table of contents Chamber. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-6
Focus on the community. . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Community Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Focus on a carlsbad character. . . . . . . 20
Letters, Tourism, Retirement, Grand Openings
FROM THE EDITOR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Keeping Things in Focus
Focus on downtown. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Trinity Hotel & Old Stock Exchange - Two of a Kind
focus on schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Back to School and Maybe for You Too
Focus on Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Healthy Habits for Back to School
Focus on the road. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Last Chance Worth a Shot
Focus on sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Cavemen Thrilled About Returning Lineup
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C o m f o r t
Carlsbad Visitor Describes Trip to Training Center New MainStreet Director Couldn’t Be Happier
tidbits & trivia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 update: carlsbad Medical center. . . . . . 21 Editorial Content by Kyle Marksteiner Photography by Kyle Marksteiner - along with submitted photos Special Contributors: Jeff Keller & Mandy Marksteiner Focus on Carlsbad is published quarterly by Ad Venture Marketing for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. To view online visit www.carlsbadchamber.com. Ad Venture Marketing, Ltd. Co. toll free: 866.207.0821 www.ad-venturemarketing.com All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is prohibited. Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information provided. The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions.
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tourism corner Chamber Partners with the New Mexico Tourism Department in the opening of the Carlsbad Visitor Information Center The Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, Ambassadors, and staff joined NM Department of Tourism Cabinet Secretary Michael Cerletti in the official grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Carlsbad Visitor Information Center on July 29. Also joining in the grand opening were NM Tourism Commission Chair Al Lucero, Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest, NM Representative John Heaton, and NM Senator Carroll Leavell. The Carlsbad Chamber received the designation of Visitor Information Center with the passing of House Memorial 28 during the 2009 Legislative Session. There are nine official state visitor information centers throughout the state of New Mexico which are operated by the New Mexico Tourism Department. Carlsbad will be one of two un-official Visitor Information Centers. The other center is located in Ruidoso. Visitor Information hours are Monday-Friday from 8am-5pm and Saturdays (through Labor Day) 9am-3pm. Visitors to the center will not only be able to pick up local area attraction but state wide information as well. We look forward to a wonderful partnership with the Tourism Department in the years to come.
Tourism Delegation Uses American Eagle Flight to Market Southeast New Mexico in California Representatives from Southeastern New Mexico’s travel industry entertained Southern California travel agents and meeting planners at two receptions in Los Angeles this week to promote American Eagle Airlines’ upcoming air service between Roswell and Los Angeles International Airport. The flights are set to begin August 25 with four direct flights a week. Flights to Los Angeles’ LAX will depart Roswell at 7 a.m. and arrive in Los Angeles at 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Flights from Los Angeles to Roswell will depart at 2:55 p.m. and arrive at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday. The Southeastern New Mexico delegation partnered with American Airlines for the “Secrets of Southeastern New Mexico” at the Grammy Museum rooftop deck at LA Live. The guest list included travel agents and meeting planners from the Los Angeles as well as media representatives from area newspapers and national radio talk shows. The group also promoted “Secrets of Southeastern New Mexico” at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Center. Travelers to Los Angeles included Debbie Bell and Hayley Klein (Artesia Chamber of Commerce); Doug Kacena, Charles Meeks and Sarah Kahze-Kirgan (Inn of the Mountain Gods in Mescalero); Steve Tally (Village of Ruidoso); Bob Donnell and Jessica Armendariz (Roswell-Chaves County Economic Development Corporation); Renee Roach, Jennifer Brady, Elaine Mayfield, Mary Weber and Joe Vargas (City of Roswell); Lisa Boeke (City of Carlsbad); and Mark Trujillo (North America Tour Trade Director for the New Mexico Tourism Department). The new route will be served by 44-seat Embraer ERJ-140 regional jets and will allow connections to several cities in the western United States and Mexico.
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Letter from the president
Hello Folks!
Before I start into my short article, I’d like to mention that I am honored to be the new president of the Carlsbad Chamber. I am committed to improve on the current level of chamber performance. One of my many goals is to improve the relationships between the chamber and existing organizations throughout the community so that, collectively, we can better serve our community. If we pull together, we can strengthen our existing local business base and welcome new businesses into the community. Enough of the political jargon... on the lighter side, it’s hard to believe that we are moving into the fall months. With fall, I’m reminded of cooler weather (of course we need to define the term cooler) and one of my main passions in life... football. Being a Pittsburgh (currently the City of Champions) native, football and hockey have always been in my blood. Living in Carlsbad for the past 20+ years, I’ve become a very strong supporter of the cavemen and cavewomen sports programs. I actually bleed a little blue these days. Let’s all support our children by attending their games, activities and interests ….. they truly are our future. I would be remiss not to mention two recent, major chamber success stories - the chamber’s annual banquet and the opening of the Visitor’s Information Center. First, I would personally like to thank all of you who attended the chamber’s annual banquet. I hope you enjoyed this year’s casual atmosphere, spirited football theme, and the tasty burgers and dogs served from the grill for this event. Ticket sales were way beyond our expectations, and it certainly was a fun-filled evening shared by all. I believe that your participation and attendance at this year’s banquet reflects your newfound belief that the chamber is making large strides in becoming a stronger organization – an organization that can spearhead programs that benefit our local businesses, families and our community in general. Secondly, if you haven’t already heard, the New Mexico state legislature has designated Carlsbad as a Visitor Information Center (VIC). The visitor center will operate out of the chamber’s downtown office. We are now the tenth VIC site in New Mexico – the first in the Southeast corner of the state. This is a great honor – mainly attributable to you, the citizens of Carlsbad. In closing, I would like to thank Roxanne Lara for her hard work in leading the chamber over the past year; and the executive board and all chamber board members for their many (voluntary) hours spent in making the chamber a stronger organization. I would also like to thank the chamber’s staff – they keep the chamber running like a fine-oiled machine. The chamber is working every day – supporting ribbon cuttings and groundbreaking events, and wooing retirees, new businesses and tourists. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, feel free to call me anytime at (575) 302-3465 or write me at matt.leroch@wgint.com.
Welcome! New Members Bear Paw Custom Embroidery, Inc. CamCo Plumbing, Inc. Carlsbad Community Kitchen Christy’s Place Quick Stop Gift Shop G & B Machine Jack E Sewell Jaime’s Welding JAMCO Mermod Coffee Express & Mexican Food Price Mine Service Richard Dart The Eye Site Trinity Hotel .................................................................
For more info or to join the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Drop In: 302 South Canal Street Call: (575) 887-6516 Online: www.carlsbadchamber.com
Thanks,
Matt Leroch III President, 2009 / 2010
Your Chamber Staff Robert P Defer, CEO
Janell Whitlock, Director of Retirement
Albert Elizondo, Administrative Assistant
Brenda Whiteaker, Director of Operations operations@carlsbadchamber.com
Roland Caudill, Facilities Manager facility@carlsbadchamber.com
Gilbert John Gonzalez, Facilities Maintenance
Lisa Boeke, Director of Marketing & Tourism
Donna Cass, Administrative Assistant
director@carlsbadchamber.com
tourism@carlsbadchamber.com
retirement@carlsbadchamber.com
temp@carlsbadchamber.com
Arthur “Dewey” Griffith, Facilities Maintenance
carlsbadnm@carlsbadchamber.com
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Grand Openings ribbon cuttings ground breaking events
Two URS Washington Division companies were joined by federal, state and local officials May 19 to break ground on a 6,500 square-foot addition to the URS Washington Engineered Products Division (EDP) in Carlsbad’s Industrial Park.
903 #7 W. Lea Street is the home of Christy’s Place Quick Stop Gift Shop. The business celebrated their grand opening on June 12.
Carlsbad National Board of Directors, employees, and Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors celebrated the grand re-opening of the Northgate Branch of Carlsbad National Bank on Saturday, July 18.
Coordinated Home Health held a grand opening in its new location at 509 W Mermod, Ste E
Family, friends and Chamber Ambassadors celebrated the new location of Sanders Orthopedic Brace & Limb at 2522 W. Pierce Street.
Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors joined with representative of Thurston Homes for ground breaking for the Spring Hollow subdivision off of Calloway Drive on May 7.
Carlsbad Medical Center’s chapter of Senior Circle held an open house and grand opening of their new facility at 2423 Bonita on July 22. Members of Senior Circle, Carlsbad Medical Center Staff, and Ambassadors participated.
The Chamber held its Annual Banquet on July 13 at the Pecos River Village. Matt Leroch, this year’s Chairman of the Board, chose the slogan of “Let’s DO It!” for the 2009-10 year. This slogan carried over to a football-themed “tailgate” party complete with burgers, brats, and all the trimmings. New Mexico’s Lt. Governor, Diane Denish, was guest speaker for the evening and was presented with an official NMSU football jersey complete with her name and the number 10 on the jersey! A highlight of the evening was the presentation of special awards to: Susan Crockett – the Jack E. Knittel President’s Award, Bonnie Bakal – Pete Panagopoulos Ambassador of the Year Award, Treasured Events & Rentals – New Business of the Year, New Mexico Transportation – Business of the Year
AGING, ACTIVE & ALERT Aging baby boomers and retirees are more active and independent than other generations. They are healthier and are laughing, loving and living. Bill Cosby said, “If you can laugh at it, you can survive it.” Wherever you are in the life cycle, Carlsbad has something for every life style. Carlsbad has an outstanding municipal library and statistics indicate that those who read, play games, use computers, and do crafts are less likely to develop memory loss than people who do not do these mental activities. The North Mesa and San Jose Senior Recreation Centers have many activity rooms to meet the retiree interests – from belly dancing to line dancing – to square dancing. According to Dr. Geda, “Aging does not need to be a passive process. Golfers can enjoy the city’s three golf courses – Lake Carlsbad Municipal Course, the 9 hole or the 18 hole. A driving range, putting green, pro shop and snack bar are on-site. Riverside Country Club offers an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts and a swimming pool. Combine these with the Riverwalk Recreation Center’s basketball and racquetball courts, skate park, hockey ring and a fitness room, walking paths and fishing. Carlsbad is truly an active persons paradise and keeps a person young because there is so much to do.
Imagine opening the drapes to a warm, sunny day, walking along the river, golfing year ‘round and meeting friendly people. Carlsbad is truly A PLACE TO CALL HOME.
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community events september
December
other events
19th (9 p.m. – 11 p.m.) Caverns Celebration of the Night Sky
Christmas Home Tour
Fridays (9:30 – 10:30 a.m.) Preschool Story Time
Join park rangers at Carlsbad Caverns National Park after the evening bat flight program for a clear look at the night sky, with possible views of planets, galaxies and constellations. This event is free. For more information, call the park at 575-785-2232.
October 31st - Nov. 1
Saturday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Fall Arts & Crafts and Antiques Show Civic Centre Over 35 vendors from New Mexico. All handmade arts and crafts. Great finds in all price ranges. For more information, call Robin at 575-302-1653.
November 26th - Dec. 31 Christmas on the Pecos
In its 18th year, the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Christmas on the Pecos will see pontoon boat tours departing from the Pecos River Village Conference Center each evening during the holiday season except for Christmas Eve. Patrons will view over 100 homes along the banks of the Pecos River festooned with holiday lights and decorations. Each boat ride lasts between 45 and 50 minutes. Tickets go on sale Oct. 15. For reservations, call the Chamber at 575-887-6516 or visit www. christmasonthepecos.com.
The Assistance League’s annual Christmas fundraiser includes three selected homes with Christmas trees and decorations galore, as well as handmade holiday items for sale at the Chapter House. For more information, call Linda Faulk at 575-885-3333.
Holiday with the Animals
Children are invited to make holiday cards and treats for their favorite Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park animals. There is no fee to attend the event at the Visitor’s Center. To enter the zoo, each visitor may bring a non-perishable food item, new book or toy in lieu of park admission fees. Donations collected go to local charities. Call the park at 575-887-5516 for more information.
Other Events Fridays (7:30-9:30 a.m.) Friday Focus
Friday Focus is a great opportunity to market your business and network with other Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce members at the Stevens Inn. Place a business card in the basket and when called on introduce yourself and your business. Distribute business and promotional material on tables (collect before leaving). Networking opportunities are endless. Call the Chamber for more information at 575887-6516.
(continued)
Story time takes place Friday mornings at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Visitor’s Center. Songs, a story, a short walk in the park and crafts are offered for preschool children and accompanying adults. Free. For more information, call the park at 575-8875516.
Star Parties and Solar Viewing
Free programs take place outside Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park Visitor’s Center and feature large telescopes. Call the park at 575-887-5516 to learn about scheduled events.
NOW - December 31 United Way Annual Community Campaign
Call Laurie Roche at the United Way office at 575-887-3504.
Interested in listing your community event? Email the information to editor@ad-venturemarketing.com.
27th - 28th Calico Christmas Craft Show
Pecos River Village Conference Center For more information, call the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce at 575-887-6516.
28th Downtown Holiday Stroll & Light Parade
Canyon Street Holiday entertainment, shopping and giveaways with downtown merchants. Little Miss Merry Christmas will also be crowned, and the annual electric light parade will roll down Canyon Street. For more information, call Carlsbad MainStreet at 575-628-3768.
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from the editor
Keeping Things Focus I
in
’m so excited I can barely stand it. I’ll be honest; my recent bout of fatherhood is the primary cause for my jubilance. But another, second tier font of excitement is certainly the two new upscale restaurants in downtown Carlsbad.
Over the past two months, The Trinity Hotel and The Stock Exchange at Old City Hall have both opened their doors to the public. In one impressive burst of dining exuberance, Carlsbad has developed, and work with me here folks - a wee bit of a trendy image; don’t you know? Now, we’ve all seen places in Carlsbad that we are exited about come and go, but it’s really hard for me to imagine either of these places “going” unless that’s just what the owners want to happen. There’s just too much food and business experience on the bench in this instance, and I’m confident things will run smoothly. That's why the opening of the Trinity and the Stock Exchange seemed like the logical choice for the cover story of my first edition of “Focus.” It’s a chance to promote two deserving businesses and to give proper credit to two groups of friendly people who have really put in a lot of work to make their dreams become a reality. And since I’m being all idealistic and exuberant on you, let me note that I think these two new restaurants won’t damper any of our existing establishments. Commerce tends to breed itself, and there’s a reason businesses in large cities tend to group together. If Carlsbad develops a healthy, vibrant restaurant industry, it should mean that more people will go out to eat, more people will stay or come to Carlsbad to eat. There should be, as long time businesswomen Patty Fry noted, enough business for everyone. Wishful thinking? I don’t know, but in all sincerity I can wish our newbie, our somewhat new and our old-school restaurants the best. Running a business ain’t easy. In fact, I’d like to take a minute to plug a few other relative newcomers to Carlsbad’s culinary efforts. Miller & Sons Steakhouse, just down the road from Carlsbad’s new “hub,” is another winning local dining establishment. I’ve been especially impressed by the clam chowder and the halibut steak. Ray’s Mexican Restaurant - located where the Greyhound bus station used to be - has terrific burritos and is also home to the Frito burger. Another part of the building
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has recently become devoted toward a lingerie shop. The Sweet Spot, located on Church Street, has great milkshakes, hot dogs and those white yogurt pretzels that taste a hundred times better if you remember to refrigerate them. And L&M Pizza has re-opened across the street. Oh, and if you are looking for a short road trip, check out J&J’s Steakhouse in White’s City, where the chef really understands the meaning of medium-rare. I would like to add my usual plea that if you have a negative experience at a local restaurant that you not write the place off forever. Everybody deserves a second chance. With so many new options in Carlsbad, it’s hard to imagine what voids are left to fill. Personally, I’d suggest taking eclectic to a new level. Say you feel like a nice brisket, but enjoy some of the items associated with Chinese food- tea, desserts that predict your future, -inferior utensils. I see no reason why you can’t have a barbecue with chopsticks and fortune cookies. I would still insist that the fortune cookies be ones that actually tell your future, not just give advice. Or say you are the kind of guy who enjoys eating with large animal heads on the wall, but crave General Tso’s chicken - no problem! You just have to think outside of the box.
These last couple weeks have been hectic. I’ve been busy learning the ancient art of swaddling, assembling Diaper Genies and doing more off-key singing than I’d ever anticipated. If you don’t really know any lullabies, which I don’t, the only songs that come to mind at 3 a.m. are either Christmas songs or Weird Al Yankovic tunes. Neither seems especially appropriate to sing to a newborn in August. I was fortunate to have some help putting this publication together, specifically from Mandy Marksteiner, my sister-in-law, and Jeff Keller, my good friend and a former sports editor. My goal for Focus is to include a few different contributors each edition to keep it fresh. And I’d also like to hear from you. Focus editor Kyle Marksteiner can be reached at editor@ad-venturemarketing.com
on downtown
t long last, the reconstruction process is complete and a beloved Carlsbad downtown landmark has flowered into an upscale dining establishment. Only it’s happened twice - at the same intersection - within the same time period. The Trinity Hotel, located at the corner of Fox and Canal streets, formally opened its doors in early July, concluding a $1.1 million renovation to Carlsbad’s historical First National Bank Building. Fantastic! Then a few weeks later, at the opposite corner of Fox and Canal, The Stock Exchange at Old City Hall opened the doors of Carlsbad’s historical firehouse building and brought a revered professional chef back into the local dining trenches. Amazing. The owners of both establishments say they are thrilled to have some friendly competition. “Our wine guy from Santa Fe called it ‘the hub of Carlsbad,’” noted Kevin Zink, coowner of K and P catering, the company that operates the Stock Exchange. “It’s neat. It gives people a reason to stop downtown. There are also a couple new shops and the farmer’s market, so it’s really turning into something where people will want to come downtown.” The guy across the street agrees. “I think Carlsbad has been hungry for a good fine dining establishment at a reasonable price, with good atmosphere, good service and a consistent quality product,” noted Derek Balzano, general manager and part-owner of the Trinity. “When you put all of those things together it’s just a win-win for Carlsbad. We could use three or four more places. I think now that there are more options, people are going to go out more.”
The Owners
The two restaurants share a similarity in that they are both being operated by established Carlsbad businesspeople. Over the past few years, Kevin Zink and Patty Fry have turned K and P Catering into a major business that has operated in Carlsbad, Artesia, Hobbs, Roswell, Clovis and Santa Fe. They’ve catered for legislative events and past U.S. Presidents. There’s no plan to pull back on the catering side of things. They also have the contract for the Skeen-Whitlock Building’s cafeteria and the Starbucks cart at the Carlsbad Medical Center. Fry has an extensive list of successful restaurant ventures in Carlsbad. Zink is the venture’s rock star, however, as his extensive resumé as a professional chef notes numerous national honors including a stint as a Culinary Olympian.
Before going into the catering business in Carlsbad, he prepared meals at Carlsbad’s Blue House on occasion. The Trinity is owned by businessmen Derek Balzano, Dale Balzano and Michael Moore. Together, the three men have numerous previous successful ventures in the area. Derek Balzano is the owner and operator of Carlsbad Cruise Lines, which owns most of the fleet of the fleet used for Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s annual Christmas on the Pecos event.
Opening the Doors
The two establishments also both note altruistic reasons for opening, if different ones. For the Stock Exchange, it was to help employees out, who sometimes may have difficulty collecting a stable check in the come-and-go nature of the catering industry. “We opened two weeks ago because we had to,” Zink said.”We just couldn’t wait anymore. We had enough good employees that we had to start taking care of them and giving them the opportunity to grow.” The catering industry will remain Zink and Fry’s primary revenue stream. “This is the fun part for us,” Fry said. “And, a lot of our corporate accounts needed a restaurant.” Zink and Fry, who rent their building, have the advantage of moving into a location that’s been subject to several renovations over the past 10 years, including when the building was remodeled into the Firehouse Gourmet Grill, and, most recently, a meeting place. The recent quest to save the brick, 119-year-old, historic First National Bank building and turn it into the Trinity was a little more dramatic. The previous owner, the Carlsbad Irrigation District, didn’t have the money to save the 7,800-square-foot, national historic landmark. In 2001, the building was listed as one of the 10 most endangered buildings in the state. Balzano and company wanted to save the building. Supported by a low interest loan through the Carlsbad Department of Story Continues on Page 10
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on the road floor, with the second floor’s lodging
Development, funds from the Small Business Administration program and lending through Lea County State Bank, the three owners underwent a lengthy renovation, aiming to reuse and preserve whenever possible. Derek Balzano and Moore, both building contractors, kept some costs down by doing the work themselves.
Pardon Balzano, who now circles the busy restaurant as a host, if he’s a little prone to beaming with pride now and then. “It’s worth it, just seeing the satisfaction of knowing that your customers are coming in and having a good time and enjoying themselves,” he said. “Not only that, but it enabled us to save the building. Everything from that point on was just icing on the cake.” One of the establishment’s two completed hotel rooms even comes with bullet holes in one glass feature. Not usually a selling point for lodging, but these are historical bullet holes, and ones shrouded in mystery and legend at that. The hotel guests have loved it. “We’re not exactly sure what happened there,” Balzano said. “We’ve heard several different stories. I’ve ruled out the Bonnie and Clyde thing, but we were told that the bank was robbed at one time, and that was the bank manager’s office. We’ve also been told that a guy was cleaning his gun in there, so that’s also what might have happened.” But the history of the Stock Exchange building history isn’t exactly shabby. As its various names throughout the years imply, the building previously served as both Carlsbad’s fire station and city hall. “All of the city records were kept upstairs in a safe,” Fry noted.
Food and More
Perhaps the biggest difference between the two establishments is that the Stock Exchange is all about the food. The Trinity, however, offers a package beyond fine dining that includes upscale hotel rooms, a drive-thru coffee window, bar seating, breakfast, a wine and gift shop and, Balzano’s favorite, a humidor, which is located in the bank’s old vault. There are currently two hotel rooms on the ground
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expected to be complete by November. The Balzanos are also developing a small vineyard in the Seven Rivers area. That’s not to say that the Trinity doesn’t still emphasize its menu. Balzano described the menu as eclectic with a slight focus on Italian. “We’re an Italian family,” Derek Balzano he noted. “And our chef specializes in Italian cuisine, as well as Mexican food. We just felt like it was a really good fit. We’ve also had a lot of really good comments about our steak.” The Trinity’s executive chef, Louis Martin, has been a chef at a high-end Italian restaurant in California since he was 14, Balzano noted. Sous chef Manuel Contreras comes from Carlsbad. “Bank Biscuits” are among the top selling morning items. “Our Sunday brunch is also really good,” Balzano noted. “We have such a small kitchen, so, when it comes to Sunday, we’ll hand pick like three or four breakfast items.” Amanda Hale is Zink’s sous chef. Hale comes from Rio Rancho and moved to Carlsbad because of her boyfriend. She noted that she’d previously interviewed Kevin Zink Zink for a class project. “I came down here and begged them, and they were gracious enough to hire me,” she said. The Stock Exchange is meant to be a steakhouse, and the name itself is a play on words implying the exchange of cow (both into a steak and in exchange for money). But Zink is also keeping things pretty eclectic. “We’ve already changed three times since we’ve been here,” he said. “We switched scallops for jumbo shrimp because we got a good deal on
jumbo shrimp the size of chicken, but the scallops will be back.” Some items, such as butternut squash, are so popular that they probably never will be rotated off the menu. “It’s like glazed carrots,” Zink noted. “For a year and a half at the Blue House, they wouldn’t let me get rid of my glazed carrots.” Hale said her favorite items on the menu include the butternut squash, the rib eye steak and the restaurant’s dessert-tastic pecan ball. Zink is especially proud of his restaurant’s baker, and he also boasts of the establishment’s children’s menu. “We don’t make a lot of money off of it, but we want this to be a family location,” he said. Both restaurant’s owners are apt to change the menu to keep it fresh, and both say they will continue to seek the freshest quality produce available. The two restaurants also now each have a beer and wine license. The Trinity features regional wines, including those from the Luna Rossa vineyard near Deming. Balzano noted that the Trinity also has a selection of 42 different beers, $4 Mimosa’s on Sunday and, Balzano emphasizes with a grin, a huge selection of cigars. “There are a lot of my favorites in there, and others that some folks like that I don’t,” the cigar aficionado said. “But if anyone has a suggestion on a beer, wine or cigar they would like for us to carry, just give us a shot.” The Stock Exchange is bringing in a lot of vintages from overseas. “Derek is trying to specialize in something regional, and we’re doing something different,” Zink said. “We’ve got a little bit from all over.”
Atmosphere
The Trinity’s décor successfully mixes the building’s rich history with the hotel’s new brand. “Just bringing together the old and the new in a unique format was a lot of fun,” Balzano said. “My partners and I spent a lot of time designing colors, fabrics and textiles.” The Stock Exchange features examples of regional artwork, including a painting by local artist Jim Aho. “It’s comfortable here,” Zink said. “We want it to feel like
you went into a nice ranch home. If you are casual you won’t look out of place, and you also won’t look out of place if you come in dressed nicely.” A quieter approach The Stock was taken in the Exchange opening of the Stock Exchange. During an extensive soft opening period, Fry literally relied on word of mouth (and e-mail) to let people know when they were open for business. “What was interesting is that I would email someone and they would forward it to 60 people,” she said. “Then everyone would respond back. It’s been fun to see that people are so excited.” Zink and Fry enjoyed their slow but steady start. They had their first soft opening on Easter weekend and opened every other weekend for several months. “I’ve been involved in big hotels, and I’d rather have 40 people go away happy than 150 mad,” Zink said. “We were still figuring out what direction we wanted to go with the menu during that time.” “The way it was done, slowly and gradually, it was like inviting your good friend over to your home and having a lovely experience,” Fry said. “That’s been the really pleasant part, the chance to interact with our friends and make new friends.” Zink stressed that one of his interests in the restaurant is that it will serve as a training program. “We’re trying to get in a training program so people can circulate,” he noted. “We have some people coming in for a little more finishing, and we have some who we are training from the
Fordtown
ground up. We want to give everybody a chance. Our business hasn’t been overwhelmingly busy, but that’s what we wanted. We’ve had a nice steady growth so far.” Due to the renovation process, the Trinity’s past few months have been considerably more public, but the restaurant also had a lengthy soft opening period. “We just brought in friends and family,” Balzano said. “We had two or three weeks of product orientation. We’d go to a show and try products out and then come back here and try them at a different elevation. That was a really expensive few weeks, but we already had the coffee shop open. That’s been one of the great things about this pace, the flexibility.”
What next?
The Trinity recently added special wine tastings to its itinerary. It’s a pretty extensive list of accomplishments for a project that, a few years ago, may have seemed to some to be close to an impossible dream. “We’ve always felt like this was a do-able project,” Balzano said. “I know the restaurant business scares the heck out of people, but we felt confident that it would be OK because of the different revenue streams. We felt like we had to find a way to save the building and justify the costs of renovations.” “In my eyes, everything is going as planned,” he noted. “I think in my dad’s eyes, he’s actually a little surprised at how well received we’ve been. But the key is that we’ve found the right people. I’ve been really picky with who I hire.” The owners of the two restaurants both stress that they believe that the competition across the street will only help, as Carlsbad’s downtown becomes known as a place to go for a nice meal. “I like people to think that this is downtown Carlsbad,” Balzano said. “I’d really
like to see a little more of a pedestrian environment. I hope the city takes that approach.” Zink gestured in the direction of a vacant building across the street. “I’ve love for somebody to do something cool over there,” he said. “We’d like to have a nice, symbiotic relationship,” Fry said about the Trinity. “I’ve known the Balzanos forever. There’s enough business for both of us, and more.” “They are two completely different places. My daughter loves the Trinity,” Zink said. “Patty Fry and her family are some of the hardest workers I’ve ever come across,” Balzano said. “Kevin is a very inventive chef. Kevin The Trinity and Patty have a great attitude about business here in Carlsbad and also about food in general. They do it because they love it. I wish them all the best in the world.”
Hours
The Trinity is open from 6-11 a.m. and 4-11 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There’s also a Sunday brunch from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Stock Exchange is open from 5-9 p.m., Thursday through Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday. The business is used for corporate meetings and trainings Monday through Wednesday.
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on schools
Back to School and Maybe for You Too! Calling all volunteers - Carlsbad Municipal Schools is looking for some folks to help out with the education process.
School started on August 12, and while back-to-school sale commercials have dominated the television airwaves, school officials stress that it is the child lurking behind the stylish new clothes that they value the most. A volunteer program is one of several ways school officials hope to focus on the community’s children. “We’ve issued a proclamation making 2009-2010’s school year ‘The Year of the Child,’” said Kelli Barta, student assistant team coordinator and parent involvement coordinator with CMS. “We’re hoping to bring more parents in and build a bridge between the home and school. We really want to be a resource for parents.” While the school district wants every year to be “of the child,” the proclamation is meant to kickoff a long-term campaign designed to get parents, children, teachers and administrators to work together in the education process. In pursuit of that goal, school officials hope that their new VIPS volunteer program will draw parents, grandparents and other members of the community who want to help, especially at schools showing a need for improvement. Barta and Debbie Hofer, with the Eddy County DWI program, are coordinating the effort. Retired teachers are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will assist at the elementary, middle and high school levels. At the elementary level, they’ll visit the schools, starting with the ones showing a need for improvement. The middle and high school programs, which will stress math and science, will be held after school. “We really need more volunteers,” Barta said. “Carlsbad is a retirement community, and if there’s anyone interested we’d love to have them come in and volunteer.” Don’t be intimidated if you lack a doctorate in mathematics or an education degree. “We need people to come in and just listen to children read,” said Lavern Shan, director of elementary curriculum and instruction.
As another outreach effort, school officials are putting together packets of reading and intervention materials that will assist parents in understanding their children’s needs. “We want to really focus Carlsbad Mayor Bob Forrest on meeting the needs of every individual child,” Barta said. “Whether they are high performing, at grade level or in need of intervention services.” The ultimate goal? Get all of the school district’s third graders to be reading at grade level before they advance to the fourth grade. And boost Carlsbad’s 64 percent graduation rate up toward 90 percent. And reach out to, well, everyone. “One thing we’re going to do is every single elementary kid in Carlsbad who is not at grade level will be receiving intervention services,” Barta noted. “Every six weeks we will hold a meeting as a team and provide resources. We’re going to connect parents with community agencies that might help them.” So far, parents seem responsive to the school’s outreach efforts; Barta reported that almost 500 people attended a parent involvement fair held in early August. “We wanted to display all of the extracurricular activities we provide our students,” she noted. “We are hoping to do a better job of showing off what activities and resources we have available.” A small group of Carlsbad students, ranging from sixth grade on up, also were selected to serve as a student panel advising the superintendent.
The process involves a background check, but Barta said the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to do a number of background checks with fee waivers. “We’re hoping to get a large number of volunteers at one time,” she said. “They’ll receive some training and an orientation and then we’ll put them in the environment with the kids.”
Also new this school year, the school district is also taking a scholarly approach to academics. That is, teachers at many schools are being trained to teach all students like scholars. “Scholars see things from a different perspective,” Shan noted. “Scholars ponder the big idea and ask many questions.” It’s a program designed to build critical thinking. That’s not a new concept, but what is new is that it’s being implemented for everyone.
To find out more about volunteering in the schools, contact Kelli Barta at 234-3300.
“This training is actually what we’ve done for gifted and talented students,” Shan said. “Now we are bringing it to more
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scholar they are going to rise to your expectation.”
of our kids because we feel like our kids are gifted in certain areas. One of the ways to set a higher standard is to expect a higher performance.”
Other goals include using icons to help develop vocabulary and writing skills. “Hopefully, we’re providing the students with the background to where they can articulate what they are thinking,” Shan said. “We want to build students who are capable readers and mathematicians as well as good writers. We want to prepare our kids to compete in the global world, and to do that we have to treat all of our children as gifted.”
“I’m a mom of a kid in the middle and we sometimes forget about them,” Barta said. “We need to be challenging of all our students to reach higher.” As part of this effort, the school district is tapping into students’ multiple intelligences, meaning that teachers are being asked to provide lessons that appeal to the different types of intelligences: interpersonal, musical, environmental and so forth. “It’s not how smart they are,” Barta said. “It’s how they are smart.” Teachers are encouraged to get students to conduct research, to understand why an answer exists and to question the problem, Shan said. “A good scholar ponders,” she said. “It gives them the right to say ‘I’m pondering. Give me a second.’ As you train them to be a
Major renovations are also underway throughout the school district. The list of projects includes library modifications designed to make the media center the hub of learning at each school. “We’re trying to bring our libraries up to that standard,” Shan said. “Our goal is to make our schools student friendly, and the hub of any school should be its library.” CMS has also added two literacy instructional coaches to help teachers at the elementary level, Shan said.
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on health nervous or anxious, try to find out what’s on their mind and talk about it. Acknowledge the worry but don’t focus on it. Instead, try to focus on the positive, exciting things about going back to school and do some of the necessary things to help your child feel prepared. For kids starting a new school or beginning middle school, a visit to the new building before classes start can be very helpful. Walk around and help familiarize kids with the locations of the classrooms, cafeteria, their locker, etc.”
KidsHealth.org offers practical tips for helping kids start the new year strong. Remember the mixed emotions that going back to school brought when you were a kid? You were anxious and excited, but disappointed that summer was over. Whether your kids had a summer jam-packed with activities or were bored to tears by the end, they might have a hard time making the transition back to school. KidsHealth.org, the most visited website about children’s health and parenting, offers tips for parents to help kids start the school year strong.
TIPS FOR PARENTS: Start the routine early: Start the school routine 1 or 2 weeks before school starts, especially mealtimes and bedtimes. Be sure that kids are having a healthy breakfast each morning. Write it down: Capture the need-to-know information, such as locker combinations, what time classes and lunch start and end, homerooms, teachers’ and/or bus drivers’ names, etc. Write it all down in a special place for them so that they know where it is and can find the answers on their own. Pack the night before: Help kids organize and set out what they need for the school day the night before (i.e., homework and books should be put in their backpacks by the front door). That way they are not rushing in the morning to find what they need. Dress for success: Many kids feel more confident in their favorite shirt or pair of jeans. Some kids may want to wear a new outfit for the first day. Find what works best for your child and be sure it’s clean and ready the night before to make getting ready easier for you and your child. Make time: Adjust your schedule for the first week back. It’s especially beneficial for parents to be home at the end of the school day for the first week. But many working moms and dads just don’t have that flexibility. If you can’t be there when school lets out, try to arrange your evenings so that you’re able to give kids as much time as they need, especially during those first few days. For some kids, a case of the first-day jitters may strike the week before school starts. They may need a little extra help with the transition to help them feel prepared and confident. “First-day jitters are normal,” says D’Arcy Lyness, PhD, child psychologist and medical editor for KidsHealth.org. “If your child seems
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Although it’s normal to be anxious in any new situation, a few children develop real physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomachaches, associated with the start of school. If you’re concerned that your child’s worries go beyond the normal back-to-school jitters, speak with your child’s doctor, teacher, or school counselor. For more information about back to school, visit KidsHealth.org to read these helpful articles: Back to School (for Parents)
http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/family/back_school_p2.html
Back to School (for Kids)
http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/school/back_to_school.html
Back to School (For Teens)
http://www.kidshealth.org/teen/school_jobs/school/back_to_school.html Article from www.prweb.com
on the road
A place named “Last Chance Canyon” is bound to have an interesting back-story. Sure enough, at least according to legend, Last Chance Canyon picked up its name after a group of ranchers pursued Mescalero Apaches into the Guadalupe Mountains. The ranchers became lost, and they soon ran out of water. They rode from canyon to canyon, desperately searching for a spring, but without any luck. They spotted one more canyon - their last chance - and its abundant springs saved their lives. Last Chance Canyon and other area trails provide scenic “off the beaten path” hiking area near popular Sitting Bull Falls. The area is managed by the U.S.
Guadalupe Mountains National Park
Forest Service and is part of the Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe Ranger District. To reach the trail, go north from Carlsbad on Highway 285 and then travel west on State Road 137. Continue 31 miles and then turn right on State Road 276. The Last Chance entry point is on the right, just before the entrance to the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation Area. There’s a small day use entrance fee. Hiking options in the area range from short jaunts up paved paths to overnight backcountry treks. The Last Chance Canyon hike offers breathtaking views above and below a dramatic limestone canyon. Spring fed ponds along the hike range from a few inches to more than six feet deep. Look for an unusual arch near the junction of Last Chance Canyon and White Oaks trails. The feature has a span of 18 feet and a separation of 40 feet. The White Oaks Trail allows hikers a chance to walk a 10 mile loop around the Sitting Bull Falls Recreation area, while Last Chance Canyon continues to the west.
80+ miles of hiking trails ranging from easy nature trails to moderate canyon hikes to mountainous day hikes Hike among fall foliage in McKittrick Canyon, Dog Canyon, Devil’s Hall or the high country.
The spectacular 130-foot Sitting Bull Falls, viewable after a short walk from the recreation area parking lot, is certainly the marquee photography spot in the area. Short hikes along Last Chance and White Oaks canyons, however, provide visitors with a degree of solitude that is essential in truly appreciating the remote beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert. Wear sturdy shoes, bring plenty of water and don’t forget the sun block.
Tent and RV Camping Exhibits at Pine Springs Visitor Center Specialty Bookstore Frijole Ranch History Museum The best color is typically late October to early November. Call 915.828.3251 for updates on color conditions or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/gumo.
Above Photo: The Sitting Bull Falls Recreation area is a popular destination for visitors, but nearby Last Chance Canyon is also worth a second look.
55 miles southwest of Carlsbad on Highway 62/180
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on sports
Cavemen thrilled about returning lineup By Jeff Keller The Cavemen football team enters its third season under the guidance of head coach Ron Arrington, as it prepares for the 2009 gridiron campaign. The Cavemen squad went 3-7 in 2008, but with several returning starters in key positions on offense and defense, the CHS players and coaches are looking for bigger and better things this season. “We put in a lot of work this offseason,” senior starting quarterback Jacob Galindo said. “We had a lot of workouts from the start of the summer, and we have worked a lot on our own just with the receivers and the quarterbacks. We have been trying to get our timing down, just trying to have a very successful year. I really think we are going to have a really good year.” Cavemen offensive coordinator Ken Stevens said the Cavemen offense has set a point total goal for each game. “We want to get 28 points per game,” Stevens said. “We feel our defense is good enough that if we put up 28 points per game, then we are going to win the games that we are in.” The Cavemen offensive attack has seniors returning this season at most of the skill positions but will be looking for younger players to play well on a somewhat inexperienced offensive line. “Overall we are very excited about our offense,” Stevens said. “This is our third year in this offense. The kids have a very good grasp of it. We looked great in the spring and we have looked great this summer. Of course with (Jacob) Galindo back there, he is really maturing as a quarterback. He has been doing very well. Robbey Arrington and Matt Enloe are our two main receivers that we have coming back. Also a newcomer to watch for is Matt Chavarria. He came out late last season, and he has emerged and is going to be another one of our starters out there at the X (receiver) position. Our running backs are going to be Martell Runnels, Zack Bellah and Daniel Lopez battling it out for that spot.
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The key is going to be replacing that offensive line. We feel we have some good, young kids who are capable of doing it, but the key is having those guys step up and get it done. We definitely have the skill guys in place, and we believe that the young kids are going to get it done.” The Cavemen offense showed marked improvement in 2008 over the previous season, and Galindo said a key for continued improvement this season will be red zone efficiency and limiting turnovers. “One of our biggest problems from last year was turning over the ball,” Galindo said. “We need to really cut down on that. We had so many fumbles and turnovers last year, and that was really what hurt us. The defense would step up and stop the other team, and then we would turn the ball over instead of going in and scoring. We had a really big problem last year with finishing in the red zone. I really feel like everybody is comfortable with the offense this year and we are going to be able to finish more drives with points.” Defensively this season, the Cavemen return an experienced group. In 2008, the Cavemen had no returning starters on defense entering the season, but this season, Cavemen defensive coordinator Gino Rodriguez said he is more comfortable with the experience level of his group entering the season. “Last season, we weren’t sure what we were going to get,” Rodriguez said. “We knew we had worked hard all summer and the kids were going to give us everything they had. We knew the effort was going to be there. This year, we know that some of them are proven hitters, and we know they can come up and make tackles. I feel a little more comfortable, but we are always learning.”
CHS coach Ron Arrington patrols the sidelines during a game against Hobbs last season at Hobbs. Arrington returns for his third season as the head coach for the Cavemen in 2009.
CHS QB Jacob Galindo (#13) drops back to pass during the Battle for Eddy County last season at Artesia.
CHS lobo back Trevor Bindel (#44) recovers a fumble during the Battle for Eddy County last season at Artesia.
Rodriguez spoke about some of his returning players. “We have Trevor Bindel and he was a starter last year and he is returning,” Rodriguez said. “Chris Lara was a part time starter, but he got a lot of experience last year, and he is returning. We have Zack Bird, who got some playing time last year. Jake Wright played on the defensive line for us last year, and Paxton (Clark) was a starter for us last year. We have (Austin) Miller who played corner for us last year, and he is back. Those guys have pretty good experience.”
players are positive and excited about the upcoming season. He added he feels the third year in a system is usually when things begin to click.
a neat friendship type deal, but it is still a ball game. That is basically what it is, and nothing would make me happier than to beat him.”
“In all reality, even for a staff, it takes that long for everyone to get to know one another and feel comfortable around one another and know exactly what the coordinators want in drill time and outside stuff,” Arrington said. “It is the same thing with the kids. I think it takes some time for the kids to have confidence in the coaches and in the program.”
The Cavemen begin District 4-5A play with a home game against Hobbs Oct. 23 (coached by former Carlsbad Athletics Director Bruce Dollar) and close the regular season with a district road game at Clovis Oct. 30.
Rodriguez also listed some goals for his defense this season. “Our number one goal is to win,” Rodriguez said. “We want to allow 10 points or less. We don’t want to give up any plays over 25 yards, and we want to hold our opponents to under 225 yards per game. We want to create turnovers and score off of turnovers.”
The Cavemen’s schedule begins with two Texas road games at El Paso Del Valle and El Paso Andress.
Bindel moves from linebacker to the lobo position for his senior season. The lobo position is sort of a hybrid between a linebacker and a safety position in the Cavemen’s defense. Bindel said he will mainly be roaming on each play; trying to chase down the ball. Bindel said he can tell the Cavemen defense is confident entering this season.
“It is an uphill climb,” Arrington said. “We have a lot of tough competitors. That is the way we like it, though. We want to face tough teams, and we will week in and week out.”
“We feel more comfortable entering this season than we did last year,” Bindel said. “We have more confidence going towards the ball and playing the ball. The corners are going to do a lot better because we have some returning players. We changed the defense some this year, so we are going to be attacking more. We are in attack mode more than we are playing defense.” Ron Arrington said his coaching staff and
Of the eight New Mexico teams on the Cavemen’s regular season schedule this season, seven made either the Class 4A or Class 5A state playoffs in 2008.
The only New Mexico team on the Cavemen’s schedule that didn’t qualify for the playoffs last season is first-year program Cleveland High School, which Carlsbad will host Oct. 16. The Cleveland High School Storm are coached by former Carlsbad head coach Kirk Potter. Arrington said he is looking forward to the contest. “I am looking forward to it, and it will be a fun thing getting to see him,” Arrington said. “I saw him at coaching school and got to visit with him a little bit. It will be
“It is going to be tough in the end,” Arrington said of the district schedule. “I guess it will basically come down to who is healthy and who is executing the best once we get to that point… We all (Carlsbad, Hobbs and Clovis) want to beat each other, and there is no doubt about that. That is the goal, to get to the state playoffs, and we have to beat one of those two. I told the Rotary Club the other day that my preference is both.” Editor’s note: Contributor Jeff Keller is the former sports editor of the Carlsbad Current-Argus. Photos Courtesy of Carlsbad Current-Argus
2009 CHS Varsity Football Schedule Aug. 28: Cavemen at EP Del Valle @ 7 p.m. Sep. 4: Cavemen at EP Andress @ 7 p.m. Sep. 11: Cavemen host Mayfield @ 7 p.m. Sep. 18: Cavemen at Alamogordo @ 7 p.m. Sep. 25: Cavemen host Artesia @ 7 p.m. Oct. 3: Cavemen at Highland @ 1:30 p.m. Oct. 9: Cavemen host Goddard @ 7 p.m. Oct. 16: Cavemen host Cleveland @ 7 p.m. Oct. 23: Cavemen host Hobbs @ 7 p.m. Oct. 30: Cavemen at Clovis @ 7 p.m. END OF REGULAR SEASON
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on the community
Carlsbad visitor Explores Training Center By Mandy Marksteiner My visit to the Permian Basin Regional Training Center was unlike any tour I’ve ever taken. Fletcher Smith and his nephew, Russell Smith, began the tour at a memorial - a circle of twelve bronze portraits by Wayne Hyde, of each member of an extended family one for each member of an extended family killed in a natural gas pipeline explosion when they were on a camping trip on August 19, 2000. They stood in the center of the memorial, pointing at each bronze and introducing people as if we were at a family reunion. One of the victims was Fletcher’s brother and Russell’s father. Fletcher was planning on camping with them the weekend of the explosion, but he had to work, so he wasn’t there. When it sank in that Fletcher and Russell were related to every person represented in the memorial, I was overwhelmed by how unthinkably horrible it would be to lose so many family members all at once. I thought I should say something meaningful, but couldn’t think of anything. Luckily, they were excited to show me Nana’s Town and the training center’s fire simulation props. Most of their family has done volunteer work, and many of them are firefighters, so the training center is a natural extension of their talents. Russell’s mom, Martha Chapman (Nana), provided the initial funding for the facility. Russell said she wanted to “give back to the community for all that they did during the explosion, for later catastrophes, to help people get better training and keep people safe.” Nana’s Town is a child-sized city where they will teach children fire safety, weather safety, traffic safety and Internet safety. Each road is named after one of the children who was killed in the explosion (except for the center street, which is named after Russell’s daughter, Morgan). When they finish building it, Nana’s Town will look like a miniature replica of Carlsbad. That’s because local business owners can buy lots and decorate a miniature building to look like their business. The training center has been operating for the past two years. The streets are named after the adults who died in the explosion. Each area of the training center is designed for simulations of a specific type of fire. There are couch fires, kitchen fires and attic fires. There are props for Dumpster fires, commercial kitchen fires and motel fires. There is a moving floor that feels like it’s going to cave in and an extraction pit where they practice using the Jaws of Life. A three-story building provides plenty of scenarios for search and rescue training. We entered a dark room with an inch of standing water on the floor. In the corner was an electrical fire. Fletcher asked how I would put it out. I said you should turn the electricity off first.
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“If you don’t, but instead, put water on the fire, there will be a blood-curdling scream and someone will tell you that you’re dead,” he said. He led us into a dark elevator shaft where the car was stuck between the second and third floors. Rescue workers would need to rappel down from the top to get the people out. SWAT teams have come to the training center to practice chasing gunmen through the smoky stairwells.
that’s close to a parked train that gets so hot it creates its own weather patterns, the only tank battery fire simulator in the country and a rubble pile from a ten story building collapse. “We can make it real interesting out here,” said Fletcher.
A committee of fire service industry experts traveled across the United States to visit similar training centers to make the Permian Basin Regional Training Center one of the best places to train firefighters in the world. They’re still Russell Smith holding the “Dead Man’s Switch” adding realistic live-fire training areas so that rescue workers can be prepared for wildfires, terrorism In rural New Mexico there a lot of propane tanks close to attacks and train accidents. houses. Russell started a propane fire, and I could feel the heat from 100 feet away. I couldn’t imagine being a firefighter, At the end of the tour, they helped me into 65 pounds of running toward that tank. firefighting gear and gave me a boost onto the back of the fire truck. It was fun to pretend to be a hero. Although the training center prepares rescue workers to deal with life threatening situations, there are many layers of safety I left the tour feeling inspired. By creating the Permian Basin measures. There are always two safety officers in the control Regional Training Center, they have improved the lives tower whenever they do a simulation. Each fire is controlled of rescue workers and the community, and transformed by someone holding a “dead man’s switch.” The dead man’s themselves into true heroes. switch has to be held down the entire time the fire is blazing. As soon as the finger comes off the button, the fire stops. Outside a fenced area there are the big props: a fuel spill fire
Editor’s note: Author Mandy Marksteiner graduated from Lawrence University in 2004 and now lives in Los Alamos with her husband and son. For more information, visit www.mandymarksteiner.com.
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New MainStreet Director Couldn’t Be Happier
B
ianca Granado knew all along what types of duties and responsibilities she’d have in her dream job - she just didn’t know exactly what, or where, that job would be. She certainly didn’t think she’d find the perfect fit back home. That all changed in mid July, when Granado, 23, took over as executive director of Carlsbad’s MainStreet Project, a position that wound up offering exactly what Granado was seeking. Granado, a Carlsbad native, graduated from New Mexico State University in 2008. While in Las Cruces, she worked in the media department of the Las Cruces Convention and Visitors Bureau and originally planned to pursue that avenue in either Albuquerque or Las Cruces. The economic recession, however, made that difficult, and Granado returned home, worked on a few contract projects and pondered applying for law school. “In the midst of all of this, I talked to an old professor, and he told me to check with the Current-Argus, at least as a backup,” she said. Granado said there wasn’t a vacancy when she first contacted the newspaper, but a position opened three days later. There are aspects of journalism that Granado said she really enjoys, such as getting to talk to different types of people. The expected cold objectivity, however, isn’t something she prefers. “You are supposed to remove yourself from the story, and I don’t like that part,” she noted. “I like trying to make other people look good. At a newspaper, you aren’t supposed to do that. You’re supposed to be indifferent.” And while she enjoys writing, Granado also enjoys creative design and developing strategies and campaigns. Granado worked at the newspaper for about six months. She then worked in public relations and marketing for several local companies. On a whim, she submitted a resume to former MainStreet executive director Bonnie Bakal, but didn’t expect to hear much about it. But then Bakal announced that she was going to leave as director once a replacement was found. Members of MainStreet’s search committee examined several applicants, but ultimately contacted Granado and offered her the job. “At first, I thought, ‘I’m not going to get it. There’s no way. It seems like such a far-fetched idea,’” Granado said. It turned out to be the job Granado had always been looking for. “I’ve always known exactly what I wanted to do,” she noted. “But I never knew of a job that had everything I wanted. This job has all of that.” According to the organization’s Web page, the Carlsbad MainStreet project exists to strengthen the downtown as the center of Carlsbad’s community through concentrated efforts in organization, promotion, design and economic restructuring. That includes helping put together seasonal events such as the Little Miss Merry Christmas pageant and the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers Market, one of MainStreet’s biggest recent success stories.
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“MainStreet is all about downtown revitalization and economic development,” Granado said, noting that she sees community outreach as one of her biggest responsibilities. “I want to make sure people know that MainStreet exists, that they know what MainStreet does for downtown and to make sure things happen,” she noted.
Bianca Granado, executive director of Carlsbad’s MainStreet Project, stands outside of her office in downtown Carlsbad.
As an executive director, Granado sees it as her job to uphold the desires of her board, other volunteers and the community. “My job is to take their ideas and make sure they are carried out, ” she said. MainStreet encompasses much of Carlsbad’s downtown area. It’s an area that includes two newly-opened upscale restaurants, the Trinity Hotel and the Stock Exchange. “It’s amazing to have three restaurants, that’s including the Court Café, in your MainStreet district,” Granado noted. “There’s a lot of good buzz. It brings so many people out and that helps other business. Plus, people want to see options, so it’s great.” One of MainStreet’s ongoing projects is to try to expand Carlsbad’s “brand” through a developing signage campaign. MainStreet also represents its businesses in negotiations involving Canal Street renovations. Under Bakal’s direction, MainStreet also began seeking the designation of historical district, which would more grants available. MainStreet is also in the process of putting together a downtown master plan. “Everybody wants us to make the changes Artesia has and that Eunice has been making,” Granado said. “We’re on that track, but we want to keep our individuality and make sure we stand apart from other MainStreets.” Granado credits her predecessor, Bakal, with making sure the transition to a new director goes smoothly. “She did so much to get me caught up and up to speed,” Granado said. “She really just did a good job of everything. She has been wonderful throughout this entire process, and it has been an honor to work with her.” For more information on Carlsbad’s MainStreet Program, visit www.carlsbadmainstreetnm.com.
Earth’s Record Holders Mt. Everest is the highest mountain on earth and grows about 4 millimeters a year since two tectonic plates, which collided millions of years ago to form the Himalayas, continue to press against each other. Earth’s highest waterfall is at Angel Falls in Venezuela, which drops, 3,212 feet or 979 meters. The hottest place on earth is Azizia in Libya with 136 degrees Fahrenheit or 57.8 Celsius. The coldest place is in Vostok, Antarctica, at -129 degrees Fahrenheit or -89 Celsius. The Pacific is the biggest ocean, covering 32.6 percent of the earth’s surface, and the Nile River in Africa is the longest meandering river, flowing for 4,160 miles or 6,695 kilometers. Information gathered from: www.interestingfacts.com
Down with Brown Coloring is added to many kinds of bread to make it appear
more healthful so be aware of “brown” breads masquerading as healthy or whole grain. Appearance isn’t everything. Watch for the word “whole” on the label. Without it, you could be losing out on half of the dietary fiber provided by real whole grain breads. If it’s not list on the label, flip the package around and check the ingredient list. The first item listed should be “whole grain.” Also, be sure to check how many grams of dietary fiber the bread has. Quality whole grain breads will
update: Carlsbad Medical Center By now, Carlsbad Medical Center has started a $15 million improvement and expansion project that will include renovation of the hospital’s O.B. unit, expansion of the O.R., remodeling of the front lobby and new equipment.
have at least 1.5 grams of fiber per slice. Some specialty breads offer up to four grams of fiber per slice. Fiber fills you up and keeps hunger in check. Information gathered from: www.Lifescript.com
Don’t Drink “Alone” Drinking alcohol can raise your blood pressure, but did you know that it’s how you drink beer, wine or mixed drink that makes a difference? Drinking alcohol a la carte (without food) raises your blood pressure temporarily and can actually increase your risk of developing hypertension by 40 percent, which also increases your risk for heart disease. Without eating something to soak up some of the effects of the alcohol, your blood pressure is highly altered. So whether you’re having a glass of merlot with your spaghetti and meatballs or drinking beer with your buffalo wings, make sure you eat as you drink to help keep your blood pressure under control. Information gathered from: www.Lifescript.com
With no major upgrades since the hospital was built in 1977, the renovation of the O.B. unit on the hospital’s second floor is expected to play a large role in both patient and physician satisfaction. The unit will be upgraded with three large Labor, Delivery, Recovery rooms. Post-partum rooms will be upgraded to increase patient and physician satisfaction. The expansion of the O.R. will include an addition of 13,000 square feet, or four operating rooms, for a total of eight rooms and 23,000 square feet. To accommodate for the new operating rooms, the hospital’s Materials Management department will be moved to a new building that will soon be built behind the Medical Administrative Services building, adjacent to the hospital campus. An additional $500,000 in equipment is being purchased for each new operating room. Visitors to the hospital can also look forward to a major renovation of the front lobby. The entire project is expected to be complete by Fall 2010.
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