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October 30, 2010 News - Bulletin VALENCIA COUNTY Locals 2010 & CITIZEN OF THE YEAR UNSUNG HEROES

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Locals 2010. Published yearly by the Valencia County News-Bulletin (Number Nine Media, Inc.). For information, please call (505) 864-4472. Copyright 2010

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Page 1: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010

News-BulletinVALENCIA COUNTY

Locals2010

&CITIZEN OF THE YEAR

UNSUNG HEROES

Page 2: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Jason W. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Los LunasWhen Molly Madden became a

“retired teacher” in 2007, it was mere-ly a change in technicalities, really.

In fact, Madden’s retirement from teaching was not really an end, but a beginning. Since 2007, she’s been able to go in even more directions and focus on more education than she has already doing as a Belen Schools elementary teacher.

“It’s kind of a joke, really,” says Madden regarding her retirement from Belen Schools. “It allowed me to do what I love to do, which is environ-mental education.”

Madden might be as busy now as she was at any point in her life, which has included her career in education and raising three children. Between her work with the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, the Valencia County Literacy Council and other projects and efforts, there doesn’t seem to be much idle time for Madden.

However, Madden isn’t keeping her schedule full simply to stay busy and feel useful. The causes she’s involved with are carefully chosen, central to her career path and the issues she cares deeply about, and all seem to involve edifying people, especially children. “It’s very critical we understand what’s natural, and what’s disrupted, espe-cially young children,” says Madden, whose years in Belen Schools were focused on the kindergarten through second-grade levels. “Children don’t always know what’s man-made and what isn’t, and one of my goals was always to educate children about the environment. As adults, they can be able to think environmentally, and to make decisions knowing what’s needed.”

In fact, Madden’s efforts seem to be a spectrum that doesn’t have clearly defined separations between organiza-tions she’s been involved with. These include a monthly bosque education program for students at her old school, Rio Grande Elementary, along with development of Whitfield, getting the Friends of Whitfield, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, set up to help fund the conservation area, going. She has been the first and only president of its board of directors, volunteering with the Valencia County Literacy Council and work with Keeping New Mexico Beautiful, and much more.

She also serves on the board of directors for Cottonwood Gulch, a foundation that provided her with her youth summer-camp experience that first brought her to New Mexico, and Adelante Development Center Inc., which oversees programs that benefit her oldest daughter, Jennifer.

Madden, 60, was born and raised in St. Louis, Mo., and her travels to Cottonwood Gulch’s camps in her teens and early 20s caused her to fall in love with the Land of Enchantment. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in anthropology at Smith College in Massachusetts in 1972, and actually used her junior year studying “abroad” at the University of New Mexico.

She married Rick Madden, a doc-tor familiar to many Belen residents, and he served in the U.S. Army in the 1970s. Molly Madden worked at UNM’s Maxwell Museum in the late 1970s, eventually earning a master’s degree in elementary education in 1985 from UNM.

About that time, she and Rick moved to Valencia County. Rick, an Indianapolis native, is a small-town doctor, so Belen was a fairly natural fit for both of them. Thus began Molly’s 21-year career in Belen Schools — a career that included being the district’s Teacher of the Year for 1998-99 and the start of a program that seems to enliven her voice upon its mention: the Bosque Ecosystem Monitoring Program, or BEMP.

The program is a joint venture of UNM’s biology department and Bosque School in Albuquerque, and connects many other Rio Grande Valley schools in an ongoing educa-tion and data-collection project. Belen High, Los Lunas High and Rio Grande Elementary are listed as members of this partnership, and it was within the BEMP program that Madden’s environmental education of Valencia County youth really seemed to take off.

The BEMP program, started in 1997, involved field trips to Willie Chavez State Park by Madden’s Rio Grande Elementary students. At first, the trek was made on foot, making it a study in contrasts by walking along River Road, then down into the deep bosque vegetation of the park. Lisa Tabet and Delfin Baca are just two of the other Rio Grande teachers who have worked with Madden on the project through the years.

She went back to UNM in 2000 to earn a second master’s degree in ele-mentary education, this time with an emphasis on environmental education.

“I’m emotionally attached to (the

bosque),” said Madden. “I know it and love it.”

With the help of the late Dr. Cliff Crawford, the program director, and Kim Eichhorst, now an associate pro-fessor, BEMP is a long-term research and historical tracking program that helps students learn the importance and details of the delicate nature of the bosque and humans’ impact on the life cycles there.

A major fire and some clearing done by the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District have changed the shape of the park, which includes picnic tables refurbished by students and several rainwater data collection stations. Madden’s strong commitment to the BEMP program keeps her at Rio Grande into what is technically her retirement, as she still takes second-graders to the park one Tuesday per month to continue the project.

Madden’s work in environmental education has been recognized by her peers. She won the national 2005 K-12 Teacher of the Year Award from the North American Association for Environmental Education, and was also the recipient of the 2002 Outstanding Environmental Educator of the Year from the Environmental Education Association of New Mexico.

She has also worked with an event called “Family Duck Night” in which students work with parents on creat-ing duck art for stamps, and has been involved with revising the Bosque Education Guide.

All of this, and we haven’t even begun to talk about Whitfield yet.

Whitfield Wildlife Conservation

Area is a 97-acre conservation area built where a dairy used to stand, along the west side of N.M. 47, a mile or so north of River Road. It’s where Madden and others have spent a lot of their time in the past few years, plant-ing native vegetation and helping edu-cate county schoolchildren and others about the Rio Grande’s ecosystem.

Elementary schools often will have a Whitfield representative, such as Madden, head to a classroom early in the week to brief the students, then have one class or more make a field trip to Whitfield a short time later.

A recent visit from a class of Peralta Elementary sixth-graders featured the usual fidgety impatience, but Madden says using binoculars, journaling and the generally captivating nature of qui-etly observing animals in the bosque tend to hold most students’ attention.

“BEMP gave me the confidence I needed to take on some of the things I’ve done at Whitfield,” said Madden. “It’s kind of a natural offshoot of the education done there (at Willie Chavez State Park).”

Anyone who’s ever been involved in getting a nonprofit organization going knows it’s heavy on detail, and is a neverending process that consumes a lot of time and energy. Getting plants, water, weather and clay-heavy soil to work together seems like a small challenge for the Whitfield folks, compared to the logistics and protocol needed for the business of the Friends of Whitfield. “A lot of that was learning to write grants, something I’d never done before,” said Madden. “But we got

some of those, including a $10,000 Pierce Grant. As a nonprofit, Friends of Whitfield is eligible for grants not available to a government agency, like the conservancy district that runs Whitfield.”

The Valencia Soil and Water Conservation District oversees Whitfield’s day-to-day operations, run by project manager Ted Hodoba.

“It’s hard to put into words how much Molly brings to our project,” said Hodoba, who has known Madden for a number of years. “Molly was one of the first volunteers to get involved with Whitfield. With some people, they’ll tell you they’ll do something, and won’t, but Molly won’t just do what she says, she’ll take ownership in it. Whitfield is dear to her heart, and she works at it as a full-time job. She can talk to children as well as adults, and that’s not easy.”

Madden supports a Sierra Club program known as “No Child Left Inside,” which promotes environ-mental education and experiences for young people.

“These types of experiences can help improve performance in school, and reduce discipline problems in schools, simply by getting kids outside more,” said Madden. “One slogan you’ll hear a lot is, ‘More green, less screen.’”

Since 2008, Madden has also worked with the Valencia County Literacy Council. She volunteers with the Books Open to our Kids pro-gram, or BOOK, reading to children and their families in health clinics and other facilities in Belen and Los Lunas.

Madden spends her Tuesday morn-ings as a moderator of a group of limited-English parents at Rio Grande Elementary.

“Some of the people I work with don’t speak much English, and my Spanish isn’t that good,” said Madden. “Some are working moms. I have such respect for those women.”

Susan Howard, the volunteer coor-dinator for the literacy council, said Madden’s teaching experience keeps her ready for the unexpected.

“Molly has quite a ‘toolbox’ of teaching skills,” said Howard. “Being a retired teacher, she has all kinds of expertise. Not much can throw her for a loop.”

Recycling is another important realm for Madden. Keep New Mexico Beautiful kept her on the road, going to schools all over the state in the past few years, to promote recycling, some-thing that impresses Cyndi Sluder.

“Her attitude and outlook are refreshing,” said Sluder, the director of Tierra Bonita of Valencia County. “She doesn’t just drive that little Prius hybrid and ride her bicycle a lot, she sees obstacles as opportunities, and sees ways around them. She’s so prac-tical.” Sluder misspoke, mixing adjectives and creating the word “patienate,” intending to say Madden is both patient and passionate. That word might describe Madden’s approach to things such as the environment and literacy. “Molly has a lot of energy,” said Hodoba. “If I tried to juggle all those things, it would drive me crazy.”

Hodoba did articulate what seems to be Madden’s one weakness.

“Cookies,” he said. “If there’s a plate of cookies in the room, she’ll know it. She’ll be asking you ‘Where are the cookies?’”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin2 October 30, 2010

Molly Madden: Teacher by training, educator by choice2010 Citizen of the Year

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photos

MOLLY MADDEN, this year’s Citizen of the Year, inspects some plants at Willie Chavez State Park in Belen. The Los Lunas resident gives her time to many causes, including recycling, nature and environmental education, and literacy.

MOLLY MADDEN inspects a rain-catch station in Willie Chavez State Park in Belen. Madden has con-tinued to take Rio Grande Elementary students to the park even though she has retired from teach-ing.

MOLLY MADDEN points to the Rio Grande at the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area. Whitfield is among Madden’s many passions, as she’s been the only president of the Friends of Whitfield, a non-profit organization.

Page 3: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Jason W. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

JaraLesWhen volunteer Jarales firefighters

had to drop everything and head out on a call in years past, it wasn’t like they had time to call around for a babysitter.

That’s why they would drop their children off at the home of Rae and John Cherry. John would be out fighting fires, along with the rest of the Jarales volunteers, and Rae would be at the house with the cou-ple’s children — and, at times, the children of other firefighters.

“I guess we had as many as 10 in here at one time,” said Rae.

Rae’s husband, John W. Cherry, began as a volunteer firefighter in Jarales in the late 1960s, and began a career of jumping into emergency vehicles at all hours of the day and night. That started a legacy of fire-fighting that not only led to many babysitting occasions in the Cherry household, but also three generations of firefighters.

“We’ve gone out to everything from structure fires to farm equip-ment accidents to heart attacks,” said John M. Cherry, the son of Rae and John W. “Lots of things have changed, including how we get fund-ing and equipment and the availabil-ity of volunteers, and a lot of them don’t have the same commitment and desire anymore.”

John W. Cherry died in January after a yearlong battle with cancer and about four years after he retired from 18 years as the first Valencia County fire marshal. His son, John M., John’s wife, Beth, and their chil-dren have all, at one point or another, been involved with either firefight-ing or some other type of emergency services.

John W. didn’t need to do a lot of preaching to get is son involved in firefighting, as his son began vol-unteering at a young age. While he and Beth continue to live next door to Rae in Jarales, their children have moved on to jobs outside the county, and the challenges in the bosque community of Jarales remain.

“There’s a lot more paperwork than

there used to be,” said John M. “Too much wasted money has led to a lot more regulations.”

John M. is the chief for the Jarales station, but holds a full-time job these days, driving big rigs for Hodges Oil Co. That means he’s outside the county a lot of the time, meaning he can’t be on call like he used to.

“We used to be able to just close up the mechanic’s shop we had here at the house, and go on a call,” said Rae. “Of course, the equipment is a lot different, too.”

When John W. and Rae moved to Jarales in the 1960s, the department

had a couple of trucks that barely ran and a small van known as the “snow-cone machine” that served as the res-cue/paramedic vehicle. The old two-bay Jarales station has grown into a five-bay structure with modern fire engines and a rescue truck, with full gear for almost 20 firefighters.

“We have about 15 on staff, with about 10 that respond to everything,” said John M.

The 52-year-old John M. said eco-nomics is a huge challenge to keep-ing enough volunteers on hand.

“The way the area is changing, and there aren’t as many full-time farm-ers down here as there used to be,”

he said. “Plus, people have to make a living, and are choosing to use their fire academy training to go get paid jobs in firefighting right away.”

Beth became an EMT many years ago. She and John M. have three children. Shannon works for the town of Bernalillo’s fire department, and his wife, Joy, is an EMT. Their other son, Lea, is a firefighter in the Albuquerque area, and their daugh-ter Brandi worked as a volunteer firefighter in Jarales when she was younger, before ending up in Las Cruces.

Rae got enough training of her own to become an Emergency Medical Technician-Intermediate. She smiles as she describes photographs of using a rescue van, accompanied by the late Diane Tietjen, to show a col-lection of Gil Sanchez Elementary

School students some medical equip-ment.

“We didn’t have one dispatch cen-ter for the county like we do now,” said Rae. “In fact, in 1969, calling from house to house was the best way to get the word out about a fire.”

The fire department is a special place to many in the Jarales com-munity, and not simply because of its visibility along Jarales Road. Some type of Christmas event, including fire trucks and either John W. or John M. dressed in a Santa Claus suit, have been staples in Jarales for many years.

The challenges for a volunteer fire-fighter family have grown in num-ber. As trains pulling into the Belen rail yard have grown number and able to carry more freight, the load-ing times have increased, and trains block Jarales Road, cutting off a vital emergency route.

John M. said he’s been called out to stabbings, shootings and repeat calls to the same address.

“We do have a few places that we seem to get called to at the same time every year,” he said. “And I never go on a call by myself.”

John M. said one of the tough-est things to deal with is getting a firefighter fully outfitted, then strug-gling to have that person be available to respond to calls.

“When I started, if you said you were a volunteer firefighter, it was something you put a lot of pride and effort into,” he said.

As for the next generation of poten-tial Cherry volunteers, they’re all at least a few years away from choosing career paths. Shannon and Joy have four children, the oldest of whom is 15, and Brandi has two children, with the oldest being only 2-years old.

“The next generation isn’t here to pick it up,” said Rae.

Beth said she holds out hope that the next generation will, at the very least, have an appreciation for fire-fighters and other service personnel.

“I hope they see how important community service is,” she said. “And how important it is to give something back to the place where you came from.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES October 30, 2010 3Valencia County News-Bulletin

Cherry Family: A legacy of firefightingUnsUng heroes

News-Bulletin file photo

JOHN W. CHERRY speaks during a community meeting. Cherry, whose family name has been synonymous with the Jarales-Pueblitos-Bosque Volunteer Fire Department, passed away in January.

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

RAE CHERRY, left, John M. Cherry and his wife, Beth, have all had been involved with the Jarales-Pueblitos-Bosque Volunteer Fire Department for many years.

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Page 4: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By DeBorah FoxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

PeraLtaHe’s a regular guy. A hus-

band. A father. He likes to hunt elk, deer and dove, and he likes to work to be a con-tributing member of the com-munity.

He’s a proud father of three sons, now young men, who follow in his footsteps.

Cody, Kyle and Jeremy are all firefighters on the Peralta Fire Department.

Peralta Fire Chief John Dear is a role model his sons look up to.

He works for the fire department virtually for free. The firefighters receive two stipends a year, he said.

When the mayor of Peralta tried to give him an additional stipend, he refused. He’s a man among men, no better, no worse.

“I wanted to get him some-thing for his troubles, his personal vehicles that he uses, the hours that he spends at the station,” said Mayor Bryan Olguin, “but he just shook his head no.”

Dear also prepares the bud-get for the fire department, and then the budget for state fire funds.

“He’s never had a problem, he’s always been on the up and up. Every ‘t’ is crossed every ‘i’ is dotted,” said Olguin. “He’s got a great accounting system and paper trail.”

Dear’s commitment to the safety of the Valencia County residents knows no bounds. He’s ready at the drop of a pin to suit up and respond to the call of fire.

The mayor nominated Dear as an Unsung Hero because of his experi-ence and years of service. He’s been a volunteer firefighter in Peralta since 1988, 18 of those years as the fire chief.

“I nomi-nated him for what he’s done in the past for the town of Peralta, and not only for the town of Peralta. He does it for the whole county,” said Olguin.

“It’s like Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts,” Dear said. “I enjoy it.

“I’m here because I want to be, not because I have to be. I want to provide a public service,” he says. “I do what I can for the community and I’m happy with that.”

Dear’s wife, Angelique, is also involved in volunteer work with the Mission of Mercy, which provides free

dental work for disadvantaged people.

“That’s what this country was founded on — people helping each other,” said Dear. “We’ve kind of gotten away from that these days.”

Dear is quick to point out the teamwork involved with

his 10-man crew.

“I couldn’t do it without them,” he said. “It takes team effort.”

“These guys make a lot of sacri-fices,” Dear said. “If you’ve had one beer you

can’t go out to a fire. They give up a lot to do their job.”

Not everybody is always happy with Dear’s actions and procedures.

“He was against the town incorporating, which angered some people,” the mayor said. “He felt we were not ready to take on the responsibility of running a town. He felt the safety of the residents was going to be jeopardized.”

When the incorporation passed, Dear set aside his per-sonal feelings and continued to do his job. In fact, Olguin

believes Dear worked even harder.

“He wanted to insure the community’s safety,”Olguin said. “The more I listen to him, the more I can hear his heart talking to me.”

Dear attends all the council meetings on his own time, and gives monthly reports on the fire department to the council. He also offers his input on issues they are working on.

“We’ve had our disagree-ments,” Olguin said, “but boy do I respect that man. I thank God that we have John Dear as our fire chief. He’s a pro-fessional and rarely does he let that guard down.”

Dear has been a bit of a mentor to the young mayor. Olguin said he has learned a lot from the fire chief and time has proved the wisdom of his ways to the younger man.

“We have an excellent vol-unteer fire department, and it’s mostly because of John and his leadership,” Olguin said. “I respect him highly as a good man, and he’s on top of his game as a fire chief.”

Dear spent countless hours working on the transfer of the fire department property when the town incorporated. The fire chief transferred all the vehicles and all the inven-tory from the county to the town.

“He basically took it on himself,” said Olguin, “because he wanted it done right; he wanted it done prop-er and he wanted everything that was due to Peralta to come to Peralta.”

Dear fought, if necessary, for all that was due to the town taxpayers.

“He’s tough,” said Olguin. “He’s somewhat intimidating, but it’s all because he’s serious about his public service and the safety of the community.”

When the addition to Peralta Elementary School was built, the fire hydrants were put in the wrong place. Dear informed the school board and mayor.

It’s expensive to change their location, so it wasn’t good news, but Dear is com-

mitted to doing the job by state statute and fire rules and regulations.

The mayor said they will change them during some upcoming remodeling the school is slated for.

“We seem to have lost responsibility and account-ability for what we do as a society,” Dear said. “We see it all over. Look at all the school shootings. When I was a kid, we never had that.”

The fire chief participates in community activities and school fundraisers. He sup-

ports the community as a citi-zen as well as the fire chief.

“He’s been a Godsend,” Olguin says. “To me and my family personally, as well as in town functions and town issues. I think he should get the Citizen of the Year award.”

Dear would be the first to point out he doesn’t do it for the recognition. His reward is the joy of doing what he loves.

“It’s the small thank you from someone he has helped that makes it all worthwhile,” Olguin said.

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin4 October 30, 2010

WITHIN A MINUTE of receiving a fire call, Peralta Fire Chief John Dear is heading out. This is the lat-est truck purchased by the station. Dear has been a volunteer firefighter in Peralta since 1988, and 18 of those years as the fire chief.

John Dear: Giving his all to PeraltaUnsUng hero

PERALTA FIRE CHIEF JOHN DEAR spends most of his time at the station. He loves his work and being at the service of the commu-nity.

“I’m here because I want to be, not because

I have to be. I want to provide a public service.

I do what I can for the community and I’m

happy with that.”

JOHN DEARPeralta fire chief

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Page 5: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By DeBorah FoxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BeLenTom and Pat Fritts hope to inspire young people

and adults to read. They are members of Belen’s Friends of the Library, co-chair the biannual book sale and they maintain the Book Nook where books are on sale every day.

The couple have been volunteers for about five years, working all year to organize the big book sales in spring and fall. They make it easy for book lovers to find their treasures.

“For both of them, it’s a full time job,” says local historian Maggie McDonald. “They’re not paid to do it. They’re working 30 to 40 hours a week three months before the book sale.”

The couple moved to the area six years ago, and got involved in the community shortly thereafter.

“They are outstanding community members,” says McDonald. “If we had everybody in this community donate an hour or two a week, can you imagine what this community would look like.”

Raising money for the Belen Public Library through book sales has become one of Tom and Pat’s missions, a way to give back to the commu-nity with the hopes of getting people interested in the educational world of books.

They recruit volunteers from all over the county. They stress that they don’t do it all themselves, and praise all the hard work the volunteers put in to make the sale spectacular.

“There’s only four people on (the Belen Library) staff for everything,” says Tom, “which is why they need volunteers.”

“We couldn’t do this ourselves,” said Pat. “The volunteers work really hard. They help sort books. They make the signs and run the sale.”

“Look at these signs, aren’t they great?” Tom points to the yellow signs with hand-blocked print-ing and the symbols that relate the category of books.

The couple both love to read and do research on topics of interest to them.

Tom made a career of research. He’s a biolo-gist and studies the natural world around him. He worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior as a wildlife researcher in the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian museum. He has also worked as a curator of reptiles and amphibians for the San Diego Museum of Natural History.

Pat is a retired teacher. She primarily taught ele-mentary through middle school English language learners and she speaks fluent Spanish.

The couple has lived all over, including San Diego, New Orleans, Austin, Virginia, Colorado, and for a few short periods in the Galapagos Islands when they worked in research or admin-istrative positions at the Darwin Foundation National Park. There they also volunteered to do research work and edit the foundation’s journal.

Tom received a National Science Foundation grant to study the giant tortoises in the Galapagos Islands. They are the largest tortoises alive, weigh-ing 500 to 600 pounds, he said.

They’re an interesting couple — a kind of liv-ing, breathing research and reference library. What they can’t answer, they probably know who can or where to look.

“We’re dedicated to books and reading and edu-cation,” says Tom.

They were both born and raised in Illinois and met in high school. After college, they married.

Margaret Espinosa McDonald nominated the couple for an unsung hero award.

“I see them working so hard on that library book sale,” McDonald said. “I see them coming home exhausted.”

In the Book Nook, hardbacks sell for a dollar and paperbacks for a quarter.

Tom and Pat are careful to price the rare and special books to be of greater benefit to the library, but still keep them at a bargain price for the customer.

Book dealers and collectors from all over the state attend the biannual sales for the bargains they can get on valuable books.

The funds that are generated from the book sales support a variety of library programs, such as the teen program and the children’s summer reading program.

“They advertise all over the place for donated books and then go and pick them up,” said McDonald.

All year long, the Frittses pick up donated books from all over the region, using their own vehicle most of the time. Then they sort the boxes of books by fiction, nonfiction, poetry, classics, southwestern history, Native American culture, science, philosophy and so forth, so people can easily find what they’re interested in when they hold the book sales or in the Book Nook.

They cull any books they think the library might want for the shelves.

“Before Pat and Tom came, the book sale didn’t sort, so if you went into the book sale and you wanted to buy books on religion or art or history, they were all over the place,” McDonald said. “So Tom and Pat get volunteers together and they sort

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES October 30, 2010 5Valencia County News-Bulletin

n See Fritts, Page 8

Tom and Pat Fritts:Dedicated to books

UnsUng heroes

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo

TOM AND PAT FRITTS work with volunteers all year preparing for the two big Belen Library book sales. This year they raised $2,900, which will help pay for library programs such as the children’s summer reading program.

Eddy Gomes:Making life a little sweeter

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

EDDY GOMES, who spent 20 years working for hospices, has brought her compassion for people into her business, Paradise Donuts. She donates doughnuts to many organizations and needy people, and will give a sympathetic ear to a customer in need.

By Curt GustaFsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Bosque FarmsIf you need a sweet treat, if you need a listening

ear, if you need some tender counseling, you can bet dollars to doughnuts that Eddy Gomes will be there to provide it.

Gomes, who owns Paradise Donuts in Bosque Farms, isn’t your average businesswoman. She combines her commitment to helping people with a long-standing desire to run a successful busi-ness. From the looks of things, she is doing both quite well.

When the doughnut shop was only a dream, Gomes developed a strong desire to help people after she was at her dying father’s side during the last two weeks of his life.

He had suffered an aortic aneurism, which caused massive organ failure, and Gomes sat by his side at the hospital during the two weeks it took for him to die.

“He begged me on a daily basis to please take him home,” Gomes said. “He wanted to be in his home in his own bed. He wanted to see my kids — who were 5 at the time — and, of course, hos-pital rules didn’t let 5-year-olds in.”

But doctors blocked the move, saying that her father needed hospital services. Unaware that patient’s rights would have allowed her to take her father home, she did the next best thing by staying at her father’s side 24 hours a day, thanks to an understanding nurse.

After her father’s death, she learned about hos-pice and was hired to be a physicians’ administra-tive assistant.

Not content with working exclusively on the administrative side, she underwent training to learn how to interact with hospice patients. So when the need arose, she volunteered to work on the patient side, doing various duties.

“Not a lot of office personnel have an opportu-nity to interact with patients,” Gomes said. “I was fortunate enough to be able to do that.”

Then, when her mother became terminally ill, she knew what to do.

“When it was time for my mom, she was able to pass away at home and be where she wanted to be.”

A native of Florida, Gomes moved to New Mexico where she fell in love with the four sea-sons, and worked for hospices in Albuquerque.

All the while, she had the dream of opening a doughnut shop tucked away in her head.

“It’s something I’ve had a dream to do — to run

a bakery,” she said. “My dad used to bake all of our bread when we were growing up, so it’s some-thing I grew up with.”

About three years ago, the opportunity arose, and after 20 years of working in the health care field, she opened her shop in Bosque Farms. It’s a community she has nestled into quite comfortably.

“The residents of Bosque Farms have been absolutely wonderful,” Gomes said. “They’re very supportive of us.”

And the feeling is certainly mutual.Having worked in health care, her first foray

into giving back to the community was the peri-odic delivery of doughnuts to the hospice she had worked for.

“So I started off taking doughnuts to them, and of course it was very much appreciated,” she said. “So then I knew there were other organizations that could use a boost as well.”

Pretty soon, Gomes established her own little free delivery route, and it keeps expanding.

In Bosque Farms, she has brought doughnuts to the police department and fire department. She’ll also make a run to the sheriff’s office.

Ambulance drivers coming home from a call in the wee hours of the morning know they can drop by the shop for a cup of coffee and a fresh dough-nut; Gomes is always there cooking doughnuts starting at 1 a.m.

She has donated to different groups, such as Boy Scouts.

When she became aware that Peralta Methodist Church had a food bank, she donated to that cause, too.

“I do it so that these families can get a treat that they normally wouldn’t get or afford to have,” she said. “It’s really important to give back to the community because there’s a lot of people with a lot of different needs.”

“We’ve had some people who walk the street who are homeless,” said Kristale Baca, who along with her mother, Debbie, work at Paradise Donuts. “And she’ll go out there and give them some doughnuts.”

But Gomes’ concern for the community and her customers doesn’t end with the very tangible give-away of doughnuts.

She has many loyal customers who might need Gomes’ counsel.

“Everybody can use a friend,” she said. “If someone doesn’t have family nearby and needs to have a connection, I’m here.”

Some of her patrons have gone through an expe-rience that is very close to Gomes’ heart — minis-tering to a dying loved one.

n See Gomes, Page 8

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Page 6: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Brent ruFFnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BeLenJohn Montano loves people. Montano, 23, realized his passion

when he joined the summer recre-ation program for the city of Belen in a job that might help lead him on a whole different career path.

“I love kids, I love them to death,” Montano said. “Ever since I did sum-mer (recreation) when I was 16. I love working with the public and helping in any way I can.”

Montano accepted a job at the city’s recreation department about five years ago, and was a supervisor with the summer youth programs and filled in whenever called upon and helped out with other city events such as the Miracle on Main Street Electric Light Parade and city trash clean-ups.

“Anywhere I could help where I could lend a hand,” Montano said. “I really liked the opportunity I was get-ting. People saw how passionate I was about my work and stuff. I was given the opportunity to help wherever I could.”

But that opportunity came to an end this past April.

He was one of 24 city employees who were laid off by the city in order to plug a $3.2 million budget shortfall that left the city’s recreation department with one employee and almost stopped summer recreation all together.

But the program was able to sur-vive with a $3,000 donation from the Belen Moose Lodge in a shortened five-week program instead of the original seven weeks. The program ran four days a week instead of five, and paid about $25 in additional fees to attend a program that included activities such as basketball and soc-cer.

Brenda Gurule, the city’s recreation director, said Montano stepped in and helped out any way he could, from overseeing children to filling in for Gurule during the lunch hour.

“He had experience,” Gurule said. “No way could I oversee the center and summer recreation, there was just no way. It’s a chore to clean, a chore to do everything ― it’s big. I really admired him for not being bitter (about the layoff.)

“He excelled as an employee,”

Gurule said. “He did not want to see the program fail. He cared about the program and the kids.”

Gurule said Montano worked five hours a day at the summer recreation program during the day and worked evenings with the youth basketball league, as well as helping with open gym volleyball each week.

Gurule, who now works four 10-hour shifts, called Montano a “sec-ond son,” and said he played a pivotal role in making sure the children who were involved in the recreation pro-gram were handled with care.

“He took pride in everything he did,” Gurule said. “He really loved the kids so much. He was good to kids, but he knew his role. He knew what had to be done and had a responsible balance.

“If he knew a kid had issues, he worked with them,” Gurule said. “He took a personal interest and oversaw the program. This past summer, we had some rough ones and he went above and beyond and never com-

plained.”Former Belen Mayor Ronnie Torres

said he called upon Montano a few times to help out with the Miracle on Main Street Light Parade and the Hub City Music Festival.

“When I was there, he was a really good worker,” Torres said. “He was talented and a good artist. Anything we asked him to do, he would do it and do a really good job. He was tal-ented with that computer.”

The 2005 Belen High School grad-uate donated his time after he lost his job with the city.

“I was kind of taken aback by it,” Montano said of the layoffs. “I was shocked by it, honestly. I didn’t think I was going to get laid off. I thought I was pretty safe.”

But Montano said he knows layoffs weren’t merit-based.

“I understood the circumstances,” Montano said. “I’m not married, I don’t have any kids. It hit me the least. But I kind of felt bad for the other ones because they have fami-

lies. It didn’t hurt me too bad. I did that as a volunteer because it felt right in my heart to do that for the kids.”

Montano said he volunteers once a week with open gym volleyball because he said if he and his friends don’t come “no one else shows up.” He said he gets his motivation from younger family members who look up to the Rio Communities resident.

“It’s for the kids,” Montano said of the program. “I get a lot of inspira-tion ― especially from my nieces and nephews. I take pride in that.”

But Montano said he gets the great-est inspiration from his parents.

“I am lucky,” Montano said. “I look up to them a lot. They have given me a lot of love and support. I am grate-ful.”

Now, Montano is busy looking for another job and is considering going back to school. He said he would like to change his major, and eventually get a job where he would be thrust into an environment where he would work with the public.

The 23-year-old said he wouldn’t rule out another stint with the city.

“If I was offered the opportunity, I probably would like to go back,” Montano said. “I probably would take it. But I’m using the layoffs as an opportunity to try to go back to school and get a job. I know city is having some hardships right now.”

He said he is confident in his abili-ties, and said he would help with the summer program if the opportunity presented itself. He said he is proud of the work he’s done and the reputation and respect he has gotten over the past five years.

Montano said the city’s recreation programs are essential to the well-being of the area’s youth.

“Kids need it,” Montano said of the program. “Parents also need it. Day care is expensive. The program is great because some of the same kids still remember your face and remem-ber your name. I don’t know what they would do without that program.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin6 October 30, 2010

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo

JOHN MONTANO was one of 24 city employees who lost their jobs earlier this year. He has continued to volunteer for the recreation department.

John Montano: Doing the job despite layoffUnsUng hero

Jason Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

JOHN MONTANO has continued to volunteer at the community center, including with open gym volleyball.

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Page 7: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDinGerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

rio CommunitiesEverything about George

Moscona’s life is about building relationships, building bridges and making connections. And part of that building is the work it will take to cross an actual bridge.

Last year, Moscona and a contingent of Rio Communities residents worked with the city of Belen administration to establish a recycling center in the city.

“Then it was only for Belen residents. That kind of plan can inhibit growth in both commu-nities,” Moscona said. “It was rather disheartening that we had worked on this and then weren’t allowed to use it. We worked to have it reestablished for our community too.”

The city has since made the recycling center open to all county residents every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon.

“I am most committed to breaking down the perception that people on this side of the river can never meet with and work with the people on the other side of the river. That was a big reason behind our shop locally initiative,” he said. “We consider this to be one commu-nity all together. We can’t keep perpetuating the attitude of ‘us’ and ‘them.’ It should never be about us and them. It’s always about both. This is an effort to heal. We need to put aside our conflicts and be one community. Neither of us can survive with-out the other.”

When Moscona, a New Orleans native, moved to Rio Communities 10 years ago, he was teaching sixth grade. His first experience of New Mexico was the College of Santa Fe, where he graduated in 1966. Moscona taught sixth grade in Los Alamos and went on to complete his master’s degree in counseling in 1973 at Goddard

College in Vermont.He moved west and attended

California State University-Sacramento and entered the teaching and counseling pro-gram.

“I started doing more and more counseling, and in 1977 in San Francisco, founded Breath of Life Ministries, and Spirit of Life Institute in 1999,” he said. “I have done spiritual and psy-chological counseling for more than 30 years.”

Moscona currently runs the Casa de Vida Retreat Center in Rio Communities.

“When I moved here, I bought a patio home, and when the unit adjacent to me came available, I bought it for the retreat center,” he said. “I have clients who come from all over the country and the world.”

For five years, Moscona taught at Central Elementary, eventually retiring from the schools in 2005.

With some time in his life freed up, Moscona began look-ing around his community, looking for ways to be involved. He decided to attend a meet-ing of the Rio Communities Association.

“The first RCA meeting I ever went to was the day of Obama’s inauguration,” he said. “I heard a lot of talking and didn’t see a lot anything getting done. There was a presentation about the hospital that night, and after it was over I said, ‘If you want to do something, stay.’ About half the people there did.”

Shortly after that, Moscona was asked if he would be a district representative and then asked to run for RCA president. In May 2008, he was elected president.

“When they asked me to run for president, I told them, ‘I’m only willing to take this on if you are willing to watch me work miracles,’” he chuckles.

“I told them my goal was 300 households, and people said that was impossible. We are now at 250, which is triple the number of household member-ships. When I proposed the shop locally initiative, I got the same reaction. We went from six to 103 members.”

At the heart of RCA is an edu-cational organization that pro-vides educational opportunities, activities and events to educate its members and neighbors on how to be a healthy, creative neighborhood, Moscona says.

“Anything we do is to help educate people how to live — to fulfill the vision of the commu-nity,” he said.

To that end, RCA has adopted Goodman Avenue through the Adopt-a-Road program started by Tierra Bonita, holds regular public events such as neighbor-hood clean ups, a flea market, monthly meetings and, during the current election cycle, candi-

date forums.“We bought an electronic sign

so we can put up announce-ments of our upcoming events,” Moscona. “We have even gotten a representative from the county to come out once a month to field questions, complaints and concerns. We got someone to come to us.”

Now that he’s retired, one might think that Moscona has plenty of free time. One would be mistaken. In addition to working at least 20 unpaid hours a month for the RCA putting out its monthly newsletter and organizing events, Moscona is a member of Valencia County Senior Support, the Resiliency Corps and sings with the New Mexico Gay Men’s Chorus.

“I got involved with Senior Support because Bob Sanders asked me to participate,” he said. “It’s something I really enjoy. The group raises money for meals, ramps and smoke

detectors for home-bound seniors.”

And the Resiliency Corps is all about looking at the health factors for our community, determining what’s missing and then creating projects to help in those areas, Moscona said.

“I took the spring course at University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, and now our goal is to create a project that will impact the well-being of the community by doing research and seeing what is here and what is needed,” he said.

His commitment to the chorus requires weekly rehearsals and performances throughout the holiday season and other times of the year.

“Our mission is to change life through music,” he says with a smile.

When his best friend retired from the Los Alamos schools,

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES October 30, 2010 7Valencia County News-Bulletin

n See Moscona, Page 8

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photos

REACHING OUT TO others and building relationships comes natu-rally to George Moscona.

George Moscona: Building relationshipsUnsUng hero

GEORGE MOSCONA holds the microphone as fourth-grader Alyssa Olsen reads her essay. RCA spon-sored an essay contest at La Merced Elementary School, school children to write an essay about Memorial Day. Olsen took third place in the competition.

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Page 8: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Brent ruFFnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BeLenLenore Pena didn’t like filing papers.

Instead, she decided to quit a local insurance agency to eventually follow a different path and serve the community she has always loved.

In the late ’80s, Pena volunteered with both the fire department and the city of Belen and earned a position with the city after she helped clean graffiti from the influx of taggers in the area, all while going to school and raising a family.

Pena said her father, Horacio, helped her generosity flourish through the years.

“He taught me to give,” Pena said. “He was just good. He taught us to be good to people and didn’t have a bad bone in his body.”

Pena’s father owned an apple orchard and would give away food to those who were less fortunate in an area that saw bigger families come through the 100-tree orchard.

“We had five (children),” Pena said. “Other families had eight, 10 and 12 kids. We would sell apples, but he would let families with a lot of kids take them.”

The Old Town resident volunteered at the Belen Fire Department, where she became chief in the 1990s.

Former Belen Fire Chief Wayne Gallegos said Pena was committed to learning anything new that came her way over the years.

“If there was a learning curve, she’d take it head-on,” Gallegos said. “If there was something new, she’d pick it up.

“I remember you couldn’t drive a truck unless you could operate the pumps,” Gallegos said. “All of a sudden she was behind the wheel. She wrote everything down step-by-step.”

But Pena’s drive has never stopped.The city’s risk manager spent 10

hours of her own time each week clean-ing up graffiti until recently, and over-sees community service workers who clean up areas of the city on weekends.

The workers are part of the district attorney’s pre-prosecution diversion program that assigns people 18 to 76 community service hours.

She organizes community clean-ups, serves as a volunteer for city functions, and takes pictures for events around the area.

She also bakes cakes for city employ-ees and special events that different departments have going on throughout the year. Her cakes are also a treat for community and church events as well.

“There are a lot of extra things on me,” Pena said. “I don’t have to do any of them, I get to do them if I like to do it. I get that satisfaction.”

But city officials have taken notice. This month, the city proclaimed Oct.

4 as “Lenore Pena Day” at a city coun-

cil meeting.But Pena’s husband, Steve, said his

wife has always had the drive to get things done.

For example, she spent one recent Saturday power washing graffiti off of the Gil’s Bakery building on Main Street and Reinken Avenue.

“She doesn’t stop,” Steve Pena said. “During the summer, when the weather is nice, she’s up at 5:30 a.m., out paint-ing. I get up and she’s gone.

“But it’s up to her,” her husband said. “My policy is, go wherever you want. The door swings both ways.”

Pena’s daughter, Nora, calls her mother the “Energizer Bunny” for her efforts within the city limits, and said she works tirelessly to make people’s lives better.

“She puts her family first,” Nora Pena said. “It’s hard to say she doesn’t care. She keeps going and going.

“I don’t think she can stay stopped for five minutes,” Nora Pena said. “She takes pride in what she does. She loves what she does.”

Pena said her mother has always stressed community involvement and even has encouraged her grandchildren to volunteer.

During her free time, Pena walks with her grandchildren to the New Mexico Rail Runner Express where they pick up trash along the way.

“She wants to make the community better,” Nora said of her mother. “You never know how much she does until you write it all down on paper. It brings tears to my eyes. I’m honored she is my

mom.”But Pena insists performing her regu-

lar routine isn’t a chore, and said she enjoys every minute of it.

She doesn’t have much off time either.

When Pena isn’t working for the city, she spends time at part-time jobs such as working security for high school sporting events and for shows at the Hard Rock Pavilion in Albuquerque.

“Everybody says I have to do this, I have to do that,” Pena said. “I don’t have to do anything. I get to do it. I like to do it.”

The 57-year-old said her time with her family is important, and said the time she spends with her grandchildren is more important than any gift she could buy for them.

“I believe in giving them my time,” Pena said of her grandchildren. “Time is more important. Everybody else buys them stuff. They have so much junk. They don’t need it. They need my time. They will remember me more for that.”

Pena, who is about 30 credits away from a bachelor’s degree in university studies, maintains her EMT license and has a mental list of things that need to be done within the city limits.

She said alleyways and keeping the Eagle Park Community Center clean remain atop her list for making the community a better place to live.

She said she tries to have community service workers clean areas where they live first to keep residential streets clean.

On most instances, she tells the workers to clean their areas and then takes pictures of the finished product to ensure the work is done properly.

“I can think of tons of things to do on any given street,” Pena said.

Family members insist Pena might never slow down and instead go look for another job after she retires from the city someday.

But Pena, whose house is covered with awards and accomplishments, said her desire is still strong for the com-munity she has been committed to for years.

“I just like Belen,” Pena said. “I can’t get enough.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin8 October 30, 2010

Gomes: Uses business to help peoplefrom PAGE 5

Fritts: Couple also teaches bike safetyfrom PAGE 5

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo

LENORE PENA takes time to pose for a photo in front of her house. Pena, who was nominated as an Unsung Hero, seems like she barely takes time to rest. She has donated a lot of her time to fight Belen’s graffiti problem.

the books. That takes a couple months to sort all those books, 16,000 books, and Tom carries all those boxes of books. They made $2,900 for the library this year; the most the book sale has ever made.”

“They don’t do it themselves,” says McDonald, “but without Tom and Pat to lead it, I don’t think it would happen to the extent that it has.”

Tom recruited McDonald to price the New Mexico history books because he knew she had taught New Mexico history, she said.

“So, when he didn’t have the expertise, he found

somebody with the expertise to do it.” “The one thing I’m impressed with is they’re

out of here at 8 or 9 every morning, three to four days a week going to work on the book sale,” she said. “During the sale, they stay late to make sure everything is in order and ready to go for the next day. After the sale they work hard taking it down.”

The couple also do bicycle safety classes for the elementary schools.

“They used to get old bikes and fix them up for charities that gave them to kids,” McDonald said.

“When our patrons are tell-ing us their situation, one of the first things I say is, ‘Has anyone talked to you about hospice?’”

It is quite clear that Gomes

uses her business as a spring-board to helping people, both as individuals and as a community.

As Baca observes, “It cap-tures us here in Bosque Farms

how she sends out the doughnuts to the people who are less fortu-nate and don’t get treats like that on a daily basis.”

Moscona said he was talking to her about los-ing your center, your base after leaving the work world.

“It’s important to be involved with something. Each of us has a passion and we all look from a certain place,” he said. “I look for relationships. I’m building healthier relationships for the com-

munity through RCA.”Moscona says he has discovered that all there is

in life is relationships and vision. “The Hebrew scripture says people perish for

lack of vision,” he said quietly. “People of vision move into the future despite fear.”

Moscona: ‘Life is relationships and vision’from PAGE 7

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Page 9: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By tiFFini PorterNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

CyPress gardensScott Rhodes followed his

dog, Maggie, to the living room after she woke him up at 2 a.m. one December morning in 2009, not knowing exactly what he might find.

Maggie jumped onto the couch and stared intently at the closed blinds of the large window that led to the Rhodes’ front yard.

“It was like a real life episode of Lassie,” Rhodes said. “She just looked at me with this ‘fol-low me’ look in her eyes, so I did.”

Rhodes turned on the front porch light and looked out the window. Seeing nothing, Rhodes returned to his sleeping wife, who Maggie was careful not to wake up earlier.

What Rhodes was unaware of though, was that Maggie must have heard the window of his truck shatter that morn-ing, and had tried to warn him that when he awoke, his after-market stereo and his sense of safety would be gone.

That was the morning Rhodes decided to dedicate most of his spare time, energy and money to starting a Neighborhood Watch program.

“My buddy says people don’t get involved until after they become a victim,” Rhodes said. “I guess that’s true, that’s how I started this whole thing.”

Rhodes is a line-haul truck driver for ABF Freight System Inc., and is based out of Albuquerque. He was in “layoff status” with the company when he started the organization, but has continued his efforts now that he is back on the road.

“I never know from one week to the next what my day off will be,” Rhodes said. “But I am still continuing to try to get more participa-tion in the association and am still hold-ing meet-ings.”

Rhodes and his wife, Cindy, are New Mexico transplants from Buffalo, N.Y.

“There was a little bit of luck I guess,” Rhodes said about how the couple decided to move to the southwest. “It’s the way the short straws and the long straws fell on the floor.”

The Rhodes’ were life-long New Yorkers, and decided one

day to move to a sunnier and drier climate. They were tired of having to mow the lawn every two days and wanted a break from the cold-grey skies to which they had become accustomed.

“You know how there are 300 days of sunshine a year here,” Rhodes said. “Well,

Buffalo only gets the other 65.”

Rhodes said the couple moved to New Mexico with no job and no living arrange-ments.

They rented in Rio Rancho for about seven months before purchas-ing their current home in Cypress Gardens.

“I don’t think I would have

started this whole thing if I hadn’t been laid off,” Rhodes said. “It gave me a lot of time to get it started.”

Rhodes took the initiative to read the online Neighborhood Watch manual from the National Sheriff’s Association and “just followed the steps.”

Rhodes said the initial paper-work for the association was a notebook and some scrap paper.

“Now it’s a briefcase that is overflowing and a bin full of dry-erase board supplies,” he said with a chuckle. “I never had one of those things until I started this.”

Rhodes said it has been a significant amount of work and has taken up a large chunk of his spare time, but that it isn’t anything he would call dif-ficult.

He fashioned a sign to announce the monthly meetings out of a board using a stencil kit and some spray paint.

“It gets the job done,” he said.

Being without a job when he started the program, Rhodes was always looking for cost-effective ways to get things done.

He hand delivers the monthly newsletter to people who are not able to receive it through e-mail, and usually does most of the reported graffiti cleanup on his own with the help of a few other neighbors.

Valencia County Sheriff’s Deputy Allan Garley is the Community Relations Liaison to the Neighborhood Watch Program and, according to Rhodes, has been a great help in communicating safety prac-tices and crime statistics to program participants.

Rhodes takes home security seriously, even taking the time to point out some of the extra precautions he takes in his own garage, where he and his wife keep their his and hers Harley’s.

The program has grown from the original 13 homes on the

Rhodes’ block to about 50 reg-istered homes throughout the subdivision in the 10 months since its inception.

The Cypress Gardens and Eastland Hills neighborhoods have a total of 364 homes, and Rhodes is determined to get as many of them registered as block watch participants as possible.

“I’m looking forward to finding the time to go door-to-door and get more people registered,” he said. “The great thing I am seeing is that even though I don’t have near the amount of (registered partici-pants) that I want, people are still communicating with me

about what they are seeing.”Rhodes understands the

importance of having neigh-bors that are conscious about changes in normal activity in the neighborhood.

“That’s what Neighborhood Watch is all about,” Rhodes said. “Communication is really the key.”

Recently, Rhodes spent about $70 out-of-pocket on the pur-chase of three Neighborhood Watch signs that he bolted to some existing street signs in the neighborhood. The signs read “Criminals beware, block watch in effect.”

Steve Baker, a 10-year resi-dent of the neighborhood, said

the signs have had a major impact on lowering the prop-erty crime rate in the area, and credits Rhodes with making such a marked difference.

“If it wasn’t for him, none of this would have been done,” Baker said. “He put 110 percent of his effort into starting this program and it has been great.”

Though Rhodes truck-driving schedule is “around-the-clock” and his days off are sporadic, he plans to continue doing his best to run a successful pro-gram.

“I’m gonna keep putting that sign out there,” he said. “I still don’t feel like I’ve bitten off more than I can chew.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES October 30, 2010 9Valencia County News-Bulletin

Tiffini Porter- News-Bulletin photos

SCOTT RHODES stands next to one of three signs he purchased and put up in the Cypress Gardens/Eastland Hills neighborhood. The signs warn would-be criminals that a block watch system is in effect. Rhodes has committed countless hours to organizing and running the Neighborhood Watch Association.

Scott Rhodes: Taking a bite out of crimeUnsUng hero

STEVE BAKER, a member of the Cypress Gardens/Eastland Hills Neighborhood Watch Association, talks with Scott Rhodes about the possibility of having more “Block Watch In Effect” signs erected. Rhodes started the association after his truck was broken into last December.

“I’m looking forward to finding the time to go door-to-door and

get more people regis-tered. The great thing I

am seeing is that even though I don’t have near

the amount of (regis-tered participants) that I want, people are still

communitating with me about what they are see-

ing.”SCOTT RHODES

Cypress Gardens Neighborhood Watch

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Page 10: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Dana BoWleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Los ChavezAnyone who’s heard Mike Silva play “How

Great Thou Art” on the saxophone figures the man’s path to Heaven is already paved, even before you take into account everything else he does for people.

Silva and his sax are a fixture at virtually any public event around Valencia County — some-times as a member of the Valencia County Community Band, sometimes as a duo with his friend, trumpeter Orville Kent, and sometimes as a solo.

When he plays “America the Beautiful” at patriotic holiday gatherings, “there is not a dry eye in the crowd,” says his niece, Delora Silva, who nominated him as one of Valencia County’s Unsung Heroes for 2010.

Mike Silva can be found playing at community events from Fourth of July to Relay for Life to the Hub City Music Fest; at fundraisers for individu-als and organizations; at family events; at nursing homes and similar facilities; and at funerals and other memorials.

He’ll be playing Satuday, Nov. 13, in a 1:30 p.m. concert at the Belen Library, partly, he said, because it helps people discover the library.

“A lot of people haven’t been in the library,” he said. “It’s a great place and more people need to go there.”

While his specialty is gospel sax, Silva plays jazz and blues equally well, along with other genres.

And he does it all for free, his way of offering thanks and praise to God through a nondenomi-national ministry. He doesn’t even charge for the three gospel CDs he’s recorded — he gives them away — and anyone can download his music for free at his website, endtimeword.com, where he also posts sermons and other inspirational infor-mation.

“I do it all for free,” he said. “I don’t sell the CDs, I give them away to those who need them. I like to share this with people.”

Silva, 69, comes from a musical family — his father led the Silva Band, a Belen-based group that was in demand statewide — and taught him-self to play surreptitiously on his father’s sax.

“My dad would tell me sternly not to touch his horn,” Silva said. “So, as soon as he left the house ...”

When his father first heard him play, “He said, ‘how’d you learn to play that thing?’”

It actually wasn’t that difficult, Silva said.“It comes naturally,” he said. “The saxophone is

part of me.”

Silva spent four years in the Navy during the Vietnam War and “ended up playing a lot, enter-taining the troops on the ship.”

He was aboard the first U.S. ship to go into the Black Sea, which at the time was surrounded by the Soviet Union, and also sailed around the world.

“I can’t count the countries I’ve seen,” he said,

although he wound up playing the sax in many of them.

He recalls playing in the Officers’ Club at a base in Iceland.

“We would see the admiral dancing only to the slow songs,” he said, “so every time we’d see him dancing we’d immediately start playing something fast to make him dance to a fast song.”

What Silva does with his volunteer music and ministry would be enough to qualify him as an Unsung Hero, but there’s more.

After retiring as an electronics technician for Siemens Corp. in Albuquerque about seven years ago, Silva found himself fixing major appliances for friends and relatives, and has turned that into a word-of-mouth small business, making house calls from Veguita to Bosque Farms — and not always charging for his services, his niece indicated.

“I meet a lot of people in my appliance busi-ness,” he said. “I like talking to them and helping them. I like people, I really do.”

Silva also drives the school bus for Infinity High School, the alternative high school in the Belen district, and has for about five years. But he doesn’t do it for a little extra income or to get out of the house a few hours each day.

“I did it mainly because I thought I could help by talking to the kids,” he said. “I thought I could be an example. I like kids. I like to encourage them and help them.

“I’ve had some good kids over the years. Sometimes I hire them to help me with odd jobs, to help them have a little spending money.”

Silva, who has been married 24 years, has three adult daughters from a previous marriage. They and his four grandchildren live in Phoenix, and he said he visits them frequently.

Silva also attends the Belen Senior Center daily and helps out there as well — “I only go there for the lunch,” he laughs.

“Mike is a caring, giving person,” Delora Silva said. “Mike never says no ... and is always there when others need him.”

“My philosophy of life is in giving,” Mike Silva said. “I want to help people and I want to keep busy. I don’t want to sit around in a rocking chair and do nothing. I think you should live every day to the fullest, just like when you were young.

“You know, if you feel 80, then you’re going to act 80. You’re going to act as old as you feel.”

Asked how old he feels, Silva laughed and said, “19.”

In the end, however, “it all comes back to the music,” he said. “That’s my fun, the music. Music is international. It has no limits, it has no borders.

“My favorite gospel song is ‘How Great Thou Art.’ I love to play it, because I see it bring tears to people’s eyes. It’s not me doing that. That’s coming from somewhere else, but I love to see people touched like that.”

“When Mike plays that (at a funeral), it touches families rich or poor,” Delora Silva said. “They know that their loved one was somebody God cre-ated.

“He is my hero because of his heart and cheer-ful smile,” she said.

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin10 October 30, 2010

Dana Bowley-News-Bulletin photo

MIKE SILVA learned to play the saxophone at an early age, secretly teaching himself on his father’s sax after he’d been told to not touch the instrument.

Mike Silva: A man of music and ministryUnsUng hero

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Page 11: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDinGerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

rio CommunitiesWhen told she is being named

an unsung hero, Cyndi Sluder’s immediate response isn’t much of a surprise.

“Oh, but there are so many other people who deserve it more,” Sluder objects.

That may well be, but Bill Brown thinks she has the hall-marks of a hero who has not gotten her due.

“Anybody, anywhere, any time. If someone needs help, call Cyndi. She has never failed to respond and provide assis-tance,” Brown said. “She goes above and beyond the call of duty. She uses her considerable energy and compassion for the betterment of Valencia County when she sees a need.

“If we are known by the com-pany we keep, Cyndi is in good company. We each value her unsung contributions.”

Brown calls Sluder a pillar for her family, for home schooling her two daughters until they entered high school and public school extracurricular and social needs took precedence. And he expresses nothing but admira-tion for her decision to teach Sunday school at her church, First Baptist Church of Belen, saying she volunteers for all the church’s special events and is a soul mate to many of the con-gregation.

“She has fostered and pro-moted several Road Runner Food Bank mobile pantries in the county over the last year,” Brown said. “She has therefore fed several hundred county resi-dents in her ongoing crusade to help those in need. She also sits on the board of directors for the Belen Food Pantry, continuing her personal campaign to assist the most needy in our county.”

Sluder is also a former mem-ber of the Rio Communities Association board of directors, a past president of the board and chaired the last committee to incorporate.

Sitting at the dinner table of

her Rio Communities home, Sluder looks slightly embar-rassed as her good works are reeled off.

“Geez . . .” is all she says. As the child of a military man,

Sluder is from “everywhere.” She and her family moved to Rio Communities in 1977 after her father retired while stationed in Montana. During his career he had been stationed in Clovis and Alamogordo and wanted to come back to the state.

He was looking for a small town close to a large city. Belen fit the bill.

A year later, she gradu-ated from Belen High School, and in 1979 Sluder moved to Albuquerque, where she went to Hollywood Beauty Academy.

“I finished. I’m not a beauty school drop-out,” she laughs.

She was working at a res-taurant in Albuquerque when she met Stephen, the man who would become her husband. They married in 1988, and soon found themselves in Oklahoma,

transferred there by Steve’s job. Their first daughter,

Elizabeth, was born in the Sooner state in 1990.

“Family is important. We came back here because I didn’t want to raise our daughter not knowing her grandparents,” Cyndi said.

Five years later, Erica was born.

When Elizabeth was enrolled in La Mesa Christian School, Cyndi remembers the executive director of Tierra Bonita doing clean ups with the students.

Then she saw an ad in the newspaper that the nonprofit was looking to fill the part-time position.

“It was perfect while we were family-schooling the girls. It was a very good fit,” Cyndi said.

She says Tierra Bonita opened up doors to people like Louis Lucero and Molly Madden, other county residents well known for their volunteer work.

“A couple years ago, my

daughters did a walk for autism,” Cyndi said. “I guess Louis heard about it because one day, he just showed up at the house saying he was going to get pledges for the walk. He had got pledges from all over the county.”

While Cyndi was paid as the executive director of Tierra Bonita, she more often than not put in hours of time that went uncompensated.

“Sometimes I wondered why she did it,” Steve says.

“I can pick up someone else’s trash,” she replied. “I’m not above that.”

Her work with the nonprofit group has brought her into contact with other volunteer opportunities such as the Road Runner Food Bank’s mobile pantry.

“I met Louis, and he hooked me up with Road Runner,” she said. “When you are doing something good, word travels fast. This has given me many people I get to hug and hang

out with, talk and make light of things. Because life is hard sometimes.”

Cyndi also serves on the board for the Belen Food Pantry. The board’s primary duties are to give direction to the pantry, make plans and work to improve the service, Cyndi said.

It also includes working at the pantry during the food dis-tribution. Cyndi spends every Wednesday at the pantry, man-ning the cart that takes the boxes of food out to people’s waiting vehicles. And she is often known to step in and take another shift, if the pantry is shorthanded.

When asked why she does the things that clearly aren’t dedi-cated to raising her children or bringing in a paycheck, Cyndi seems baffled by the query. After all — it’s not her job.

“But it is my job, as a child of God and a Christian,” she says, smiling widely. ”We finally figured it out. For years, I didn’t understand. We are the hands

and feet of Jesus Christ. We are supposed to do what he would want us to do.

“When you receive a blessing, you have to give it away because the blessings you will receive in turn are so much greater than money. If you focus on helping people, in the end you keep get-ting more.”

Steve echoes that sentiment, saying if you want more bless-ings in your life, you have to pass on your blessings to some-one else.

“She serves God and serves her community. She truly has a servant’s heart. There is no ‘no’ in her, and that has rubbed off on me and the kids,” he said.

Cyndi shrugs.“It’s what I’m supposed to

do.”There is a hush in the room as

Steve looks at his wife and then looks at you with a level gaze filled with sincerity, love and faith.

“Talk about unsung. My wife is my hero, dude.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES October 30, 2010 11Valencia County News-Bulletin

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photos

WHILE OTHERS GIVE her credit for making the community a better place, Cyndi Sluder says she is only doing what God expects of her.

Cyndi Sluder: Focused on helping peopleUnsUng hero

CYNDI SLUDER volunteers as a board member for the Belen Food Pantry, and spends every Wednesday manning the cart that takes the boxes of food to people. She also volunteers with the Road Runner Food Bank’s mobile pantry. She is often known to take on an extra shift.

Citizen oF the year, unsung heroes, a reviewMore than a decade ago, in 1995,

the News-Bulletin began choosing a Citizen of the Year and honoring Unsung Heroes.

They’re all people who do things out of the goodness of their hearts, folks who are volunteers and are not paid for their activism.

Each year, we like to review the names of the people we’ve honored as sort of a continuing tribute.

Here’s an update of those who have been honored:

• 1995: Dolph Schlies, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Jim Foley, Kevin Kronk, musical group Los Originales, Don McConnell, Jeremy Nicholas Padilla and Joanne Romero.

• 1996: Edwin Berry, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Luz Chavez, Glenn Oliver, John Pope, Yvonne and Richard Riley, David and Susan Sloan, Sara Storey, Janet Tooker, Diane

Urtiage and Sandy Wayne. • 1997: Ronnie Torres, Citizen of the

Year; Unsung Heroes: Terry Baber, Mary Cate, Pam Davis, Chris Franzoy, George Hobbs, Dolores Padilla, the Herman Sanchez family and Ernie and Isabel Salazar.

• 1998: Pam Etre Perez, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Harvey House volunteers, Lee Henson, Desiree Hoogerhais, Henry Jaramillo, Elizabeth Mason, John McDonald and Tom and Ruth Vincent.

• 1999: Charlie Peña, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Ruperto Baldonado, Lupe and Willie Ferguson, Russell Griego, Vernon Honeyfield, Bill Pearman, Dorothy Raether, Dorothy Riley, Bob Sanders and Pat Torrez.

• 2000: Maurine McMillan, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Fred Gallegos, Wayne Gallegos, Juli Hutchins, Cortes and Mabel Kibble,

Rita Gallegos Logan, Ron McDevitt, Christian Rodriguez, Boni and Eloisa Tabet and Gail Wall.

• 2001: Cindy Valenzuela, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Ramon Baca, Eddie Benevidez, Duane Fritz, Pete Gallegos, Veda Marrow, Mike and Kathy Mechenbier and Leo Mendoza.

• 2002: Margaret Espinosa McDonald and Richard Melzer, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: John Michael Baca, Sharon Eastman, Bernadette Gallegos, Floyd Montoya and Carole Rowe, Corky Morrison, Pavlos Panagopoulos, Ruth Prater and Bea Sanchez.

• 2003: Luz Chavez, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Regina Elkins, Steven Gonzales, Pat Hoxsie, Billie Jones Sr., Marilyn Kaneshiro, Joe Padilla, Alana Robbins, L.E. Rubin, George Silva, Adele Thompson and Barbara Torres.

• 2004: Cristina Jaramillo, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Robert Auge, Judy Babcock, Louise Baca Ortega, Reina Barela, Lorraine Doty, Monte and Lana Fastnacht, Dale Jones, Jim Lardner, Yvonne Maushund, Marcel Reynolds and Martha Trujillo.

• 2005: Lillie McNabb, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Paul and Loretta Baca, Irene Dockery Wendall Doty, John Gonzales, Amador Griego, Frank Gurule, Bryan Mascareña, Sally Milavec and Gloria Sanchez.

• 2006: Filomena Baca, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Sylvia Aragon, DeLaHunt family, Dolores Garcia, Karen Jarratt, Steve Kuenzler, Mike and Mary Merrell, Geneva Nixon, Mark Rosenblum and David Velenzuela.

• 2007: George and Diana Trujeque, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Bill Brown, Manuel Gallegos, Sandra

Gonzales, Jackie Jaramillo, Stacey Johnston, Tone E. Padilla, Joe Saiz, Mary T. Sanchez, Lydia and Nicole Trujillo and Richard Walker.

• 2008: James and Rosie Garley, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Mary Andersen, Laura Avila, the Branch Coffee Shop Gang, Lisa Chavez, David Gabaldon, Therese Hidalgo, Maria Marez, Joe Marquez, Richard Tafoya and Doris Vesel.

• 2009: Louis Lusero, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: Susan Cordova, Richard Ditrich, Jose Hernandez, Janice Knowlton, Robert Miller, Jan Pacifico, Ashley Rechkemmer, Hiltrud Ridenour, Arturo Saiz, Ronnie Tabet and Carolyn Taylor.

• 2010: Molly Madden, Citizen of the Year; Unsung Heroes: John Dear, Tom and Pat Fritts, Eddy Gomes, John Montano, George Moscona, Lenore Pena, Scott Rhodes, Mike Silva, Cyndi Sluder and Michael Vallejos.

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Electrical Light Parade and Christmas Festival

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Interim City Manager: Lucy Baca

• Festival 2-9 Heart of Belen Plaza (Food, Arts & Crafts, Entertainment)

• Electric Light Parade, 6pm (South Main to Aragon)

Page 12: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Curt GustaFsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BeLenTo those who know Michael

Vallejos, he and the late Tim Lardner were birds of a feather.

Both were driving forces in the Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce, often partners in cham-ber projects, working on the sidelines and shunning the spotlight.

“He’s (Vallejos) another Tim Lardner as far as I’m concerned,” said Jo Stasi, a close friend to both. “He’s humble and doesn’t want to take credit for a lot of stuff. He does it because it’s in his heart.”

“Tim and I were friends from day one,” Vallejos said. “We did every-thing from parades to building the Belenium Ball. There was nothing that we didn’t do together as far as with the chamber and helping each other. If he had an idea or I had an idea, we both pitched in and made it happen.”

“I was caught in traffic following the county fair parade, and I saw Michael Vallejos busy taking down signs and loading up chairs and tables for the registration booth,” Stasi said. “I realized that Michael is always helping behind the scenes. He always helps with anything that his community or family needs.”

It was fitting that Vallejos served on a board that organized the fund-raiser, “Tim’s Shower of Love,” in memory of Lardner, who died of cancer in September.

“He (Lardner) was a great person, and it was a big honor to help partici-pate in the spaghetti dinner that the community got together and gave,” Vallejos said.

It is readily apparent that Vallejos is uncomfortable talking about him-self, which is probably the greatest similarity between him and Lardner.

“Everything I’ve participated in, I’ve done nothing by myself,” Vallejos said. “It’s always been with other people helping and doing their part.”

Vallejos’ sense for community

involvement is a result of the influ-ence of his family.

“It’s part of my upbringing,” Vallejos said. “My dad always taught us you have to give something back to your community. That’s where it all starts.”

Vallejos, a Belen native who is the owner of Mike and Earnest’s welding supply, has taken his father’s instruc-tions well.

His dedication to the community has largely come from his involve-ment in the Chamber of Commerce, for which he served as president in 2009.

Under his direction, the focal point

of Rio Abajo Days was switched from the fairgrounds to downtown Belen.

“When I became president of the chamber, we decided we should have it in the downtown part of Belen,” Vallejos said. “Since we do have a nice downtown area, we wanted to take advantage of that to separate us from having three county fairs.”

Vallejos views the chamber as the perfect medium for his volunteer efforts, seeing it as an avenue to improve the quality of life in Belen and a weapon against the recession.

“I just feel that we have a busi-ness in the community and if people

would give back to the community, we would all have a nicer place to live,” he said. “It’s the noble thing to do. You should always give back to the community where you live. How else are you going to get a nicer place to live.”

And a key to improving the quality of life in Belen is for the community to become more aware of local busi-nesses and supporting them.

“The biggest thing I see is we as everyday people can change our economy,” he said. “I always felt strongly that if we try to shop local and try to buy American, we’re going to create a better economy.”

Local businesses, unlike corpora-tions, give back to the community.

“Corporations don’t give anything back to the community,” he said. “If you want a donation (from them) it’s a major catastrophe. They’re not members of our chambers; they don’t trade at our local banks. There’s a lot of stuff that these big chain stores do not contribute to our community.”

Conversely, small businesses “bear the brunt” of community giving.

Vallejos said that small shops contribute $200 to $300 a month in goods and services.

As an example, his own business contributes helium to many com-munity events, and his employees will frequently contribute part of the work day to further a cause.

Not all of Vallejos’ causes are chamber driven.

When Dina Baldonado, a class-mate of Vallejos at Belen High, died of cancer, he helped organize a golf tournament as a fundraiser for a cure for cancer. He is hoping that the event will become annual.

“I tell my family all the time that people will struggle, and it should be us who tries to help their cause,” Vallejos said. “It should all be done by volunteers who get paid nothing.”

And just as Vallejos was heavily influenced by his father, it is obvious that he is influencing the next gen-eration to be just as giving. His wife, Lesli, and his daughters, Lorena and Franchesca, are his partners in com-munity involvement.

“I want everybody to know that our family comes first and how we help friends and community,” he said. “That’s what we try to do. We don’t do it for recognition. It all comes from the heart.”

All of which is obvious to Stasi.“I know they’re good parents,”

she said. “He’s a good father to his daughters and he’s good to his in-laws and parents. I think it is a good time for people to know exactly what Michael does because every parade he’s there setting things up and tak-ing things down from the wee hours of the morning to late at night.”

LOCALS 2010: CITIZEN OF THE YEAR/UNSUNG HEROES Valencia County News-Bulletin12 October 30, 2010

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

INSPIRED BY HIS FATHER, who emphasized community involvement, Michael Vallejos channels his ample volunteer work through the Belen Chamber of Commerce. Vallejos also provides goods and services to the community through his busi-ness, Mike and Earnest’s Welding Supply.

Michael Vallejos: Always there behind the scenesUnsUng hero

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Page 13: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

Locals2010

&C o m m u n i t y g r o w t h

October 30, 2010

News-BulletinVALENCIA COUNTY

Page 14: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Curt GustafsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

ToméThere’s nothing more American than

the game of baseball, and Tomé native Lawrence Sanchez well remembers watching his town’s sandlot team play in the Rio Abajo League championship game in 1955.

“The first batter hit a home run,” said Sanchez, who later played in the league. “The second batter hit a home run. The third batter hit a home run. Then the fourth batter hit a three-bag-ger, and that kind of took the wind out of the other team.”

Baseball was part of the community’s rich fabric during the middle of the 20th century and throughout the Rio Abajo.

“There was always baseball going on some place in the valley,” he said.

To help preserve the history of this American tradition, a special dis-play has been created at the Thomé Dominguez de Mendoza Museum and Community Center.

Also gracing the property is another bit of Americana, an elegant monument to Korean War veterans, a monument that was donated by another Tomé resi-dent, Miguel Sosa.

But to characterize the museum and community center as truly American would do it an injustice.

Coursing through the veins of this deeply New Mexican community is the Spanish heritage that began in 1739, when the King of Spain issued the Town of Tomé Land Grant, which orig-inally included about 300,000 acres. Through a land split and land lost due to taxes, the land grant was reduced to 47,000 acres, which, in 1968, were sold.

After legislation was passed in 2007 that recognized land grants throughout the state as political subdivisions of

the state, the four acres that the Thomé Dominguez de Mendoza Museum and Community Center sit on received land grant status.

And since then, Sanchez, president of board of trustees of the Town of Tomé Land Grant, with the help of other community activists, has been develop-ing the center as a repository for the community’s history, whether it be of Spanish, Mexican or American origin.

“It will be an education center for the whole valley,” Sanchez said. “We’re proud of it, and little by little, we’ll make it a showcase.”

Already that showcase is taking shape.

Pictorials of Tomé families who have lived in the community for cen-turies are mounted on the walls of the museum.

“Most of these families have roots here for 300 years,” said Rita M. Padilla-Gutierrez, secretary of the Town of Tomé Land Grant. “The fam-ily pictorials are really the impetus for the ‘Raices del Rio Abajo’ project,” co-sponsored by the Historic Tomé-Adelino Neighborhood Association.

An elegant collage of photographs of the annual Good Friday pilgrimage up Tomé Hill, taken by Padilla-Gutierrez’s sister, Regina Griego, also greet the visitor’s eyes.

At the center of the museum is an antique display case that was a center-piece of an old community store.

“This is the one most people remem-ber because it held the candy,” said Ramon Torres, whose father, Paul, owned the store.

And on top of the display case is the actual school bell of the old school-house that can be seen in a picture of students who attended the school many years ago.

“You had to be chosen to ring that

2 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Tomé, Page 3

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

THE KOREAN WAR VETERANS Memorial and the Thomé Dominguez de Mendoza Museum in Tomé stand on land that has returned to land grant status. The museum and community center, which also occupies the land, is being used to collect history of the Tomé Land Grant and as a center for scholarly discussions and community events.

Tomé center preserves land grant, community history

AbouT This secTion

As the population of Valencia County continues to grow, so do our communi-ties and population.

Throughout our vast history, we, as a community of family, friends and neigh-bors, have continually come together to enjoy our heritage, our traditions and each other’s company.

This section, Community and Growth, is about the people who have worked hard to continue these traditions in places where we go to play games, listen and dance to music and to learn and cherish our history.

From the Thomé Dominguez de Mendoza Museum and Community Center to the new Meadow Lake Parks Area and from senior citizen centers throughout the county to municipal community centers, we continue to gather as neighbors ― as locals

Page 15: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 3

Tomé: Center is symbol of futurefrom PAGE 2

bell,” Torres said.Also on display in the community

center are pictorials of the Rio Abajo League, and trophies won by the Tomé-Adelino team. Pictorials of Tomé soldiers who have fought in American wars is in a state of development.

There’s much more that the center will evolve into.

“One of the things we’re trying to do here is make it into an education, library and research center,” Padilla-Gutierrez said. “We’re trying to have different venues and forums for schol-arly types of discussion and panels to remind people of the history of the land grant here and history of land grants in New Mexico in general.”

The center has sponsored events that further these goals.

Three authors who contributed to the recently published textbook “Nuevo Mexico: A New Mexico History Anthology” appeared at the center for a discussion of the book.

L.M. Sutter, the author of “New

Mexico Baseball,” a book which devot-ed a chapter to the Rio Abajo League, also participated in a discussion of her book at the center.

The center is open to other com-munity events such as baby showers, wedding receptions and Boy Scout meetings.

The center’s land grant status enhanc-es its ability to raise funds to help meet the goals.

“Little by little, in bits and pieces, we are eligible to receive capital outlay money just like any other government entity,” Padilla-Gutierrez said.

And this money could be used to acquire additional land that would become part of the land grant, she said.

The center is not just a monument to Tomé’s rich history, it is also a symbol of the future.

“Now we have young people who are heirs who do not know about the history of Tomé,” Padilla-Gutierrez said. “We want to make this center a reminder of our history.”

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

RAMON TORRES and Regina Griego stand next to a display case that once served as a candy counter in a community store that was owned by Torres’ father, Paul. The counter is the centerpiece of the Thomé Dominguez de Mendoza Museum, which contains displays telling the history of Tomé and documents of the Tomé Land Grant.

Bradbury Stamm, then

and now...

. . .87 years and counting of commitment to helping “build”

Valencia County and New Mexico!

Thank you Valencia County for the following Projects!Bosque Farms Elementary Addition & Renovations - In Progress

Sundance ElementaryValencia High School Phase V

Valencia County Courthouse

Page 16: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By DeBorah foxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Los LunAsThe dance floor is packed from 10 a.m.

to noon on Wednesdays. Laughter and music ring through the air, creating an irresistible, energizing atmosphere.

These twirling, two-stepping locals are senior citizens. They are active and happy in their retirement.

The village of Los Lunas Fred Luna Senior Center has a variety of programs and activities for the active senior citizen as well as for those who want to relax and be among good friends.

“It gets me out of the house and I get to meet more people,” says Rose Esquibel. “I like dancing and singing. It makes me feel happy because there’s people who care about me.”

One of the bands that volunteers at the center, Suerte, plays lively polkas and swinging county western that propels people onto the dance floor. It’s conta-gious.

“We’ve been coming to the Fred Luna center for over five years,” says drummer Tino Aragon. “We also hire out around Valencia County.”

Rosemary Chaves has been coming every Wednesday for five years.

“The guitar player, Rudy Chaves, is my husband,” Chaves says. “I bring my mother and we dance together for exer-cise.”

Other members in the band include Ralph Gutierrez on lead guitar, Joseph Gallegos on bass, and Ralph Paiz on lead guitar.

There are a few other local bands that also perform on a volunteer basis, and many of the dancing pairs follow the bands around to all the senior centers and other venues where they play. The music is generally old-time country and western and Spanish.

The band plays beautifully, says Elisa Martin.

“It’s a safe, happy place to come and meet with friends,” said Carol Montoya. “We go wherever there’s a band.”

“It’s good to get out, talk to people and laugh,” Frank Trujillo adds. “It keeps your mind from thinking crazy thoughts. I like to joke and make people laugh.”

“We have good bands,” Montoya says. “I recommend any of them.”

The numbers of newlyweds and roman-tic hookups might surprise you, but cupid seems especially busy in this crowd.

Estella Chick encourages lonely elders at home to come out to the center and dance.

“You might find a partner,” Chick said.Lupe and Mary Herrera are newlyweds

who met at the Belen Senior Center a year ago.

“Anybody can say ‘I love you,’” says

Lupe, “but love is treating each other well.”

“He’s teaching me to play pool,” his new wife, Mary, said.

“I’ve been playing pool for over 60 years,” says Lupe. “I’ve taught three guys that now I can’t beat!”

“Yea, but he plays pool like a 20-year-old,” says Chris Rodebush, who volun-teers to help at the center.

Chick plays pool at the center, and has gone to senior pool tournaments with other members to Socorro, Belen, Veguita and Mountainair.

In another room off the large dining and recreation room, the sewing group chats and listens to the music.

They are making stuffed teddy bears, dogs, fish, whales and surgical dolls for children at Presbyterian hospital.

They enjoy getting together for com-panionship and to catch up on the latest gossip, said Mavis Moyers.

“I like the relaxation,” says Mary Mims.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Volunteers Latoya Martinez and Bryant Arnink greet visitors and help with the office work.

“We all joke around,” Latoya said. “I like being here, it’s fun and there’s

always something new.”One of the other attributes of the center

is Rene Benavidez, the meal site manag-er. She started out as a van driver back in 1993, eventually moving up to manager. Her enthusiasm for the elders and the center is contagious.

“I love it; it’s not a job to me,” Benavidez beams. “This is my family.”

Benavidez is modest and prefers to boast about her assistant manager, Shannon Thompson, or Alberto Perez and Linda Apodaca, who oversee the kitchen operations, but Benavidez’s dedi-cation and admiration of those she serves is an important contribution to the center, the members are quick to say.

“They have so much to offer: informa-tion, experience, love,” Benavidez said. “I just love being with our seniors.”

While the center hasn’t expanded on its programs, it hasn’t had to cut any pro-grams for budget cuts either.

None of the activities are funded by the state or federal government; they are all run by volunteers.

“We are only funded for transportation and meals,” Benavidez said, “Thanks to the community, we’re able to provide extra goodies and activities. We’re very blessed.”

Most of the activities are led by retired

professionals in the field, such as DeAnn Murray, who teaches yoga and other exercises.

Some of those activities include bil-liards, card games and TV five days a week, plus an exercise class at 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. on Thursday, a bead group at 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. on Fridays, an Alzheimer’s class every first Tuesday and ceramics at 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Tuesday and Thursday.

The ceramic class is taught by Belen Art League members Martha Wallace and Joan Prokopiak.

“We are very privileged to have these two ladies to work with us,” says Marie Benoit, “and we are so privileged to have Renee as the manager of our center. They take very good care of us.”

Fran Scott moved to New Mexico from Connecticut and purchased a home in Los Lunas last fall. She joined the Mansion Players theater club in Los Lunas and met Benoit, who invited her to the senior center ceramic class.

“The group is so wonderful,” Scott says. “They’re so friendly ― you really miss it if you can’t make it.”

The center also offers outdoor activities such as horseshoes and a variety of com-munity outings.

4 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Los Lunas, Page 5

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo

AS THE MUSIC plays at the Fred Luna Senior Center in Los Lunas, local seniors enjoy cutting a rug and socializing with their neighbors.

Seniors keep busy at Fred Luna center in Los Lunas

Page 17: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 5

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ONE OF THE many activities at Fred Luna Senior Center in Los Lunas is a sewing group that meets on Wednesdays. They enjoy each other’s company while they listen to music. Pictured, from left, are Mary Mims, Lillian “Cookie” Harvey, Mavis Moyers, Cynthia Gomez, Rose Archuleta and Francis Samlick.

For example, seniors were driven from the center to Albuquerque to spend a day at the State Fair during September.

The center also takes groups by Rail Runner to Santa Fe for a day on the plaza, or Isleta Casino, Santa Ana Casino in Bernalillo and other special trips.

Membership at the center is free, though the seniors pay some transporta-tion costs.

“Once they’re registered, they’re members at all five centers in Valencia County,” said Benavidez.

Most of the seniors at Fred Luna are from Los Lunas and Peralta, but there are members from Bosque Farms, Belen and other neighboring communities in Valencia County.

“I moved here three years ago, and I joined (the center) to develop a social life,” says Cynthia Gomez. “There are a lot of people who sit home and don’t know this place exists.”

Rose Archuleta offers an example. “I overheard a woman at the doctor’s office complain of loneliness and depression. I wanted to tell her this is the best medi-cine,” Archuleta said. “We are treated like queens over here. We’re like family, and we take care of each other.”

Page 18: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Dana BowleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

cAsA coLorAdAYears of dedicated effort by a handful

of community members finally paid off in October 2009 with the grand opening of the remodeled Casa Colorada School as a community center.

Now, those same people are hard at work trying to make the old school the true center of the community.

“I’d like to see it used every day,” said Ramon Baca, a Casa Colorada native and member of the center’s advisory board since it was formed in 2004. “We need people from around here to become part of this. Now, more than ever, with this economy, people need to get closer.”

That the old school building is still standing is a testament to the work of community members, the Belen school board, the county commission and state legislators.

The school was built in 1916. A replica of the dedication plaque (the original has disappeared) sits outside the remodeled facility. The three-room schoolhouse served the community for nearly 50 years, closing about 1964 when the district began busing the students to schools in Belen.

Other than being used for storage, the school sat largely unused for nearly 40 years until the movement began to turn it into a community center amid con-cerns that the school district was going to tear down the building.

“Vicente Chavez got it going,” said Arturo Sais, another native and advisory board member. “I helped get the board together and get us incorporated as a nonprofit.”

In addition to Baca and Sais, those who were instrumental in the effort over the years include current board members Juan Baca, Wagner Flannigan and Luis Luna, and past members Mary Lucy Baca, Jordan Pareo and Vicente Chavez, among many others.

Although community members worked at improving the building, they did so without any funding, Baca and Sais said.

“We started fixing it up about 10 years ago,” Baca said. “The one who really started it off (financially) was Fred Luna.”

Luna, a long-time state representative from Valencia County, was campaigning in Casa Colorada in 2002.

“I told him, ‘We could vote for you if we had a place to vote out here,’” Baca said.

The community had been without a polling place since 1992, requiring people to go into Belen to vote.

“Not a lot of people out here voted because of that,” Baca said.

The next legislative session, in 2003, Luna obtained a $50,000 appropriation toward remodeling the school into a community center.

But there was a problem. The building was owned by the school district, and school districts don’t run community centers.

“The school board offered the build-ing to the community for $1,” Baca said, “but we determined that we couldn’t handle the insurance and liability.”

Eventually, the county agreed to take over the building and run it as a commu-nity center, but it wasn’t until 2005 that Luna’s original $50,000 appropriation was put to use — to put a new roof on the building to prevent further damage to the interior.

Over the next four years, the county put about $100,000 into remodeling the school, with it being in serviceable enough shape for the county clerk to establish it as a polling place in 2007.

The remodeling was completed last year, and the grand opening of the Casa Colorado Community Center took place Oct. 17, 2009.

Since then, it has received some use,

but not as much as the advisory board envisioned.

“We use it,” Baca said. “The Boy Scouts meet here on Fridays, and we’ve had wedding receptions and things like that, but we’d like more community involvement. We need people from around here to become part of it.”

Sais agreed.“We’re looking to get the people of the

community vested in this,” he said. “And we’re looking for ideas from the com-munity to make it more viable.”

One of the issues right now is that while the community center exists, it doesn’t have much besides three rooms and a kitchen. There are no pool tables or computer stations, no equipment or supplies — just a building.

That building consists of two small classrooms, one of which has been restored to its original classroom look and is being developed as a museum, and a large room that stretches the width of the building and is suitable for meet-ings, dances, weddings, receptions, graduation parties and similar functions. The facility also has a modern kitchen and restrooms.

To enhance the facility, Baca in May began the construction of a large horno outside the center, a short distance from the kitchen door. Going slowly and with most of the physical work being done by the Boy Scouts and a few community members (Baca is on disability retire-ment), the horno is nearing completion and should be ready for use for the holi-days.

There were a couple of motives behind construction of the horno, Baca said.

The first was as a chance to teach peo-ple the art of horno construction using old techniques, including finding the right clay and making the adobe bricks.

The second was to teach people how to use the horno for cooking and make it available for community events. For instance, he said, one of the old tradi-tions is to use the horno to make pastries at Christmas.

“Every year, me and my children make pastries (in his horno at his house),” he said. “And it’s great for mak-ing bread. You can cook chiles in the horno. I want to pass on those traditions so they aren’t lost.”

6 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Casa Colorada, Page 7

Dana Bowley-News-Bulletin photos

ONE OF THE classrooms in the Casa Colorada Community Center has been restored to its original look, complete with a pot-bellied stove, and is being developed as a community museum.

Casa Colorada turns old school into community center

Page 19: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

He’s hoping the horno will be a point of unity for the residents.

Sais said he is “looking for money for an outdoor basketball court and playground equipment. I think if we can get the youth using the center we can get the parents, too.”

Baca and Sais also envision a multitude of other activities.

Noting that the property covers 3 1/2 acres, both expressed a desire to create a spot for walking trails and a community garden (“We could teach people how to make a drip irrigation system,” Baca said), and Baca said his next project will be a barbecue pit that might someday host a community matanza.

Sais wants to see more educational opportunities at the center, including turning the second small class-room into a learning center with computers and classes ranging from tutoring to genealogy to arts and crafts.

“That’s why we need ideas from the community,” he said, “to find out what people would like the commu-nity center to be. The usage will determine the future of the center.”

Said Baca, “We need ideas instead of me, by myself, staring at the walls and wondering what to do next.”

Both men acknowledge that some residents might not realize there even is a community center. It’s dif-ficult to define the boundaries of Casa Colorada. Most agree that they stretch along N.M. 304 from south of Rio Communities to Veguita, but that the community center is there to serve everyone south to the Socorro County line, including Veguita and Las Nutrias.

“The people in Solomon Estates don’t know they’re part of us,” Baca said, “and people down south may not know this is for them, too. Everybody’s welcome. I

think there would be more community spirit if people knew this was here and made use of it.

“We built it, now they need to come.”

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 7

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Casa Coloradafrom PAGE 6

IN MID-SEPTEMBER, the horno was almost finished, with just a few more rows of bricks and the round top to complete. It should be finished in time to be used to bake holiday pastries. Ramon Baca explained the horno-building process to visitors in May when the project at the Casa Colorada community center kicked off with an invitation for the public to learn and help with the construction.

Page 20: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDinGerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

meAdow LAkeSometimes the reputation of a place

precedes it. Some places are considered unsafe in

the daylight and downright dangerous after dark. These places are given derog-atory nicknames, and the people living in these communities often feel forgotten and abandoned.

For more than a decade, the eastern community of Meadow Lake has been one of those places ― a place that is looked at by those who don’t live there as a lost cause, often hearkening the ques-tion, “Why do you still live there?”

But while those outside Meadow Lake might not hold the community in high esteem, the residents who make it their home beg to differ.

“Except for a few people, most of us do care,” says Bob Gostischa, a resident for more than 20 years. “We want to bring this back to the community for everyone to enjoy.”

And what is “this?” What does Gostischa want to help bring back? For a community that regularly makes the news for being a haven for criminal activity, bringing back anything positive might be seen as something approaching impossible.

The simple answer to those questions is “this” is 35 acres of property just east of the end of the road in Meadow Lake — 35 acres that used to be the home of an actual lake. The lake that gave the community its name and could very well be the thing that restores this lost com-munity to its former glory.

The meadows still remain. Some of them have become dump sites for refuse and dead animals, but the view of the valley and the western sky at sunset is a sight out of an epic spaghetti western.

Those meadows have also become the homes of hundreds of people looking for their piece of the American dream. Looking for a place to raise a family and eventually retire.

Three-plus decades ago, families and retirees were drawn out to Valencia County’s eastern llano with color bro-chures featuring that glorious New Mexico sunset and a fully stocked lake, surrounded by cabanas and a lake house.

Piers jutted out into the water, inviting swimmers to take the plunge into crystal clear waters that reflected the vault of sky that ran to forever above their heads.

Now, the lake is gone. For years in its place were mounds of household trash, old furniture and appliances and the all too frequent dead animal.

Tired of being marked with the moni-ker of “Ghetto Lake,” a group of people asked one simple question.

“What if...?”What if it wasn’t this way anymore?

What if things changed?“We wanted something to make the

community proud,” Gostischa said. “We had something once that was the focal point not just of Meadow Lake, but the entire area. Basically, the lake had become the second Conejo.”

Conejo Transfer Station is the county’s solid waste gathering center south and west of Meadow Lake — a location that some folks miss by a country mile and somehow end up miles to the northeast, in the middle of the night, stealthily dumping their trash in the old lake bed.

So earlier this year, seven people formed a little nonprofit, the Meadow Lake Parks Area Association. Their goal was pretty straight forward — make their community better.

Thanks to donations of time and equip-ment from community members and local businesses, literally tons of trash were hauled out of the old lake and the surrounding property and finally taken to a proper landfill. The acreage was fenced, gated and locked.

So was this to become someone’s own private Idaho?

Not a chance. Now that it was cleaned, it was time to have a party and celebrate a renewal of the land, a rebudding of the

spirit of the community and the future that was within sight.

In August, the board of directors and their dozens of new association members hosted an open house to show off the new open area. Hundreds turned out for free hotdogs, face painting and a glimpse of what might be.

The future uses of the park will be implemented in phases.

Starting with the 17-acre lake, the first phase will build three small ponds, two quarter-acre water bodies and one half-acre pond, and establish a system of walking trails and open space.

MLPAA board president Jim Lane said water rights to the property are still owned by the daughter of D.W. Falls, the developer of the Meadow Lake subdivi-sion, and the association will have to lease water rights for the property, which he estimates will total about 12 acre feet annually.

“This will never be a ‘lake’ again,” Lane said. “But it can be a place where people can come walk without fear of being chased by loose dogs, shot at or endangered by cars just because someone thinks its funny.”

The second phase of the project is to establish a riding trail up to Cordova Canyon on the west side of the Manzano Mountains.

The third phase will include parking, restrooms, a horse corral and a senior citizens community garden.

Around the ponds, Lane is hoping to lay out a system of walking trails with interesting resting spots along the path.

“Maybe some rock formations or metal art,” he said. “A place people can sit, enjoy the views and look for wildlife.”

The final piece, if the association can acquire the land, will be for a general purpose playing field to the south of the lake. Lane says the fields won’t be formal athletic fields, but places where people can run and play.

So what makes a group of people, with no source of funding readily available, take up the daunting task of cleaning up and running a park area?

Gostischa laughs out loud when asked why they didn’t just wait for “someone else” to tackle the project.

“If you wait for someone else, it never happens. Somebody always has to be first,” he said. “I’m retired, so I have time. I have concerns, and I don’t like to see things done wrong. It’s so easy to do it right. One person can pick up one piece of paper, it’s not that hard. Pretty soon, you’ve cleaned up a mountain.”

While the site is securely fenced, Lane said there’s no way for the fledgling

8 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Meadow Lake, Page 9

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo

THE LAKE IN MEADOW LAKE is empty now and not likely to be a lake ever again, but members of the Meadow Lake Parks Area Association have dedicated themselves to rehabilitating the area as a public space and wildlife habitat.

The ‘new’ Meadow Lake is taking shape as planned park

Page 21: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

organization to staff the park 24/7. So if you decide to become a member, there’s some responsibility.

“When someone pays their dues and gets a key, I sit them down for the lec-ture,” Lane said. “They are becoming not just members, but stewards of the land. They have access any time they want and they can bring friends and family in. But they are responsible for the actions of those people.”

The land, donated to the nonprofit by local real estate developer Max Kienhe, will be used gently and kept clean in the hopes of returning it to as close to a natural state as it can get, Lane said. His home library has expanded by leaps and bounds as he has added books on native plants, flowers and animals.

A membership in the association is $35 a year. Lane’s goal is to get 200 members for the year. And that’s not just a random number plucked out of the air. Insurance on the property is $800 a year, and water rights run about $1,200 annually.

That leaves $5,000 for building the ponds, creating the riding trail and the rest of the improvements the association want to implement.

“My ‘evil plan’ is to get a husband and a wife for that $35,” Lane says. “This place was designed to be as low key as

possible. We don’t want buildings to take care of or have to hire directors.”

Members will be granted unlimited access via their key, but Lane says the association plans to hold at least four annual open house events — events for the whole community of Meadow Lake and beyond.

In addition to quarterly free days, Lane said he hopes to have other free events at the park area to showcase its natural beauty.

“Right now, I have no idea what those events might be,” he said. “Really, the only question is, ‘Can we?’ The answer to that is, ‘Only if we try.’”

For Gostischa, just the personal satis-faction he derives from the park project keeps him moving forward.

“Not everything has to have some kind of financial gain. In the long run, will it increase my property values? Probably. But that’s so far in the future, I don’t even think about that. I’m not here to sell my property. They will probably carry me out of here,” he said. “This is a place for people to come and do something. Even if it is just take a walk without being bothered by dogs.”

On the association’s website, www.mymeadowlake.org, there are slide shows of the pictures taken during the

August unveiling of the park. Kids swarm the bouncers, flags fly off the back of shiny fire trucks and smiles are everywhere.

One picture flashes by and a banner crinkled in the wind makes the viewer back up a frame to make out the words.

“Renewing the past for the future.”As the sun tips over the Manzano

Mountains, Gostischa sets off on his

usual morning walk around “The Lake.” Once around is a mile.

And just as surely as the sun will rise in the east and take a peek at Meadow Lake before it retires to its fiery bed in the west, the people who call this com-munity home, like the mythical phoenix, will rise out of the ashes of their reputa-tion and present their proud faces to the sun once more.

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 9

Meadow Lake: Land donatedfrom PAGE 8

PROVING THAT THERE is still life in Meadow Lake, resident and Meadow Lake Parks Area Association board member Bob Gostischa adjusts the flow of water to a small tadpole pond at the old lake.

Page 22: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

10 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

THE GYMNASIUM in the city of Belen’s Community Center at Eagle Park has a running/walking track, which can be accessed by an elevator.

Lots of faces involved in keeping Belen’s rec services goingBy Jason w. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

beLenA few years ago, a vast park and community center

building was created in Belen, adding a diverse facility to what was always a very active area.

That park and other Belen recreation facilities are still there, it’s just there aren’t any full-time city employees or any leagues offered there.

In May, Belen made budget cuts that included elimi-nating the positions of all recreation department employ-ees, except Director Brenda M. Gurule.

In mid-September, Gurule went on extended leave for medical reasons, leaving the Belen Community Center, Eagle Park, the Belen Recreation Center on Main Street, and all of the city’s recreation services without a full-time employee overseeing any of it.

The Community Center is a huge, multi-purpose building at Eagle Park, which opened in 2005, with a second phase to the center completed in 2008. Combined with the rest of the park and the recreation center, the community center provides services to thou-sands of area residents, but with a shoestring budget.

Ray Romero, a Los Lunas native and currently a Socorro resident, had been driving up to Belen on Mondays only, one of many volunteers helping out

Gurule since her staff was let go in May. When Gurule went on leave, a temporary job was offered to two dif-ferent people, Romero said, and he took it after both of the top choices turned it down.

The community center is only open Mondays through Thursdays, and the Belen Recreation Center is only open for a handful of special-purpose groups.

“I took the job because I didn’t want the building to have to shut down,” said Romero. “I’m here Mondays through Thursdays. I’m kind of learning as I go. There’s about eight volunteers, and the people cleaning were sentenced to community service.”

Some of the city’s services have gone away complete-ly. For example, Gurule said in May that 2010 was the first year there were enough teams buying in to do a full coed softball league, but that and other sports programs can’t happen without staffing.

Gurule told the News-Bulletin in May that the young-est athletes are the ones who benefitted most from things like basketball leagues.

“It seems like the kids have been pushed aside,” Gurule said.

Fortunately, some of the events held at Belen recre-ation sites are run by people from other organizations. The community center is available at no charge for funerals, and available for a fee for everything from weddings to bridal showers, and the building has been

used as a polling place.Boardwalk Gymnastics has hosted a few competitions

at the center, including the 2010 state championships, and many soccer, tennis, baseball and softball events are run by non-city personnel.

The 2010 St. Patrick’s Balloon Rallye was held at Eagle Park.

St. Mary’s School uses the gymnasium for intramural sports, such as volleyball.

The gym’s most unique feature is a second-floor walking track, accessed by either an elevator or stairs, and the skylit track protects walkers and runners from the elements and features four cardiovascular exercise machines.

Zumba classes are held at the center. In mid-Septem-ber, open gym sessions and youth and teen drop-in ses-sions were available two days a week, and there is a fee schedule for the weight room.

The recreation center on Main Street has a large-screen TV, foosball table, Nintendo Wii game system and an easily monitored basketball court, but isn’t open to the public at all.

The city’s other recreation facilities include Anna Becker Park, where many community events are held and basketball courts and a gazebo are located, and Vivian Fields, a youth baseball and softball complex used by Belen Little League.

Page 23: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By tiffini PorterNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

meAdow LAkeThe Meadow Lake Senior Center might not be the

first place you would think of to practice your ski-jumping technique, but after a nutritious meal and some chatting with friends, that is exactly what some Meadow Lake seniors are doing.

In addition to competing with each other on the center’s Nintendo Wii Fit system in events such as ski-jumping or step aerobics, seniors can enjoy other activi-ties such as bingo, billiards, ping-pong, playing cards and computer games.

“A lot of the seniors like the Wii a lot,” meal-site man-ager Margaret Coombs said. “It is fun for them.”

Entertainment is not the main focus of the site though. Valencia County Older Americans Program Director Jose Campos said the primary services the program pro-vides are meals and transportation.

The program is funded under the Older Americans Act for transportation, congregate meals and home-delivered meals. Campos said the program also receives funding from the state of New Mexico, Valencia County and other donations from private citizens.

“Our program delivers 275 meals five days a week and frozen meals for the weekend for seniors, who are at high nutritional risk and do not have family or support to provide meals,” Campos said. “At times, our driver is the only person these home-bound seniors will see and have contact with. This is important because our driv-

ers become the eyes and ears to alert us if these seniors need assistance with medical or other issues.”

The congregate meal times at the center are a great time for capable seniors to have some social interaction

and enjoy a meal with friends. The meals are available to people age 60 and older at no charge, but have a sug-gested donation of $1.50.

When asked about the impact of the current economy, Coombs said the center has not had to cut any programs or discontinue any services.

“The Older Americans Program has been good to us,” she said. “And the director (Jose Campos) gets us every-thing we need.”

Campos said the only thing affected by the economy has been the number of seniors coming in for the con-gregate meals.

“More seniors are coming in to the centers for a meal,” Campos said. “The suggested donation is done anonymously so to give seniors who cannot donate some dignity, and for some seniors, this is the only nutritious meal they have all day.”

Seniors at the Meadow Lake Senior Center say they feel like members of a big family, with 15-20 “regulars” coming in each day around lunchtime.

Mary Lund has been attending the center since it opened, and said the people at the center take good care of each other.

“Like if your refrigerator breaks, the next day some-one will find one for you,” she said.

She also said the center sometimes holds potlucks and parties for holidays, which are very enjoyable.

About half of the center’s space was recently rented out to the Head Start program, giving the seniors no place to do sewing or group exercise.

“We have less room now,” Lund said. “But it’s alright, we are happy to have any at all.”

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 11

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Page 24: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

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Page 25: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Brent ruffnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

beLenJoseph Campos is meeting the need. Campos, the director of the Valencia

County Older Americans Program, has seen a 30 percent increase in services since he took over the position in 2005, and said he wants to provide adequate services to a growing senior popula-tion.

“In Valencia County, we are grow-ing,” Campos said. “Look at where the population is growing. We are getting older. It’s an aging population.”

The county’s five sites provided 105,000 meals in 2009, and the center’s transportation program made 14,000 trips for residents who needed trans-portation to places like doctor’s offices and grocery stores. The program saw

its annual budget increase by about $16,000 from last year’s numbers.

Campos estimated senior citizens make up 10 percent of the county popu-lation and said numbers he expected to decline have remained steady since he began working in the area.

“We lost about 40 seniors last year,” Campos said of the people who used the transportation service. “When you lose that many people, we thought we would see a drop. But we haven’t.”

But the director said he expects the community centers in Belen and Rio Communities to expand in the near future to accommodate the influx of people coming to the centers.

The program received $440,000 from a general obligation bond to remodel the Del Rio Center, and should begin remodeling the inside of the building by early November. The Rio Communities center will expand its recreation room

and dance hall, and in Belen, residents should see a similar renovation if this year’s bond passes. He also plans to ask for money for new vans for the trans-portation program.

Campos listed close proximity to health care and affordable housing as reasons why older people are moving to Valencia County town homes and trailer parks in a community with an increasing need.

The Older Americans Program is funded by the New Mexico Area Agency on Aging, a state entity that provides money to 32 counties across the state based on the number of meals served, the number of meals that are delivered to homes and the amount of transportation done each year to assist those without a way to get to doctor’s appointments and to buy groceries.

“We see people need more services in a poorer economy,” said Barbara

Deaux, executive director of the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District, who oversees the agency on aging. “But it’s not needs-based and not based on the economy.”

Wayne Gallegos is a member of the senior support program that supple-ments the Older American program through United Way. The group reim-burses the program for home-delivered meals and also makes ramps and grab bars for senior citizens.

Meals are delivered each week to those who don’t come into one of the centers. Donations for food are accept-ed at the centers, but not required.

“There are a lot of people who can’t afford to get their own meals,” Gallegos said. “We are in an indigent county. There are people who can’t get out. So we come to their homes.”

Campos said the people who do make

14 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Senior Centers, Page 15

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo

NANCY RODRIGUEZ of Belen plays bingo at the Belen Senior Center. The center has seen a 30 percent increase in services since 2005 in a senior population that makes up 10 percent of the total population.

Older Americans Program keeping up with demand

Page 26: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 15

Senior Centersfrom PAGE 14

it into the centers go for the social atmosphere and to be around people their own age. He said he tries to orga-nize a special event once a month in addition to dances the centers have each week.

“We get a lot of referrals,” Campos said. “Families bring in people, and once they get around other people, they realize that it is a fun place to be. We had one guy that was dealing with his wife passing away. He was at the cem-etery every day weeping for his wife, and they got him in here, and hell, before you know it, he was dancing and having fun.”

Nancy Rodriguez of Belen said she comes to the center every day. She said she enjoys playing bingo and being around other people.

“I have a good time,” Rodriguez said. “It gets me out of the house.”

But with continued growth, the cen-ters will have to hire more staff and expand facilities like the kitchen at the Del Rio site.

“We will have to look at the genera-tion coming up and make sure it’s well supported,” Gallegos said. “There will be more of a senior population. We have to be prepared.”

VALENCIA COUNTY OLDER American Program Director Joseph Campos has seen his annual budget increase by $16,000 because of the growing need of helping the senior population in the area. He said the centers must expand in the future to accommodate growth.

Page 27: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDinGerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

bosque FArmsThey could be out spray-painting graf-

fiti. Instead they are at the Bosque Farms Community Center, playing bridge.

The way Richard DuPont says it, you would think the group of almost a dozen senior citizens sat down and had a seri-ous discussion about vandalism versus a card game for their weekly entertain-ment.

But then he laughs, and you know he’s only joking. Maybe.

The building at 950 North Bosque Loop pulls double duty, serving as the community center and as a senior meal site since it was built in 1991. But no matter what it’s called, everyone there agrees that it’s the people inside that make it special, not the name.

And one word many of them use to describe what’s inside is the same ― family.

Mercy and Ramon Villegas both agree that the people at the center are their “small family” and they all make an effort to keep up with each other.

“When someone doesn’t show up for lunch, they will call to make sure you’re OK,” Ramon said. “If there is a shortage of hands, everybody pitches in.”

Mercy pitched in helping serve the meals for three months when the regular server was out with an injury.

“It doesn’t matter — music or crafts — people help set up,” Mercy said.

The couple has been coming to the center for nearly two years for the mid-day meal. Ramon discovered the program first.

“She went out of town, and I was want-ing a home cooked meal — I got tired of going to restaurants,” Ramon laughs. “After I came here, I told her, ‘You have to come over here and meet all these people.’”

Mercy says that while everyone has their own little life, everyone is a part of it.

“We are all part of each other,” she said.

Both of them are in their 60s, and look at the older seniors as something of men-tors.

“We can learn a lot from our older seniors,” Mercy said.

“We’re all going to get there eventu-ally,” Ramon says.

Another thing the seniors can agree on is just how great center director Shereen Snare is.

“She has really brought up the lunch numbers,” said Oleta Hoover. “We were around three, and now we have close to 30.”

Bill Capshaw calls Snare energetic, and Mercy says she is very outgoing and a

good manager.There is talk amongst the lunch crowd

that Snare would get their vote if she ever decided to run for mayor. She also has a shot at the governor’s seat to hear some of them tell it.

Snare isn’t sure a life of politics is for her, but she does say that as the years have passed, “it became obvious that I was supposed to be a programs person.”

With a masters in counseling for edu-cation, Snare has worked with the DWI prevention program in Hidalgo County, and for Albuquerque Public Schools as the prevention/intervention coordinator writing grants to go into middle schools.

“There you go — programs again, and grant writing,” Snare said.

From 1995 to 2003, Snare was the Los Lunas community services director, taking that program from zero to multi millions.

When she heard about the job opening as center director for the village nearly

two years ago, Snare said she was very excited about the chance to help build a program.

Looking at the center’s activities cal-ender shows something happening every day and usually multiple things going on. Every day, lunch is served at 11:45 a.m. for just $1.50. The meals are provided through a partnership with the Valencia County Older Americans Program, Snare said.

There’s weekly bingo, arts and crafts, a bridge group, yoga, and even modi-fied Zumba classes. The dance fitness program that combines Latin and inter-national music with dance in an effort to make exercise fun, has been slightly modified to meet the needs of seniors.

“It’s not quite so high-impact or as loud,” Snare said. “But the men and women who are taking the classes are putting in a lot of work and sweat. They are getting a good workout.”

And between the yoga and Zumba

classes, Snare says the center is actually making money.

“Neither of the instructors are charging us for the classes,” she said. “And what-ever she gets for Zumba, three-fourths of it comes back to the center. She takes some for gas and keeping up her certi-fications, but last week she handed me $100.”

That money goes into a specific line item in the center’s budget for dona-tions. Snare asked for that line item so that instead of the money going into the general fund and the overall operational costs of the buildings, the donations could go for specific projects.

“I know nothing is more disappointing than to donate money for a certain reason and then be told, ‘Oh, it just goes into the general fund,’” she said.

As fiscal belts across the country can be heard tightening, Snare says her

16 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Bosque Farms, Page 17

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo

SINCE NO ONE has a living room that’s big enough, Bosque Farms residents Phill Coudert, left, and Don Honeyfield and several others gather at the Bosque Farms Community Center for weekly bridge games.

It’s like family at Bosque Farms Community Center

Page 28: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

annual budget of just over $46,000 has remained fairly steady.

“We are lucky here in the village we haven’t had to do furloughs or layoffs,” she said. “The mayor and council did make some cuts to the budget this year, but that was across all departments. For the most part though, we’ve been pretty stable for the center.”

From that budget, Snare’s salary is paid, along with phone, electric, water and sewer bills, upkeep on the building and any supplies she needs for the year.

“I know people may look at that amount and ask why we don’t have more, but everything we do here comes out of that budget,” she said.

But things such as instructors donating their time and Comcast Cable donating high-speed Internet access to the center certainly goes a long way. And the residents who use the center also donate what they can — most recently a table in the dining hall was covered with egg-plants, cucumbers and fresh squash.

“We bring in vegetables from our garden,” Mercy said. “I know there are probably some of our seniors who can’t do a garden anymore, and we still can. Bill (Capshaw) brings in his chiles and jalapenos. And some-one usually brings in some kind of sweets once or so a week.”

By the end of lunch, the plate that held the mini choc-olate covered donuts only has a few smears of chocolate as evidence of their presence.

The schedule during the week is usually busy, includ-ing frequent field trips led by Snare, and the weekends are also jam-packed.

Since the center is dedicated to the community, the building is available for rent for events ranging from wedding receptions to AARP safe driving classes. Snare

also partners with several local youth groups including the 4-H and Yucca Little League.

“For a lot of these groups, we will drop the rent in exchange for some work,” she said.

Looking to the future, Snare has a goal to make the center nationally accredited. That means developing specific programs that enhance the quality of life for her seniors and the community by offering programs in fur-ther education, meals and social events.

“What that means ultimately, is when I am writing grants, from their aspect, it says, ‘Look no further for a quality site to fund, because we’ve already jumped through a number of hoops,’” she said.

Another goal she has is to provide transportation to the center for the seniors that need a ride.

“We have a bunch of seniors who are real willing to give their neighbors a ride,” Snare said. “But there are still those that need the service.”

Over the last year, Snare says she has definitely seen an increase in use of the center. The meal program has grown 100 percent she said, while the over all use of the facility has grown immensely.

“The programming we’re providing has increased 100 fold,” she said. “We are still small but we are growing. Over the summer, when a lot of people are out of town, we picked up 12 new people on the meal program.”

And Snare uses the word “family” to describe the people at the center as well.

“Oh, people will call if you don’t show up. They tell you about everything. They will call to tell you if their Pomeranian had puppies,” she laughs. “Yep. Love it.”

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 17

Bosque Farms: Center is used by groups such as 4-H and Little Leaguefrom PAGE 16

BOSQUE FARMS Community Center director Shereen Snare says the residents who use the center have become a family.

Page 29: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Jason w. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Los LunAsIn these tough economic times, the

parks and recreation department of the village of Los Lunas is doing what any municipality might logically do: expand its services.

While expansion might sound like a risky, added expense, the village has been able to add a few services and programs, despite its budget shrinking several times.

Through careful planning, reducing regular expenses, the backing of the vil-lage council, and strategic partnering with other organizations to stay afloat, Los Lunas’ recreation department has not only stayed afloat, but thrived.

“The foundation of a lot of recreation here is partnerships,” said Michael Jaramillo, the village’s director of parks, recreation, streets and the open space division. “Partnerships between the village and the leagues, organizations, government agencies and clubs that use our facilities. Slowly, over the last four or five years, we’ve been able to expand what’s available for recreation, especially

for youth.”Taking advantage of being both a

small, rural-type village that is still a not-too-distant suburb of Albuquerque, Jaramillo’s department partners with Enchantment Little League, Los Lunas Schools, the Los Lunas Youth Basketball League and groups holding annual or special events. By having the village maintain and occasionally-run facili-ties during events, and letting leagues or other groups run, staff and fund the activity itself, the village saves taxpayer dollars.

Combining those savings with other cost-cutting measures such as energy-efficient light bulbs in village facilities and offices, cutting water usage and increasing activities fees slightly, Jaramillo said, the costs to participants is kept low as well.

“If you raise a fee by only 10 percent, it can still be consumer-friendly,” said Jaramillo. “And, we try to offer more. The cost of the summer recreation pro-gram went up and was all due at the beginning, but we made changes to that program as well. Plus, we knew up front how many kids were registered, and that makes planning easier.”

Jaramillo’s budget for the 2008-09 fis-cal year was reduced 24 percent from 2007-08, and his 2009-10 budget shrunk by another 11 percent. For 2010-11, he wasn’t instructed to cut a certain percent-age, but to “conserve as much as pos-sible.”

The village has 15 public parks, the largest being Daniel Fernandez Park, and the newest being San Antonio Park on Los Lentes Road. The village’s indoor facilities are basically limited to the Daniel Fernandez Youth Center, but outdoors, there’s Fernandez Park’s many fields and courts, plus the Los Lunas Sports Plex.

There is also 1,500 acres of open space in the village, and work is being done on trails leading up El Cerro de Los Lunas, known to some as Los Lunas Hill.

The village is the sole operator of sports programs such as men’s and coed softball, flag football and adult basketball. Youth activities range from the Summer Program, which features archery and many other activities, and these programs are often well-attended.

The village annually funds special events, such as a Fourth of July celebra-tion and a haunted house for Halloween.

In fact, the only program that hasn’t quite taken off is the paintball arena on Morris Road near the Sports Plex, and the hours there have been cut back to reduce costs.

Jaramillo said Badlands BMX, which has gone through several arrangement changes in terms of who operates it and how, still has a lot of potential. There are promotions, such as the village offering free mandatory insurance for a day, to try to jumpstart Badlands participation in the future.

More established partnerships exist with organizations like Enchantment Little League, which uses a complex owned and maintained by the village. Enchantment pays for the field lighting, one of the many ways cost sharing is accomplished.

“Some people (in Los Lunas govern-ment) saw the amount of building permits staying high a few years ago, but still saw other signs of an economic downturn,” said Jaramillo. “We’re stretched thin, and some of us work Saturdays or do two people’s jobs, but we constantly ask ourselves, ‘Where do we want to be in 10 years?’”

18 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

MARGARITO AMAYA of Team Walmart looks upcourt past Dominique Rivas of Old School, right, in a recent Los Lunas Men’s Basketball League Over-35 game. This game took place at Los Lunas Middle School, one of the many ways Los Lunas partners with other area organizations and agencies to share costs of recreation services.

Careful planning has helped Los Lunas rec services expand

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photos

WALLY SALATA, right, of a team called “Old School” tries to protect the ball from Jose Bibian of Team Walmart in a Los Lunas Men’s Basketball League Over-35 game. The village of Los Lunas has expanded recreation services despite a shrink-ing budget.

Page 30: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 19

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Page 31: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Curt GustafsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

JArALesAnyone looking for an example of a community

investing its blood, sweat and tears in a project it is pas-sionate about needs to look no further than Jarales and the Jose Dolores Cordova Culture Center. Because the old schoolhouse, where the center has taken up resi-dence, was on a quick road to rack and ruin until the community stepped in.

The building was used as a senior center in the 1980s, but after the group abandoned the building to take up residence in Belen, “That’s when the rains took care of it,” said Ruperto Baldonado, treasurer and historian of the culture center’s advisory committee.

The leaky roof ruined the floor, gnawed away at the foundation, and the back wall was practically knocked down.

That’s when the town rolled up its sleeves and got to work.

After making some repairs with donations of materi-als and labor, the town petitioned the Legislature for funds, and, under the authorship of Susan Cordova,

president of the advisory committee, grants were written to cover renovation expenses.

The grand original windows needed replacement, so community members sponsored their replacement.

While all this was going on, the property was trans-ferred from the school system to the county, and the building was officially recognized as a historic site.

Then, another big decision needed to be made: What name would the building bear?

“I told them from the beginning, there’s only one man who deserves to be named (on the building),” Baldonado said. “He was one of the first superintendents in this area in the old days. He was a principal, teacher, county commissioner and postmaster. And he donated the land.”

And that person was Jose Dolores Cordova, Susan Cordova’s great-great grandfather.

“He believed in education,” said Cordova, who is a teacher. “He said the only way out of poverty, the only way to succeed in life was through education.”

The center has taken on somewhat of a military theme. Pictorials of Jarales men who have served in American wars hang on the walls. On the grounds are a veteran’s memorial, and a military training jet that has been mounted on a pedestal. Those projects, which

preceded the renovation of the schoolhouse, were built entirely on money and material provided by the com-munity.

Modern children’s play equipment has been installed, as well as picnic tables and trails that community mem-bers can use to exercise in a safe area.

With the leadership and technical know-how of advisory committee members Karen Hicks and Tom Brunton, computers were purchased and installed in the center for members of the community to use.

The center is available for community use, and is cur-rently the site of meetings of two quilting groups, which take advantage of the natural light from the windows and a clean, new building with furniture, also donated by the community.

“We have a large quilt group that meets here and the lighting is a great advantage,” said Karen Springstead, vice president of the advisory board. “We’ve had day-long retreats where we did not turn on the lights.”

The center was the site of a candidate’s forum prior to the primary elections, and will be a polling station for the general election.

The advisory committee also hosts several events, such as yard sales, quilt raffles and doll sales to raise

20 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Jarales, Page 21

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

THE DON JOSE DOLORES Cultural Center is located in the building that was once Jarales School and has been designated a historic site. The center is the focal point for community activities, the honoring of the community’s veterans, and the collection of historic community data.

Jarales residents have investment in community center

Page 32: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 21

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Village of Los Lunas

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

KAREN HICKS, left, and Karen Springstead participate in a Don Jose Dolores Cultural Center advisory committee meeting. In the background is an original blackboard that was in Jarales School, which is the site for the cultural center.

money for a scholarship fund.“We’ve been able to give out three $500

scholarships for local students,” Cordova said.

The advisory committee would like to open the facility up to even more events, but is hampered by the need to obtain insurance to cover each event, an expense the town or the county can’t afford.

“People who want to use it for a private purpose have to use their homeowners insurance to insure the building in case something happens,” Springstead said. “There’s no money from the county for insurance.”

Another function of the culture center is to become a storehouse of the history of Jarales.

“We would like to interview the vet-erans, put it on tape and put it in our computers,” Cordova said. “We’d also want to collect oral histories of people in the community.” This data could then be used for research.

In essence, the culture center and grounds have been built by the people of the community for the people of the com-munity.

“This has been a great community effort to make this building presentable for people who use it,” Hicks said.

Page 33: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

22 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Frances’restaurantMexican & aMerican Food

908 S. Main Street • Belen, New MexicoPhone: 864-0425

Open 7 days a weekTuesday-Saturday • 6am-6pmSunday & Monday 6am-2pm

(Serving Menudo all day)

Benny’s1575 Bosque Farms Blvd

Bosque Farms869-2210

Closed MondaysTuesday - Friday 7am-8pm

Saturday 8am 8pmSunday 11am-5pm

Dine-Carry Out

Serving Beer and Wine

Celebrating 61 Years!

Teri’s Sweet Garden

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THE PLEASURES OFDINING OUT

Locals Traditional Favorites

Page 34: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • 23

When the former Sullivan sisters speak of the “fabrics of their lives”, they are talking about the vintage cottons, denim, terry cloth, polyesters, wools, stretch knits and a multitude of other fabrics that are part of their Mother’s “stash.” All washed and neatly bolted, the colorful array of fabrics speaks volumes about the admiration that Bobbie Salaz and Carolyn Craig have for their seamstress mother--the now deceased Carrie Sullivan. The two sisters are the proprietors of a one-of-a-kind fabric store along Highway 47 in Peralta. The business journey that started three years ago for the sisters is truly a trip down memory lane. Many of the pieces of fabric were used to make clothes for the

sisters as they were growing up. Some of the fabric was used to make western shirts for their father--the late John L. Sullivan.

The fabric store is stocked entirely of fabrics that Mom collected for over half a century from the 1950’s to the 1990’s. We sell fabric and notions that are pre-owned, but they are not used. This store is not a second-hand store or flea market type of atmosphere. It’s more like walking

into one of those old time dime stores that used to abound in the fifties. Mom always carefully stored her fabric in a cool, dry environment. She hand

picked every piece of fabric that we have sold over the last three years and every yard we have in inventory. We know where our fabric came from, where it has been stored and approximately what era it is from. We are proud to be a part

of the Peralta business community and Valencia County.

Craig Independent TireValencia Counties IndependentTire Source For Three Decades

The owners of Craig Tire have kept things rolling in Valencia County for nearly thirty years. When I say they have “kept things rolling,” I am talking about cars, vans, pickups, SUV’s, semi trucks and trailer, tractors and other farm equipment, industrial equipment and of course, four wheelers and wheel barrows. Craig Tire was opened in 1981 by John L. and Carolyn Craig. This business was meant to supply a highly diverse type of tire service for Valencia County residents, as well as the wide trade area surrounding Belen. Because of John Craig’s background, he was also able to train his mechanics to do alignments, brakes, shocks, struts and front-end work--all of which effect tire wear. Craig Tire has always maintained its independence to choose the best tires possible, at the best price possible, for our customers. We are not tied to only one or two tire brands, although two of the brands we have always carried are Michelin and Goodrich. Eventually, a second tire store was opened in Los Lunas and after a few years it was moved to Peralta where it has remained for the past 12 years. That location was managed by John R. Craig or J.R. as he is commonly

called. He is the son of the original founders. The year 2007 brought about significant change for Craig Tire when its original founder, John L. Craig, died unexpectedly. From that time until present, the supervision and decision making has been done by John R. Craig. He has always taken an active part in the business. As a result, he is very knowledgeable about all of the products and services that Craig Tire offers. He not only worked with his father, but also spent two years in Phoenix at an automotive school. We are proud to say that we have many faithful customers. Some of them are third generation customers--their parents and grandparents have done business with us. We have always been

proud to be a part of the business community in Belen and Valencia County. It is our hope that we can keep things rolling in this

area for many more decades. Come in and see us or visit us on our website, www.CraigTire.com

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STANDING BESIDE THE Don Jose Dolores Cultural Center is a veteran’s memorial that was built in the 1980s. The cultural center and grounds, which is also the site of a mounted Navy trainer jet, has a military theme to honor those from the commu-nity who have served in the military.

Shop Local ReminderYour friendly hometown merchants have something for everyone and every budget! So come down and enjoy the convenience

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Page 35: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

24 • Locals 2010: Community & Growth • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Page 36: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

Locals2010

e n t e r p r i s e

October 30, 2010

News-BulletinVALENCIA COUNTY

Page 37: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Dana BowleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

“How’s business?”That’s a common question exchanged

in the commercial enterprises of Valencia County, and, unfortunately, for too long the answer has mostly ranged from “not too good” to “terrible.”

And that leads to other questions.How much longer will we be hearing

those answers? When can we begin to expect more positive responses? What can businesses, municipal governments and the county collectively do to make that happen sooner rather than later?

We posed those questions to the may-ors of the municipalities in the county (three of four who are business owners), to the county commission chairman (also a business owner), and to a few local businesses, and the consensus is that the answer to the first two questions is anybody’s guess, while the answer to the third could rest in countywide coop-eration and completion of some major projects.

Belen Mayor Rudy Jaramillo“I have no clue what it’s going to

take to turn this around,” Jaramillo said. “Your guess is as good as mine. I’m just trying to get one business, just one business, to come here.”

Jaramillo said he thought the city had a prob-able tenant for the vacant Solo Cup facility, but financing fell through, a com-mon problem in the current econ-omy.

“The deal with Signet Solar fell through because they didn’t get the funding,” he said. “Contrary to other reports, it’s as simple as that. They couldn’t get the funding.”

Jaramillo recently attended a meeting of 12 mayors from around the region, and said the story is consistent.

“It’s the same across the region,” he said. “Everybody’s hurting. It’s every-where. It’s not just Belen.”

His own business, a 25-year-old res-taurant and catering service, Rutillio’s, kind of reflects what’s going on around the county.

“We’re struggling like everybody else,” he said. “Business is down. But we’re all struggling.”

What would help?Locally, he said, “If we can get a

hospital, that’s the start of everything.

I don’t understand why that’s not hap-pening. That’s the motivating factor in getting business to come, not just here, but to the county. We have to get a hos-pital built.”

While the Belen Chamber of Commerce and the economic develop-ment group are working hard to help Belen businesses, Jaramillo said county-wide cooperation on economic develop-ment is a must.

“We have to help one another,” he said. “We have to partner up, including the schools, for the benefit of the whole county.”

Los Lunas Mayor Robert Vialpando

Vialpando directed questions about the village’s economic development efforts to staff members (see separate story).

“What we have done is hire an eco-nomic development director,” he said, in an effort to seek out businesses for the community, although the vil-lage’s direction right now is to encourage small business develop-ment as a prelude to landing larger companies.

The village has been helped by the opening of the Lowe’s home improvement center, which added about 150 jobs.

Vialpando said other efforts include making the village physically attractive, especially streets and village property, having a new state-of-the-art waste-water treatment plant with capacity for double the current population, and con-servative budgeting and spending prac-tices that have allowed the government to weather the current economy without

layoffs or cuts in services.“Our door is always open” to busi-

nesses that want to make Los Lunas their home, he said.

Vialpando has also been involved in the regional mayors’ meetings.

Vialpando said his own sign-making business is down somewhat, but “they’re keeping me busy right now.”

Peralta Mayor Bryan OlguinThe 2-year-old town of Peralta is for-

tunate that as it was being incorporated, the state’s estimate of its gross receipts tax base — on which its budget was based — was about half of it’s actual revenue, giving the town a good head start in a worrisome economy, Olguin said.

But while the government is doing well reve-nue-wise, busi-ness development is an issue, he said, and it all revolves around the strip of N.M. 47 that runs through the town.

“One of our main things is getting Highway 47 widened to include a center turn lane so we have safe access to businesses,” he said. “We want to focus business on 47 and keep the outskirts rural, especially around the ditches.”

The goal, he said, is to recruit small businesses and entrepreneurs to set up shop along the busy highway.

“We’re looking for retail and eater-ies,” Olguin said. “There are no eateries in Peralta, so there’s something for an entrepreneur to look at.”

Peralta also has zoning in place to get a certain look along N.M. 47 that blends with the rural atmosphere the town is trying to create, an atmosphere that encourages an adobe look and prohibits

metal buildings.Recently, he said, an informal five-

member group has been meeting to start the process of planning Peralta’s devel-opment and to look at ways to attract business and help existing businesses.

Peralta isn’t looking for major busi-nesses or industry right now, the mayor said, at least not until its water and sewer tie-in with Bosque Farms is complete.

Olguin said cooperative efforts with Bosque Farms are also part of the eco-nomic development agenda for the town in sort of a twin cities approach.

“I’ve talked with Mayor (Wayne) Ake about this,” he said. “I’d like to see people think of this area as Bosque Farms and Peralta. Not just Bosque Farms and not just Peralta, but Bosque Farms and Peralta as complementary communities.”

Bosque Farms Mayor Wayne AkeAke was not available as this article

was being put together, but he has talked extensively in the past about Bosque Farms need to, like Peralta, devel-op business along N.M. 47 and keep the rest of the vil-lage rural.

Bosque Farms has an advantage in that it has been named a Certified C o m m u n i t y , which puts it on a list that potential businesses receive (see separate story).

Ake has also said that improvements to the village’s water and wastewater systems are key ingredients to improv-ing the economic outlook, and that part-nering with Peralta is a plus in that regard.

Meanwhile, Ake, who is in the con-struction business, has said that like most in the industry, his business has taken a significant hit in this economy.

County Commission Chairman Donald Holliday

Holliday said the county is limited in what it can do for economic develop-ment because of money constraints, for one thing.

“We have a $13 million budget,” he said. “Really, $13 million is not much for a county this size. We need more growth in rural Valencia County to get that up.”

Holliday said he is friends with all the mayors, and meets with them frequently. His main message, he said, “is what can the county do to help you guys?”

2 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Economy, Page 3

Robert VialpandoLos Lunas mayor

County political and business leaders discuss local economy

About this section

With New Mexico and Valencia County having one of the highest unemploy-ment rates and foreclosure rates in the country, local governments face declin-ing tax revenues that will likely force cuts in service.

The diverse impact of the crisis has been quite evident in Belen. Cities whose economies have been heavily reliant on gross receipt taxes have borne the brunt of the economic slowdown, to date. On the other hand, cities such as Los Lunas with robust economies, sound fiscal positions and excess reserves have been able to weather the shock better.

This section not only delves into what municipalities have gone through, but also about what advice business and political leaders have for struggling busi-nesses in the county.

As we all continue to struggle in this economic crisis, it’s important to remember to stick together and continue to shop local.

Rudy JaramilloBelen mayor

Bryan OlguinPeralta mayor

Wayne AkeBosque Farms mayor

Page 38: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

He considers cooperation an essential element to improving economic condi-tions and attracting new business.

“We’ve got three chambers of com-merce, four municipalities, several economic development groups, and they’re all going after the same bone,” Holliday said. “We need to all start working together instead of everyone going after that bone separately.

“We’re all after the same thing. We need to work together to get that bone, then share it with everyone. I think that’s possible.”

He said the municipalities still need to fight for their interests, but in the long run, “What’s good for Belen is good for Los Lunas; what’s good for Los Lunas is good for Bosque Farms; what’s good for Valencia County is good for all.”

Holliday said he’s not aware of any-thing specifically the county can offer as incentives, including tax breaks.

“I’m not aware of any tools, like tax incentives, at our disposal,” he said,

“and I don’t know if incentives are a good thing, anyway.”

He pointed to Solo Cup, which was the beneficiary of some incentives, and he felt the company pulled out as those incentives lapsed.

He said the county might be able to help with property it has gained through tax liens.

As to when things might improve, Holliday was slightly optimistic, even though his own business, fencing, is suffering.

“I have no crystal ball,” he said, “but my feeling is that we’ve got another year before things start turning around.”

A tale of two companiesTwo of the area’s largest private

manufacturers are Cemco, a family-owned maker of mining equipment, and Sud Chemie Performance Packaging, a branch of a German company that makes specialized packaging and mois-ture-control products for the pharma-ceutical and electronics industries.

Cemco spent the first 36 years of its 48 years of existence at I-25 and Paseo del Norte in Albuquerque, said President and CEO Neil Hise.

But as the city expanded around

the plant, “We got hammered by the Environment Department. They drilled all over the place looking for pollution and found none.”

Nonetheless, the company began looking for more welcoming surround-ings and found the vacant Cavco build-ing adjacent to Interstate I-25.

“Fortunately, by accident, this build-ing was available,” Hise said. “The size was nearly perfect.”

Equally important, “The city seemed very receptive to the business,” he said.

Cemco is an international company that sells its mining equipment world-wide.

“We’re one of the few companies in New Mexico that brings in fresh money from outside the U.S.,” Hise said.

Before the recession, Cemco was on the grow, he said, increasing its work-force from the 32 people that made the move here from Albuquerque 12 years ago to 41.

But the recession has hurt business not just in the U.S., but around the world and “we’re back down to 32 folks again.”

Hise, who thinks a change in admin-istrations in Washington is the answer — and makes his position known on the sign outside the plant — said that

for Cemco right now “the economic forecast is less than comfortable. We’re continuing service to our existing cus-tomers. I think we might survive, but there’s no guarantee.”

A New Mexico native, Hise has faith in Belen and the current city administra-tion.

“Rudy (Jaramillo) is very aware what it takes to recruit and retain business,” he said. “This community has a whole bunch of potential. It has an airport, and people don’t understand how important that is. And is has lots of land at reason-able costs.”

Besides a pro-business government agenda, Hise believes a key to the future for Belen and New Mexico is education.

“We need to set our (education) sights higher,” he said. “We need an educated workforce. I’m very hopeful we can engage the education system to produce that educated workforce.”

A manufacturer that has great faith in Belen and Valencia County is Sud Chemie Performance Packaging in the Rio Grande Industrial Park south of Rio Communities.

The company, originally United Dessicants, has been here 27 years and,

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 3

Economy: Holliday says everyone needs to work for good of allfrom PAGE 2

n See Economy, Page 4

Donald HollidayCommission chair

Local News!Since 1910

www.news-bulletin.com

CelebratingA Centuryof News!

2WD or 4WD Available.

Page 39: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Brent ruffnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

belenBelen needs to take steps.Officials hope those steps will help

the city fully recover from the recent layoffs of 24 city employees and bring economic stability back to a munici-pality that has struggled to find solid financial ground.

Andrew DiCamillo, the city’s plan-ning and economic development direc-tor, said city officials hopes to eventu-ally enter into public-private partner-ships to bring business and tourism to downtown Belen.

“The biggest reason (there is no growth) is because there’s not other busi-nesses there, number one,” DiCamillo said. “Two, because it looks like a ghost town. There are more abandoned build-ings than there are occupied buildings on Becker Avenue.”

DiCamillo took over for Claudette Riley and is the acting economic devel-opment director for the Greater Belen Economic Development Corporation after Riley resigned from the position in March.

The city, which made an annual con-tribution of $25,000 to the nonprofit, did not give any money in 2010. A portion of that money went to Riley’s salary of $48,000.

The acting economic development director said businesses such as an ice cream shop and a tavern or restaurant would help draw tourists from the New Mexico Rail Runner Express to the downtown area.

He said a microbrewery-type estab-lishment would fit in nicely with Pete’s Cafe and the Harvey House Museum, both located on First Street. He said he would like to eventually have residential

lofts that would sit above the businesses in downtown.

The Reinken Pedestrian Bridge, a $3 million project, is something city offi-cials hope will draw people to the area. The project is scheduled to be completed by late November.

“We don’t want (just) any business to come in,” DiCamillo said. ”Businesses have come and gone, and some really didn’t belong in business in the first place.”

Companies who committed to either relocate or expand to Belen in recent years have either stalled or backed out of plans to make the Hub City home with the economic climate going south the past couple of years.

Fast Ditch, Inc., which manufactures liners for irrigation ditches, recently said the company would set up shop in Belen. But officials have since said the process could take more than a year before any additional jobs come to the city. The company is expected to bring 35 to 40 new jobs to the area.

DiCamillo said the Whitfield Wildlife Conservation Area, a 97-acre parcel of land, has been a positive draw for Valencia County in a center that has had visitors from all over the nation.

But DiCamillo said the city must come up with a way to attract tour-ists through a different event such as Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta or the beer and wine festival that Bernalillo has each year. He said Billings, Mont., has a watermelon seed spitting contest to draw visitors to its city.

The city might have some help assessing city-owned buildings in the downtown area with a study that is expected to be done by the University of New Mexico Bureau of Business and Economic Research.

The study will tell officials what

businesses would be best suited in which buildings and give the city an idea of how much buildings are worth with and without tenants. The exper-tise comes from the MainStreet Project, which allows the city to receive help from experts.

The MainStreet Project calls for a uniform downtown area to attract addi-tional business while maintaining exist-ing businesses. A slogan and a market-ing campaign will follow once the city has a specific direction.

4 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Economy: Sud Chemie opened its plant in the county 27 years agofrom PAGE 3

n See Belen, Page 5

Jason Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

THE CITY OF BELEN has been selected as part of the MainStreet Project, which calls for a uniform downtown area that would attract additional businesses while maintaining existing businesses.

according to General Manager Raul Scheller, who has been here eight of them, “We plan to be here at least another 27 years.”

Sud Chemie demonstrated its faith in the Belen plant when it decided to close its manufacturing facil-ity in Milford, Conn., and transfer all those operations here, a process that should be completed by the end of the year, Scheller said.

Business has been good for Sud Chemie’s Belen plant.

“2010 will be another good year for us,” Scheller said, “and 2011 is looking positive as well.”

The company makes specialized containers for the pharmaceutical industry — that’s what is being trans-ferred from Connecticut — and moisture-absorbing materials mainly for the electronics industry, those little packets you find in the box when you buy a new camera or DVD player.

The company’s success, Scheller said, is largely because “our customers have confidence in us.”

Sud Chemie has about 150 employees in Belen, and one of the reasons the company is so happy with the area is that it offers “a very good workforce.”

Employees have a lot of input into company opera-tions, he said, “as we work together to try to take the organization to the next level. Everyone’s focus is on how do we continue to grow this business, and everyone is part of that. This is not a one-man show.

The team makes it happen.”The company’s interest in Belen and Valencia

County being successful and prosperous is genuine, Scheller said.

“I’m not just responsible for 150-plus employees here,” he said. “I’m responsible for 150-plus families. We’re very much interested in the issues that affect their quality of life.”

Scheller said the company has begun to work with Belen especially, but with others “to help come up with economic development ideas,” and he thinks that col-laboration will ultimately pay off.

His recommendations include maintaining a busi-ness-friendly atmosphere, concentration on improved education and training, and, he said, “Make it happen, don’t just talk about it.”

“Ultimately,” he said, “we just have to ask, what can we do together to help grow Valencia County.”

Raul SchellerGeneral manager

Belen development group looks to downtown for growth

Page 40: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

Forward ProgressNino Trujillo remembers when Belen

had plenty of businesses to go around. Trujillo, a 1958 Belen High School

graduate, is president of the Greater Belen Economic Corp., and is a land broker in the area. He said he is dis-appointed with the current economic climate and with the outcome of the eco-nomic development summit, a meeting that was geared to stimulate ideas about how the city should look in the future.

“That’s a problem with all these sum-mits,” Trujillo said. “Nobody imple-ments anything.”

He said it’s time for residents to have an attitude change about where they live. He said residents should shop locally instead of giving business to outsiders in places such as Isleta and Albuquerque.

“I don’t have a crystal ball,” Trujillo said. “But I think one big thing is that we need to work together. I think we need to have a positive attitude about Belen.”

New ideasGeorge Moscona, director of the Rio

Communities Association, is trying to change the mentality of residents who do shopping outside of county lines.

Moscona signed up about 350 house-holds and businesses with the associa-tion in an effort to try to get residents to think twice about heading north. The fee is $20 for residents, and $25 a year for businesses.

“Check it out here first,” Moscona said. “If you can’t get your needs met here, you can go elsewhere. But let’s give our local businesses a chance.”

Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Rhona Baca Espinoza said businesses must have a specific plan before opening their doors, and owners need to show their customers superior customer service.

Espinoza worked at her family’s busi-ness, Baca Auto, for 30 years before becoming the chamber director. Baca Auto closed its doors two years ago after more than 70 years in business.

“You have to go above and beyond,” she said. “So people say, I will choose to keep my business in Belen and am will-ing to spend a little bit more. But I need to have extra services, extra addition.”

Espinoza said chain businesses would bring the needed revenue to the city needs, and said a mix of local busi-nesses and chains would be ideal. She said local businesses are essential to bring a certain flair to Valencia County.

“We need to look at the void not being filled here,” Espinoza said. “Another this or another that, do we need another one?”

The executive director said she tries to promote existing businesses by advertising in the chamber’s newsletter. She said she wants to be a resource and give presentations on how to grow busi-nesses and promote them in the area by the start of 2011.

“I believe we can be strong,” Espinoza said. “Just going to take a lot of hard work.”

Alan Tomalavage of Bernie’s Fabrics and Notions said business has been OK in his first year.

“On the surface, they are a little more aggressive than the (Greater Belen) chamber of commerce,” Tomalavage said. “But it’s good. Someone has got to step up. They have Belen’s best interest involved.”

Tomalavage said diversification and carrying different products has helped his business survive tough times.

“We are not getting rich by any means,” Tomalavage said. “But we are surviving.

“We have tried a little bit of every-thing and just see what sticks. We diver-sify whenever we can. You have to listen to the community.”

Donn Chioda, a Rio Communities resident, has owned Small Business Computing since 2006. He said he makes customer service a top priority.

“We have gotten a few more custom-ers,” Chioda said. “But every little bit helps.”

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 5

Belen: Business leader says it’s time for an ‘attitude change’from PAGE 4

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NINO TRUJILLO is president of the Greater Belen Economic Corporation

Page 41: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By DeBorah foxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los lunAsThe sunny, bustling village of Los

Lunas is preparing for sustainable eco-nomic growth to further enhance com-munity life with new businesses and visitor attractions.

One of the top priorities of the Community Development Department is expansion of the New Mexico Rail Runner Express train station.

Tourists and residents alike are lov-ing the New Mexico rail system. It is an inexpensive way to travel north and south through some of the most historic cities from Belen to Santa Fe and you can bring your bicycle on board.

People use the rail not only to com-mute to and from work, but to visit vari-ous locations along the route to shop and spend time with family.

The Community Development Department plans to bring commerce to the Los Lunas train station and sur-rounding region.

The ideas for the expansion of the station include retail shops, cafés, muse-ums, art galleries, bicycle rental shops and open space events as well as the development of a residential area.

The goal is to make the station the hub of the village with attractions for shoppers, residents, tourists and com-muters alike.

Updating and expanding the overall comprehensive plan is the first step the department is taking. The plan consists of four main segments, which include a projected thoroughfare network, land-use patterns, whether they are residen-tial, commercial or agricultural, a rec-reation and open-space plan and an eco-nomic development plan. The depart-ment will develop the comprehensive plan and contract a consulting firm for the transportation segment of the plan.

The current plan was developed in 1999, and these type of plans should be updated about every 10 years, said Christina Ainsworth, the village direc-tor of community development. She estimates it will take about a year to complete.

“The prior economic developer focused on industrial economic devel-opment to recruit large employers to the village. With the changes in the economy, a lot of those businesses are not expanding,” said Ainsworth. “What we are doing is looking at economic development in a different way, with a focus on small, local businesses.”

Part of that focus includes a home-based worker program. The village is participating in a pilot project called the LiveWork program, initiated in May.

The program is spearheaded by the Community Economics Lab, a private economic consulting firm that has a grant from the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

The CE Lab said the fastest grow-ing segment of the economy is the home-based worker.

The program’s objective is to support profes-sional home-based workers, those who work for themselves at home and those who work for companies or corporations, and also attract out-of-state home-based workers to relocate and buy homes in Los Lunas.

“We had to look at other ways to grow the economy, and really, small businesses are the ones that are doing it,” Ainsworth said. “They’re the ones who are really bringing in the revenue right now.”

Three working committees have been developed for the home-based

worker and the small business entrepre-neur. The committees are composed of a consultant from the Small Business Development Center, financial advisers, an attorney and other educators who are willing to act as mentors helping people

trying to get into business for them-selves.

The commit-tees are actively doing research and growing a network to sup-port the people who are interested in home-based work so they can make connections with other people in the community, potential employ-

ers and the resources to start home-based businesses.

“It has really generated a lot of ener-gy and interest with people connecting with each other and cross-pollinating ideas,” Ainsworth said. “That’s one of the exciting things that’s happened.”

“I get calls daily from people who want to know about this effort,” said Ralph Mims, the village’s economic development manager. “You’d be sur-

prised to know how many people work from home in Los Lunas.”

A newsletter with updates on the LiveWork program is mailed out to resi-dents in their utility bills.

Ainsworth said there has been a stigma on work done from home that the village wishes to dispel and show how home-based businesses is the wave of the future.

“Essentially, with the economy the way it is, people cannot find jobs — you have to be creative, you have to be an entrepreneur,” Mims said. “So this forces people to create their own busi-nesses.”

The community development depart-ment is supporting those efforts.

“We offer a lot of things,” said Mims. “We offer mentoring, networking, mar-keting and support,”

“Another thing Ralph is working on is putting together an incentive package to recruit other businesses to the vil-lage,” Ainsworth said.

While still in the early stages of development, the incentive package could offer deferred or reduced impact fees, GRT reimbursement and tax abate-ment, such as no increases in taxes for companies who employ a certain num-ber of people.

During the economic boom of the last couple decades, businesses came to the village. Now the market is much more competitive.

“My job is to be more proactive,” Mims said. “Contact these businesses, have a marketing package, put together a set of incentives to attract these busi-nesses. We here in the village have to be more creative. We have to be unique.”

They also want to attract more white-collar business people, which a hotel with a convention center would do.

“If we have the facilities here, we could attract that crowd to us,” Mims said.

“There’s a need for smaller busi-nesses in Los Lunas,” he said. “As you can see, we need more retail.”

“One of the things the village has going for it is people want to shop locally,” said Ainsworth. “There is a very strong community pride here in the village, and I would say in general, if people can find the services here, they’d rather shop here.”

The village proposes to bring in discount fashion stores, hotels, popular restaurant chains and organic grocery stores, and the entrepreneurs who would build a hotel and convention center. Ainsworth said there is a demand for these businesses in the village.

“Right now, one of the things that we do have, which people appreciate when they find out about it, is our develop-

6 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Los Lunas Page 11

THIS IS A MAP of a concept plan for the area around the New Mexico Rail Runner Express Station and the Los Lunas Transportation Center.

Los Lunas looks to small business to set the stage

Ralph MimsEconomic develop-ment manager

Christina AinsworthDirector of commu-nity development

Page 42: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 7

Bosque Farms has a ‘certified’ advantageBy tiffini PorterNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

bosque FArmsThe village of Bosque Farms is not

content to sit idly by during the current economic turmoil.

An Economic Development Committee formed several years ago has taken the initiative to ensure a place for the rural community in the race to attract, maintain and grow local busi-nesses.

Bosque Farms has seen some changes in the past few years, but those are most-ly on paper and in the efforts of a small group of individuals.

Village Councilor Bob Knowlton said it is important to the village to keep the economic development and commercial business activity on the boulevard (N.M. 47) and out of the residential and agricul-tural areas.

But that comes at a cost of missing out on some lucrative opportunities.

So as part of a larger economic devel-opment plan, the committee decided to apply to New Mexico Economic Development Department’s Certified Community Initiative.

The village was selected as a Certified Community in September of 2006, and has received some impressive benefits in its four years of participation.

“With that designation, we get several things that are kind of cool,” Knowlton said. “We get some funding from them (NMEDD) every year, when we first started it was $5,000, and this year it will be $4,000.”

Knowlton said there are sever-al requirements that the village must meet in order to keep the Certified Community designation, such as having a specific economic development plan “on the books” and an outlined strategy for the development of the area.

That ordinance gives Bosque Farms some flexibility to offer incentives on some things for new business owners, but “not a whole lot of incentives,” according to Knowlton.

Anybody who is trying to get these incentives has to have the ability to put a business plan together and show what kind of revenue stream they will be producing.

Although Bosque Farms does not have any formal training or advice for new entrepreneurs, Knowlton always recommends small business owners spend some time at the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus in Tomé.

Another major benefit of Bosque Farms’ designation as a Certified Community is their inclusion in an

“announcement” program where the vil-lage can respond to companies that are potentially interested in bringing their organization into rural New Mexico.

The program, offered only to Certified Communities, and funded by the NMEDD is called the New Mexico Partnership.

The partnership is a group of indi-viduals tasked with going outside the state and trying to bring businesses into New Mexico. The group tries to target at least 60 percent of interested businesses to rural New Mexico.

The partnership finds interested busi-nesses and sends announcements to the Certified Communities. The interested business will put down some criteria, such as the need for 40,000-square-feet of industrial or commercial building space.

But Bosque Farms doesn’t get to respond to as many announcements as it would like.

“Bosque Farms doesn’t have a lot large par-cels of land or an industrial park to offer,“ Knowlton said. “So we are somewhat limited in what we can respond to, but we have responded to quite a few of the announcements. Nothing has hit yet, but we’re going to continue to do that.”

Knowlton mentioned the village’s website as a sign that Bosque Farms is serious about its future development. He said several economic development spe-cialists made it clear that a good website is the first impression that any interested business is going to have of the com-munity and a good Web presence was

the best thing a small town like Bosque Farms could do for itself.

The website is easy to navigate, and in only a few clicks any interested party has page upon page of the village’s history, available incentives and business envi-ronment information at their fingertips.

Within the last year, the village was able to hire an economic development consultant with their NMEDD funds to put together a detailed report with rec-ommendations on how Bosque Farms can attract, retain and expand businesses.

One recommendation that the com-mittee is moving forward with is that of creating some sort of go-to event for Bosque Farms.

”It’s not that it would attract busi-nesses per se, but it would give Bosque Farms some notoriety and a name that people could associate with the village,” Knowlton said. “That would help in the long run with attracting businesses to

n See Bosque Farms, Page 11

Robert KnowltonBF Councilor

Page 43: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

When everyone comes together, wonderful things can happen. Our communities’ success is the result of a lot of hard work by many talented people. The spirit of community is alive and well, right here and now.

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October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 98 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Page 44: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Curt GustafsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

PerAltAAnyone interested in understanding

what it feels like to be a crash-test dummy need only turn left into Joe’s Pharmacy in Peralta. If you do it with enough frequency, it’s likely to happen because there are no turning lanes, something that businessmen who have opened shop in most any commercial district take for granted.

But unlike Los Lunas, which borders Peralta from the south, and Bosque Farms, which borders Peralta on the north, there are no turning lanes along N.M. 47 in Peralta, making it a very dangerous place to do business.

“We’ve been talking about turn-ing lanes in Peralta for at least 20 years,” said Leon Otero, owner of Joe’s Pharmacy and a member of Peralta’s Town Council. “We’ve been promised it, and they’ve told us, ‘We’ll get to it.’ It’s a real safety issue. We’ve had friends, family, a lot of people rear-ended. A neighbor was killed here on the highway for a lack of a turning lane.”

Improvements to the highway was one of the driving forces behind Peralta incorporating in 2007, Otero said.

“That’s one of the major reasons we incorporated, to get a voice,” he said. “We were just begging and nothing happened. I just don’t get it why they ignore us. It shouldn’t be up to us to make it safe, the state should have done it a long time ago.”

“Our biggest thing is working with the state on widening 47, putting in curb and gutter, lighting and the center turn lane — basically what they have in Los Lunas and Bosque Farms,” said Peralta Mayor Bryan Olguin. “It’s called the Gap Project, because of the gap between Bosque Farms and Los Lunas.”

Olguin and Otero agree that these improvements to the highway are the first essential step to economic devel-opment in the fledgling town.

While plans have been developed by the state for the $13 million project, local issues have thrown a monkey wrench into the plan being activated into reality.

A widened and improved highway will create drainage issues, and the original plan provided for the con-demnation of 12 acres of what is now agricultural land for the collection of water runoff, Olguin said.

This caused an uproar by the own-ers of the property and by those who are determined that Peralta remain a rural area — a principle that was well established at the time of the town’s

incorporation.So now the plan consists of building

an underground system that will allow for the water to be channeled into col-lection cells where it can percolate into the groundwater, Olguin said.

A second issue that also relates directly to economic development is the establishment of a wastewater and water system. Currently, Peralta busi-nesses and residents almost exclusively operate off wells and septic systems, a significant expense for any aspiring business owners.

“Certain businesses won’t come if there are issues of water and wastewa-ter,” Olguin said.

So high on the town’s priority list is tying into Bosque Farms’ wastewater system, and eventually into its water system.

In spite of these obstacles, the town has processed 51 applications for busi-ness licenses, compared to 10 during 2009.

The reason for this increase is that many individuals who have lost jobs in construction during the economic downturn have gone to school to pre-pare them for opening their own busi-ness, said Christian Garcia, Peralta businessman and town councilor.

Most of these individuals are work-ing out of their homes, just as Garcia has done during his 25 years of owning a cement contracting business.

And while Garcia’s business is not affected by the dangerous N.M. 47, he knows that improvements to the highway are essential the Peralta’s eco-nomic development.

“The turning lane is so important for us to attract businesses,” he said. “How can somebody put a business in when they might get hit from the back and get killed? That’s why we’re not getting businesses on 47, it’s a safety issue.”

To help spur infrastructure develop-ment and enhance economic develop-

ment, Garcia believes it’s time to look at an increase in the gross receipts tax and the property tax.

“When all is said and done, I think we have to bite the bullet and look at a property tax to generate the revenue to attract businesses,” he said.

An issue that affects him as a con-tractor is that such entities, such as school districts and municipalities seem to favor large Albuquerque-based businesses when opening up projects to the bidding. Smaller contractors are not made privy to these projects, Garcia said.

Local contractors can handle larger projects because they can enter into a cooperative effort. And local contrac-tors will better ensure that a job will be done correctly.

“When I do work in my own coun-ty, I have to make sure I do a good job because I live here,” Garcia said.

10 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Peralta, Page 11

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

PERALTA COUNCILOR CHRISTIAN GARCIA, who also owns his own cement contracting business, says improvements to N.M. 47 would help businesses in the 2-year-old town. He said the highway is essential to the economic development of Peralta.

Town of Peralta’s future hinges on filling ‘the gap’

Page 45: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 11

Bosque Farms: Opportunitiesfrom PAGE 7

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

LEON OTERO, left, works behind the counter at his Peralta pharmacy. Otero, a Peralta town councilor, said one of the reasons the town incorporated was to have its own voice.

come to our community.”Knowlton said the committee is “kick-

ing around” that idea, and will work on preparing a presentation for the governing body to see if there is support for this kind of event.

The economic development com-mittee’s latest plan to rustle-up some commercial business in Bosque Farms involves the state’s newest (and only) mass transportation system, the Rail Runner Express.

Knowlton said Bosque Farms has a memorandum of understanding with the Mid-Region Council of Governments with the notion of starting a park-and-ride location in the village that would be surrounded with commercial business

locations.“We would also create some retail

outlets in a strip mall fashion at the park-ing facility,” Knowlton said. “The notion being that you would have some business-es there that people could tap into, where people could get or drop something off in the morning before they headed to the Rail Runner on some sort of shuttle bus.”

The next step for the project is getting a proposal together for the village’s govern-ing body outlining the opportunities for some federal grants or low interest loans to purchase the land for the park and ride location.

“It’s competitive, but who knows, maybe we would be successful.” Knowlton said.

ment processes. We’re very develop-ment friendly, and we’re willing to go out of our way to make sure that people can navigate the process easily.”

“There’s not a lot of red tape like in a larger municipality,” Mims adds. “It’s an easier, quicker permit approval pro-cess than a larger city.”

The Los Lunas expansion plans are careful to preserve the rural character of

the village while making it pedestrian friendly with higher density areas and transit-oriented development.

“We’re trying to be creative and prepared for when the market does turn around and people begin to expand again,”Ainsworth said. “We want to be on the forefront and able to offer some-thing more enticing.”

Los Lunas: Preserve characterfrom PAGE 6

Peralta certainly has unique issues when it comes to economic develop-ment, and some of it is driven by the town’s mandate to maintain the rural atmosphere.

“It’s hard to look into that crys-tal ball (of economic development) because I was going through Bosque Farms, and there’s not a single lot (along N.M. 47) that is not a business,” Otero said. “So this is a different place. It’s not Bosque Farms.”

Indeed, much of Peralta’s frontage along N.M. 47 is either private resi-dences or agricultural land.

“Part of our motto is preserving the past, to keep our rural existence,” Otero said. “On the corridor that has to change. If we’re going to be viable, we’ll have to have a certain tax base.”

Even so, Olguin believes Peralta has a bright economic future.

“There’s a little over 30,000 vehicles that travel Highway 47 on a daily basis,” he said. “Those are people who spend money. Those are people who need services. Everything along 47 is zoned commercial. We have a great potential. I think we have a very bright future.”

Peralta: Mottofrom PAGE 10

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Page 46: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

12 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

By Dana BowleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

toméStruggling business owners in

Valencia County have a resource that can help them survive this tough econo-my and perhaps find new ways to thrive — all at no cost.

That resource is the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus.

“We think of ourselves as informa-tion brokers,” said center Director W. Wayne Abraham. “We provide informa-tion that businesses need to succeed. We don’t have all the answers, but if we don’t have the answer we know who to go to and where to find it.”

The SBDC offers a variety of services to meet most business needs, Abraham said, “and all counseling and services are provided at absolutely no cost.”

Abraham addressed the hypothetical case of a business owner coming to the center for help and advice to save his struggling enterprise.

What would he do first?“First, I’d ask to see their business

plan,” he said. “If they don’t have one, we’ll help them create one.”

A business plan is critical, he said.“It gives you direction,” Abraham

said. “It lays out where you want your business to be in the short-term and in the long-term.”

What a business plan is not, is cast in concrete.

“A lot of people think a business plan is forever in stone,” he said. “That’s not the case at all. It’s a living document. I think a business plan should be revisited every six months, at least in the begin-ning.”

The SBDC will provide the business with sample business plans.

“We’ve got so many, we can usually find one that’s close to the person’s busi-ness,” Abraham said.

The center won’t draw up the plan for the business owner — Abraham said it’s important the owner does that — but center personnel will help during the process, reviewing the business plan at various stages in its development, and the overall when it’s done. And they can provide help with research, such as an analysis of competition within a given area.

Once the business plan is established, Abraham said, efforts can go several directions. One of the most common is to look at a company’s marketing plan.

“Sometimes just a slight marketing change can draw new customers,” he said.

One of those changes might be how the business makes use of technology.

“Everybody should have a website,”

he said. “You can start out with a single page with just information about your business. Somebody can be looking at it at 3 a.m., when you’re closed, and learn-ing about your business.

“Be sure to include where you are and when you’re open. And provide some way for people to con-tact you, an e-mail link, phone num-ber, something that gives them a way to ask you a question.”

At one time, he said, setting up a Web page was expensive and time consuming. Now you can register a domain name (the SBDC will help you find one), get host-ing services and get website templates from the same source at a small monthly fee, often being able to have your site up and running the same day. The center can help build the website too.

The center will also help with new

marketing strategies aimed at develop-ing a new target market or market seg-ment; diversification; opening the busi-ness to people outside the community; and other strategies.

One problem a lot of businesses have is capital, Abraham said, and in this economy business loans are hard to come by from traditional sources. Once again, SBDC can help.

“We’re not a lender,” he pointed out, “but we do have access to some lenders who have resources for small business-es, like the SBA and Accíon.”

Another service SBDC provides is training, mainly through workshops at the 20 SBDC sites around the state.

“We might not have the workshop here,” Abraham said, “but several of the sites are close, so there are lots of work-shops available.”

Workshop topics include business plans, marketing, financing, taxes, Quickbooks, advertising, customer ser-vice, employee relations and many more.

One topic covered by a workshop, and a service Abraham would like to see more businesses get involved with is called PTAT, or the Procurement

Technology Assistance Program, more commonly known as how to do business with the government.

“The government buys practically every type of product and service,” he said, “and a lot of businesses could get into it. It can be complicated, but we try to simplify the process. It can be lucra-tive.”

A visit to the SBDC is a must for any-one wanting to start a business.

The center offers a Starting Out Guide, which covers the steps a person should take as they consider and start their own business, although right now, Abraham said, the economy is putting a crimp in start ups.

“It used to be that most of the people we saw here were looking to start a new business,” he said. “Now, almost every-one we see is already in business and looking for help.”

The Small Business Development Center is located on the second floor of the Student Community Center at UNM-VC, but a call or e-mail is the first recommended step to set up an appoint-ment. Abraham can be reached at 925-8984, or [email protected].

Jason Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

WAYNE ABRAHAM, the director of the Small Business Development Center at the University of New Mexico, says that having a plan is critical for a successful business.

Small business center offers ways to improve and succeed

Wayne AbrahamSBDC director

Page 47: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Jason w. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

The business support provided by the Valencia County Hispano Chamber of Commerce isn’t usually the psych-you-up kind. Playing the “Rocky” theme music while shadow boxing isn’t exactly what goes on.

However, the chamber provides plenty of support in subtle and more visible ways, ranging from a coats-and-clothing program to networking meetings for business owners. Also the organizers of a huge matanza every winter to raise college scholar-ship money, the businesses affiliated with the chamber are often key parts of the engine that drives the county’s economy.

“We try so hard to encourage each other,” said Georgia Otero-Kirkham, currently the treasurer for the cham-ber. “We try to direct each other to resources, and come up with ideas, but we also try to help hold each other up.”

The chamber’s “elders,” or veteran leaders and members, are not only try-ing to help businesses and the general public make it through tough economic times. They’re also helping more green and less-experienced board members learn the ropes and become more familiar with the chamber’s many functions.

Arie Gallegos credits Otero-Kirkham and others for their help in learning more about her role as presi-dent of the chamber. That’s fitting for an organization that has a mission of helping others, and to some, Gallegos seems to have the perfect amount of enthusiasm for her role.

“Arie is extremely instrumental in a quiet way,” said Ronni Goforth, a board member. “She’s very effective, and she and her husband (Marcus, of Marcus Gallegos Insurance Agency) spend countless hours going through scholarship applications, helping make difficult decisions.” The applications are for the chamber’s annual scholarship, and the matanza held each winter for the past 10 years generates funds toward that end. Last year, many board members were con-cerned the area’s finances would make the matanza a bust, but enough money was generated to award more than 25 scholarships.

The matanza, held on the last Saturday in January, has become the chamber’s signature event. It’s more than a giant pig-roast — it’s a daylong community celebration, held at the county’s fairgrounds, featuring sev-eral very competitive cooking contests involving regional food items.

“We have a really good team togeth-er,” Arie Gallegos said regarding the

chamber’s leadership. “The leaders that have been there a while are the reason the chamber and their business-es are as strong as they are. Without them, there’s no matanza.”

The scholarships are just one of the many ways the cham-ber contributes to a more-edu-cated community, Gallegos said. “Some of the scholarships are only $500, but that can cover books for a semester, and be the difference between finishing a degree and drop-ping out of college for good,” said Gallegos. “When you read the applica-tions, you see the need for many fami-lies. Reading those applications alone provides us with the driving force to keep helping other.”

Another important chamber func-tion is monthly luncheons, featuring guest speakers on current topics and a networking hour beforehand. Gallegos said recently she was trying to arrange to have gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez speak at a luncheon. “We try to have speakers talk about exactly what’s going on at the time,” said Otero-Kirkham. The chamber also helps with a number of charitable goods donations proj-ects, including clothing donations to schools.

“We feel like we don’t really do our share,” said Otero-Kirkham. “We wish we could do more, especially for kids.”

Gallegos said she’s still getting up to speed as far as learning the presi-dent’s job and catching up some of the duties. She said she’s grateful to many chamber past leaders for what they’ve done to boost area business, especially chamber co-founder Martin Sisneros.

After resigning from the board recently for health reasons, Sisneros was given a lifetime achievement award at a recent function. In addi-tion to individual awards, the cham-

ber also hopes honors such as Non-Profit Organization of the Year will spur more community spirit. The chamber has offered Spanish and English classes in the past, Gallegos said. There is also a periodic event called “Business After Hours,” a social activity that involves booths and dis-cussion of what each business offers. Otero-Kirkham said another highly motivated board member, Yvonne

Sanchez, was involved with a safety-training project that was paid for by a $200,000 grant.

Sanchez is the chamber’s president-elect. Other board members include Jaime Diaz, Veronica Martinez, Noe Lara, Fernando Sisneros, Dana Sanders, Mike Mendoza, Pete Rael, Ron Tabet, Yvonne Tabet, vice presi-dent Toby M. Jaramillo, past president Jarod Colbert and secretary Shireen McDonald.

The chamber’s leaders and other businesspeople definitely have a lot to look forward to in their signature event, the matanza. Not only do many scholarship applicants help out with the matanza as part of the community service, making themselves visible to board members, but the event also seems to unify restaurant owners and home-style cooks alike.

Otero-Kirkham said there was a concern last year when the chamber couldn’t initially find a title sponsor for the matanza. However, like Rocky Balboa battling in the late rounds, the event made a last stand that made the event happen.

“We’re not really an econom-ic development board,” said Otero-Kirkham. “But we try to do a lot for the community.”

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 13

Arie GallegosHispano chamber president

County’s Hispano chamber contributes on many levels

Georgia Otero-KirkhamHispano chamber secretary

Page 48: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDinGerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Sometimes it’s the people that tell the story of a place. Sometimes it’s the food or the architecture. But more often than not, most of the story of a place can be told with numbers, statistics and percentages.

Headwaters Economics is an independent, nonprofit research group made up of economists, geographers, ecologists and educators that strives to do just that. The organization’s mission is to improve community devel-opment and land management decisions in the west.

The staff at Headwaters Economics blends research with extensive on-the-ground experience, and has been working in strategic partnership with communities, landowners, public land managers and elected officials in the region for more than 20 years.

In looking at the western states — New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, Washington, Oregon and California — Headwaters was able to track statistics and data that established essentially three wests. Each state is made up of three distinct types of counties — metro, con-nected and isolated counties.

Metro counties are counties within a metropolitan statistical area, and neighboring counties within easy commuting distance to the city. They statistically have more young people, a fast population growth, fast income and job growth, the populace is more educated, there is a low dependence on retirement and other non-labor sources and high employment in services and

manufacturing. A connected county is in a rural setting, but con-

nected to the rest of the world via airports with daily commercial service. In connected counties, the popula-tion is considered neither young or old, the population growth was slow in the 1980s and picked up in the

1990s and 2000s. A connected county is closer to an airport, which

translates into higher per capita income and earnings per job. Residents tend to be more educated and have a medium dependence on non-labor income, i.e. inter-est, rent and money earned from past investments. Connected counties have experienced a shift, from agriculture and resources industries in the 1980s, to a higher emphasis on services in the 1990s and 2000s.

Isolated counties are also in a rural setting, but iso-lated where it is difficult to get to major population cen-ters via road or air travel. There tend to be more elderly residents, slow population growth and slow income and job growth. The population tends to be less educated and there is a high dependence on retirement and other non-labor sources. There is also a high employment in agriculture and resource industries.

Interestingly, in New Mexico there are only metro and isolated counties. Valencia County and seven other counties are classified as metro. The others are Bernalillo, Torrance, Dona Ana, San Juan, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Sandoval counties.

The commuting data for the county data suggests that Valencia County is what’s referred to as a “bed-room community,” meaning income derived from people commuting out of the county to work exceeds the income from people commuting into the county. Between 1981 and 2005, people commuting to jobs out-side the county earned more than $741 million, while those commuting into the county to work earned $104.6

14 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

n See Statistics, Page 15

Percent of population 25 and over who have a college degreesource; Headwaters Economics

Valencia County

Bernalillo County

Torrance County

Los Alamos County

Dona Ana County

San Juan County

14.8

30.5

14.4

60.5

22.3

13.5

Sandoval County24.8

Santa Fe36.9

Statistics tell Valencia County’s economic story

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Page 49: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

million, a net difference of 37 percent of total income in the county. Those earn-ings figures are in 2006 dollars.

Per capita income in the county in 2006 was $25,906, just under the nation-al earning of $27,413, and the average earnings per job was $25,983, more than $4,600 less than the national average of $30,604.

Looking at the county’s education rate, 14.8 percent of the population 25 and older have a college degree, but 23.9 percent of that same population segment have less than a high school diploma.

In 1999, the rich/poor ratio was 9.6. That ratio accounts for each household in Valencia County that made more than $100,000, and how many households made less than $30,000. Just 10 years earlier, there were 39.1 households that made less than $30,000 for every one that made $100,000.

From 1970 to 2006, the county’s pop-ulation grew by 28,718 people, increas-ing the population by 70 percent or 1.5 percent annually. There was a sharp population drop in 1981 when Cibola County was formed.

Valencia County numbers continued to decline until 1983, but then began the steady climb to almost 70,000 in 2006. The three-year decline saw nearly

30,000 people removed from Valencia County’s population count.

An important indicator of economic performance is the ability to recover quickly from recessions. According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, a recession is “a signifi-cant decline in activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months, visible in industrial production, employment, real income and wholesale-retail sales.”

In the latest recovery period, 2001 to 2006, the state’s population grew by 1.2 percent, outpacing the county’s growth rate of 0.7 percent and the nation’s rate of 0.9 percent.

However in the recovery between 1991 and 2001, Valencia County grew the fastest of the three — 3.7 percent compared to the state’s rate of 1.6 per-cent and the national growth rate of 1.2 percent.

Between 1975 and 1980, the county’s population jumped by 5.8 percent, eas-ily doubling the 2.4 percent rate of the state and nearly five times the national rate of 1.1 percent. The next recovery period between 1980 and 1981 didn’t bring any growth to Valencia County.

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Enterprise • 15

Statistics: Population growingfrom PAGE 14

n See Statistics, Page 16

News-BulletinVALENCIA COUNTY

A century of news!

9number nineMEDIA, INC.

SERVING VALENCIA COUNTYSINCE 1910

100News-Bulletin

1 9 1 0 - 2 0 1 0

YEARS

www.news-bulletin.com

Valencia County $25,906 $25,983

Bernalillo County $34,495 $41,360

Torrance County $24,030 $25,246

Los Alamos County $56,928 $69,689

Dona Ana County $24,293 $33,920

San Juan County $27,155 $40,709

Sandoval County $28,484 $39,066

Santa Fe County $42,363 91,957

Per Capital Income (2006)

Average Earnings Per Job (2006))

source; Headwaters Economics

&Income Earnings

Page 50: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

16 • Locals 2010: Enterprise • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Statistics: From 2001 to 2006, employment was up 4.7 percentfrom PAGE 15

This again could be attributed to the establishment of Cibola County, which reduced the county’s land mass by nearly half and split off the population centers of Grants, Milan and the Laguna and Acoma pueblos.

A year later, the next recovery period that started in 1982 and ended in 1990 saw the county grow by 4.4 percent. The state saw a 1.4 percent growth and the nation 0.9 percent.

The recovery periods are measured from the end of one recession to the beginning of the next recession.

While one of the hallmarks of a metro county is more young people than either a connected or isolated county, the population of Valencia County has gotten older. In 1990, the median age was 31.4. That shifted up to 33.8 in 2000. During those 10 years, the age group that has grown the fastest is the 50- to 54-year olds, increasing by 2,064.

But even that group is outnumbered by 10- to 14-year olds — in 2000 there were 5,936 people in the county between those ages. In that same 10 years, the county’s overall population increased 20,917 from 45,235 to 66,152, thus increasing population density from 42.4 people per square mile to 62, a 46 percent increase.

The long range trend in employment has been posi-tive for the county. From 1970 to 2006, 14, 121 new jobs were created. However, once again in the late 1980s there was a sharp drop in the number of jobs — from a little more than 15,000 to less than 10,000. Wage and salary employment, people who work for someone else, also took a similar plunge, again coinciding with the

formation of Cibola County. It is also worth noting that in that same time period,

the nation itself was struggling with back-to-back recessions, essentially running in a state of decline from 1975 through 1981 and then quickly entering

another eight-year recession in 1982. In the latest recovery period, 2001 to 2006, employ-

ment growth in Valencia County was up 4.7 percent, outpacing the state and the United States. Similarly, in the recovery period between 1991 to 2001, the county experienced 3.6 percent employment growth and between 1982 and 1990, the county experienced a 3.6 percent growth in employment.

In 20 years, between 1977 and 1997, the number of firms in Valencia County has increased from 725 to 823. Of those, 201 are in retail and 160 are construction companies.

By 2005, retail trade had dropped to 144 businesses and construction companies had increased by a modest five businesses. Of those 165 construction companies, 108 of them employ between one and four people, 29 employ between five and nine, 14 companies have between 10 and 19 employees, 13 employ between 20 and 49 people and only one construction company has 50 to 99 employees.

Retail is a bit more evenly distributed with 54 stores with between one and four employees, 42 between five and nine, 27 with 10 to 19 employees, 11 stores have 20 to 49 employees, six have 50 to 99, and there are two with 100 to 249 employees and two with 250 to 499 employees.

Other industries represented in Valencia County with high numbers are health care and social assistance with 88 companies, accommodation and food services with 89 businesses and 82 businesses classified as pro-fessional, scientific and technical services.

Total Population in 2000*source; Headwaters Economics

*Census 2000

Valencia County

Bernalillo County

Torrance County

Los Alamos County

Dona Ana County

San Juan County

66,152

556,678

16,911

18,343

174,682

113,801

Sandoval County89,908

Santa Fe County129,292

Page 51: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

Locals2010

H e r i t a g e

October 30, 2010

News-BulletinVALENCIA COUNTY

Page 52: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

2 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Courtesy of Los Lunas Museum of Heritage and Arts

AT ONE TIME, a runoff-created lake covered much of Anna Becker Park, which served as an ice-skating rink when it froze in the winter. This 1925 photo shows the park looking west toward the former First Lutheran Church, now the home of Riverside Funeral Home.

Dana Bowley-News-Bulletin photo

THIS PHOTO, taken from about the same vantage point as the 1925 photo, shows Anna Becker Park today, with a gazebo, picnic facilities and trees galore, so many so that the former First Lutheran Church, now Riverside Funeral Home, is nearly obscured in the background.

Anna Becker Park named for John Becker’s late wifeBy Dana BowleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BelenIt’s not hard to figure out that the

namesake for Anna Becker Park in Belen has to be related to the famous Becker family that developed much of the city. But there is more to the story.

It was 1871 when John and Fred Becker arrived in Valencia County from Germany, brought here at the urging of the Hunings, for whom they worked for a time.

By 1877, John Becker, who had come to Belen to run the Huning branch store, had gone into business for himself and was doing fairly well.

In that year, Anna Vielstich, a German who had emigrated to Milwaukee, trav-eled by stagecoach to Santa Fe, where she married John Becker and moved to Belen. It is unclear whether the two had met in Germany or the U.S.

The couple had six children together, four boys and two girls, and were quite active in local affairs and activities, espe-

cially church activities.As John Becker’s fortune grew, he

bought up a considerable amount of land in Belen, including a piece on Reinken Avenue between Third and Fourth streets, which he turned into a park.

Anna Becker died in 1922, and John Becker renamed the park in her honor.

There are no Becker descendants in

Belen. The closest relative would be Fred Becker’s grandson, Art Leupold, who lives in Albuquerque. Another grandson, Edwin Leupold, lives in Deming.

“I don’t know too much about Anna Becker,” said Art Leupold, who is in his 80s and was born after Anna Becker died. “I didn’t pay much attention when people talked about her. I guess I should

have.“I do know the park has changed over

time. At one time, there was a lake there. We used to go ice-skating there in the winter.”

Leupold said he was involved in the building of the gazebo in the park in the 1930s, after the lake was filled in.

There is also an unsubstantiated tale about the park involving the lake, which was filled by runoff, and the eventual gazebo.

According to the tale, the owner of a Model T was driving across the property when his car got stuck in the muck and sank so far into the mud that he couldn’t get it out. As the story goes, apparently the car disappeared from view and was never recovered. Years later, the area was filled in, leveled and planted with grass, and the gazebo was built right on top of where the car disappeared.

Today, Anna Becker Park is a popular family gathering spot that hosts numer-ous Belen events large and small. It is also host to the weekly Farmers’ Market, and serves as a vivid example of the Becker influence on Belen.

ABout this section

Valencia County has changed in many ways over the years, including the number of roads and buildings here. For many, some of the names of the roads, streets, avenues, drives and buildings are unfamiliar, so we have compiled a special section about these people.

While some of the people whose names adorn these street signs and build-ings are or weren’t the most prominent citizens, they are and were members of the community who were loved by their families and their communities.

They are farmers and homemakers, settlers and lawmakers, business lead-ers and city employees. They are people who have made a difference ― regard-less of how small or big ― in the lives of many in Valencia County.

Because of space constraints, we were not able to fit all the stories we have. Look in future editions of the News-Bulletin for more about our locals

Page 53: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 3

"Educating, building character and preparing our students to meet the challenges of the future."

BELEN  CONSOLIDATED  SCHOOLS

Jamie GoldbergPresident

R. Sam ChavezVice-President

Dolores Lola QuintanaSecretary

Julian LunaMember

Adrian PinoMember

Patricia S. Rael, Ed. D.Superintendent

Belen Board of Education

DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY

19670 NM Hwy 314 966-1800

FAMILY SCHOOL

376 Rio Communities Blvd.864-0728

HENRY T. JARAMILLO COMMUNITY SCHOOL

900 Esperanza Drive 966-2000

RIO GRANDE ELEMENTARY

15 Eastside School Rd. 966-2200

LA PROMESA ELEMENTARY

898 NM Hwy 304, Veguita966-2400

BELEN HIGH SCHOOL

1619 W. Delgado Rd. 966-1300

CENTRAL ELEMENTARY600 Picard Ave.

966-1200

GIL SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY376 Jarales Rd.

966-1900

LA MERCED ELEMENTARY301 Alame Loop

966-2100

INFINITY HIGH SCHOOL221 South 4th St.

861-3720

BELEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

429 South 4th St. 966-1600

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

BECKER AVENUE in Belen was named for John Becker, a prominent businessman. He, along with his family, owned Becker-Dalies Co.

Becker Avenue named for immigrantBy Jason w. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BelenJohn Becker’s name is as central to Belen’s history as

the name George Washington is in discussing America.Becker and his three brothers emigrated to the U.S.

from their native Germany in 1869 to avoid being drafted into the Prussian army during wartime. When the brothers landed in New Orleans, and 19-year-old John worked his way north to St. Louis. He heard about a mercantile store in the Southwest, joined a caravan headed for the Santa Fe Trail, and eventually ended up at a store in Los Lunas, owned by Louis Huning.

Becker started working at the Huning store for a sal-ary of $30 per week, a good salary at the time. He even-tually opened his own general-merchandise John Becker Co. in Belen in 1877, and had to accept barter items, such as wool or crops, as payment.

Many of his first Belen customers had never seen canned fruits or vegetables before.

Becker donated $8,400 and some land when the Belen railroad cutoff was built around the turn of the century. He eventually did so much business with the newfound cash flow from the railroad, he became president of the First National Bank of Belen not long after it opened in January 1903.

Becker was a motivated businessman of exceptional vision. He foresaw the United States’ entry into World War I, purchased and stored large quantities of wool, then watched as the company’s dividend was 32 percent once a vast need for wool led to huge profits.

He erected a flour mill, the Belen Roller Mills, to turn wheat into flour locally. He, and Adolph Didier, set up wineries, and it became apparent the land was very well suited for grapevines.

Becker funded much of the construction at both his family’s church, a Lutheran denomination; the Presbyterian Church and the Catholic Church. By estab-lishing Belen’s first post office in his store in 1873, he also became the city’s first postmaster.

Anna Becker Park was a gift to the city in memory of his wife, Anna Vielstich Becker, who died in 1922. The couple had four sons and two daughters.

In 1928, the Becker Co. became the Becker-Dalies Co. with Paul Dalies, his nephew, as vice president. Becker and Dalies streets led directly from the railway station to the Becker-Dalies Department Store.

Becker died on April 2, 1932, a few weeks after the death of his close friend, druggist Jalno Buckland.

A former housekeeper and governess to the Becker children, Bertha Rutz, built the Belen Hotel and Restaurant around 1907. The building was wired for electricity, even though that resource wouldn’t be avail-able in Belen until around 1920.

Fred Becker, one of John’s brothers, operated the Belen Mercantile Co.

John Becker initially refused to sell any property to Nelson and Roy Buckland. But while John was on a trip home to Germany, his son, Hans, got into a poker game with Roy Buckland, losing all his money. Hans wagered the property the Bucklands wanted, and lost. Roy Buckland quickly constructed his building before John Becker returned.

Page 54: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

4 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Tiffini Porter-News-Bulletin photo

BRIAN GREEN, a fourth-generation farmer and the great-grandson of Ernest Sichler, sits on a wall near the street signs that bear his family’s name in Los Lunas. The Sichler family owned most of the area where the Sichler Farms retail location exists today.

Photo courtesy of Jim Sais

THE ERNEST SICHLER FAMILY, pictured, front from left, Josephine, Martha and George; middle, from left, Freeda, Mary Anna, Andrew and Rudolph; back row, from left, Ernestine, Jenny, Ernest and Mollie. The second generation of Sichler’s in Los Lunas began farming in the valley in the 1900s.

Sichler Road named for generations of farming familyTiffini PorTerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los lunAsBrothers George Andrew and

John Adam Sichler migrated to the Los Lentes area from Tuttlingen, Germany, in the mid-1800s.

The earliest version of the Sichler family farm was more akin to the farms of their homeland, rich in fruits, vegetables and even a vineyard.

Both brothers married and raised children in the area, and their families have continued to farm the fertile land in the Valencia Valley for more than 100 years.

It was the son of one of these Sichler brothers that would eventually make the biggest mark in the history of the Los Lunas area.

Ernest F. Sichler was born July 20, 1899, in Los Lentes to George Andrew and Mary Sichler.

During his teen years, he worked at Becker-Dalies and at the Belen Hotel for room and board while going to high school.

It was Ernest who would eventu-ally begin to grow the New Mexican green chile that the Sichler family farms are known for producing today.

Ernest Sichler was one of Los Lentes’ most prominent citizens.

Although he is most known for his work as a farmer and agriculturist in Valencia County, he was also a com-munity servant.

Sichler served on the school board, was a county commissioner, and a member of the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Service for 31 years.

He was an active Republican and was a member of the Peralta Methodist Church.

The family has been a prominent one in the Los Lunas community for generations, continuing to sell their produce to residents at the retail loca-tion located on Sichler Road.

Ernest’s son Ernie continued to farm his father’s land and did busi-ness under the name of Ernie Sichler Farms.

Until the 1980s, the farming was done in Valencia County. At that time, because of the growth on Main Street in Los Lunas, Chris Sichler (Ernie’s son) bought land south of Socorro and the family continues to use that land to this day.

Ernest’s sister, Ernestine, married a boy from a neighboring farm named Silverio Sais, the grandson of Jose Pascual Sais, thus joining two Los Lentes families with rich histories.

Page 55: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 5

Tiffini Porter-News-Bulletin photo

JIM SAIS stands next to the street sign named after his grandfather, Pascual Sais. The Sais family members were prominent farmers in the small community of Los Lentes.

Don Pasqual Road named for Los Lunas farmer

Tiffini PorTerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los lunAsJose Pascual Sais was born in Los Lentes in 1858 (or 1860 according to some sourc-

es) to a local farming family. “He was just a farmer, really,” his grandson, Jim Sais said. “Schools were not very

prominent here then, so farming is what they did.”But the Sais family was an integral part of the growth in Los Lentes, and later of

Los Lunas. The Sais farm was located in the area of present-day Don Pasqual Road.Pascual married Aurelia Jaramillo in 1890, and they had 15 children, not all of

whom made it past early childhood. Pascual’s only living children are Stella, 96, of Socorro, and Sara, 103, of Los

Lunas.Jim Sais’ father, Silverio, a son of Pascual and Aurelia Sais, married the daughter of

another local farmer, Ernestine Sichler. Jim Sais said his family’s farm extended south to the boundary of the Sichler family farm.

“They met because they grew up on adjoining farms,” Sais said. “This whole area was just farm land.”

The families’ farming traditions continued into later generations, and Jim Sais has always been interested in the farming industry.

“I grew up on a farm,” Sais said. “They worked the daylights out of us.”Sais said that is why he decided not to be a farmer, but rather specialize in horticul-

ture and become a consultant.There are several branches of the Sais family tree still living in the Los Lunas area,

and others have moved to different parts of the country, but no matter where they go, the Sais family has a rich history in the Los Lunas farming community.

90-A Molina RdP.O. Box 1830 Peralta, NM 87042

Bryan R. Olguin

Mayor

"Preserving the Past for Future Generations"

Page 56: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By Julia M. DenDingerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Bosque FArmsAccording to the old maps, the road was called

Cottonwood. But since shortly after the village of Bosque Farms incorporated in 1974, the east-west road’s name was changed to honor the person purported to be the only one to drive it.

In 1958, Lillie McNabb and her husband, the late Sonny McNabb, purchased land in Valencia County. The area had been inhabited since the mid-1500s, but at that time was still in the unincorporated part of the county. The McNabb family built their home in 1965, and began their life in “The Farm.”

Shortly after its formation, the village’s first fire and police chief, Bob Chamberlain, and the McNabbs decid-ed the road needed a new name.

“They said they figured the only person traveling on that road was Lillie McNabb,” McNabb laughed. “I was always running the kids back and forth to something — usually had enough of them in the car for a baseball team.”

McNabb says when they told her the plan to rename the road, she just blew it off.

“I didn’t think they really would but they did,” she said. “It really is such an honor. I just feel so lucky, having one of, I guess what you’d call the main roads, named after me.”

Lillie’s road, Lillie Drive, heads directly west, straight as a ruler’s edge, from the curve where North Bosque Loop becomes West Bosque Loop. A couple miles

down, it ends in a shady cul-de-sac near the river’s thick fringe of cottonwoods.

Not only did McNabb have a road named after her, but she had a hand in naming many of the roads in the vil-lage. After its incorporation, the village began naming its roads, starting with the main thoroughfares and then moving to the smaller, feeder roads.

The names were often done in clusters, using a theme. Off Lillie Drive, you can find Satin Lane, Velvet Drive, Velvet Lane and Silk Lane.

And in the northeast corner of the village are the “flower streets” — Mistletoe Ave., Sego Lilly Street, Golden Poppy Street, Apple Blossom Street and Magnolia Street.

McNabb even helped get a road named that is now technically in another municipality. Before Peralta incorporated in 2007, a family McNabb refers to as “dear, dear friends” lived on a little dead-end road off of N.M. 47 just south of Don Jacobo Road.

“They had lived there forever and they didn’t even have a street name,” McNabb said, sounding slightly outraged at the memory. “So I went to the county com-mission and asked them to call it Crawford Court.”

Remembering when they first built their home in Bosque Farms, McNabb recalls a time when there were more cows than people, everybody knew each other and they weren’t in such a hurry.

“Before I leave, I would like us to show a little kind-ness to each other,” she said. “And if that comes from having a road named for someone’s great grandparents, that’s not a bad thing.”

6 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Julia Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo

LILLIE DRIVE in Bosque Farms is named for Lillie McNabb, a long-time resident and community activist. As she tells it, village officials named the street for her because she was the only person traveling on the road, taking her two children back and forth for different activities. She says naming streets after residents who made a differ-ence is a way to honor that person.

Lillie Drive is named in honor of BF resident, McNabb

News-Bulletin photo

LILLIE MCNABB, and her late husband, Sonny, built their home in Bosque Farms in 1965. She was integral in helping name streets after the village was incorpo-rated.

Page 57: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 7

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo

DENNIS CHAVEZ ELEMENTARY School in Los Chavez was named for U.S. Senator Dennis Chavez. Chavez, who was born in Los Chavez, was the first Hispanic American to serve in the United States Senate. His niece, Maggie McDonald, a local historian, said she is proud of his accomplishments, and that it’s important to never forget what Chavez did for the state.

By BrenT ruffnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los chAvez

Dionisio “Dennis” Chavez was a trailblazer. Chavez, the first Hispanic American to be elected

to the United States Senate, started with humble roots in Los Chavez before graduating law school and beginning a political career in the New Mexico Legislature in the 1920s.

Chavez also served as a U.S. senator from the ’30s until his death in 1962. Schools and buildings are named after him, including Dennis Chavez Elementary in Los Chavez and the Dennis Chavez Federal Building in Albuquerque.

The Los Chavez school now features a gym, library, two computer labs and a cafeteria in the center that houses kindergarten through sixth grade. The original school was built close to the road along N.M. 314, further east from the current school’s location.

Chavez is known for helping establish the Fair Employment Practices Commission requiring com-panies with government contracts to not discrimi-nate based on race or religion.

“What this man did was mind-boggling,” said Maggie McDonald, a Valencia County historian.

McDonald, who is Chavez’s niece, said Chavez fought for free textbooks in the school system, helped improve roads and helped bring federal

programs such as Sandia National Laboratories and White Sands Missile Range to New Mexico.

“The list goes on and on in terms of federal pro-grams and jobs for New Mexicans,” McDonald said.

McDonald said the Los Chavez-born senator introduced legislation that helped prisoners of war from the Bataan Death March to ensure they received a monthly allowance from the United States military.

The local historian said she remembers images of her uncle smoking a big cigar, and said he was a personable man who never forgot about the people in his home state of New Mexico.

“I remember a story where he was walking down Central Avenue in Albuquerque,” McDonald said. “He stopped and sat on a curb and shared a cigarette with an old lady. It was unheard of for a United States senator to do that.”

McDonald said she doesn’t remember much about being around her uncle, since he died when she was 14.

But she said Chavez was a big proponent of modern health facilities, national forests as well as Indian lands before his death at the age of 74.

“I am proud of all the things he did,” McDonald said. “It’s important that people don’t forget all the things he did for New Mexico.”

Dennis Chavez Elementary was named for U.S. senator

Submitted photo

DENNIS CHAVEZ helped to bring federal programs such as Sandia National Laboratories to New Mexico.

Page 58: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

8 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

PATRICIO DRIVE in Tomé was named for farmer Patricio Sanchez. Pictured are his extended family, from left, Boselo Sanchez, Bob Sanchez, Proceso Sanchez, Eva Marie Romero, Josie Sanchez, Sara Romero-Casias, Rosalie Sanchez and Sandra Sanchez.

Patricio Sanchez was the ‘greatest farmer in this valley’By CurT gusTafsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

toméPatricio Sanchez was just like a lot of other boys

who grew up in Los Chavez in the early 1900s. He was attracted to Tomé — a straight shot across the Rio Grande River — not because he was particu-larly enamored by the town itself, but because of its girls.

So, just like a lot of the other Los Chavez boys, he would hop on his horse and ride across the river to Tomé, a town where he would not only find his wife, Odelia, but make a permanent mark on the community.

A physically powerful man with a quick wit and a generous bent, Patricio was born to be a rancher. Throughout his life, he ranched his family’s land about 20 miles west of Los Chavez.

But he settled in Tomé, where he and his beloved wife farmed and ranched their own land, and where Patricio was always willing to share his farming equipment and his vast knowledge about working the land.

“He was a prominent member of the community,” said Joe Sanchez, a cousin to Odelia. “He helped a lot of people with farming. He helped me get started. I knew beans about farming, and now that’s what I do. He’d lend me his equipment. He’d say,

‘Go ahead, take it, use it,’ Very few people would let you use their equipment because it’s very expen-sive. He was a mentor.”

“I’ve run into some farmers who are still alive, who farmed in this area, and they expressed to me that he was the greatest farmer in this valley,” said daughter-in-law Sandra Sanchez. “He’s the one who had the best alfalfa, and he helped others get to that point.”

Much of the land in Tomé at the time was swampland, and Patricio was instrumental in help-ing farmers convert it to productive farmland, Sanchez said.

“He told them what to do and they did it and had productive land.”

“He would take his shirt off his back for any-body,” said Sara Romero-Casias, a cousin. “I’ve never known a man like that. If you told him you were having a problem digging a hole, next thing he’s out there with his tractor digging a hole for you. He was always right there, and he’d never take any money.”

In addition to his agricultural know-how, Patricio also had a stabilizing influence on the community.

“If there was a disagreement with somebody, he would say, ‘Time will pass, let it go. Make peace,’” Romero-Casias said.

“He was a very peaceful man.”

Submitted photo

PATRICIO SANCHEZ, and his wife, Odelia, met after he would ride his horse from Los Chavez across the river to Tomé.

Page 59: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 9

Reach For Your Dreams... School of Dreams Academy

Jason Brooks-News-Bulletin photo

DALIES AVENUE in Belen was named for Paul Dalies, the nephew of John Becker. Dalies was the vice-president of the Becker Co., which was eventually named Becker-Dalies.

Dalies was a businessman,educator and city clerk

By Jason w. BrooksNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BelenPaul Dalies was John Becker’s

nephew by marriage, the son of Meta Vielstich Dalies, the sister of Anna Vielstich Becker.

Dalies was born and raised in Ripon, Wis., alongside many other future Belenites with some connec-tion to the Beckers. He came to New Mexico in 1899 to work for John Becker, his uncle.

Dalies became such an important part of the Becker empire, he was named a vice president of the Becker company when it incorporated in 1903. His name became part of the store’s new name, Becker-Dalies, in 1928.

He was also vice president of the First National Bank of Belen, and president of the Belen Realty Co.

Dalies was also a trustee for the Belen Lutheran Church, served on

the first Belen school board, and was director of schools for eight years, and city clerk for 12 years.

He and his wife, Laura, had three children, including Dorothy Dalies.

Dalies put considerable effort into convincing Hispanic farmers to sell land for the railroad cutoff. He was a successful businessman who eventu-ally built a prairie-style home pat-terned after the one his family lived in back in Wisconsin, though his first Belen home was an adobe divided into four equal-size rooms.

Around 1915, Dalies and his wife took up a collection at the Lutheran Church for windows dedicated to the loved ones of the benefactors. The windows are estimated to be worth around $50,000 or more today.

Dalies’ brother, Carl, worked for the Becker company and later served in the Territorial Legislature before New Mexico achieved statehood.

Carl was chosen as Speaker of the House, but his career was cut short when died at a young age in 1910.

Page 60: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By DeBorah foxNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los lunAsKatherine Gallegos Elementary

School was named after a woman who was much more than an educator.

Sam Morerod, the school’s principal, said she has often been referred to as the “Mother Teresa of Los Lunas.”

Katherine Gallegos made sure the local children from disadvantaged families had winter coats, food, clothes, Christmas gifts and school supplies, even if that meant purchasing them her-self, which she often did.

Chester Skinner, the owner of Simon Neustadts, a local grocery and depart-ment store in Los Lunas, would give Gallegos “good prices on the coats,” said Ruth Perea, Gallegos’ youngest daughter.

“She could have been a rich woman, but she gave all her money away,” Katherine D’Assis, Gallegos’ grand-daughter said. “If she saw someone in need, she helped.”

Gallegos had four children, Julie Nesbit, her eldest daughter, Stephen Gallegos, Rosalie Douglas and Ruth Perea.

At 54-years old, Julie passed away from Leukemia. Rosalie married and moved to Arizona, and later earned her degree in psychology.

Stephen earned his doctorate in psy-chology and created a visualization technique that he teaches in workshops around Europe and the United States.

Ruth is retired from the Los Lunas Post Office and also from the Los Lunas and Isleta Police Departments. She recently ran for office in Los Lunas.

“She was a wonderful mom. She taught me to read when I was 2-years old,” Perea said. “Of course, she read to all of us.”

“Her grandchildren are all artists and teachers — there’s a lot of creativity in the family,” said D’Assis.

Born in Las Vegas, N.M., Gallegos was of Irish and English descent. Her family moved to New Mexico from Kentucky before she was born.

Her paternal grandfather had bought land in Las Vegas, and his son, Stephen Powers, became the Las Vegas water department supervisor.

Her mother, Neville Pendleton, met Stephen in Kentucky. They had a large family.

When Katherine was 19-years old, she moved in with her sister, Ruth Tondre, in Los Lunas, who was mar-ried to the sheriff. That’s when her career in education began.

“I believe she started out at a grade school in Los Lentes,” Ruth recalls.

Gallegos started teaching herself Spanish after moving to Los Lunas.

In 1927, she married Los Lunas resi-dent Eligio Gallegos.

“She fell in love with her husband when she first saw him,” said Julie. “She said he was the most handsome man she’d ever seen.”

He rode a white horse around Los Lunas. Horseback travel around the village was not uncommon in those days.

“How romantic,” croons great-grand-daughter Jessica.

“He looked like Tyrone Power,” added Perea.

Theirs was the first Anglo-Hispanic marriage in Los Lunas, and they were married for almost 60 years.

Gallegos had a quirky sense of humor.

“Sometimes when she would answer the phone she’d say, ’Hold on, I can’t hear you, let me get my glasses,’” said granddaughter Julie Eakin.

The school was built in 1990, and a “Name the School” petition was given to staff, students and par-ents who chose “the exemplary educator in the Los Lunas schools,”

the school’s recorded history states.When Gallegos gave a speech at the

dedication ceremony of the new ele-mentary school, she joked, “I thought you had to be dead to get such an honor.”

She served the Los Lunas school sys-tem for 60 years, teaching three genera-

tions of village citizens and serving as director of instruction.

Gallegos was the superintendent of the district elementary schools when Paul Sanchez was a child having a hard time in school.

Gallegos had a positive and lasting impact on the young boy.

“He had trouble in school, he had trouble reading, and she would take him to the library and offer him an ice cream if he would read a book,” said D’Assis. “She helped him stay inter-ested in school.”

Sanchez went on to become a teacher, and even worked for the teacher’s union for a while.

“He’s very prominent in education circles,” said Douglas. “I think he still works in the National Education Association.”

“He is currently the executive director of the American Embassy Association in Ghana, West Africa,” said D’Assis.

“There were many people around Los Lunas that she mentored and encour-aged to reach their full potential,” said Perea.

10 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Submitted photo

KATHERINE GALLEGOS ELEMENTARY School in Los Lunas was named for the longtime educator. This photograph is of the Gallegos family, including Gregorio Gallegos, his brother, Eligio, who is holding his son, Stephen, and wife, Katherine.

Katherine Gallegos served Los Lunas schools for 60 years

“He had trouble in school, he had trouble reading, and she would take him to the library and offer him an ice cream if he

would read a book.”KATHERINE D’ASSISGallegos’s granddaughter

Page 61: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 11

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Dana Bowley-News-Bulletin photo

THREE GENERATIONS of the descendants of Jose Gallegos gathered recently at the park that bears his name. From left are his son, Lawrence Gallegos; daughter, Jenny Gallegos Mascarena; great-grandaughter, Loren DeAnda; Lawrence’s wife, Gertrude Gallegos; granddaughter, Josephine DeAnda; and grandson, Brian Mascarena.

Jose Gallegos Park named for longtime Belen city employeeBy Dana BowleyNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

BelenThere can be no tribute greater than

one that comes from your friends and neighbors.

Such is the case with how the Belen Old Town Mini-Park at Aragon and Gabaldon roads was renamed Jose Gallegos Park.

While most public facilities are named for prominent individuals in the city, county or state, Jose Gallegos was not what you would call promi-nent.

Gallegos was a loyal and hard-working Belen city employee for more than 30 years, said his grandson, Brian Mascarena. But that’s not why the park was renamed in his honor.

“He lived right across the street,” Mascarena said during a recent visit to the park as he pointed out a modest home on its north side. “He was out here just about every day taking care of the park, pulling weeds, cleaning up, fixing things.

“He did it on his own time, he wasn’t getting paid for it, he just want-ed the park to stay nice.”

In 1995, while Mascarena was a member of the Belen City Council, neighbors around the park got together a petition asking the council to post-humously rename the park in honor of Jose Gallegos.

“The citizen petition was signed by all the neighbors,” Mascarena said. “I presented it to the council, and they voted to rename it.”

Gallegos has many descendants in Belen, including current City Councilor Wayne Gallegos, who is his nephew.

Many of Gallegos’ descendants live in the vicinity of the park, Mascarena said. Recently, six of them, represent-ing three generations of the family, gathered at the park for a photograph.

They noted that with recent Belen budget cuts and layoffs, the park is showing signs of needing some main-tenance.

“They need somebody like Jose,” one of them said.

Photo Courtesy of Brian Mascarena

THIS UNDATED FAMILY photo shows Jose Gallegos and his wife, Mercedes.

Page 62: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

12 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Submitted photo

CHESTER AND CRYSTAL CARPENTER bought 68 acres in what would become the village of Bosque Farms 28 years later. The land was part of the old Bosque Farms Project which was established after the Great Depression.

By Julia M. DenDingerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

Bosque FArmsWhen one thinks of settlers, the image

is usually one of long wagon trains tra-versing mountain ranges in raging storms and crossing blazing plains without the benefit of air conditioning.

But for one Bosque Farms family, their ancestors were among the original re-settlers that made the village of Bosque Farms what it is today. And they trekked all the way from Chughole Lane.

Walter Shoemaker lives on the corner of Esperanza Drive and West Bosque Loop. He has a view of the village hall, Bosque Farms Elementary and parts of his family’s old dairy.

In 1946, Shoemaker’s aunt, Crystal Carpenter, and her husband, Chester, bought 68 acres. The land was part of the

old Bosque Farms Project.When the Depression hit in 1929, many

local landowners were no longer able to keep up with their payments. Eduardo Otero, a wealthy landowner from Los Lunas, had bought the land in 1906 and resold small lots.

However, he had to repossess the land, and in 1934 sold 2,420 acres to the New Mexico Rural Rehabilitation Corp. The resettlement area was eventually taken over by the Federal Resettlement Administration, part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal, in 1935.

This project divided the Bosque Farms tract into 42 parcels of 40 to 80 acres in size. Forty-two families were chosen by a lottery in May 1935, and paid $140 per acre on forty-year mortgages. The Works Progress Administration funded the drainage trenches, homes, and roads, thus beginning the community of Bosque

Farms.Seventy-two families came from the

dust bowl areas of Taos and Harding counties to the tree covered swamps called the bosque during 1935. Many people kept right on moving, but 42 mod-ern pioneer families stayed.

Just over a decade later, one parcel of property became available, and the Carpenter’s applied for and got it.

According to their nephew, the Carpenters established a dairy on the property since it was one of the few agri-cultural uses that was successful in the alkaline soils. After several years as a dairyman, eventually Chester Carpenter leased the dairy to another local man.

But when Chester died, Shoemaker came to the same conclusion that many landowners in the area had.

“I was doing the farming of all the property,” Shoemaker said. “Unfortunately, you could make more

money using the land for houses than for farming.”

The family began subdividing the land in 1988, and watched houses go up where fields had once been.

Shoemaker said when development began, it was his request that the road going south off Esperanza Drive be named after the family who had owned the land. Now, Carpenter Drive stretches from Esperanza all the way to the remaining 10.5 acres that Shoemaker still farms.

The original property ran from Esperanza south to just north of what is now Harris Ave. and sat between West Bosque Loop and the irrigation ditch.

“It was my request to name the road after the family,” he said. “When you do a subdivision, the municipality asks you if you have a name preference for the road they insist you put in.”

Carpenter Drive named for pioneer family in Bosque Farms

Julia Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo

WALTER SHOEMAKER, is the nephew of the couple Carpenter Drive is named after. He, along with his son, still farms 10.5 acres of the original acreage purchased by his aunt and uncle for a dairy farm.

Page 63: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

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October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 13

Curt Gustafson-News-Bulletin photo

FABIAN PADILLA, the great-grandson of Luis Padilla, stands by the road sign named in honor of the man who built the altar in the Immaculate Conception Church in Tomé.

By CurT gusTafsonNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

toméThe Padilla family established its roots

farming in the Tomé area, but were then driven out during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt.

The family settled in San Lorenzo, near El Paso, with the intention of returning to Tomé when the time was right.

During the second half of the 1800s, 13-year-old Luis Padilla left his family, which included his father, also named Luis, to make the trek back to his ances-tral homeland.

As recorded by Father J.B. Ralliere, the longtime late priest at the Immaculate Conception Church in Tomé, the boy made his way through the desert riding on “the back of a tame ram of great size.”

“The priest took him in and sort of adopted him,” said Fabian Padilla, Luis’ great grandson. “He taught him to play musical instruments and also taught him carpentry. He was so good at carpentry that he surpassed what anybody else could do around here.”

Luis became such an expert at carpen-try that he built the altar in the church and some confessionals.

“Carpenters today look at the altar and say, ‘If I were to build it, I wouldn’t know

where to start,’” Fabian said. “It’s got such a shape that they don’t know how he did it.”

He became such a legend that his tools are now housed in the church’s museum.

Luis married and had a son, named Luis Roberto, who acquired more than 100 acres of land and became a great farmer.

“Luis Roberto was a good carpenter, but he did better as a farmer and ranch-er,” Fabian said.

“My grandfather was a go-getter, and that’s one of the reasons why people around here didn’t like him very much. He was the first one in this area to buy a flatbed truck and start hauling hay to the dairies in Albuquerque in the ’20s,” Fabian said.

Fabian purchased the sod home his great-grandfather and grandfather built, and is farming some of his ancestral land, having learned the trade by working the fields with his grandfather.

Out of respect for the three generations of Luis Padillas, after buying the home in 1972, Fabian applied to name a road that runs through the property Don Luis.

“Don is a title of respect,” Fabian said. “We were taught that the older people like your grandparents you would call don or dona as a matter of respect.”

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Page 64: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

By BrenT ruffnerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

JArAlesGil Sanchez was a pillar of the community. He was a father, business owner, city councilor,

magistrate and school board member in the Belen area for the greater part of 30 years.

The school district named an elementary school after him that was built along Jarales Road in 1976, according to current school officials.

The Valencia County Older American Program also named its cafeteria after Sanchez in a room that is called Gil’s Diner.

Sanchez was probably best known around town for his eatery, Gil’s Bakery and Restaurant, a red brick building that gathered the community at Main Street and Reinken Avenue starting in the 1940s.

“It was a fun place,” said Regina Elkins, his daughter. “We all worked there. The sweets were good. It’s a wonder we don’t all weigh 200 pounds.

Elkins, a tennis coach at Belen High School, said she remembers her dad rolling dough for potato bread in an establishment that served anything from enchiladas to pancakes.

She described Sanchez as generous, and said he wanted to keep people in the community working. She said he was very engaged in people’s lives and related well to what people were going through.

“He was a people person,” Elkins said. “He loved the community and helped everyone and their dog get a job.”

But Elkins said her father was heavily involved with education with his position as a school board member in the 1950s.

“My mom and dad only had high school diplo-mas, but always encouraged people to get an educa-tion.”

Gil’s oldest son, Raymond, said his father helped get new schools built under his leadership with the school district.

Raymond Sanchez, a former speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives, described his father as “a phenomenal individual” who helped make Main Street in Belen a wonderful place.

In the ’50s and ’60s, Belen businesses thrived from the railroad in a town that saw celebrities pass through Gil’s Bakery.

He said he remembers helping his father in the early morning when other bakers failed to show up.

But there were good times too.“It was a meeting place,” Sanchez said. “Anybody

and everybody would stop there from celebrities to high politicians. I remember one day I saw Sonny Liston in there.”

Sanchez said he looked up to his father, who inspired him to go after his own career in politics. He said politicians from both sides would have their respective tables and met cordially each day.

“I remember my father would meet and visit with people in his office,” Sanchez said. “Everyone was always laughing and having a good time.”

14 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo

GIL SANCHEZ ELEMENTARY in Jarales was named for the former school board member in 1976. Sanchez owned Gil’s Bakery and Restaurant in Belen, where all his chil-dren worked. His children said their father loved the community and helped them get a job.

Elementary school named for the late Gil Sanchez

Submitted photo

ALONG WITH BEING a business owner, Gil Sanchez was a school board member, a magistrate and a city councilor.

Page 65: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

October 30, 2010 • Valencia County News-Bulletin • Locals 2010: Heritage • 15

By Tiffini PorTerNews-Bulletin Staff [email protected]

los lunAs

Tondre Road is a beautifully, tree-lined street running east and west off of N.M. 314 in Los Lunas, crossing Don Pasqual Road about a mile north of Katherine Gallegos Elementary before dead-ending at the ditch.

Joseph Frank Tondre and his wife, Josephine, both children of French immigrants, met and mar-ried in Washington, Iowa.

The couple and their four children moved to Isleta, where Archbishop Jean Baptiste Lamy sug-gested they settle. They started a trading post, but when Joseph died of tuberculosis soon after they moved to Isleta, Josephine continued to run the store alone.

Josephine acted as a banker on the Isleta Pueblo, and it was because of her efforts that the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad was able to secure a right of way through pueblo land. Josephine was much respected in the pueblo.

Joseph and Josephine’s grandson, Joseph F. Tondre III, was born in Isleta on Feb. 26, 1883, but was raised in Los Lentes.

Growing up with close ties to the Isleta Pueblo, Joseph’s first language was Tewa, the native lan-guage of Isleta.

He then learned Spanish in the one-room adobe school he attended with five other local boys. In all, Tondre spoke five languages, including German

and French.Joe, as he was called, would later become a high-

ly respected member of the Los Lunas community. Tondre served at the county sheriff, a U.S.

Marshal, and was a member of the Los Lunas School Board for at least 20 years.

He was chairman of the Republican Party of Valencia County and ran for governor and lieuten-ant governor, and was sometimes known as “Mr. Republican.”

Tondre was also a successful businessman and, eventually, along with his brother-in-law, Frank Davila, bought the Simon Neustandt General Store in Los Lunas.

In 1928, Tondre was the president of the Los Lunas School Board and presented diplomas to the first four graduates of the newly-constructed Solomon Luna High School in Los Lunas.

Tondre married Ruth Powers, and the couple had five children, Joseph IV, Anne, Patsy, Ruthie, and Katy.

Anne Williams is the only one of Joe and Ruth’s children who remained in the area, and her oldest son, Tony, is a water rights attorney, who still lives on the Tondre Estate that was purchased in 1917 from Demetrius Vallejos.

Tony’s two children, Emily and Justin Williams, grew up in Los Lunas and currently reside in Albuquerque.

Tondre died in 1968, and is buried in the Los Lentes Cemetery.

Tondre was a lawman, politician and LL businessman

Photo courtesy of the Los Lunas Museum of Arts and Heritage

JOE TONDRE served as county sheriff, U.S. Marshal, and school board president in Los Lunas. The Tondre family was well-known in Los Lunas and Joe was often referred to as “Mr. Republican.

Page 66: Valencia County News-Bulletin: Locals 2010

16 • Locals 2010: Heritage • Valencia County News-Bulletin • October 30, 2010

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