Index Index
About Us
Pg.1
Introducing Around SoCo
Pg.2
Looking Forward to Life
Pg.3
Fresh Air Fishing is Fun
Pg.4
Hot Tips Staying Hot When it’s Cold
Pg.6
The College Spot Trinidad State Junior College Spring Fest
Pg.7 Sports On Course and Up to Par Pg.9 Horoscopes Pg.10
Hall of Fame Thank You Pioneer Natural Resources
Pg.13
Delicious Dishes
Pg.14
Healthy Living Common Winter Ailments
Pg.15
Over The Pass
Pg.17
Business Spotlight The Family that Works Together Suceeds Together
Pg.18
Paw News Noah’s Ark is the Newest Petsmart Charities Rescue Waggin Partner!
Pg.18
New Views Too much of a good thing?
Pg.19
Art and Music Veteran’s Tribute
Pg.20
Family Time A Novel Destination
Pg.22 Government January is National Radon Month Pg.23
Trinidad Treasures Living in the Trinidad Area for Over 100 Years
ON THE COVER Gianna and Whitney Torres sporting the latest in Winter fashion! ….. See Style & Beauty Cover Background Image Courtesy of Mike Tranter Photography Josh Cordova, 16, has good advice for young and old alike. Read Josh’s story “Looking Forward to Life!”
A Word from the Editor…
We want to thank everyone for all the support and positive feedback we received last year. We now have 8,000 readers per month online and 4,000 that read our printed magazines each month. There are 8,000 viewers reading our news on www. aroundtrinidad.com every week. Don’t rely on a Facebook notice, we post new stories and breaking news every day. Around Trinidad is growing and we want you to grow with us. We will be covering our neighbors in Northern New Mexico in every issue and an even wider audience in our monthly Around SoCo magazine. We are excited to report we will have several new businesses opening in Trinidad. Read our Business Spotlight in each issue to hear about new or expanded local businesses. Please send us your news, stories and ideas to info@aroundtrinidad.com or mail them to 1513 Arizona Ave, Trinidad, Colorado 81082. If you don’t see an article on our website or in our magazine that you think should be there…It’s because you didn’t tell us about it! E.R.A McCarthey
Our Mission… Around Trinidad is focused on bringing the community together and building relationships with the people, the businesses, organizations, government, educational institutions and the community as a whole. Our focus is to provide local information so our residents can rediscover their hometown and visitors can see it SHINE!
About US… Everything AroundUS and Merged Media, the parent companies of Around Trinidad, can help with internet strategies such as customized website design, traffic, search engine optimization, articles, banners, links, and web site validation. We also offer traditional marketing services such as branding, product design, print media, audio and video. Our companies offer more opportunities for local businesses by promoting events and social activities in the community. We take the world around us and bring it to you! Everything AroundUS pushes social networking to the next level by using our platform to promote businesses with giveaways, social activities and exciting events! Our team merges the virtual elements of social networking with traditional promotions to give businesses the ultimate marketing experience. Everything AroundUS brings the community together and builds value for local businesses and services by helping people access everything the area has to offer. We use the power of one communication platform to highlight the fun and excitement around us.
AROUND TRINIDAD CREDITS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/OWNER E.R.A. McCarthey ART & DESIGN DIRECTOR/OWNER Jay Martinez EXECUTIVE MANAGING EDITOR Marty Hackett FEATURES DIRECTOR David J. Santistevan Jr. Around Trinidad has been funded by Merged Media and Everything AroundUS. It was built by Jay Martinez, E.R.A. McCarthey, David J. Santistevan Jr., Marty Hackett and many lovely people in the Trinidad Community.
INDEX
Introducing Around SoCo… coming your way February 2013 Around Trinidad magazine is excited to announce that after 4 months and 9 issues we have received so much positive feedback that we can officially consider the venture a SUCCESS! In addition to the many praises we have gratefully and proudly received, we have also been approached to represent other communities as well. To that end, we are happy to announce that Around Trinidad is expanding, and we have reached a decision to add a second publication and website to represent Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico – Around SoCo! In the same manner that Around Trinidad has spotlighted areas in Las Animas County, Around SoCo will cover the regional area of Southern Colorado including communities along Interstate 25 and the Santa Fe Trail south into Northern New Mexico. This new publication and website are aimed at promoting the families, businesses, organizations, educational institutions, government and other aspects of our communities so we are shown in the best possible light. As business members of this community, we are aware of the economic hardships that we all face and we want to work together with community leaders and residents to help ensure the future is prosperous for us all. We
understand that to keep our communities viable, we need to work together, to market our region and present it in a positive manner as a place where one would love to live, work, visit, shop and enjoy life. The Around SoCo magazine will be the place to feature your events and your stories with useful information for residents and visitors alike highlighted with exciting color and quality!
The main features of the magazine will include a centerfold map of the region, a section to highlight all the things to do in the area, feature stories for visitors specifically and other feature sections to include government, style and beauty, health, education, pets and technology. There will be codes and apps to interact with your mobile devices and much, much more! Website features will include links to your site, calendars, free classified advertising, announcements and more… To be successful as a reflection of our area, we invite you to send your contributions of news, events and content for our feature pages. The magazine is FREE and will be distributed throughout the region in key locations and will also be available on the Around SoCo and Around Trinidad websites to view digitally. However, if you wish to have
the issues mailed directly to your home, there is a subscription rate to cover costs. Around SoCo will be the place where your advertising dollars will have the best return on investment; surrounded by positive articles and fun features that will not end up under the neighbor’s dog or bird but a timeless piece that can be proudly displayed on a coffee table, in the workplace break room or physician’s waiting room. Now you can get the word out about your business or event in a colorful and creative way with a classy and exciting piece to represent you! The website combines the virtual elements of social networking with traditional promotions to give businesses the ultimate marketing experience. It is a forum where anyone can access everything the area has to offer, using the power of one communication platform to highlight all the activities that surround us! Visit www.AroundSoCo.com to see all of the Around Trinidad magazine issues and see what the new website has to offer. Together we can secure the successful future of our region!
Looking Forward to LIFE By Marty Hackett Just a little over a year ago 15 year old Josh Cordova was beginning his first year of high school. He was a typical teenager who liked to hunt, fish, ride dirt bikes and spend time with his friends. He liked to horse around with his little brother PJ and help out his dad as he worked on family vehicles. Being an average American family they also liked to attend school sporting events together, where Josh would go off to hang out with his friends. Things changed Homecoming week in September of 2011. His mother and father, Pam and Paul Cordova, found it rather odd that Josh chose to sit with the family. “He was almost like, clingy,” Pam said. In the days that followed, Josh’s appetite wasn’t quite normal and he complained of a sore throat, “he had a blister on his soft palate,” his mom explained. She took him to the doctor to check for strep. Negative. The sore throat continued and he was given antibiotics. No results! As the days passed, his sore throat worsened until eventually he couldn’t even swallow water and nothing he ate or drank stayed down. Then they noticed a bump near his right ear. Josh’s doctor requested a blood test. “The numbers were off and so several other tests were run,” explained his mom. By this time the family knew there was something not right. A CT scan and MRI were ordered. “You always hear about it,” Josh’s father Paul said, but you can’t imagine what it’s like.” His son had been diagnosed with cancer. The tests showed that the bump by Josh’s ear was a cancerous tumor. “It’s called Rhabdomyosarcoma,” Josh said, pronouncing easily the big word that is nearly bigger than his 90 lb. frame, his dad adding that it was an aggressive cancer that affects muscle tissue. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare type of tumor that mostly affects children and its exact cause is unknown. The vast majority of children diagnosed have no known risk factors. The most common
symptom is a lump that may or may not be painful. Early diagnosis is important because it is an aggressive tumor that spreads rapidly. Given the diagnosis on a Friday, by Monday, Josh was checked in and being treated at Children’s Hospital in Denver. Chemotherapy treatments began immediately following the diagnosis. While most of his treatments could have normally been performed as an outpatient, “Josh was so sick, he would have to stay for 8-9 weeks at a time,” his dad explained. He had 51 weeks of chemo,” added mom. The radiation, which didn’t begin until March 2012, was five days a week for six weeks. “I lay in bed for six months without doing anything,” Josh said. “I was so sick and in so much pain!” On days when he was feeling up to it he was able to watch TV or play Xbox. “He got every side effect that came with it,” Pam said as she looked at her young son with tears in her eyes. There were times when he was totally maxed out on the amount and strength of medication he could take. Fevers raged from time to time and on one occasion he was flown back to Children’s via Flight for Life just after he had come home to rest. A total of a year of Josh’s life was spent being treated at Children’s Hospital in the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders where the staff are known for “going beyond medicine.” Every aspect of their service is tailored to kids and their clinical, physical and emotional needs. Josh made many friends, had a favorite nurse named Claire who had a twin sister that teamed up with her to play tricks on Josh. His new friends came and went, but one young lady, also from Trinidad, who was also a patient at Children’s being treated for Lupus, made the long journey with Josh. Mychaela’s (Vecellio) favorite quote is “Life is tough, but I am Tougher!” Josh’s dad had similar advice for Josh. “He was very, very strong and I told him from the very beginning, “Josh, it’s gonna be all upon you, bud. Be as strong as you can. Fight as hard as you can!” his father prompted him through the battle. “At times it was real bad,” added his mom, “but he stayed positive and he made us strong!” His many friends back in Trinidad said their prayers, some visited him in the hospital, but one big event that meant the world to the Cordova family was when the Trinidad High School Miner
Band stopped at Children’s while they were in Denver for State competition. They played for him in the Atrium of the hospital and it was televised on two different news channels! How does that compare with a visit from Tim Tebow who also visited and took the time to pose for pictures and leave Josh with an autograph? Well, let’s say they were pretty big events along Josh’s bumpy road. “We met a lot of nice people along the way,” Pam said, gratefully adding that the people back home were “awesome!” Fundraisers and donations helped the family meet medical expenses and stay afloat as they went from a two person income, to one, his father often also having to take time off to be with his son and deal with the stress of being separated. “Going through this makes you look at life so much differently,” said his mom. Paul added, “A lot of things you didn’t used to care about –you care about now and there’s now other things that just aren’t important at all anymore!” This year for Homecoming, Josh made it to the Homecoming dance. Both he and Mychaela happened to be home and “feeling good” and they went together. Soon after, the family received really good news! In October doctors told him he was cancer free. He will have to undergo scans every three months for the next two years which are the most critical. If he remains cancer free for 5 years, there is a 98% chance that it won’t come back! In the meantime, he is concentrating on healing, regaining his strength, gaining weight by enjoying some of his favorite foods, like chili, steak, and enchiladas, concentrating on the few hours a day of schoolwork, being able to fill his cow elk tag, and being able to be healthy enough to fulfill his Make A Wish Foundation that was granted. Josh and his family are now facing forward, praying that the cancer fight is truly won. The child who gave up a year of his life to learn one of life’s hardest lessons offers advice to his friends. “Never take anything for granted!” Photos courtesy of Cordova family
FRESH AIR Fishing is Fun Purgatoire River Improvement Project moving forward to Stage 3 By Marty Hackett A recent economic study found that fishing recreation annually contributes more than $1.2 billion to Colorado’s economy through direct and secondary expenditures. The average daily expenditures of resident anglers is $67 per day when fishing, while nonresidents spend nearly $120 per day. Fishing recreation supports more than 14,500 jobs statewide The local Trout Unlimited Group-Purgatoire Anglers is helping to improve the fishing recreation opportunities in Trinidad. The next phase of the groups project to improve the Purgatoire River recreation area is engaging is in the permitting and planning stage for March 2013. Stage 3 is the “Reach 5” Boulevard Addition being planned for 2014. The final objective is to improve the health of the Purgatoire River and its fishery; restoring the river, from the Trinidad Lake State Park dam through the town of Trinidad to the Highway 160 bypass—approximately 4 ¾ miles of river. The chapter’s effort will also involve public education and awareness through river walks, a stream cleanup day and fly-fishing classes. Recently added to their programs is a fly-tying class for beginners and novices alike.
BE HEARD Around Trinidad was created to feature the people, places, and events of Trinidad and the surrounding areas. Be Heard is our section to feature stories and announcements sent to us. In this section you can announce births, engagements, marriages, loss of loved ones, family reunions, anything YOU feel is important. You can email your news to info@ aroundtrinidad.com or mail it to 1513 Arizona Ave, Trinidad CO 81082. Include photos if you like. If you have ideas for our “Hall of Fame,” “Business Spotlight,” or any other section send those to us as well. Please login to our website and use the free platform; we created for you. Thank you for making Around Trinidad a positive and exciting highlight of our community.
An Embrace-a-Stream Grant from National Trout Unlimited was submitted by the Chapter for matching funds to support the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing is Fun Grant Proposal. The City of Trinidad is taking the lead in the Fishing is Fun Grant, which is due March 1. Trout Unlimited and other community partners will submit letters of support for this proposal and the Chapter will pledge volunteer support of the project. The Fishing Is Fun program provides up to $900,000 in matching grants annually to local and county governments, park and recreation departments, water districts, angling organizations and others for projects to improve angling opportunities in Colorado.
For nearly 25 years, the Fishing Is Fun program has supported more than 270 angling improvement projects across the state, from the smallest towns on the Eastern Plains and the West Slope to the major metropolitan areas along the Front Range. In just the last few years, grants have been awarded for projects in Sterling, Durango, Eads, Craig, Idaho Springs, Olathe, Florence, Thornton and nearly two dozen other locations. Project sponsors have included open-space programs, water trusts, angling organizations, local and county governments and park and recreation departments. Project sponsors must provide nonfederal matching funds or in-kind contributions equal to at least 25 percent of the total project cost. Match in excess of the 25 percent minimum is encouraged and will help make a project more competitive in the review and ranking process; historically, project partners have provided roughly 40 percent of project costs. Project grants have ranged from $2,500 to $400,000, with an average of $85,000. Program announcements are typically made in late November, with proposals due at Parks and Wildlife area offices by early March. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to contact their local District Wildlife Manager or Aquatic Biologist for their input into the proposal prior to submittal. A review panel meets in early May for project presentations and to develop funding recommendations. A final list of projects and funding is approved by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director by mid-June. Fishing Is Fun funding comes from the federal Sport Fish Restoration Program, and projects are subject to federal reporting, compliance and accounting requirements. Grant funds are provided on a reimbursement basis; no “up-front” funding is provided. Trout Unlimited’s grassroots members work tirelessly to protect and restore the Nation’s cold-water resources so that they will exist for generations to come so everyone can find out the Fishing is Fun! (Photo credit: B&W photo of Jim Muzzulin – Ken Iwamasa. Color photo by Joanie Muzzulin)
eauty B d HOT STIPS n a tyle Staying Hot When it’s Cold
3.
Platforms By far the coolest boot invention in my book. You can still gain 6 inches, have the posture only heels can give you and walk in the snow.
4.
Fur Fur trimming adds softness and beauty to winter boots. Many brands make boots with gorgeous faux trim if you refuse to wear the real stuff.
5.
Exotic Prints Some would argue that exotic prints are constantly moving in and out of good fashion but I don’t agree. What could be sexier than using the print of powerful, beautiful, graceful animals? It’s all about subliminal messages. I am lucky enough to have found thigh-high and leopard printed platform boots.
6.
Your Style Regardless of whatever I like or what trends are popular the most important tip when choosing winter boots; Your Style. Nothing is more gorgeous than the smile on a woman who feels good about herself. Choose what you’re comfortable wearing that also makes you feel beautiful.
By E.R.A. McCarthey
Unfortunately for all of us with terrible fetishes for platform spike-heeled shoes, it is impractical to use anything but boots in Trinidad until the snow leaves. I know, many in town watch me try but it is always a little more work than it’s worth. Thank goodness they make extremely sexy boots so I don’t have to feel too encumbered by winter fashion. Here are the latest boot trends for this year. 1.
2.
High Boots High boots, especially thigh high, are always a sexy option. They have an even better purpose. They allow you to wear lovely flowing dresses and fun short skirts without getting frostbitten legs. However, if you choose thighhighs and a short skirt, make sure the day isn’t one of those extremely windy ones. You can still get too cold from pesky drafts. Bright Color Color is life. If it is too daunting to use more than black clothing because of a hectic schedule, you can get your color fix by wearing vibrant colored boots, hats, gloves and scarves.
Trinidad State Junior College Spring Fest Spring Fest is an annual event at Trinidad State Junior College that provides the opportunity for any high school student – primarily juniors and seniors – to network with business professionals from the community as well as the chance to “try on” many of the programs of study offered at our institution. In addition, each participating high school senior will receive an automatic “Red Carpet Scholarship” towards his/her tuition at TSJC. This year, Spring Fest will be on March 13, 2013. More information about registration will be available shortly with school counselors and online at www.trinidadstate.edu. You can also learn more by contacting Ashleigh Ackerman at 719-846-5622. The business community is invited to join us as a vendor for our Career Expo. For information, please contact Daniel Wilson at 719-846-5567. Photos courtesy Mike Salbato
The College SPOT www.TrinidadState.edu
pg 06
On Course and Up to Par By Doc Leonetti
The Trinidad Municipal Golf Course, a place as scenic as any other, faultless in its care, a place of serenity, not only is striking, but also a track that presents a genuine challenge for any avid player. The golf course reposes just a stone throw west of Country Club Drive in the southeastern part of town. The surrounding mountain vistas from the fairways and tee boxes are unparalleled. The view of the Sangre de Christo range from the number two and eleven tee boxes are absolutely breath-taking. This writer-golfing hacker has played hundreds of courses all over the country and several across the world. Without question, Trinidad’s Muny is as well maintained as any other golf course I have ever seen. For a nine-hole track, voted number one by the Colorado Golf Association, it is the best of the very best. Guido Pachelli, Superintendent of Greens, and assistant Dave Holman are the catalysts who insure that Trinidad’s diamond-in-the-rough maintains its impeccable and storied reputation. “I enjoy the work, all the people I meet on the job, and the sport,” said Pachelli who was hired as a laborer just out of high school in 1978. Pachelli replaced Bob Barron as Greens Superintendent the following year. “I learned how to maintain our course hands on, asking people in the industry a million questions over the years. I learned the job through trial and error. If I didn’t know a solution to solving a work problem, I would go and find an answer and there were a lot of them; mowing, fertilizing, aerating, maintaining our complicated irrigation system, and just nurturing the course in general.” Holman has assisted Pachelli since 1983 while still a freshman at Trinidad High School, working at the golf course under the auspices of the Rocky Mountain SER program for two years and has been there ever since. “Guido has been my only boss,” said Holman. “I love working at the golf course. I’m outdoors every day and it’s beautiful up here. It’s all I’ve ever done. I’ve sure learned a lot about golf course maintenance, and Guido is a great teacher. I look forward to coming up here and going to work too.” Soon after Pachelli was employed at the course, he took up the sport of golf and spends some of his spare time playing with a group of his buddies. Personal time is sparse for the maintenance master, as keeping course conditions up to par entails working weekdays as well as weekends, particularly when the Trinidad Golf Association is hosting a tournament. “Every day is a great adventure,” added Pachelli. “Nothing is the same up here. There is always some kind of new problem to solve, to work on. We just have to adapt. I’m sure happy to have Dave working with me. He’s the best ever, a fantastic employee and a superb worker. His personal life is just work. He thrives on that.”
The golf course, constructed in the 1920s under the design of renowned golf architect Donald Ross who also designed the Broadmoor Golf Course in Colorado Springs, automated its sprinkling system in 1995. The irrigation system is aided by an onsite weather station that monitors ‘evaportranspiration,’ a process that entails the evaporation of water from the soil and transpiration of water from plants into the air. When this daily E.T. is calculated, the sprinkler run times are adjusted to return only the amount of water which was used and lost in the previous 24-hour period. “Our automated sprinkling system is a tremendous asset and a great water conservation tool,” said Pachelli. “As with all things, age will take its toll. We are at a point now that we are going to have to replace 500 nozzles on the system. And everything is so expensive. The course needs other things too, like replacing aging equipment and fertilizing supplies. It is hard to keep up with so few funds available. In the past, we’ve had to send back fertilizer and things like that.” During the past summer golfing season, cyclic workers Javier Martinez and Shannon Daugherty were also hired to assist Pachelli in his neverending quest to maintain the best nine-hole golf course ever, a public municipal course that attracts hundreds of players from all over the state and country during the golfing season. Each summer, several players who compete in one of several TMGC tournaments interviewed by this writer will invariably relate their indelible impression of the pristine condition of the Trinidad Golf Course. The Memorial Day Tournament, as are the ever popular Latin Golf Tournament and the Azar Invitational, the API, and the Labor Day event are main attractions, bringing to the community hundreds of people and a huge boost for the economy of the Trinidad community. “We try to do the best we can with what we have to keep the course in the best shape we can to allow us to attract more local players and players from throughout the state and country,” concluded Pachelli. “The city has been so generous. They have helped us financially, and that really allows us to work the course into great shape.”
Primero Bulldogs Jr. High Basketball Schedule Saturday, Jan. 19 @ Des Moines 4 p.m. Thu & Sat. Jan. 24, 26 Hoehne Tour TBA Friday, Jan. 25 @ LaVeta 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 31 Gardner 4:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 @ Maxwell 4 p.m. Schedule times are girls’ start time with boys’ games to follow
Primero Bulldogs High School Basketball Schedule Friday, Jan. 18 MV/Moffat 4 p.m. Sat, Jan. 19 BYE Fri. Jan. 25 @ LaVeta 4 p.m. Sat. Jan. 26 Cotopaxi 1 p.m. Friday Feb. 1 @ Des Moines 5 p.m. Sat. Feb. 2 Creede 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8 @ Maxwell 4 p.m. Sat. Feb. 9 SCEC 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15 @ Pritchett 4 p.m. Sat. Feb. 16 Centennial 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 @ Manzanola 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22 @ MV/Moffat 4 p.m. Sat. Feb. 23 Pueblo West 5 p.m.
Photo by Doc Leonetti
Feb. 26 District Round 1; March 1 & 2 District Semis & Finals; March 8 & 9 Regionals; March 14-16 State
Sports
Weekly Horoscopes Aries
The year starts off dynamically. You will try to succeed everywhere and in everything. Remember the most important thing - family. If you strive too hard for success you will not have time for love. Do not be surprised if your loved one starts looking at you sideways! Work, work and more work will start in January for you. If you are seeking a job you are not afraid but you will make a big mistake if you target easy or uncertain modes of action. Prepare for a lot of expenses. They are not directly related to you but pertain to family members or relatives. At the end of the month you may have some great investment options, use them. Dress for the weather and you will feel well and have energy.
Taurus
In the early days of 2013 your mind may be invaded by a bunch of existential questions such as: what is achieved and how to proceed? It would be good to take some time for a more detailed analysis of your desires and capabilities. Consider whether it is better to restore abandoned relationships and friendships. If you make a mistake or offend someone now is the time to forgive and start fresh. In January you will not have much opportunity for career advancement, but in contrast, you will have success in love. Try to stay grounded and not empty your bank account over tender feelings. Your main costs are likely to be associated with unexpected trips and will have more to do with work than with fun but that does not mean that you lack entertainment. Make sure to stabilize your immune system to prevent health troubles. Vitamin C is always helpful.
Gemini
Already in the first days of the year you will again have an overwhelming desire for new experiences and activities. Naturally, fresh experiences will create new contacts but still require some time to maintain the tone. You will be able to recover some problematic relationships, accepting the negatives. In January you will often be invited to various social events, which may not be quite as exciting but will be useful for your professional advancement. Your health is stable but because you are very distracted it is possible to endure a trauma or injury.
Cancer
Bearing in mind that you are usually not satisfied with present achievements and you are sufficiently ambitious, January can launch a variety of things. The first and easiest would be to clarify the meaning and purpose of your life, from there things will be easier. If you target a new love everything else will go into the background. However, if you have such an interest, don’t forget the professional sphere. You may not change jobs but you can apply a new method of working. Do not worry about your finances. In terms of health, you may struggle with mild pain in the joints and bones but they are not insurmountable.
Leo
Holiday cheer will easily leave you. At the beginning of the year you feel heavy with a slight laziness and there is nothing you can do for it. You feel this way because of the large amount and intensity of work you handled at the end of 2012. In fact, no need to hurry. Savor pleasant emotions and assess your expectations for the near future. In January, you can act in a more moderate pace. Your financial situation is stable for now. If nothing urgent occurs, you can even organize a short trip to a ski resort or abroad – you fully deserve such entertainment. Your health will not give you any problems unless you inadvertently get a viral infection.
Virgo
The year promises to have a very emotional start. In January there will be tears of joy and tears of sadness. This will be a huge turning point. Some Virgos will fall more deeply in love and others will have ceased to love and experience a dramatic separation. Well, you wanted change but will you like it... Emotions are emotions but work is work so be careful not to mix the two. You will receive praise every day. Spending in January will be mainly related to small gifts. Take some time for sports - fitness, swimming, skiing. It will affect not only your health but also your mood.
Libra
It’s a new year and time to think about your personal development and raise your level of living. This means you should concentrate on your duties. When you put your mind to it you are unrivaled in your diligence and hard work - you are able to work 14 hours a day! Excessive work, however, may cause discontent and quarrels with loved ones and family members. You will be accused of not giving enough attention. You will cope easily as additional work will bring additional pay. Organize your free time and some will cease to grumble. In addition to increased salary, you may receive an unexpected bonus or commission. Your health is stable but you may have an incidental problem with your eyes.
Scorpio
All is well that ends well but if something was not finished well at the end of last year then now is the time to fix it. Think about your relationships - is there someone with whom you are in conflict or for some reason your relationship has cooled? If you answered positively hurry to correct the situation because the painful guilt will spoil your good mood. In January you continually feel the power of love. Even people that are business associates will show you good feelings. This should not surprise you and try to react appropriately to avoid offending them with your indifference. There may be an interesting opportunity for a new and promising investment. If you do not have the necessary funds you can seek a loan from a bank. You’ll get relatively favorable conditions. If you happen to have any health problems arise they are more related to your diet instead of something more serious.
Sagittarius
While others have fun you are thinking and working. You can’t change this, it’s your nature! In January you will meet many new people. Almost the same amount of business and informal contacts will occur but they tend to be temporary and perishable. In other words, do not rely on new business partners and do not put too much into new romances. At the workplace you will have problems with the boss or colleagues but you will welcome these distractions because it will give you an opportunity to unleash your potential. Do not start a job unless you have previously agreed on a fee. At the end of the month your financial situation will be unstable. If you are working too much, not eating and not getting enough sleep you will have health problems.
Capricorn
You always think ahead, always make plans months before hand… you organize your world. In January the situation will be different. You know your goals and you have a concept for achieving them. Control the process and sleep peacefully. You may be bombarded with all sorts of whims and demands. If not countered immediately, you will simply be walked all over! The atmosphere at work is unlikely to be completely relaxed. Be patience and stay away from intrigues. As for your health do not expect any serious problems. You may exacerbate chronic leg pain.
Aquarius
Enjoy life - the future is yours. You are broadminded and problems do not trouble you much, as always you find some great original way to overcome them. During January you will deal with difficulties caused by friends. Before offering the one you love collaboration consider how this will affect your intimate relationships. The bedroom and the office are different rooms where different emotions coexist! If you combine them you have every right to be proud of your genius. You will probably find sponsors or grants for a new business or project, which will reflect beautifully on your finances. Do not miss the opportunity but do not overdo it with requests. Those of you who are experiencing strange allergies need to try and clarify the cause.
Pisces
For you, the holidays are a temporary phenomenon and quite boring. You feel best when you have enough dynamic activity. If the workplace is too quiet for you nothing prevents you from gathering your family and tidying the entire home! Your family may not be happy but why be lazy, right... It is good to clear misunderstandings with your loved one and restore good relations at the beginning of the year. No one benefits from quarrels or scandals. They only make you both nervous. If your old job is already boring try searching for something more interesting. If you have loans – be quick to repay them. Skin problems may be associated with nervousness or liver complications. Find out what is causing the issue for you.
Get Your Daily Horoscope at www.AroundTrinidad.com
Trinidad Hall of FAME
Thank You Pioneer Natural Resources By Marty Hackett
For the past 8 issues of Around Trinidad magazine, Pioneer Natural Resources has sponsored pages featuring several organizations and programs in the Las Animas County Community: Trout Unlimited, Rural Philanthropy Days, the Trinidad Community Roundtable, the Purgatoire River Watershed, Veteran’s Day, GAP Program with SCCOG and API/COGA. Pioneer Natural Resources is highlighting so many good works but they have also made numerous
contributions and support to the businesses, institutions and organizations of the Raton Basin. For years they have supported the Trinidad and Las Animas County Chamber of Commerce and their many events including the Junior Achievement Program. Other educational support to the community includes granting educational scholarships for students to attend Trinidad State Jr. College, in addition to creating the Pioneer STEM Scholarship that is matched dollar-for-dollar by the STEM endowment fund which TSJC was awarded by the U.S. Department of Education.
issue.) And not to go without mention is the sponsorship of the Highway 12 trash pick-up where Pioneer employees can be seen with their neon vests and orange trash bags as a contribution to the betterment of the environment.
Pioneer support in the community also include sponsorship of the Trinidad Triggers baseball team (which we will be featuring soon in an upcoming
Photo courtesy PNR
Pioneer’s dedication to the community is obvious in the many ways they collaborate, contribute and have forged relationships with the organizations, government, business leaders and residents. Thank you Pioneer Natural Resources for investing in the success of our community!
pg 10
DELICIOUS DISHES Finding it hard to beat the chilly weather and fight off stubborn colds? Sit down with your family these winter months and enjoy a heartwarming bowl of authentic Mexico inspired Posole. Here are a few tips and tricks to help you start the New Year off warm, cozy and full from head to toe. Total Time: One hour and twenty-five minutes Prep Time: Fifteen minutes Cook Time: One hour and ten minutes Ingredients: 1 ½ lbs pork shoulder 2 garlic cloves, peeled 1 tablespoon cumin powder 1 white onion, chopped 2 tablespoons oil ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ teaspoon cayenne 2 tablespoons California chili powder 1 tablespoon salt ¼ teaspoon oregano 4 cups canned white hominy, drained and rinsed 3-5 cups pork broth, from cooked pork shoulder 1 cup canned diced green chili (optional) 2 whole fresh jalapenos, chopped Directions: 1.
(Prep) peel onion and garlic, chop the onion and two garlic cloves, chop the green chili and jalapenos (if you are using them), and get the hominy rinsed and drained. 2. Place the meat in a large saucepan and just cover with lightly salted water. 3. Add ½ chopped onion, 2 cloves chopped and peeled garlic, pepper, cumin, and oregano. 4. Bring to a boil over a medium heat, skim off any foam that rises, reduce heat, cover and simmer for 45 minutes. 5. Remove meat and broth, reserving both. 6. Sauté the remaining chopped onion and garlic in oil until translucent. 7. Add the remaining spices and stir for one minute. 8. Cut the reserved pork into 1 inch cubes and add to the pan. 9. Stir in canned hominy and 2-4 cups pork broth (if not enough pork broth, add some chicken stock and eyeball the amount you like), green chili and jalapeno (optional). 10. Cook at a simmer, covered, for about 45 minutes to an hour until pork and hominy are tender. 11. Degrease (skim) fat off the posole, salt to taste, and serve in soup bowls. Tips: This dish is amazing when garnished with: tons of lime or lemon, sliced radishes, cabbage (not red), or some warm corn tortillas. La comida era estupenda y la gente siempre hace un gran tiempo.
HEALTHY LIVING Common Winter Ailments What to watch out for during winter By Leonardo E. Lopez, Jr., RMT, MD Not only does the cold weather forecast the onset of the holiday season but it also heralds the beginning of the season for several common illnesses which you or your child might experience. Children aged 3 years and younger are more commonly affected by these illnesses, but anybody may contract them. Here are some of the more common conditions that are prevalent during the winter season, though some of the terms may not be that familiar.
The Common Cold Infectious agent: By far the most common cause for the common cold is the rhinovirus. Other causes include adenovirus, parainfluenza virus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Symptoms: Usually includes nasal congestion with watery nasal discharge. Over a few days, the nasal discharge often becomes thick with yellowish to greenish color. It may take as long as 10-14 days to resolve. Often the nasal discharge is accompanied by cough and then sore throat due to post-nasal drainage. Low-grade fever (not exceeding 100.4F), body aches and headache may also be present. When is it contagious? The first 2-3 days of the infection is the time when the number of the virus particles are highest in the secretion or nasal discharge. Remedy: Studies have shown that there is no benefit in giving over-the-counter cold remedies to children less than 5 years old. It is important to provide adequate fluids and rest. Cold mist may also help. You may give acetaminophen or ibuprofen to relieve some of the symptoms like fever, headache and body aches. It is important to remember though that ear infections as complications of the common cold are fairly common. If this were the case, then an antibiotic would be in order. Prevention Strategies: The virus is transmitted either by aerosol droplets (as generated when a person sneezes or coughs), direct contact with nasal secretion or with objects that have been touched by a person with the infection (the virus could survive for prolonged periods in inanimate objects). Frequent hand hygiene is therefore a key strategy for transmission prevention. Teach your children to cough or sneeze onto the crook of their elbows (cough in your wings). Use of disinfectant sprays has not been shown to be of significant benefit. When you visit the public places, avoid reading magazines or handling toys (especially during the winter). You should bring your own instead.
Influenza Infectious agent: There are three strains of influenza, named A, B, and C. The epidemic disease is caused by either Influenza A or B. Symptoms: The classical presentation of flu usually presents after a short 2-3 day incubation period. It typically includes sudden onset fever (usually between 102.2-104.0; higher in smaller children and milder in adults) associated with chills, generalized body weakness, muscle and joint aches. Subsequent to this, nasal congestion, runny nose and cough become prominent.
Approximately one-half of patients with the respiratory symptoms complain of sore throat, which is associated with a very red back of the mouth without any pus. There may also be abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. In some cases, it may just present like a common cold or a febrile illness with very few respiratory symptoms. Severe manifestations of influenza may include seizures due to inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), and pneumonia with invasive secondary bacterial infection (like Staphylococcal infection). When is it contagious? Influenza infected individuals are most contagious during the first 3 days of the illness. After this the number of viral particles shed drops down drastically. With this fact, it is important to be tested for the flu within the first 72 hours of onset. Remedy: Adequate hydration with oral fluids, rest and symptomatic control of fever and muscle aches constitute cornerstone of influenza management. Active treatment of the flu includes two classes of medications. The one that is most commonly prescribed for either influenza A or B is called oseltamivir. This medication can also be used as a prophylaxis to individuals with known exposure to flu. For optimal treatment of uncomplicated influenza, it is important that the medication be started within 2 days from the onset of symptoms. Your doctor should be aware of the possibility of secondary bacterial complications which would need antibiotics. Prevention Strategies: As with the common colds, strict hand hygiene is very important. Avoid contact with respiratory secretions or droplets (produced during coughing or sneezing). In households, it is important to isolate the things that the sick family member is using. There should be no sharing of any utensils.
In preterm infants, it is important that they receive a type of vaccine during their 1st to 2nd winter season. Your medical provider should be aware of this.
Viral Gastroenteritis (also known as Stomach Flu) Infectious agent: Norovirus infection Symptoms: It usually takes 12 hours to 3 days before the patient starts to manifest symptom of vomiting and diarrhea. There may be accompanying myalgia or muscle aches, abdominal cramps and headache. The condition may last from 1 day to 2 weeks. The most important complication is dehydration. Clinical assessment of hydration status is required for those having the symptoms longer than 2-3 days. When is it contagious? The viral agent can be excreted in the stool for up to 7 days after the first onset of symptoms. Transmission is via person-to-person spread. Contaminated ice and food products due to mishandling have been implicated. Remedy: Oral rehydration is the cornerstone of management. If the patient is unable to tolerate oral fluids, a visit to the doctor is warranted. Depending on the age of the patient, an anti-nausea medication may be given as an injection or orally. No antibiotic is needed. Prevention Strategies: Adequate hand hygiene (washing properly with soap and water) should be observed by child care providers, nursing home/group home employees, and food-handlers. People with diarrhea should not use recreational water venues for up to 2 weeks after the symptoms resolve.
Annual vaccination is an effective way of preventing the infection. Protection afforded by the vaccine can range between 50-95% depending on the closeness of the vaccine strain to the circulating wild viral strain.
RSV Infectious agent: Respiratory Syncytial Virus Symptoms: Patients of all ages usually manifest with acute upper respiratory symptoms. In older patients, the symptoms cannot be differentiated from the common cold. In infants and very young children, it is the most important cause of bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airway) and pneumonia. In these cases, the infant or child may initially manifest with low-grade fever, nasal congestion and cough; and as the disease progresses, fast breathing, chest retractions, and wheezing develop. When is it contagious? Infectivity may range between 3-8 days. This may last longer in very young infants or children with chronic diseases like heart or lung problems. Remedy: As with the common cold and flu, the key management strategy is supportive care. You may use cold mist humidifiers to help alleviate symptoms. In those patients with lower respiratory tract symptoms (fast breathing, chest retractions or wheezing), careful clinical assessment of the respiratory status (by a health care provider) is key. Breathing treatments are not routinely recommended. Studies have shown that the use of the medicine albuterol will only be of benefit to the small number of patients who respond to a trial dose (which may be done in the office). Steroids, though frequently used, are not indicated. Prevention Strategies: Household and child care contact spread is very common. The virus can survive for approximately 0.5 to 1 hour on the hands. It is therefore imperative to observe proper hand washing with soap and water.
Dr. Leo Lopez specialized in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics and is currently practicing at Mt. San Rafael Hospital. For questions or comments about the article, you may email him at adultandpeds.doc@gmail.com
OVER The Pass
Around Trinidad magazine has been in production for the past 5 months and we have published 9 issues thus far. There is also a sister website, www. aroundtrinidad.com that has been featuring the Trinidad community since October of 2011. Both were created to put the community’s best foot forward.
At the suggestion of many Raton residents and businesses, AroundTrinidad is adding a section to our magazine entitled Over the Pass. In our two monthly magazines, AroundTrinidad, which covers all of Las Animas County, and AroundSoCo, which covers a regional area from Southern Colorado to Northern New Mexico, we will feature the residents, businesses, organizations, and schools of Raton and surrounding areas in a positive way to promote your community and help stimulate your economy.
The response to the magazine has been overwhelmingly positive and we are proud to announce that it is truly a success! To be a comprehensive reflection of the community, however, we need you to send your contributions of news, events, and other content for our Raton and Northern New Mexico feature pages, and of course, your comments and suggestions on what we could do better are always welcome. Our focus is to provide local information so our residents can rediscover their hometown and visitors can see it shine. This is your forum to feature your children, your business, your organization and your events. We want our readers to view your community as a place where they
Welcome Neighbors to the South in Northern New Mexico!
Join Us www.AroundTrinidad.com www.AroundSoCo.com
would want to live, visit, work, shop, and enjoy life; to see the best of everything around us. We want to highlight the people that make up your community and the traditional values that make your hometown a wonderful place to live. This is where your advertising dollars will have the best return on investment; surrounded by positive articles and fun features that will not end up under the neighbor’s dog or bird, but a timeless piece that can be proudly displayed on a coffee table, in the workplace break room or physician’s waiting room. Now you can get the word out about your business, organization, or event in a colorful and creative way that will reach buyers and visitors as far north as Colorado Springs! The residents of Raton and surrounding New Mexico areas now have something classy and colorful to represent them. We hope you enjoy it! To view past issues of the magazine, visit the website at www.aroundtrinidad.com and click on “magazine” at the top of the homepage.
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BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
The Family that Works Together Succeeds Together By Marty Hackett
Local resident Cindy Mitchell and her family are the new owners of the Sears store located in the Big R shopping center. Two full-time and three part-time employees keep the doors open from 9 a.m. Monday through Saturday, closing at 6:30 weekdays, and 6 p.m. on Saturdays and the door’s open on Sundays as well from noon to 5 p.m. One of those part-time employees, Mitchell’s mother Josie Rael, is known to most native residents as the previous owner of Kiddy Korner Day Care. Rael passed that business, which she opened and grew successfully, on to her daughter-in-law Laura. Rael focusses on the financial end of the Sears store and assists her daughter Cindy with day-to-day operations. Other family members can almost always be found in the store helping out, bringing back memories of days gone by when family-owned businesses were the rule rather than the exception. Small businesses form the backbone of the U.S. economy and economies continue to churn because couples and blood relatives insist on taking this financial leap-of-faith together. The Rael family has always been tight knit, so, in some ways it makes sense. Partners, siblings and children form our most trusted inner circles. We know their capabilities better than anyone else and we also know their every weakness. A family owned business in your hometown community is also a plus. Mitchell says many of those who walk through their doors are people they
have known for years and Rael adds that some familiar faces are of those children now grown who she looked after when they were toddlers. Those personal connections will serve to assure the success of the new business as the family offers that personal touch to their customer service. The store is only one of a few in southeast Colorado and northern New Mexico that sell appliances, tools and home entertainment products. This is the reason Mitchell decided to purchase the store, “to keep the option open to residents to shop for these products locally.” And if what you’re looking for isn’t available in store, it can be ordered online with shipments arriving three times a week from Denver and Albuquerque warehouses. “The Sears.com website offers a wide variety of options for our customers. We look on that store to home ordering as being one of the keys to the future,” said Mitchell. The store will be open every day of the year, except Thanksgiving and Christmas and the recent holiday sales season saw many local and regional families walking through the doors. “It was a good first season for us!” said Mitchell. While working with family is not for everyone, many who do find it rewarding. When times are good, they can share in the success, and when things get tough they will have each other to lean on! Photo Around Trinidad
Paw News Noah’s Ark is the Newest Petsmart Charities Rescue Waggin Partner!
Pictured - Laurel Ozzello, Animal Care Supervisor at Noah’s Ark, with a puppy going on the Rescue Waggin’. It’s official! Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association in Trinidad, CO, has become the newest shelter in PetSmart Charities® Rescue Waggin’® program – a national transport program that will increase the lifesaving rate for dogs in Trinidad as well as provide Noah’s Ark with special grant opportunities to improve shelter operations.
homes. The Rescue Waggin’ program has been lauded by industry veterinarians and animal welfare experts as the gold standard for pet transport. “We set high standards for agencies before accepting them into this program,” says Susanna Della Maddalena, Executive Director of PetSmart Charities. “We are delighted to have Noah’s Ark Animal Welfare Association in the program as they are very committed to saving more lives in Trinidad.” Since 2004, the Rescue Waggin® program has helped save the lives of more than 55,000 dogs. Noah’s Ark is one of more than 60 animal shelters participating in the national transport program. Currently, the Rescue Waggin’ Program operates four routes across the nation, providing animal shelters with a viable alternative to euthanasia in their communities.
Dogs are transported in specially-outfitted vehicles that provide an air-conditioned ride, complete with piped-in lullabies to help the animals sleep during the trip. Video monitors in the cab allow drivers to monitor the animals’ activities. Dogs and puppies leaving Noah’s Ark will be going to the Humane Society of Boulder Valley in Boulder, Colorado where they have a better chance at finding new
NEW VIEWS Too much of a good thing? By Guy Gamboa – Age 18 Think back… think really hard, do you remember being a child and doing things like riding bikes, playing baseball with rocks or building makeshift clubhouses just to pass the day? If so, this is because you grew up in a time when the days went by just a little slower and things like XBOX 360’s and WII’s simply didn’t exist. You don’t have to be the fastest horse on the race track or the tallest tree in the forest to notice how very different the technology of today is in comparison to what was popular in the 90’s. VCR tapes, walkmen, pagers and the Sega Dreamcast were on
the cutting edge in the early to mid 1990’s. Now we have wireless everything, cars that help to park themselves, smartphones, tablets and game consoles you can play without using a single controller. Even the late rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur made a holographic performance next to Snoop Dogg and company at the Coachella show on April 17th 2012 that blew minds! Technology is an amazing and helpful thing that has even saved many lives but nothing is flawless as we progress and advance. Seemingly with everyday passed, life becomes more about simplicity and automaticity and less about being personal and just being human. At the end of the day take a few seconds and step back to enjoy the little things in life. Maybe play catch with your kids or go for a stroll in the park. It may just do you some good. Edgar Allan Poe perhaps said it best - “The best things in life make you sweaty.”
Art and Music Veteran’s Tribute By Mike Garrett
Trinidad and Las Animas County veterans should be proud of the tributes and accolades paid to them by the Southern Colorado Repertory Theatre. SCRT cast members portrayed fifteen of the region’s most notable World War II veterans. Some actors were middle school age and others were more seasoned. The production depicted area veterans as they looked during their service years as well as recent photos, everyone from Tony Massarotti to Lowell Thompson. Trinidad, Our Stories, WWII was the creation of Chris Huffman, Vice-President of Trinidad First National Bank, and longtime Trinidad historian-journalist, Cozette Henritze as an offshoot to their Veterans Day tribute at the A.R. Mitchell Museum. They enlisted the assistance of SCRT founders Harriet and Fred Vaugeois to organize an ensemble production at the SCRT’s new location in what was once the historic “Famous Department Store” on Main Street with a December 7 opening coinciding with Pearl Harbor Day. Play director, Harriet described how everything came together for the production and how pleased she and Fred were with the final outcome after Saturday night’s well received show. Cast members also pitched in with their performance assessments. The bottom line was that audience members felt like they were reliving World War II. The authentic dialogue and uniforms paired with believable acting created a “you are there” atmosphere. Last summer Henritze and Huffman interviewed local veterans and relied on their memories to form the basis of a script. First National Bank Board Chairman and renowned
military historian Ed Eismann authenticated the production’s historical perspectives and minute details. They e-mailed Vaugeois the interviews and photos to begin developing a script. “I didn’t have time to interview all these people,” she said. “But I wanted to be true to their stories and wanted to put together a play that would be appropriate for all ages with an educational component.”
Harriet said she started to develop an overall theme by comparing the veterans’ photos as they looked then and now. “I started to feel them and that’s where I got the inspiration. They then became real people to me. It wasn’t just a historian’s version.” Cynthia Fuentes told Harriet after the play, “I thank you so much; you got my dad, Ruben Ortiz, and my uncle George just right. It was so accurate.” One cast member, Barb, noted that audience member Melissa Bonaquista told her that the she had “done my mother-in-law over the top, it was fabulous.” She was enthralled and said she was brought to tears many times, “I want everyone in town to see this, it is so magnificent and those stories are just amazing.” After writing the script, Vaugeois assembled just the right cast to match each veteran’s World War II career and individual persona. She e-mailed various local people with differing acting experiences to see what their interest was and whether they would be available to perform the role of a local veteran. Included in the cast were three SCRT youth summer stock actors portraying key roles: Jonathan Hicks, Sarah Cook and Nathan Segers. Harriet said the youths were treated like adults and expected to act like adults by their fellow cast and crew members. “They blended in and worked very hard.”
Several Trinidad acting talents like Brad Askew, Noah Simpson and Barbara Privus were also called upon to give the veterans tribute a more authentic air. “When I read the script, I was so excited about being able to portray some of these characters and just read those words and convey those emotions,” said Askew. Many of the same actors like Shaun Robertson, who appeared in SCRT’s opening murder mystery play also appeared in the production. “I was very pleased that Jim Davis (otherwise known as Trinidad’s Santa Claus) had the time and was willing to act. He also acted in some of the early shows that Fred and I brought to town before we started SCRT. Brad is a professional actor who we worked with in LA. Our son Renee is also a professional actor who has acted in LA.” “We only had two weeks to rehearse,” noted Harriet. “The cast worked very, very hard, but two days before opening, one cast member had to drop out due to a death in the family, necessitating Robertson to come aboard. Another cast member fell ill the day before the December 7 opening, requiring the existing cast to add to their roles,” she added. Finally, everything came together at the last minute for cast, production crew and community. “I think that’s a testament of the local actors’ passion. They also had a real sense of awe and respect of the people whose stories they were telling. There was a tremendous desire to put in the time necessary to do a good job.” All of the technical, lighting, sound and logistics details also had to fall into unison with the cast, she added. “I’m very happy with it and how the script worked. As a director you don’t know if it worked until the audience is there and it works well for them.” Fred and Harriet said the next SCRT goal is to build an authentic stage for their new home and future productions. “There is still so much to do but we’ve laid the foundation,” said Fred. “Once the new stage is built, we’ll see a huge change in this facility. We’ll be a true thrust theater with the audience seated on three sides.” Photo by Mike Tranter Photography
shop hosted a December 14 open house to introduce its board of directors and many amenities to the growing number of supporters. Interim Friends of the Carnegie Public Library board members are Bonnie Canizaro, President; Juhl Dhillon, VicePresident, Pat Fletcher, Secretary; Marjie Kiefer, Treasurer and board members Grace Mincic and Catherine Hook. Former Carnegie Public Library head librarian Jane Besel is also involved with board decision-making.
EDUCATION For this issue we decided to find out what children have to say about education. You can’t catch a hard baseball in your mouth. Joseph, age 10 Once I’m done with kindergarten, I’m going to find me a wife. Tom, Age 5 Reading what people write on desks can teach you a lot. Tiffany, Age 13 The class in school I hate the most is the one I learn the most from. Joanne Age, 10 Making a good grade on a test you studied really hard for is a glorious feeling. Sarah, Age 12 All the bad things I’ve heard about algebra are true. Lindsey, Age 12 If I do my homework on the bus, my mom never believes me. Adam, Age 9 Dear Math, I am sick and tired of finding your X. Just accept the fact that she is gone. MOVE ON DUDE!
Family Time
According to Juhl Dhillon, board Vice-President, common comments store volunteers hear from patrons are always positive. “They are so pleased. Visitors say that this is the best find they’ve had on their whole trip. Or they say, this is beautiful, the unique wooden floors, the architecture, or boy your prices are so good. I will make sure to look you up the next time I come into town.” Canizaro added that popular vintage children’s books like Horatio Alger and Gene Autry dating back to the 1930’s and ‘40s have also been dusted off for resale when store volunteers unpack them. “This is a great addition to Trinidad,” said regular store patron Sherri Files, a longtime Colorado Workforce job counselor. “I love it and come here two or three times a week.” Board members noted that they also are regular store patrons who can’t seem to resist buying the same books they collect from donors. Canizaro and Fletcher described how the bookstore came to fruition, initially launched through seed planting visions of Besel. It was launched using start-up computer grant funding from the Gates Foundation. Several potential Main and Commercial Street business sites were looked at before settling on the current location. “We always had the Friends of the Library book sale once a year and made thousands of dollars from that,” said Fletcher. “Then we made it twice a year and made more money.” Then the group decided a used bookstore would be even more profitable. The concept quickly spread throughout the community by word of mouth and advertising in the local media.
A Novel Destination
Fletcher said longtime Trinidad corporate retiree Steve Heller then came on board as a volunteer expert to address store design logistics and lay the basic daily and weekly operational groundwork until recently stepping down from active store participation.
By Mike Garrett
The original concept was all the used books lying around the homes of Trinidad residents could be donated to Novel Destinations and resold at 75% off the cover price. Most of the books are still in excellent condition, having been read only once or twice. The oldest, more tattered books could still be resold if desired for collectible purposes for a pittance of the original cover price. Multiple copies of the same book are often given away to the Trinidad Correctional Facility or nursing home.
Trinidad families who open the door to Novel Destinations Bookstore in the renovated Toltec Hotel Building on Commercial Street are almost guaranteed they will find hidden treasures they have never read or seen before or discover something from their childhood. Since March 1, 2012, Novel Destinations has become a regional destination point to find vintage (and some newer) books, CDs, magazines and video tapes. Trinidad’s now beloved used book
“When we resell the books, we give gifts to the library to help them buy books to replace the ones
that they need,” said Canizaro. Novel Destinations also purchases discounted DVD movies and donates them to the library. “Every once in a while we find books that we just give directly to the library. But mostly we try to raise money so that the library can buy things that it couldn’t buy otherwise.” Novel Destinations could soon make national headlines when an original 1932 John Steinbeck autographed “Grapes of Wrath” book was discovered in a pile of old books brought into the store. That book, now with a national auction house, is expected to fetch several thousand dollars at auction in February. Other rare books like one written by Gore Vidal and magazines like vintage “Life” from the 1930s and ‘40s have also found their way into the store for resale at greatly reduced prices for a fraction of what they’re worth in the national book and magazine collectible markets, Canizaro and Dhillon pointed out. Unique odds and ends like stuffed animals and a coffee-tea gourmet service are also on site for patrons who want to spend an hour or two reading the books they’ve fetched off the shelves. A good selection of Carnegie Library discarded audio books are available for those who prefer to hear rather than read their books. The store is still undergoing some financial resource growing pains, encouraging residents to become “bookstore friends” and volunteers to work in the store. Individual memberships are $10, couples $15 and families $25. Lifetime memberships are $50 for individual-couple, $100 per family or $500 for a lifetime patron. Donations should be made to Friends of the Library, Carnegie Public Library, 202 N. Animas St., Trinidad, 81082. The board’s visionary goal is for the store to become a Trinidad cultural-literary mecca to complement the City’s famous high-profile library and a comfy place for family time. Photos by Mike Garrett
Government________ January is National Radon Action Month
Protect Yourself from “A Silent Killer” By Marty Hackett All homes should be tested for Radon – “The Silent Killer!” Radon is estimated to cause thousands of lung cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. The average national indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries and the Las Animas County average is 5.3 pC/L. reports Environmental Health Specialist Kerry Taube of the Las Animas County Health Department.
What is Radon? Radon is an odorless, colorless gas that is formed from the natural breakdown of uranium in the earth. Though you can’t see it or smell it, radon can enter your home through cracks in your foundation, well water, building materials and other sources, where it can contaminate the air you breathe. Because radon is radioactive, it’s also carcinogenic; radon exposure is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, second only to smoking. You and your family are exposed to radon in your home, at the office, at school, in commercial buildings -- inside every structure you enter. Radon in the outside air disperses before it reaches high levels of concentration, but in tightly sealed or poorly ventilated indoor spaces, even low levels of radon can accumulate and pose a significant health hazard. Air pressure inside your home is usually lower than pressure in the soil around your home’s foundation, therefore, your home acts like a vacuum, drawing radon in through foundation cracks and other openings. Your radon exposure risk will depend on: 1.
The levels of radon in your indoor environments
2. 3.
The amount of time you spend in those environments Whether or not you are a smoker (if you smoke and live in a home with elevated radon levels, your risk of lung cancer is particularly high)
Soil radon levels vary widely across the United States and depend on the geology of the area. Regions of the Mid-Atlantic States and the upper Midwest tend to have higher radon levels than those found in the southeast and west into Texas, and along most of the west coast.
Testing your home for radon is simple and inexpensive and if levels are elevated there are ways to reduce them to protect your health. The easiest way to check for radon levels is to contact the Las Animas/Huerfano Counties Health Department and request a free radon test kit. This short-term test remains in your home for 2-90 days. After you have determined the levels of radon in your home, you can then begin mitigation procedures to vent radon from your basement or from the lowest level of your home. If you have locks on the doors of your home and smoke detectors in your rooms, it is safe to say you value the lives of those who reside within. Do not ignore this silent killer. Protect your family from radon! For additional information, contact the LAHCHD at 719-846-2213 x23 to contact an Environmental Health Specialist or request a free radon test kit or visit www.epa.gov/radon.
Things to Do January Over The Mountain - Enjoy fine art at TAAC’s Gallery Main, 130 E. Main St. January featured artists are Sam Hughes & Ashley Bauer. (Jan. 11- Jan. 25, 2013) For more info, call 719-846-1441.
February Feb. 15, 16 - 7 p.m. Sat. Feb. 17-2 p.m. You Know I Can’t Hear You When the Water’s Running. A collection of four one-act comedy plays performed by the SCRT Resident Theatre Company in the Old Historic “Famous Department Store” location. 131 W. Main St. Trinidad. A Shock of Recognition; Footsteps of Doves; I’ll Be Home for Christmas; and I’m Herbert. Tickets can be purchased at 108 N. Commercial St. M-F 10-4. Call 719846-4765 for additional information or visit scrtheatre.com.
TRINIDAD TREASURES Living in the Trinidad Area for Over 100 Years Information provided by Mary Ellen Armijo
Each year the Historical Society presents Centennial Citizen Awards to a person or persons whose family has lived in the county for at least 100 years and who have made lasting contributions to the community. A member of the family needs to fill out an application form and provide documentation proving that the family has resided in Las Animas County for at least 100 years. Five area Families were honored at the Annual Trinidad Historical Society Fall Banquet. The recipients of the awards and their families were honored Friday, November 9, 2012 at the Clubhouse Grill (The Trinidad Golf course). One of the honored individuals, Mike Armijo Jr., received the certificate for the Armijo family. Five of his children Michael IV, Gerald, Rick, Liz, and Priscilla and several grandchildren were present to share in the honor and celebrate with him. Application and documentation was provided by Gerald & Mary Ellen Armijo. The first Michael Armijo was born June 10, 1897 to Basilo and Lucia Casandros Armijo in Engleville, Colorado just east of Trinidad. Lucia had moved from Mora, New Mexico when she was a child and lived in Engleville until her death in 1961at the age 101years. Michael grew up in Engleville and on April 26, 1919, he was married to Luciana Montoya. He worked in the coal mines of the area. He and Luciana had several children—the oldest son, Michael, Jr. was born on March 25, 1922 in Engleville. In 1939, his father died from injuries he received while working in the Morley mine. Mike married his wife Rose over sixty years ago and was a dedicated family man. They raised thirteen children and are the proud grandparents of 39 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren, and 2 great, great grandchildren. Mike recently celebrated his 90th birthday and for the longest time he celebrated two birthdays every year—one in March and one in May. While his birth certificate had one date, his military papers had another so there was no questioning him and a cake was made for both days with no questions asked. Mike is the second Michael Armijo in the family of five generations of Michael Armijo’s. His son, grandson, and great- grandson follow in his legacy. Those who know Mike can always expect him to have a joke to tell and people laugh. Two of the other families honored were the Sanchez and the Barela families. Porfirio Sanchez received the certificate for the Jose and Felicita (Tapia) Sanchez family and his wife Rose Marie (Barela) Sanchez received the certificate for the Louis and Carmelita (Gomez) Barela family. Application and documentation was provided by Gerald & Mary Ellen Armijo.
Sanchez family: Felicita (Tapia) was born on March 6, 1894 in Tercio. She passed away in 1980 at the age of 86. Mr. and Mrs. Sanchez had four sons and one daughter. Their son Porfirio was born in Trinichera, CO on March 16, 1926 and grew up on the family ranch. As a young man he spent a lot of time riding horses and competed in the bull riding contests at the Trinidad Round-up rodeo. He married Rose Marie Barela on July 25th 1964. In 1971, he received a certificate for completing the Building Trades program at TSJC. He worked several different jobs as an auto mechanic and carpenter. He retired from working as a truck driver for Las Animas County. Porfirio is a Korean Veteran who served proudly in the 25th Infantry Division. He was honored with several medals, including the UN service medal, the National Defense medal, Korean War medal with 5 battle stars, the South Korean Presidential medal and the Good Conduct medal. He is a talented musician, playing eh guitar with his brothers in a band. He has made several CDs and his family enjoys walking into his home and hearing him playing Spanish music. Barela family: Louis Barela was born on September 11, 1895 in Raton, New Mexico and later became a longtime resident of Trichera, CO. residing there until he moved to Trinidad in 1973. Carmelita Gomez was born in Weston on July 29, 1903 and as a young girl moved to Trinchera. Louis and Carmelita owned land where they framed and raised cattle. They had three sons and four daughters. Carmelita died in 1959. One of the Barela daughters is Rose Marie Sanchez. She moved with her husband to Trinidad. They have been married almost fifty years and have three sons and one daughter with six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. Rose Marie has been a dedicated wife and homemaker. She is an excellent cook and many people have enjoyed her wonderful meals of Spanish style food.
Believe... Bible Baptist Church 1102 Stonewall Ave Trinidad, Colo. 845-0827
Fisher’s Peak Community Church 10377 Santa Fe Trail Trinidad, Colo. 846-6018 Holy Trinity Catholic Church 719-846-3369 First Christian Church 200 S. Walnut Street Trinidad, Colo. 846-3843 Church of Christ 1000 Nevada Ave. Trinidad, Colo. 846-2919 All Nation’s Fellowship 131 W. Main St. Trinidad, Colo. 846-9100 Jehovah’s Wintnesses Trinidad Congregation 1713 Goodale Ave. Trinidad, Colo. 846-3119 Zion’s Lutheran Church 613 Prosect Trinidad, Colo. 846-7785 First United Methodist Church 216 Broom St. Trinidad, Colo. 846-6824 Church of the Nazarene 733 Stonewall Ave. Trinidad, Colo. 845-0383 Faith Christian Fellowship 2608 Santa Fe. Trail Trinidad, Colo. 846-9673 The Lord’s Chapel Hwy 12 ¼ mile west of Segundo 846-8506 First Pentecostal Church 10375 Santa Fe. Trail Trinidad, Colo. 846-846-2987 United Presbyterian Church 801 San Pedro Trinidad, Colo. 846-6513 Seventh Day Adventist Church 1605 Aiello St. Trinidad, Colo. 846-0244
FAITH
We are thankful for the year that has passed and ask for this next year to be blessed with kindness and love.
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