Focus on Carlsbad Summer 2011

SUMMER 2011

Cooling Off Underground of Enchantment: Lechuguilla Cave Exhibit

PLUS

Wild Side of the Pecos Horsemen Styles, Senator Tom Udall, Carlsbad Army Air Field and more!

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? Check out our NEW

Model Home at 1809 Hays, Open Daily 2-4 pm!

Oran & Shirley Means

Associate Brokers

575-885-6664 575-361-0207

Denise Griffith Broker/Owner

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

575-361-1181

Lanette Rostro

LaVern Johnston

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Multi-Million Dollar Producer

Associate Broker

575-200-5954

Associate Broker

575-361-1885

SUMMER 2011

Focus on the Chamber Focus Community Events From the Editor

We May be Small, But We've Got it All! COME SEE OUR 2 NEW STORES! Bealls LA Nails Sears Big 5 Sporting Goods GNC Social Security Admin. Office Athlete’s Foot Extreme Audio Fish’s Claire's Cloud 9 Connie’s Snack Shack Turquoise n Things Average Jane’s Gym Play it Game Room Neish & Neil Clothing & Accessories Southwest Trophies NEWLY EXPANDED

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Focus on EDUCATION

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Focus on recreation

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Focus on the road

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Focus on the arts and culture

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Carlsbad Students Speak Up Living Desert Turns 40 Hueco Tanks State Historic Site Underground of Enchantment Carlsbad MainStreet Focus on health care

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Photo spread

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Affordable Health Care Law Photos in Focus Focus on carlsbad characters

Horsemen Members Enjoy Variety of Styles

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Focus on community

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Focus on recreation

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Focus on history

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Focus on politics

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The Wild Side of the Pecos Appleseed at Carlsbad Shooting Range Carlsbad Army Air Field Interview with Tom Udall, US Senator Focus Business Directory

About the cover: David De Roest stands among the rare 15 foot crystals in the Chandelier Ballrooms of Lechuguilla Cave.

Photo by Gosia Allison-Kosior.

Editorial Content by Kyle Marksteiner Photography by Kyle Marksteiner - along with submitted photos Special Contributors: Donna Birchell, Eve Flanigan, Tom Bemis & John Safin Focus on Carlsbad is published quarterly by Ad Venture Marketing.

Ad Venture Marketing, Ltd. Co. - 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

Carlsbad...

A Place to Call Home!

DID YOU KNOW? • There are 78 million boomers in the USA • Boomers spend 15 hours per week on-line • Boomers purchase 7 cars (on average) after the age of 50 • Boomers purchase 80% of luxury travel • 8 of 10 boomers own their homes • Boomers buy for 3 generations – children, themselves, their parents • Boomer women make 80% of the household purchase decisions

(Information provided by NARA)

Our Action Plan

People are staying younger longer and retirement as a life stage is becoming a part of mid-life as opposed to later life. This shift is very significant for communities as mid-life is a much more active period than later life. Many retirees engage in active purposeful lifestyles during their retirement years.

GOAL #4

The Chamber of Commerce Retirement Council, under the capable leadership of Bob Yeager and George Dunagan, has developed an action plan to attract retirees to our area and create a lifestyle to retain those who live here.

The Retirement Council would like to hear from you, the reader, on your ideas for today and tomorrow in order to improve Carlsbad – A PLACE TO CALL HOME.

GOAL #1

Increase the inventory of available housing.

GOAL #2

Improve the livability, appearance and image of the community.

GOAL #3

Attract additional amenities to the community.

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

Ensure the delivery of high quality medical care.

GOAL #5

Develop a recruitment program to attract retirees.

Please contact Janell Whitlock, Director of Retirement, at 575-887-6516 with ideas and suggestions.

Letter from the chairman

Greetings fellow Chamber members, residents of Carlsbad and visitors to our fine city. I’m writing this letter from the Louis Armstrong International Airport in New Orleans where I’ve been attending a research conference for higher education for the last four days. Having spent five long days on Bourbon Street about twenty years ago as a young college student, I decided to forgo the traditional visit to the French Quarter on this trip. I’m sure my liver and wallet both thank me!

Although the City of New Orleans is a popular tourist destination and has many amenities to offer its visitors, upon reflection I believe that Carlsbad is a good contender as a world-class tourist destination as well. Of course Carlsbad doesn’t have Lake Ponchartrain or the mighty Mississippi River, but we do have Brantley Lake and the Pecos River – basically the same thing. Also, while New Orleans boasts terrific jazz music, historic museums and a world-class aquarium, Carlsbad offers spectacular tourist attractions including the Carlsbad Caverns, the Living Desert State Park, and Sitting Bull Falls – all similarly breath-taking in their own way.

Welcome!

New Members Animal Care Center

However, despite these similarities, where Carlsbad excels, in my humble opinion, is in our people, our climate, and our pricing structure. Generally speaking, Carlsbad residents and merchants are a friendly bunch, committed to providing supreme customer service. This is not something that I experienced routinely in my visit to New Orleans. Additionally, while our average temperature may be hotter, at least it’s a dry heat – something I certainly prefer to the humid, muggy, suffocating air of New Orleans and the southern coastal regions of our nation.

Lastly, the prices for hotels, dining, and taxi services are infinitely better in Carlsbad compared to what the average tourist will pay in New Orleans. Based on my most recent experience, unless you are willing to walk fifteen or more blocks away from the Mississippi River or the French Quarter into a less savory part of town, a noon-time meal will set you back at least twenty dollars and dinner about twice that amount per person. Whereas in Carlsbad you can eat at any of our finest dining establishments including the Stock Exchange, the Trinity and the Stevens Inn on this amount and still have several dollars to put back in your pocket or to spend at one of our affordable, well-stocked and friendly retail establishments.

Kevin’s Pro Clean/Ice Cream Vendor

In all, I enjoyed my trip to New Orleans, but I’m looking forward to returning to the friendly people, the mild climate, and the affordable prices that Carlsbad has to offer. Perhaps if we had a restaurant or two that specialized in boiled crawfish, shrimp gumbo and alligator etouffee, Carlsbad could be the premier tourist destination!

Sudz N’Dudz, LLC

Sincerely,

2010-2011 Board of Directors

Wanda Durham,

Russell Hardy,

Tourism Chairperson Best Western Stevens Inn

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,

Jerri McTaggart,

Ambassador Co-Chairperson Simply Enchanted / Little Tea Pot

Pulse Air Medical Supply Scott Sankey Storage Solutions Superior Auto Wash Till It Shines!

Kirstin Carlson, Board Member

Lisa Sexton, Board Member

Chris Bird, Board Member

Johnna Stephens, Board Member

Rudy Dominguez, Board Member

Brenda Suggs, Board Member Western Commerce Bank

Carlsbad Mental Health

Accu-Rite Tax Accounting

Carlsbad Mental Health

Carlsbad National Bank

Intrepid Potash NMLLC

Jim Harrison, Board Member

Debe Wagner, Board Member

Tom Hollis, Board Member Carlsbad National Bank

Honorary Board Members

Ken Britt,

Todd Hyden, Board Member Ross Hyden Motors

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

Preflix

Bob Yeager,

Mike Calvani,

Jeff Campbell,

Lucky Duck Printing

Pioneer Bank

Wes Carter,

Christmas on the Pecos Chairperson Calvani’s Carpets

Fairfield Inn & Suites

Carlsbad Community Foundation

Jack Volpato,

Governmental Affairs Chairperson SW Pharmacy

Elite Detailing, LLC Facial Expressions, LLC

.................................................................

Contact the Chamber at (575) 887-6516 www.carlsbadchamber.com

Russell Hardy

Chairman of the Board NMSU-Carlsbad

Baby Cakes

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

Tina Britain, Board Member Curves International

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

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

Your Chamber Staff Robert P Defer, Chief Executive Officer

Janell Whitlock, Director of Retirement

Brenda Whiteaker, Director of Operations

Roland Caudill, Director of Facilities Maint. Gilbert John Gonzalez, Facilities Maintenance

director@carlsbadchamber.com

retirement@carlsbadchamber.com

operations@carlsbadchamber.com

facility@carlsbadchamber.com

Lisa Boeke, Director of Marketing & Tourism

Donna Cass, Administrative Assistant

tourism@carlsbadchamber.com

carlsbadnm@carlsbadchamber.com

Albert Elizondo, Administrative Assistant temp@carlsbadchamber.com

Albert Perez, Facilities Maintenance

Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

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Grand Openings ribbon cuttings ground breakings

Carlsbad Physical Therapy & Wellness Center – located at 128 S Canyon – celebrated the opening of their newly remodeled facilities in early February.

Friends, family, and Chamber Ambassadors helped open Cave Wash/Sudz ‘N Dudz located at 116 Esperanza.

The City of Carlsbad celebrates Carlsbad’s new transit system. Call 887-2121 for more information on the routes available.

Facial Expressions held their grand opening on April 8. Visit them at 1012 W Pierce, Ste C to see the various services offered.

Residents, staff, family, and friends celebrate the grand opening of Good Life Assisted Living at 801 W Cherry Lane.

The grand opening of Java Dave’s was held in mid-February. Visit them at 603 W Pierce!

JS Ward & Son opened their new offices at 602 W Pierce Street in late February.

Little Tea Pot celebrates the addition of their coffee bar and Baby Cakes to their business at 512 N Canyon Street.

Senator Tom Udall cuts the ribbon at his Carlsbad office located at 102 Hagerman.

His office can assist with veterans, social security, immigration, housing, and passport issues.

They can also be reached at 234-0366.

Lisa Boeke: 2011 Tourism Professional of the Year Announced by Tourism Association of New Mexico

Lisa Boeke of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce was named Tourism Professional of the Year by the Tourism Association of New Mexico at the 2011 Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held at the Las Cruces Convention Center.

Representatives of Carlsbad Municipal Schools and Xcel Energy celebrate the Community Solar Project located at PR Leyva Middle School.

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

Lisa is the Tourism & Marketing Director for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce/Convention and Visitors Bureau, where she has been employed for the past eight years. Lisa has taken on many responsibilities in her role as Tourism Director. Her day-to-day duties not only involve marketing Carlsbad to potential visitors, but she also coordinates and books all meetings and conferences held at the Pecos River Village Conference Center.

Lisa is an active board member with Tourism Association of New Mexico. She has served as Fundraising chair, Treasurer and currently serves as Vice President. She is also involved with various community projects in Carlsbad.

community events June 10-12

week is for 10-12 year olds. For more information or to pre-register, call 887-5516.

Help celebrate 40 years of family fun at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park! Events are developing.

For more information, call Kathryn Law at -887-5516.

July 15

Living Desert’s 40th Anniversary

June 11

22nd Annual Ducky Affair Rubber Ducky Race

11 a.m.-Noon Proceeds of this annual race benefit Assistance League of Carlsbad’s Operation School Bell. Activities start at 11 a.m. with the splashdown at noon. For more information, call Donna Hill at 885-3333.

June 17

50th Anniversary of Western Commerce Bank

6 p.m.-10 p.m.

Western Commerce Bank celebrating 50th Anniversary, with a block party, BBQ and street dance, June 17th, 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. For more information, call Cindy Elkins at 887-6686.

June 17-18

Roadrunner Gem and Mineral Show

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

This annual show, held at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park visitor center, features the exhibit and sale of minerals, fossils and jewelry. There is no fee to attend. For more information, call Kathryn Law at 887-5516.

June 21

National Parks Day

Starts at 8 a.m.

Carlsbad Caverns and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks will join all national parks across the country in waiving entrance fees on the first day of summer.

For information on the Caverns, call 575-785-2232; Guadalupe Mountains National Park, call 915-8283251.

June 24-25

Firefighter Combat Challenge

All Day Event This summer, the Carlsbad Fire Department will host its 5th annual Firefighter Combat Challenge. Fire Chief Mike Reynolds said as many as seven members of his department will participate in the June 24-25 event at the Carlsbad beach, one of 15-25 combat challenges held nationally.

June 24-July 1

CAAA Living Desert Show

9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The annual Carlsbad Area Art Association Living Desert Show features the exhibit and sale of desertthemed artwork, including pottery, jewelry, sculpture, painting and more. There is no fee to attend. For more information, call Kathryn Law at 887-5516.

July 11-15 & July 18-22 Zoo Camp

8:15 a.m.-Noon Children have fun while they learn at Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park zoo camp. The camp features music, crafts, special activities, guest speakers and more. This year’s theme is Conservation and Ecology.

The first week is for 7-9 year olds, and the second

Contacts

Full Moon Walk

8:30-9 p.m.

Visitors stroll through the zoo by the light of the full moon. This is a beautiful time to experience the park.

Another moon walk is set for August 13. For more information, call 887-5516.

Other Events

www.carlsbadchamber.com • 575-887-6516

Carlsbad Department of Development www.developcarlsbad.org • 575-887-6562

Friday Focus

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

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 575-8876516.

Guadalupe Mountains National Park Summer Schedule

A wide variety of special summer activities exist at the park. For additional information, please contact the Pine Springs Visitor Center at 915-828-3251, ext.

2124, or visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/ gumo/.

Star Parties

Look at the wonders of the night sky through large telescopes at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens and Brantley Lake state parks. Programs at Living Desert are free; regular fees apply to enter Brantley Lake State Park. For more information, call Kathryn Law at Living Desert at 575-887-5516.

Clarification

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce

City of Carlsbad www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com • 575-887-1191

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

Eddy County www.co.eddy.nm.us • 575-887-9511

Eddy County Sheriff’s Department 887-7551

Carlsbad Municipal Schools www.carlsbad.k12.nm.us • 575-234-3300

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

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

WIPP

“The Clovis Sound: New Mexico’s Contribution to Rock ‘n Roll” exhibit, featured in last edition, was brought to the Carlsbad Museum & Art Center courtesy of The Hubbard Museum of the American West in Ruidoso Downs, Norman Petty Productions (Kenneth Broad) in Clovis, the Clovis Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Carlsbad Museum & Art Center. Tom Kirby, Michael Cleary, Ken Britt, Randy Christopher, the staff at Walter Gerrells Performing Arts Center and many City of Carlsbad Employees and volunteers made this exhibit and programming a success.

www.wipp.energy.gov • 575-234-7200

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

N OW O PE N Y E A R RO U N D ! ! !

Send us your events!

We welcome submissions to the community events page. Please e-mail upcoming activities to editor@ad-venturemarketing. com.

Great gift ideas!

Don't forget your pies!

OPEN FRIDAY & SATURDAY

575 8850460 • 3501 PECOS HWY 285 Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

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from the editor

of Labyrinths and Labradors I’ve always deeply admired the energy and determination of Carlsbad residents.

Some folks are content to work their forty hours a week and go home and do nothing else, but that seldom seems to be the case in this town of 26,000 people in Southeastern New Mexico.

When Carlsbad residents get home from work, they spend their free time planning a side business or two.

Or, they start a petition demanding a referendum. Or, they coach three Little League teams.

My theory has always been that it has something to do with this being a desert community. You can’t just sit around in the desert and survive—plants or animals have to have their “A game” on at all moments. So, perhaps, the same is true with people.

One of the latest byproducts of the industriousness of Carlsbad residents is a painted labyrinth at the Municipal Beach Park, southwest of the bath house.

The walking path, a form of a maze, is a Carlsbad Mural Project painted on a concrete circle.

The Carlsbad labyrinth was designed by Paul and Wendy Amato, prepared by Roy King, painted by volunteers and funded by donations. The “maze” is actually one continuous, easy-to-follow pattern, which should be a relief for motorists attempting to get around all of the construction in Carlsbad right now.

Today, many people walk through labyrinths as a method of relieving stress, though in ancient times they were used for containing large, fearsome mythological creatures such as the minotaur. Talk about a change of scope.

I’ll have to admit some initial hesitation when I first found out about the labyrinth. After all, another feature introduced to the area several years ago got off to a rocky start.

Remember about five years ago when they finished the first leg of the Cascades water feature? Everything seemed great until three dogs fell into the water.

According to an onlooker who called local media outlets, the dogs formed a pyramid in order to get out of the water. Now that I think about it, I’m not sure

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

how forming the pyramid ever helped the dog on the bottom get out.

Anyhow, steps were then placed into the water feature as a safety precaution. Since then, the Cascades have been doing quite well.

But could this new feature, this labyrinth, also cause some unexpected problem? For example, might Carlsbad’s minotaur population become lost?

I don’t think there’s much risk. For one thing, the labyrinth is two dimensional, but I decided to test it out. An appropriate experiment would have been to place three dogs into the middle of the painted labyrinth to see if they were able to get out.

Lacking any amount of dogs, I instead placed my 20-month old daughter, Amelia, in the middle of the labyrinth to see what happened.

As you can see from the attached picture, Amelia was successfully able to escape the labyrinth on the first try.

I might also add that Amelia did not appear to be, in any way, compelled to follow the lines that direct one through the labyrinth.

Instead, she dropped her hat and water bottle and walked directly through multiple labyrinthine walls, only to return a few minutes later when she spotted an interesting bug.

Carlsbad’s labyrinth is safe, and you should check it out next time you are down at the beach area.

Oh, and if you are ever looking for some harder mazes, check out the one in Ruidoso or the fall corn maze in Bernalillo County.

The Carlsbad Mural Project is still seeking donations to add signs and benches to the area and to add other murals to the community. The Mural Project is also seeking businesses for potential murals, which are painted by local artists and children with the Boys & Girls Club. A picture of one of those murals can be found on our photographs page. Information on how to donate can be found on their website: http://carlsbadmuralproject.yolasite.com.

Marksteiner is Editorial Director of Focus Magazine.

Email him at editor@ad-venturemarketing.com.

on education

Carlsbad Students Speak Up for Class

by John Safin

Act

Aaaah…the end of the school year. Students glad for the summer break.

Teachers glad for the summer break. Parents wishing the summer break were shorter. For graduating high school seniors, emotions range from the sadness of saying “good-bye” to life-long friends to the excitement of becoming the next generation of adults preparing for the unknown.

High school graduation is the end of one journey and the beginning of another. Aside from finals, prom, job searches and college prep, all the seniors are looking forward to one thing: the Class Act graduation party!

“I couldn’t believe everything that goes into Class Act actually happens in one night,” said Pamela Ashley Lopez, a 2009 Carlsbad High School graduate.

Ashley moved from San Antonio, TX in 2005. “I heard of Class Act when I moved to Carlsbad, but didn’t really understand it until junior year. It was so much fun because there was so much to do. I played cards, watched one of the movies and played bingo and other games. I really liked the Wreck n’ Ball game”–a giant inflatable where four people stand in each corner and play dodge ball trying to knock the each other off their inflated pad. “THAT was so much fun.”

Inflatable, bouncy games are always in demand at Class Act. There’s nothing more fun than jumping up, down, and around on a giant, air-filled mattress.

And, you know it! Most activities that make Class Act a memorable night change with the times. In the beginning, movies were shown on VHS tapes, karaoke was becoming trendy, and bingo, cards and traditional board games were featured amusements.

That was a time when Walkmans, CD players, and Michael Jackson’s “BAD” album (that’s vinyl record, not CD) were some of the most wanted prizes. Now, it’s iPods, iPads, and other iStraining gadgets that has today’s youth texting, Tweeting, and posting every spare

loved being involved with the (Class Act) board. I was able to see and be involved in the planning. I appreciated the Class Act party even more because of all the work everyone did.” Ashley stayed on the Class Act board the following year to help the Class of 2010 have as much fun as she did.

moment. Of course, money is a prize that fits everyone and Class Act gives away over $5,000 in scholarships and cash prizes.

Some things don’t change, for instance, graduating seniors want their parents and all freshmen to stay away. Think back to when you graduated high school. Graduation was your event, your accomplishment, and your reason to party like it was 1999 (or 1959, depending how old you are). This event is not an adult-free zone. The Class Act board brings in the Carlsbad Police Department, Eddy County Sheriff’s Department, and nearly one hundred adult volunteers to stay all night long to ensure everyone is safe and having fun.

Ashley was on the Class Act board as a student advisor during her senior year plus the president of the 2009 Business Professionals of America (BPA) and 2009 Eddy County Rodeo Queen. “I

The Carlsbad High School Class of 2011 knows how much fun the Class Act party can be. “There’s always something to do no matter what you like to do. It was awesome,” said Jaxon Fitch, a 2011 graduate from Carlsbad High School. “I went with a friend who graduated last year. I played the games, but couldn’t win any of the prizes because I wasn’t a senior.”

Riley Gibbs agreed, “Winning some prizes is good. Money, a laptop, or something to use in college would be good, too.” While Jaxon and Riley are ready to be richer than Donald Trump, some of their classmates gave other reasons Class Act is THE event of senior year.

While Maegan Estrada is also looking forward to the games, she thinks, “The overnight party theme is great and the games are fun. I like hanging out with my friends.”

“It’s one last hurrah to end high school life,” said Ariana Gonzalez, who recently celebrated a birthday. “Most of Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

9

on education us look forward to the party.”

Kyla Stewart added to that thought, “All the seniors get together for one, big farewell party. It’s the last time most of us will see each other.”

Seniors from Carlsbad High and other area schools, including home schooled students, are invited to Class Act. Each senior is allowed to bring one guest to the Class Act party. Add it all up and there are around 700 young adults having “one last hurrah” on graduation night. Games and prizes might change with the times, but the rules set by the seniors for the past 22 years Class Act has been around are still the same: no drinking, no drugs, no fighting!

Class Act gives the opportunity for lots of fun, scholarships, and a big good-bye to high school for the graduates. The most important gift from Class Act is life. There have been no teen deaths on graduation night since Class Act began.

So, what exactly is Class Act of Carlsbad? It’s an all-night, safe, alcoholand drug-free event for graduating high school seniors and their guests. It keeps celebrating teens off the streets and away from trouble. The prizes, food, decorations, and everything are donated by people, businesses, and organizations. The adults working on behalf of Class Act are all volunteers who spend hundreds of hours building, collecting, planning, and running the party. Their website, www. classactofcarlsbad.com, has more information, including ways you can get involved or make a donation.

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

LOTS OF GREAT CHILI AND A GREAT FAMILY ATMOSPHERE EVERYONE COME OUT AND ENJOY • FREE ADMISSION

SPONSORED BY: PAID IN PART BY CARLSBAD LODGERS TAX

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

L& F DISTRIBU TORS

on recreation

“Over the Hill” is a somewhat strange designation for a state park that is, after all, located on top of a hill, but Carlsbad’s Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park plans to celebrate its 40th birthday in style.

The state park’s birthday celebration on June 11 will feature state dignitaries, community events and the introduction of a metal sculpture created by local artist Frank Westfall.

“It’s a monumental time,” said Ken Britt, park superintendent, about the 40th anniversary. “The community has really supported this park and helped it grow.”

“We’re going to invite Governor Susana Martinez and (former) Governor David Gargo, who was governor when the park was being constructed,” said Britt. “We’ll also have a fun-filled day at the zoo with talks, historical presentations, crafts, and special packages for the animals.”

This year, the Living Desert also celebrated its 25th Mescal Roast. Britt

said the park puts in extra effort to include cultural sharing as part of its overall depiction of life in the Chihuahuan Desert.

“One of our other big highlights has been getting accreditation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums,” Britt said about the park’s recent developments. “That’s really put us on the map as far as modern zoos. The education and volunteer programs have also really blossomed.”

The Living Desert currently has about thirty docents who volunteer at the park, Britt said. Two organizations, Friends of the Living Desert and the Carlsbad Horticulture Society, support the state park.

Recent improvements to the park have included the development of a new mountain lion and bobcat habitat, the expansion of a hoof stock exhibit and a massive renovation to make the park ADA compliant.

The Living Desert also added solar power this spring, which reduces the

Pictured Above: Volunteer Margaret Sage Bemis, at left, talks with a family during Great American Cleanup Activities at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park.

park’s electric bill. Britt said the Living Desert’s mission has evolved over time.

“We established a focus on the Chihuahuan Desert ecosystem in the 1980s,” he said. “Providing access to animals that couldn’t live in the wild (due to an injury or the fact that the animal was rescued from captivity) just seemed to be the natural evolution. They can live their lives here, and they become wildlife ambassadors for their species and hopefully help people connect with nature.”

Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

11

on the road

It’s a historical wonder and a natural beauty, and it’s right along a road trip most Carlsbad residents take on a regular basis.

Many Carlsbad residents may have noticed the Hueco Tanks sign about thirty miles outside of El Paso, but they probably thought it had something to do with the oil and gas industry.

Turns out, Hueco Tanks State Historic Site is actually an extremely popular destination for visitors, and it has been for some time. For thousands of years, up through the 1900s, the area drew a crowd because the nature of the rocks made it easy to gather water, which was vital in the otherwise arid region.

“Huecos are natural hollows or depressions in the rocks that formed when rock shelves are formed,” explained Jane McFarland, park interpretive ranger. “Tanks are the manmade water features. Some of them are very basic, while others are very well done.”

Human settlement of the Hueco Tanks area dates back 10,000 years, McFarland said. Desert Archaic cultures called the location home, as did the Jornada

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

Mogollon, Kiowa, Mescalero Apache and Tigua tribes. More recently, several families of ranchers owned the area during pioneer days.

All of them left behind artwork. In fact, Hueco Tanks has one of the area’s best collections of Native American pictographs and petroglyphs from several different time periods and tribes. Pictographs were painted on a rock, while petroglyphs were created by using a small stone to carve or scratch a symbol.

The other most important thing about Hueco Tanks is that climbers really love it, especially during the winter when it is too cold to climb anywhere else.

The rocks at the 860-acre park are also especially “climber friendly,” McFarland said.

“We have lots of overhangs and boulders. I would say more than half of our visitors in the winter are climbers,” McFarland said. “Sometime people will have to wait for hours to get to the park

in the winter.”

To reduce the overflow, the park now limits how many people can attend to 160 in the backcountry area and 70 in the self-guided area. Reservations are required, and typically have to be made months in advance during the busy winter season.

“It’s a fragile environment, and we had to think of something where people still get to have the experience while also preserving this place for future generations,” McFarland said.

Bird watchers, picnickers and people just seeking some peace and quiet join the climbers and amateur archeologists in visiting the park’s three mountains, two of which are in the backcountry.

Numerous ranger-guided tours exist in both the backcountry and the selfguided areas.

Foxes, bobcats, coyotes and 275 species

of birds frequent the area, which is also home to a wide variety of unique desert plants.

For a casual day trip to the park, McFarland recommended calling in advance and scheduling a rock art tour, which should last about two hours.

“We can engage any level of fitness,” she said. “I’d also make separate reservations for a self-guided tour and go birding or take a little walk.”

While the park is more popular in the winter, ample shade makes it a viable summer visit. Hueco Tanks also has twenty campsites, which are receiving an upgrade in the spring of 2011. Rescue teams and the military also use the park for training, McFarland said.

A very short trek up from the interpretive center, which was itself the adobe ranch residence of the Escontrias family for about fifty years, leads to some impressive pictographs which McFarland said were about 1,000 years old.

Members of the Escontrias family, who lived in the area from 1898 to 1952, also etched their names at locations around the park, and those drawings are now historically protected as well.

“They understand how important this place was and they would charge visitors,” McFarland noted. “They also tried to keep people from going out on the rocks.”

Today, while a visitor probably could find some of the artwork on his or her own, a guided tour is recommended to really see some of the wonders. In one small area, perhaps a ten-minute walk from the parking lot, McFarland was able to point out pictographs of coyote, horses and a two-foot long rattlesnake. “You can stand here for hours and not see everything,” she said. “The layers of people who have come here is just mind blowing.”

The overhangs served as natural air conditioners for Native Americans who lived in the area. Mortar holes and sootstained ceilings mark the spots that were the homes to generations of families.

A drawing of a large warrior looms over another nearby overhang. McFarland said it bears a strong resemblance to Tlaloc, a Mesoamerican rain deity.

New visitors, of course, are strictly prohibited from adding new drawings to the wall or removing the historically protected material in place.

New discoveries are still being made at Hueco Tanks. At one stop, McFarland pointed to an ancient petroglyph of circles drawn onto one portion of a rock facing the desert to the east.

“A volunteer took pictures during the equinox,” she said.

“When the sun rises, the shadows cast onto the petroglyph coincide with each one of the circles every eighteen minutes.

We just discovered that.”

Heuco Tanks State Historic Site is located at 6900 Hueco Tanks Road #1, about thirty miles east of El Paso. For more information, call 915857-1135 or visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/hueco.

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on the arts and culture

T

by Donna Birchell he oldest municipal museum in New Mexico is the host of cutting edge modern 3-D technology, featuring one of the most spectacular caves in the world (Lechuguilla Cave) in an exhibit as unique as its subject.

“Underground of Enchantment,” currently showing at the Carlsbad Museum & Art Center at 418 W. Fox Street, debuted with a gala event on Saturday, May 7, bringing the beauty which lies beneath the desert surface to the citizens of Carlsbad.

Poland native and exhibit curator Gosia Allison-Kosior’s love for this project was evident by her smile as she relayed the birth of the exhibit as a simple idea which has taken on a life of its own. As the leader of a Lechuguilla expedition for world renowned microbiologist Diana E. Northup on March 19, 2010, Gosia involved photographer David De Roest and Northup’s research assistants Ara Kooser and Ian McMillan to chronicle their work. While taking a break in the Tree House Room, a

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

brilliant idea crossed Gosia’s never idle mind. Why not take advantage of having worked with one of the world’s best 3-D photographers?

“I thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful to bring this spectacular sight to everyone?” she said.

With this simple question, a chain reaction began.

A recent hire to the Carlsbad Museum & Art Center, Gosia was apprehensive about bringing the idea to Museum Director Patsy Jackson-Christopher. The director loved the idea, only she felt Gosia was thinking too small.

Lechuguilla Cave, the sixth longest cave in the world and the deepest cave in the continental United States, is totally inaccessible to the general public due to its fragility. The expeditions allowed to date have been permitted for research and mapping purposes only.

Lechuguilla is in pristine condition and is home to some of the rarest formations

found in any cave in the world. Cavers, dressed in white suits and gloves, battle the 100% humidity and warm temperatures to explore what is thought to house the rare chemolithoautorophic bacterium which feed on the minerals of the cave and help form the shapes of the rare speleothems.

The fourth episode of the BBC documentary series Planet Earth, titled “Caves” (which aired on April 22, 2007), was filmed in Lechuguilla Cave.

Obtaining permission to film in the cave took two years and allowing another film crew into the cave any time soon is unlikely. Because of this, “Underground of Enchantment” becomes, possibly, the only way the public can experience the phenomenal sights of this important cave.

Microbiologist Diana E. Northup, who received her PhD. in Biology at the University of New Mexico, has been featured on CNN, BBC, NOVA and National Geographic—to name a few. Top in her field, Diana is part

Photo Opposite Page: Gosia Allison-Kosior stands in a unique formation inside of the Tree House. Photo by David De Roest.

Photo This Page: David De Roest stands among the rare 15 foot crystals in the Chandelier Ballrooms of Lechuguilla Cave.

Photo by Gosia Allison-Kosior.

of the SLIME (Subsurface Life in Mineral Environment) Team who are investigating how the ferromanganese deposits that coat Lechuguilla’s walls are formed by microbes. It is through her expeditions the group of photographers were merged.

Northup expressed, “When I visualize the microbes that live on cave walls and in the nooks and crannies, I can’t help but be impressed by their beauty and to think of them as nature’s art.”

delicate gypsum hairs are but a few captured by De Roest’s camera.

He explained the 3-D camera mimics the human eye, each lens being a separate filter which the brain cannot merge. There are no standards in 3-D photography, making it a trial and error process.

“Lechuguilla Cave is a tough cave,” explained the Belgian 3-D photographer, “It is a wonder of nature, a labyrinth underground.”

De Roest lights up when speaking of Lechuguilla and how all of the events leading up to the “Underground of Enchantment” exhibit were a dream come true. He and Gosia beam when they explain the motivation behind the show, “the opportunity to do something not everyone can do and give people the opportunity to experience what they have.” They describe the cave as rendering them speechless, something which Gosia admits, with a giggle, is not easily done.

Formed by sulfuric acid, the cave contains many formations unique to itself. Aragonite trees, moonmilk/ crinkle blisters and long, extremely

Being modest and a relative newcomer to the art, De Roest felt lucky to have his work alongside four of the foremost 3-D photographers in the

David De Roest, fresh from an expedition to the caves of Vietnam, jumped at the chance to photograph the Holy Grail of cavers.

world for this exhibition. Hearing of the exhibit from fellow caver Gosia, Michel Renda and Daniel Chailloux, both renowned French photographers, jumped at the chance to be included in such an important exhibit. Each had photographed Lechuguilla on different expeditions and was currently working in 3D. Husband and wife photography team Ann and Peter Bosted have been photographing caves since they met in 1982. Before this time, each photographed many caves around the world with their photographs appearing in prestigious caving publications.

Exploring Lechuguilla Cave was also a dream come true for this couple who has spent a combined sixty weeks in the cave exploring and photographing.

Weaving all of the fabulous artwork together are the guitar strains of musician/artist Vincent Kaydahzinne, born on the Apache Reservation in Mescalero, New Mexico. He believes “it is his destiny to create and preserve Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

15

his Apache heritage through music and art.”

The artists involved in the exhibit have contributed an amazing donation of time efforts, according to Gosia, and have done all of this, including photograph development, exhibition mountings and travel expenses, for free. Even so, the equipment needed to produce the product they wanted was not available at the museum and was quite expensive.

Not deterred, the museum staff met with City Administrator Harry Burgess who assured them the equipment would be provided as long as it benefitted the citizens of Carlsbad. The museum staff stressed the fact that if the City of Carlsbad had not shown such generosity, this special exhibition never would have seen fruition.

Countless hours of voluntary work has been selflessly completed by many local people who are doing this for the love of the project and Lechuguilla Cave, including Karen and George Veni, Sam Christensen, Margaret and John Barry, Virginia Moyers, Larry Pardue and Pat Seiser. The “guardian angel of the Underground of Enchantment,” according to Gosia, is facility maintenance worker Lanny Barnett, who was instrumental in bringing together all the hundreds of details to “choreograph the show.”

Each Saturday during the exhibit, the museum will play host to special events at 2 p.m. One such event will feature spray paint artist Brandon McConnell, who will be at the museum all day on August 20 performing demonstrations of his talent. Brandon’s paintings will be for sale to allow the public to own a unique masterpiece.

In the words of Gosia Allison-Kosior, the exhibit curator, “the world is good, as is being a part of something spectacular.

We forget about magic places and are richer if we share. Life pays you back for all you give.”

The Lechuguilla Cave exhibit will run until August 2011 and then will travel to West Texas, Colorado and other New Mexico museums for ten months. For more information concerning the exhibit, please visit the museum’s website at www. undergroundofenchantment.com.

Photo Above : Gosia Allison-Kosior hams it up in the Tree House, the birthplace of the Underground of Enchantment exhibit.

Photo by David De Roest.

Photo Below: Diana Northrup’s research assistant, Ian McMillian, is shown admiring Lechuguilla Cave. Photo by David De Roest.

Since the exhibit has such an international flare, Allison-Kosior wanted to bring the “kiddos” into the mix. Thus, the “Enchanted Postcard” contest began. Children all around the world were created 4” x 6” postcards with a “caves” theme. By the first part of April, there were over 500 creative entries!

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

on mainstreet

Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market Benefits the Entire Community

by Amy M. Barnhart

The 2011 season of the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market is right around the corner, and Carlsbad MainStreet and its volunteers have been working diligently in their Amy M. Barnhart Carlsbad MainStreet preparations to Executive Director make sure this is the best season yet. The market will once again feature musical entertainment every market day, as well as guest speakers who will share their knowledge on topics ranging from composting to canning to determining helpful and harmful bugs. There will be produce and crafts for sale every weekend, as well as food vendors serving delicious food the market visitors can eat right on the spot. This season there will also be monthly special events to coincide with the market.

If you’ve attended the market in the past, you may know all about the produce, the crafts, the entertainment and the guest speakers. But do you know how the market benefits its vendors, consumers and community as a whole?

Farmers’ markets are often the first point of entry into the marketplace for small- and medium-size growers and independent crafters. Markets act as an incubator for

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these businesses and provide supplemental income. Growers who sell at a farmers’ market are able to get a better price for their produce because they do not have to sell through a middle-man—i.e., supermarkets.

The same can be said for crafters who are able to sell their wares independently.

Farmers’ markets allow consumers to have access to fresh, locally produced food as well as the opportunity to interact with growers and learn about their products. They are able to buy produce at a more affordable price by purchasing directly from the grower and avoiding the mark-ups associated with produce that has traveled hundreds, or thousands, of miles. Additionally, a shorter travel time means more nutrients, as many green vegetables lose nutrients soon after being picked.

Farmers’ markets are integral in creating robust local economies, thriving neighborhoods and strong, social interaction within the community. They provide easier access to fresh, nutrient-rich food in a familyfriendly environment.

Farmers’ markets provide the community with a place for gathering and interacting, and area retailers often see an increase in

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The Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market helps further Carlsbad MainStreet’s goal to foster a center of activity in downtown Carlsbad and to ensure economic stability in the heart of our community. Not only does it do that but it also provides the community with fresh, inexpensive produce and handmade crafts in an educational and entertaining environment. If you are looking for an activity the whole family can enjoy, Carlsbad MainStreet has you covered from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., every Saturday from June 25 to mid-October on the Eddy County Courthouse lawn. We’d love for you to join us.

The Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market is open from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., every Saturday from June 25 to mid-October on the Eddy County courthouse lawn.

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For more information on Downtown Carlsbad, Call the Carlsbad Mainstreet Office at (575) 628-3768 or e-mail us at carlsbadmainstreet@gmail.com Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

17

on health care

by John Safin Anyone who has paid attention

to national news in the past year has seen and heard quite a bit regarding the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. Most people will be challenged with reading the law as issued by the US Congress and signed by the President in March 2010.

Yes, this document is really 1,024 pages long. Depending upon who is doing the talking, this is either the greatest law ever passed or the worst law to be imposed on American citizens.

timeline) and the US Chamber of Commerce (uschamber.com/chambers/ complying-health-care-law). Both organizations review the same timeline of implementation and neither report shows the same content. While one talks about “prescription drug discounts,” the other points out the “brand-name drug tax.” If the largest political figure and the largest voice for business read the law that differently, how will this impact the average Carlsbad resident?

“The full impact of the new health care law won’t be felt until 2014,” said Ashley Bock, CEO at Home Care Connection and Hospice, which provides medical home Compare the analysis of two different care and hospice services. “Right now, the entities with two different types of people regulations are forcing more paperwork. to impress: The official White House It’s not really helping the patients. website (whitehouse.gov/healthreform/ The regulation regarding documentation At Candlewood, you can find was to go after all the fraud. many things to help you...

Unfortunately, the way the law is written, the people doing the audits are paid on commission for any errors they find.”

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

The Recovery Audit program was designed to eliminate overpayment of Medicare reimbursements to health care providers. Their 2009 report shows over $1 billion in overpayments found by Recovery Audit Contractors (RAC).

There are several medical and non-medical organizations that have publicly noted RAC’s more recent activities have

nothing to do with patient care. One piece of evidence for demonstrating lack of patient priority is the incentive for RAC: a 22% commission of the overpayment.

Based on the 2009 report, this is nearly $300 million in commissions to RAC; a lucrative job. A commentary discussing RAC activities said approximately 85% of all repayments were due to bad handwriting and illegible notes; not an issue specific to patient care.

Bock added, “One thing that might be considered good is forcing health care providers to go paperless. Home Care Connection and Hospice decided to go paperless last year before it was a mandatory regulation putting us ahead of our competition.”

“Going paperless is a good idea,” noted Dr. Derik J. Brown DPM at Southeast New Mexico Podiatry. “This (paperless reporting) needs to be done, but the way it was done could have been better. There are 150 different computer companies selling 150 different electronic medical record software programs. There are standards for information and reporting, but there’s no guidelines for having the different software programs communicate with each other. Two different doctors

Chris Jones, CFO - Ashley Bock, CEO and Kaitlyn Jones Home Care Connection and Hospice

Danny Cross Advanced Medication Systems

for the same patient might not have compatible computer systems and defeats the purpose of going paperless.”

Brown came to Carlsbad four years ago from Lexington, Kentucky, and “plans to be in Carlsbad for the next twenty years.”

He noted two areas of concern with the new federal health care law. “The lack of competition with regards to insurance coverage could mean benefits to the individual will be lessened. The other affect might be what has started to happen in California.

Reimbursements from Medicare have become so low there are surgeons who won’t use it and have stopped providing certain services. Even though Medicare has split so many ways, we view this option as a service to our patients and the community, and will continue providing the best services possible.”

Medicare changes also means a change in tax rates beginning in 2013. Medicare tax on earned income will increase from 1.45 to 2.35 percent for persons earning more than $200,000. Medicare tax on investment income (interest, dividends, rents, capital gains, and royalties) will be assessed 3.8 percent tax. The good news is retirement account investment income is not subject to the tax. The bad news is a possibility taxpayers at any income level could be subject to the new Medicare tax.

Medicaid is also impacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Danny Cross, Pharmacist at Advanced Medication Systems, provided some insight to Medicaid changes for the Carlsbad community. “In 2012, Medicaid will expand to the 124 percent poverty level in New Mexico. This will increase the number of participants, which is good because people need their medication and medical services. Medication is the most cost-effective intervention available today.

How many people wouldn’t need surgery

Dr. Derik J. Brown Southeast New Mexico Podiatry

and private insurance companies,” he said. Sanders also said that paperwork is the biggest challenge for both the health care providers and their patients, and pointed to a large, thick book lying on a shelf, noting that Medicare has a specific code for every piece of equipment mentioned.

or emergency treatment if they had better preventative care?”

According to Cross, New Mexico has seven different types of Medicaid programs, which ties back to the vastness of paperwork. Legislation was introduced to the New Mexico House of Representatives in February 2011 to combine all the Medicaid programs together to (hopefully) make oversight more efficient.

When asked about the impact of the federal health care law to his operation, Cross hadn’t seen any evidence of coverage changes for patients with the law’s passage. “One change I noticed was the removal of over-the-counter drugs from Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).

Starting next year, if anyone wants to use their FSA to purchase ibuprofen or allergy medicine, they will need to get a prescription from their doctor.”

Ron Sanders, CPO, commented, “The law hasn’t completely kicked in yet. The first change I’ve seen is one patient now has insurance. He’s 21 years old and was added to his parents’ insurance policy after the law went into effect. So, for him, it (law passage) was a good thing.”

Sanders, owner of Sanders Orthopedic Brace & Limb, is a Certified Prosthetist Orthopedist, one of 21 in the State of New Mexico.

Jala Trussell and Ron Sanders Sanders Orthopedic Brace & Limb

In addition to the increasing quantity of documentation, the four health care providers all agreed there has to be changes to the existing system. Comments included “there is no single answer on how to fix it,” “at least Obama is making an effort to do something,” “the people writing the laws don’t know how things work well enough to fix it,” and other remarks that echo voices heard in the national discussion. >>>>>

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Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

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The way health care is dispensed is one of the three areas affected by the new law.

Business owners have employee insurance requirements to address under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Once again, there is some confusion as to what is supposed to happen.

Part of the confusion is the federal government itself. The White House timeline states, “Up to 4 million small businesses are eligible for tax credits to help them provide insurance benefits to their workers. The first phase of this provision provides a credit worth up to 35 percent of the employer’s contribution to the employees’ health insurance.” Sounds great! Business owners get a tax credit for giving their employees health insurance.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act defines “small business” as “up to 50 employees,” but the US Small Business Administration (SBA) shows only two industries with fewer than fifty employees. In essence, the new law created a new definition as to what is a “small” and “large” business.

Follow this: • The affordable health care law now makes most businesses “large.”

• The business owner is required to pay for their employees’ health insurance.

• The business is not eligible for the 35 percent tax credit because they aren’t a “small” business.

• If you were the business owner, would you consider the affordable health care law really “affordable”?

Searching around Carlsbad, there are a few locally owned businesses with more than 50 employees, a “large” business.

None of the owners or managers offered any comments about the new health care law because the full extent of the law hasn’t been determined. Most did say their existing health insurance plans had a dramatic increase in premiums, between 18 and 29 percent. The US Chamber of Commerce has issued several statements and commentaries regarding the adverse financial impact of the new health care law on business and recommendations for “meaningful, common sense health care reform that will cure the problems in our system–not create new ones.”

others it will be a curse. There are too many variables to accurately explain the new law for each person reading this article. You can find details specific to your situation on healthcare.gov and a questionnaire to explore your coverage and pricing options.

You can read the law for yourself, but don’t be fooled. The 1,024 pages of government-speak really is confusing.

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

You, and the other citizens of the United States, are in the final group whose lives will be changed by the new health care law. For some it will be a blessing and

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

1: Caitlyn Sanchez, front, and other children with the

Carlsbad Boys and Girls Club assist with creating a mural on the west wall of the Village Peddler, located at 615 W. Mermod Street. The mural was designed by artist Charles Freeman as part of the Carlsbad Mural Project, a volunteer coalition comprised of the Boys and Girls Club, Carlsbad Anti-Drug/Gang Coalition, Keep Carlsbad Beautiful, Carlsbad MainStreet, artists, clergy, and community members. Carlsbad Mural Project founder Wendy Amato said she got the idea for the project after reading how Silver City has developed a strong tourist attraction through their city’s murals.

2: Boys and Girls Club students helping with the mural were Caitlyn Sanchez, Johnny Patterson, Robert Nidy and Alexis Willis. The Mural Project is funded through business and community donations. Another local business owner, Abel Campos of Vic’s Watercraft, is lined up to sponsor the next mural.

3:

Local resident Andres Sapien receives a fingerprinting from members of the Eddy County Sheriff’s Department during Spring Fling 2011. Fingerprinting is used as a method of protecting area youth.

4: New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez signs an enhanced version of Katie’s Law into law with members of the Sepich family in attendance.

5: Intrepid Potash helped the Carlsbad Battered Families Shelter with a new storage facility this spring.

6: New Mexico State Representative Cathrynn Brown speaks to Court Appointed Special Advocates volunteers during the annual CASA banquet.

7: Local celebrity Carl S. Bat greets children as activities take place during the spring’s Great American Cleanup.

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Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

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on carlsbad characters

Horsemen Members Enjoy Variety of Styles

C

arlsbad may seem to be a great distance from the precise propriety and neatly manicured lawns of Great Britain, but a group of local horse riders regularly bring one of the traditions of Merry Ol’ England to this Western town.

Throughout the spring and fall, members of the Carlsbad Horsemen’s Association hold English riding competitions at the Sheriff’s Posse Arena. The association also holds Western riding competitions during the same period.

English riding disciplines follow rigid traditions demanding specific styles of clothing, boots, breeches, helmets and jackets. In addition to the recognizable attire, it is also defined by very precise jumps over obstacles.

competitions, but she helps run the Western events.

to be interesting, but she doesn’t plan to switch over.

Many of the people competing at a recent Western Training Show would have been familiar to local rodeo enthusiasts. In fact, Ashley Buffington, a former rodeo queen and current college student, acted as judge.

English

The list of Western competitions includes events based largely on speed and agility, similar to rodeo events.

Some events are strictly judged by presence and demeanor. Other events involve a mounted competitor going through a sort of domestic obstacle course where they have to, for example, ride up to a mailbox and open it.

Barrel and pole racing events were recently added to the local list of competitions offered.

Western and English competitions are similar in that many events combine athleticism with the demeanor and personality of the horse. You aren’t just being scored by speed, but, depending on the event, on your horse’s manner, grooming and on your own presentation.

“We’re trying to get more people down from Roswell,” Davis noted.

Western events have names like “Western Pleasure,” “Western Riding,” and “Trail Horse.” For comparison, English events have names like “English Pleasure,” “Dressage,” and “Hunter Hack.”

“It’s a lot slower pace,” Lauhoff said about the Western style events compared to rodeo. “You have to learn how to slow your horse down.”

Western

“We had halter classes earlier this morning where the scoring is based on how the horse looks without a saddle on,” said Carlsbad Horseman’s Association President Linnie Davis during a recent Western show. “In Western Pleasure, the judge is looking at how pleasurable the horse is to ride.”

Davis competes in the English

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Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

Daniegh Lauhoff, a local high school student, was one of the day’s only younger participants at an April 16 show. Lauhoff is also a regular at local rodeo events.

Her horse, Rainbow, isn’t the horse she uses at the rodeo. Rainbow was selected for her appearance, intelligence and discipline.

“In showmanship, you are judged for how your horse looks, while in other classes it is how they perform,” Lauhoff said. “You have to put her in the right mindset.”

Lauhoff said she has watched an English riding competition before and found it

How are the English competitions different?

“It’s a totally different look,” Davis said.

“The English attire requires jumpers and hard hats, and you are jumping over posts and rails with the horse.”

In the hunter event, Davis said, “they are judging you from the moment you walk into the arena and looking at how the horse behaves,” while in the jumper “as long as you get over without falling off,” you’ll be okay.

Jennifer Warner, who also competes in the English show, said the competition is rooted in fox hunting traditions from Europe.

“There are really lots of different types of English riding,” she said. “Personally, I like the adrenaline of jumping that a lot of Western riding doesn’t get involved with.”

“The different aspects of the uniform used to be considered essential to riding,” Warner added. “For example, the belt you were supposed to wear could also be used as a tourniquet.”

Some of Carlsbad’s competitors also participate in larger events around the area. At the end of the year, the Carlsbad Horsemen’s Association gives out awards for high points at both competitions.

Warner teaches different riding styles to students in the area, competes regularly throughout the nation and assists her grandparents on their ranch. She said riders who have experience in the English style actually find it easier to

Pictured (From Left to Right)

Teresa Nance participates in a recent Carlsbad Horseman’s Association English Training Show.

Linnie Davis and her horse, Beau, jump during a recent English riding competition at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse Rodeo Arena.

Daneigh Lauhoff leads her horse in the Carlsbad Horseman’s Association Spring Western Training Show on April 16.

adjust to Western than the reverse.

seems to be dwindling.

She recommended students interested in riding participate in a variety of styles including English, Western and rodeo, because that opens up the door for a broader range of scholarship opportunities.

“I’ve just gotten involved again this year, and it’s been great,” she said. “But it used to be a massive show with more kids than adults. Now, we’ve only got 14-15 riders and only maybe 2-3 kids.”

Davis said she received her first horse when she was 11.

Warner said she grew up as part of the Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse, went away to boarding school for riding and recently returned to her home town.

She’s saddened by the fact that participation at many of the events

“I rode both English and Western,” she said. “I took the horse with me to college, but that got to be too much.”

She took a 25 year hiatus from

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horseback riding, but returned to the sport with her daughter. She said she enjoys competitions that, among other things, test the intelligence of the horse.

“The horses here, they can’t be idiots,” Davis said, gesturing to an ongoing event. “They’ve got to go out there and trot calmly, not just run fast. People love their horses and it’s fun to be able to compete with other people here.”

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Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

23

on community

Adrianne Navarrette just can’t wait to get on the river again.

river is just a great spot to swim and be outside and hang out with friends.”

Large Photo: Kadee Wacholz and Connor Donavan watch across the river as a group of men take turns jumping off of a cliff across the river.

Newcomers to Carlsbad quickly learn all about the city beach and park areas along the Pecos River. They’ll also soon discover Brantley Lake State Park, about fifteen minutes to the north.

Navarrette developed her love of the river through her parents. Her mother, Michelle Perry, noted the high level of freedom visitors have on BLM land.

Inset Photo: Navarrette and her friends, from left, Amanda Jennings, Kadee Wacholz, and Mark Hollen, watch Navarrette’s daughter, Emmie.

“One thing about this part of the country is that we do have a lot of public land,” said Perry. “It belongs to everyone, and that’s just great.”

newcomers should bring a cell phone, or, better yet, a friend who knows the way, and a vehicle with a little bit of muscle.

Perry grew up in Carlsbad, but she didn’t “discover” the Pecos River until after she married her husband, Curtis.

Popular river spots are plentiful in the area between Lake Avalon and Brantley Lake, though there are also a number of fishing holes along the Pecos River to the south of town. Black River, also south of Carlsbad, is especially well known for its fishing,

But Carlsbad natives like Navarrette know a secret—some of the prettiest points along the Pecos rest in the wilderness area north of Carlsbad and south of Brantley Lake. This relatively remote recreation zone belongs to the Bureau of Land Management, which means it is free to the public. For numerous Carlsbad residents, the shores of the Pecos River is the go-to place to spend most weekends picnicking, boating, fishing, swimming and camping.

“My family has always been really outdoorsy people,” said Navarrette, who works at the Carlsbad Environmental Monitoring and Research Center. “The

24

Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

“There are just so many beautiful places,” she said. “We like to put our canoe up below Brantley, and you can go all the way south toward Loving and Malaga. I can’t say I have a favorite spot.

There’s just too many of them.”

Visitors to either side of the Pecos River north of Carlsbad have to navigate through a labyrinth of rocky oilfield roads to get there. It’s easy to get lost, so

On a warm Saturday afternoon in April, at least a few dozen groups of people were set up at various spots along the Pecos River to the north of Carlsbad.

Some groups, such as Navarrette’s, packed minimally for a short afternoon visit. Other groups appeared to be in for

the long haul and set up shop along the river with RVs, boats, tents, ATVs and much more.

Navarrette and her group relaxed along the western side of the river to the north of most of the larger groups.

A big group of men were taking turns jumping into the water from some cliffs to the north.

“We have a favorite spot,” Navarrette said. “But we’ll pretty much go anywhere between “Diving Rock” and the McNew.” McNew is a rural subdivision just outside of Carlsbad. And if the Pecos River to the north of Carlsbad had a headquarters, it would probably be the spot locally known as “Diving Rock.”

“It’s just a little downriver from Brantley Dam,” Navarrette explained. “There are cliffs on one spot that are nice to jump off. There’s also nice parking.”

Navarrette and her friends go out to the river when they can, but she said her parents will take a trip almost every weekend and usually camp for the night.

“They like to bring ATVs and a small blowup boat,” she said. “My grandparents and aunt have a real boat they take out, too. Me and my friends don’t own any of that stuff, so we just take floaties.”

Adrianne Navarrette plays with her daughter, Emmie, in the water.

“In the middle of winter, quite a bit of the time we’ll be the only crazy ones out there, I think,” admitted Perry.

“We raised them (her children) out there.”

But if 4-wheelers and boats aren’t available, well, that just means all the more time for hanging out, barbecuing and swimming.

“Diving Rock” isn’t the only spot along the river with a catchy, but pragmatic, name. There’s also “Little Rock” (a smaller version of” Diving Rock,” not a city in Arkansas) and another equally appropriately-named location called “the Rapids.”

“That’s a nice little section you can cross on your inner tube,” Navarrette explained.

The area to the north of Navarrette’s group, which a number of young men were using to take turns hurling themselves into the Pecos River, is appropriately called “the Cliffs.”

There are also spots to the south of Carlsbad with names like “Higbie Hole.”

“There are just lots of places out there people wouldn’t expect to see,” Navarrette said. “There are some really pretty places out there you just wouldn’t see looking at the river in town. It’s totally different out there.”

“For the most part, everyone in Carlsbad is going to know “Diving Rock” as “Diving Rock,” Perry noted.

“But for some of the other places, it may be you and your friend call it one thing and other people call it something else.”

A campground sits on the Pecos River north of Carlsbad. The area is extremely popular, due to its relative isolation and because of the freedoms provided by camping on public land.

It can get a little crowded, especially on holiday weekends, and some groups of people do have spots they are accustomed to using.

“People are usually pretty good,” Navarrette said about the sharing process. “Sometimes, you just share spots with other people. You’ll just pull up next to them and introduce yourself.”

Some river visitors are also better than others at cleaning up after themselves.

Navarrette is a member of Carlsbad’s Riverblitz committee, and her parents, who formerly owned Guadalupe Mountain Outfitters, have been key Riverblitz participants since the organization started twelve years ago.

They all pick up after themselves— and sometimes after other visitors to the area who are less responsible.

The annual Riverblitz cleanup targets the region, but it takes an ongoing effort.

“The people I know clean up,” Perry said. “But when you go out there, yeah, it’s still a problem.”

“We’ve been out there the week after Riverblitz, and it’s been a mess again,” she said. “For me, it’s a big thing to get out there and try to get people not to trash the river.”

Navarrette and her friends watched as her own young daughter, undeterred by the mud, splashed along the shore of the river with a collection of toy lizards. It seems clear that another generation of the family is just as much in love with the Pecos River and will be just as determined to protect it.

Visitors dip their toes into the water along the eastern shore of the Pecos River.

Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

25

on recreation

Rabblerousers, Redcoats and Rifles:

Appleseed at Carlsbad Shooting Range

by Eve Flanigan The haze of a late winter morning lingers on the horizon as I pull into the winding drive of Carlsbad Shooting Range and Action Sports Recreation Area. Behind a line of pickup trucks and SUVs parked at one of the many stations, a row of matching targets is neatly suspended across one of the ranges of our public shooting facility. Four flags on a sturdy flagpole flap lazily in a mild breeze.

People mill around between parked cars nearby, moving equipment here and there.

Other ranges are in use too—a class for pistol users is going on across the high dirt berm to the right. Farther on, past the silhouette, police and Seven Rivers Regulators ranges, a family takes turns practicing with a rifle at long range targets.

It all looks like fun, but I am here for a day that presents not only a chance to improve my rifle skills but also to learn more about American history and enjoy the company of fellow students and those people in the bright-colored caps I have come to know as regional Appleseed instructors. Today, they are in Carlsbad.

Appleseed is a project of the Revolutionary War Veterans’ Association (RWVA). This nationwide non-profit organization is “dedicated to teaching every American our shared heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills.”

Appleseed is a challenging shooting and historical program, adaptable for age and physical ability. It’s operated entirely by volunteers who have completed lengthy apprenticeships, have subjected themselves to a rigorous boot camp, are well versed in the operation and maintenance of a variety of firearms, and who have aced Appleseed’s shooting litmus test—a “Rifleman” score on what Appleseed calls the “Army qualification test,” multiple times.

It is these generous souls who have spent the chilly hours after sunrise equipping the range for a day of fun and learning. Wearing hats of colors that denote their standing on the Appleseed volunteer ladder, they greet me warmly while checking that I have arrived with equipment in safe condition and have the supplies needed to get through what will be a full and vigorous day. Seven volunteers have given their weekend to help me and the other students become better

26

Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

shooters and (here’s the rub) better citizens.

Three trainers are retired military personnel who, by the end of the weekend, will state that they learned more about shooting from Appleseed than as servicemen or having grown up hunting game. By now I’ve come to learn that tales of “old dogs learning new tricks” is endemic to Appleseed events.

There are fewer students present than teachers. Given the high level of expertise, low cost of participation and the fun we will have at lunchtime, I can only surmise that more people need to hear about this unique opportunity right here at our hometown range.

The day begins with a safety instruction. Our responsibilities are reviewed by instructorin-training Margie Berggren of Alamogordo.

We are coached to chime in loudly, twice, as the rules are repeated. Anyone who didn’t arrive alert and awake is now.

Soon we are loading thirteen bullets into our magazines and, under the watchful eye of the line boss and two range safety officers, settling in for the first shooting exercise of the day. Paper targets are set at 25 yards--a deceptively close distance. On them, red printed silhouettes, representing “Redcoats,” are progressively smaller, down to the size of a bottle cap. We learn that the sizes represent a Minuteman’s task at distances of 100 to 400 yards. It is challenging but rewarding today as my .22 is equipped with a magnifying scope. Middle aged eyes and tiny targets, I have learned from past Appleseeds, are a difficult combination.

During the after-exercise review, the group applauds my “intentional hit” to the smallest of the targets.

There is no time to revel in the enjoyment of this little victory. The class quickly moves into finding one’s “natural point of aim” through a combination of posture, breathing and mental focus. A day of Appleseed is now in a predictable, steady rhythm— instruction, group repetition aloud, load magazines, shoot under orderly instruction, check targets, analyze, repeat. We shoot in prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions. Instructor Juli Adcock of Roswell uses one student’s results as an example of “talking targets,” using a handout by the

same name as a diagnostic tool. We learn that rifle slings can be used to make shot groupings tighter. Lifetime shooters learn about the natural pause in the breathing cycle that does the same. Both techniques are easy to do, yet out of the range of normal shooting training. And, to the obvious delight of both shooters and instructors, they work.

Morning passes quickly; the sun is high in the sky. Lunch break is called. Rifles are “made safe” to rest on our shooting mats.

Participants ease into a circle under the shade of the range canopy and mulberry tree. Foodstuffs are shared; shooting related jokes from the instructors get us all chuckling. Though is my third Appleseed, they are still equipped with fresh, family friendly jokes, due in no small part to the diversity of experience represented here.

During this break from physical activity, our minds are treated to a veritable play in three acts by the instructors. Jimi Genzling sets the stage by reminding us that, in 1775, the colonists had already been governing themselves for 150 years, organized primarily through geographic charters.

When the King imposed a sugar tax in 1765, said instructor Genzling, “that was the start of things going downhill between us and the King.” Though the tax was repealed when the British ruler realized that sugar consumption was so minimal as to not produce profits, its implementation spurred unrest. In towns throughout the Colonies, local militias met on Sundays after church to practice marching, marksmanship and to plan for division of labor in more austere times and emergencies.

As the stories unfold, we learn about three acts of aggression upon colonists by British troops done without instigation but met with defense on the colonists’ part—the result would be the Revolutionary War. Instructors retell the ride of Paul Revere and his comrades in a way never heard in history books. It seems new intelligence revealed a British plan to foil the colonists’ readiness for defense by raiding the stockpiles of powder and military supplies at militia leader Col. Barrett’s farm in Concord. Revere traversed a river prior to his famous ride, making a high-stakes secret passage under the bow of

Photos (from Left): Students look on as instructors Jimi Genzling (R) and O.L. Adcock demonstrate.

2155 S. Canal • Carlsbad, NM

Jacob Robison displays his new Appleseed Youth patch with instructor Jerry Hall.

The audience is attuned to a lunchtime history lesson.

HMS Somerset to reach Charlestown. There he mounted “Brown Beauty,” not a white horse on which he is often portrayed, and began the twenty mile journey from Boston to Concord to alert the leaders of each burg that “the regulars are coming!” Genzling says, “Remember—the colonists were also British.”

Instructor O.L. Adcock compared British officer Lord Percy’s correspondence home from before and after the Redcoats’ initial encounters with colonists, whom they first assumed were “a bunch of rabble-rousers,” ill prepared, disorganized and untrained.

Later, he shows a shift of opinion: “There are many amongst them,” he said of the colonists, “who know what they are about.”

Sam Damewood, an instructor from Alamogordo, picks up the US history textbook that the youngest shooter of the day, happens have on a pile of belongings.

For comparison, he reads aloud the single, short paragraph on the cause of the Revolution provided by the textbook. As he closes the book, a hush comes over the small audience. I, and I suspect all my fellow students, realize at that moment what a gift it is to receive this unique, well researched view into our shared history. Appleseed events or lunches close with a stirring quote from April 20, 1775, by John Adams as he looked upon the death and destruction left behind at “battle road”: Posterity, you will never know the price paid to secure your liberty. I hope you make good use of it.

Appleseed is affordable. Men shoot for $10 per day. People under age 21, active military, law enforcement or disabled with ID and women shoot free. Participants receive a free tee shirt and practice targets.

Basic knowledge of safety and handling of a carbine is encouraged. Most bring their own firearm, though instructors are generous with a loan. Those who shoot a Rifleman’s score receive the coveted Rifleman patch, a laminated poster, Minuteman pin and the sincere accolades of all present.

Carlsbad Shooting Range is open and free for public use during daylight hours. It is located on County Road 524 (truck bypass to Lea Street), 2.5 miles north of Happy Valley.

The 600+ acre facility is also home to a go-

kart track and remote control “airport.”

The Appleseed schedule is updated frequently.

A May 14-15 event is planned for Carlsbad.

Information can be found at www.appleseedinfo. org.

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Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

27

on history

Carlsbad Army Air Field: 1942-1945

by Tom Bemis

Editor’s Note: New Mexico will celebrate its centennial in 2012 and the focus of 2012’s first “Focus on Carlsbad” will be on Carlsbad’s past 100 years. As a precursor to this event, Tom and Margaret Sage Bemis have prepared a three part series on one of Carlsbad’s most unique historical times—its period as an air force base. The first installment follows:

Only seven short months after Japanese bombs fell on Pearl Harbor, the U. S. Army Air Corps invasion began—at Carlsbad, New Mexico. The community had only recently completed construction of a small airport with a single runway five miles to the south of town and leased it to Continental Airlines. However, shortly after the start of the U. S. involvement in the war, the U. S. Army Air Corps took possession of the property and surrounding land, for a total of 1,634 acres, to build what was to become the largest precision bombing training base in the world. The field was officially activated July 13, 1942. It would have 1,600 personnel, including 500 civilians.

The small civilian runway was incorporated into the airfield parking apron and replaced by four much longer and wider runways.

Construction of what would eventually be more than 500 buildings had also begun and a boomtown, including a church, school, 200+ seat theater, four mess halls, gymnasium, post office, telephone exchange, library, hospital, and fire department ensued.

It also included a sewage treatment plant, stockade, post exchange, Officer’s Club, NCO Club, Enlisted Men’s Club, railroad siding, and housing areas for officers, enlisted men, WAC, and civilians. Across the highway was an explosive ordnance storage area and rifle and pistol range. Next to one of the runways was a machine gun range adjacent to three skeet ranges.

About six miles to the south, a second airfield with two more runways was constructed. In remote areas surrounding Carlsbad, bulldozers scratched huge concentric circles into the earth, each a half mile across, creating five bombing ranges with a total of 26 bombing practice targets.

The entire training area extended north to Artesia, east over half way to Hobbs, and south to the state line.

Soon the base’s 192 Beechcraft twin-engine AT-11 “Kansan” bombing trainers began to rain one hundred pound concrete or gravelfilled bombs from the sky, each practice bomb carrying a half pound charge of black powder in the tail so that the bombardiers could tell where they had struck. Each flight was navigated and each bomb was dropped by a navigator/bombardier student, the bombardier using a top-secret Norden bombsight. After completing their training, the students were prepared for the battle fronts of Europe and East Asia.

For much of its life, the base was

28

Focus on Carlsbad | Summer 2011

commanded by Col. John “Paddy” Ryan, a precision bombing advocate who, it was claimed, “could drop a bomb into a pickle barrel.” A 1943 movie, Bombardier, starring Pat O’Brien, was said to have been based on his career. Other notables who worked at the base were William Rehnquist, who worked for a while in the weather office and would go on to become Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court, and singer Tennessee Ernie Ford, who lived in a houseboat on the Pecos River. In all, over 4,000 cadets received their bombardier and navigator training during the 18-week course.

Like most boomtowns, the Carlsbad Army Airfield’s days were numbered and the base lasted only three years, closing on September 30, 1945, shortly after Japan’s surrender.

Soon the only buildings remaining on site were two large hangars, a mess hall used for storage by the Carlsbad Municipal Schools, some abandoned bombsight vaults, some well houses, a school building operated for a few years by the Carlsbad Schools as Airfield School, a few housing units (called Thayer Apartments) used to house returning veterans, and the base commissary, which would later become the Carlsbad Community Theater.

Many other buildings were moved into Carlsbad and pressed into service as houses and apartments. The base gymnasium was relocated and used as the gym at the newly constructed Alta Vista Junior High School, and the chapel continued its life as a church in Loving. A few of the old barracks/apartments can still be seen near Emmitt Smith School and near the railroad on Riverside Drive, their old tarpaper covered walls now covered with siding, but otherwise still looking much the same.

Remnants of the CAAF can be seen in the

desert surrounding the Permian Basin Training Center on South Canal St., although the site is rapidly being surrendered to the jackrabbits and bulldozers. Artifact hunters can still find pieces of practice bombs dropped on the targets in the desert, and pilots make note of the remnants of those targets. In 2008 a reunion of former cadets was held, and the flagpole on the parade grounds was excavated and partially restored. The Carlsbad Museum maintains a permanent exhibit about the air field in the lobby of the Cavern City Municipal Air Terminal. There you can see a model of a World War II bombardier crouched over the Norden bombsight, a model AT-11 “Kansan”, a practice bomb, and many CAAF photographs and memorabilia.

Note: Bemis has conducted research on the airfield for the past 20 years.

Bombardier trainees were required to swear an oath to protect the secret of the Norden bombsight with their lives, and upon graduation, repeat the oath before taking the secret overseas. During combat, the Norden bombsight was removed from the aircraft after every mission to ensure highest security. If a bomber had to make an irrecoverable forced landing, the crews were instructed to completely destroy the Norden bombsight.

The Bombardier Oath

“Mindful of the secret trust about to be placed in me by my Commander in Chief, the President of the United States, by whose direction I have been chosen for bombardier training… and mindful of the fact that I am to become the guardian of one of my country’s most priceless military assets, the American bombsight…I do here, in the presence of Almighty God, swear by the Bombardier’s Code of Honor to keep inviolate the secrecy of any and all confidential information revealed to me, and further to uphold the honor and integrity of the Army Air Forces, if need be, with my life itself.”

on politics

An Interview with Tom Udall, United States Senator Editor’s note: Senator Tom Udall holds Carlsbad offices at 102 W. Hagerman Street Suite A. The office can be reached by calling 575234-0366. The Senator answered a few of our questions about how such offices operate:

Q: How was Carlsbad selected as a location for an office?

A: It’s really important to me to be plugged

into communities in every region of New Mexico, and with the unique industries and growing population in Eddy County.

I thought it would be a great place to have a Congressional office. It’s the only Congressional office in Eddy County and my goal is for it to be accessible to everyone in Southeastern New Mexico.

Q: What are the major issues your office helps members of the public handle?

A: My office is here to handle a variety

of issues important to the people of New Mexico. Beverly Allen-Ananins, who is from Carlsbad, runs the office and she helps me keep a pulse on what is happening across the Southeast region. She attends local events, and she’s available to help constituents who might be encountering problems with federal agencies.

Through my office, we can help constituents with casework matters like the status of their veterans’ benefits and eligibility determinations; social security eligibility and missing checks; inquiries on the status of immigration applications; problems with housing vouchers and federal loan programs; and passport issues. I would encourage anyone who is having a problem with these types of programs to contact Beverly in my office so we can see if there’s a way we can help.

Q: How are such issues addressed?

A: These issues are addressed through a

process called casework. Once someone contacts my office for help, they need to provide us with all the particulars on their situation so we can get up to speed on their case. They also then fill out a privacy release form, which enables my office to make an inquiry with the appropriate federal agency and advocate on their behalf. My staff has a great reputation for their hard work to resolve casework matters, and although not every case is seamless, we sure try our best to reach a good outcome.

Q: If someone comes to you with a concern regarding, for example, a veteran’s or passport issue, how long will they need to wait to have it resolved?

A: All cases are different and the length of

time a case may take varies on a number of factors. VA issues are often complex, and the agency unfortunately has an enormous backlog, which can lengthen the amount of time it takes for resolution. Passport issues can usually be resolved more quickly than some of the others. Regardless of the issue, my staff and I are here to help– especially when the process isn’t clear or the constituent is having difficulty getting in touch with an agency.

Q: Do you have any suggestions for someone with veterans, Social Security, immigration, housing or passport concerns?

A: I would suggest visiting my website,

tomudall.senate.gov, where I have posted links to the federal agencies. If you can’t find an answer there, please get in touch with my local office. You can find it at 102 W. Hagerman Street Suite A or call 575-2340366. My staff is here to help folks navigate through the federal process.

Q: If you cannot resolve a situation, will you get back with me to explain?

A: Yes, in the circumstances where the outcome is not the desired one and all avenues of appeal and arbitration have been explored and ruled out, we definitely try to explain why. A letter stating these facts is also sent to the constituent explaining this result. We really do our best to help folks understand the process, the result and any further action that can be taken.

Q: If a constituent comes into your office wanting to express a specific opinion about a political issue, how is that handled?

A: I value the opinions of my constituents.

and on issues with federal agencies—is important to helping me analyze policy and craft legislation. I always focus my efforts in the Senate on priorities important to New Mexico. Those priorities include things like improving our water, revitalizing our economy, securing our border, taking care of our veterans and addressing the unique challenges faced by our rural areas.

Q: Where are your other offices in the state located? How do the various offices work together?

A: I have four offices across New Mexico— Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Santa Fe and Carlsbad—and a Capitol Hill office in Washington, D.C. We’re all in constant communication.

Q: Are there any issues of importance to Carlsbad residents you would like to specifically talk about at this time?

A: Carlsbad is a very unique part of New Mexico. From WIPP, to the Caverns, Carlsbad has done a great job of using the community’s resources to foster economic development and create jobs. I am proud to have an office in the area to help further those efforts.

I also know there is an issue that is close to many hearts in Carlsbad and that is Katie’s Law. Just to give folks an update, Senator Bingaman and I reintroduced Katie’s Law this year in the Senate. It’s our goal to give law enforcement the tools they need to help solve terrible crimes and keep Katie’s memory alive by preventing heartbreaking tragedies like hers from happening in the future.

Receiving feedback on the issues we’re tackling on the federal level and the political process helps me do my job in Washington. Folks are welcome to stop by my office anytime to leave a message for me with Beverly. And it’s pretty easy to visit my website to drop me an email, or call any of my offices to let me know what’s on your mind. I’m regularly updated on those opinions and thoughts and carefully consider them in my Senate work.

Q: How is feedback received at the Carlsbad office incorporated into policy?

A: Our office receives phone calls and letters from residents and these are shared with me and my state and DC staff accordingly.

Feedback—both about the impact of federal initiatives on Southeastern New Mexico

Senator Tom Udall, pictured here during a recent visit to Carlsbad.

Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

29

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“Enchantment”

by Joe Robinson

In New Mexico, I’ve seen so much Of beauty unsurpassed; From lofty, snow capped, mountain peaks, To sun-burnt desert grass.

And Bandelier asks that all Would come and study close The culture of a by-gone time That faded and was lost.

Cortez and Coronado came The Spanish left their mark I’ve seen it up in Santa Fe In shaded city park.

The mountain men and trappers came A stalwart, crusty breed.

They trapped our streams and mountains And lived by their own creed.

Mule skinners and bull whackers Moved tons and tons of freight Slowly down the Santa Fe trail Where the pioneer did wait.

Now the jets streak over head Cars run on the ground But if one just has eyes to see Much beauty still abounds.

Summer 2011 | A Community Magazine

31

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