bit.ly/MountainViewOrthopedics. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks and benefits of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Patient results may vary. Consult your physician about the benefits and risks of any surgical procedure or treatment. Chop it, then trim it Spaceport under scrutiny, director fired page 18 A&E Bob Diven begins arts residency downtown page 22 BUSINESS Your Pet Space adapts to COVID, renovates Heading to area national forests in droves, people like this family from Texas (who declined to share their names) are taking advantage of tree-cutting permits to page 31 get out in the sunshine and select their Christmas trees. Contact area ranger districts for permits, or visit recreation.gov/tree-permits to buy one online and read the guidelines. Permits are $10 a tree in the Lincoln National Forest. Piñon pines are free in the Gila, $5 for other varieties. BULLETIN PHOTO BY ELVA K. ÖSTERREICH 2 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 LAS CRUCES BULLETIN LAS CRUCES BULLETIN NEWS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 | 3 Community Foundation receives reaccreditation By TERRA V. WINTER Cruces Fund. The Non- development, account- community, our donors President and CEO profit Emergency Fund ability, grantmaking and and our volunteers know Community Foundation raised more than $100,000 community engagement. we strive to be the best of Southern New Mexico and has assisted in sup- These are all things our philanthropic organiza- porting 29 nonprofits local CFSNM strives for. tion we can be. Community founda- thus far. Of the $670,550 Your community foun- Visit www.cfsnm.org, tions are an integral part Hidalgo, Otero, Sierra, CFSNM reacted quickly donated to support these dation has been accred- www.cfstandards.org and of identifying and solving Grant, Lincoln and Luna. to the COVID-19 pan- funds, some came from ited since 2012 and we are www.cof.org. problems within the com- Being the center for demic, together with the Southern Colonias proud to continue this in- Contact Terra Winter at munity. charitable giving, CFSNM donors and volunteers, Fund, with more than 246 depth process so that our [email protected]. The Community Foun- does many things to to begin multiple COVID donors. dation of Southern New improve the lives of all response funds. These CFSNM has continued funds serve a variety of its events by moving to Mexico (CFSNM) has southern New Mexicans. CHALLENGING TIMES served as a community Recently, the founda- communities, which in- a virtual platform. The Your wealth can be replaced CALL FOR CREATIVE resource that connects tion has been granted its clude the Thank You Las foundation’s annual gala - your health can’t - donors to needs and sup- reaccreditation by the Na- Cruces Restaurants Fund raised $45,000, and it RESPONSES...BE take care of both. ports charitable organiza- tional Standards for U.S. that has supported local hosted more than 80 pro- CREATIVE CRUCES! tions for 31 years. It has Community Foundations, restaurants in provid- fessionals during the 28th We’re open and available come to manage more which represents its com- ing more than 2,200 free annual Estate Planning Ronald W. Cavill, CFP® than 200 endowments mitment to go above and meals to those in need. Institute. Ronald W. Cavill, CFP® 1155-B1155-B Commerce Commerce Court Court beyond federal and state Additionally, more than To receive and to and house more than 30 LasLas Cruces, Cruces, NM NM 88011 88011 scholarships, with three requirements to demon- 1,823 hardship grants maintain accreditation, 575-323-3425575-323-3425 | www.cavillco.com | www.cavillco.com strate accountability and have been awarded to community foundations annual grant cycles. Securities Securitiesoff ered through offered LPL Financial, through Member LPL Financial, FINRA/SIPC. Member Investment FINRA/SIPC. Advice off ered The foundation serves excellence within the individuals and families must have structure and throughInvestment Marshall InvestmentAdvice offered Management, through a registered Marshall investment Investment advisor . CavillManagement, and seven counties: Doña Ana, community. from the Together Las governance, resource Companya registeredand Marshall investment Investment Management advisor. Cavill are separate and Company entities from and LPL Marshall Financial. Investment Management are seperate entities from LPL Financial. WE ARE Committed. Robert and Melissa Sanchez, Owners | R&M Construction From start to finish, our construction projects show commitment to quality workmanship and customer satisfaction. Century shares the same commitment when managing our business loans and accounts. Century is OUR BANK! MyCenturyBank.com 575.521.2400 4 | FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020 NEWS LAS CRUCES BULLETIN Las Cruces Bulletin - 10/13/2017 Page : A013 Help others in need during the 2020LAS CRUCES BULLETIN holiday season NEWS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2017 | 13 By MIKE COOK com. Thrift store: 575- Saturdays; donations, est hunger relief orga- tance, call 575-523-4390 or Las Cruces Bulletin 541-4942. SHAS, founded shoppers welcome. Flagsnization, of providing mourning food visit www.rrfb.org/find- in 1996, is a no-kill, non- • The Cat’s Meow to hundreds of partners food. Staff and volunteers Throughout November profit adoption center for Adoption Center wel- across New Mexico, in- can also helpEND those in and into December, the homeless cats and dogs. comes cash donations. cluding distribution sites need apply for food-stamp Bulletin is providing in- • ACTion Programs 2211 N. Mesquite St., in Doña Ana County. (SNAP) benefits. Call toll- SALE! Tile formation on ways you gloves, bottled water, toi- for Animals (APA) has 575-640-0011, 639-3036, Since New Mexico is one free 844-684-6268 or email Tile can help those in need let paper, paper towels, rescued more than 4,800 thecatsmeowlc@gmail. of the most food insecure [email protected] Roadrun- from in Las Cruces and Doña tall kitchen trash bags, dogs and cats in the com- com. Donate at www.the- states, the best way to ner began service in 1980 * Truckloads Ana County during this scented laundry deter- munity since 2012, most catsmeowlascruces.com. help is a financial contri- and feeds 70,000 people in stock holiday season. This is gent, Clorox disinfecting from the Animal Services Mail donations to The bution to source, acquire each week through a Cash and Carry. No holding. the fifth and final entry wipes, bottled hand soap, Center of the Mesilla Val- Cat’s Meow, P.O.