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 The end of summer vacation
is just around the corner and my kids are not happy about it! They, like most of
us, tried to cram summer fun into 3 months and simply couldn't get enough.
Luckily they are still at an age when the lure of buying school supplies and
school clothes creates a little distraction.
Many employers, like the
Laboratory, are in the midst of a school supply drive for needy kids. If you
haven't already done so, buy a few extra supplies when shopping for your kids
and make a donation through one of the local campaigns. Your timing couldn't be
more perfect. New Mexico's tax free holiday on school supply purchases is August
4-6. I had a school supply flashback this weekend when opening up my daughter's
new stuff. The smell of new erasers and crayons happily reminded me of my
elementary school days when I too opened and admired my nice new stuff. With
your donation, you can ensure that several needy kids will smile with pride on
the first day of school as they too admire their brand new school supplies. See
you at the store this weekend!
Make it a great
August!
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| Predicting Avian Flu
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The Laboratory's
Theoretical Biology and Applied Science & Development Groups have been in
the news recently. Scientists Catherine Macken and Tim Germann
have created a computer program to help predict the course of an avian flu
pandemic. (Fortunately, there has been no epidemic so far.) The two Lab
scientists worked on the project with scientists from the University of
Washington and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in
Seattle.
Mack and Germann were
featured on a recent edition of KNME's
Science Cafe. They explained that their model can estimate the effectiveness
of public health measures such as travel restrictions, school closures, and
business shut-downs. This would allow health agencies to make informed decisions
and allow more time to produce and distribute a vaccine.
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| Highlands-Lab
Connection |
New
Mexico Highlands University's graduate program in Media Arts and Computer
Science arrived at the Bradbury Science Museum in July, and it couldn't have
been more welcome. Two interns from the NMHU program, Helen Rinke and
John Lund, immediately began development of multimedia exhibits. One of
the new exhibits will cover late-breaking science programs at the Laboratory, an
area hard to keep up with in conventional museum exhibits. The other exhibit
will allow museum visitors to delve into the lives of some of the most
interesting people who were part of the Manhattan Project.
The interns came to the Lab
and to the museum through a New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department program
partnership with NMHU designed to launch students on careers in New Mexico's
museums and cultural tourism industry. According to Highlands media arts
professor Robert Fry, the program is the first workforce development
program in the world to provide training in applying technological design
solutions to the challenges faced by museums.
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| Rosita the
Roadrunner |
A New Mexico summer reading
program is about to morph into a book. An independent printer in Santa Fe, Sunstone
Press, has announced it will publish a book entitled READiscover New
Mexico: a Tri- Lingual Adventure in Literacy. The book will tell the story
of Rosita the Roadrunner and her journey to learn about New Mexico. It will
include enrichment material developed for READiscover New Mexico, a summer
reading program adapted to local communities by public libraries throughout the
state.
Written by Kathy Barco
and designed and illustrated by Mike Jaynes, READiscover New Mexico
is scheduled for release this fall. The enrichment material will include a
booklist, website links, riddles— even a recipe for biscochitos. Royalties will
go to the New Mexico State Library Fund at the New Mexico Community
Foundation.
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| LANL Foundation Makes
Espanola Home |
The LANL Foundation held a
groundbreaking ceremony on July 7 for its new headquarters in Espanola. The $1.1
million building, located in Espanola's Industrial Park, is scheduled for
completion by next July, according to Foundation Director, Susan
Herrera.
Since its founding in 1977,
the Foundation has given out $19 million to the northern New Mexico community.
Support has gone to schools, scholarships, teacher enrichment, and nonprofit
groups serving the region. Last year the Foundation distributed approximately $3
million. The Lab's operator, Los Alamos National Security, LLC, has made a major
commitment to help increase this figure to support education.
Dignitaries at the
groundbreaking included Lab Director Mike Anastasio, Senator Pete
Domenici, Representative Tom Udall, Representative Jeanette
Wallace, Representative Nick Salazar, and Espanola Mayor Joseph
Maestas. Mayor Maestas talked about Espanola's 400-year history and the
pressures of progress. He praised the Foundation for its investment in the city
and its people.
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| Expo a Hit
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Businesses from across
northern New Mexico cultivated contacts with the Laboratory, Sandia National
Laboratories, and State procurement officials in Pojoaque on July 14. The
occasion was the Northern
New Mexico Supplier Alliance's Annual Business Expo. The theme for this year
was Making the Connection. The Expo included training sessions on
subjects ranging from taxes and job training incentives to alternative
financing.
On the eve of the Expo,
Ohkay Casino Dome hosted a dinner and awards gala. The Allan F. Johnston
advocacy award was presented to Nelson Ward of El Valle Consulting in
recognition of his contributions to the small business community. The Supplier
Alliance presented a grant to Pojoaque Schools to support student programs.
CPO's own Tim Martinez received the Alliance's prestigious Chairman's
Award.
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| Taos Hosts WERC Summer
Environmental Academy |
Students and their teachers
from around New Mexico filled the conference room at the Quality Inn in Taos
during the week of July 17. They were there to learn about soil profiling and
campground improvement projects at the annual Waste-Management Education and
Research Consortium (WERC) Summer Environmental Academy.
The Summer Environmental
Academy is a community outreach program funded in part by the U.S. Department
of Energy and supported locally by the New Mexico Environment Department
Surface Water Bureau, the Wetlands Program at Carson National Forest,
and the Water Research Technical Assistance Office.
This year's focus was
Conducting Sustainability Education in a cross-cultural context. WERC
collaborated with tribal leaders, community members, environmental experts, and
educators to make the event a success.
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| Winning with Fry
Bread |
Ever had a taste of mini
fry bread covered in powdered sugar? That's what judges at this year's Youth
Entrepreneur Conference in Espanola were lucky enough to get. The goal of
the conference, sponsored by the Northern New Mexico Empowering Business
Spirit (EBS) Initiative in coordination with Engaging Latino Communities
for Higher Education (ENLACE), was to provide young entrepreneurs with the
skills needed to plan, start, and run their own business.
The fry bread was provided
by Robert Chavez of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. He was the winner of first
prize in the event’s Business Plan Competition. Chavez was awarded a personal
computer, a prize sure to help his business get off to a good start.
EBS's Youth Entrepreneur
program can have an impact on participants beyond the realm of business. One
parent at this year's conference said her child's attendance had reignited an
interest in learning and education.
The Laboratory's
Consortium of Major Subcontractors is in the process of establishing a
program that will complement EBS's. It will include a grant
pool to help young entrepreneurs get started.
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| Killer Road Show
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The Bradbury
Science Museum's Human Body Road show drew big crowds in visits to three
northern New Mexico communities in July and will try to top this success in
visits to two more communities in August. The traveling exhibit, developed by
the Pacific Science Center, includes activities and information about the human
body. It covers bones, the brain, other organs, senses, and cells using models,
puzzles, and hands- on activities.
The first show, at the
Genoveva Chavez Center in Santa Fe, drew more than 700 children, most of
them from summer camps. Santa Fe Mayor David Coss attended, stayed long
enough to try all the hands-on activities and exhibits, and announced he would
like the City to help the Bradbury make next year's event reach even more of the
community.
The Road Show moved to the
Espanola-Alcalde area on July 13 and 14, drawing a large number of
families, and to Luna College in Las Vegas on July 25 and 26. It will
appear today and tomorrow, August 1 and 2, at the Taos Convention
Center and August 8 and 9 at the Rural Events Center in
Abiquiu.
"We're excited about the
addition of the Human Body Road Show to the Bradbury's Summer Teaching Series,"
said Lillian Montoya-Rael, Community Programs Office Director. "Programs
like these continue to offer students and their parents exciting and valuable
educational experiences. And we're glad to get support from our local newspapers
in letting communities know about these programs." A front-page article on the
Road Show visit to Espanola-Alcalde appeared in the Rio Grande
Sun.
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| Kudos
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Volunteer Kudos. Kudos to David Jardine, winner of the July Vecinos
Outstanding Volunteer Award. A $1,000 grant will be made to Vecinos del Rio
in Jardine's name. Kudos to Donna Schroeder, who was recently hired as
Executive Director of United Way Northern New Mexico.
Economic Development Kudos. Kudos to New
Mexico First for 20 years of service to New Mexico communities and
businesses.
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| COMMUNITY CALENDAR
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