It's July, the month for monsoons and an occassional heat wave. This year, I don't need to tell you , we've had intense storms and hot days earlier than usual. Let's hope we don't get too many more days quite that warm. But we call all agree that we needs lots more rain from afternoon thunderstorms.

Speaking of monsoons, along with rain and thunder comes lightening. Make sure you keep this in mind when you're outdoors, especially when you're thinking of taking a hike in the mountains. Give yourself plenty of time to get back before storm clouds roll in. Did you know that if you're caught in a lightning storm, you can reduce your risk of injury by removing everything metal that's in contact with your clothes or skin?

And did you know that the Lab's name didn't change on June 1? It's still Los Alamos National Laboratory or LANL. Only the contractor operating the Lab for the Department of Energy changed: it's Los Alamos National Security, or LANS.

Have a relaxing and safe July and July 4!

The Mayor's Coffee with Coss gatherings are designed to allow citizens to air complaints and discuss issues directly with top City administrators. Downtown business representatives at the June 21 meeting focused on several issues: major construction projects happening at the same time, harsh enforcement of traffic violations on bewildered tourists, competition from event vendors, and stores with allegedly bogus jewelry sales.

In the coming months the Mayor plans to invite other groups of citizens for similar dialogs.

The program works by providing seed funding and business advice to help each participant start and run his or her own small business. Entrepreneurs begin by submitting a mini business plan and end by writing a final report. But it's what comes in between that matters most: participants run real businesses in the real world.

Over the years businesses have included lawn and yard care, house and pet sitting services, card and gift makers, jewelry and T-shirt designers, art and music lessons, and website design. More than 190 businesses have been funded. A few have continued operating after the program, some successful enough to create jobs for others.

To address watershed problems like these, the Upper Rio Grande Watershed Group held a community forum in Alcalde on June 19. Representatives of Rio Arriba County and several federal agencies were on hand to answer questions and discuss possible solutions, which include reversing or modifying those man-made changes that channel runoff in damaging ways.

The Supplier Expos provide a forum for businesses to feature their products and services and put them in direct contact with government and large- contractor procurement staffs. Participants can schedule one-on-one meeting sessions with agencies and contractors and enter into a dialog with procurement decision makers.

The event is one of the largest business-to-business and business-to-government networking opportunities in northern New Mexico. It's a partnership between the Laboratory and the Northern New Mexico Supplier Alliance. More than 500 businesses have exhibited at previous Expos, with more than 1,200 attendees.

The Youth Entrepreneur Grant Program targets nonprofits, government agencies, and Pueblos with a good track record in youth entrepreneurship programs. Grants will average between $3,000 and $5,000. Young persons interested in the program should get in touch with an eligible organization.

The Industry Cluster Development Grant Program will target technical service organizations assisting in business creation, sales, profitability, and job opportunities. Organizations can be educational institutions as well as nonprofits, government agencies, and Pueblos. Examples include small business incubators, formalized cluster groups and associations, small business technical assistance providers, and microlenders. Funds can be used for operations, purchasing equipment, or specific programs. Grants will average between $10,000 and $15,000.

The Consortium of Major Contractors is a group of businesses with large Laboratory contracts. They pool their resources to invest in programs designed to help diversify the economies of Sandoval, Santa Fe, Los Alamos, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Taos, and Mora counties and the region’s Pueblos. The Regional Development Corporation administers the two programs for the Consortium. The application deadline for both is August 26.

The Education Program Office conducts the symposium as part of its mission to help students and post-docs broaden their expertise and prepare for careers, whether in technical or nontechnical fields. The symposium is also an excellent forum for students to network and make professional contacts. Lab Director Mike Anastasio is scheduled to speak at the event.

Santa Fe Mayor David Coss and Laboratory Director Mike Anastasio were among those welcoming a large, international group of scientists, who heard talks ranging from the history of the groundbreaking discovery to the latest developments in the field. Participants also visited historic sites in Los Alamos, Bandelier, Taos, and Sandia Pueblo.

Neutrinos are fundamental particles, similar in some respects to neutrons and electrons, but even smaller and much more elusive. Since the 1930s physicists had reason to believe neutrinos existed, but no one had detected them until Reines and Cowan used the Savannah River reactor to produce them in huge quantities.