Focus on Carlsbad Summer 2013

summer 2013

Summertime It’s Snow Cone Time Underwater Paradise Fiesta Drive-In Downtown Farmers’ Market Roadrunner Speedway Chamber News & More!

Summer 2013

hoMetoWn

SPIRIT

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From the Editor Focus oN cooling down

flavored ice, ice baby Focus on the road

Underwater paradise focus on youth

cure for the summer doldrums

PHOTOS IN FOCUS

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Focus on entertainment

reopening fiesta drive-in focus on mainstreet

downtown farmers’ market focus on history

summertime fun now & then focus on the garden

make your garden fun! focus on technology

walking on sunshine

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focus on nature

looking for the bird next door focus on bouncing

a man’s home is his inflatable castle focus on racing

the roadrunner speedway focus on food

it’s cooking time FOCUS ON THE CHAMBER

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FOCUS BUSINESS DIRECTORY About the cover

Rynlee Sedillo, 4, enjoys one of Carlsbad’s many snow cone options.

Photo courtesy of Brand Eye Photography.

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Kyle Marksteiner, Editorial Director - Lilly Anaya, Advertising Photography by Kyle Marksteiner - along with submitted photos Special Contributors: Margaret Barry, Amy M. Barnhart, Sharon McIntire, Donna Birchell & The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce F o c u s o n c a r l s b a d i s p u b l i s h e d q u a r t e r l y b y Ad V e nt u r e M a r k e tin g

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summer 2013 | a community magazine

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F o c u s from the editor

Sunshine Much Ado About

Kyle Marksteiner Editorial Director

Focus on carlsbad

For the 2013 summer edition of Focus Magazine, we’re Beating the Heat and Having Fun in the Sun. Ideally, a little bit of both.

heat at least does not involve having to shovel snow. We win in the end.

It’s the time of the year when the 30-mile-an-hour winds finally give way to 105 degree afternoons, and we happily call it an improvement due to the reduction in allergy problems.

Those of us who refuse to grow up still spend most of June a little perplexed that we aren’t on vacation. It’s summer time!

If you do head north, or east, may I suggest visiting the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. Many of you have heard that one of the Smithsonian’s recent acquisitions includes a 1977 “Jaws of Life” rescue tool from the Carlsbad Fire Department, but did you know that our nation’s biggest museum also acquired an original highway memorial sign donated by the Eddy County DWI Program in New Mexico? It’s all part of a display illustrating the evolution of automobile safety. For more information, visit americanhistory.si.edu Congratulations, Eddy County DWI Program.

For this edition, we focused on some good ways to spend your summer, both in the sun and indoors.

If confessions are in order, then I should fess up to the fact that I was largely an indoor child who grew up playing video games to avoid Houston’s humid summers. There were a few trips to the ole waterin’ hole and so forth, but many of my memories involved getting a high score in Pitfall or trying to solve the E.T. video game on my Atari 2600.

I don’t recall it being solvable. Later on it was Street Fighter II and Ultima 4. Do they even still make computer games, or are they all for video systems now?

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

Video games are certainly an acceptable summer hobby, if they are not played in excess, which is generally the only way most people play video games. I actually wanted to do a video game story for this edition, but I couldn’t get any video game people to return my calls. I’m assuming they were too busy playing video games.

Second confession – I still play video games.

Video games didn’t take up all of my summer time, however, as I also have abundant memories of jumpy houses and snow cones and camp. So let’s focus on those – the much more summery summertime activities.

Of course, another option for the summer is to move north for a few months. That’s what our snowbirds do.

I love snowbirds because I see them as winning the classic “Man vs. Nature” conflict. Take that, Nature, you can’t give me an unpleasant time of year.

Ultimately, most snowbirds decide that hot summers are much more bearable than cold winters because

Finally, I would be neglectful if I heralded the coming of summer to Carlsbad without some sort of reminder that whatever it is you do, you do it wearing sunscreen.

Abo u t t h e e d it o r Kyle Marksteiner is editorial director of Focus on Carlsbad & FocusOnCarlsbad.com. He can be reached at editor@ad-venturemarketing.com.

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F o c u s on cooling down

Ice, Ice Baby

If summer had an official beverage, it would probably be the snow cone.

A little bit of flavored syrup and a lot of ice can go a long way toward cooling you off on even the hottest of days.

First, some clarification and a brief history lesson.

The first documented shaved ice was made in 27 B.C., when the Roman Emperor Nero ordered his slaves to collect snow from nearby mountains and flavor it with a fruit and honey mixture.

Snow cones, the most popular type of shaved ice in North America, consist of crushed ice topped with

sweet fruit-flavored syrup. Hawaiian shaved ice is an ice-based dessert made by shaving a block of ice. The product can resemble a snow cone, but snow cones are made with crushed ice, rather than shaved ice.

Slurpees are frozen drinks made by the 7-Eleven company, while Slush Puppies are a brand owned by the company ICEE. Got that?

For insurance agent Claudia Phillips, snow cones are a way to give back to the community. She offers free snow cones every Friday throughout the summer from noon to 2 pm in front of her business at 134 North Canyon Street.

Bond Ice sometimes provides her with free ice. Sometimes volunteers, or even members of the high school’s National Honor Society, will assist with serving.

“When they can’t make it, either myself or members of my staff will roll up our sleeves,” Phillips added.

Phillips gives away an average of 40 snow cones a week. She had original plans

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to coordinate the event with a free lunch and movie, but that didn’t work out. She recalls eating snow cones in the summer while growing up in San Diego.

“I started this because I wanted the kids to have something fun to do in the summer that they could look forward to,” she noted. “I thought it would be a nice childhood memory for them to have.”

It started for kids, but Phillips said people of all ages are now stopping by for snow cones.

Cherry is the most popular snow cone flavor, but grape is also a popular pick for girls. Phillips said vanilla is actually an excellent snow cone flavor that is seldom requested.

She also gives out free snow cones at some community events, such as National Night Out and the Spring Fling. While the snow cones are free, donations can be made to support the Battered Families Shelter.

“I can’t tell you how cool I think it is that it grows every year and that people ask us to be part of their events,” Phillips added. “I’m pretty proud of my little snow cone thing. I want it to get huge and be something kids will look forward to every summer!”

One of Carlsbad’s busiest snow cone stops is Sno-to-Go, a family-owned business with locations off of Canal

Photo: Rynlee Sedillo, 4, takes a break from her snow cone and smiles for the camera.

Photo by Brand Eye Photography.

focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

Street and Church Street. The Church Street spot, due in part to its close proximity to Carlsbad High School, is continually busy throughout the afternoon and evening. Workers, in between taking mammoth orders, said coconut is the most popular of the 57+ flavors.

Carlsbad High student Sharae Flores recalls walking to Sno-to-Go with her cousins when she was younger, usually to try a wild cherry, silver fox, or coconut snow cone. She’s also a huge fan of the cherry lime ice at the Church Street Grill, served by her friend Sarah.

“You can never go wrong there!” she noted.

“I remember going to Sno-to-Go with my mom and dad after every baseball game when I was playing Little League,” said classmate Michael Braddock. “I would always look forward to being rewarded with my favorite snow cone, a mouth-watering lemon-lime snow cone.”

Tom Kurimski, who operates The Ice Box with family members Lisa and

Stephanie, said coconut is also his most popular flavor. The Ice Box is a green truck frequently heard and then seen (he likes to play the radio loudly) around town and at community events over the past two years. The truck offers 18 different flavors of snow cone and also sells ice cream. The truck shuts down for about two months each winter, but then it’s back in business.

Rainbow and bubble gum are also popular flavors, as are wedding cake and pickle, according to Kurimski.

“Some people try things different, like Tiger’s Blood, which we call Charlie Sheen in a bottle,” he said.

Tiger’s Blood is actually a mixture of strawberry and coconut.

The Ice Box usually starts rolling around town at around 3:30 pm, as most people are not outside to buy snow cones during the middle of the day. Kurimski said the company will try to keep aware of community events and usually pays the Carlsbad beach a visit in the summer. He’ll even throw some ice out on the ground to cool off the beachcombers waiting to place

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left Photo: Snow cones were a popular treat at Carlsbad’s Spring Fling. right Photo: The Ice Box has delivered snow cones to Carlsbad’s street corners for the past two years.

their order.

“I really enjoy when I drive up and people are doing the snow cone dance,” he laughed. “It’s whatever motion they make to get your attention. Sometimes, people will whistle at you to get you to stop, and sometimes they’ll chase you down the street.”

Kurimski said he and his family recently added The Hot Box, a fullservice food truck that will still be serving some icy refreshments.

Make no mistake about it, when it comes to snow cone options, there’s always room for one more.

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F o c u s on the road

Underwater Hard to believe that Carlsbad has a scuba diving scene, but it is true. Every year, dozens of adventurous local residents join the ranks of Carlsbad’s underwater explorers.

For most local divers, the San Solomon Spring at Balmorhea State Park is the most popular destination.

Balmorhea is located in the Davis Mountains of Texas, about two hours southeast of Carlsbad.

“We’re the only place in the area with water deep enough for divers to get their open water certification,” noted Park Superintendent Jacob Barton.

While the park is a popular spot for swimmers in the summer, scuba diving at Balmorhea is year round.

“It will be a slow week, and all of a sudden it will be half-filled with scuba divers,” Barton noted. “We’ll have a group of people diving over Thanksgiving, and we even have a group from Las Cruces that does underwater pumpkin carving every Halloween.”

Carlsbad scuba divers usually train

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

through Bill and Jayne Murrill, who have run Scuba Connection, LLC, out of their home in Otis since 2004.

Bill has been a scuba instructor since 1988.

“It’s a ma and pa shop,” Jayne said. “Bill is the co-owner of Murrill Electric, but we do this on the side.”

Scuba Connection is located inside of the Murrill’s house off of Wood Avenue and offers a variety of scuba accessories. Because it is a “ma and pa store,” Jayne recommends calling in advance at 234-2189 to make sure someone is home.

Three times a year, would-be scuba divers gather at the business for a week-long clinic. Graduates are licensed for life to scuba dive anywhere in the world at up to 130 feet.

“People who want to scuba dive, they

find us,” Jayne noted. “We’ll do a class over spring break and one in June and one in July. If there’s enough interest, we’ll do one in August.”

It takes six people for the Murrills to break even. The first day of the course is usually paperwork. The second day is a mixture of lectures and practice in the family swimming pool. Both Murrills help with the training, and Bill is licensed to instruct even other diving teachers through the International Diving Educators Association.

“Bill used to be a professor of electronics at the college, so he’s very good at teaching,” Jayne stated.

Participants have to be at least 12 years old to take the class, and the Murrills have had students up to 72. Older students do the best job in the classroom, but the youngsters are easier to teach in the

Paradise water, Jayne noted.

“We’ve had people who can’t swim take the class and do fine,” she added.

“Being a strong swimmer is not a requirement, but you can’t be afraid of water.”

The class fee of $425 nets you a mask, snorkel, booties, fins and a bag to keep.

Tanks and other gear are provided during the class.

The group heads to Balmorhea State Park for the weekend. Swimming starts at 7:30 a.m. Divers are expected to show that they learned what they were taught at the swimming pool back in Carlsbad. There’s a written test on Monday.

The Murrills also lead other scuba trips to spots around the world. For example, they’ve got a trip planned to scuba off of Bonaire, an island in the Caribbean. They also visit other spots in the state, such as Bottomless Lakes State Park near Roswell.

But Balmorhea is their bread and butter.

“It really is the best place to teach scuba diving,” Jayne stated.

The park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the early 1930s and focuses on the spring-turnedpool. The pool, fed beneath by San Solomon Springs, is considered the world’s largest spring-fed swimming pool and covers 1.75 of the

park’s 45.9 acres at a depth of up to 25 feet.

make sure nobody gets lost,” she added.

“About half of the bottom is concrete, and half is natural,” Jayne noted. “On the outside, the pool almost looks like a peace sign.”

The nearby town is fairly small, so Barton recommended bringing all lunch supplies with you. There’s no public consumption of alcohol in the park, and rules against littering are strictly enforced.

Swimmers and scuba divers can both enjoy looking for the park’s two endangered species, the Pecos Gambusia and the Comanche Springs Pupfish. Popular nearby attractions include the Fort Davis National Historic Site and the McDonald Observatory.

The park also offers camping, an RV park and a small motel.

There are four hotels in town, and diving students training with the Murrills must arrange their own accommodations.

The state park has also had to implement rules to avoid overcrowding.

Once the parking lot is filled, visitors have to wait in line until a new space is available.

Show up early or make a reservation by calling 512-389-8900. “The park is usually filled by 11 a.m.,” Barton noted.

Jayne said there were nine different diving teams at the spring during one visit.

“Some of our previous students will come and act as wranglers to

Photos: Training at Balmorhea State Park in Texas opens the door to a lifetime of opportunities. Photos courtesy of Scuba Connection, LLC .

For more information about Balmorhea State Park, visit tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/balmorhea.

For more information about Scuba Connection, LLC, visit scubaconnectioncarlsbad.com.

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F o c u s on youth

Cure for the Summer Doldrums

by Sharon McIntire

“I’m bored. There’s nothing to do.”

It never fails. Parents and students alike can hardly wait for the last bell to ring on the last day of school. The long arduous year is finally over, and everyone can relax. And then… it takes about two weeks before kids start getting restless, and parents start counting the days until the next school year starts.

Well, take heart. In Carlsbad there’s plenty to keep those active minds and bodies going through the long, hot summer. In addition to the numerous water activities in the area, many organizations offer a variety of activities to entertain and challenge the curious minds of our youth.

For our youngest (ages 0-3) the Carlsbad Public Library offers Toddler Time on Mondays with music, movement, singing and creative playtime beginning June 3.

In addition, the First Baptist Church will have a Preschool Music Camp, July 22-25 for 4 and 5-year-old children, teaching different musical concepts as well as arts and crafts and a Bible study. With the theme, “God’s Creation,” the program will conclude with a musical presentation for the parents on Thursday at the Living Desert State Park.

Vacation Bible School will be offered to children going into first through fifth grade at various times throughout Aria, Frank, and Sara Matheson from Oakley, Utah enjoy one of the hands-on exhibits at the Living Desert State Park. The park encourages children to visit with their annual Zoo Camp, held this year in July.

Photo:

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

the summer by numerous churches.

It isn’t necessary for families to be members of the participating church; non-members are encouraged to attend as well. Several of the smaller churches (First Christian, First Presbyterian, St. Peter Lutheran, Grace Episcopal, and Carlsbad Mennonite) will once again combine their resources for one ecumenical session at First Christian.

The library encourages the love of reading for all school age children with

their summer-long reading program.

This year’s theme, “Dig Into Reading,” offers earthy reading and hands-on activities for kids 4 years old and older involving worms, ants, earth-moving vehicles, caves, pirates, dinosaurs, and much more. When children register for the program on May 29, they will receive a book bag with reading supplies and a program calendar encouraging them to read at home.

Beginning June 4, they can choose a time in the morning or the afternoon Tuesday through Thursday for a story

Summer Events & activities Carlsbad Public Library

• “Dig Into Reading” (Ages 4+): Tuesday-Thursday, 10:0011:00 am or 2:00-3:00 pm; Registration-May 29 • Toddler Time (Ages 0-3): June 3-July 22, 11:30 am-12:30 pm • Teen Theatre Tryouts (Grades 6-12): June 8, 1:30 pm Production on July 23 • Teen Art Class (Grades 6-12): Wednesdays, 10:00-12:00 pm, beginning June 5 Contact: Beth Nieman, 885-6776 www.cityofcarlsbadnm.com/ library.csm

First Baptist Church

• Preschool Music Camp (Grades K-5): July 22-25, 10 am-12 pm Contact: Kevin Pence, 887-1158 www.fbc.carlsbad.org

First Christian Church

• Vacation Bible School (Grades 1-5) Contact: Phil Tozier, 885-4481

National Park Service

• ParKids Summer Day Camp (Grades 2-3): June 3-7. Fee: $50 • ParKids Summer Day Camp (Grades 4-5): June 10-14. Fee: $50 • ParKids Summer Day Camp (Grades 5-7): June 17-21. Fee: $50 • Teen Adventure Week (Grades 8-10): June 24-28. Fee: $50 Pre-register in person by May 15 for both programs at Caverns Natl. Park Admin. Office, 3225 Natl. Parks Hwy. Contact: Helen Fields, 785-3127 Helen_M_Fields@nps.gov

Living Desert State Park • Zoo Camp (7-9 year-olds): July 8-12. Fee $40 • Zoo Camp (10-12 year-olds): July 15-19. Fee $40 Pre-register beginning June 3.

Contact: Kathryn Law, 887-5516

First United Methodist Church

• Mission Carlsbad (Grades 7-12): June 3-7. Fee $130 Contact: Charles Stevens, 885-3142

Sunset Church of Christ

• Vacation Bible School: June 10-14 Contact: 887-1278

time and/or guest speaker, followed by a related craft activity. Wednesdays offer numerous come-and-go activities such as board games and puzzles, and the store is open during that time so readers can shop for prizes earned for their at-home reading time. Children’s librarian Beth Nieman hopes to build the children’s reading levels so they’ll be ready for school in the fall. “We also want to encourage a lifelong love of recreational reading,” she says.

“Anyone who loves to read will always be learning fun and interesting things.”

For nature lovers in the second through seventh grades, the National Park Service offers its annual ParKids Summer Camp. Divided by age groups into three 5-day sessions, explorers will meet at the park’s administrative office on the National Parks Highway at 8 am and investigate the natural wonders of the Caverns and neighboring public lands, returning at 4 pm. The camp offers lots of handson activities and field trips, as well as informative presentations about our national parks and natural resources in the area. An added thrill this year for fifth through seventh graders is an overnight camping trip at the conclusion of the day camp program.

After reading about sheep during the Carlsbad Public Library’s Toddler Time, Tiffany Mann helps her son, Tayden Kimbley, create a sheep to take home. Toddler Time will continue during the summer, along with a variety of other reading centered activities.

Photo:

Ah yes, but what about those restless teens with their insatiable appetites for adventure?

The Park Service has the answer with its Teen Adventure Week, held from June 24-28 for our feisty youngsters in the eighth through tenth grades.

Story continues on page 12...

Although the Living Desert State Park concludes its Toddler StoryTime on May 17, there are many activities parents can enjoy with their children during the summer months, including Endangered Species Day on May 18 with exhibitions about the Mexican gray wolves, Bolson tortoises and thick-billed parrots; monthly concerts and moon walks; the Carlsbad Gem and Mineral Show on June 14-16; and the Carlsbad Area Art Association exhibition of Chihuahuan Desert art on July 4. But the main attraction for local youth this summer will be a study of the birds of the Chihuahuan Desert during the park’s Zoo Camp for 7-9 yearolds ( July 8-12) and for 10-12 year-olds ( July 15-19). summer 2013 | a community magazine

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Story continued from page 11...

Beginning with an orientation on Monday, these adventurers will enjoy a 3-day/2-night backpacking trip through the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, as well as a day exploring one of our local caves.

The events will originate at the park administrative office at 8 am and conclude at the same location at 4 pm.

Or they can join Mission Carlsbad, a Christian ministry group whose motto is “Repair homes; help restore lives.”

These generous youth in grades 7-12 will spend a week together helping local residents in need of anything from roofing to landscaping, according to leader Charles Stevens at the First United Methodist Church. Their home for the week will be the Black River Learning Center where they will share meals and fellowship in the evenings before taking off the next morning to give their lives to others.

The only requirement is a $130 fee per applicant, usually at least partially paid by the volunteer’s home church. The

remaining costs of the program rely heavily on contributions from local businesses and private donors.

Will Carlsbad’s youth be bored this summer? Maybe. But they certainly have no reason to be.

If your teens are dying of heat exhaustion with all that outdoor exertion, then send them back to the Library. Karen Veni and Dianne Moore will offer a variety of art techniques to the first 20 students (grades 6-12) who walk in the door on Wednesdays from 3:30-5:30 pm. If that’s too serious for them, then they can join the Library’s teen theatre group and try out for the world premiere of local thespian Cassie Park’s original comedy which will be performed July 23 for the “Dig Into Reading” enthusiasts.

Of course there are several places offering swimming lessons, and Lake Carlsbad and Brantley Lake offer opportunities for boating and fishing.

And there are plenty of places for a short or a long hike, or even overnight camping.

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

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Cavern city classic 1 • Cyclists work their way up the final stretch during the Cavern City Classic in April.

Taste of carlsbad 2 • Patrons celebrate at the annual Taste of Carlsbad event. (Photo by Red Rocket Videos) senator Udall visits carlsbad 3 • US Senator Tom Udall paid Carlsbad a visit this spring and met with local Bureau of Land Management employees.

Cavegirl basketball banquet 4 • Members of the Cavegirl basketball team pose during the annual banquet honoring their accomplishments.

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susan young retirement 5 • Susan Young retired from the Living Desert in March. With her are (back row) Glen Netherton and Irene Roberts. Barbara Meyer, bottom left, is holding hands with Susan.

Living Desert volunteers 6 • Volunteers at the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park hold up their hands during preschool story time.

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cr uisin thr u time auto museum 7 • A display at the Cruisin Thru Time Automotive Museum, which opened in Carlsbad at 223 W. Fox Street. julia & james williams honored 8 • Julia and James Williams are presented with a special honor at a NAACP meeting in Carlsbad by Mayor Dale Janway.

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Easter egg hunt 9 • Carlsbad children line up for an Easter egg hunt at Smith Park.

Visit FocusOnCarlsbad.com for more great community photos! summer 2013 | a community magazine

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F o c u s on entertainment

A Saga of Its Own It’s been about a year now since Zach and Sidney Rogers reopened the gates to Carlsbad’s Fiesta Drive-In. The popcorn machine, projectors and marquee lights all flickered back on last May after an 18-month closure, but getting the Fiesta back up and running was much harder than it sounds.

In fact, the effort to restore the Fiesta to its former glory could be a movie itself. Visualize a young couple driving up to their family-owned drive-in, unlocking the front gates for the first time in over a year.

A bank trust department ordered the Fiesta’s doors closed in 2010, only a few days after the death of Sidney’s father and longtime Fiesta owner Bradley Light.

A district judge finally ruled otherwise last April.

During the interval, members of Carlsbad’s community said they wanted the Fiesta back.

“Whenever she went out in public, people asked her, ‘When are you going to reopen?’”

Zach stated. “We saw that as an opportunity.”

With access to the property restricted for a lengthy period, the nachos, popcorn and other items at the concession stand sat where they’d been on the day of the closure.

“We hired Springtime (cleaning company) to go in and just clean everything they could see,” Zach said.

“I told them I didn’t care what the cost was, just clean it.”

Now picture a musical montage scene of Zach and Sidney cleaning the drivein, learning to thread film and bringing on a new team of employees.

To make it more complicated, the

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couple also made the decision to switch from film to digital, a transition that costs around $300,000. They ran the drive-in on the old cameras from last May until around October.

“Basically, 35 millimeter film is obsolete at this point,” Zach said.

“Each film was in a 50 pound box, and it would take two hours to build a movie and 30 minutes to put one back.”

The projector films were so rare that the Fiesta once had to keep the same film for three months, just because nobody else would take it.

There were several months between reopening the theater and switching over to digital, so Zach, who has a background in computers, rolled up his sleeves and got to work learning how to operate the old system.

Although he considers himself to be mechanically inclined, it took some extra effort.

“Projectors are oily and nasty and constantly break down,” he said.

“When you first look at the gears, you just feel like an idiot.”

Sidney, who grew up at the theater, knew what direction the film went in, but that was about it, and the couple had to learn from there. Zach watched some YouTube videos to learn the ropes. A former employee of the theater was begged into providing some assistance.

“We had a bunch of film trailers that were about two minutes long, so every night we’d go out and practice on them,” Zach said. “I got to where I was a professional in two weeks. I can walk up to any theater with film now and build it, service it or take it apart.”

Just when Zach was comfortable running the drive-in with film, it was time to switch over to digital. Each of the three screens cost about $85,000,

Sidney and Zach Rogers stand in front of the concession stand at Carlsbad’s Fiesta Drive-In. The Rogers have invested heavily in getting the theater back on its feet.

Popcorn is back on the menu at the Fiesta Drive-In. Cole Walker prepares for the night’s customers.

The theater’s old projector rests next to the new digital version.

Patrick Bowman greets visitors to the theater.

Photos (left to right):

but weekly expenses have been lowered a bit. New movies are sent to the drive-in on a specially prepared hard drive to run on the computerized cameras. Everything is computerized, and the Windows-based program acted up at times.

“Two weeks into the conversion, I wanted my film back,” Zach stated. “When there was a problem with the (older) film, I could fix it instantly. Now you get an error code and have to figure it out.”

A few updates later, and the error messages have been resolved. Zach gets his films on Thursday, adds them to the server, tests everything and builds a schedule. The computerized projectors pretty much run by themselves through Sunday.

Also, the sound is better, the picture is brighter, and the new version includes an unbreakable security system that makes video pirating much more difficult.

While Zach was learning the ropes of the equipment, the couple was also hiring all new employees, setting up contracts with film companies and working out the permitting process with the city and state to sell concessions. In fact, getting the concession stand open proved to be the longest delay.

“The food wasn’t the best to start with, but it is excellent now,” Zach noted.

It turns out that Bradley Light had the perfect menu, Zach said. Some items, such as fried pickles and Texas toothpicks, were popular for a time, but moviegoers ultimately went back to the classics, such as pizza and popcorn.

“I had five extra cases of fried pickles,” Zach said. “Then again, maybe it was just a summer thing, and we’ll try it again.”

Prices at the Fiesta had to go up because of the digital transition, but they also, to be frank, had to go up because the previous owner was not running the drive-in to make a profit.

“Since he opened in 1990, he never made a dollar,” Zach said. “He had other sources of income. This was a hobby for him.”

When Zach and Sidney raised their prices to a more competitive level, a few customers vowed never to return. Many more have said they consider the price hike to be entirely reasonable.

“I believe we have enough business right now to be substantial, but not enough to excel toward bigger things,” Zach admitted.

“We’re a typical movie theater in that most of the money at the gate goes to the movie company. Most of what we make comes from concessions.”

The Fiesta Drive-In is now offering double features. The goal, Zach said, is for customers to watch the more familyfriendly release earlier in the evening, take a 15-minute concession break and then watch the night feature while the kids sleep.

Some customers stay for both flicks, while others will just stay for the first film.

The Fiesta is moving into a seven-day-aweek schedule this May, having operated only on weekends throughout the winter.

The most popular film so far, under Zach and Sidney’s watch, has been The Avengers.

“We had it here for eight weeks, and every Friday and Saturday was sold out,” Zach said.

Zach and Sidney do most of their marketing on Facebook, a process assisted through a contract with a local marketing company, Red Rocket Videos. Red Rocket owner Damian Capello said the Fiesta’s

Facebook page is the busiest in Carlsbad.

“Complaints are made on the page, but there’s a lot more positive support,” Capello said.

The nearest drive-ins are in Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Midland, and that means many of the theater’s customers are visiting from out of town. Zach chats regularly with visitors from El Paso, Roswell and even Albuquerque who visit Carlsbad because attending a drive-in movie is fun.

Zach and Sidney have had some long days and nights at the drive-in over the past year.

They have a one-year-old child and moved into their house two years ago, but they are just barely getting the house organized because the theater took top priority.

“We’d go home and come right back out the door,” Zach noted. “A lot of people out there think they know about cinema.

I was one of them. We’re both 1,000 times smarter about this than we were 1½ years ago.”

The movie industry isn’t always pretty.

During a recent visit to the drive-in, Zach and Sidney had to resolve some rather disgusting bathroom vandalism issues, handle a troll on the company’s Facebook page and navigate a wide rig past the pay booths. There were new employees to train, pizza to make and screens to calibrate.

“This is a little weirder than a normal day,” Sidney noted, “but not much.”

Like all good movies, the tale of Zach and Sidney Rogers reopening the family drivein seems to have a happy ending – with plenty of room left for a sequel.

For more information about the Fiesta Drive-In, visit www.fiestadrivein.com or call 885-4126.

summer 2013 | a community magazine

15

F o c u s on mainstreet

Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market

Opening Memorial Day Weekend !

T Amy M. Barnhart

Executive Director

carlsbad mainstreet

he 2013 season of the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market is right around the corner and is opening a full month earlier than normal on Saturday, May 25. Carlsbad MainStreet and its volunteers have been working diligently in their preparations to make sure this is the best season yet, and the growers and crafters have been hard at work in their gardens and studios. The market will once again feature musical entertainment and 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 that market visitors can eat right on the spot.

If you come to the market without cash, you will be able to swipe your

debit card at the market information booth and receive tokens that can be spent with all of the vendors.

Additionally, if you use SNAP/ EBT, you can swipe your card at the information booth, as well, to receive tokens that can be spent on produce and other food items.

purchasing directly from the grower, and they avoid paying 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 over time after being picked.

While many of us purchase items at the Farmers’ Market because we love fresh produce, there are other advantages to supporting your local farmers’ market.

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 family-friendly environment. Farmers’ markets provide the community with a place for gathering and interacting, and area retailers often see an increase in business as a result of this.

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 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, such as 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

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. But not only does it do that, it 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 to 11 am, every Saturday from May 25 to October on the Eddy County Courthouse lawn. We’d love for you to join us.

For more information, contact Carlsbad MainStreet at (575)628-3768 or carlsbadmainstreet@gmail. com. Visit their Facebook pages Facebook.com/ CarlsbadMainStreet and Facebook.com/ CarlsbadDowntown FarmersMarket.

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

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F o c u s on history

Now and Then Summertime Fun

by Donna Birchell

Carlsbad has a huge variety of activities available to its residents and visitors year round, but it is summer when the city truly shines. Whether it is water sports, land sports or just relaxing while taking in the beautiful scenery, people have enjoyed the Carlsbad area attractions. Money is tight these days, as it was in the past as well. Take a tip from early Carlsbad residents and enjoy what you have in your own backyard as a great solution to those gas prices, just like your parents and grandparents did.

One of the best parts of

NOW Carlsbad in the summertime

In the 1960s and 1970s,

THEN celebrations at the Beach

is the access to many water sources.

Lake Carlsbad, in the heart of Carlsbad, has provided an outlet for many water enthusiasts who enjoy boating, skiing and swimming. With 125.6 acres of park which extend from the Lower Tansill Dam to the railroad bridge north, it is certain you will find that special spot.

were accented by “ski-bys” performed by the Cavern City Ski Kats, often accompanied by the late New Mexico State Senator Louis Whitlock. They were a favorite attraction at the Fourth of July celebration held at the Beach – you always knew it was something special when the Ski Kats were involved as they proudly showed off two and three-tiered displays.

“Carlsbad has some of the best water around for an afternoon of boating and skiing,” pointed out Hobbs resident John Roberts, vacationing at the Carlsbad Beach with his family.

But the Beach is not the only water source around Carlsbad, as citizens of the late 1800s and early 1900s took advantage of the sailing offered at Lake Avalon – five miles north of the city.

Traveling by wagon for nearly an hour to get to the lake, a trip that will take fifteen minutes tops, the sailors would then rent the sailboats. Each boat was specially ordered and shipped from Chicago to be used on the lake.

An afternoon on Lake Avalon was considered by early Carlsbad residents as a great pleasure.

Paddle boats are a popular

NOW activity at the Beach today

– combining entertainment with exercise as you tour tranquil waters of the Pecos River. Many locals have taken to rowing along the river as well. Canoes are also available for rent. Mr. and Mrs. Alfredo Rodriguez

main photo: Sailboats on Lake Avalon in 1896. Inset Photos: Boaters enjoy a beautiful summer day on the river & modern day fun at the sand dunes.

18

focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

of Odessa, Texas were asked what brought them to Carlsbad, and they responded, “We’ve been coming here for years. The river is always fun and Carlsbad has a good variety of things to do as a family.”

Bicycles were all the rage in Eddy/ THEN Carlsbad at the turn of the century, providing both a means of transportation and also a form of entertainment. Bike races were held regularly as part of parades and town events. Frank Kindel, the Flying Paperboy of the Guadalupes, well known for his thrill-seeking, would ride his bigwheeled bicycle in all the parades often dressed as a clown to bring joy to all who saw him, especially the children. These bicycles were extremely difficult to ride given the configuration and the amount of time it took to learn to stabilize yourself.

If water sports and bicycles aren’t

NOW your thing, the sand dunes at

Hackberry Draw may be more to your liking. Open year round, the sand dunes provide a great place to try out your ATV’s and Go Karts, but please go by the BLM office to secure a permit before you go play with your toys. Early residents discovered the dunes a long time ago and would

drive some of the first vehicles to arrive in Carlsbad to enjoy a day playing in the red sands.

Around the time the Carlsbad THEN Caverns were officially discovered, caving began to be a popular pastime, especially in the cave systems closer to town. McKittrick Cave drew large groups to visit the underground grotto, once again arriving by wagon. A day of caving was complete when picnic lunches were spread out at the mouth of the cave. Closed to the public most of the year, limited access to McKittrick Cave is granted by the BLM at certain times of the year, and a permit from their office along with a guide is required.

The ecosystems of the caves are fragile and vandals have, unfortunately, defaced many of the caves in the chain, so restrictions had to be made.

The Carlsbad Caverns National

NOW Park provides a memorable

adventure to all those who visit. The natural formations found within have survived centuries and still prove to astound. One of the largest caves in the United States, the Caverns includes three miles of paved, lit trails which are self-guided. A handheld

radio can also be used to bring the history of the cave to life.

In the early days, hunting and

THEN shooting were sports mostly

limited to the men, with the exception of Mrs. Fox, sister to founding father, Charles B. Eddy, who enjoyed hunting and was as proficient with a weapon as any man. On one certain excursion, she was taunted by her male counterparts who bet that she could not bring down any game. A determined Mrs. Fox was quick to prove them wrong as she bagged what is said to have been the first antelope shot by a woman in Carlsbad.

Today, shooting is more of a family

NOW sport which people of all ages can

enjoy, whether it is at the Carlsbad Shooting Range off of the Truck Bypass or the new hot spot, Across the Canal Shooting Sports on the Old Cavern Highway. James Bindel saw a need for this kind of entertainment and opened a family oriented skeet and rifle shooting facility. During the summer evenings, you can play Skeet Snooker or Heads-Up Skeet on their Thursday game nights or shoot at silhouettes and gongs for those of you who prefer the rifles.

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NMSU Carlsbad - Building brighter futures together. summer 2013 | a community magazine

19

F o c u s on the garden

GardenNotes Make Your Garden Fun!

by Margaret Barry

Gardening is a great way to have some good summer fun that gets you outside in the sun soaking up all that good vitamin D and reaping the rewards of the best tasting, most healthful food ever. What a great way to get outside, get some exercise and commune with nature. Early morning is my favorite time to garden when the air is soft and cool. It’s a good way to get centered before the day begins.

If you see gardening as a “chore” and less fun than a dip in the pool, here are a few tips to create some fun. Rather than dig up a space in the backyard to build a vegetable garden, try tucking some vegetable plants into the existing landscape. Try one of the patio style tomato plants in a container, add a few radish seeds around the edge and maybe an arugula plant and you have a nice salad garden. There are many vegetable plants that are every bit as lovely as any shrub or flower. Summer squash plants have big beautiful leaves and very showy yellow blossoms (which are also edible) followed by brightly colored fruits. Pepper plants have a beautiful compact shape and the ripening fruits come in many colors. Okra is in the hibiscus family and is tall with lots of showy flowers, and burgundy okra even has pink blossoms. The list goes on.

Weeds and pests are less of a problem if plants are spread around in the landscape, too. Companion planting with flowers, herbs and other vegetable varieties also helps in that area, too. Add a layer of attractive mulch and everything blends into the landscape. It’s also a good way to introduce foods to your family that otherwise might not be available. And it is ALL about the food, and what could be more fun than that!

When I can go into my garden and pick a bowl full of deeply savoyed spinach leaves, rinse them lightly, dress them sparingly with drops of olive oil and homemade wine vinegar laced with minced garlic, pungent from being recently pulled from the

20

focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

ground, I can feel the rush of vitamins and minerals with every bite. I love to stand at the fence covered with pea vines, pull off the fat little pods, give a little squeeze to pop one open and shove those little green delights into my mouth. And nothing beats picking handfuls of cherry tomatoes and eating them as fast as they fall from the vine, warm and succulent and at the peak of ripeness.

There is nothing in any grocery store in this country that can approximate those experiences, unless you are buying your vegetables and fruits at the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market, where you can actually develop a relationship with the people who grow the food. If you grow your own fruits and vegetables, you can pick varieties that have marvelous flavor and texture. Supermarket varieties are grown primarily because they ship well, not because they taste good.

Although growing a vegetable garden in the desert does have some challenges and limitations, there are many ways to make it work. For a small investment in seeds and soil amendments and a few basic tools, there is a huge payoff in nutrient levels.

And a little more investment in an automatic drip watering system cuts the necessary desert chore of watering down to size and also has the added benefit of using less water because the water is being delivered directly to the roots of the plant. You can also control the soil fertility and whether or not to use chemicals. Vegetable gardens can be just as lovely as any flower garden.

It does take some learning and experience to become a good gardener, but we are very lucky in this community to have two good libraries, Carlsbad Public Library and NMSU-C, with extensive collections on gardening (I know because I’ve probably read most of them), and very helpful librarians who will steer you to the necessary information. The Extension Service is another great resource for everything gardening in our particular region. It is attached to New Mexico State University, one of this country’s great agricultural institutions.

It’s also possible to make the “work” part of gardening fun by turning it into an exercise regimen. There is plenty of lifting, bending, stretching and walking if you really get into the gardening routine. It can also be downright aerobic! If you want, it can be a total workout -- forget the gym -think of the possibilities with a larger garden! If everyone who is capable grew a vegetable garden, it would go a long way to solve the obesity crisis and nutritional deficits in this country.

And if you ever find that your garden has yielded an overabundance of great produce, the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market is a great place to sell it – even if it’s just for one or two sessions a season! Check out our Facebook page for updates (Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market).

Have fun in the sun in the garden!

About the author: Margaret has lived in Carlsbad since January, 1999, and is a fiber artist and avid gardener.

She is an Eddy County Master Gardener, and a vendor at the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market .She is currently Board President of Carlsbad MainStreet, which sponsors the Farmers’ Market. She will also be teaching a class in Organic Gardening at NMSU-C for the Continuing Ed program.

summer 2013 | a community magazine

21

F o c u s on technology

Walking on Sunshine While Carlsbad’s scorching summers may be imposing for many, they provide a lucrative time period for one international business.

SunEdison, a global solar power company, operates a 10½ megawatt DC site in south Carlsbad, off of Derrick Road. On a good day, the 40,300 solar panels in the area can be used to generate about 9½ megawatts of AC. “If you live in Carlsbad, you are using some of this energy,” said Jim Riggenbach, New Mexico Service Tech. “The Southwest part of the United States is the best in the world for solar. This all ties directly into the grid.”

fully operational by September 2011.

It’s one of SunEdison’s five solar panel farms in Southeastern New Mexico, and Riggenbach is one of three SunEdison employees who maintain them. The company also contracts with local mowers, electricians and security firms.

How does it work? Sunlight strikes

each panel, and energizes electronics to where they begin moving along specially-designed paths on each panel and then through wiring on the bottom.

“Our main maintenance issue is dust,” Riggenbach noted. Snow slows solar generation, but the panels stay operable. Rain rolls off the side.

The federal government requires that a certain percentage of energy provided by power companies comes from renewable resources. While there are tax breaks for solar companies, Riggenbach stressed that the solar panel plant is all privately funded.

Placement of the panels, which individually cost around $400 each, began in March 2011. The facility was

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The 40,300 solar panels are linked together in strings of 16. They are also set up on an access tracker to make sure they are facing the sun at all times.

“You can get dual access trackers, but it is much more maintenance,” Riggenbach stated. The tracker, assigned to a timer, moves the panels seven degrees every 15 minutes. There are 48 different motors around the facility, so not everything is moving at once. Also, interestingly enough, the panels flatten significantly during sunrise and sunset to avoid casting shadows on the adjacent rows.

A combiner box joins 15 of the strings together into a series. From there, the DC current runs into one of 11 buildings on the property that contain inverters, which switch the current

into AC, as used in the power grid.

The inverters are an especially effective model that preserves 98 percent of the energy, Riggenbach said.

The current then runs through a transformer and then heads on to the grid, where it is used to charge your cell phone or operate your electric can opener, as needed.

Riggenbach joined SunEdison in 2007 on the construction side of things, but he moved into service when the job became available.

“I’ve always been interested in solar,” he noted. “This is my favorite job I’ve ever had.”

Riggenbach had spent part of the week doing preventive maintenance at one of the other solar plants near Jal. The

Jim Riggenbach stands in front of one of the 40,300 solar panels at SunEdison’s Carlsbad plant. photo right: SunEdison’s solar plant in Carlsbad generates 9½ megawatts of AC current a day, on average. photo left:

Carlsbad facility has a covey of about 30 quail who live inside the fenced area, and there are occasional rabbit and coyote visits. Curious visitors also stop by from time to time, and Riggenbach is happy to explain how it all works if he’s around at the time.

“This is our best one,” he said about the 240-acre Carlsbad facility. “It’s the best looking and the best running.”

The electronic system is monitored by computer 24 hours a day, and Riggenbach or another technician is called out to respond at all hours. He said he enjoys the serenity of the solar farms, even though it does get pretty hot in the summer.

“The panels can lose some efficiency when it gets extremely hot,” he stated.

“But for the most part we rock and roll all summer long.”

Riggenbach said solar panels have become more affordable over the years, both for businesses and for individual households. He again emphasized that the panels were all paid for through private investment.

“I compare it to the microwave oven,” he said. “The first microwave, in 1948, cost $3,000, but now you can buy one for $60. The price has really come down for solar panels. This was expensive, but they pay themselves off quickly.”

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summer 2013 | a community magazine

23

F o c u s on nature

Looking

Bird Next Door

for the

Want to get a good nature fix, but short on time to get out in nature?

Not a problem.

“That’s the first snow goose I’ve seen this year,” he stated. “I’ve got to call Bob Nieman and tell him.”

Retired biology teacher and ornithologist Steve West says there’s a lot of good birdwatching that can be done within Carlsbad’s city limits.

West’s first stop on a spring tour was across the street from the Carlsbad Veterans Memorial Park. He brings a book with him for verification purposes, but seldom needs it.

He’s planning on downloading a birdwatching app for his phone, but has yet to do so.

West gives a great tour of Carlsbad’s best birdwatching spots that starts and ends along the Pecos River. He identifies the birds at each scene with rapid alacrity, but what is most impressive is how quickly he spots every single bird within a given viewing location.

There are a dozen or so avid birdwatchers in Carlsbad. Though they may not be available for personal tours, they can tell you where the hot spots are.

“We don’t have a club because we are too busy birdwatching to form one,” West noted. “But we report our sightings to the New Mexico Ornithological Society and to a journal.”

“This is a good spot,” he said, noting a pair of geese, several American coots and multiple species of gulls. “Since there is a lot of human activity here, there are also a lot of birds.”

New Mexico has 539 different species of birds in the state, putting the Land of Enchantment only behind California, Texas and Arizona in diversity. Eddy County has about 460 different species, making it the most diverse county – bird wise – in the state.

West often travels out to Six-MileDam for his birdwatching, but on days when time is more limited, he picks a

West paused, and glanced as a bird flew past.

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spot along Lake Carlsbad instead.

Another one of West’s favorite spots is around the two large electrical towers near Carlsbad’s downtown McDonalds. For much of the year, the towers are the primary resting spot for up to 400 turkey vultures, which spend the day searching for food. He’ll park near one of the towers in the evening to watch the vultures at work.

According to West, the vultures, which have 25-year lifespans, have caused some concern because such a low percentage of them are juveniles, indicating some reproductive problems.

The owners of the towers tried to keep the vultures away by nailing some plastic owls to the structures. That worked for a few days.

“Then the vultures came back and pretty soon they (the plastic owls) were not brown any more. They were white owls,” West laughed. “Really this is a good thing, because if they were kept away from here, they would go to residential areas.”

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He also has a few favorite spots in the La Huerta area of north Carlsbad.

There’s a high count of pecan trees, which are popular for birds, and the river is nearby. It’s a good place for blue jays and woodpeckers, among others.

“When we’re doing our bird count in a subdivision, it is almost like campaigning door to door,” West noted. “Except we’re not knocking on your door. We’re just a bunch of harmless weird birdwatchers.”

Local birdwatchers do bird counts throughout the year, but one of the biggest is the Christmas count, an annual tabulation of birds in the county.

“We don’t have enough people to cover all 177 square miles,” West

pointed out. “But we do the best we can.”

Carlsbad’s city limits is just one region in the bird count. While there are not always as many varieties of birds seen within the city limits, birdwatchers do spot species not seen in any of the other regions.

West commented that The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens is also a good spot for birds.

“And really, any quiet neighborhood where there are trees,” he added.

If you are looking for a relaxed way to have some fun in the sun, pick a shady spot and check out some of Carlsbad’s winged residents!

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25

F o c u s on bouncing

A Man’s Home is His

Inflatable Castle Bounce houses have come a long way, baby.

If you have children or grandchildren, chances are pretty good that one of their favorite entertainment venues over the years has been the bounce house, also called an inflatable castle, a moon bounce, jolly jump or brinca brinca in Spanish. Anyhow, the point is that it is inflatable and kids (and sometimes adults) jump in it.

Over the years, bounce houses have evolved from being relatively simple affairs to incredibly complicated facilities. Bounce house technology is well above and beyond what it was 30 years ago.

Who came up with the idea of

the bounce house? According to Wikipedia, the first inflatable structure was designed in 1959 by a guy from Louisiana named John Scurlock. A physicist, Scurlock was the inventor of the safety air cushion used by rescue workers to save people jumping from heights.

With Carlsbad’s hot summers, many of Ristom’s most popular summer jumpers include water features. She also owns inflatables with obstacle courses and ball pits. She said one thing that enables more complicated bounce house design is using higherquality materials and stitching.

One day, Scurlock was conducting an experiment on an inflatable cover for a tennis court when all of his employees apparently started jumping around on the cover and laughing.

Instead of yelling at them or firing them, Scurlock saw an opportunity, and his wife formed the first bounce house company. The “space walks” were quickly rented out at children’s birthday parties and company picnics, though early models were not enclosed and were therefore less safe.

A pressurized top was added in 1967.

Ristom owns a total of 15 different jumpers, including an elaborate 5-in-1 combo that has been very popular at local fire safety events.

Scurlock’s son, Frank, developed the concept of inflatable columns supporting netting to allow air to pass through, added some of the first animal and castle shapes, and even came up with the first inflatable water slide.

“One thing we pride ourselves in is being clean and safe,” she noted.

Carlsbad’s expert on inflatable bouncy house technology is almost certainly Laurie Ristom, owner of BalloonsA-Poppin. The local business rents inflatables and even has an indoor park with inflatable features.

“They’ve gotten fancy,” Ristom observed. “There’s even a company that can make custom-themed jumpers. So if you want one that looks like a donut, they can make you one in a few weeks.”

26

focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

“But the water slides are by far the most popular in the summer,” she observed. “Everyone wants a way to cool off.”

Ristom advised anyone renting a jumper to make sure the rental company has insurance and to make sure no lead is used in the inflatable.

In Carlsbad, bounce houses are one of the go-to options for birthday parties, but some of the largest events of the year feature dozens of inflatables.

Take, for example, the Fallapalooza, an annual event put together by several local churches.

“I went to a church in Dallas of 25,000 that had the most amazing fall festival,” coordinator Jeni Dugan said.

“I had four kids, and I wanted to do something similar, and we thought it would be neat to get other churches involved.”

While Fallapalooza has numerous games and activities, bounce houses

Photos: Bounce houses are an endless source of fun for children of all ages!

play a huge role and are also the most expensive item. Last year’s eight inflatables ranged from basic jumpy houses to an inflatable zip line.

“We go to their website, and this company has everything you can possibly imagine,” Dugan said.

Fallapalooza has worked with several different companies over the event’s five year history. Dugan said one goal is to pick features that operate fairly quickly so

everyone gets a turn.

“It’s kind of fun looking at the web site,” she noted. “We’ll go with what is popular last year and then try some new stuff. We were happy to bring back the jousting.”

Dugan said her kids don’t directly help with the process, but they do sometimes provide feedback.

“There was a Jacob’s Ladder crawl that my child wanted to do at Sea World, and

I wouldn’t let him then,” she noted. “I promised to look for something similar.”

Carlsbad’s Class Act graduation event takes inflatable technology one step further by adding an inflatable laser tag feature, Dugan said.

“It’s just all truly amazing,” she noted.

Who knows what the future may bring in inflatable technology, all thanks to a physicist from Louisiana and his whimsical employees.

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www.skeenfurnitureco.com summer 2013 | a community magazine

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F o c u s on racing

at the Roadrunner Speedway An evening at the racetrack might just be the best way to beat Carlsbad’s heat. “Carlsbad’s Roadrunner Speedway is back in business,” said Robert Gregg, Jr., who owns the Roadrunner with his father.

The Greggs had previously leased the racetrack from another family, but the track shut down for several years. It reopened last year under their ownership.

“My dad and I wanted to give people around something to do,” Gregg stated.

The Roadrunner opens every other Saturday for races. Gates open at 5:30 pm, and races begin at 8 pm.

Most competitors, along with Gregg, compete at the Cardinal Motor Speedway in Eunice. Between 200 and 300 people will attend a race on a good night. Concessions are available, but many people bring their own food.

This year’s racing season began April 6, and races will continue through September.

Racer John Roberts was raised in Hobbs, and he’s raced in Oklahoma and West Texas. He’s been working on cars in his free time all of his life and has helped work on upper caliber vehicles in the past.

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“It’s good to have a track out here,” he noted.

Before the season started, there were a few weeks of “play days” that provided opportunities for racers to test their vehicles and make the necessary adjustments. During competition, there’s a $25 entry fee in each class and a purse that ranges from $75 to $100.

Each category will usually have three 10-lap races: A Main, B Main and Feature. Racers will draw for positions in the feature race depending on how they do in the other two competitions.

Roberts enjoys competing in the Bomber class because it is a good way to keep costs down. The Bomber class is basically the “drive-as-is” class, and there are rules prohibiting racers from making modifications to the engine.

“It’s a good division if you don’t want to get in with a lot of money,” he said.

“My car is a ’76 Grand Torino. That’s the car that was driven by Starsky and Hutch.”

He’s put less than $1,000 into the car, which is quite a difference from the thousands of dollars spent in some of the other classifications.

His crew consists of his wife, his co-pilot and his co-pilot’s brother.

Roberts stated that there will be eight cars competing in the Bomber class this year.

Classes include IMCA Modified, IMCA Sports-Modified, IMCA Stock Car, IMCA Hobby Stock, Mini Stock and the Bomber Class.

“We get racers from Lubbock, Odessa, Seminole, Roswell, Hobbs and El Paso,” Gregg noted. There are several female competitors, and the age of racers ranges from 12 to 65.

Hunter Pierce, 13, is a student at Alta Vista Middle School. His racing crew consists of two friends and his father.

He was a little excited and a little nervous about his first day at the track.

“I’ve raced before at my grandma’s house, but this is my first day,” he said.

The Roadrunner Speedway is located off of Highway 524, across the street from the Carlsbad shooting range.

It’s a great spot for the family on a Saturday evening.

Hunter Pierce, 13, stands in front of his car. It was Hunter’s first time to compete at the Roadrunner Speedway. photo bottom left: Harvey Guerra, Jr., tests his car prior to competition. photo bottom right: John Roberts poses with members of his crew. photo Right:

ARTESIAEVENTS Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball 2ND WEEKEND IN JUNE

Smokin’ On the Pecos State BBQ Championship LAST WEEKEND IN JUNE

Fourth of July Celebration Clays Crusher Fun Shoot LAST WEEKEND IN SEPTEMBER

Balloons & Bluegrass

FIRST WEEKEND IN NOVEMBER

Main Event Car Show & Cruise LAST WEEKEND IN MARCH

1-800-658-6251 • artesiachamber.com

it’s cooking time!

F o c u s on food

Mix up your summer picnic with a few of these fun recipes!

Butternut Squash Soup

Kiwi Sherbet

Ingredients:

Ingredients:

• ½ c chopped onion (1 medium) • 2 T butter or margarine • 2 c chicken broth • 1 lb butternut squash (pared, seeded and cut into 1-inch cubes) • 2 pears, pared and sliced • 1 tsp thyme leaves; fresh, snipped • ¼ tsp salt • ¼ tsp white pepper • ¼ tsp ground coriander • 1 c whipping cream • Garnishes • 1 pear, unpared and sliced • ½ c pecans, toasted and chopped

Directions:

Cook and stir onion in margarine in 4-quart Dutch oven until tender. Stir in broth, squash, 2 sliced pears, thyme, salt, white pepper, and coriander. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer until squash is tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Pour about half of the soup into food processor workbowl fitted with steel blade or into blender container; cover and process until smooth. Repeat with remaining soup. Return to Dutch oven; stir in whipping cream. Heat, stirring frequently, until hot. Serve with sliced pear and pecans.

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• 1 pk unflavored gelatin • 2 eggs, separated • 1 c sugar • ¼ tsp salt • 2 tsp Grand Marnier liqueur • 2 c fresh kiwi, peeled and crushed • Sliced fresh kiwi, optional

Directions:

Soak gelatin in ¼ cup cold water for 5 min. Place in top of double boiler over boiling water and stir until dissolved.

Beat egg yolks well, then beat in ¾ cup sugar, the salt, Grand Marnier, and crushed kiwi fruit. When well mixed, beat in dissolved gelatin. Mix thoroughly and freeze in ice cube trays. When frozen, place in chilled bowl and break into chunks.

Beat w/electric mixer until smooth and fluffy.

Beat egg whites until soft peaks form. Gradually add remaining ¼ cup sugar and beat until stiff. Fold into kiwi mixture. Place in covered container and return to freezer until firm, stirring occasionally.

Serve garnished w/sliced kiwi, if desired.

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What do you know about

the sun?

Here are a few fun facts about our sun!

• During a total solar eclipse, local temperatures can drop up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

• A cosmic year is the amount of time it takes the sun to revolve around the center of the Milky Way, about 225 million years.

• Astronomers once believed a planet named Vulcan existed between Mercury and the sun.

• Panama, because of a bend in the isthmus, is the only place in the world where one can see the sun rise on the Pacific Ocean and set on the Atlantic.

• Because of the speed at which Earth moves around the sun, it is impossible for a solar eclipse to last more than 8 minutes.

• Honeybees navigate using the sun as a compass, even when it is hidden behind clouds.

• All the coal, oil, gas, and wood on Earth would only keep the sun burning for a few days.

• Comets’ tails point away from the sun at all times. So, when a comet is moving away from the sun, its tail is actually leading.

• The sun contains 99% of all the mass in our solar system.

• Only five percent of the stars in our galaxy are larger than the sun.

• The sun is 93 million miles from earth, yet it’s 270,000 times closer than the next nearest star.

Compiled from http://www.alltrivia.net/facts/sun.htm and http://westudent.tripod.com/trivia.html

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Total value $200/mth. We also have national and local discounts.

If you are 50+ come and check us out at 2423 Bonita or call 234-3331.

Supported by Carlsbad Medical Center summer 2013 | a community magazine

31

F o c u s on the chamber

summer

in carlsbad A note from our chief e xecutive officer

Robert defer

Chief Executive Officer carlsbad chamber

Summertime is upon us, and it is always amazing how many outside activities that are available right here in our local area! One morning you might want to start real early by visiting Rattlesnake Springs to see how many different birds you can add to you list. Bird watchers come from all over to catch a quick sighting of some new and exciting species.

While you are there be sure and watch for the turkey and deer that are always about. Then go over to the Guadalupe Mountains National Park to hike one of their many trails, such as Devil’s Hall Trail, El Capitan Overlook Trail, McKittrick Canyon Nature Trail, Permian Reef Trail, Smith Spring Trail, The Pinery Trail, or several others (be sure and take plenty of water and sunscreen).

The next day, start out at the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park and see how many Chihuahuan Desert plants and animals you already recognize. Take the afternoon away from the summer heat by touring Carlsbad Caverns National Park (you could spend a lifetime trying to see everything).

Day three, be sure and visit Sitting Bull Falls, then take the kids swimming and boating down at The Beach! Stay under the shade of the large pecan trees and feel the coolness of the breeze coming off the Pecos River.

Take time to roast a hotdog and enjoy beans, potato chips, and something cold to drink.

Downtown there are antique shops,

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focus on carlsbad | summer 2013

card shops, jewelry stores, art galleries, kitchen supplies, and all types of other stores to spend the day shopping!

Go by the Mall to check out all their shops! Where to eat during your stay? Depends on what kind of food you want to try because it’s all here from Bar-B-Que, to Italian, Mexican, Oriental, Hamburgers, and Chicken Fried Steaks.

Come spend a day, a week, this summer, or a lifetime with us here in Carlsbad. You will be glad you did!

Robert Defer, Carlsbad Chamber Chief Executive Officer, can be reached at 575-887-6516 or by email at director@carlsbadchamber.com.

Fun in the sun

retire in carlsbad Carlsbad, NM was once called “The Jewel of the Pecos.” Regardless s of your choice for adventure, Carlsbad can provide your “Fun in the Sun.” Retirees are no longer interested in sitting on their porch and watching the world pass by. They are very active. Whether your idea of adventure is hiking, biking, water sports, or hunting – Carlsbad, A Place to Call Home – has it all.

Our City is known for having and maintaining approximately 1400 acres of parks. The City Parks Department is responsible for maintenance of all playground equipment, fishing piers, and boat docks.

The two senior recreation centers are dedicated to serving the senior population with recreational, cultural, and educational activities. If you enjoy aerobics, dancing and games, you will enjoy the friendly lifestyle of Carlsbad.

Liveability is ageless and Carlsbad has something for all ages.

Janell Whitlock, Carlsbad Chamber Director of Retirement, can be reached at 575-887-6516 or by email at retirement@carlsbadchamber.com.

Carlsbad tourism

Carlsbad Caverns National Park Third Favorite Family Vacation Destination

Carlsbad Caverns National Park has been named the third most-favorite family destination in a national poll by FamilyFun, a family travel magazine and a popular source for travel recommendations and family activities.

FamilyFun conducted an extensive nationwide survey of parents with children ages 3-12, asking them to rate popular vacation destinations for affordability, accessibility and fun. Carlsbad Caverns placed third in “Overall Favorite Family Destinations” with the top two spots going to Yellowstone National Park and Acadia National Park. All but one of the top 10 selections are national parks, indicating that vacationers enjoy choosing destinations that are set aside for the purpose of natural, historic and cultural preservation.

Humorist Will Rogers called Carlsbad the “Grand Canyon with a roof on it.” FamilyFun voters say, “It’s simply grand.” The park, located in the Guadalupe Mountains at the northern reaches of the Chihuahuan desert, features some of the largest and deepest limestone chambers anywhere on earth.

Top 10 Overall Favorite Family Destinations: 1 • Yellowstone National Park 2 • Acadia National Park 3 • Carlsbad Caverns National Park 4 • Grand Canyon National Park 5 • Mount Rushmore Ntl. Memorial 6 • Sleeping Bear Dunes Ntl. Lakeshore 7 • Yosemite National Park 8 • Disney Magic Kingdom Park 9 • Glacier National Park 10 • Pearl Harbor Visitor Center/ USS Arizona Memorial

“Vacations provide a special time for families to come together and create lasting memories,” said Ann Hallock, Editor-in-chief, FamilyFun magazine.

“And we were thrilled to see that so many are choosing to do that while heading outdoors to take advantage of our wonderful national park system.”

F o c u s on the chamber

Your Chamber Staff Robert Defer, Chief Executive Officer director@carlsbadchamber.com

Donna Cass, Senior Admin. Assistant carlsbadnm@carlsbadchamber.com

Brenda Whiteaker, Director of Operations operations@carlsbadchamber.com

Brandi Candelaria, Admin. Assistant temp@carlsbadchamber.com

Lisa Boeke, Director of Marketing & Tourism tourism@carlsbadchamber.com

Randy Baker, Director of Facility Maintenance facility@carlsbadchamber.com

Janell Whitlock, Director of Retirement retirement@carlsbadchamber.com

Jesus Torres, Facility Maintenance

Welcome New chamber Members!

Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce is proud to welcome the following businesses as new members.

The Chamber staff would like to say “thank you” for joining The Chamber.

Please remember, these businesses proudly support our community!

Show your appreciate by shopping with them whenever possible!

• Canyon Sage Healing Arts • Carlsbad Corporates

Celeritex Services

Celeritex Services celebrated the grand opening of their Carlsbad location in early January. Celeritex Services is located at 119 S. Canyon and may be reached at 575-9412833.

Garden Mart Downtown

Mary and Ashley Walterscheid, along with family, friends, and Chamber Ambassadors, opened Garden Mart Downtown at 504 N Canyon Street. Give them a call at 575-706-0032 to find out more about their extended floral services.

• Carlsbad Family Fellowship • Carlsbad Mall • Carlsbad Transitional Housing & Homeless Shelter, Inc. • Celeritex Services • Community Homecare • KIDZ Too • Kidz, Inc. • Madeline’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear

Kidz Too

The staff, family, friends, and Chamber Ambassadors cut the ribbon to Kidz Too daycare on January 16, 2013. The daycare is located at 201 N. Mesa. Call Lonnie at 575-8850253 for more information on their services.

Lakeview Christian Home Heaton House

Lakeview Christian Home broke ground for the addition of Heaton House to their continuous care community in January. For more information on services provided by Lakeview Christian Home, including the Heaton House, please call 575-887-3947.

• Perfect Designs • Pink Papaya • PVPM, Inc. • Thors Plasma Works • X-Treme Security

For more information or to join the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce call 575-887-6516 or visit carlsbadchamber.com.

Madeline’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear

Visit Elizabeth Hennessy and her staff at Madeline’s Bridal Boutique & Formal Wear located in the Northgate Shopping Center on Pierce Street for your wedding, prom, and formal wear needs!

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park celebrated the groundbreaking of the addition of a Reptile House to their displays in early March.

summer 2013 | a community magazine

33

F o c u s business directory Home Decor & Gifts • Candles • Jewelry Interior Design Services • Floral Arrangements Kitchen Accessories • Bridal Registry • Antiques

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"Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It's what you do for others."

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Taking better care of you.

And the place we all call home.

2012 Statement At Carlsbad Medical Center, we’re proud of the compassionate medical services we provide. But the care we offer extends beyond our doors – and out into the entire community. Even if we’ve never treated you, we’re pleased to say you’ve benefited from having us here.

Providing Quality Care: ER Patient Visits ......................................................................................................................... 23,682 Inpatient Visits .............................................................................................................................. 3,926 Outpatient Visits ........................................................................................................................ 69,783 Financial Benefits: Payroll (477 Employees) .................................................................................................... $42,024,234 Capital Investments ............................................................................................................. $2,426,024 Property & Sales Taxes ....................................................................................................... $2,689,848 Caring for Our Community: Charity & Uncompensated Care ....................................................................................... $22,711,030 Dollars Spent Locally ........................................................................................................... $2,957,672 Donations to the Community .................................................................................................. $18,461 CMC & Pecos Valley of NM employee donations to the United Way.................................... $18,407 Hospital Auxiliary Donated Hours ............................................................................................... 8,155 Total Community Investment ....................................................................................$72,845,676* *Dollar amounts are approximate.

Expanded Services: New MRI Technology New Nuclear Medicine Camera The 30-Minutes-or-Less E.R. Service Pledge Urodynamics Doctors Recruited: Mario Toledo-Couret, M.D., OB/GYN Alton Marcello, M.D., OB/GYN Leonel Limonte, M.D., Neurology & Neuromuscular Medicine Jeremiah Raney, D.O., Pediatrics