Focus on Carlsbad Fall 2010 by FocusNM.com

FALL 2010

Marching to the Beat of a Different Drummer A Celebration of Carlsbad People, Places and Things

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fiesta Time!

Carlsbadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Mexican Restaurants

The JMA Renaissance

A Look Inside Jefferson Montessori Academy

Discover the Excitement of a New Home! Spring Hollow Homes offered by Means Real Estate and Ken Thurston Homes Low interest and affordable pricing make now the time to buy!

Ready to be impressed? Come Watch Us Grow! New model home under construction at 1809 Hays!

Oran & Shirley Means

Associate Brokers

575-885-6664 575-361-0207

Denise Griffith Broker/Owner

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

575-361-1181

Lanette Rostro Duarte

LaVern Johnston

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

575-361-1885

Associate Broker

575-200-5954

Associate Broker

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

FALL 2010

Focus on the Chamber From the Editor Focus Community Events Focus on KIDS

Focus on the Road

Focus on EVERYDAY HEROES

Photo Spread

Focus on business

Focus on food

The Recking Crew DEEP IN THE HEART OF NM - STARS Spreading the Word Photos in Focus Pat’s Fun City

W e A r e C o m f o r t K e e p e r s®

Fiesta - Mexican Restaurants • Meal Preparation • Housekeeping and Laundry • Errands and Shopping • Incidental Transportation • Respite Care • Grooming, Dressing Guidance • Medication Reminders • Personal Care Services: – Bathing, Hygiene – Incontinence Care – Transferring and Positioning Emergency Response Technology

Focus on a carlsbad character

Comfort Keepers® provides in-home care for clients needing assistance for a few hours a day to around-the-clock. Care is provided by our Comfort Keepers® who are carefully screened and trained to provide compassionate care and companionship. Call us today for a free in-home visit.

A Man and His Dog, and Their Bicycle Focus on education

The JMA Renaissance PGA Golfer Enjoys Being on the Road Again

206 W. McKay Carlsbad, NM 88220

Focus Business Directory

575-887-4999

Each office independently owned and operated.

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Focus on sports

s e r v i C e s

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Editorial Content by Kyle Marksteiner Photography by Kyle Marksteiner - along with submitted photos Special Contributors: Jeff Keller, Bianca L. Granado & John Safin Focus on Carlsbad is published quarterly by Ad Venture Marketing. 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.

on the chamber

tourism corner

Deputy Secretary for Tourism featured as guest speaker at Chamber Annual Banquet The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce was pleased to have Jennifer Hobson, Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Tourism Department as their guest speaker for their annual chamber banquet this year. Jennifer took the position as Deputy Secretary just over a year ago and hit the ground running from the beginning. Jennifer currently heads the Eco Tourism program which was recently announced as a new initiative within the Tourism Department. As guest speaker of the Chamber of Commerce banquet Jennifer highlighted the different programs under the Tourism Department as well as the importance for partnership especially during these challenging economic times. Jennifer highlighted the importance of the partnership which has been developed between the New Mexico Tourism Department and the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Through these partnerships the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has been able to attend over 22 travel related shows and 3 state fairs this past fiscal year. Jennifer also highlighted all the many wonderful State and National Parks located throughout the Southern region of the State. The importance of tourism is incredible to the state of New Mexico and is currently the second largest private sector employer generating revenue of over 5.7 billion per year. While in Carlsbad Jennifer was able to take a tour of Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Pecos River Beach park recreation area. She did hate to admit but this was her first time to Carlsbad, but she hopes to be able to come down for Christmas on the Pecos this winter.

Jennifer Hobson

Deputy Secretary for the New Mexico Tourism Department

OUR ANNUAL BANQUET The Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Banquet in late June. In following with the 2010-11 Chamber theme of “Remembering the past…envisioning the future”, attendees were encouraged to wear the colors of their alma mater – whether high school or college. Guest speaker for the banquet was Jennifer Hobson, Deputy Secretary of the NM Department of Tourism (see Tourism corner for more information on Ms. Hobson). Special awards for the evening were presented to Hutchins Electric for New Chamber Business of the Year, Albertsons Food & Drug for Small Business of the Year and URS – Washington TRU Solutions was the recipient of the Large Business of the Year Award. Mike Calvani, Chairperson for the Christmas on the Pecos Council, received the coveted Jack E. Knittel President’s Award for his leadership and dedication to the Chamber and Judi Waters was honored with the Pete Panagopoulos Ambassador of the Year award. Also recognized during the evening were retiring Board members Marsha Drapala, Darold Haug, Roxanne Lara, Tom Saulino and Ernie White, and outgoing Chairman of the Board Matt Leroch. Russell Hardy, 2010-11 Chairman of the Board, challenged the Board of Directors to find more ways to serve the Chamber membership and to also work more closely with the City of Carlsbad, Eddy County, Carlsbad Department of Development and other regional Chambers of Commerce. Positively Carlsbad Chairperson, Susan Crockett, called the banquet another huge success for the Chamber! SEE PAGE 7 FOR PHOTOS OF THIS YEARS EVENT!

on carlsbad

Letter from the president

Hello again! Well it seems like just yesterday that I was writing this article and mentioning how honored I was to be the new chairman of the board for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Here it is a year later and I am still honored to have served as the chairman for the past year. I do have, however, mixed emotions about leaving the post now that my term has expired. On one hand I would love to continue my role as chairman and serve a longer term for the Chamber, and yet on the other hand, I know that the Chamber will be in capable hands when I turn the gavel over to the new Chairman of the Board for the coming year - Russell Hardy, president of the local New Mexico State University. I have really enjoyed my term as Chairman and I believe that the Chamber has had many major accomplishments over the past year. Last July, the Carlsbad Chamber was designated by the New Mexico Department of Tourism as an official state Visitor and Information Center. This is truly a major recognition within the state – there are only 12 other such sites within the state – Carlsbad being the only site in the Southeast corner of New Mexico. This past April, the National Association of Chamber Ambassadors (NACA), held its four-day annual convention here in Carlsbad. Once again, this past year, the chamber sponsored many successful events – the Taste of Carlsbad, the Business Fair, the Chamber Golf Tournament, and the Chamber’s signature event – Christmas on the Pecos. Over the past year, the Chamber continued to champion Friday Focus (held every Friday) which is a gathering of business men and women who tout their business wears – a community event that promotes interaction and business networking. The chamber’s retirement council has continued to increase its data base of potential retirees and a total of 136 new individuals have relocated to our fair city since 2006. And last, but certainly not least, the Chamber’s Annual Banquet. Again, the chamber’s banquet was a resounding success. I would like to personally thank Susan Crockett and the Positively Carlsbad council for making all the necessary arrangements and providing the banquet’s decorations. Several awards were presented at the banquet – the “new business” award went to Hutchins Electric; the “small business” award went to Albertsons; the “large business” award went to URS – Washington TRU Solutions; the “Jack Knittel Presidential” award went to Mike Calvani; and the “Pete Panagopoulos Ambassador” award went to Judi Waters. The theme for this coming year is “Remembering the Past and Envisioning the Future.” In my parting words and staying true to the theme - I want to thank all of you who assisted me over the past year; I will never forget my term as chairman of the Chamber and I envision a stronger Carlsbad Chamber and a brighter future for the Carlsbad business community. Thanks for allowing me to serve the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce!!!

2010-2011 Board of Directors

Wanda Durham,

Russell Hardy,

Tourism Chairperson Best Western Stevens Inn

Chairman of the Board NMSU-Carlsbad

Susan Crockett,

Incoming Chairman of the Board Springtime Cleaning & Janitorial

Judi Waters

Treasurer First United Methodist Church

Matt Leroch,

Past Chairman of the Board URS Washington Division

Ambassador Co-Chairperson Durham & Associates

Bobby Forrest,

Pat’s Fun City Richard Bradley Insurance Agency The Recovery Center Tri-River Real Estate .................................................................

For more info or to join the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce 302 South Canal Street (575) 887-6516 www.carlsbadchamber.com

Kirstin Carlson, Board Member

Johnna Stephens, Board Member

Chris Bird, Board Member

Brenda Suggs, Board Member

Carlsbad Mental Health

Western Commerce Bank

Carlsbad National Bank

Rudy Dominguez, Board Member

Debe Wagner, Board Member

Robert Young, Board Member Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center

Bob Yeager,

Tom Hollis, Board Member Carlsbad National Bank

Honorary Board Members

Ken Britt,

Todd Hyden, Board Member Ross Hyden Motors

Ambassador Co-Chairperson Simply Enchanted / Little Tea Pot Retirement Council Chairperson Century 21 Assoc. Professionals Lodger’s Tax Representative Living Desert State Park

Mayor Dale Janway,

Young Business League Chairperson Carlsbad Dept. of Development

Desert Sky Construction & Roofing, LLC

Jim Harrison, Board Member

Jerri McTaggart,

Mike Calvani,

Jeff Campbell,

Aquaceros Day Spa

Pioneer Bank

Wes Carter,

Christmas on the Pecos Chairperson Calvani’s Carpets

New Members

Intrepid Potash NMLLC

Bonnie Bakal,

Governmental Affairs Chairperson Individual

- Matt

Welcome!

City Council Representative City Council City of Carlsbad Mayor City of Carlsbad

Tina Britain, Board Member Curves International

Carlsbad Community Foundation

Ben Jaime, Board Member

XCEL Energy

Susan Owen, Board Member Lakeview Christian Home Dave Rogers, Board Member

CARC, Inc.

Jerry Rogers, Board Member

SE Readi-Mix

Mark Schinnerer, Board Member

CARC, Inc

John Benjamin Alison Bryant Larry Coalson Dr. Ned Elkins Roxanne Lara John Lujan Ernie Mendoza Jim Stovall Dr. George Veni John Waters Dr. Sheri Williams

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

Arthur “Dewey” Griffith, Facilities Maintenance

director@carlsbadchamber.com

tourism@carlsbadchamber.com

retirement@carlsbadchamber.com

carlsbadnm@carlsbadchamber.com

temp@carlsbadchamber.com

Grand Openings ribbon cuttings ground breakings

John & Christy Hutchins and friends from the Chamber Ambassadors cut the ribbon at the new location for Christy’s Place and Hutchins Electric at 132 N. Canyon.

The Chamber Ambassadors helped the owners and “guests” of the Little Tea Pot with their grand opening at 512 N. Canyon.

Pat’s Fun City is open at 3904 National Parks Highway…go carts, miniature golf and more!

US Cable staff celebrate the announcement of their new BOOM products.

The management, staff and Chamber members celebrate the grand opening of the newly remodeled Wal-Mart store in Carlsbad.

What’s Up? Wireless is now open at 1314 S. Canal offering new options in cell phones and supplies.

SPECIAL THANKS TO MARSHA DRAPALA When Marsha Drapala returned to Carlsbad, she immediately became involved in the community. In 2005, she and George Dunagan (Dunagan Associates) co-chaired the Chamber of Commerce Retirement Initiative. Marsha served as a member of the Chamber Board. Under their direction an Evaluation of Carlsbad as a Retirement Destination was prepared by the ESI Corporation of Arizona. Due largely to their efforts, the Retirement Initiative has received requests for relocation information from over 23,000 retirees. These requests are from all states and seven countries. Now, Marsha is stepping down as co-chair and Bob Yeager (Century 21) will be serving in that position along with George. Marsha has deep roots in Carlsbad and will continue to serve on the retirement council. Carlsbad is a vibrant community offering a variety of homes, small town friendliness, scenic paths along the Pecos River, golf courses, senior recreation centers, NMSU-C and so much more. We need to take advantage of what is in our own backyard as there are many things of interest if one does a little exploring. Yesterday, today, and forever – Carlsbad is a Place to Call Home. The Retirement Initiative says, “Thank you Marsha and welcome Bob.”

on carlsbad

Marsha Drapala

on the chamber

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce 2010 Annual Banquet

Mike Calvani, Chairperson of the Christmas on the Pecos Council, receives the Jack E. Knittel Presidents Award from Matt Leroch.

Judi Waters shows her surprise at being named the Pete Panagopoulos Ambassador of the Year.

Hutchins Electric wins the Chamber of Commerce New Business of the Year.

2009-10 Chairman of the Board, Matt Leroch passes the gavel to the 2010-11 Chairman of the Board, Russell Hardy.

Susan Crockett presents the Chamber of Commerce Large Business of the Year to URS – Washington TRU Solutions representatives Farok Sharif, Darold Haug, and Pat Yocum.

Albertson’s Food & Drug was honored as the Small Business of the year at the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet.

from the editor

A Year I’ve had the privilege of being the editorial director of Focus Magazine for more than a year now, and it’s been a pretty amazing ride so far. We started things off last year by bringing you a feature about downtown dining, only we accidently brought you “downtown dinning,”a mistake—and I’m not naming any names here—that is repeated in the bread aisle of one of our local grocery stores. Before Christmas, we talked about Carlsbad’s art scene, and then we celebrated the life of Alma Fitzgerald, a pioneer in Carlsbad barbecue. Alma, I also discovered recently, is the fastest peach eater you’ll ever meet. Then in the spring, we celebrated the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, local bingo enthusiasts and much more. Carlsbad has so many more stories to tell. The theme for this edition is “Marching to the beat of a different drummer.” It’s a celebration of Carlsbad people, places and things that aren’t afraid to stand out just a little bit, like the Jefferson Montessori Academy, brightly-colored bike rider Michael Bromka and the busy folks at the Riverwalk Recreation Center. I was excited to have the opportunity to write about JMA because, like many of you, I was convinced five or six years ago that it was a good idea that just didn’t work out. Since then, I feel JMA has turned into one of Carlsbad’s biggest success stories. Read inside to find out more. Oh yeah, and I profiled Carlsbad’s Mexican restaurants because someone remarked to me recently that Carlsbad really does have an abundance of good Mexican restaurants. I was able to come up with 12 of them just on short notice, and that’s not even counting places like the Pecos River Café that have great Mexican food and great American options. I even sent out a survey at the last minute, so we may do a followup for everyone we didn’t reach this time. While I am certainly thrilled to be celebrating an anniversary with Focus, I must confess that it is only the second biggest event of the time period. The real big change for me right now, thanks to my daughter Amelia, is that I now have a giant inflatable duck bathtub inside of my regular bathtub. I did not have a giant inflatable duck bathtub inside of my bathtub, or anywhere else, 365 days ago. Amelia thinks it is pretty much the coolest thing ever. And, to finally transition back to the first part of this column, Amelia just celebrated her first birthday. The rest of this column is written to her, with the obvious hope that you, the reader, can also relate since you also have children, have been a child at some point or at the very least once saw a child on television. I should also warn those of you allergic to such things that it’s a bit on the syrupy side.

on carlsbad

in Focus

To the bringer of smiles, the stealer of daddy’s glasses, the chewer of cell phones and the loser of socks: To my baby girl, Amelia—Happy Birthday!

I have learned so much from you already. I have learned that smiles are the world’s most important commodity, to be given out with the perfectly reasonable expectation that they will be returned. I have learned that joy is contagious. The joy you feel as you diligently discover this new universe you were introduced to last year quickly spreads to everyone around you. And then, in turn, you absorb the joy that those around you reflect. It’s like a big tennis match of joy. You have charmed every waitress in Carlsbad. A trip to the grocery store, for you, means a chance to get to ride in the cart and an opportunity to find new friends in front of us and behind us in line. Giggles are contagious too. A funny face, a silly noise or a stinky diaper are all good times to giggle—and sometimes it’s perfectly OK to giggle just for the sake of giggling. You’ve introduced me to a strange new world of teething biscuits, pink sweaters and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” I have concluded, following a year of close observation, that your world makes an awful lot more sense than the grownup world. I can’t pick a favorite moment, but I will say that my very favorite times with you are your “I did it!” moments—the proud grin and self-satisfied head wobble, and the quick glance to make sure that you have an audience that accompanies your first successful attempt to sit up, crawl across the room or make a raspberry noise on mommy’s belly. It’s in these moments, markers of your determined quest to become a Big Girl, that your smiles seem to carry even more potency than normal. And while I should confess that I am personally in no major hurry to see us at the Big Girl finish line, the successful crossing of the developmental hurdles themselves, and the obvious pride you feel at those moments, is just breathtaking. Just don’t race forward to the grownup world too quickly— there is a dearth of inflatable duck bathtubs out there. You have brought much sunshine into your mother’s and my lives. We are so honored to be the ones tasked with taking care of you and showing you around as you discover the universe. So happy birthday, Amelia, and thank you for a thousand smiles. Here’s to hoping for a million more.

Love, Dad Kyle Marksteiner is the editor of Focus Magazine. He can be reached at editor@ad-venturemarketing.com

community events Contacts

September 3-6

November 2

(7-9 p.m.) Check out more rodeo action by watching the state’s high school finals at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse Arena. Several local teens will be participating.

Carlsbad Community Concert Association presents Quartetto Gelato at 7:30 p.m. at P.R. Leyva Middle School Auditorium. For more information, please call 302-6843.

New Mexico High School State Finals Rodeo

Carlsbad Community Concert Association

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce www.carlsbadchamber.com • 575-887-6516

SEPTEMBER 4

NOVEMBER 13

Carlsbad Department of Development

(7:30-9:30 p.m.) Look at wonders of the night sky through large telescopes at Brantley Lake State Park. The planets Saturn, Mars, Venus, and Jupiter will be visible. Regular entrance fee required.

(11 a.m.-3 p.m.) Learn how you can make a difference! Exhibits and booths about recycling and composting will be set up in the Visitor Center.

City of Carlsbad

SEPTEMBER 4

Fridays (7:30-9:30 a.m.)

(1-3 p.m.) Celebrate vultures, nature’s sanitation engineers at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park. There will be children’s crafts and turkey vulture displays at this unique event. There is no fee.

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 575-887-6516. Fridays (9:30-10:30 a.m.)

Eddy County

Story time takes place every Friday morning when school is in session at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park Visitor’s Center. Songs, a story, a short walk in the park (weather permitting), and crafts are offered for preschool children and accompanying adults. Free. For more information, call Linda Frank at the park at 575-887-5516. Saturdays (8-11 a.m.)

www.carlsbad.k12.nm.us • 575-234-3300

Star Party

International Vulture Awareness Day

SEPTEMBER 10-11

Shakin’ on the Pecos All Bull Riding Event

(7-9 p.m.) The second half of the annual event is also taking place at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse Arena.

SEPTEMBER 15

Carlsbad Horsemen’s Association Show

(9 a.m.-5 p.m.) The fall portion of the show involves a Western Horse Show. There will also be a hunter/jumper/dresser show on Oct. 2. For more information, visit www. carlsbadhorsemen.com.

SEPTEMBER 24

Full Moon Walk and Music and the Moon

(6-7:30 p.m.) From 6-7 p.m., the classic rock band Celestial Remnants will present a free outdoor concert. Bring a lawn chair. The entrance time is limited to a half-hour, but visitors stroll through the zoo by the light of the full moon. This is a beautiful time to experience the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens.

October 21

Assistance League Christmas Tree Auction

America Recycles Day

Other Events

www.developcarlsbad.org • 575-887-6562

www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com • 575-887-1191

City of Carlsbad Police Department www.carlsbadpolicedepartment.com • 575-885-2111

Friday Focus

Preschool Story Time

Farmer’s Market

Local growers gather at the south side of the Eddy County Courthouse lawn during the summer to sell home-grown vegetables, herbs and plants. We welcome submissions to the community events page. Please e-mail upcoming activities to editor@ad-venturemarketing.com.

www.co.eddy.nm.us • 575-887-9511

Eddy County Sheriff’s Department 887-7551

Carlsbad Municipal Schools New Mexico State University www.artemis.nmsu.edu • 575-234-9250

Carlsbad Medical Center www.carlsbadmedicalcenter.com • 575-887-4100

WIPP www.wipp.energy.gov • 575-234-7200

Carlsbad Caverns National Park www.nps.gov/cave/ • 575-785-2232

Join us

(6-9 p.m.) This annual event takes place at The Assistance League’s chapter house, 1100 North Canal Street. The auction is one of the Assistance League’s primary fundraisers each year. Many of the trees appear in the organization’s home tour, held later in the year.

OCTOBER 22

Full Moon Walk

(6:30-7 p.m.) The entrance time is limited to a half-hour, but visitors stroll through the zoo by the light of the full moon. This is a beautiful time to experience the Living Desert. Regular entrance fee required.

OCTOBER 23

Wolf Awareness Day

(10 a.m.-2 p.m.) This annual event features special programs and activities about the endangered Mexican gray wolf. Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park currently houses six of these beautiful animals. There is no fee.

“Serving the educational needs of Eddy County since 1950” Enroll today! Call 234-9200 or visit us online at cavern.nmsu.edu

on kids

the recking crew by John Safin

Life at the Carlsbad Riverwalk

tand on the west side of the bridge that crosses the Pecos River and look across to the east bank. There are two structures that will capture your attention. One is the life size Lincoln Log fort known as Project Playground. The other is a building that combines classic adobe with modern industrial concrete. Together, this is the Carlsbad’s Riverwalk Recreation Complex.

The monolithic building is where most of the fun happens. The three-floor recreation center has five basketball, two racquetball, and volleyball courts; weight room; video game area; pool tables; a small library filled with all sorts of books, several tables and cushy chairs for relaxation; and a television section. While there is usually someone sitting on the sofa watching television, there seems to be at least one person always shooting hoops.

It’s a short drive from Carlsbad on Greene Street turning north on Muscatel Ave and following the signs to the complex. The 15,000-square foot Project Playground, constructed in 2002, has swings, towers, slides, and mazes that will keep the young and young-at-heart entertained for hours. (The young-atheart need to know the tube slides work better when waist size is smaller than the diameter of the tube.) This outdoor playground is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year and operated by the City of Carlsbad. There are picnic tables and ramadas near the playground making this an ideal place for a family outing, lunch away from the office, or a romantic picnic.

One evening, there was heavy competition happening on all five basketball courts with each game having its own unique personality. On the near court, Will, Jerzy, and Jordan, three guys who are regulars, were warming up for a game. After watching for a while, it was easy to tell these three guys would give the Harlem Globetrotters a run for their money and they could definitely beat the Washington Generals. There was a 5-on-5 game between guys who looked like they should be playing football instead of basketball and another court had two girls “schooling” two guys in a half-court game. During breaks in the action, several of the players said how grateful they were for the Rec Center. Most wouldn’t know what to do without it.

Walk across the parking lot to the area surrounded by chain link fence to the first of many undiscovered entertainment hubs. The most active section is the skate park; think empty swimming pool with large, curving pillars. Skateboarder, Razor riders, and rollerbladers will recognize the quarter pipes, half pipes, and rails—a source of hours of death-defying fun. “The skateboarders are crazy,” said Elba Alanzo, one of the volunteers at the recreation complex. “They twist, spin, and flip in the air. It’s something to watch.” She also mentioned the Rec Center has free helmets for anyone who needs it. “We have all the safety equipment and hockey equipment if anyone wants or needs them. We don’t charge for the use of the equipment. They just need to leave their ID or keys to borrow what they want.”

on carlsbad

“Many people, especially the kids, express they wouldn’t have any place to go to play basketball or a location to meet friends,” said Rénee Madrid, manager of the Riverwalk Recreation Complex. “Hundreds of people visit the center every day. Many are from out of town visiting relatives who live here or are tourists who heard about the center.” Wanda Caddel, assistant manager, echoed the comment. “We have a guest book at the entrance, but not everyone signs it when they come to the center. I would say about twenty people a day are from out of town. Several mentioned they would like to duplicate this (recreation center) in their cities.” Meanwhile, two boys playing pool were

Recreation Complex

“smack talking” to each other, a group was watching a World Cup soccer game, two girls were trying to win a prize from the crane game, two people were playing racquetball, and the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers Market was having a meeting in the center’s multipurpose room. This room is available for meetings, birthday parties, or any other type of event. Wedding receptions are one of the most frequent uses for the room. “It’s really inexpensive to rent when compared to other places,” said Wanda, “There is a covered area at the river just outside the door that is a nice place to take wedding photos.” No matter what time you walk into the Rec Center, there is always something happening, whether it’s just the “usual suspects” hanging around or an organized event. Arts and crafts, belly dancing classes, and tea parties are some of the regular activities coordinated by the Rec Center. “We host special events throughout the year,” noted Rénee. “Trick-and-Trunk is a big Halloween event. We give out prizes for the best decorated car and have a lot of games for the kids.” She is most proud of the annual Christmas party. Popularity of the holiday party has increased over the years with over 800 people attending last year. “We started doing this about three years ago. Thanks to local business sponsors, this is another event free to the public. Santa is here for photos, we bring in a few inflatable jumpers, and it’s a good time for everyone. For our Dr. Seuss party, the community kids made all the posters, and their work was very good. The community service kids do a lot to help us and don’t get enough recognition.” At the most recent dance, another routine event at the Rec Center, girls outnumbered boys three to one. The dozen boys were huddled together in a pack protecting each other from actually having to get on the dance floor. It was the “safety in numbers” theory at work. The girls were scattered around

Carlsbad’s Riverwalk Recreation Complex provides activities for youth and adults throughout the year. Many of the regulars at the Rec Center say they wouldn’t know what to do without the facility.

the ‘regulars’ and equally amazing to see the dozens of new faces. The staff’s estimate that hundreds of people came to the center wasn’t that far from the truth. Above: Girls from P.R. Leyva and Alta Vista schools enjoy a Rec Center dance. Left: A young Razor-rider is positioned for a trick while his friend watches.

the area in groups dancing under the strobe lights to the music provided by DJ Chuy, chatting and texting in smaller circles, or spinning glow sticks and giggling…a lot! Finding girls who were willing to talk about the Rec Center wasn’t difficult and they all agreed, “It’s cool!” Tiersa and Marce, age 12, attend Alta Vista Middle School and like going to the Rec Center to hang with friends. From P.R. Leyva Middle School, Jennica and Jazzmin, 11, and Caitlin, 12, also go there to meet with friends, play foosball, basketball, volleyball, and skateboard. All go to the Rec Center as often as possible, most of them every day. All five were enthusiastic, with overlapping comments including “it’s the only place to do stuff” and “more fun than staying home.” While all five were talking at the same time, at least two of them said they went there to flirt with the boys. More giggling ensued after this was announced. This dance happened to be a fundraising event for a local softball team.

According to organizers, charitable groups can rent the Rec Center and hire a DJ, and all the proceeds go to the group. The Rec Center hosts frequent dances throughout the year, including some with a theme, such as a Foam Dance. This is when a giant wading pool is filled with, you guessed it, foam. It’s a chance for the kids to have unique fun without overflowing the washing machine at home. Rénee emphasized, “This is a safe, clean place for kids, adults, and families to have fun. Everything is free except for the video games and some special events. The strange thing is there are people who have lived for thirty years in Carlsbad and never knew we’re here. People have called while at Project Playground, just outside the building, to ask where we’re located.” The Carlsbad Riverwalk Recreation Complex might be the busiest hidden secret in the area. During the days spent at the Rec Center, it was easy to notice

As wonderful as it is, everyone seemed to want something more at the Riverwalk Recreation Complex. The skateboarders wanted the weather to be cooler, basketball players wanted to make sure it stayed free to play, and the girls wanted computers with Internet access. “We could use some computers,” said Rénee, “but I don’t know if Internet access is necessary. Donated computers would allow us to teach the kids typing, have programs for math and reading tutorials, and other teaching tools. More adult volunteers are always welcome.” It’s time for you, your family, and your friends to discover fun at the Riverwalk Recreation Complex. Information is available on the City of Carlsbad Website (www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com) or call the center at (575) 887-2702. Now, it’s time to get back on the tube slide. About the author:

John Safin has a background in business operations, marketing, event planning, and public relations. Originally from Upstate New York, John moved from Glendale, AZ to Carlsbad, NM, which he now calls “home.” www.johnsafin.com

on the road

by Bianca L. Granado Studying the cosmos from your own backyard may be easy to do with clear skies like the ones that exist in Carlsbad, but there’s one star that may prove to be slightly more difficult to study, especially without the proper technology. The Sun is the driving force behind most of the Earth’s energy, but without the right equipment, studying its characteristics isn’t an easy task. Luckily for Carlsbad residents, Sunspot’s National Solar Observatory, located just a few miles south of Cloudcroft, proves to be one of the easiest and best ways to study the Sun, said Dave Dooling, education and public outreach officer for the observatory. It also makes for a prime road-trip location. Located in the beautiful and picturesque Lincoln National Forest, overlooking the Tularosa Basin, visitors can see how the Dunn Solar Telescope, the Hilltop Dome Facility and the Evans Solar Facility are used to study the sun and its effects on weather, radio waves and much more, explained Dooling. Dooling explained how the Dunn Solar Telescope is different from others of its kind. “The Dunn Solar Telescope was designed by former director Richard Dunn,” said Dooling. “It was designed as a high resolution solar telescope.”

“DunSolartel”–The Dunn Solar Telescope at the National Solar Observatory in Sunspot, NM, is one of the most powerful solar telescopes in the world. More than half of its 350-foot height is underground. Heavy snow in winter is not uncommon, but summer visitors are greeted by the greenery of Lincoln National Forest. Credit: NSI/Aura Inc. & NSF.

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The uniqueness of the Dunn Solar Telescope is also in its 40 foot diameter turntable attached to the barrel, which makes it possible to rotate the entire telescope. The Dunn Solar Telescope is used to give an overall view of the sun. Dooling likened the work that went on at the observatory with this particular telescope to “tornado chasers.”

“We can do this so that the entire image does not rotate. It makes studying the images much simpler,” he said. “We try to find out what generates spots and how they lead to flares. It helps us understand where energy comes from and what the indicators are that something is about to blow off.” The other two facilities also give researchers the opportunity to study the unique characteristics of the sun, he noted. “It’s interesting that we’ve learned from research like this that the Sun is a dynamic, not constant, star. What happened there in a matter of seconds or minutes can affect us here on earth.” Visitors to the observatory have the unique opportunity to go inside the facilities while research and other work are in progress. “That is a rare thing. Not everyone would let you do that,” said Dooling. Visitors can choose from self-guided tours of the facilities or they can take advantage of the student-led tours on the weekends. During the summer the observatory is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week. History lovers will also be able to appreciate the attraction. The observatory’s history dates back to 1947, when “a pair of observers in a truck from the Harvard College Observatory,” were working with the United States Air Force to find a suitable location for a weather forecasting station, explained Dooling. The location turned out to be an excellent site to also study what

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“Sunspot” Light bridges snake across the umbra or dark core of a sunspot in this image taken by the Dunn Solar Telescope at the National Solar Observatory at Sunspot. Credit: Thomas Rimmele & Friederich Woegner, NSO/Aura Inc. & NSF.

and how changes in the atmosphere interfered with radio and radar signals. “Back in these days there were virtually no electronic imaging instruments. It was all done on raw film and running stuff through wet lab,” Dooling said. Dooling estimated that more than 1,000 such reels of film taken by early telescopes are still at the observatory. Besides the telescopes themselves, the Sunspot Astronomy and Visitor’s Center is worth the trip to the mountains. The center contains several interactive exhibits as well as a gift shop. Dooling gives some words of advice for Carlsbad travelers. “You want to stop in Cloudcroft after the 3.5 hour trip to pump gas. There is no gas station between the observatory and Cloudcroft. Also, we’re at a high altitude of more than 9,000 feet. There may be some health issues, so just be aware and stay hydrated,” he said. He also mentioned that there are no food vendors at the observatory except for a vending machine for snacks and drinks. Cameras with flash are permitted except inside the Dunn Solar Telescope where the flash must be turned off.

on everyday heroes

Spreading the Word Members of a local Christian rock band believe they have a pretty good formula for spreading their faith. The four members of the band “One40five,” say they are committed to helping area youth celebrate and spread their faith and let people know that Jesus is for all age groups. Their music provides the perfect avenue for delivering this message. “We want to show that the Christian life is not about a boring life,” said Jason Shirley, the band’s lead vocalist. “You can be a skateboarder and a Christian. God doesn’t want you to stop skating. He created your hobbies.” One40five also performs as the worship band for Carlsbad’s Word of Life Church, located at 1102 W. Mermod Street. Jason is also the primary song writer and plays the acoustic guitar. Crystal Sanchez is the lead guitarist, while her husband, Joey Sanchez, plays the bass and sings background vocals. The newest member of the band, Jasmine Carrasco, plays drums. Jason and his

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Editor’s note: Several months ago, the staff of Focus Magazine met with selected members of the community. We listened to suggestions about what could make this magazine a better publication. One suggestion was an “everyday hero” profile that told the story of local members of the community. We’re proud to introduce our first “Everyday Hero.”

Pictured at Right: Members of the band “One40five” practice on the stage of Word of Life Church in Carlsbad. Pictured, from left, are Crystal Sanchez, Jason Shirley, Jasmine Carrasco and Joey Sanchez.

wife, Tiffany, are also the church’s youth pastors, and they have a daughter, Brooklyn. His parents, Daniel and Susan, are the pastors. Jason graduated from Carlsbad High School and attended college in Oklahoma. When he returned to Carlsbad, he was unable to get a previous band to reunite. “But Joey and Crystal were attending our church,” he said. “We just started off with worship music, and that’s still our foundation of everything we do.” Crystal said she started playing the guitar when she was 12. She’d become involved with Word of Life and was excited when the opportunity to form One40five presented itself. “Jason was finishing up college in Oklahoma, and I heard he wanted to come back here and form a band,” she said. “Joey was my boyfriend at the time, and he was playing some bass.”

“I started off playing for God, and I still do,” Joey said. “I just really enjoy playing.” The three musicians have been together for awhile now, but they had trouble keeping a drummer until Jasmine came into the picture. She’s been playing the drums for about eight years and has been a member of the band for “going on a year now.” (Jason later clarified that she’s been saying “going on a year” for almost two years now.) The band takes its name from the Bible’s Psalm 145. “The whole chapter is pretty much what we represent and stand behind,” Jason said. While Jason does most of the writing, he collaborates with the band’s other members. “I’ve been involved with music my whole life,” he said. “Singing was

always my first thing. I actually played the piano, but not very well. Then I played the drums even worse than the piano, but the guitar really kind of stuck.” “The first time I tried the drums, it just kind of stuck,” Jasmine said. “It’s kind of like Jason with his guitar.” Aided by a keyboardist and sometimes a choir, the group performs at Sunday morning worship services. Crystal heads the music for Wednesday’s services. Jason noted that Word of Life has a fairly diverse congregation. “We’re really inviting,” he said. “Sometimes people come in who have certain things that life has dealt them, and we endeavor to give them a scriptural basis for support. We believe the scripture gives us all the answers as people come in with challenges.” And that means reaching out to disadvantaged children in the area. “As they come in, we show them that there’s a God that loves you and cares for you, and as you draw near to him, he’ll give you the answers you need,” he said. “And, we’ll be there every step of the way to help you out.” Thanks in part to the band’s outreach efforts, the church has attracted a fairly young congregation, many of whom follow their in-house Christian rock band. Joey defined the Christian rock genre by citing the message delivered when national bands have performed in Carlsbad. “They give you a lot of positive and strong advice to get you through some hard times,” he said. “That’s what Christian music is all about. That’s why

we do One40five, so we can let people know that Christian music is positive and encouraging in addition to worship and praise.” Crystal said the band has performed at a wide variety of community events, including the Carlsbad Mall, the Pecos River Village Carousel House, the Riverwalk Recreation Center and at several softball tournaments. There’s a difference, Jason said, between the band’s music during worship and at concerts. “I think the attitude is different,” he noted. “When we put on a show, we’re trying to entertain with a positive message. When we’re worshipping, it’s not about that (entertainment). We could be standing behind a wall. We make a difference between the two.” Jason and his band also work closely with Loving Baptist Church’s Zach Palen in an outreach effort called Fireproof Ministries. Fireproof is probably best known for bringing several major Christian rock concerts to Carlsbad. Palen reached out to One40five early on to help with area youth activities, Jason said. “We’ve also done a skate outreach, which was successful,” Jason said. “And early in the fall we’re going to do a 3-on-3 basketball tournament. We like to use something positive to get kids to come and give them something to leave with that’s going to help them. It’s just, ‘Let’s play basketball, but we’re going to present you with a message that if you’ve never heard before or never paid much attention to, hopefully it will strike a chord with you.’” The final goal? “We want you to realize that there’s a God that isn’t just about sitting in a pew and listening to organ music. There’s a God that loves you for who you are,” Jason said. The band practices every Thursday

evening and Sunday morning for that week’s worship service. They also sometimes have Tuesday practice and play every day before they have a performance outside of the church. Jason said he hasn’t written too much new material lately. “But we’re always working on stuff,” he said. “Right now, we’re pouring out some old songs that we haven’t touched in a long time. We did three new songs over the 4th of July that weren’t new to us, but they were new to the audience.” They are also working on an album and have finished the first track, Jason said. In the future, Crystal said she would like to help improve the condition of playgrounds in neighborhoods where the equipment is falling apart. “Something like that,” she said. “Anything that we can get into just to show the love of Jesus is what we want to do.” “We live in a town where it seems like morale is low a lot of the time,” Jason said. “One thing that we’re trying to do at Word of Life, and also with Fireproof and as a band, is that we want to increase morale.” Jason said he’d like to open up a venue for youth and teens to hang out. “I know it’s been tried and failed before,” he admitted, but noted, “I’ve got a lot of ideas.” Joey said he was born and raised in California, but has grown close to Carlsbad since he moved here in 1998. After all, it’s the town where he met his wife and got involved in a church and a band that he loves. “I believe Carlsbad has a lot of charisma, a lot of potential,” he said. “I’ve already seen Carlsbad improve a lot. It has room to grow and become even better than it is now.”

“We want you to realize that there’s a God that isn’t just about sitting in a pew and listening to organ music. There’s a God that loves you for who you are.” - Jason Shirley 15

1. Assistance League Member Rita Nelson prepares to approach a group of car show participants during the summer’s annual Chili Cook-Off. 2. The Chili Cook-Off’s Firefighter Combat Challenge was a popular event, despite 110 degree temperatures. 3. Families on the back of a Constructors Inc. float wave during a 4th of July parade held in Carlsbad. 4. Members of the Carlsbad Police Department and Carlsbad Fire Department line up as part of the Assistance League of Carlsbad’s annual Duckie Affair. Anthony Franks, of the Carlsbad Fire Department, won the race. Other competitors were Tonia Tiller, David Whitzel and Charlie Garcia.

5. Carlsbad Police Department Officers Tonia Tiller and Charlie Garcia help remove ducks from the water during the summer Duckie Affair. 6. Helen Nations (far left) and other Carlsbad residents clean up at the end of another successful Relay For Life event.

7. Children gather on the courthouse lawn to welcome home members of the local National Guard deployed to Afghanistan. 8. Members of the National Guard’s 920th Engineering Company pose with family members after celebrating their safe trip home. 9. Local bikers arrive to welcome the 920th home. 10. Members of the Mescalero Apache tribe, Carlsbad residents and visitors gather together to participate in the Mescal Roast and Mountain Spirit Dances at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park. 11. Raelyn Hill, of Carlsbad, competes in the girls 1315 barrels at the summer’s American Junior Rodeo Association event held at the Sheriff’s Posse Arena in Carlsbad.

12. Carlsbad resident Deaven Reynolds participates in tie-down roping during AJRA competition this summer in Carlsbad. 13. Children participate in the calf scramble during AJRA action. 14. Here come the ducks! The Assistance League’s annual Duckie Affair raises money for Operation School Bell. 15. Local resident Mike Smart waves during one of two 4th of July parades held in Carlsbad this summer. 16. Steve and Dorothy Kopp are “true to their school” and follow the theme of “Remembering the past… envisioning the future during the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s June 24 banquet.

17. Local children participate in a game put on by the Harlem Ambassadors. Carlsbad’s Rotary Club brought the Ambassadors to town as a fundraiser to support the Battered Families Shelter. 18. Members of the Carlsbad community prepare for the annual Chili Cook-Off.

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on business

Carlsbad Newcomer

Brings the “Pat” to “Fun City” Pat Cisneros brought the fun with her when she moved from Chicago to Carlsbad in February 2009. After taking a quick glance around town, Cisneros purchased, cleaned up, remodeled and re-opened Fun City, an amusement park that had been collecting dust for several years. “Pat’s Fun City” is now giving Carlsbad visitors and residents a place to play. “My husband and I both lost our jobs,” she said about what brought her from Chicago to Carlsbad. “We came here to be close to family and to try to figure out what we were going to do with our lives, and we had a little nest egg.” Cisneros said her mind kept drifting back to Fun City. The Carlsbad amusement park, located along National Parks Highway, had been closed for several years. Cisneros saw it as the perfect project. “When I saw this place, I thought that I’d love to work outside, and I love working with kids,” she said. It didn’t take long for Cisneros to find good employees, either. “I had two guys walk in the day I closed on the property,” she said. “I was sitting here in the office, and they saw my car and said they were looking for work. They’ve been with me ever since, from the construction phase until now.” The two employees had several cousins who were looking for work, and Cisneros also knew a few people from times she’d been to town to visit her brother. “It’s a great group of people. I couldn’t ask for a better staff,” she said. Pat’s Fun City opened Memorial Day weekend to an enthusiastic Carlsbad crowd. Business did slow down

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somewhat in the middle of the summer due to continued rain, but Cisneros is optimistic that the rain means a greener mini golf course over the long haul. Cisneros is actually new to the amusement park industry. She said she’s worked in offices all of her life before her current business venture. Does that make her brave? “Just a little nuts, maybe,” she said with a laugh. Services at Pat’s Fun City include go karts, batting cages, mini golf, a snack bar and arcade games. The fleet of 10 go karts includes a pair of two-seaters. The cost is $5 plus tax per ride. “I had never ridden a go kart until I bought this place,” Cisneros said. “I got into my first go kart when they were delivered. It’s a great stress relief. Late in the evening, after we are closed, my staff will get in cars and run the track in the opposite direction.” The batting cages feature new pitching machines with the option of having softballs or baseballs thrown at a variety of speeds. The cost is only $2 plus tax for 20 pitches. The 18 hole mini golf course costs $5 plus tax per person, and there are no age or height requirements, Cisneros noted. “We have a couple special features back there,” she said. “We also have a lot of new plantings, so it will take some time for everything to grow.” pictured below: Employees of Pat’s Fun City pose during a break in the action.

Left Photo: Jolynn Rodriguez and Kendra Stephens take a turn in the batting cages. Center Photo: Employees of Pat’s Fun City demonstrate mini golfing techniques during their lunch break. Right Photo: Fun for all ages— Steven Boyd moves to the front in go kart racing at Pat’s Fun City, located off of National Parks Highway

Pat’s Fun City serves hamburgers and chicken sandwiches. “We also have nachos, chili dogs, hot dogs, chili cheese anything, sodas, candy and ice cream,” she said. Pat’s opens at noon on Thursday through Sunday. The park closes at 10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays, but stays open until midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays are reserved for private parties, and morning hours are also an option for private events. She’s also open on holidays. One challenge has been letting people know that she’s open for business. Pat had employees pass out fliers at Carlsbad’s 4th of July fireworks celebration. She plans to revamp her business sign in the near future. Down the road, Cisneros hopes to add more features to the mini golf course, such as a caveman with a club swinging

back and forth and a Carlsbad Caverns feature. She wants to spruce up the batting cages, and she hopes to eventually add more go karts to the track. She also wants to bring in a “G-force chair” similar to what astronauts use for training and hopes to add an area for younger children. While one of the biggest challenges has been getting used to the heat, Cisneros seems happy with her decision to bring fun to Carlsbad. “Everyone in Carlsbad has been really nice and made me feel welcome,” she said. “I love seeing the kids and the smiles on their faces here. We still have a lot of work to do, and there will be more changes.” Pat’s Fun City is located at 3904 National Parks Highway. For more information, visit www.patsfuncity.com or call 885-2FUN.

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on food

Sometimes, being right in the middle has its advantages. Carlsbad’s Mexican restaurants incorporate flavor from three worlds: the traditional Mexican fare to the south, the Tex-Mex style from the east and the unique New Mexican flavor from the north. The final result is a flavorful hybrid that combines the best of three styles. For this edition, “Focus” Magazine interviewed the owners of several of Carlsbad’s multitude of successful Mexican restaurants.

Ray’s Mexican Grill

Ortega comes to Carlsbad by way of Pecos, Texas. He ran a small restaurant in the West Texas town and was also an owner of several other businesses, including a furniture store. Oh, and he was the mayor of Pecos from 2000 to 2002. “I’ve been involved in civic duty and political service since I was 21, at the local, city and state level. I was committed to death,” he noted, but paused. “But I’m nobody here. I like being nobody. I don’t have to shave.”

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“The plan was that we were going to move here then relocate back to East Texas,” Ortega said. “But I decided to open a restaurant during his (Christopher’s) first year of college.” Ortega’s parents, Irma and Richard, had purchased the building that served as Carlsbad’s bus station, and Ortega took over the business there. He added a utility payment store to the building in 2004. A couple of years ago, the bus company and the Ortegas agreed to part ways.

Ray’s Mexican Grill may just have the most interesting location in Carlsbad. Before opening as a restaurant last year, the building served as the community’s bus station. Today, owner Ray Ortega and his employees serve up burritos, burgers and steaks to a continually growing number of customers.

Ray’s son, Christopher, graduated from Carlsbad High School. He went on to become the valedictorian of New Mexico State University-Carlsbad when he obtained his associate’s degree and is currently working on his bachelor’s degree in Texas.

Ray Ortega, pictured at right, stands with a few of the employees of Ray’s Mexican Grill. Also pictured, from left, are Andres Calvillo, Cutter Holt and Anthony Runnells.

Still, his office in his Carlsbad restaurant is decorated with photos and memorabilia from his previous career as a Texas politician. Ortega and his family moved to Carlsbad in 2003 for several reasons, Ortega said. “For one, my being in politics took away from the family. I was never there,” he said. “It was a changing of the guard. We decided to try something new.”

“It was basically a mutual decision between us and the bus companies,” Ortega said. A portion of the building has also recently served as a lingerie store after another family business closed its doors. But many of the other side businesses are gradually being phased out to make more room for the restaurant. Ortega was previously the owner of “Cy’s Big Burger,” a small establishment in Pecos famous for its Frito burger. Ortega said his childhood best friend’s family owned a 300 seat restaurant in Pecos.

“A lot of my love for cooking came from there,” he said. “All my recipes are a combination of Cy’s and there.” Ray’s Mexican Grill quietly opened its doors in January 2009. A 52-inch television set allows customers to enjoy country music videos while they wait for their order. Since opening, the restaurant has continued to attract a following and has added a 40-seat dining room to its back room and acquired a beer and wine license. “It doesn’t hurt to also own a furniture store,” Ortega smiled as he mentioned the addition. “I can get wholesale prices.” If Ortega were to eat at his own restaurant, he said he’d order the #1 combination plate, which consists of one beef taco and one red cheese enchilada. The restaurant offers five different combination plates, along with steaks and a variety of hamburgers, including the Frito burger. “The Frito burger is new to Carlsbad, but it has been around Pecos since the 1950s,” Ortega said. “It came about when a pregnant lady came up and said, ‘Can you make me a hamburger? And I want Fritos with chili on that.” Ortega is also willing to serve his breakfast items during all hours of the day. “It’s what the customer wants,” he shrugged. “We can always just clean the grill.” The restaurant owner noted that are also a number of differences between New Mexican and Tex-Mex food, which is what he serves.

When Ortega gets home from work, he’ll usually take a break from Mexican food by eating barbecue, Italian, or sometimes just cereal or a sandwich. Ortega said his family members in Carlsbad will often assist with the restaurant after they are done with their jobs for the day. “We’re all used to working long hours,” he noted. “You eat and live at this business, and the downside is you miss out on holidays and family events.” “It’s tough, but I like it,” Ortega concluded about the restaurant industry. “The kitchen is the hottest place in the building, but if you like it, you’ll do it. It’s just like with politics. There’s a good side and a bad side.”

Ray’s Mexican Grill, located at 1000 S. Canyon Street, is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. five days a week. The restaurant closes at 1 p.m. on Wednesdays, and it is only open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sundays. For more information, call 887-1115.

Tina’s

Tina Baeza, owner of Tina’s Restaurant, said the biggest challenge right now is being semi-retired. Baeza reduced her hours a few years ago, but she’s still open for lunch four days a week and dinner once a week because she enjoys making friends with her customers and keeping in touch with her loyal friends.

Tina Baeza prepares a dish at her restaurant on San Jose Boulevard.

Ray’s Mexican Grill is open seven days a week for fairly generous hours. While some restaurants close between 2-5 p.m., Ortega noted that he had to be open anyway for some of the other businesses operating in the building. Ortega said a good staff helps him keep the restaurant open throughout the day.

“I have the best workers. Most of them have been here from the beginning when we opened,” he said. “We don’t have a high turnover rate.”

Tina’s opened 25 years ago, when owners Manuel and Tina Baeza went out to eat at a local restaurant and weren’t impressed by the customer service.

“We returned home and decided to open our own restaurant, confident that we would provide Carlsbad with a pleasurable dining experience,” she said. The restaurant is best known for its cheese, beef and chicken-layered enchiladas; chile relleno plates; and chimichangas stuffed with the restaurant’s chile con carne. “And salsa that keeps you coming back for more!” Baeza said. Visitors will also appreciate the

complementary desserts and the many dolls and other items set up in a display case inside of the restaurant. Tina remains proud of her clean restaurant and friendly and fast service. “Every cook has his or her own distinctive way of cooking,” she said. “What you taste at Tina’s will not taste the same elsewhere.”

Tina’s restaurant is located at 3122 San Jose Boulevard. Hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The restaurant is also open on Friday evenings from 5-7 p.m. Tina’s is closed on Wednesdays and holidays. For more information, call 885-4239.

Lucy’s

Lucy’s Mexicali Restaurant has been a staple of Carlsbad since 1974, when owners Lucy and Justo Yanez opened for business. When she was 16, Lucy Yanez, the only girl in a large family, began making and selling burritos with her mother to help pay the bills. Yanez’s food was so popular that her brother later helped her open the restaurant. Family members have been involved ever since, and Yanez is proud of the fact that her children and grandchildren are both part of the business. Lucy’s moved to a larger building in 1978, and the restaurant added catering services in 1989. During her career, Yanez has also expanded by opening restaurants in Hobbs, Roswell and a second one in Carlsbad. A serious car accident forced her to downsize, but she opened another restaurant at a popular location in downtown Ruidoso in 2004. One of Lucy’s most popular items is Adam’s Queso, which is a mixture of

on food white cheese, tomatoes, green chili and onions, if desired. The most popular item on the menu is the chicken or beef fajita burrito smothered in Adam’s Queso. “It’s so good,” Yanez said. “Our food is very home-style Mexican cooking. We create plates for our local customers, and they love it.” She’s also especially proud of her margarita selection. Her favorite thing about the business is getting to meet people from all over the world, while she also enjoys chatting with her regular customers. She noted that her establishment also offers entertainment such as karaoke, music and sports viewing, with Monday Night Football as a town favorite.

Lucy’s Mexicali Restaurant and Cantina is located at 701 S. Canal St. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., with the restaurant closing on Tuesdays. For more information, call 887-7714.

addition to retaining her loyal customer base. Morales said her favorite item on the menu is her chile rellenos. Her tacos are her top seller, but her chile verde, enchiladas and asado are also popular. “My mother taught me how to do the chile rellenos,” she said, when asked what gives her restaurant the edge. “But I put a little secret ingredient in the flour.” She learned to cook from her mother and grandmother. “Ever since I was little, I would watch them cook,” she said. “I was always interested in it.” She noted that her son especially seems interested in learning the family trade. Morales was working at a fast food restaurant when one of her family members asked if she’d like to own her own restaurant. She thought about it and decided to open. Diana’s serves menudo on weekends. Morales explained that the traditional Mexican soup, which is made of hominy and tripe, takes a lot of time to prepare if done correctly. “It’s like soup you have in cold weather,” she said, smiling. “It’s also a good hangover cure!” She said she enjoys both the cooking and the customers. She’s not a waitress, but she’ll come out of the kitchen to help when needed.

Diana Morales, second from left, stands in front of her restaurant with employees Nikki Jo Rodriguez, Deeana Rodriguez and Sandra Mora.

Diana’s

Larez

“I was nervous,” admitted the restaurant owner.

The Larez first opened in 1969 at a smaller location but moved to its present locale (what had been a teenager hangout) just a few years later. Business grew, and members of the family even considered

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Dora, who does ALL of the cooking, decided to retire in 2007. For the next two years, Dora, and her daughter, Kathy, received calls from customers begging the family restaurant to open again. The Larez re-opened in November 2009 to one of the busiest months in the history of the restaurant, only to be forced to close a month later because of a fire that broke out in the front corner of the building. The building has been repaired, and Dora Larez, who values customer loyalty, is well into feeding her third generation of Carlsbad families. The most popular plate with locals, and especially vegetarians, is the chimichanga, which offers a choice of beans, ground beef, chicken, roast beef, red or green chile and a side of rice and/or beans. The entire dish is prepared without deep frying. Another popular item at Larez is the chile relleno plate, which offers a choice of cheese, chicken, ground beef, roast beef and a side of rice and beans, again without deep frying. The Larez Deluxe, meanwhile, offers a little bit of everything.

The Larez Restaurant is located at 1524 South Canal. Hours from Monday through Thursday are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. (with a noon buffet) and 4:30-8 p.m. Friday hours are 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30-8:30 p.m. (with a noon and evening buffet.) For more information, call 885-5113.

Diana’s is closed Sundays and Mondays. Store hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m. The restaurant is located at 305 W. Bronson St. For more information, call 885-6256.

Diana Morales has run Diana’s Mexican Restaurant since 1995, but her loyal customers recently talked her into moving up in the world. So in April 2010, Morales moved from her small take-out operation on Mermod Street to a full-scale restaurant just off of Canal Street.

The move seems to be paying off, as Morales is attracting new business in

opening restaurants in Ruidoso and Roswell but decided to pursue other business interests.

Carlsbad’s Larez restaurant is back in the running after owner Dora Larez took a few years off. Carlsbad’s Larez restaurant re-opened its doors in 2009. The Larez first opened in 1969.

on a carlsbad character

A man and his dog, and their bicycle! A bicycle built for two is the perfect way for a local man and his dog to get around town. Carlsbad resident Michael Bromka and his dog, Danύ, can sometimes be seen walking around town together or occasionally even driving, but the pair is most often seen in transit on a specially designed bicycle built to support Danύ as a passenger. Bromka said the bike is a good way to save money, keep in shape and protect the environment. Danύ, a 23-pound female Shetland sheepdog, has her own motivation. “From her point of view, a dog who sticks his head out of the car just envies the all-air experience,” he observed. “I think she really enjoys the experience of riding in a bicycle. Sitting in a car is not as fun.” Bromka said he began using his bicycle as a primary form of transportation when he lived in El Paso. “It was more convenient than the car because I could ride up to my front door, into the apartment and into the kitchen,” he noted. “There was no lugging in groceries from the car to the kitchen.” Initially, Bromka said people would be surprised when he’d ride his bike to places. They’d often assume he was riding a bike because he was in a car accident, and they would ask him what happened. For years, Bromka was forced to do all his cycling without Danύ. Then a solution presented itself. “One day, while walking her down an alley, we came across a discarded laundry basket. I looked from the basket to Danύ and back again,” he said.

T-shirts you’ll ever see.” He also has a number of florescent green shirts, a reflective vest and a blinking light for his bicycle. These days, Carlsbad residents have become so accustomed to seeing Bromka and Danύ on their bike that they’ll now indicate surprise when they see the pair walking. Bromka estimated that he and Danύ have ridden the bike more than 3,000 miles together. Most of the trips have been around town, but they’ve also travelled to Artesia twice and once went on a 500 mile camping trip around southeastern New Mexico and El Paso. They did “cheat” by accepting a few rides in the back of pickup trucks during especially windy or steep parts of the trip, “but for 350 miles of the jaunt, I peddled and Danύ rode,” Bromka said. Danύ, named after a Celtic goddess, had six different owners before crossing paths with Bromka. Bromka said he acquired the dog from a pound in Abeline, Texas. Typically, Bromka said he and Danύ will ride in the bike if they are running short errands around town. He’ll take his car if he’s going to have to leave the dog for a longer period of time. When they reach a destination by bike, Bromka will set up a little canopy and a

bowl of water for the dog while he takes care of his errand. On a typical day this summer, Bromka and Danύ will start their day with a short walk so Danύ can take care of her business. (Bromka said he always cleans up after her). Bromka, a Census worker, then loads Danύ into the car and drives to a morning meeting, where Danύ waits outside. After that, Bromka gets to work on the Census project, a job he said sometimes requires the use of a vehicle. He said it just isn’t realistic to do many of his Census duties by bike, as he’s often called out to areas such as Queen. Danύ comes along. “I figure dogs like to range,” Bromka noted. By the end of a typical day, Bromka and Danύ will bike anywhere from two to 15 miles together, he said. “It’s the right size town for a bicycle,” he said. “We’ve got the war in Iraq because of oil and this spill in the Gulf (of Mexico) because of oil. Is there something we can do about it? It seems obvious to me - use a bicycle.” Bromka was originally a high school math and English teacher. He moved to El Paso by way of Buffalo, New York, on the recommendation of a friend. He relocated to Carlsbad 15 years ago when his then girlfriend obtained a job here. Bromka doesn’t abandon his environmental-consciousness and costsaving efforts while driving in a vehicle, either. He doesn’t go over 41 miles per hour on the highway. “Above that and you are building up wind resistance and cutting down on gas mileage,” he said. “It’s also a lot quieter, and you can see all the scenery.”

A friend, one who ran a bicycle shop, used a salvage frame and specially-ordered tires to build a bicycle specifically designed around supporting Danύ in her laundry basket-turned-sidecar. “Even the bike we’re using is to some degree recycled,” Bromka noted. While walking or biking, Bromka will make sure to wear bright colors so he and Danύ are highly visible to passing motorists. “I wear lots of yellow,” he said. “I’ve got the biggest collection of yellow

on education

years ago, Carlsbad’s Jefferson Montessori Academy seemed on the brink of being a good idea on paper only.

JMA Council of Trustees meetings were heated turf battles between rival factions. The school was located at a crowded, temporary location next to a potentially unsafe intersection. Following a substantial influx of students at the inception, enrollment was declining. The JMA experiment looked to be on the verge of being over. “People kept telling me ‘you’ve got to be crazy to do that (have a child at JMA),’” mused Donella Taylor-Harper, a JMA parent and council of trustees member. And then everything changed. Carlsbad’s first charter school made it through its tumultuous dark ages. Today’s JMA seems to be in full bloom—a healthy school at a healthy location with plenty of support from its parents and the entire community. Philosophical disputes over how to run the school have long-since been settled, either by compromise or through attrition. JMA’s current trustee meetings, Taylor-Harper noted, are straightforward and productive. The school’s teachers have enough experience, and enough professional training, to effectively move the Montessori Method from the philosophical level into an applied educational practice. “We weren’t crazy,” Taylor-Harper concluded. “I wasn’t. And the other parents who have been with it through the beginning weren’t either. We knew it was going to be a good school. It just took a little time.” You’ve come a long way, JMA.

History in the making

The Jefferson Montessori Academy was the brainchild of three dedicated Carlsbad women: Cathrynn Brown, Arleen Standiford and Patricia Verch. The effort to obtain the charter school was fully underway by 2000. “They wanted another choice,” said Cindy

on carlsbad

Holguin, the school’s Chief Executive Officer. “They researched and that led to the Montessori Method. It was a long road for them. Through the process they were met with a lot of opposition.” Holguin said she didn’t feel that some Carlsbad school officials at the time were opposed to the idea as much as that they were fearful about issues such as funding, school numbers and logistics. JMA handles its own finances, but must submit its annual budget to CMS for approval. JMA’s three founders worked closely with the state and other supporters, Holguin said, and they ultimately were able to get the school open by 2002. Taylor-Harper said she became interested in JMA when her son, Jonathan, was having an unpleasant experience in second grade at a local elementary school. “It was very difficult for him to go to school every morning,” she said. “His self confidence was low, and I didn’t know what to do.” Her doctor, Verch, recommended looking into JMA, which was forming at the time. “I read what the Montessori Method is, and I felt that’s something (Jonathan) would relate to,” she said. “It was touching and smelling and seeing and feeling.” She became involved early in JMA’s process. She wasn’t on the council of trustees, initially, but she did help with the difficult building selection process. She also happened to be the person whose job was to draw numbers for the first JMA lottery. “The library annex was packed,” she recalled. “Everybody wanted their child in the school. We took 211 to begin with. We started out too big.” In fact, JMA ultimately opened in the fall of 2002 with 226 students from kindergarten through ninth grade. Those involved would later reflect that it was probably too many students and too many grade levels to start.

Early Growing Pains

Holguin, who had been an obstetrics nurse in the hospital, started as the school’s nurse. “They needed a nurse badly because they needed someone to help with special education testing,” she said. “A lot of those kids at the school were ones I’d also helped deliver.” The educators and administrators who opened JMA’s doors had a very difficult task, Holguin noted. None of the students they were instructing were used to Montessori methods, and they were trying to implement a plan for a wide variety of grade levels. “JMA is all about giving kids a choice, and a lot of these kids weren’t prepared for that,” she said. Finding a location was one of the school’s major early concerns. JMA’s first school was actually at four different locations. Primary school was at the GaffneyMitchell building next to the district courthouse, while secondary school was at a building near Carlsbad High School. There were also classrooms out of a local doctor and attorney’s office. The location of the school remained an issue. The school was happy to find a location, but it was still far from ideal. Without space for a playground, JMA’s primary school recess was held on the lawn of the nearby city library, which the city tolerated, albeit reluctantly. Another problem was who would attend JMA. Without any official plan for who would attend the school, JMA effectively became a last resort for any student who was having any major problem at any other school in the district. It wasn’t that the teachers didn’t want to help all of the students, Holguin noted, but many of the students, especially at the secondary level, sent to JMA during this time period didn’t want to be there—or anywhere. There’s also the fact that the method only really works for some students. “My children have received a great

education from CMS and are happy there,” Holguin said. “My son would not have worked well in this school. It isn’t a method for everyone.” JMA’s location and enrollment woes were further hampered by the fact that there were quite a few heated turf wars involving various groups of people with a wide variety of beliefs on how the school should operate, to put it nicely. Turnover was high, for teachers, administrators and even council members. Enrollment dropped to a low of about 84 students by the end of 2006. Even though JMA had some rough patches, Taylor-Harper contends that the experience was ultimately positive for her son, who will start his junior year in the fall. “From the first day he loved it,” she said.

“I’ve never seen a change in a child as much as I did with him. He got his selfconfidence back. Even though the school went through a lot of growing pains and a lot of turmoil, the children who have stuck with it have done very well.”

The dust clears

JMA limped along, to various degrees, from its opening until about 2007. “Then it was like all the planets aligned,” said Lorraine Allen-Munoz, project manager for JMA. Changes on the CMS board brought in several individuals more amiable to the school, she said, and changes in the administration and council of JMA ultimately resulted in a group of individuals who agreed about most issues. JMA’s growing pains seemed to be at an end.

In fact, board meetings became so routine that Taylor-Harper, a past council president, was initially confused. “At first I didn’t know what to do, because we spent the whole time the first few years putting out fires,” she noted. “It was a team effort,” she said. “We got Lorraine to work for us and we brought in Cindy. We got a good council and our relationship with CMS was a huge change. Cindy was pivotal in improving our relationship with CMS.” With a master’s degree in administration, Holguin had been helping more and more with the business side of things prior to her appointment. She often found herself staying late to help with administrative issues.

STORY CONTINUES ON PAGE 26

Carlsbad’s Jefferson Montessori Academy has been open for eight years now. Despite getting off to a rough start, the charter school has become an established member of the educational community. Students with the Jefferson Montessori Academy benefit from small classes and the ability to work at their own pace. Instructors Jean Appell and Sandya Reddy are two of the teachers credited with turning JMA’s philosophy into a reality.

The school, along with other Carlsbad schools, also has a new playground. A $1.2 million Public Schools Facilities Authority grant through CMS paid for the equipment and other renovations.

THE BEGINNING OF MONTESSORI SCHOOLS Montessori schools began more than one hundred years ago with Maria Montessori, who advocated a deep respect for children as individuals. Montessori classrooms bring children together in multi-age groups, and

The Jefferson Montessori Council of Trustees 2010 board consists of: students are guided toward management of their own learning and environment. The approach to education is designed to recognize and address different learning styles and help students learn to study effectively.

Greg Roselle, Joanna May, Cathy Baker, Robbie Camphouse, Donella TaylorHarper, Lucy-Jo Weston, Patricia Moody, Kanona Felt, Steve Wagner and John Hernandez.

on education There’s more movement in a JMA classroom, and a lot more noise.

STORY CONTINUED FROM PAGE 25 “I started seeing a need, and I wanted to help,” she said.

does give the school more ability to work with parents on what is best for a student.

In a 2007 school reorganization, Holguin was made the school’s CEO. Her principal, Eileen Montoya, handles the professional development of the school’s teachers.

“Basically, this school is for highlymotivated students who can be independent learners,” she said. “We don’t want any child to come that does not know what we are about.”

The school also moved into its present roomier location on Church Street, an initial desire. “That was the biggest difference of all, when we moved,” Taylor-Harper said. “The move gave us autonomy. It gave us pride. It gave us all those things that make something successful, even though the groundwork had been there.” One of the other boosts to the school was that some of the school’s educators began bringing in more extensive professional Montessori experience from other schools. Holguin said Sandya Reddy, who brought international Montessori experience to the table, was especially instrumental in turning the Montessori Method from a philosophy into a reality. “Somehow, JMA was lucky enough to recruit her,” Holguin said. Another teacher, Jean Appell, also brought extensive professional training to the school. In addition to a master’s degree, JMA requires that its teachers have or pursue a Montessori certification. Perhaps most importantly, JMA’s students, by 2007, were now more familiar with the system. “It’s working because we have kids who have been with us for awhile,” Holguin said. “They come into kindergarten with a different method of teaching, one where kids are having fun while they are learning.” JMA also now has an enrollment process. Parents of secondary students interested in the school are asked to fill out a questionnaire to see if their child would be a good fit for the school. Every year, the school district welcomes new student applications. While primarily seeking kindergarten students, limited openings exist in other grades. The purpose isn’t to exclude, Holguin said, but the process

on carlsbad

“I think it was a few things,” summarized Greg Roselle, JMA council president. “We got into a facility that’s appropriate and allows us to grow in terms of student population and staff. We have a council of trustees that works well together, and we work well with CMS. Cindy Holguin and her principal work well together. We all work well together as a team.”

A different kind of structure

What is JMA? Taylor-Harper and Holguin both described it as a form of structure based on the individual. “You could have a student in the fourth grade doing math from the 8th grade book who is also struggling in reading and working at the 2nd grade level there,” Holguin said. “Basically, he’s working at his own pace.” “We seem to be really focused on kids individually,” Roselle said. “The whole Montessori Method really teaches the kids to be independent and allows them to excel in areas where they can excel.” “If you go into a classroom, it may seem chaotic because you don’t see a row of chairs and it isn’t quiet,” Taylor-Harper said. “But they all have their schedules that they have to accomplish. Everybody knows what they are doing, and they are all working toward their goals. The Montessori Method is structured, but the children just don’t know it. “It’s not the solution for every single person. I don’t think it would be the solution for me because I need to see the structure.” But, she again stressed, the school provides the perfect environment for her son.

“If you keep telling a kid to sit still, that kid is not going to learn,” Holguin said. “The kids here can move. I know it sounds like it may not be structured, but it is. It’s freedom within boundaries, and everybody should have a choice.” And that can make some parents unaccustomed to the procedure fairly nervous, she admitted, but the goals are still present. “A child could do math for several hours if he wanted to on one day or knock it off after 50 minutes,” she said, noting that one hope is to never interrupt children who are learning by forcing them to suddenly switch subjects. “But they have their goals on a weekly basis, and the teacher is their guide to make sure they are staying on task.” The same benchmarks and standards exist that exist in other schools, Holguin said. Some may think the relative lack of structure doesn’t adequately prepare students for college and the real world, but Holguin doesn’t agree. After all, real life is often project based. “We say that we’re preparing them for college and the real world,” she said. “It’s not just about education, it’s the whole picture. You can’t even begin to educate a child if his social and emotional wellbeing is not intact.” There’s more of a family atmosphere as students of a variety of age groups may work together. Students with siblings at JMA may even get to work with their brothers and sisters on a regular basis. Manners are also taught, Taylor-Harper proudly pointed out. JMA serves lunch to its students by outsourcing to P.R. Leyva Middle School’s cafeteria. The school has a school lunch program. The school, along with other Carlsbad schools, also has a new playground. A $1.2 million Public Schools Facilities Authority grant through CMS paid for the equipment and other renovations.

Looking forward

The school currently sits at an enrollment of 160. Holguin said the charter allows for the school to grow to up to 300 students.

The school adds about 20 new students each year and is averaging five to seven high school graduates a year.

of college. Brown is pursuing a degree in architecture from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque.

JMA wants to expand, Holguin said, but the primary focus is to work with its current students.

2007’s valedictorian Aproova Reddy also finished high school with an Associate’s degree and is en route to becoming a pharmacist.

“We want to strengthen and make these kids ready to go out into the world. We want to make sure we are producing productive citizens,” she said. Holguin sees success in a variety of directions. “It’s really nice to see light bulb moments when you can actually tell a student got it,” she said. She believes the greatest accomplishments occur when JMA students move on to even bigger things. In 2009, JMA valedictorian Gavin Brown graduated from JMA and was also awarded an Associates Degree from NMSU-C, placing him into his junior year

Sometimes, the biggest thrill is seeing improvement by students who transfer to the school and then thrive. “We had a student who was going to be a dropout. There was no way he could have made it,” Holguin said. “He came over here and thrived due to the Montessori Method, smaller class sizes and individualized attention.” Roselle, who works at Sandia National Laboratories as a geochemist, noted that several other employees of Sandia also have students who attend JMA. “We’re at the point where we’ve got people who haven’t moved to Carlsbad

yet calling JMA and wanting to get on the waiting list,” Roselle observed. “That’s why I stuck with it,” said TaylorHarper, one of a handful of JMA parents who has been involved since the school’s inception. “I could see the future. When you are involved in something, all you can think of is putting out the fires right now. But I could see that this was going to be a good school. That’s what kept me going.” It might be that being true to your school is a lot like being true to your child. It sometimes just takes a little patience.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT Jefferson Montessori Academy: Online: jmacarlsbad.com Phone: 575-234-1703 Email: info@jmacarlsbad.com Address: 500 W Church St. Carlsbad, NM 88220

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on sports

PGA Golfer enjoys being on the road again by Jeff Keller The road of a professional golfer ventures from coast-to-coast as well as to international destinations. Carlsbad native Kent Jones has been on his professional golf journey for almost two decades, and each year provides new challenges and more memorable moments. Since turning professional in 1992, Jones, a 1985 graduate of Carlsbad High School, has competed professionally on the Nike Tour, Buy.Com Tour, Nationwide Tour and, of course, the PGA Tour. In 2000, Jones captured the Buy.Com Shreveport Open title as well as the Buy. Com Greensboro Open. On the PGA Tour Jones has nine career Top 10 finishes and has made the cut in 168 PGA Tour events in his 19-years on tour. This season Jones has split time between the Nationwide Tour and the PGA Tour. On the Nationwide Tour this season, Jones has Top 10 finishes at the Panama Claro Championship and the Pacific Rubiales Bogota Open. “I started off pretty well,” Jones said of his Nationwide Tour play this season. “The first couple of events I played in I finished sixth and ninth. I had a couple of weeks and started off okay, but the last couple I have missed the cut and I haven’t played well.” On the PGA Tour this season, Jones has made the cut in four out of five tournaments with his best finish coming at the St. Jude Classic where he finished tied for 29th. Due to the amount of cuts Jones has made in his career on the PGA Tour, he has had some exemptions into some PGA Tour events this season. “I went to Q-School (PGA Tour Qualifying School) last year and I didn’t get through,” Jones said. “I have some veteran’s member status where if you make 150 cuts throughout your career, you have veteran’s member status and that is what I am using.

on carlsbad

That gets me in a few (PGA Tour) events throughout the year and I am also playing some Nationwide Tour Events.” Though he has spent time on the Nationwide and PGA Tours this season, for the sixth time in his career he was also able to earn a spot in the field at the United States Open Golf Tournament at Pebble Beach in June. Jones went through a U.S. Open sectional qualifying tournament at Woodmont Country Club in Rockville, Maryland. Jones tied for first with Jason Gore in the sectional to earn a spot in the major tournament field. Jones also played in the U.S. Open tournament in 1996, 1997, 2002, 2003 and 2006, making the cut three times. This year’s U.S. Open took place at Pebble Beach, a course where Jones claimed two of his nine career PGA Top 10 finishes (eighth in 2002, and tenth in 2004).Though he had played Pebble Beach many times, Jones said the course played much different as a U.S. Open venue. “I have played that course quite a bit because the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am is held there,” Jones said. “I have played that tournament quite a few times. I have been fortunate enough to have played there. In February, that course is always really wet, so it is very soft, so it plays completely different. When we played the U.S. Open there this summer, the course was very dry and firm, and it played a lot shorter and the greens were much faster. It was the same course, but it was like playing a completely different golf course because of the conditions; they were so different.” Jones made the cut in this year’s U.S. Open for the fourth time in his career. He finished 74th and got some television time during his final round of the tournament. Jones will compete in the Reno-

Tahoe Open, a PGA Tour event, in mid- July but said the remainder of his 2010 schedule will depend on how well he plays in each event. “I will play a couple of (PGA) tour events and maybe I could get hot and play in a few more of those,” Jones said. “Most likely it looks like I will be focusing on playing on the Nationwide Tour. So it is going to be playing a little bit more out there and trying to play better and finish in the Top 25 out there, and that means you don’t have to go to Q-School. That is probably where my focus is going to be.” Though he hopes to avoid going to the Q-School this season, Jones said he will go to the event if he needs to do so. As he closes in on 20 years of traveling the world playing professional golf, Jones still calls the Land of Enchantment his home. He and his wife of 18 years, Joanna, live in Albuquerque with their two children. They still visit his parents, Jerry and Judy Jones, in Carlsbad often. Jones has done what most golfers dream of doing, as he has taken to the links with playing partners such as Phil Mickelson and Vijay Singh throughout his career. Jones said though he never really thought of playing golf professionally until late in his collegiate career, he has enjoyed it and is looking forward to continuing. “I played in high school and I got to play at UNM and I got better and got to be pretty good by my senior year,” Jones said. “I wasn’t real sure so I actually went to graduate school and did that for a couple of years and finished. I tried golf and I started in 1992 and I am still going at it. It has been nice to have your career be something that you like to do. To play a sport as your career is pretty neat.” Jones’ career stats obtained from www.pgatour.com. Kent Jones photos provided by Jerry and Judy Jones.

In each of these puzzles, a proverb is written with exactly one letter of each word replaced with another. Can you figure out what the original proverb is?

#10

Won’t pit oft pill gomorrow whet yon tan go toddy.

#11

Earls so red, earls no rose.

Wetter mate that fever.

#12

Beauts in oily shin beep.

Paint peart newer son pair lads.

#13

Ill word end so plan takes pack I pull toy.

I switch is dime raves mine.

#14

I pool ant has honey ale boon panted.

So nets if goof mews.

#15

Paste net wart pot.

Take hat white she sin whines.

Won’t budge I took my ids covet.

Calf I load if wetter that so break.

Loot befort yon heap.

Binds if I heather frock totether.

Solutions

#1 Better late than never. #2 Faint heart never won fair lady. #3 A stitch in time saves nine. #4 No news is good news. #5 Make hay while the sun shines. #6 Don’t judge a book by its cover. #7 Half a loaf is better than no bread. #8 Look before you leap. #9 Birds of a feather flock together. #10 Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today. #11 Early to bed, early to rise. #12 Beauty is only skin deep. #13 All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. #14 A fool and his money are soon parted. #15 Waste not want not.

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If you knew how serious sleep disorders could be, it would really keep you up at night. If you experience daytime sleepiness, insomnia, sleep apnea or other sleep-related issues, you’ll be glad to know that help is close to home at the Carlsbad Medical Center Sleep Lab. With private sleep rooms and the convenience of wireless studies, we offer testing for the diagnosis and treatment of many sleep disorders. Studies are interpreted by a board-certified neurologist. Sleeping better may be just a dream away. Talk with your doctor if you have sleep-related problems. If a sleep study is ordered, call the Carlsbad Medical Center Sleep Lab at (575) 887-4141.

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