Community Programs Office  
November 2006, Issue No. 20


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One Month to Go!

Wow--I can't believe I'm already planning for the holidays; it seems as though this year began just a few days ago.

I can already smell the pumpkin pie and the turkey in the oven. I've often wondered why special meals with all the trimmings aren't served more often. I guess that's what makes this time of the year that much more special.

This month we introduce something new-- a message from our Deputy Director, John Mitchell. We intend to keep you connected with what is going on at the Laboratory.

Make it a wonderful November!



From the desk of John Mitchell, Deputy Director  

As you probably have heard or read, one of the most significant challenges facing LANL today is our budget. The 2007 fiscal year budget has not yet been passed through Congress, so it is likely that a Continuing Resolution may cause additional uncertainty with respect to the Lab's budget.

We are taking steps to address these challenges and will have to accommodate $175 million in incremental costs for the 2007 fiscal year.

Our associate directors have been asked to work with the direct and indirect budgets and will be deferring materials, equipment, travel and facilities work. This is being accomplished in concert with a reduction in contractor positions that could save between $75 and $85 million. Obviously these reductions will impact some businesses, so we are making every effort to minimize the impact as much as possible, while continuing to meet our programmatic mission in a safe and secure manner.

We'll continue to keep you informed as more information becomes available on this topic and other issues.

Complex 2030  
In a recent press release, the National Nuclear Security Administration announced its plan to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the transformation and modernization of the Cold War-era nuclear weapons complex. The EIS will be titled Complex 2030 Supplement to the Stockpile Stewardship and Management Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement.

In its comprehensive plan titled Complex 2030, NNSA outlined a smaller, more efficient nuclear weapons complex that is better able and more suited to respond to future national security challenges. The goal is to achieve President Bush's vision of the smallest stockpile consistent with our national security needs.

The term Complex 2030 refers to the configuration of the nuclear weapons complex that NNSA envisions by the year 2030. It includes the dismantling of retired warheads, establishing a consolidated plutonium center, implementing more efficient uniform business practices throughout the complex, and eliminating duplicative capabilities sites.

NNSA is requesting comments from the public in order to further define the EIS and identify key issues. The comment period will end on January 18, 2007, and comments will be accepted in writing or at one of the 17 meetings that NNSA will hold in local communities surrounding each site.

Supporting Seniors  
graduate

Investing in communities is a corporate value of Day & Zimmerman-IMAGIC. Part of this investment will allow the following ten northern New Mexico seniors to further their education with $1,000 scholarships they each received from Day & Zimmerman-IMAGIC.

  • Michael E. Unzueta, Coronado High School
  • Mariangelina Casados, Escalante High School
  • Dana Maestas, Espanola High School
  • Melissa Y.Trujllo, Espanola High School
  • Jaclyn Valdez, McCurdy High School
  • Marcos Valdez, Mesa Vista High School
  • Dennis Dominguez, Penasco High School
  • Gerald Casteneda, Pojoaque High School
  • Anthony Lopez, Pojoaque High School
  • Joanna Gutierrez, Victory Faith High School

This is the eighth year that Day & Zimmerman-IMAGIC has awarded scholarships to high school seniors in the region. The scholarship program is managed by the Community Economic Development Division, co-located with IMAGIC Business Solutions. The division is also responsible for implementing the corporation's Community & Economic Development Planning in four functional areas: Corporate Citizenship, Education, Workforce Development, and Job Creation.

It's all about the Kids  
science
It is all about the kids. At least that's what the Santa Fe Alliance for Science hopes more people would think about when it comes to education.

Santa Fe Alliance for Science was developed by Bob Eisenstein and Susan McIntosh back in 2004. Its goal is to help provide enhanced science learning for the children of Santa Fe and the surrounding communities in their elementary and high school curriculums.

As part of this effort, a website has been developed and provides:

  • A calendar of science lectures, exhibits, and educational programs
  • Links to science resource materials for students and teachers
  • A process for students to contact local scientists, engineers, and technicians to discuss science and possible careers in science
  • A way for students to contact local scientists, engineers and technicians about curriculum issues and possible classroom mentoring
  • And much, much more


United in a New Way  
LANL's United Way campaign has come to an end. And with that end, came approximately $535K that was contributed by LANL employees for donations to several non-profit organizations throughout northern New Mexico.

Los Alamos National Security, operation of the Los Alamos National Laboratory, will match employee contributions up to. $1,000,000.

Cultural Awareness  
As we all know, the Hispanic Culture surrounds New Mexico, and what a better way celebrate this rich culture than by having a Hispanic Culture Festival?

De Colores Inc., a 32 year, non-profit organization based out of Albuquerque organized the festival, which was held on October 14. Their goal is to create awareness and pride in the cultures prevalent to New Mexico.

Events during the festival included: a film series, art demonstrations, dance, poetry and music. There was also an Unsung Heroes Awards Banquet Dinner in which the Honorable U.S. District Court Judge Martha Vasquez served as keynote speaker.

The following is the list of those honored as "Unsung Heroes", which includes some of northern New Mexico's own:

  • Lifetime Leadership Award - Manuel T. Pacheco
  • Education Award- Mary J. Lovato
  • Humanitarian Award - Elba Saavedra, Ph.D
  • Government Award - Jerry Romero
  • Grassroots Award - Genevieve Jaramillo-Padilla
  • College Student Awards - Vanessa Garcia, Sebastian Iriart, and Eric Garcia
  • Posthumous Award, Beverly Gene (Waddell) Garcia (Sept. 24, 1923 - July 5, 2005)


Frontiers in Science Talks  
Recent Frontiers in Science talks held in Albuquerque and elsewhere in northern New Mexico, attracted people interested in how the Laboratory has developed a method to use lasers for cooling materials. Richard Epstein, a LANL scientist, illustrated how quantum mechanics and state-of-the art technology can force more heat out of a material than it absorbs and, therefore, become cooler. He also discussed why the small size and lack of vibration associated with this type of optical refrigeration makes it ideal for applications such as satellites, cell phones, and computers.

The next series of talks are scheduled for early December and will consist of a panel discussion highlighting various areas of Lab research on avian flu.

Ten Years of Giving  
For ten years the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation has been operating as a regional resource investing in educating, learning, and community development in northern New Mexico. And on October 21, the Foundation celebrated this milestone at its 10th annual banquet.

In addition its outstanding scholarship program, the Foundation has awarded over $20 million to more than 1,300 schools, nonprofit organizations, and pueblo communities through its grant program. A check in the amount of $700,000 was also presented that evening to the foundation by LANL Director Michael Anastasio on behalf Los Alamos National Security, LLC.

The LANL Foundation's newest program, First Born Rio Arriba, was introduced at the event. This is an educational home visitation program that will be implemented to improve the health and wellness of first-time families. A family resiliency model, First Born will build family strengths and competencies through effective community relationships.

Garbage Pizza  
truchas
Garbage Pizza? For some reason those two words don't seem to go together, especially for those of us who love pizza. Garbage Pizza is actually an activity that kids living in Truchas and the surrounding communities learned about during the Truchas Community Clean Up Day on October 28th. The event was organized by community members, New Mexico Clean & Beautiful, KSL, LANL-Community Programs Office, Rio Arriba County North Central Solid Waste Authority, and other businesses and non-profits in an effort to teach children about environmental awareness.

Children were engaged in activities that included talking about where trash goes, making garbage pizzas out of materials that represent different percentages of landfill contents, and making paper out of recycled paper. Community members and other volunteers pitched in to collect garbage along the roadways and were even successful in getting old cars and farm equipment hauled away from the canyon.

Four-Year College in Espanola  
Speaking of education, northern New Mexico students may be able to get their four-year degrees a lot closer to home. That's because Northern New Mexico College will soon be adding five new baccalaureate programs as part of the school's plan to become a four-year institution. Programs in business administration, biology, environmental science, information technology and integrative health studies were recently approved by the New Mexico Higher Education Department. All plans will be final pending a green light from the State's Higher Learning Commission, which is expected in December.

Kudos!  
trophy
Government Kudos: Kudos to Roman Abeyta and Gerald Gonzales who will be starting new positions within Santa Fe County. Gerald has been appointed as the Provost and Policy Advisor and Roman is now the new County Manager.

Business Kudos: Kudos to Cathie Zacher of Santa Fe Economic Development Inc. (SFEDI) who was selected as the Capital City 2006 Business Woman of the Year.

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