VOLUME X, ISSUE 5 ELDORADO May 2008 IN THIS ISSUE Sheriff & Bobcats ............. 2 Pres. Notes & Soil Repair .. 3 In the Community ........ 4-5 Roads and ERA Update .... 6 White-breasted Nuthatch .7 Master Gardening ............ 7 Water Harvesting ............. 8 MVonthly NewsIletter Sof the EldorTado CommAunity ImproveSment Associatio n 1 La Hacienda Loop, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87508 M (505) 466-4248 M www.eldoradocommunity.org MM Thinking Outside the Book ECIA Board ISTA GRANDE PUBLIC LIBRARY will address the problem of a decline in library usage (VGPL) is certainly not your grandparent’s by teen patrons. The goal is to provide an engaging Work Study Vlibrary. Yes, there are plenty of books, more environment in which teens will use technology to Meeting, than 20,000 of them, in fact. But there are also create podcasts that promote their local library. Community recorded books for all ages, movies on DVD and Technology is also the focus of a $12,000-plus VHS, music CDs, teaching materials, a broad selec - grant from the New Mexico State Library. The Center, Mon., tion of magazines and the always-popular public Technology Showcase Grant will enable the library May 12, 7 pm computers, including one that is ADA-compliant. to create two Apple graphic design stations that let From the moment the idea for a library was born, users edit photos, video and audio and create anima - the thinking around the institution has been “outside tion. There are also plans to install five iPod listen - the book.” VGPL is an independent, nonprofit library ing/viewing stations in the library by June. If that’s that relies heavily on individuals in the community it not enough, there will be 10 iPods that can be serves to keep the doors open. Currently, less checked out. than 30 percent of the budget comes from “If “When we saw the Technology Santa Fe County. More than 70 percent Showcase Grant proposal from Vista of the operating budget comes from that’s not Grande Public Library, we were really people like you. The library counts on enough, there excited,” said Geri Hutchins , Federal you to support the Ice Cream Social in Programs Coordinator with the New August each year, the Silent Auction will be 10 iPods Mexico State Library. “It seems like a and other fundraising efforts. In the that can be very creative way to address the most recent legislative session, the changing needs of the 21 st century.” library was awarded a $55,000 capital checked It is not only through technology appropriation toward a planned expan - that the library is thinking outside the sion—not quite the $1.3 million needed, out.” book. During the summer S but a start, nonetheless. months, the library will host a S O R Library Director Barbara Hagood and series of night sky programs for G D Children’s Librarian Pamela Monaghan-Geernaert families. Bring your blankets, lawn R A H C depend on more than 50 volunteers to execute the chairs and telescopes. “Fly Me to I R day-to-day work of the library and to create a place the Moon” is a chance to learn Y B O with heart. Volunteer Sara Jordan is a great exam - about the most mystical of all orbs. T O H ple. For the past four years, Sara has worked to help “Stories in the Stars” will explore P catalog resources that come into the library and now ancient mythology and the constel - directs a crew of seven each Monday to see that the lations. The series finale is sure to materials you want are on the shelf. But Sara doesn’t intrigue—”The Edge of the stop there. She is a regular volunteer for After School Universe is a Wall with One Side.” Reading, helps out on Book Donation Day and, with Now, more than ever, the a smile, generally makes the behind-the-scenes library is the place to be, whether efforts run smoothly. And there are 50 more like her. to read a book, learn a language or VGPL has been successful in securing grant fund - study the stars. Visit the website at ing for two projects that definitely look outside the www.vglibrary.org to see the many book. McCune Charitable Foundation recently ways the library adds value to your lives and your Library Director awarded funds to create a teen advocacy board and community. Check it out. Barbara B. Hagood junior book club. The program, entitled “Act Up,” —Mary Arnold & Barbara Hagood MAY 2008 1 MMLETTERS So Says the Sheriff Share your READ YOUR NEWSLETTER religiously tive communities in Santa Fe County. I applaud comments every month and appreciate having informa - those efforts and ask you all to keep up the great Ition available to me that is well-designed and work. I hope you will publish this letter and take my with us! well written. I was disappointed, however, to see on response, not in a negative way, but only as my For policy and the back page of the March issue Dan Drobnis say - attempt to make sure that correct information is dis - ing that I have publicly stated that “Eldorado is a seminated. deadline, see low crime area and enjoys (!) a low priority for reg - One thing about burglaries: one or two people below ular patrols.” Dan goes on to say that I will contin - can carry out five or six burglaries a day. A few days ue to believe this if crimes are seriously underre - of this and the crime rate can rise dramatically in a MM ported. brief time. When we catch these people, the crime I have said that Eldorado is among the lower rate drops just as dramatically. We will catch these Editorial crime areas in Santa Fe County. I never have said that people and things will return to normal. Policy the Eldorado area is a low priority for regular patrols. The most effective way to catch burglars is with A deputy is assigned to the greater Eldorado area help from the public. Deputies cannot be every - Vistas invites opinions, ideas, stories, photos, and 24/7, 365 days a year. There usually are two deputies where. Most burglars are caught when someone calls art from the community at assigned Friday nights and Mondays during the day. in a suspicious person or vehicle or when a burglar is large. Please include I encourage residents to always report crime or caught in the act. I ask everyone to be extra vigilant contact numbers for fact suspicious activity, and I always have said that the and be our eyes and ears. It is a cliché, but it’s also checking purposes. The Eldorado area has one of the most well run very true that crime prevention begins at home. newsletter will not Neighborhood Watch programs and the most proac - —Sheriff Greg Solano publish unsigned letters or material deemed inflammatory. Material th will be printed at the What Do Bobcats Eat? The 4 discretion of the BOUT A MONTH AGO, my wife and I HIS YEAR’S FESTIVITIES will be big - editors. Letters over 150 looked out our window and saw a large ger and better than ever with lots of free words will be edited for bobcat sitting just outside our small walk - food—hot dogs, sodas, popcorn and snow fit. Community A T way wall. I ran to get the camera, but when I cones. There will be pool games for the kids, music announcements are welcome; accompanying returned to the window my wife noted that with by the Eldorado Community Band and plenty of photos are welcome, too. the arrival of two large ravens it had moved quick - shade in the new patio area at the Community Deadline: Newsletter ly across to our neighbor’s backyard and around the Center to keep things comfortable. Eldorado 4 th of deadline is the 3rd day of rear of their house. I was concerned because, while July celebrations begin at 10 am with our annual each month. Submissions our rear garden has a high wall to offer our cat a parade along Monte Alto to the Community Center. can be dropped off or safe haven from coyotes, it would not keep out a We invite all Eldorado residents and organizations mailed to the ECIA office or emailed to bobcat. I guessed that maybe it was not a problem to join the parade. Build a float or just dress up and info@eldoradocommunity. because a cat would not eat another cat, and I knew march along with the kids, dogs, horses and the Order org. Please include “Attn: that the northern New Mexico bobcat prefers cot - of the Thistle (bagpipes) led by the Eldorado Vistas” in your message. tontails, jacks and small rodents. Volunteer Fire and Rescue and an Honor Guard of Mission Then I started seeing notices for Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Look for more informa - missing cats going up around the tion in June’s Vistas or call the ECIA office at Statement neighborhood. 466-4248. The mission of Vistas , the monthly newsletter of the On receiving my second notice ECIA, is to inform the of a missing cat—calico kitten Eldorado community from a Camerada Road home—I about issues before the went online and discovered that ECIA Board and the mem - “upon occasion bobcats will feed on ber ship at large. By so small dogs and house cats.” That prompted doing, the publication seeks to foster increased me to write to you to insert a warning in neighborhood pride and Vistas that a bobcat has been spotted in the community participation Camerada/Azul Road area.