the Essence AugustSeptember 2011

the Essence of Los Alamos and White Rockof Los Alamos and White Rock AugustSeptember 2011 Volume 4 Issue 5AugustSeptember 2011 Volume 4 Issue 5

YOUTHYOUTHIn Los AlamosIn Los Alamos

Next Big Idea Comes to LA Next Big Idea Comes to LA

Inspiring Teacher RememberedInspiring Teacher Remembered

Local Programs HelpLocal Programs HelpYouth DevelopmentYouth Development

2 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Localrsquos Guide to Los Alamos amp White Rock

The most comprehensive community events _calendar

Searchable local business directoryPortal to all major Los Alamos news sourcesActive community job boardLocal coupons and special offersLocal links ndash handy links to important local

_web sites and resources

fyiLAcomtrade

wwwfyiLAcom

2 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Localrsquos Guide to Los Alamos amp White Rock

The most comprehensive community events _calendar

Searchable local business directoryPortal to all major Los Alamos news sourcesActive community job boardLocal coupons and special offersLocal links ndash handy links to important local

_web sites and resources

fyiLAcomtrade

wwwfyiLAcom

3the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

the Essence

NBI Sparks Interest in Science 6Coming Home to LA 8Local Baseball Dynasty 10Support Helps Park Excell 12Quartet Learns Life Skills14 Inspirational TeacherRemembered 16Grant Helps Young BusinessOwners 18Youth Program Cultivates Confi dence 18-20

Calendar of EventsLocal Happenings in Your Town 22-23

Local baseball star Connor Mang winds up for a pitch

4 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Welcome to the Essence The Essence a bi-monthly publication created to inform and remind the community of whatrsquos special about living in Los Alamos and White Rock

First Irsquod personally like to thank everyone involved with helping to keep our town safe Our townrsquos vitality and qual-ity of life is more important now than ever We need to sup-port each other our local businesses and keep our com-munity strong

The theme of this issue is a lsquoCelebration of Youthrsquo and youth appreciation It is important to communicate our ap-preciation and provide them with opportunities to blossom to their full potential

We need to realize young peoplersquos needs (from elemen-tary to post graduate students) and offer an environment that supports them Our economic vitality depends on young people sticking around

On the business front internships to high school and col-lege students are highly encouraged Forming a bond with young people is essential Not only is it rewarding for them learning tools for success but to the business community as well What they give back is immeasurable They educate us in technology design and social media and that helps local businesses speak to young people at large

In this issue you will be inspired by the talents of our youth

bull Marvel at the Mang family and their dedication to sports bull Read about the musical accomplishments of our local high school quartet bull Admire the programs that teach and encourage youth to focus on environmental issuesbull Learn about youth business grants and the entrepreneurs that took advantage of these fundsbull Feel the appreciation Meagan Maez feels for our communitybull Remember the local teacher who made a difference in the lives of youthbull Rejoice in the stewardship of Jin Parkrsquos dedication to giving back and making a differencebull Discover an event that inspires young people into science technology engineering and math

Take the time to encourage teach mentor and inspire Remember what it was like to be young and the hardships faced on a daily basis Recognize your ability to impact youth and take responsibility to pass on knowledge integrity and lead by example

Suzette Fox EditorCommunity Projects CoordinatorLos Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation5056614844 suzettelosalamosorg

Editorrsquos NoteParticipatingCommunityMattersChamber Members

Assets in ActionAtomic City CleaningB amp B Environmental Safety Inc Bennettrsquos JewelryBest Westerm Hilltop House HotelBlue Window BistroBrownells HallmarkCB FOX amp CB FOX KidzDon Taylors PhotographyEnchanted Paradise SpaFamily Strengths NetworkFamily YMCAFuller Lodge Art CenterHill DinerJuvenile Justice Board- LALorraine HartwayLos Alamos Family CouncilLos Alamos Farmersrsquo MarketLos Alamos Fitness CenterLos Alamos Heart CouncilLos Alamos Historical MuseumLos Alamos Medical CenterLos Alamos National BankLos Alamos PropertiesLos Alamos Public SchoolsLou Santoro State FarmNew York LifeNorth Road InnPajarito GreenhousePajarito Mountain Ski AreaPet Pangaea Real Estate AssociatesUnited Way of Northern NMUNM Los AlamosUPEX

5the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

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the EssenceSuzette Fox

Editor

Claire RoybalAds Coordinator

Cindy Whiting Katy Korkos Kevin Holsapple

Content Editors

FYILAcomYour best local resource for news

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6 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Los Alamos has the highest number of people with PhDrsquos per capita in the country many who are inventors and scientists which is why itrsquos only logical to host the 4th annual ldquoNext Big Ideardquo Festival - a festival of discovery invention and innovation - Saturday September 17 with STEM Student Day on Friday September 16

But visitors to the ldquoNext Big Ideardquo donrsquot need a PhD to appreciate Alamosrsquo unique creative history especially since the event has the potential to inspire many young New Mexicans to consider a future career in science technology engineering math and innovation

The Next Big Idea is not only a great venue for adults interested in new and innovative ideas but is a great way for young people to get a sense of what scientists and inventors do in a fun relevant and hands-on way Besides scientists and inventors with hands-on science activi-ties Kraz-E Science shows an Einstein look alike contest fl ash mobs a telekinetic Mind Flex game challenge and a variety tasty food will be served from 11 am to 3 pm at Ashley Pond

Study after study has shown that students in the United States lag behind their peers in many other countries when it comes to test scores in science and math This academic disad-vantage means that students turned-adults are less inclined to become engineers scientists and inventors - something with which other countries have the competitive edge

Making science and technology more interesting by letting students experiment and expe-rience science in a laboratory rather than a book is the key according to inventor Bob Hock-aday President of Energy Related Devices who will also lead a workshop at the Festival

ldquoA childrsquos vivid imagination is his or her greatest asset because they can eventually improve on an existing invention or come up with a new one - when you think about childlike curiosity is at the root of discoveryrdquo Hockaday said ldquoI can say from experience that a child can make daydreams useful and she can make herself smarter just by asking questions and wondering how and why - therersquos a world of discovery out there it hasnrsquot all been discovered yetrdquo

Like many inventors who are participating in the Festival Hockaday has several inventions that are currently being utilized and patents pending on other inventions Some inventions are even being used to protect the US military including Hockadayrsquos safety goggles that prevent fogging and improve air fl ow to reduce the collection of dust - something that is very useful in sandy environments such as those found in Iraq

ldquoI was a daydreamer as a kid and at the bottom percentile of my class because of my grades so Irsquom proof that you donrsquot have to be a genius to become an inventor or a scientist you just have to have the desire to learn more and to improve peoplersquos lives with your ideas Like Einstein said - lsquonecessity is the mother of inventionrsquo Inventors are ultimately a bunch of dissatis-fi ed people trying to fi gure out how they can make something betterrsquordquo Hockaday added

On September 16th from 9 am to 3 pm students from grades 7 through 12 can learn more about a future in the fi eld of science technology engineering or math during the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Student Day Activities include a full fun day of meeting scientists and inventors and featuring Ryan McGarvy at the last FREE summer concert at 7 pm at Ashley Pond sponsored by Del Norte Credit Union

Then on Saturday September 17 kids of all ages will feel right at home interactive displays of innovations and discoveries that people can actually touch see and experience with all their senses The Festival is FREE to the public and takes place from 11 am to 3 pm at Ash-ley Pond in Los Alamos

The Next Big Idea is sponsored by Los Alamos Main Street Los Alamos County Los Alamos National Bank Los Alamos National Securities LLC Compa Industries Inc Innovate-Educate New Mexico and the New Mexico Consortium Del Norte Credit Union and many others

For more information contact Suzette Fox at (505) 661-4844 or Suzettelosalamosorg Visit wwwnextbigidealacom for complete details

For general information on Los Alamos visit fyilacom or wwwvisitlosalamoscom

lsquoNext Big Idearsquo Festival Aims to lsquoNext Big Idearsquo Festival Aims to Spark Interest among NM Youth in Spark Interest among NM Youth in Science Technology as Career PathScience Technology as Career Path

UNM Chemistry Professor Dana Brabson demonstrates a UNM Chemistry Professor Dana Brabson demonstrates a chemical reactioin to an avid audience at lat yearrsquos Festivalchemical reactioin to an avid audience at lat yearrsquos Festival

About Los Alamos MainStreetLos Alamos MainStreet a program of Los Alamos Commerce amp Development Corpora-

tion The goal of Los Alamos MainStreet is the support a vibrant downtown through events promotions participation in planning and design projects and business assistance Other events produced by Los Alamos MainStreet each year include the Fair amp Rodeo Parade Halloweekend and Winterfest Visit httplamainstreetcom

7the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

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Contact uswwwAssetsInActioninfo

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8 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

CommunityMatters

Home Home SweetSweetHomeHome

Editorrsquos note In the Essence we tell the stories of the people places business

events and activities that make Los Alamos and White Rock a special community The

CommunityMatters interview explores the concept of community with a local resident

This month the Essence interviews Meagan Maez a local young adult that recently

returned to Los Alamos after graduation from college

Essence Thank you so much for taking time to do this interview Please tell us a little bit about yourself and what drew you back to Los Alamos

Meagan I am 23 years old - grew up in Los Alamos graduated from Los Alamos High School but it wasnrsquot until a few years ago that I heard something from a profes-sor that stirred in me memories of my upbringing

It was on my fi rst day sitting in the back row of a mid-size lecture hall at the An-derson School of Management It was 800 am exactly - my fi rst ever lecture in my fi rst ever business class in my fi rst ever semester the fi rst thing Dr Sandoval said was ldquoAlways surround yourself with positive peoplerdquo Not an earth shattering revelation I will admit But for some reason I remember him saying it as clearly as if it were yesterday

Essence Why did Dr Sandovalrsquos words have so much meaning

Meagan Because it was the essence of my entire upbringing and those six simple words changed the way I approach my life on a daily basis Only I didnrsquot realize it when I was seventeen

I was an ornery snobby Hilltopper who thought my parents were complete idiots and that they had no idea what they were talking about I was not a bad kid per se but I would be described as a pain in the butt I am certain

And then there were my famous last words ldquoI will not end up back in Los Alamosrdquo Ha Well here I am - back in Los Alamos

Essence What changed within you to come back to our community

Meagan I slowly found myself missing all the things this small town has to offer

that I had previously been taking for granted For instance people in Los Alamos are kind Donrsquot get me wrong there are a lot of nice people elsewhere but everyone is kind in Los Alamos

I found myself missing the ever predictable genuine smile and nod of hello from passersby on the street regardless if you have met before

Albuquerque did not offer that same level of appreciation I began resenting the sense of urgency that hovers over the city It is noticeable everywhere and learned the ldquolive-for-todayrdquo mentality of the city I drove like a maniac forgot to smile at the baristas at the coffee shops because I was in a hurry always in a hurry

Above all in the four years I spent living on the same crowded street surrounded by a multitude of neighbors I never felt like I was part of the neighborhood which I always had here in Los Alamos

I was missing the superior feeling of community and overall positive nature of my hometown of my upbringing I was deviating from my roots and losing site of a piece of my identity

Essence What are your favorite things about our community

Meagan The places I loved back in 2006 (like Ruby Krsquos Reel Deal Theater Otowi Station Bookstore etc) are still my favorite places They have successfully established themselves as permanent fi xtures in this community

Essence In closing anything else you would like to say about what makes Los Alamos and White Rock a desirable place to live

Meagan Now that I have come back to Los Alamos I am enjoying (instead of fi ghting) the superior feeling of community and overall positive nature of my home-town of my upbringing I have returned to my roots and regained the part of my identity that had slipped away This is an undeniably selfl ess community in which each member genuinely wishes to see everyone else happy and successful - some-thing none of us should take for granted anymore

9the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

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10 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

By Mike Maez-CoteThe Mang family much like the Lucky Starr song has been everywhereWell maybe not everywhere but the Mangs have been to Colorado Arizona Texas and

in the Four Corners area just this summer alone and still have a big trip to Utah scheduled for August

And why does this family hop around the southwest logging plenty of miles and hotel reward points

It just so happens that the Mang children are some of the premier young athletes in Los Alamos and in the state This summer and every summer is all about baseball and softball

Jared and Connor Mang have been playing baseball almost nonstop since February at the same time their sister Lexi started her softball season Since school let out Jared and Connor have been playing baseball for several different traveling teams while Lexi is on the roster of the New Mexico Thunder

ldquoItrsquos just for funrdquo says Lexi who starts in center fi eld for the Thunder a team consisting of some of the top players from Los Alamos County many of whom also play together with Los Alamos High Schoolrsquos softball program ldquoWe have a great time playing for the high school but the Thunder itrsquos less pressurerdquo

While it may be less pressure itrsquos no less competitive In a tournament in mid-July Lexi got drilled with a fastball directly on the right elbow which swelled up almost immediately

It was several days however before their mother Jackie got to see the effects of Lexirsquos injury as she was shuffl ing Connor and Jared to Dallas for a baseball tournament

Jared who is just entering high school this year has already established him-self as a force at the prep level In the 2011 Hilltopper season Jared was the starting shortstop and hitting in the No 3 hole ndash a spot usually reserved for a baseball teamrsquos best offensive weapon ndash in the Hilltoppersrsquo lineup

In the history of Hilltopper baseball itrsquos almost unprecedented that an eighth grader make the varsity roster let alone turn into its star player but Jared did just that this season leading the team in home runs and several other statistical categories

This summer Jaredrsquos playing on three different teams and says he has a batting average somewhere in the neighborhood of 500 (which equates to 1 hit for every 2 at-bats) although Jackie insists itrsquos quite a bit higher than that

Hersquos also gotten to play more catcher this summer a position he loves Hersquos not terribly picky about where he gets to play however as long as hersquos on the fi eld

ldquoI like them both a lotrdquo Jared says comparing his experience at catcher and shortstop which is considered the most important position in the infi eld ldquoI feel more involved as a catcher but both are greatrdquo

Connor however might be having the best summer of the three of them Connor who will go into eighth grade this year and could well equal Jaredrsquos rare feat of being a fi ve-year player for the Hilltopper varsity has been lighting things up with his traveling squads

Connor who plays shortstop and pitches is hitting a whopping 750 at the plate this summer and at the mound has pitched and won four tournament championship games including throwing a no-hitter in early June

He faced and set down 12 straight batters as his team cruised to a 10-0 four-inning victory at the tournament in Denver ndash youth games are often shortened when the score becomes lopsided

ldquoUsually after the third inning you start to feel a little pres-surerdquo said Connor of his no-hitter ldquoWith two outs in the fourth I got a lot of adrenaline and I threw a lot harder to the last batterrdquo

That game at the plate actually wasnrsquot one of Connorrsquos better ones He managed just one single Itrsquos not likely that anyone on his team was complaining however after the numbers hersquod put up earlier in the tournament In Denver he hit eight home runs and knocked in a whopping 25 runs

This summer Connorrsquos slugging percentage is north of 1000 a number that isnrsquot often approached at any level

His summer hasnrsquot gone totally without any hitches however In late May Connor was hit with a ball right on the nose breaking it He now has to wear a protective faceguard when

he bats something that it took several at-bats to get used toldquoAt the beginning I got caught swinging at pitches in the dirt a lotrdquo he said of the maskJackie who has more taste for hitting the road than does her husband Joe who is an as-

sistant coach for the Hilltopper baseball says the costs can mount up quickly when heading in all corners of the region

Those costs however could well be offset if her kids earn scholarships to play college ball something that former Hilltopper baseball and football star Zach Mang has already achieved Zach a 2009 graduate of Los Alamos High School is currently playing baseball for Otero Junior College in La Junta Colo

One might wonder if playing ball nonstop would cause the Mangs to burn out at some point but none of them say thatrsquos an issue for them at all

ldquoItrsquos defi nitely tiring It takes a lot out of yourdquo Jared said ldquoBut itrsquos worth itrdquo

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11the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

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12 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

INSIGHTINSIGHT

by Bernadette LauritzenOnce in a while a young person emerges who is so dynamic you know they are des-

tined for great things Los Alamosrsquo Jin Park is just one of those kidsWhen inquired about his success winning the Music Teachers National Association

Senior Piano Competition Jin was quick to point out his parents efforts that helped him achieve such a feat

ldquoMy parents have always gone the extra mile to give me anything and everything I have needed to succeedrdquo said Park ldquoFor instance my parents are the ones who paid for the grand piano that sits in our living room They went out of their way to fi nd me the best instruction in the area Without it I surely would not have been able to compete at the level that I have in piano performancerdquo

Park comes from a family of philanthropists Min and Monica Park owners of The Cen-tral Avenue Grill Jin says his parents didnrsquot push him to excel in any certain area they just supported the things where he had an interest

This was evident at the age of fi ve when a younger Park took up the Los Alamos tradi-tion of Kinderkick a soccer program of the Y When Jin realized that the idea of being in the middle of a group of kids who were kicking each other in the shins wasnrsquot for him his parents had no objections to his dropping out

He came back to the sport in seventh grade and found he really enjoyed it While he occassionally wonders how much better he would be if he stuck to it at the age of fi ve he realizes that it was not his cup of tea and it ldquohas really made me an autonomous personrdquo

As part of the LAHS Varsity Soccer team he has coached their soccer camp for the last three years fi nding a niche with the three year olds ldquoThree year olds are the most chal-lenging because they donrsquot quite understand what soccer is or why they are thererdquo said Park ldquoA lot of them play with dandelions and itrsquos diffi cult to get their attention sometimesrdquo Park also understands how his current and past efforts are building assets in what just might be future members of the Hilltopper soccer team

It isnrsquot all sports and music that make this local youth astounding but his com-passion to mankind in the largest sense of the word During spring break Park and his parents went with The United Church of Los Alamos to build homes for those less fortunate in Mexico

While the overall trip was described by Park as ldquoa fun experiencerdquo the work requires spending the days working long hours in the hot sun it offer Jin an eye opening experience

ldquoIt was opportunity for me to understand more about myself and question what it really was that made me special I had to reevaluate what had brought me to that point in time and gain a better understanding of what would carry me forward in the futurerdquo said Park ldquoOur own perspective on different circumstances are what will eventually lead to each per-sonrsquos success in paving an outstanding path The trip made me eager to learn more about everything and continue to expand the way I thinkrdquo

Park recently acquired the Boy Scout rank of Life Scout While he is the only one of his orginal group to still be involved he took a three year hiatus before returning to Boy Scouts ldquoI really truly believe that the beliefs that Scouting is centered upon are the foundations to lead a successful healthy and meaningful life I believe it will make me a better personrdquo

After the recent events of the Las Conchas fi re a new goal was born - The Seed Ball Drive ldquoSeed balls are balls of clay seed and potting soil that can be thrown anywhere people want some vegetationrdquo said Park The small balls of clay seed and potting soil are mixed together and formed into balls The seed balls can be tossed anywhere and during times of rainfall the balls will dissolve and the seeds will germinate Jin hopes to take the idea to a larger scale perhaps multiplying it by a few hundred in order to create tens of thousands of seed balls

ldquoWith this fi re being the second devastating fi re in roughly a decade it really hits home fi guratively and literally and it only feels right to do my part to help rebuild what we have all lostrdquo said Park

He would create a stockpile of these seed balls to be deployed once the fi res are extin-guished Utilizing community help he believes this would be a fun community event where residents could do their part in helping with the burn restoration ldquoCommunity members could slip in and out of these seed ball stations and make seed balls to add to the stock-pilerdquo said Park

With the loving support of family friends and a handful of Boy Scouts Park would now like to rally the community to support his lofty goal

Park is also involved with Natural Helpers and the United Way Youth team He is a cur-rent member of the Los Alamos Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB) He is equally skilled with his work on the violin and with the Los Alamos High School Symphonic Orchestra where he has fi lled the role of Concertmaster for two years In addition he plays golf for LAHS which according to him is some of the hardest work by far

Jin currently heads into his senior year Naturally it is time to ponder his future one that is so bright it bears mentioning There is no doubt that he will tackle many projects accom-plish many goals and help a great deal of people along the way We eagerly await to see where life leads him

To learn more about how to help with The Seed Ball Drive or to make a donation con-tact Park at 505-690-4349

Rock Solid Foundation Propels Park Into Successful Endeavors

13the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

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14 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Arts amp Culture

By Mandy MarksteinerWhen Emily TenCate started String Theory a local string quartet made up of high

school musicians she learned about more than just chamber music While she and three friends prepared to perform classical music for weddings and parties she gained business organization and communication skills that will serve her well throughout her professional life

Last summer Emily applied for a youth business grant from the Los Alamos Small Business Development Center Since many of the students in the high school orchestra are open to being in a quartet Emily always has access to enough talent to play for any event ldquoThere are so many kids that can play If someone has an event that needs music they can just callrdquo

She used the grant money to buy everything she needs to have a fully functioning quartet ndash sheet music and an account with a virtual music store

The experience of leading a quartet beefed up TenCatersquos organization plan-ning and communication skills For example she recruited and motivated the other members to join the quartet and rehearse week after week ldquoI learned how to get four people to meet at the same place and the same timerdquo she said ldquoItrsquos a lot harder than yoursquod thinkrdquo

The members include Judy Lee on fi rst violin Emily TenCate on second violin Alex Kendrick on viola and Lauren TenCate on cello Each of the members started playing their instruments in 4th grade and play in the Los Alamos High School Orchestra

ldquoEmily recruited me to play four months ago I had never played in a quartet or even outside of schoolrdquo said Kendrick

Lauren TenCate Emilyrsquos younger sister said playing with her sister is just like play-ing in any other group with one added benefi t ldquoWe can practice together at homerdquo

Being in the quartet has given all the members the opportunity to expand their musical skills by learning pieces without the help of a teacher or director and fi nding opportunities to perform in public Their fi rst performance was playing music from the Harry Potter movies at Harry Potter night at Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church They are working on their own arrangements of popular songs for a wedding recep-tion

ldquoIf I want to be in a quartet in college Irsquoll know how to do itrdquo said TenCate She also knows what mistakes to avoid In the case of String Theory the biggest mistake was to try to plan rehearsals around the playersrsquo busy schedules instead of establish-ing a regular rehearsal time ldquoWe all had AP tests to prepare for but didnrsquot realize how long it would take to prepare the musicrdquo

Even though Emily and Alex arenrsquot planning to study music in college (Emily is going to MIT with plans to study bioengineering and Alex plans to study physics at Harvey Mudd College in Claremont CA) they both hope to play their instruments

ldquoIrsquoll bring my viola and play it whenever I want to blow off steamrdquo said Kendricks Emily said ldquoI am interested in playing music throughout my whole life The nice

thing about music is that even though you have to work hard to do it itrsquos weirdly relax-ing Itrsquos a methodical thinking process but itrsquos a different kind of thinkingrdquo

String Theory formed because TenCate noticed that so many students were inter-ested in playing chamber music Organizing a quartet can benefi t young people in every area of their lives plus itrsquos just fun to get together and play music

Student gains life skills by forming a string quartet

15the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

Free Admission 930-430 Mon-Fri 11-4 Sat 1-4 Sunwwwlosalamoshistoryorg

505-662-6272

How would you like to attend school

where horses were a requirement

Discover Our History

Learn more at the Los Alamos Historical Museum

1050 Bathtub Row just north of Fuller Lodge

Boys from the Los Alamos Ranch School on horses in front of the Big House

1735 Central bullLos Alamos bull662-2864facebookcomCBFoxLA

FURNITURE

16 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Essential Person

MJ Nilsson inspired thousands of students by how she lived her life

By Carol A ClarkEvery so often a unique and special person is born into this world One such person

Mary Jeanne ldquoMJrdquo Nilsson was born in Selman Okla on Oct 28 1921 She moved to Los Alamos 24 years later where she left an indelible impression over the next six decades

ldquoMJ was simply extraordinaryrdquo said longtime friend Alice Mann ldquoShe was so wonderful hellip she could do anythingrdquo

MJ was 89 when she died peacefully at her Los Alamos home on March 22 She was surrounded by her beloved family including her children Karen Jan and Alan

Hundreds of people from Los Alamos and across the country fi lled the United Church on May 29 to celebrate the remarkable life of this special and gifted woman

MJrsquos teaching career spanned 35 years She taught at Central the fi rst school in Los Ala-mos Mesa now the University of New Mexico-Los Alamos and Mountain and Barranca Mesa elementary schools

Her three children watched with respect and admiration as through the years her former students returned home to share their memories of luaus Thanksgiving dinners time cap-sules and other highlights of their time with her that made such lasting impressions on them

Many of those students some now with grandchildren of their own attended the cel-ebration of MJrsquos life

ldquoShe was such a wonderful person and teacher and I wanted to be just like herrdquo said Kelly Myers Myers followed MJ as well as her own father former Superintendent of Schools Duane Smith for whom Smith Auditorium is named into the teaching profession before becoming a top real estate agent in town

MJ cared deeply for young people She served as a Brownie and Girl Scout leader and was an early supporter of the Family YMCA

Her home on Barranca Mesa became known as the ldquoNilsson Hiltonrdquo Students friends and family shared meals tragedies and triumphs in her warm supportive home

The Los Alamos High School Class of 1971 homecoming fl oat and several YMCA fl oats fi lled the Nilsson Hilton as did the students decorating those fl oats often until the wee small hours of the morning

One of MJrsquos favorite organizations was the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International for women educators She served two terms as president and welcomed the group many times into her home to create table decorations for state conventions

A Christian Education intern called the Nilsson Hilton her home for an entire summer A former YMCA director moved here from California and frequently forgot to eat before the restaurants closed He knew however that a late night meal could always be found at the Nilsson Hilton

MJ shared her home and her joyful outlook on life with so many people through the years ldquoI believe in an open-door policyrdquo she would say ldquoThe welcome mat is always outrdquo

MJrsquos enormously generous heart is legendary She greeted friends and family with wide open arms and an endearing smile that made people feel incredibly blessed to be a part of her life

Her son shared the fact that it was next to impossible for anyone to pay for a restaurant meal when his mother was present

MJ was honored as a Living Treasure of Los Alamos in September 2004 for her ldquoout-standing dedication to the life heart and spirit of the Los Alamos communityrdquo

She helped create the Memorial Rose Garden at Fuller Lodge Los Alamos had no cem-etery for nearly 20 years Guaje Pines Cemetery was not dedicated until May 30 1961 So in the late 1950s MJ and a small group of women from the Los Alamos Garden Club began work on a remembrance garden

By planting roses dug by hand MJ said that the community found a way to honor the deceased

ldquoThere was now a place of beauty where residents could come to remember their loved oneshelliprdquo she said

MJ was a gifted gardener and fl oral designer Her creations brightened the day for students going to prom brides friends celebrating milestones and people lying ill in the hospital MJrsquos fl oral arrangements also graced private and community events such as the Manhattan Project reunions and Oppenheimer Lecture Series receptions

A memorial rose has now been planted in the Memorial Rose Garden in her honor MJ and her husband Clifford ldquoCliffrdquo Nilsson were founding members of the United

Church in Los Alamos She served on the board of elders and as chairperson of the church council and on the ministerial search and stewardship committees

After she retired MJ joined the LIFT Committee where she devoted time to preparing for the fellowship at the conclusion of funerals and memorial services MJ remarked that her own family experienced an outpouring of community support at the time of her husbandrsquos sudden death in 1983

As a teacher MJ inspired her students by how she lived her life She shared with enthusi-asm both her knowledge and her home She was kind supportive generous and fun loving Most importantly MJ found the way to balance her time between family career friends church and community ndash and thatrsquos a life and a woman worth emulating

A WOMAN TO

EMULATE

17the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

Los Alamosrsquo Portable Gift Certificate

Chamber M

ember

LA C

hamber of C

omm

erce

Cham

ber CheckTen dollars Even

Chamber M

emb

LA C

hamber of C

omm

erce

Cham

ber CheckTen dollars Eve

Chamber M

LA C

hamber of C

omm

e

Cham

ber CheckTen d

Chambe

LA C

hamber of C

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ber CheckT

Discover Chamber Checks

To Purchase or for more informationvisit the Los Alamos Chamber ofCommerce call 661-4815 or go toLosAlamosChambercom

Jazz Night at the Blue Window

featuring

The Bob Jones Quartet

With Chris Ishee on keyboards Richard Snider on bass Bob Jones on alto sax

and Dave Brady on drums

Saturday August 27

730 pm ndash 930 pm

Tickets $15 per person

Dinner reservations required

813 Central Avenue For reservations call (505) 662-6305

For updates visit labluewindowbistrocom or follow us on Facebook

NowMore Than EverMore Choice More Choice More Choice

Furniture

EUROPEAN CONTEMPORARY STYLING

18 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

BusinessThe Small Business Development Centerrsquos (SBDC) Youth Business Grant Program is

going strong with local youth offering services from lawn care and pet services to grocery shopping and weaving

Young entrepreneur Derek Selvage applied for the grant program last May after deciding to focus on the area of photography ldquoI chose to do photography after my mom received a nice camera I used the camera and loved itrdquo said Selvage

He was granted funds through the project which allowed him to purchase needed sup-plies and get to work ldquoI really like photographing animals I never know what they are going to do next My favorite photograph right now is one I took of a mountain lionrdquo

Local businesses have stepped up to support Derek ldquoMy framed photographs can be seen at Village Arts and Danielrsquos Cafeacuterdquo Selvage is currently moving into a line of post-cards now featured at The Best Western Hilltop House and Deli and Otowi Bookstore

Assets In Action hired the Los Alamos Middle School eighth grader to photograph an event in June The Los Alamos Monitor used his photograph accompanying an article The local newspaper also offered three days of free advertising to ALL youth business recipients to assist with the benefi ts of advertising

KRSN AM 1490 offered Selvage twenty minutes of air time to boost his sales Don Tay-lor Mike Young and Minesh Bacrania all mentored him United Church of Los Alamos has hired Selvage to photograph their new pastor David Elton

The Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation and the Small Business De-velopment Center (SBDC) provide oversight for the Youth Business Development Program Staff members Don Wright and Heather Campbell set up the interview panel for the young candidates administer funds and follow up on reports due at the completion of the project

Each candidate is required to write a mini-business plan and come up with publicity materials prior to the interview process

ldquoI was particularly impressed by the presentation of the applicantsrdquo said Don Wright Director of the UNM-LA Small Business Development Center ldquoThey had to come in a room and face four strangers tell us what they were going to do and why they needed the grant And then answer a series of questions about their proposal Without fail they all performed well The repeat applicantsrsquo experience showed through but they all displayed a lot of thought and preparationrdquo

Wright worked with Campbell the SBDC Assistant to administer funds and mentor the six candidates that applied for the Youth Business Grant program The committee selected to review applicants included Wright Campbell Small Business Development Center Counselor Bryan Farmer and Matt Holbert Engineer with SMSI a local business

Pet Pangaea a local business and Chamber of Commerce member offered to post a digital fl yer on their electronic display when one young entrepreneur made it a point to purchase his pet supplies locally

These small efforts by local businesses not only support youth with their committed demonstration to the work but increased the relationship capac-

ity with their customer base by showing they careAdditional businesses that received grants Isaac Martinez of Espanola Martinez is

back offering lawn services with his business called Raw Energy He specializes in mow-ing and trimming and can be reached at 505-901-0734

Ashley Garduno continues her work with Gardunorsquos Weaving of Chimayo Ashley has used her youth business grant to further her art and carry on the tradition of hand weaving Her craft includes everything from placemats and table runners to coats and more You can inquire about her services at 505-614-5082

Miles Mojica-Freeland has completed his fi rst year at New Mexico State University and continues his dance lesson offerings This time around Mojica-Freeland will focus on classes for students ranging in age from 13 to 19 Additional information on prices and lessons are available by calling 505-412-0541

Who says teenagers donrsquot like to run errands Luke Johnson of Grocery Deliverance is happy to pick up your groceries and prescriptions The eighteen-year-old provides service to both Los Alamos and White Rock Johnson can be reached at 505-470-8982

If you need pet care in White Rock Spencerrsquos Pet Sitting Services are available Pet walking washing and breath freshening services are being offered for a reasonable fee Bath services are available for both cats and dogs with portable tubs and a water free bathing option Products are hypo allergenic and veterinarian recommended The pet sitting also includes free mail newspaper and plant watering services The company plans to branch out into pooper scoopers services as well Spencer Lauritzen can be reached at 672-4089

The Youth Business Grant Program began in 1985 and to date more than 245 young business leaders have benefi tted from the program You can learn more about the program or make donations at wwwybgporg or by calling 661-4803 Applicants from Los Alamos Espanola Pojoaque and Jemez Springs are encouraged to apply

nd why they proposalce showed

funds and program bell Small lbert

eroung

h their capac-

The Small Business Development Centerrsquos Youth Business Grant Program helped make it possible for Derek Selvage to start his own photography business

SBDC Youth Business Grant allows local youth to shine

19the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

THANK YOU FOR GIVING LOCAL

Your generous gifts are helping United Way Community Partners that directly serve your friends

families and neighbors who have been affected by the

Las Conchas Fire R E A C H O U T A H A N D T O O N E A N D

I N F L U E N C E T H E C O N D I T I O N O F A L L

Y O U T H B A C K -T O -S C H O O L

M U S I C F E S T S A T U R D A Y A U G U S T 2 0

T I M E 1 P M5 Y O U N G M U S I C G R O U P S

H O S T E D B Y H O P E F E L L O W S H I P

A T 2 3 9 0 N O R T H R O A D L O S A L A M O S N M IN B E T H L E H E M rsquoS G IB S O N H A L L

F O R M O R E IN F O R M A T IO N C A L L 6 6 2 H O P E (4 6 7 3 )w w w H O P E A C T S co m

The views and policies of Hope Fellowship are not necessarily endorsed by Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church

1460 Trinity Drive Suite 1Los Alamos NM 87544

5056627717

wwwrealosalamoscom

BrokersAnna Earlene CaspersonArdy HaferJane HoffmanCindy Hollabaugh Francine MendozaJeanette Metzger-Thorp Lori NovakJill OyenqueSusan Stephens

Pearl White OwnerBroker

Your Local Experts in Real EstateArdy HaferJane HoffmanCindy Hollabaugh Sylvia JohnsonFrancine MendozaJeanette Metzger-Thorp Jill OyenquePamela SkotnickiSusan Stephens

CommunityMattersldquoSTRENGTHENING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN

OUR MEMBERS AND OUR COMMUNITYrdquo

Sign up for CommunityMatters today and

get your FREE18 page Ad in the ESSENCE

JOIN US

For more information Contact Katy Korkos at 661-4816

~ 35 minutes from Los Alamos and Pajarito Ski Hill ~ 15 hrs to Albuquerque 1 hr 15 min to Santa Fe 3 bed234 bath2 car attached garage Custom built 2003~2500 square feet 3 levels of living~3 acres one of the sides borders on forest reserve with breathtaking views of Redondo Peak Dark Canyon Palisades and Cat MesaMinutes from Valle Cadera National Preserve Jemez Falls and La CuevaRV Parking 30 foot standoff and thined acreage for defensable fi re protection

So much more please look at wwwfrancinemendozacom for more information and for Los Alamos featured listings

Sierra Los Pinos Subdivision NMSierra Los Pinos Subdivision NM

1460 Trinity Dr Suite 1 bull Los Alamos NM 505-662-7717 Offi ce

Francine J Mendoza CRSAssociate Broker

505-670-1407 DirectFrancineMendozaRealtorcom

20 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

By Sylvan Argo YMCA Adventure Program DirectorDaily we navigate affect and react to myriad environments ndash whether they are social

mental physical cultural or spiritual Every choice we make every action becomes an interac-tion that affects us and those around us This summer we have all felt the effects of ecological management decisions made over our lifetime and these effects are playing out in bigger fi res and more opportunities to explore fi re ecology and connect kids to our community and their relationship to our local landscape

At the Y our areas of focus are Youth Development Healthy Living and Social Responsibility Every program incorporates at least one of these areas of focus When it comes to youth we strive to instill values and start conversations that will carry healthy choices and social awareness and responsibility into all the environments to which our youth are reacting navigating or affect-ing

Three of our Y youth programs are dedicated to stainability and ecology iCARE Y Earth Ser-vice Corps (YES Corps) and the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) These three programs span the ages of 5 to 25 each meeting the developmental and age-related needs of the participants while developing environmental and ecological awareness through guided nature play and exploration (iCARE) service learning job-skills training and community projects (YES Corps and YCC)

My own professional background and training have been directly infl uenced by the Youth Conservation Corps and the YES Corps As Adventure Program Director at the Y I feel lucky that I get to help connect kids to our environments and support them in creating a more hopeful and resilient future for us all In our iCARE school-year and summer programs we have 5 year olds who jump at the chance to turn the compost or plant a seed in our Y vegetable garden and we have 7 year olds who pick up a piece of trash and immediately start listing all the things they can make with it or what they can do to repurpose it

As the smoke settles around our town you might see the yellow hard hats of our YES Corps or the blue hard hats of our YCC out along our trails We will spend the remainder of our summer programs focusing on fi re ecology restoration watershed management and erosion control along our trails and the landscape around Los Alamos Both the YES Corps and YCC are trained and equipped to help in situations like this and we see this as a wonderful hands-on learning op-portunity to better prepare ourselves and our community for the fi res that will occur in the coming years as a natural and

benefi cial process for our landscape and wildlife Middle and High School youth also have the opportunity to stay involved during the school

year with restoration projects through the Middle School Green Team and the High School Environmental Club both groups are co-sponsored by The Family YMCA and Pajarito Environ-mental Education Center and meet weekly at lunchtime periods and plan community projects and activities throughout the fall and spring As we face the runoff of the monsoons and the end of the fi re season we will have endless opportunities to get involved in community efforts ndash and hopefully our youth will help lead the way for all generations to join together

Sandra West who is one of the YES Corps Summer Directors explains ldquoBy planting seeds to restore grasses in an eroded area or grow vegetables to eat we plant ideas in the minds of our youth Through these programs our youth are learning how our actions impact each other now and in the

future They learn through all the activities we do and each activity gives our youth a sense of accomplishment respect and another example of how each and every one of us can change the worldrdquo

Often it is the same youth who planted that tree or worked on a trail years ago who fi nd their way back to lead programs like these Logan one of our YCC Crew Leaders this summer speaks of this continuity ldquoI was once a Youth Corps Crew Member and feel like I gained skills that helped me to combine wilderness adventuring and employment ndash and now Irsquom thrilled to be facilitating similar experiences for our local youthrdquo Alexis Towlerton a YES Corps Summer Direc-tor highlights the importance of youth leadership emphasizing that ldquothe lessons learned from these experiences with nature with others and as leaders instills in each participant a unique understanding of the worldrdquo

It all comes down to the choices we make and our awareness of the interconnections of our environments and the world As our youth participants explore their own decision-making and communication they strengthen their group bonds and fi nd their confi dence in taking action at a community level Whether our participants are 5 and deciding where they want to explore and play for the day or whether they are 16 and having their fi rst job experience or whether they are 20 and have worked with the YCC for the last 3 summers ndash they are learning through every choice they make Our youth participants constantly surprise and inspire me and our Y staff and it is these same youth that will be the future movers and shakers and decision makers as environ-mental awareness and concerns grow and climate change becomes an even more critical issue

Y Youth ProgramsY Youth ProgramsCultivating Confidence at a Community Level

21the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

Just some of the many benefits of being a Y Member

FREE to Members Fitness Classes Over 50 fitness classes a week to choose from Zumba Yoga Pilates Y-Ride (ldquospinningrdquo-type classes) Step Aerobics PowerUp Exercise Lite SilverSneakers

FREE to Members Child Watch Child Watch provides Y Members with free on-site

supervision for their children while in the facility working out or attending classes

Too many benefits to mention here call us come in or visit our website wwwlaymcaorg

for information on all of our programs

The Family YMCA

1450 Iris Street 662-3100

wwwlaymcaorg

Promoted by Los Alamos Fitness Center

Tickets Now On Sale August 6 2011

Duane Smith Auditorium

Call 505-662-5232 Or email

carrielafcyahoocom

22 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

3 Movies in the Park Tangled at Urban Park Enjoy a summer evening in the park with a fun family movie Bring your blan-kets pajamas and snacks to watch a movie under the stars All showings are FREE and open to the Public

4 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

5 Los Alamos Summer Concert Series presents Los Pinguos at the Best Western Hilltop House

6 Southern Rockies Natural Bodybuilding Competition pre-sented by Los Alamos Fitness Center at Duane Smith Auditorium

6 Relay for Life at Ashley Pond 6pm

6 YMCA Firecracker Fun Run Fun for the whole family ndash walk or run

10 Movies in the Park Toy Story 3 at Aquatic Center LawnEnjoy a summer evening in the park with a fun family movie Bring your blan-kets pajamas and snacks to watch a movie under the stars All showings are FREE and open to the Public

11 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

12 ndash 14 Los Alamos County Fair and RodeoAnnual county fair and rodeo Many community groups and organizations team up on a great weekend of events

12 LA Summer Concert Series presents Thomas Mapfumo amp the Blacks Unlimited at Ashley Pond ParkIncredible dance band from ZimbabweAfrica

12 SuperSax New Mexico musical performance at Crossorads Bible Church The new but already celebrated New Mexico group plays original charts for Charlie Parkerrsquos solos arranged for 5 saxes by Med Flory Arlen Asher and Dave Anderson altos Kanoa Kaluhiwa and Lee Taylor tenors Glenn Kostur baritone and Ben Finberg trombone with Bert Dalton piano Michael Glynn bass and Cal Haines drums

13 Los Alamos Concert Series presents Jimmy Stadler at Ashley Pond Park Kicking off the Fair amp Rodeo Weekend FREE Concert outdoors Taos rock favorite

18 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

19 Fuller Lodge Art Center Art Opening Reception for Summer Art Camp ShowcaseArtwork created by our younger artists during Summer Art Camp 2011

19 Los Alamos Concert Series presents Carolyn Wonderland at Del Norte Credit Union

20 Fundraiser Taste of Los Alamos at the Betty Ehart Senior CenterShare a taste of your country with the community of Los Alamos Organize a

group from your country to participate in this culinary and cultural event In keeping with our theme prepare a traditional food dish that would highlight your heritage The cost of ingredients will be covered - you just have to cook

20 Los Alamos Triathlon presented by the Los Alamos Recreation Division Los Alamos County is fi nishing the Diamond Drive project so the event is a BikeRunSwim with the race starting on West Jemez Road by Fire Station 1

21 Los Alamos Kids Triathlon presented by the Los Alamos Recreation DivisionA fun introduction to the multi-sport world for children and youth with an em-phasis on fun and fi tness not competition All fi nishers receive a participation medal

22 Mesa Public Library presents Exhibit Ursonate by Jack OxMusic visualization painting installation by multmedia artist Jack Ox 800 one square foot painting components combine as a visual representation of artist Kurt Schwittersrsquo musical score entitled Ursonate

25 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

25 Mesa Public Library Authors Speak Series Shelby Tisdale Mesa Public Libraryrsquos Authors Speak Series presents Shelby Tisdale Director of the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Santa Fe She will speak about her book Fine Indian Jewelry of the Southwest The Millicent Rogers Museum Col-lection

27-28 14th Annual Los Alamos Sportsmanrsquos Club Gun ShowAnnual gun show Vendors from all over the state New used and antique fi re-arms ammunition reloading supplies knives shooting and archery equipment other items and crafts

EventsAugust 2011

23the Essence AugustSeptember 2011wwwlosalamoschambercom

September 20111 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

1 LA Arts Council Brown Bag Performance Series presents Los Alamos Piano Quartet and Piano Quintet at Fuller LodgeLos Alamos Piano Quartet and Piano Quintet

1 Mesa Public Library FREE Film presents Social NetworkMesa Public Libraryrsquos FREE fi lm series presents Social Network in honor of Los Alamos Arts and Culture Month and Next Big Idea creativity in science

2 Fuller Lodge Art Center Art Opening Reception for Paintings by Umi RabyThe public is invited to enjoy refreshments and meet the artists in a ca-sual atmosphere This exhibit runs until September 17

5 Los Alamos Historical Museum Exhibit Opening Maps of New MexicoMuseum exhibit of varied maps of the state of New Mexico

8 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lotProduce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

910 Los Alamos Little Theater presents 8 X 10 (cubed)Short Play Festival produced by Roxanne Tapia and Pat Beck

10 2011 Walk to End Alzheimerrsquos at the Betty Ehart Senior CenterWith more than 5 million Americans living with Alzheimerrsquos and nearly 11 million more serving as caregivers the time to act is now

13 Centennial Lecture Series presents History of Los Alamos amp the Pajarito Plateau at Fuller LodgePart of the Centennial Lecture Series presetned by the Los Alamos His-torical Society Kecture Series

15 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lotProduce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

15 Guitarist Sandy Hoffman in Concert at Fuller LodgeSandy Hoffman will be playing acoustic guitar selections from ldquoSerenordquo his latest CD

15 White Rock Family Friendly Film at White Rock Town HallFilm to be announced

16 - 18 Los Alamos Little Theater presents 8 X 10 (cubed)Short Play Festival produced by Roxanne Tapia and Pat Beck

16 Los Alamos Summer Concert Series presents Ryan McGarvey at Ashley Pond Park Fresh blues and rock to kick off the Next Big Idea Festival

17 The Next Big Idea Festival Festival of Discovery Invention and Innovation at Ashley Park Annual event highlighting Los Alamosrsquo unique creative heritage inspiring young people about futures in sci-ence technology engineering math and innovation 11 am to 3 pm

17 Kraz ndash E ndash Science (Science Show) by Dave Schwellenbach at the Next Big Idea Festival Science Show at Ashley Pond ndash NBI Festival Fun for All - FREE shows from 11am to 230 pm

22 Los Alamos Farmers Market at Mesa Public Library parking lot Produce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

22 Authors Speak Series Local SymposiumPlaywright Robert Benjamin mystery novelist James lsquoDannyrsquo Doss chil-drenrsquos author Shirley Raye Redmond poet Jane Lin

23 Guitars at the Lodge - Michael ChapdelaineMichael Chapdelaine is the only guitarist ever to win First Prize in the worldrsquos top competitions in both the Classical and Fingerstyle genres the Guitar Foundation of America International Classical Guitar Compe-tition and the National Fingerstyle Championships at the Walnut Valley Bluegrass Festival in Winfi eld Kansas

23 Fuller Lodge Art Center Art Opening ReceptionFuller Lodge Art Center celebrates the opening of the exhibit lsquoMuertorsquo with an artistsrsquo reception from 5-7 pm The public is invited to enjoy refreshments and meet the artists in a casual atmosphere

2324 Los Alamos Little Theater presents 8 X 10 (cubed)Short Play Festival produced by Roxanne Tapia and Pat Beck

24 Pajarito Mountain Ullr FestFun for the whole family Aspen lift will serve bikers and hikers from 9-3 pm Live music by The Nomads from 1-5pm Free bus from LAHS Sulli-van Field all day Beer garden on the deck from 12-5 pm

25 Eliot Fisk Classical Guitar Los Alamos Concert Association at Duane Smith AuditoriumEliot Fisk ldquothe king of the American classical guitarrdquo will perform at the Duane Smith Auditorium to kick off the Los Alamos Concert Associationrsquos 26th season

29 Los Alamos Farmers MarketProduce meats cheeses plants prepared food items crafts and more from Northern New Mexico An inviting and colorful community tradition

Everyday in September our cultural organizations will be bringing you great opportunities to experience art and culture

Community Calendar searchable business directory full event details more events

and contact information at fyiLAcom

24 the Essence AugustSeptember 2011 wwwReadTheEssencecom

Los Alamos County Fair

amp Rodeo 2011f CHEDULE OFX VENTS

THURSDAY AUGUST 11300-700pm Indoor Exhibit

Check In (Mesa Public Library)

FRIDAY AUGUST 12800am Pool Tournament

(Betty Ehart Senior Center)

1130-1230pm Western BBQ Lunch

(Betty Ehart Senior Center)

500-800pm County Fair Exhibits

(Mesa Public Library)

700pm LA Concerts Thomas

Mapfumo amp The Blacks Unlimited

(Ashley Pond)

SATURDAY AUGUST 13900-400pm Arts and Crafts Show

(Fuller Lodge Lawn)

900-400pm Festival amp Fair

(Ashley Pond)

1000am County Fair amp Rodeo Parade

(Central Avenue Downtown)

1000-400pm County Fair Exhibits

(Mesa Public Library)

1100am LA Concerts

Jimmy Stadler Band (Ashley Pond)

200pm Rodeo Queen Presentation

amp Rodeo (Brewer Arena)

400-1000pm Cowboy Dinner amp

Rodeo Dance (Posse Lodge)

SUNDAY AUGUST 14100-300pm Rodeo (Brewer Arena)

For more information callLA CNTY RECREATION 505-662-8173LA County Fair amp Rodeo is sponsored by