2016 December #149
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The Ancient Way Café
Thoughts From The West End
El Morro RV Park and Cabins
This fall a Dutchman from the Midwest came to our town, whereupon we did our best to show him and his family some of the cool things of our region. We took him to Canyon De Chelly where he peered over the Spider Rock overlook. In my opinion, it is the most beautiful canyon in the world. He looked around for about 90 seconds and then made a simple proclamation, “What a waste…this land can’t grow anything!” Then he simply asked, “What’s next?” Taken aback, there was no way to really respond to this fellow in a cordial manner. So we moved on to get some greasy burgers in Chinle that he appeared to enjoy much more than the canyon. Eventually I just forgot about it.
***
A few weeks ago, I was hunting with a local Pastor, and he asked me the question: “What problem do you think most typifies the American?” I took a minute to think about it, and I thought of the Dutchman. So I answered… “Productivity…. pragmatics …the inability to find value in anything that doesn’t make money or accomplish a goal.” It was early in the morning, and I said it rather gruffly, so he just kind of nodded his head, and we sipped our coffee. Eventually we both forgot about it.
*** Later that night I was sitting in my garage with a propane heater going. I started daydreaming, and I remembered a conversation I had with a Navajo medicine man in Camille’s Cafe nearly two years prior. I was meeting with him to discuss his support of a city program concerning alcohol issues. Rather randomly he asked me out of the blue, “Why do your people think you are okay with the Creator by just saying one simple prayer…and then you go and destroy and pillage our Sister earth for money?” It was such a bold and guilt-loaded question that I decided it wasn’t worth engaging, and we glossed over it. And eventually I had forgotten about it.
*** In that garage I thought about how life often gets reduced to procuring, consuming, and advancing in this big cultural machine called America. I decided that I need more vision beyond the practical, if I am going to be fully human. The glory of a hot air balloon rising in the December dawn should be celebrated for its beauty, simplicity, and spirit of adventure, rather than pointing out that it is an inefficient form of transportation. The canyon needs to be seen as bigger than your productive ego; the canyon needs to shrink you, and humble you with its secret curves and endless beauty. Faith itself is the antithesis of production, forgiveness, and new life that cannot be earned, but rather honored by stillness, purity of spirit that looks to justice, and to put others first out of simple joy and thankfulness. I believe Poetry should be written. Art should be made. Walking should be done in the woods. Sunsets should be watched. Bikes and motorcycles should be ridden. Faces instead of phones should be looked into. Thoughts should be thought…and hopefully not forgot.
-cvd
* Please submit your non-productive works for our 12th Annual Journey Arts
Edition to gallupjourney@gmail.com.
6 December 2016
THE OLD SCHOOL GALLERY PRESENTS CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR DECEMBER 3RD 11A.M. - 3 P.M., AND WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION DECEMBER 17TH AT 7 P.M.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO SERVE EVERYONE
DECEMBER MENU
December December December December December December December December December
2nd 3rd 9th 10th 16th 17th 23rd 24th 30th
Turkey Meatballs w/ Fettucini Marinara Cardomom Sage Chicken Thighs Chicken Fajitas w/ Beans & Rice Bacon Wrapped Pork Steak w/ Plum Cherry Sauce Slow Roasted Short Ribs w/ Stewed Tomatoes Seafood Stew w/ Chile Relleno Peppercorn Ribeye Steak w/ Burgundy Butter Open 9to 5 p.m. Closed for Dinner Th ree Cheese Crusted Cod w/ Golden Mashed Potatoes December 31st Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Closed For Dinner. WE WILL BE CLOSED CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR'S DAY. LET THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH! CAFÉ HOURS: 9 AM – 5 PM Sunday thru Thursday • CLOSED – Wednesday CABINS & RV PARK: Open Daily Year Round • OPEN – 9 AM – 8 PM Fri. and Sat.
El Morro RV Park, Cabins & Ancient Way Café elmorro-nm.com • elmorrorv@gmail.com • 505-783-4612
Near mile marker 46 on Hwy 53, one mile east of El Morro National Monument Entrance
sudoku
When you finish these puzzles, bring them to our office at 105 S. 3rd Street. Or take a pic with your phone and email to gallupjourney@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include your name.
November Master Finishers Chelps J. Jackson (Two months running) Jaye Smith (Two months running) Sarah Landavazo
Valerie Harrison LiDeja & Jon Priscilla Madrid
Contents 14 First Time Ballooning Aileen McCarthy
16 History of the Red Rock Balloon Rally Karl Lohmane
31 Christmas-Navajo Style Roberta John
32 8 Questions
Fowler Roberts
34 Navajo Nation Zoo…
20 Tamale Contest 23 The Christmas Hospital David Conejo-Palacios
25 Walking in Beauty: Pre-Diabetes Carolyn Mahnke
a Hidden Gem Daisy Arsenault
36 Veteran’s Corner Sandra McKinney
42 Driving Impressions Greg Cavanaugh
28 West by Southwest
45 Cross Country Skiing
Ernie Bulow
Chuck Van Drunen
Contributors: Ernie Bulow Chuck Van Drunen David Conejo-Palacios Sandra McKinney Greg Cavanaugh Jay Mason
Fowler Roberts Carolyn Mahnke Roberta John Aileen McCarthy Kristen Dickey Robert Keene
Publishers: Daisy & Jason Arsenault Chuck & Jenny Van Drunen Staff: Sandra McKinney Andy Stravers
48 Tricked Out! 50 Energy Logistics Park Aileen McCarthy
54 Grandchildren Jay Mason
56 Event Calendar 58 Kristen Dickey: Learning Rx 60 The Spirit of Christmas David Conejo-Palacios
62 Oh Christmas Tree Sandra McKinney
64 Information on Dementia Robert Keene
Managing Editor: Aileen McCarthy Cover Art: Thanks to Karl Lohmann for letting us be creative with his collection of balloon pins.Thanks to Jason N. for the design. ☺
December 2016 Issue #149
Gallup Journey Magazine 505-722-3399 105 S. 3rd Street gallupjourney.com gallupjourney@gmail.com
All Rights Reserved. No articles, photos, illustrations, advertisements, or design elements may be used without expressed written permission from the publisher, Gallup Journey Inc. This publication is distributed with the understanding that the information presented is from many sources, for which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher as to accuracy, originality, or completeness. It is distributed with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in making product endorsements, recommending health care or treatments, providing instruction, or recommending that any reader participate in any activity or behavior described in the publication. The opinions of the contributors to this publication belong to them and do not reflect the opinions of the editors or publishers.
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December 2016
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12 December 2016
Red Rock Balloon Rally Events: December 2nd-4th
Friday, December 2, 2016 7:30am Mass Ascensions From Various locations over Gallup and Red Rock Park 6:00pm Glow in The Rocks and Indian Dances at Red Rock Park 6:30am 7:30am 8:00am 9:00am 2:00pm 6:00pm
Saturday December 3, 2016 Dawn Patrol Mass Ascension at Red Rock Park Pyramid Rock Run Registration at Red Rock Park Pyramid Rock Run at Red Rock Park Downtown Christmas Parade Balloominaria at Rio West Mall
Sunday December 4, 2016 6:30am Dawn Patrol 7:00am Mass Ascension at Red Rock Park 10:00am Awards Brunch and Auction at Red Rock Park Join us the first weekend in December. There will be a Friday night "Glow in the Rocks" and Indian Dances at Red Rock Park. Dawn Patrol and Mass Ascensions will take place both Saturday and Sunday.
December 2016
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By Aileen McCarthy
First time Ballooning Last December my fiancé Peter came to visit during the time of the balloon festival. Unbeknownst to me, it had always been a childhood dream of his to go up in a hot air balloon. Clearly he had picked his friends wisely, seeing that I lived and grew up here watching those balloons float over the red rocks. Sometimes we would even see them pass above my back yard; and with a friendly wave and a yelled hello, they would continue on their journey. Unintentionally Peter came to visit just the right weekend. The first morning of the festival, Peter, my mom, and I enjoyed the balloons flying over the house with a cup of coffee, at which time Peter said, “Oh I would love to do that.” Well Mom was on it. She suggested several people to call that might have tickets to sell us or who owned a balloon that wouldn’t mind giving us a ride. In the next 24 hours we called several people but we could not track anyone down. (Another way to get a ride, which we did not look into, is to sign up to be on a balloon’s crew. If you help out with a balloon, you often get a ride.) We had pretty much given up hope on a ride when my work just happened to have me bump into Archie Baca, owner of Jerry’s Cafe. I didn’t know Archie very well. One 14 December 2016
thing I did know is Jerry’s is the place I like to take my out-of-town friends for a really good Mexican Burrito with green chile and cheese smothered all over it. Archie asked me how I was, and I told him about Peter coming to visit and our hunt for a ride. Without skipping a beat Archie said, “Oh I have a couple tickets you can have. We sponsor every year and they give sponsors free rides. I won’t use them.” Again I did not know Archie, and here he was generously offering me an experience of a life time. After insisting that he would not use the tickets, I took him up on it. We had tickets for the Sunday take-off out at Red Rock Park, which was perfect. If Peter was going to ride a balloon, I wanted it to be out by the rocks. We got in touch with our pilot and showed up on time, which was earlier than my beauty sleep usually allows. I can’t remember the exact time, but I think we arrived at the park at 5:45 a.m. Supposedly; balloonriding-edict is if you get a ride, you help set it up and take it down. We met up with the crew, and immediately became part of the team to get that balloon up and running. It was quite involved and we all got to work right away.
We were going to fly on the Enchanted Diamonds, which got its name from the design on its side. None of this could be seen, however, because the balloon was carefully rolled up in a bag that was the size of Santa’s present satchel. It took four of us to move it. The site was something else. We, along with over two hundred teams and their equipment, all lined up in rows, began to unravel our respective balloons. Everyone was designated an area and they were hard at work. First step was to put down a protective tarp on the red clay dirt. This was to prevent damage to the fabric. The basket, which was also surprisingly heavy, was hauled from the trailer to the base of the balloon and laid on its side. Cords from the balloon to the basket were attached and so was the “burner”. The burner, upon command, releases a flame into the base of the balloon that heats the air inside, enabling the balloon to rise. Next a massive fan was put at the bottom hole of the balloon and turned on to a high speed. Some poor victim soul was sacrificed for the inflation; that someone needed to hold the hole of the balloon open while air blew in. In the middle of the winter at 6 o’clock in the morning no one volunteered. So our pilot
Our Enchanted Diamonds landing in the brush
volunteered Peter. And I, as in opportune moments, played the damsel with my cup of coffee on the side. Gradually the balloon began to inflate, and once the balloon rose in the air, we placed the basket upright. When it was all said and done, Peter came over and chattered, “I can’t feel my hands.” Peter and I garnered the first ride with the pilot so we jumped in. I did not know this but apparently the only navigation you really have control of is the up and down, and the side to side is up to the winds. Skilled pilots, however, can work with them to maneuver around. There is a spot by the red rocks marked with a white X. Apparently, if you can land in that spot during the festival, you get a prize. Only the most skilled of pilots can get there though, because the location is in a tight canyon. A couple blows from the burner lifted us off the ground. Surrounded by all the balloons rising with the morning sun was extremely beautiful. We floated around the outskirts of the red rocks for about a half hour. Our pilot tried to get closer but the winds were not working with him.
Balloons airing up
It did not really hit home in my mind, until I was about 50 feet in the air, how the only thing between me and the ground below was woven cane and a couple ropes. That initial fear wore off and we spent an enjoyable time viewing the red rocks and the different colored balloons. It was beautiful. For me the take down was the hardest part. You land where you land and you have to deal with your surroundings. For us that was out in the boonies around a ton of thick brush. Peter and another member of the team had to pull the hovering heavy balloon about 100 yards through the brush to a dirt road. We deflated the balloon like a toothpaste tub, using our whole body weight to do so. When we began to roll the fabric up, I thought there was
no way we were going to be able to fit that thing back into that Santa bag, but we did. It was a great experience. If I got to do it again, I would bring some nice gloves that would allow use of my hands but also provide warmth. Hot chocolate and coffee in a well-sealed thermos would also be a must – more for the ambiance rather than the necessity. Even without, however, it was a beautiful adventure and I want to thank Archie Baca for making that possible for us.
Inflating Enchanted Diamonds December 2016
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16 December 2016
By Karl Lohmann
History of The Red Rock Balloon Rally If you traveled the world I don’t think you would find a more impressive backdrop than our red rocks for hot air balloons. Every December hundreds of pilots and balloon enthusiasts show up for the second largest hot air balloon event in the United States. Air shed is Watershed. Gallup is in a shallow, tilted bowl surrounded on three sides by high elevation mountains and mesas. At night, cooler air flows like water from the high elevation, through canyons and dry river beds, to fill the shallow Gallup Bowl with a cold, dense, slow flowing air mass. It gets cold in Gallup. In December, the air is denser, colder, and more stable, longer than any other time of the year. Balloons fly close to sunrise to exploit safe and favorable conditions. Balloons in December fly longer and lift more to carry more passengers. Hot air balloons fly really well in cold air masses. High elevation winds, half a mile and higher, blow fast to the north and east, but low level wind in Gallup’s rarified air is light and variable. A pilot can usually cross Gallup – low and slow – from east to west. The wind accelerates around certain landscapes: cliffs, mesas, hogbacks, and Red Rocks. From Continental Divide to Arizona, our cold dense air empties slowly to the west, blowing gently around said landscapes. The hogback landscape is both fun and scary for pilots and passengers. The Red Rocks are the most fun. The Red Rocks of Gallup are a Mesozoic phenomenon – cemented, wind-blown dunes from the beach of a Cretaceous sea. The Rocks extend from the Continental Divide to Gallup’s hogbacks. Where Albuquerque balloons fly in “the Box”, Red Rock Balloon Rally pilots fly “the Cube”; a
parallelepiped, not just back and forth, but at least six directions in the low level winds. The cold, dense air in the Rio Puerco of the West, heated by sunrise and convection cells, are established among the Red Rocks and can take hot air balloons everywhere inside the canyons and cliffs of the Park. In the early seventies, Gallup hot-air balloons flew quickly, from west to east, over the town from the airport. “Keirkegaard” a black and white Raven Rally RX6 was the first Gallup balloon. “Mesa Moon” and “Desert Sun” replaced Kierkegaard by 1976; “Weathernaut” was the next resident balloon followed by “Weathernaut II” and “Firebird”. An airline pilot, a college professor, public school teachers, and construction contractors
brought these balloons to Gallup. A retired couple, a PHS employee, uranium miners, a public health worker, and more contractors brought balloons to Gallup. Gurley Motor Company bought a balloon to promote customer recognition and business. Raven Industries engineered and built all the balloons in Gallup until “Stormy Weather”, a Thunder Balloon, and “Daisy”, a Cameron Balloon, came to town. “Daisy” was one of three local balloons made of red, yellow, and orange nylon. “The Wiz” was an enormous, local balloon built by Cameron. “Black Spectrum” was a Raven Rally 6. A nurse from Albuquerque moved to Gallup with a beautiful Colt balloon, “Nizhoni”, with a 40 foot Kachina image on two sides.
December 2016
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The Red Rock Rally association brought “Yei! Gallup” to town as a club balloon and, over the years, added a rebuilt “Nizhoni” and the special Shape “Koshare”. “Koshare” is a Lindstrand Balloon. “Extreme Lee Balloon Adventures” has brought three balloons to town, and the balloon “Up to Noe Good” flies over the Red Rocks now. In the number of resident balloons, Gallup competed with Farmington in the early days but has won the contest with more balloons present at our famous event, the Red Rock Balloon Rally. The Red Rock Balloon Rally was officially launched in 1981. The modern hot air balloon was invented in the late sixties in South Dakota and lighterthan-air novices were defining the sport. Lighter-than-air pilot licenses require ten hours of instruction from a commercial LTA pilot, a written examination, a solo, and a certification flight with a designated FAA examiner. For a license, student pilots studied Federal Aviation Regulations, Visual Flight Rules, Airspace Restrictions, and weather manuals. There was scarce information beyond the manufacturer’s operations manual to inform pilots about planning and predicting a hot air balloon flight. Flight planning in the early days was like artillery – a quick launch with a straight line flight downwind, landing with a bang. Red Rock Balloon rides are exceptional; the scenery and dynamics in the air make for a great balloon ride. Gallup pilots recognized that the Red Rocks offered balloon pilots an exceptional experience. Gallup pilots were invited to the Chamber of Commerce
18 December 2016
to recommend an annual balloon event. With the support of several key business leaders, this group became the mentors to the small group of dedicated balloon advocates. Some of these included: Red Rock Park management, Gallup Lions Club, Search and Rescue and EMS, and, especially, Gallup Propane Service, and the El Rancho Hotel who helped sustain the effort. Land owners and residents of tribal lands surrounding Red Rock Park are generous, tolerant, and enthusiastic about hot air balloons landing amongst them. The small group of like-minded supporters promoted the exceptional red rock asset and promoted the emerging “destination tourism” paradigm. Over the years the Red Rock Rally has become more than just an annual event, it has made Gallup a year-round destination point for pilots. In the Red Rocks of Gallup, standards of performance are high. Every pilot and rally supporter knows that the purpose of every event and each flight is to please the public, passengers, crew, bystanders, landowners, and patrons. The Red Rock pilot creates a myth of a premediated flight and control, clubbing cliffs and trees with adept grace (or skillfully avoiding them), and venting and burning to harmonize momentum and inertia to find equilibrium. The famous Red Rock ride is never a straight-line flight; not at all like being shot out of a cannon. Add up all the flight advantages and challenges: scenic wilderness, cultural interest, the Navajo road system, and exceptional winds. Balloon pilots recognize that Gallup’s Red Rocks are the topographic definition of the right stuff.
Gallup’s Most Experienced Team Let Our Most Valued Resources Handle Your Most Valued Real Estate Transactions.
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Plan all your holiday parties here! 1648 S. 2nd St. • (505) 863-9640 December 2016
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Photo courtesy of Erlinda’s Tamale Shop 624 N 3rd Street 505-863-3690.
20 December 2016
Christmas Traditions Food is at the heart of the holidays in our family. Easter brings a honey baked ham, Fourth of July burgers on the grill, Thanksgiving wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a turkey, and New Year’s always has a serving of black eyed peas. However, it is the Christmas meal that I look forward to the most. That is when we go New Mexican and celebrate with tamales. Of course you can get tamales anytime of the year here in Gallup, New Mexico. A tamale plate with red chile from one of our local restaurants always satisfies. You also find many of our food street vendors selling this New Mexican classic. I can remember many times being sent to the Northside to pick up Erlinda’s tamales on Thursdays. Every time I take a bite into a tamale I am reminded of why this is one my favorite foods. Making a tamale requires the skill of an artist. The meat has to be perfectly marinated with red chile, and the pork needs to be cooked to an easily shredded and tender consistency. I have always thought of the masa being the most difficult part of the process. My favorite tamale does not have a thick breading, but instead, a thinner breading that brings out the rich flavors of the meat. We all like the corn husk to easily
come off of the tamale instead of tearing it apart. It is definitely an art and that is why when you find that perfect tamale you appreciate it so much more. On occasion, I have had a dessert tamale that is filled with a delicious raisin and cinnamon flavored center. We have also had green chile, cheese, and refried bean tamales which have a unique flavor. Another way I have had tamales is with a chicken stuffing instead of the classic pork which can also be quite delicious. However, it is the traditional pork and red chile tamale that is my favorite. If you don’t celebrate Christmas with tamales, I suggest you try it this year. Once you do I doubt you will go back to that ham, and besides you can get that on Easter. You will be pleasantly surprised at the hot flavor it brings to a holiday that is celebrated in the cold. Maybe you will attempt to make your own tamales, or like us order them from your favorite tamale maker. With Christmas only a few weeks away, you have time to try tamales and find your favorites. Help us out and go to www.gallupjourney.com and vote for the best tamales in town.
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H I S T O R I C D O W N T O W N G A L L U P S A T U R D A Y D E C E M B E R 1 0 T H • 7 P M - 9 P M
DECEMBER ArtsCrawl Starry Night
December is upon on us! Time for everyone to adopt the House Stark motto “Winter is Coming” (thanks, Game of Thrones, for hijacking all of our cultural references!). But wait! Before you curl up in your biggest sweater or start hibernating in your coziest blanket, come to ArtsCrawl: Starry Night on Saturday, December 10th, where you’ll actually enjoy the cold and dark weather! Make sure to dress warm, gear up with a hot beverage from one of your friendly downtown cafes, and explore the following: • Be like Van Gogh (except don’t cut off your ear) and help paint a giant Starry Night collaborative mural at the El Morro Events Center. Add your own special touch with glow-in-the-dark paint. Then stick around to oooh and aaah when we turn off all the lights and let pianist Leo Loginov Katz serenade us with beautiful sounds (performances will happen twice throughout the night). • Stare up at the stars in comfort and warmth of the Navajo Nation Museum’s blow-up planetarium, which will be installed at the El Morro Events Center. Learn about Navajo constellations and hear traditional winter stories from a Navajo storyteller. • Gather around our “Ring of Fire” to de-frost yourself. Blacksmiths and other artists who make art with molten metal, torches, flames and sparks will be doing demos that are sure to turn up the heat! • Procrastinating on holiday shopping? Don’t worry, ART123 Gallery has you covered with its annual Holiday Art Market, open for one night only! Art galleries around downtown will also have show openings—see new works by Member Artists at ART123, two Albuquerque-based artists at opo gallery, Dine artist Jeff Slim at the Shallow Gallery, a new group show at the Gallup Coffee Company, and handmade arts and crafts perfect for gift-giving at Makeshift Gallery. We hope you come help us light up the night at ArtsCrawl: Starry Night! IMPORTANT ARTSCRAWL ANNOUNCEMENT: We’d especially like to see you at this month’s ArtsCrawl because it will be our last for a bit. ArtsCrawl is going on hiatus in January and February, and will be back in full force in March 2017. Going to miss ArtsCrawl? Come help us plan the 2017 ArtsCrawl season at our ArtsCrawl Community Brainstorming Event on Saturday, January 14th from 4:30 – 6:30pm in El Morro Events Center. We’ll present next year’s themes, and invite you to share your ideas on the artists, performers, workshops, and activities you’d like to see at ArtsCrawl in 2017! Stay up-to-date with ArtsCrawl by following @ArtsCrawl Gallup on Facebook.
Orthopedics at RMCHCS are our specialty Whether you suffer from arthritis, have a torn ligament, need a total hip replacement or have spinal damage from osteoporosis, RMCHCS orthopedic specialists can care for you. Meet Dr. Francisca Lytle with over 20 years experience in orthopedic surgery.
Dr. Mital Patel fellowship trained in hip and knee replacement. Whatever your concern, our experienced orthopedists are well-trained to diagnose and treat the problem with compassion. To schedule your appointment, call the Red Rock Clinic at 505-863-7200 1910 Red Rock Drive www.rmch.org
Your Partner in Health
22 December 2016
The Christmas Hospital
He had been sent to meet with the Luke Society for an interview as part of the merger process in 1984. Following a social visit, they got down to some of the more complicated questions. The most perplexing was “What makes a hospital Christian?” While his answer was satisfactory, he felt inside that he had not adequately expressed himself. Now he headed back to the hotel to gather his belongings and begin the trek home. It was a windy winter day in a small Mississippi town. Dust blew across the street, and he pulled his coat tighter to shield himself. Across the street was a totally vacant brick three-story building. Oddly, there were not any windows or doors. The signal light changed, signaling that he could cross the street, and as he did so, he wondered what the building had once been. Approaching the front, he could read the letters on the building, “MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL”. He looked inside, noting that one could look and walk from one end to the other without visually or physically bumping into anything. Nothing hung on the walls except silence, which permeated the entire space. He was stunned! So this is what a hospital becomes without doctors, patients, caregivers, and operations staff? As he stared in awe at the empty building, it became alive before his eyes. He saw windows and frames and people, black and white, working together. There were patients being treated by people of different races, in the middle of a segregated south, in a caring and loving manner. Once again, the wind spewed dust, and as quickly as it had come, the vision was gone. He walked on reflecting on what he had just seen. He had witnessed the first characteristic of a Christian Hospital … “Love your neighbor and love your enemy; [31] Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. [32] If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.” (Luke 6:31-32) Here in this hospital, he had seen people setting their differences aside in order to serve others as Christ would have done! He sensed that this message was at the core of being a Christian Hospital. Yet he also sensed there was more. He was deep in thought on the flight home, he had witnessed something profound, which he could apply back home at Rehoboth McKinley Christian Hospital. It was a focus for the hospital, which could develop deep roots. Dozing off, that focus became a dream. He didn’t know it, but he was developing a concept for the Behavioral Health (drug and alcohol) clients. He could see clearly the treatment center and the joy of the people in the center. They were filled with hope for long term sobriety. Then he saw some of them leaving on Christmas Eve at the end of their treatment. They wandered the streets alone as they wound their way through town. A few hours in the snow, cold and alone, they would accept a drink. He awoke startled! That’s the concept, he heard himself saying: “the opposite of addiction is not sobriety … it’s connection.” Everything that had happened was surreal. More than that, it felt as if a gift of understanding and wisdom had been given to him. To be a real Christian Hospital, you have to love those who scorn you. And of the addicted, you must welcome them into your life. “When you can do these two things,” he thought to himself, “you are worthy of saying ‘you have a mission; a calling.’” This Christmas we celebrate the birth of Christ - Christ embracing everyone and loving His enemies. Without HIS birth, we do not have forgiveness and redemption….We do not have purpose. It’s Christmas! Somewhere up on a hill, the light will shine on this snowy eve, people will be taken care of, people in recovery will have friends and company…and Jesus from HIS manger will look with joy upon
The Christmas Hospital! By David Conejo-Palacios
December 2016
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W
Happy Holidays Rio West Mall from
Visit Santa!
24 December 2016
Walking In Beauty
By Carolyn Mahnke
Pre-Diabetes Before they are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, most people have “pre-diabetes”. Pre-diabetes is when a person’s blood glucose level is higher then normal, but not high enough for the diagnosis of diabetes. Pre-diabetes used to be called impaired glucose tolerance or borderline diabetes. The name has been changed for several reasons. Pre-diabetes is a better way of explaining what it means to have higher than normal blood glucose levels. A person with pre-diabetes is likely to develop diabetes and may already be experiencing some health problems. People with pre-diabetes have 1 ½ times the risk of heart disease compared to people with normal blood glucose.
The Diabetes Prevention Program study showed that people with pre-diabetes can prevent or delay the development of Type 2 diabetes with a small amount of weight loss and regular exercise. It
is recommended that people with prediabetes reduce their weight by 5-10% and participate in physical activity for 30 minutes daily. For a person who weighs 200 pounds, a weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds would be beneficial. For some people with pre-diabetes, weight loss and exercise can lower blood glucose to the normal range.
People who are overweight and are of the age of 45 or older should be tested for pre-diabetes. People who are overweight and below 45 years, but have other risk factors such as a family history of diabetes, a history of gestational diabetes, or belong to an ethnic group at high risk of diabetes, should be tested for pre-diabetes. Ethnic groups at high risk of diabetes are American Indians, Hispanics, African Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
NORMAL
PRE-DIABETES
DIABETES
Fasting Blood Sugar
70-100
101-125
126 or higher
Blood Sugar 2 Hours after a meal
Less than 140
141-199
200 or more
5.6% or less
5.7 – 6.4
6.5 or higher
ALC
This Holiday Season Eat: Healthy!
Gourmet! 306 S. Second Street • Gallup, New Mexico • camillescafe.com • 505-722-5017
Fresh!
Delicious! Quality! December 2016
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ept ing N PATEW IEN TS Acc
Wishing you Happy Holidays from our family to yours! Dr. Richard Baker • Dr. Bret BArlow • Dr. Erin Montaño • Dr. Jared Montaño • Dr. Randy SImonsen
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26 December 2016
www.dentalinnovationsgallup.com
December 2016
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One of the worst memories of my childhood was being forced to sit in the school lunchroom until I ate all my lima beans. I am sure they were Army surplus ,and I loathed those beans. If I had been introduced to the Hopi lima bean, it would have been a different story. I’d like to say a few things in favor of the bean. Up front, beans were once a major contributor to the local economy. Manson Jones (who gave his name to Jones Ranch) raised dry-land beans. At one time many hundreds of acres of beans were grown between Ramah and Fence Lake. Enough beans that they built a warehouse to store them. Once upon a time, far away and long ago, I put together a pretty good library dealing with words. With all these books about words, I wondered if I could find out why “Not worth a hill of beans,” and “Spill the beans” seemed unrelated. The first of those expressions implies beans are worthless, the other that beans are rather valuable. I have three dictionaries of cowboy talk alone. No beans there except “beanery” for a low class restaurant, “bean slinger” for the camp cook, and, please excuse, the ever present “Beaner”. Obviously beans are being demeaned here. Whether the cowboys actually liked beans or not, the cook kept a pot of the little devils on the fire whenever
term for it: “The Three Sisters”. Corn was domesticated first, and it gets the center position. Squash seeds are planted around the corn so its broad leaves hold back the weeds. Beans supply the nitrogen, and the corn stalks support the beans. This still leaves the problem of why the “hill”, with or without corn, would be considered worthless. The phrase did not first appear in the classic film Casablanca, when Humphrey Bogart uses it to say how unimportant, in the scheme of things, an individual life is. And it did not first appear in an agricultural “how to” manual dealing with bean planting one hundred years earlier. “Not worth a hill of beans” remains a mystery, and “To spill the beans” doesn’t fare much better. The phrase is suggested to date back to Ancient Greece and refers to voting with black and white beans. The only problem with that is, the Greeks and Romans only had one bean, and it is neither black nor white. The fava bean, made famous by Hannibal Lector who ate them with liver and “a nice chianti”, is the only bean originally found outside the Americas. That’s not counting bean cousins, garbanzos or lentils, of course. Forget about worthless beans and take a look at some very valuable ones.
MASTODON MEAT PROBABLY GOES NICELY WITH BEANS. they camped, and the stray herder could drop in and find something to eat at any hour of the night. I have seven more books that just deal with odd words and phrases; their meanings and origins. Three of these books are by Charles Earle Funk, and they are lots of fun to poke around in; but almost nothing on beans. Then there is Google. In that huge swamp of information, I came up with one etymology of “spill the beans” and none for “hill of beans”. There are plenty of definitions; they just didn’t have any clue where the expressions came from. Everyone knows what the sayings mean, but not why. One thing Google did offer is a legitimate explanation for the “hill”- not a pile, a pocket or handful of beans, but a hill. School kids probably still hear the story of how Squanto showed the pilgrims that planting a fish with the corn seeds helped the plants grow. If you have forgotten the story, check out the November issue of The Journey. What isn’t quite as clear is the fact that each group of seeds were planted in a hill, not in the rows most commonly seen today. None of the sources I looked at on line gave the whole story. In the southwest fish were not particularly handy, and many tribes had taboos against bothering any birds or animals associated with water anyway. Corn, in particular, uses a lot of nitrogen, and cornfields would quickly be so depleted that nothing would grow. All of the legumes (the bean family) put nitrogen into the soil in large quantities. Many cultures in the southwest practiced a kind of agriculture known as multicropping. This was so common, there is a
THE SPECTACULAR HOPI RED LIMA 28 December 2016
All the beans commonly found in pantries are products of the New World, along with corn, chile, and many other necessities. Beans have been found in a cave in Peru dating 8,000 BCE (Let’s be politically correct). Then there is our own Anasazi bean. I hope we aren’t going to have to call it the Ancestral Puebloan Bean. Already it is called the Aztec Cave Bean to avoid that other word. The story, probably made up, is that back in the eighties (or fifties) an archaeological team from UCLA (or somewhere) was looking for elephant remains and one of them found the beans in a pot sealed with pitch. (Mastodon meat probably goes nicely with beans.) Once released, some of the beans grew normally when planted. The story says that they were carbon dated at 1,500 years old. More likely these beans, along with literally dozens of other varieties, were being grown all along in one Pueblo or another, or several. One of the claims made for the Anasazi bean is that it generates only one fourth as much gas as its cousin, the pinto bean. I haven’t found that true, but it does have more flavor and a slightly sweet taste. The raw bean is a little larger than the pinto, but is cream with purple splotches that make it quite beautiful. Now you can buy them on line from Amazon. Another bean closely related, that is more beautiful than the drab pinto, is the Zuni bean, pale cream spotted with gold. Today it is apparently grown only in a small plot in southwestern Colorado. This is an area where the pinto bean is king, but a number of “heirloom” beans are gaining in popularity. Besides the “Zuni Gold” as it is called, there are scarlet runners, goat’s eyes, fire burst, dalmatian, and orca beans; and the beautiful zebra bean. Are zebras white with black markings or black with white stripes?
JUST A SMALL SAMPLE OF SOME OF THE BEANS MENTIONED IN THE TEXT - PURE BLACK AND WHITE ARE MISSING. ANASAZI BEANS TOP LEFT
THE BEAUTIFUL AND DELICIOUS HOPI LIMA BEAN
Ernie’s First Selfie
by Ernie Bulow
THE BEAN KNOWN AS ZUNI GOLD I’ve never been sure about that. These beans were known and used by Native Americans long before the Pilgrims dropped by. Some of the same bean strains are found in Arizona among the Pima, Papago and other desert dwellers. Of course beans are a staple food in the Southwest, but they have another role in many Pueblos. Virtually all tribes consider beans, like corn and melons, to be gifts of the ancestral spirits and treat them accordingly. Most folks in the Southwest have heard of the Hopi Bean Dance, but few know anything more than that. Beans are sprouted inside the kivas, and it is the sprouts, not the actual beans, which are part of their religious observance. The Hopi bean is the shape of a small lima bean and colored like the traditional Zuni bean - gold and white. But they also come in several other colors. The various beans grown by the Hopis are so intensely colored they are used to dye wool and yucca strips. There are not many natural dyes in blue, red, and purple. Red is especially rare. Like so many observances, the religious rituals surrounding beans are being lost. Old Man Mahooty lived to be over a hundred years old. He wore his hair in the traditional cut, with the bun on the back of his neck and preserved old ways. Between Shalako and Deshkwi (a time of fasting and special observance) he would sing the bean songs. As part of the full initiation, sometimes called the public initiation, a group of seed carrier kokos would appear in the village. Six of the initiates were singled out for the honor of cooking beans. There were six different colors corresponding to each of the six kivas. The Hopis still raise small quantities of the many colored beans. Many of the beans once raised by the Zunis can still be found in the Rio Grande Pueblos. An Acoma friend of mine says that they still raise some sacred beans well away from the villages on dry land. They are under the authority and care of the War Chiefs.
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THIS 1919 PHOTO SHOWS ZUNIS SHAKING BEANS FROM THEIR PODS So why are beans sacred, and what do they represent? Traditional corn, still raised by almost all tribes, has much the same significance. The six basic colors, including white and black for up and down, are for the six cardinal directions, the six kivas, the six prey god beasts, and so on. This represents, in the simplest terms, the structure and order of mother earth, and by extension, the universe. Beyond that lies the secret realm. No Pueblo I have talked to likes to separate beans from other seeds. Corn, beans, chiles, and squash, in all their varieties, are symbolic of life, death, and rebirth. They represent the promise of the world to keep on sustaining us as long as we are respectful and industrious. Anglos have long wondered where the distinctive Zuni jewelry designs came from; specifically the amazing variety of cluster work. C. G. Wallace, never shy about taking credit, claims it was his invention, when he gave boxes of scrap turquoise and suggested to his workers how to use it. I don’t know a single Zuni who will buy that. It has been explained to me, more than once, that those designs, circles and rows and crescents of small stones, snake eye, petite point, needlepoint, row work in squares and rectangles like rows of corn, come from seeds and the Zuni reverence for seeds. Traditional Zuni jewelry combines two supremely valuable things, turquoise and seeds. It saddens me that the mighty bean has fallen from its rightful place in the diet of mankind, supplying as it does cheap protein and basic nutrients. Zuni beans, along with Anasazi beans, are available from Adobe Milling in Dove Creek, Colorado. Many other exotics are available, usually as seed, from a variety of vendors on line. - ernie@buffalomedicine.com
PUNCH FOUNTAINS AND MORE FOR RENT December 2016
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People Reading
Children of Skaw Karen in a village near Chiangmai Mai, Thailand enjoyed receiving biscuits and looking at the Journey on 11/17/16 with Bob and Karen Zollinger.
Michael Murray (with crutch) shares a copy of the Journey with his buddy Chuck Buck in Homer, Alaska after Murray's return from Gallup and strange adventure after 57 years.
Barbara Kamps Cage diving with great white sharks in Isla Guadalupe Mexico reading the Journey. Yes, that is a great white swimming on the bottom left of the photo.
HI-VIZ
Jackets, Gloves, and Hats
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30 December 2016
CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAZA
By Roberta John
CHRISTMAS... Navajo Style
It is pitch dark and Joe Black is still cranking the midnight oil. He spent the last several months searching for various plants throughout the vast 27,000 square-mile Navajo reservation to ensure that he would have the perfect colors for his Christmas tree sand painting ornaments. It’s a selftaught art that he learned when all he had to play with, when he was young, were rocks and sticks among the sage brush. He finally pieces and paints the finishing touches onto his carefully-crafted hogan-shaped ornament, hoping it will garner him enough money to make it through another winter. Joe Black is a fictitious figure, but he walks the same path as many Navajo artists do, who may take months, or even years, to complete a masterpiece. See how Navajo artists remain true to their cultural heritage as they showcase their elegant artwork at the Navajo Nation Museum. So if you are looking for a one-of-akind gift that you won’t find anywhere else, the Navajo Nation Keshmish Festival is the place to be. See and experience the tenacious spirit of the Navajo people come alive. See how art remains a vibrant force in Navajo culture. The 19th Annual Keshmish Festival will be presented on December 9-10, 2016 at the Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock, Arizona. There’s no need to rush to the nearest mall or shop online in search for a great gift for the holiday. The Keshmish Festival is the perfect venue for handmade Navajo style Christmas creations.
Since it first began, organizers have seen it steadily grow. Award-winning Navajo artists from throughout the country bring their finest creations that are worth more than meets the eye. Whether you want to buy a Navajo treasure for family, friends, or for yourself, the Keshmish Festival is sure to fill your taste of Navajo authenticity. Some art pieces that have become increasingly popular include sand painting Christmas tree ornaments, Pendleton scarves, cedar earrings, Navajo-designed mugs, and other exquisite masterpieces. Visitors also have an opportunity to meet and buy books from local authors. Navajo Nation Museum Director, Manuelito Wheeler, stated, “The Navajo Nation Museum is the perfect venue for everyone to experience Navajo culture. Not only will you have an opportunity to buy that perfect Christmas gift, you can also buy traditional Navajo food, walk through our exhibits to learn about Navajo history and culture, or buy something from our gift shop. Come and experience the joy of the holiday season…Navajo style.” The Keshmish Festival: where there is an interwoven thread of the ancient past, immersed with a taste of contemporary, yet rustic Navajo charm – the perfect antidote for Christmas shopping indecision.
IT’S THE TIME OF YEAR WE ALL LOOK FORWARD TO - CHRISTMAS!!! THE CHRISTMAS SONGS, THE TREATS, HOT CHOCOLATE, AND OF COURSE SANTA CLAUS!!!! IHEARTMEDIA GALLUP, ALONG WITH OTHER LOCAL SPONSORS, INVITE YOU TO “CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAZA”. IT ALL HAPPENS DECEMBER 3RD, RIGHT AFTER THE CHRISTMAS PARADE. FOLLOW SANTA CLAUS TO THE COURT HOUSE SQUARE IN DOWN TOWN GALLUP. COME AND ENJOY CHRISTMAS MUSIC, FREE HOT CHOCOLATE, CHRISTMAS COOKIES, AND A CHRISTMAS GOODIE BAG FROM SANTA HIMSELF. “CHRISTMAS AT THE PLAZA” DECEMBER 3RD FOLLOWING THE CHRISTMAS PARADE
TOYS FOR TOTS TOY DRIVE IS HAPPENING DECEMBER 16TH AT YOUR IHEARTMEDIA STUDIOS AT 1632 SOUTH SECOND STREET! IHEARTMEDIA HAS SUPPORTED THE TOYS FOR TOTS TOY DRIVE FOR OVER 10 YEARS. LAST YEAR OVER 1,400 LOCAL CHILDREN WERE GIVEN A NEW CHRISTMAS TOY, WITH THE HELP OF OUR GENEROUS COMMUNITY. ONCE AGAIN, WE ASK FOR YOUR HELP. PLEASE STOP BY IHEARTMEDIA STUDIOS ON DECEMBER 16TH FROM NOON UNTIL 7PM, AND DROP OFF A NEW TOY FOR A NEEDY CHILD.
For more information about the Keshmish Festival, contact the Navajo Nation Museum Facebook page or call (928) 871-7941. December 2016
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8 Questions
8 Questions for LIZ HANNUM
Executive Director-Gallup Mainstreet Arts & Cultural District
1. Liz, tell me, what brought you to Gallup?
The job. I have done economic development for about 10 years now, and I was looking for a small town that needed some extra enthusiasm for moving things forward. Gallup just seemed to fit really well for me.
2. Tell me your recent background. Where did you come from?
Sure. Most recently I was in South Dakota in Aberdeen and spent three years there. Prior to that, I did about nine years in international development in Thailand, Kenya, Peru, Afghanistan, and Russia.
3. How would you summarize your overseas experience?
It was amazing. It was rough seeing a lot of really negative things, but I liked finding creative solutions to that. One of the biggest successes I feel like I had was with FGM (female genital mutilation) in Kenya. We worked with a group, and it took us about three months to realize really why they did that practice. It’s a cultural practice. And then another three to four months to figure out a different solution that fit the same goal. So we ended up having a kind of housekeeping three week camp for girls to become women. And we’ve actually lowered FGM in that area by 60% in the last three years. So that is a big success. Figuring out cultures and what’s going on in a community and why has been my passion.
4. So what was it about Gallup that was attractive to you?
Well, coming from South Dakota, the weather was one of the big attractions. 32 December 2016
(laughs) But also I really missed the mountains, and I was excited about the Southwest. I’ve never lived here before. It’s new and interesting. There are massive amounts of culture which come from here. That’s what drew me to Gallup.
5. Looking at Gallup with fresh eyes, what do you see as its highest and best potential?
The culture here – arts and culture. I’m excited about educating people about that as an alternative to a tourist destination like Santa Fe. I’ve seen articles in tourism magazines that are based on the format of ‘If you like this place, go here because it’s cheaper.’ I feel like that’s a really great way to advertise Gallup. So it’s like Santa Fe, but cheaper, and you get the same experience. So I think there’s a huge opportunity there.
6. What is the most fun part of your job so far?
I’m in learning-mode right now. I’m getting a chance to talk to everyone. I’m doing business mapping in the downtown area where I get to talk to people and figure out what their issues are and what they want to see. I’m getting to energize them in the process.
7.
What do you anticipate the biggest challenge of your job is going to be? Finances, always. But you know, I’ve done a lot of boot-strapping before, so creative solutions to problems are something I’m pretty good at. I helped a 50 year old woman, with two kids in college and no collateral, open a restaurant in South Dakota because we were creative.
8. How would you capsulize for me
the mission and goal of the arts and cultural district? What are you trying to accomplish here? Essentially, energizing the downtown. Nationally, downtowns are coming back as the cultural center of a city. It’s kind of the identity of every city. So, I like seeing that excitement and that buzz. If you have a really cool, vibrant downtown people are excited to be there.
By Fowler Roberts
NAVAJO
NATION ZOO‌
A HIDDEN GEM by Daisy Arsenault
Have you been to the Zoo lately? That’s right, we have a zoo, which I recently had the pleasure of visiting. The zoo is in Window Rock, which is a very quick trip from Gallup. It is a pleasant drive, and you will enjoy being surrounded by the magnificent rock structures that serve as the backdrop to the zoo. The Navajo Nation zoo is home to nearly 100 rescued animals. Most of the animals were found injured or orphaned on the Navajo Nation. Since these animals are unable to live in the wild, they are housed there and provided daily professional care. Recently the zoo has made some improvements to the exhibits and property. Quickly upon arriving at the zoo, I saw one of those changes: a brand new paved parking lot which replaced a dirt lot. I was greeted by the Zoo Manager, David
34 December 2016
Mikesic, who gave me my own personal tour of the new developments that have occurred over this past year. David has worked as the Zoo Director for the last 6 years, which is part of the 22 years he has worked with the Navajo Nation. The revival of the zoo began back in 2008, and has included many projects done with the help of a number of different agencies. Improvements include an enlarged coyote area, which uses a new wire mesh that allows visitors to see the animals more clearly. The coyote enclosure is four times larger than the original space, and it includes a new shaded area for the animals. Another improvement is the transformation of the Wolf sanctuary. A double-rise deck has been built to provide a shaded area for the wolves and
to bring them closer to the many visitors who come to see them. One of the largest improvements you will see on your visit to the zoo is the new pavilion area. There you will encounter a stage which provides seating for a large crowd and a shaded area to keep you protected from the powerful Arizona sun. This area can be rented out for gatherings and provides a fun place to hold your event. Tables with a view of the beautiful red rocks and large trees give a great backdrop for any type of gathering. One of the coolest things happening at the zoo is the Enrichment program. This program is designed to eliminate boredom for the animals during feeding times. Scatter feedings, for each of the animals, provide an interactive way for the animals
to use their natural instincts to find food. For the raccoons a box full of sardines, grapes, and strawberries is used. They have to dig out the different surprises in the box. When you visit the zoo, you can see that the animals are happy and are staying busy with the enriched activities. My visit concluded with the new Eagle sanctuary. The facility features a natural landscape and a quiet, tranquil
environment for injured, non-releasable Golden Eagles. The eagles have many perching opportunities within the 4,000 sq. ft. open-air building, and a pond with a waterfall. Come visit our local zoo and see the many improvements that have taken place. You will be amazed at how close you can get to the animals.
The Navajo Nation Zoo is open to visitors from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and most major holidays. Admission is free for everyone. For more information, call (928) 871-6574 or visit www.navajozoo.org.
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GALLUP, NM 87301 December 2016
35
Veteran’s Corner
FELIX MARTINEZ 374th Tactical Air Lift Wing One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency; we can’t be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest. – Maya Angelou
Felix Martinez proudly holding The Colors during Ceremonies with Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans-Brothers in Arms. Do note that he is wearing the prized Black Beret.
36 December 2016
Felix Martinez was of the age where he knew he would be drafted for the Vietnam War. When one was drafted, it likely meant two years in the U.S. Army. Felix decided he would volunteer for the U.S. Air Force for four years rather than be drafted. He joined the Air Force on a Wednesday in Gallup in 1966, on Saturday he was sworn in to the Air Force in Albuquerque, on Sunday he went to Amarillo Air Force Base in Texas. Felix explains, “It is normal practice for basic training to take place at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, but there was an outbreak of meningitis at Lackland, so I was diverted for basic in Amarillo.” Martinez had a bit of a lonely start at basic; he was the only airmen on the base for two weeks along with one Drill Instructor. “My DI was pretty friendly for those first two weeks,” Felix explains. “He would march me around the base and chat with me as we went about our day. But things quickly changed when other airmen started arriving; then the DI became Regular Air Force!” Felix chuckled a bit as he said, “I had been in Amarillo for two weeks with the Air Force when I received my draft notice for the Army. My drill instructor said he would have to apologize to the Army as the Air Force got me first!” “After Basic, I went to Wichita Falls, Texas for Technical Training School on C-130 Hercules Cargo Planes,” Felix seriously tells me. “We were handed a form to complete, a ‘wish list’ for where we would like to be stationed after Technical Training. I just handed the blank form back…I knew I was going to Vietnam, no matter what I might wish for.” The next stop would be Travis AFB in Fairfield, California to prepare for deployment to Vietnam. Martinez received five days of leave before reporting to Travis, and he promptly returned to Gallup to marry his high school sweetheart, Cathy
By Sandra McKinney
Casias, on October 8, 1966. He quietly explains, “I wanted to be sure that Cathy would be taken care of in the event anything happened to me at war.” Truly, he was just a kid of 18, now married, and heading off to the unknown world of war, not knowing if he would return home to his new wife. Felix gently confesses, “I am embarrassed to say that I lied to my new wife and to my mother; I told them I would be going to Japan. I didn’t want them to worry. But it wasn’t long before they figured out by the postmarks on the mail that I was in Vietnam.” Martinez was in Vietnam at Cam Ranh Naval Base located at Cam Ranh Bay in Khánh Hòa Province, Vietnam. It was one of several South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) air bases built and used by the United States Air Force (USAF) during the Vietnam War. Martinez was assigned to the 374th Tactical Air Lift Wing, flying missions in Vietnam to drop supplies and ammo to the ground troops. Also, for a period of four months he accepted TDY (Temporary Duty) in Thailand, flying with the Blind Bat Squadron. Blind Bat is the call sign for C-130A Hercules flare ships that lit up the skies of the Ho Chi Minh trail in Laos and North Vietnam. They flew into North Vietnam and Laos searching for enemy supply convoys on the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Blind Bat worked from 6:00pm to 6:00am and did most of the spotting, dropping up to 600 flares a night to light up that entire portion of the trail in order to find the targets. The Blind Bat Squadron started at the beginning of the Vietnam War, a time when secretive, covert U.S. military operations were going on with a great assortment of odd-ball aircraft and more daring crews than you could shake a stick at. Felix states, “We would fly at tree-top level, seeing the troops fighting below, dropping supplies and ammunition
to the troops; our planes taking on ground fire from the Cong. Being in a plane, you were not equipped to fight, all we carried was a revolver with six rounds, so we certainly wanted to stay in the air! There was not a single day you didn’t wake up scared, but each day, you just did your job.” After Thailand, Martinez returned to Cam Ranh Bay, still with the 374th at the logistics facility built by the United States. It was the major military seaport used by the United States for the offloading of supplies, military equipment, and as a major naval base. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force units all had compounds and units assigned to the Cam Ranh Bay facility from its opening in 1965 until its closure in 1972. The troops lived in hooches, not military barracks. There were ‘mama sans’ who would come in to clean for them, but it was a little unnerving because these women were both North and South Vietnamese coming on the base. You were never quite sure who was truly a friend. The air base also was used as a strategic and tactical air lift facility. Cargo and personnel would arrive from the United States, into the logistics facilities at Cam Ranh Bay, by ship and also by large Military Air Transport Services. Outgoing cargo and personnel would also be processed through the large aerial port facility. Not only were Martinez and his squadron responsible for dropping supplies to the ground troops, but they would also make pick-ups of the most precious cargo to handle – many of the 58,000 plus soldiers who would not make it home alive. Felix gets choked up and tears form in his eyes as he sadly says, “I remember the dead, I remember them every single night of my life.” Felix was in Vietnam for two tours, working as a Crew Chief on the C-130A Hercules. “I saw too much; I felt too much; I went to Vietnam at 18 years of age, and I returned to the States two years later as an old man. When I came home for leave, my wife, Cathy, told me I was a different man,” Felix says wistfully. After a few moments of silence and tho ught, Felix looked up and wiped away a tear and quietly laughed, “I did have a small amount of fun as an entrepreneur in Nam; I never drank or smoked, but I accepted my ration of cigarettes and whiskey and would lock it away. Towards the end of the month, when the smoker’s and drinker’s rations had run dry and they were hankering for their vices, I would sell them my stash: $10 for a pack or $1 for a single cigarette and $50 for a fifth of Whiskey. I sent that money home to my wife.” “I still had two more years to serve the United States Air Force and was stationed in Virginia. I practiced pickups and drops with new airmen, and I knew they would soon be going where I had thankfully left,” Martinez shakes his head. “But it was a relief to be on U.S. ground in Virginia and to have my wife with me, where we started our family with a son and a daughter.” “I was proudly discharged from the U.S. Air Force as a Staff Sargent (SSGT) in early 1970 and
Felix is very proud of the Black Beret he was awarded for flying over 30 combat missions. The beret shows the Blind Bat Squadron patch.
The hooch Felix lived in while at Cam Ranh Bay, with two of the ‘mama sans’ leaving after house cleaning.
A very young Airman, Felix Martinez wearing the prized Black Beret he was awarded for flying over 30 combat missions. December 2016
37
by December of that year I was a City of Gallup Policeman. The desire to serve, the adrenalin rush, the structure of the military…well, police work was a way to stay close to that. I spent 20 years with the GPD as a patrolman, detective, a narcotics officer, and managed the Juvenile Detention Center.” But through those years, the nightmares continued to invade Felix’s sleep. He was now compounding memories of Vietnam with the stress and anxiety of police work. It was an emotional roller coaster, but he never gave up. Martinez had a close relationship with his wife’s grandmother. Every time she would see him, she would tell him in Spanish: Que Dios los bendiga y puede caminar con Jesús (May God bless you and may you walk with Jesus). “I decided to retire; I decided to reinvent myself. I went to college and obtained a degree in Psychology,” Martinez states humbly! It was quite a change for him to teach Special Education with Head Start, and then perform as a caseworker for Innovative Health Services. At that point he came almost full circle in his civilian life; Martinez became the Security Supervisor at Fire Rock Casino when it opened. But the nightmares continued, the fighting in his sleep continued, the screaming out in the night continued. Martinez finally received 100% disability from Veteran’s Affairs. The VA told him he needed a “distraction”; he needed a hobby. Martinez had dabbled with drawing most of his life, so he picked up some art supplies and started painting. He continually improves in his art, but has never sold any of his work and says he doesn’t consider himself an artist. He has recently been asked to display some of his work with gallupArts. He is considering it, but he may need a bit more prodding. Painting brings him peace, distracts his mind while he concentrates on his creation on canvas. Felix also gives great accolades to his wife, Cathy. He gets a bit choked up and I see love in his
38 December 2016
eyes when he says, “She is my Rock of Gibraltar. I would never have made it without her support.” Today, Felix proudly participates in ceremonies and events with the Gallup Veterans Helping Veterans-Brothers in Arms. He stands tall and still snaps a perfect salute. He shares in the fellowship and camaraderie that only veterans can share. He still has his difficult memories, but some are fading a little at a time, and he is now more at peace. When I reach out to the veterans to write a story, I give them a brief idea of what I am looking for. I don’t ask a lot of questions, I certainly do not prod or poke at old wounds. I just sit down with them and allow them to talk to me; to tell me what they are willing to share. I had really wanted this story to be about Christmas time in Vietnam and to know how the troops would celebrate the birth of Jesus while being so far away from home in a foreign land. So towards the end of our visit, I said to Felix, “You know this is for the December issue, and it will soon be Christmas; can you tell me about a celebration of Christmas in Vietnam?” Felix raised his head and looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Christmas was just like every other day in Vietnam. It was hard to celebrate Christmas in Hell.” May we as Americans always respect our military, be they currently enlisted, or as our veterans. They have seen and done what so many of us cannot fathom; what God never intended for His creations to endure. May we be thankful for the freedoms we have been given through the sacrifices of our military. May we be thankful for the men and women who heed the call to defend the ideals of America. We wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, but for those fighting for America, may we wish them a Peaceful Christmas.
A C-130A Hercules Cargo Plane making a drop in Vietnam.
Two of the earlier paintings Felix created. He calls it his Art Therapy.
People Reading
Daisy Arsenault, Amanda Tanner, Tery Tanner, Jaque’ Wallace, Priya Sudarsanam and Lizzie Phillips taking a break to read the Journey, while hiking to the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
Patricia Patterson reading the Journey at 2016 Las Vegas Rock ’n’ Roll run.
Jaymee, Matthew, and Maylee Krueger visit ten states in ten days with the Journey!
Lily and Lola Williams reading the Journey before the Rocky Balboa run in Philadelphia, PA in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, aka the Rocky Steps. December 2016
39
4 Questions
for 8 of the Exemplary Teachers at Gallup McKinley County Schools 1
What made you want to become a teacher?
2
Why did you choose GMCS to share your talent?
3
What positive changes have you seen in Education and/or GMCS in your career?
4
What advice would you give to someone who is interested in entering the teaching profession?
Kimberly Esparza Rocky View Elementary/Kindergarten
1. I am from Gallup and
faced many learning difficulties growing up. I had teachers who encouraged me and those who told me I wouldn’t succeed in life. I wanted to come back and make a
difference in children’s lives who were also facing learning difficulties. I wanted to encourage them that they could do anything in life they chose to do.
2. I am from Gallup and my family is here, but I came
back because my mother was dying of cancer, and I needed to help her and my father.
3. I feel teachers around GMCS are very supportive of each other and help one to grow in their talent. 4. The best advice I could give a new teacher is to be very flexible with your teaching and learn from your mistakes by re-inventing how they approach their lessons.
Lanny Ray Ramah High School/Vocational Education (now RHS Principal)
1. Teaching has
been a long tradition in my family with grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, and siblings all working in the world of education at one time or another and with many retiring from this profession. Because of this influence, I was led into teaching through much contact and interaction with the many aspects and individuals that relate to the school system “life”. My first jobs were in the field of automotive and diesel mechanics, where I honed my skills to the point that I felt that I needed to share those skills with others. When the opportunity came, I accepted a position as a teacher and began a long
and productive career as an automotive, welding, and woodworking teacher.
2. Working at GMCS was a result of growing up in the GMCS system. I attended School at Zuni Elementary and Zuni High School where I graduated. My parents both worked for GMCS, and I had many friends within GMCS. Growing up around the school system and eventually getting married, my wife and I never wanted to leave the area and felt that the public schools were a great place to work and build a career path. This led me to apply for my first position as the Motor Pool supervisor for GMCS. 3. Gallup McKinley County Schools has undergone many changes in my thirty years in education. The one constant in all those changes is the effort to improve the abilities of students and teachers and provide all
students with a rewarding education that can lead students to succeed after graduation, whether their path takes them to a full college degree or into a valuable skill or trade of their choice.
4. Teaching has changed over the years. With the expectations of teachers to perform at higher levels than ever, it is necessary to be prepared to spend a great amount of time in practicing and honing your skills as a teacher. This means attending trainings, talking to peers, and working with students and teachers to get a feel for what each student needs to be successful. Every student is an individual that will need to be reached in his/her own way and that takes time. Teaching is a rewarding field where you can know that you’ve done your best to teach, encourage, and shape the lives of those students you come in contact with.
Felicia Sam Lincoln Elementary/5th Grade-(also Instructional Support Coach) 1. I became interested in
becoming a teacher since I worked with children in the AmeriCorps program. I was unsure at first, in college, what I wanted to be, but while tutoring and working with students in AmeriCorps, I knew where I could help and that teaching was a passion.
2. I am a product of Gallup-McKinley County Schools. I went to school at Juan de Onate, Church
Rock, and Gallup High School. Gallup and Church Rock are my home communities. I work here because I see myself in these children. I made it, and so can they, if given the chance and support they deserve.
3. GMCS and the educational system, in general,
have become more focused over the years. When I started, there were hundreds of New Mexico standards for reading, math, social studies, and science. I had to analyze the state tests to see which standards were more valuable to my students’ success and could fit into a 180-day time frame. Now, with Common Core, there is a greater focus on
teaching fewer standards, but diving more deeply into them so the students truly understand what they are learning.
4. Teaching is not an easy profession. Lesson plans,
teaching students, assessing, and analyzing the assessments take a lot of time and effort. However, if a person wants to make our next generation successful, the work is worth the effort. When a student grasps a concept, even one I didn’t know at their age, I feel a sense of accomplishment and pride for each student.
Irene Fuller Miyamura High School/Math
1. I always knew that I
wanted to help people. What better way to do that than to be a teacher, where I can touch lives and make a difference?
2. I taught on the Navajo reservation for six years. My husband got a job in Gallup, so I decided to continue my career here. So far, I am enjoying my job. 3. Students are starting to take responsibility for their learning. This is every teacher’s dream.
4. Don’t get frustrated or give up when your students act like they don’t care or seem like they’re not learning. Just do your job. Keep teaching your students. At some point your effort will be rewarded when you see that your students are doing well in the required assessment, i.e., PARCC and EOC.
Carla Zecca Gallup High School/Math
1. I originally went to
college to become a veterinarian, but after taking a few animal science classes, I knew that really wasn’t for me, even though I love animals. So I decided to try elementary education, but after observing a few classes, I knew the little
ones weren’t for me. So I decided to try secondary education, and well, here I am. I have been teaching for 16 years and have loved every year.
2. Gallup is my hometown, so after college, I moved
back home to be close to family.
3. In the math department at Gallup High School, we were able to increase the percent of students proficient on the NMSBA math portion. We went from only 19%
of our students being proficient to 62% of our students being proficient.
4. I would tell them to spend many hours either observing or substituting in classes and to make sure education is for them. It’s a very rewarding profession in terms of seeing students make strides, and increase their knowledge or ability level, and to just build their self-esteem.
Marie Diaz Indian Hills Elementary/1st Grade
1. I became a teacher
because I love learning and wanted to share that love with my students.
2. I chose GMCS
because I heard there was a great need for teachers
in Gallup. My intention was to stay for one year and move back to New York. However, I enjoyed teaching at Indian Hills so much that I chose to stay and have taught there for the past seventeen years.
3. The positive changes that I have seen in
centers, and technology to meet to the needs of all students.
4. Teaching is not an easy profession. However, it
is worth the time, effort, and planning that you put into it, because you are making a difference in the lives of children.
education are the use of small groups, learning
Yulia Nichols Miyamura High School/Math 1. It seems to me that
I have always wanted to be a teacher. The major influences were my own brilliant teachers that I was lucky to have at school.
2. I came to GMCS 13 years ago from Saint Petersburg, Russia as one of the international teachers, brought by International and Professional Resources, a company that brings teachers from other countries to teach in school districts in the
United States. At the time, I had very little knowledge of the rich culture and history of this area. For me, it was an opportunity to explore new places and meet new people.
3. Over the last few years, there have been a lot of changes both in education nationwide and GMCS as well. The state has adopted Common Core Standards. The switch to CCSS was not easy for students or teachers, but as a result, our instruction has become much more rigorous and focused. Another positive change that we all see at school is an amazing advancement of technology and its use in the classroom.
4. Be prepared to be highly professional at all times. A teacher is not only an instructor in a certain subject, he/she is also a role model for students. Always act in the same way that you would like your students to act. So, if you want your students to work hard, be on time, respect deadlines, and be honest, you, as their teacher, have to model that behavior.
Peter Ippel Indian Hills Elementary/5th Grade
1. When I was in high
school, I realized how much I enjoyed working with children. I also come from a family of educators, so it was one career that I saw modeled. As I went through college, I realized that my passion for education centered on my philosophy that all people are created in the image of God. My goal became to help each child more clearly reflect God, through encouraging their gifts and talents while helping them through challenges.
2. When my wife and I decided to move back to
Gallup, I had to choose between teaching at Rehoboth
where I went to school or teaching in GMCS. Through much reflection and prayer, I felt a call to continue my teaching career in GMCS. I feel like this is where God has put me to make a difference as well as to learn from so many wonderful people.
3. I think that there has been a shift to really figuring
out how we can individualize education for every student. At the beginning of my teaching here, it seemed that we were asked to do that in the classroom, but that wasn’t really modeled for us at a leadership level. The message in the beginning seemed to be “individualize for your students, while all teachers and schools do the same thing.” It seems that in the past couple of years, the leadership in the district and in the schools have begun to see that by individualizing
the teaching and learning environment, so that each principal and teacher can thrive, each student will get the education he or she deserves. I am happy that we are heading in that direction.
4. Teaching is a team profession. It’s almost impossible to be the best you can be without the support of a great staff who encourages you and prepares the students for what they will learn in your classroom. Collaboration and recognition of the hard work that happens, as a foundation for your grade level, makes you realize that your work depends on the great teaching of so many others…including students’ parents.
Driving Impressions
2017 GMC Acadia SLE
“Securing its New Place in Crossoverdom” SPECIFICATIONS Vehicle Type: Front-engine, frontor 4-wheel-drive, 5-, 6-, or 7-passenger, 4-door hatchback Base Price: SLE, $33,375 Price As Tested: $40,025 Engine Type: DOHC 24-valve 3.6-liter V-6, 310 hp, 271 lb.-ft. Transmission: 6-speed automatic with manual shifting mode DIMENSIONS: Wheelbase: 112.5 in Length: 193.6 in Width: 75.4 in Height: 68.7 in Passenger volume: 144 cu. ft. Cargo volume: 13 cu. ft. FUEL ECONOMY: EPA city/highway/combined driving: 18/25/20 mpg 42 December 2016
It’s fair to say that GM’s triplets: the GMC Acadia, Chevy Traverse, and Buick Enclave, have been an overwhelming sales success, with over one million of them out there on the road. It’s also worth noting that since its inception for model year 2007, the platform hasn’t changed. GM decided that it was time to differentiate the three and moved the new 2017 over to an entirely new platform shared with the Cadillac CT5. This move scaled the Acadia down in both size and weight, changing the Acadia’s niche within the crossover sea. But is that a good thing? That depends. If you need to move people and gear and can’t stand the thought of driving a minivan, the Acadia is no longer the best crossover alternative; the Traverse and Enclave will maintain that title with their larger size. But if you need a three-row crossover that gets 25 mpg on the highway, is easy to maneuver in and around town, can tow 4,000 lbs., and has excellent driving dynamics, the Acadia has got you covered.
By Greg Cavanaugh
There’s no denying the new Acadia’s smaller and lighter demeanor. Now essentially the same wheelbase and overall length as the Toyota Highlander, the Acadia feels significantly less hulking than the previous generation Acadia, plus much easier to dart around town in. The reduced weight of the new platform makes the 3.6 liter direct-injected V6’s 310hp at 6,600 rpm seem that much more effortless as it pulls around the Acadia with ease. While I would have liked to see GM’s new 8, 9, or even 10 speed transmissions put to use in this $40K crossover, the 6 speed does an excellent job and goes about its business with little fanfare. At the pump, the Acadia’s new size means a solid 2-3 mpg improvement over the last generation, returning an EPA rated 18mpg city, 25 highway and 20 mpg combined. Helping improve those numbers is the Acadia’s new Terrain Select drive mode selector. Now defaulting to FWD, using a knob in the center console, a driver
& Speed Training
can switch to AWD, Sport, Off-Road, and Tow Mode when needed; a nice change to give drivers control of their Acadia’s drivetrain capabilities. On the inside, the Acadia delivers a useable package with lots of amenities like Apple CarPlay, heated seats, and a wireless hotspot, which is a great option if you have multiple devices without data plans. The second row is large enough for adults with great head, toe, and knee room and slides fore and aft and is split 60/40 to accommodate riders in the third row and improve access. The third row is no longer a three-seater as in the old Acadia, and in general, for all but children under 10 or so, better serves as extra seating when needed, rather than everyday seating. Available captain’s chairs in the second row do make third row access even better, but the new shorter overall length means the space behind the third row is better suited to short trips, groceries, and sports gear rather than full size luggage and coolers. Both rows easily fold flat making hauling large items a snap.
While GMC has made the Acadia smaller than its predecessor, there’s not a shortage of options, trims, and powertrains to make it a highly versatile vehicle. With its lighter weight, GM now offers the Acadia with a 2.5 liter 4 cylinder and front wheel drive, improving fuel economy slightly over the V6 and lowering the price of entry for buyers. It can also be had in Denali trim with all the features you’d ever need…and it’s especially handsome, I might add. (See the white Denali sitting on the showroom floor at Rico Auto Complex if you don’t believe me!) All in all, GMC has created a compelling and competitive crossover in the new Acadia with updates that move it to the top of its class on many metrics. Because of this, if you’re in the market for a large crossover, the new Acadia is worth a test drive. A special thanks to Ryan and the guys at Rico Auto Complex for the test drive ** To see the new Acadia in action, visit my YouTube channel: Gallup Journey Test Drives. *
OUR FAMILY AND TEAM WISHES YOU AND YOURS A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Enchantment Physical Therapy
505-863-4199
1900 East Highway 66 Suite A in Butler’s Square
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December 2016
43
December
SERVICES FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS By Eulalia Gonzales
The 2016-17 school year has been busy with our instructional initiatives to import resources into schools to meet the needs of students with disabilities. This fall we have focused our attention on a Reading, Writing, and Career/Transition curriculum for our students. We have also provided access to an on-line digital library for students Pre-k through 12th grade, to ensure that our students have an accessible library that allows them to access age-appropriate reading material that appeals to their individual interests and also takes into consideration their individual reading level and needs. The best way for students to become better readers is for each student to spend time reading. We want to measure reading with reading. We encourage teachers and students to utilize this tool in school and at home. Students are able to access their own account
anywhere they have an electronic device and internet access. If students are going to be out of range of internet access, they are able to download up to twenty books at a time. It’s a great way for parents to spend time reading with their students of all ability levels. We are working hard to ensure our students have the best opportunities to improve their skills and ensure that students have the resources to make decisions for their futures. Our students have abilities and many things to offer our community. So, Gallup McKinley, let’s get to reading!!
If you would like more information on how you and your students can log-in to MyON, please contact Vicki Murphy at (505) 721-1800 vmurphy1@gmcs.k12.nm.us or Cindy Jackson at (505) 231-0967 or via email at cjackson@myon.com
Stay tuned for upcoming reading challenges at your school and across the district. I’m counting on our students to ROCK this reading Challenge and rise up as Gallup-McKinley’s next generation of leaders.
LOOK for GMCS news monthly in the Gallup Journey, LISTEN for news on Millennium Media, WATCH for GMCS district happenings on Wednesday’s Live Stream(EMSLP), and FOLLOW us on our Facebook, Gallup McKinley County Schools!!!
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GMCS Public Relations Team: Teri Fraizer- Public Relations Coordinator: tfraizer@gmcs..../505-721-1017 Vanessa Duckett- Public Relations Web-Technician: vduckett@gmcs.../505-721-1200 Diana Galindo- Public Relations Receptionist dgalindo@gmcs.../505-721-1000
th Annual
Gallup Journey
Arts Edition
Call to artists, writers, poets, photo nuts, and anyone we forgot.
SHORT STORY
PHOTOS
POETRY
1. Each story must be no more than 750 words. 2. Each story must be typed and emailed to gallupjourney@gmail. com with your name and mailing address.
1. Please submit your photos via email (gallupjourney@gmail.com), or bring a disc to the Gallup Journey office (105 S. Third Street). 2. FIVE photos per entry. Please include your name and mailing address.
1. Each poem must be typed and emailed to gallupjourney@gmail. com with your name and mailing address.
3. ONE entry per person.
2. ONE entry per person.
submissions due by Friday, december 9, 2016. send short stories, poems, and digital photos to us at gallupjourney@gmail.com or drop a disc oFF at our oFFice (105 s. third st.). 44 December 2016
Cross Country Skiing in the Zuni Mountains is one of the most aesthetically pleasing outdoor activities that can be done fully clothed. It’s simple, slightly harder than walking, with a smooth gliding rhythm that hovers you through the freshly frosted forest. You can make your own path just about anywhere in the relatively smooth terrain of the Zuni Mountains, or you will likely find tracks put in at the popular hiking/biking areas like Hilso trailhead. Downhills can be exciting, and you will fall, but you will get back up again after dusting powder from your brow.
The snow will melt on your neck and if you’re lucky enough to go when the flakes are falling, they will prick your face and then melt to glistening dew. It will be difficult to feel less alive than at these moments. Go online to Fleabay, Amazon, or REI and buy a ski setup. It will set you back 200-500 American dollars, but it will push your spirit forward like the flock of wild turkey you may see sprinting through the winter wonderland. If possible get “backcountry” instead of “touring” gear. But anything is better than nothing. Enjoy the snow this season before global warming makes this simple pleasure only an ancient folklore.
Always great service!! Where we treat you like family!!!
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Catering available for all sizes of events, luncheons, and meetings! Our banquet room is always available for birthdays, anniversary parties, graduation, and Christmas parties and more!
Book your Holiday parties! No matter what your budget is we will try to work with you! Call for our prices, banquet menu, and reserve your date now!
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#1 On Trip Advisor for Five Years Running! 2201 West Highway 66 • Gallup, NM 505-722-5157 • www.badlandsgrill.com Reservations Always Appreciated For Large Groups Senior Menu Available
Gallup’s #1 For Quality Food & Service
Now Booking Holiday Parties at Hilton Garden Inn Gallup • Space to accommodate parties up to 165 • Ask us about our Special Holiday Menu • Plated and Buffet options available • Booking now for December through January
Call or email Erica Cardona, Director of Now Booking
Holiday Parties
at Hilton Garden Inn Gallup Space to accommodate parties up to 165
Ask us about our Special Holiday Menu
Plated & Buffett options available
Booking now for November through January
Sales or Brianna Yazzie, Sales Assistant for more information and pricing: (505) 726-5283 erica.cardona@hilton.com (505) 726-5284 brianna.yazzie@hilton.com
Call or email Erica Cardona, Director of Sales or Brianna Yazzie, Sales Assistant for more information & pricing: (505)-726-5283 erica.cardona@hilton.com (505)-726-5284 brianna.yazzie@hilton.com
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December 2016
47
TRICKED OUT Are you a factory guy or gal? Don’t worry, most of us are. We get pretty stoked when we purchase that new car or truck that our main focus becomes maintaining the newness of the vehicle. However, there is a group of people that don’t want a factory vehicle and who are very happy to have a local business like Gallup Custom Tinting. If you have ever stepped into the Gallup Custom Tinting shop in downtown Gallup, you quickly realize this place is going to have what you are looking for. The display room is full of car and truck accessories. The shop is overflowing with custom parts from fancy wheel sets to dashboard covers. Plus, if for some strange reason they don’t have the part you are looking for, they can definitely order it from one of their many suppliers. Gallup Custom Tinting can take care of your off-road hobbyist needs, whether you need a lift kit to improve your truck or jeep’s clearance or the rubber needed to take on the obstacles of 4 x 4 terrain. They also have those finishing chrome details that turn your ride into a show vehicle. Many loyal customers return frequently over the life of their vehicle until they have it just the way they want it. You will also find a large selection of accessories for cars. Whether you’re into decking your vehicle out for cruising or top speed performance, Gallup Custom Tinting has an amazing selection of aluminum wheels that will immediately change the factory look of your ride. Another very cool way to customize your vehicle is to add custom lighting that can create a one-of-a-kind look. This place isn’t just for your personal vehicles. Gallup Custom Tinting can turn any vehicle into the work vehicle you need. You might need to create custom storage for tools or need to set up your ride to carry certain items. You are going to be able to modify your ride anyway you need at Gallup Custom Tinting. Fred Palacios has been serving the area for over two decades. That pretty much makes him an expert when it comes to car and truck accessories. Along with his son Freddie and an experienced crew, your vehicle is in good hands. The shop is always busy and the work gets done quickly. So, next time you need to trick out your ride look them up. They are going to take care of you whether you need a simple window tint or the complicated vehicle transformation.
606 E. Hwy 66 • (505) 863-9377 Like us on Facebook!
PUNCH FOUNTAINS AND MORE FOR RENT
By Aileen McCarthy
Energy Logistics Park
Progressing Gallup’s Economy Patricia Lundstrom, Executive Director of Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, put Gallup’s best foot forward for the improvement of its economy. GGEDC conducted a Target Industry Analysis in 2012 which identified “best-fit” industries for recruitment based on an examination of the community's strengths and weaknesses. Transportation was an identified strength. “If Gallup were to try and recreate the transportation infrastructure of the magnitude that Gallup already has, it would be in the billions of dollars: to build an interstate highway, a state highway (491), and have BNSF Trans Line,” said Patricia Lundstrom. Per lane mile of interstate, it costs one million dollars to build, and for rail, five million dollars per lane mile. “That does not include the other infrastructure. We have major transportation assets here,” continued Lundstrom. Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation is a non-profit organization that works to increase commerce in the surrounding area by retaining and recruiting economic-based industries. “We are a knowledge based company. We do all the research and all the data. We know everything there is to know about business and the economy in Gallup and McKinley County,” Lundstrom explained. “We see what your best assets are and then target businesses that can benefit from those assets.” Using Gallup’s existing resources, the GGEDC looked for businesses and operations that could profit from what Gallup offers. They caught the eye of Robert Roche, an entrepreneur, and it all went up from there; plans for the state-of-the-art Energy Logistics Park began to develop. Robert Roche is the owner of Roche Enterprises which owns Gallup Land Partners, LLC. Roche Enterprises manages real estate around the world and works in the U.S., Japan, and China markets. They invest in a wide range of industry from media
50 December 2016
to logistics. Gallup Land Partners owns over forty leases and works with a wide range of commodities. Roche Enterprises, through GLP, is the sole financial provider for the Energy Logistics Park. This investment in Gallup-McKinley County, “Will transform an industrial space into a modern, state-of-the-art facility,” said Robert Roche.
Patricia Lundstrom, Executive Director of Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation The Energy Logistics Park’s main operation will be to trans-load and warehouse commodities. "This new venture will provide facilities to enhance services to Energy transportation, along with warehousing storage, mechanic shops, and numerous ancillary businesses that compliment logistical transportation,” commented Mayor Jackie McKinney. The park will be located just northwest of Gallup (west of Hwy 491 and north of I-40), and the plans for the phase one development are
estimated to cost $4 million dollars. “I believe that property alone was a court order sale of $32 million,” said Lundstrom. Phase one of development is scheduled to be finished in January of 2017. Currently, efforts are going into adding to the already existing infrastructure by adding more rail and capacity. “Following the ground breaking for the Logistics Park, Gallup Land Partners is proceeding with their commitment to our area with major investments in their rail infrastructure west of Gallup. In conjunction with BNSF railway, as of Oct. 7, 2016, a team of professionals have been assembled to begin the staking, grading, and installation of railway track to accommodate the additional rail car traffic,” said Mayor McKinney. These additions of rail are being added to an existing loop of 9000 linier ft., which is connected to the transcontinental. Presently, there is a coal trans-loading operation functioning on the property, and there is a miscellaneous trans-loading operation available for items such as steel. Once these additions are finished, GLP will move towards the development of warehousing, distribution, and lightmanufacturing. The full cost for the enhancement of the rails could be upwards to $60 million. That does not include warehousing, etc. “The people we are working with are very skilled in working large developments,” said Patricia Lundstrom. Hired to design the rail development was Engineered Rail Solutions, LLC of Illinois. This design will not only be a competitive system, but will be a standard for other operations. On top of the industrial development, the GLP has plans for a residential area near the site. “They have made a big investment in our community,” said Lundstrom. “This is quite a big deal for Gallup.” “Our surrounding area will benefit from the job creation and it will naturally grow our tax base while utilizing the asset of the Trans-Con railway for generations to come,” said McKinney, “Thanks to the
Arial shot of existing loop
Expansion plan and its phases
The groundbreaking in October
The existing loop, transcontinental, and its relation to the major highways
foresight and belief in our community, Gallup Land Partners will provide new assets and opportunities that we previously only dreamed about.” This project will get Gallup on the international map. Right off the bat, the Energy Logistics Park is estimated to offer 20 jobs to Gallup’s community. From the sounds of it, by its terminus, that number could easily range in the hundreds. “The easiest way to see how an economy is doing is to look at its railroad. If you are moving commodity, you have a strong economy,” said Lundstrom, “and our railroad presence is growing. They are even talking about it doubling what its presence is now.” This project has many more phases to come, and even now GGEDC is looking to expand its activity. “My hope is at some point, we can look at a customs office – with Gallup to be home to an inland port,” said Lundstrom. Customs in the port at Long Beach, CA, due to the location and the mass of materials, often become clogged and delayed. “Those containers can sit at port up to six months and most retail businesses want real time shelf projects,” commented Lundstrom. “We hope to have Gallup identified as a rural outpost for storage of containers to help with the congestion. We have a lot of land and storage space.”
In addition to the possibility of an inland port, GGEDC has thoughts of creating a supercenter to tie into the Logistics Park. Recently the U.S. Government lawed that eleven was the maximum amount of hours a truck driver could drive, which happens to be the exact driving time from the port in LA to Gallup. “The trucking industry is having a lot of trouble attracting millennials,” said Lundstrom. “They don’t like that quality of life, with the poor quality food, etc.” So GGEDC is looking at the possibility of a supercenter, with a recreational facility, nicer hotels, nicer restaurants, a religious chapel, laundromats, etc., to accommodate them as they pass through. Between Gallup’s prime location, the trans-loading operation, the railroad, warehouses, truck industry, and residential area, Gallup will be a transportation hub. The Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation is now recruiting businesses to utilize the logistics park. “We have to keep our foot on the pedal here and keep after it. Now is not the time to back off, because there are lots of communities that would love to steal this project. With our number one competitor, we only got under the wire 30 days before they did. They are only going to pick one location in NM. We have some stiff competition,”
said Patricia Lundstrom. “Now we actually have something to sell because we have a real engineered facility. All the due diligence has been done. All the environmental clearances have been completed.” Lundstrom commented on working with Robert Roche, “Working with Robert has been excellent and I can’t say enough about Roche Enterprises. I can’t be more grateful to his interest in our community, when you think about the fact that he could be anywhere in the world, quite literally, and he picks us. It has been a lot of fun and it has been great working with him.” The Energy Logistics Park will bring a flow of new commerce to Gallup and the McKinley County Area. “A new era is beginning, with Gallup and McKinley County connecting to worldwide markets,” said Mayor McKinney. Robert Roche remarked, “None of this would be possible without the vision, dedication, and commitment of our many partners in this project, including the Greater Gallup Economic Development Corporation, McKinley County, City of Gallup, and the state of New Mexico.” Hats off the GGEDC on their success, and great thanks to Robert Roche for his investment in our community, and good luck in the process! December 2016
51
Blakes’
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We Love Gallup so much, we have 4 locations to better serve you!
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Open Mon - Sat: 6am-10pm & Sun: 7am-10pm (breakfast until 11am)
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WWW.LOTABURGER.COM 52 December 2016
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By Jay Mason
Grandchildren Part 2
9 Joseph said to his father, "They are my sons, whom God has given me here." So he said, "Bring them to me, please, that I may bless them." 10 Now the eyes of Israel were so dim from age that he could not see. Then Joseph brought them close to him, and he kissed them and embraced them. 11 Israel said to Joseph, "I never expected to see your face, and behold, God has let me see your children as well." Genesis 48:9-11 It is Christmas time again. This year with the twelve days of Christmas, my wife and I will lift up a grandchild for each day of the feast. It is really unbelievable, and a great gift from God. I am trying to remember the names – Freddie, Gus, John Marie, Benedict, Sophia, Aiden, Benjamin, Abby, Marvelle,
54 December 2016
Rosemary, Evelyn, and now Conor. This past summer we got 10 grandchildren (all that were born at the time) together in Gallup for an encounter. Our daughter-inlaw Emily made colored coordinated shirts for each family with the number of their birth on each shirt. Kitty, the photographer, was determined to take a picture of all of them in order. With a digital camera taking a picture every second, she managed to do just that; you can see the picture on this page. The funniest picture not taken was the parents trying to get their children to look at them and the camera. Many parents hope for one grandchild; obviously we have been blessed over and over again. One of our children married into a family that was not used to families with several children. Most of their friends do not have any grandchildren, and they now
have four. Needless to say, they have been converted. They share them every chance they get. One of my daughters asked my wife Kitty if she had enough love to give to so many grandchildren. She replied,
“God has the capacity to love each person in the whole world. Each time I hold a new beautiful baby, my capacity to love only increases.”
I am not sure these babies know who I am, but every last one knows their grandmother. I will be working the rest of my life so that I can pay for grandma’s travel budget. These young grandchildren live in a world of their own. Simple things which are mundane to us are forever exciting to
them. The other day John Marie, 4, came up to me and asked me to tickle him. I said I would if he could tell me his name. Without hesitation he said, “I’m John Marie,” and then the tickling began. His younger brother, Aiden, 2, watched this action and promptly came forward to announce that he was John Marie and he needed to be tickled as well. This could have gone on for hours but thankfully it was time for bed. Grandpa saved by bedtime. We have a grandchild named Gus. He is three years old. When I asked him his name, he said, “My name is Gus. G-U-S spells Gus.” The other day after a visit together in South Bend, Indiana, he video texted us (with his Dad’s help) when we got home, “See you later alligator. Bye Bye Butterfly. Give a hug ladybug. See you soon raccoon. Out the door dinosaur. Take care polar bear. I wuv you.” Now his bus driver to preschool is teaching him “Fifty ways to leave your lover” by Paul Simon. The driver says, “Hop on the bus, Gus,” and Gus says, “Make a new plan, Stan.” He is not shy. We hope he will always be happy. Grandchildren can help when you are traveling. We took our daughter Elizabeth, her husband Shane, and their newborn daughter Marvelle to Las Vegas. When we arrived after driving for seven hours, the check-in line was virtually out the door. It looked like it would be another hour or two to get a room. Kitty, Elizabeth, and Marvelle went to VIP check-in to see if we could expedite getting a room so that Marvelle could take a nap. Marvelle opened her puppy dog eyes and smiled at the clerk who fell in love with the baby. She held the baby while Grandpa came to the desk to pay for the room. Never underestimate the power of the cute grandchild. When the twelfth grandchild arrived in Gallup in October, Grandma Kitty was watching the two older boys at Patrick’s house. I went to visit to see how it was going. John Marie, 3 and the oldest, ran up to me and said, “Grandpa, Grandpa we have a new baby!” You could see genuine joy on his face. If only all children could be welcomed into this world like John Marie welcomed his new brother. These little ones look at the world differently than we often do; they recognize blessings a lot better than we sometimes cynical adults do. They look for the positive in the world, and the simple things that make everyone happy. In their young lives, their innocence shines and gives us a light unto the eternal. We often forget that everything we have is just a gift; it can be gone tomorrow. No wonder Christ asked the little children to come to him.
More evidence of that special world of young grandchildren happens every day with my daughter Kelly and her four children under four. The twins, Sophia and Benedict, and Abby, their younger sister, line up on the porch every week to wave at the garbage men when they come to pick up the trash. The children look forward to their coming, and now the driver even honks the horn of the garbage truck when he arrives to the immense laughter of the children. At their preschool, one of the sisters mentioned to Kelly to encourage the children to think about what they want to tell Jesus when they pray. Sophia, always the leader, said, “I will tell him that I love Him. I will invite Him to our house for dinner. Then He can read our books to us.” Benedict added, “But He can’t take the books with him when he leaves.” You can’t make this up. May God always bless them. As I said before, if you have a grandchild, give a hug, ladybug. If you don’t have one, pray for one, or ask to hold someone else’s grandchild. We have many to share. A famous rabbi (Berel Wein) from Jerusalem tells the story of the son of a Nazi SS officer who had no idea his father committed unspeakable acts against Jewish families in World War II. The father eventually went to jail for his crimes. The son and his wife had later moved to Israel to study and eventually converted to the Jewish faith. They had three children, but rarely returned to Germany to see his father who was now quite elderly and out of prison. His wife convinced the son to take his family to see his father. It would be a blessing, or mitzvah, in the Jewish tradition. They made the journey back, and the grandchildren met their grandfather for the first time. He told his son a story that once he discovered three small Jewish children hiding in the home of a Catholic family. His orders were to round up all Jews and send them to the concentration camps. That day he could not bring himself to capture these children, and he let them go. They later escaped to freedom. The son remarked that in the Jewish tradition, God would give him a blessing of grandchildren to the same extent (and He did). Just think of the blessings the world would have received by now if the children who have been murdered, exterminated, or abused, had been saved by their fellow human beings. Let us not forget that special and simple world that these little ones live in and cherish their presence and innocence each time they come into our lives. Merry Christmas!
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Call 863-DOGS 105 Dean Street, off Route 66 (Behind the old Plaza Cafe) December 2016
55
Events Calendar On Going: Every
1st
“Friday Night Hootenanny”
Sat.
live acoustic show with Dylan McManus. Camille’s 7-9pm
Every
1-19th
Habitat for Humanity Saturday Yard Sale If you have household i tems to donate or wish to volunteer on construction call Bill Bright at 505-722-4226. Warehouse Lane off of Allison Road 9am-12pm Every
The City of Gallup’s Monday Sustainable Gallup Board Each Month Community members concerned about conservation, energy, water, recycling, and other environmental issues are welcome. Call Bill Bright at 505-722-0039 for information. The Octavia Fellin Library 3-5pm First
Each Thursday Evening
CornHole Tournaments Sammy C’s 6:30pm
56 December 2016
Sat.
December
Annual Mitten Tree Project Your Octavia Fellin Public Library Beginning December 1st the Library will hold its annual Mitten Tree Project and is seeking donations of NEW mittens, hats, and scarves from the community. Donations can be placed on trees at the Main Library and in the Children’s Branch until December 18th. Help us decorate our trees and celebrate the season of giving by helping to make Gallup’s children warm and snug this holiday season. All donated items will be given to Battered Families Inc. For more information please call 505-863-1291 or email library@gallupnm.gov.
ArtsCrawl: Starry Night Historic Downtown Gallup 7-9pm
11th
Rehoboth High School Choir and Harpist Mon. Amy Shreve in Concert "Do Not Be Afraid: A Christmas Celebration" Sacred Heart Cathedral 4pm A Holiday Tour of Homes The event is a fund raiser for the Ups & Downs Relay For Life Team of the American Cancer Society. Tour four Beautiful Holiday Decorated Homes in the Gallup community. Tickets are $20 per person. Enjoy the lights and sights of the season supporting a great cause. For tickets or more information contact: Joyce Graves 505-863-3075 / 505-862-1457 (bleedingpurple@centurylink.net) or Linda Shelton 505-722-2175. The evening begins with a Meet & Greet at 5pm at the New Mexico Cancer Center, 2240 College Drive, where refreshments will be served. At 5:30pm tour vans depart. Tours will end at the New Mexico Cancer Center.
Golden Angel Giving Tree Rio West Mall
3rd
The Pyramid Run Sat. Early registration is $25.00, and registration after November 26th will be $30.00. This is a fundraiser for the choirs of Rehoboth. This event happens in conjunction with the Red Rock Balloon Rally. Registration forms can be found on the Rehoboth Christian School website (rcsnm.org), at the Rehoboth School Administration building, or at the Gallup Chamber of Commerce. For questions, contact Bob at 505-726-9623. The race will begin at 9am; registration will be at 8:00am. Balloon Glow Rio West Mall Dark Festival of Trees Winners Announced Rio West Mall 4pm
Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols Join us as we prepare for the coming of Sun. the Christ Child with music, quiet, lessons, and beauty. Phone: 505-863-4695 The Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 1334 Country Club Drive, Gallup, just one block west of Red Rock Elementary School. 4pm
4th
Red Rock Elementary Craft Fair More Info: Julie Kastrounis 505-870-7083 Red Rock School 9am - 3pm Santa’s Workshop Ages 3 and over Rio West Mall 6pm
Events:
Friday Gallup’s longest running
The non-profit, Wednesday Gallup Solar hosts educational presentations & offers potential solutions about all things solar. Your questions, ideas & expertise are welcome. For info call: 505-728-9246 113 E. Logan 6-8pm
10th
Taize' Worship Contact: Kathy Mezoff 870-6136 Westminster Presbyterian Church-Gallup
24th
Christmas Eve Service Sat. O Come, All Ye Faithful! Join us for a beautiful candlelit service of Lessons and Carols and Holy Eucharist. Bring your family and friends and plan to stay afterwards for fellowship, cocoa, and cookies. Phone: 505-863-4695. The Church of the Holy Spirit is located at 1334 Country Club Drive, Gallup, just one block west of Red Rock Elementary School. 7pm
31st
NCI 17th Annual New Year’s Eve Sobriety Sat. Gourd Dance and Pow Wow Miyamura High School Gym Noon to 6pm
Community Programs Available: All of these programs are available, at no charge, to participants. Please call in advance to save your spot. Location: Gallup Masonic Center, 4801 E. Historic 66 Avenue Call Robert at 505-615-8053 for additional information.
6
th Tues.
Someone You know is dying, How do You cope? When a loved one has a terminal illness, grieving starts before there has been a death. 10-11am
7th
Working Through Your Grief Wed. Beginning the grieving process after the death of a loved one 10-11am
13th
Dementia/Alzheimers Caregivers Support Group Tues. Behavioral issues are the single biggest challenge for caregivers of a person with dementia. Open to caregivers, family members, and others who want to learn about non-medical dementia behavior management. 6:30pm or December 14th at 10am
15th
Christmas Carol Smack-Down Thurs. Rio West Mall 5:30pm
20th
Bereavement and Grieving Support Group Tues. For those who have lost a loved one to illness, age or disease 6:30pm or December 21st at 10am
Navajo Nation Museum
Culture, Language Immersion, Lecture & Workshop Series, 2017
Holiday Make & Take!
DECEMBER 2016 – NOTE: Beginner weavers wanting to participate in June Weaving WS are encouraged to attend Monthly WTW Hands-On Mtgs.
1
st Thurs.
9-10th
NNM Working the Wool Weavers Hands-On Meeting NN Museum Conf. Rm.#1 5-7pm 19th Annual Keshmish Festival NN Museum 9am-7pm and December 10th 9am to 5pm
31st
9th Annual Navajo Ksjee Tournament Sat. NN Museum 8pm into Midnight
Join us for a fun filled evening of crafting. December 7, 2016 5:30 to 7:30 PM 1130 Hassler Valley Rd., Gallup, NM
December 1st
13th Annual Gallup Journey Arts Edition Call to artists, writers, poets, photo nuts, and anyone we forgot. Submissions due by Thursday, December 1, 2016. Send short stories, poems, and digital photos and art images to us at GallupJourney@gmail.com or drop a disc off at our office. 105 South 3rd Street
The RMCHCS Auxiliary awards scholarships each Fall and Spring semester to students pursuing an education in medical or health careers. Applicants must be full time students, have completed 12 college credit hours, and have at least a 2.0 GPA. Application deadline for the spring 2017 semester is January 3rd. Applications are available at the UNM-Gallup Financial Aid Office and at the RMCH information desk. For more information call 505-863-7325.
To register return the enclosed registration form and money order to: Elena Bowers, PO Box 458,Vanderwagen, NM 87326 For more information call Elena Bowers at 505-870-5995
$10.00 per person, includes materials for crafts and booklet, with all the instructions and recipes.
Name Address Phone number Number of person's attending Total enclosed
December 2016
57
Kristen Dickey
OF LEARNING RX
ALBUQUERQUE Local brain trainer Kristen Dickey is a reassuring wealth of knowledge when it comes to cognitive skills and learning. As the Executive Director of LearningRx Albuquerque, Kristen is at your disposal for analysis, quotes, research, anecdotes, and custom-written editorial content on many topics making news headlines every day, including: READING AND LEARNING STRUGGLES: Studies show that weak cognitive skills are the cause of more than 80 percent of learning and reading problems, including dyslexia, auditory and visual processing disorder, poor memory, and processing speed. When these skills are strong, learning is easy, but weak brain
skills make learning difficult and sometimes impossible. Dickey can help parents spot the signs and symptoms of weak brain skills, and offer ways to strengthen them at home. ADD/ADHD: An estimated 5 percent of American children are diagnosed with these disorders, and nearly 6 million of them will take stimulant drugs, like Adderall or Ritalin, to cope. Brain training provides a valuable alternative. Strengthening the three types of attention skills can eliminate the need for medication and the ADHD label. AGE-RELATED COGNITIVE DECLINE: Cognitive skills training attacks the rootcauses of cognitive decline related to aging,
by strengthening weak brain skills, especially short-term, long-term, and working memory sub-skills. BRAIN FUNCTION AND IQ: IQ is not stagnant! Science proves IQ can be improved and people can get smarter. TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY (TBI): Intensive, one-on-one, fast-paced, and targeted cognitive skills training brings amazing results for people who have suffered a TBI, including soldiers suffering the signature Iraq/Afghanistan war wound. AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: One in a hundred and ten children born today will be diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, or ASD. There is no “cure”, but cognitive skills training can help people with ASD move much closer to recovery. Strengthening weak brain skills leads to a faster, more efficient learner, who’s more socially adept, happier, and more confident. Kristen and her team are also available for interviews on: • Tutoring and homework • Trends in education • Childhood development • The Smart Mom’s Toy Box • Test anxiety • Preparing for college Visit to learn more: www.learningrx.com/albuquerque-northeast
58 December 2016
Higher Thinking Active Processing
Auditory Processing
Logic& Reasoning
Visual Processing
Learned Information
Long-Term Memory
Output
Working Memory
writing drawing speaking
Attention Processing Speed
DECISION
Cognitive Skill Efficiency THE SCIENCE BEHIND LEARNINGRX ONE-ON-ONE BRAIN TRAINING The Learning Model is grounded in the Cattell-Horn-Carroll (CHC) theory of intelligence, which describes thinking as a set of seven broad abilities: comprehension knowledge, long-term retrieval, visualspatial thinking, auditory processing, fluid reasoning, processing speed, and short-term memory. According to the Learning Model, an individual takes information in through the senses (input) that must be recognized and analyzed by the active processing system (working memory, processing speed, attention). This executive control system determines which information is unimportant, easily handled, or requires thinking. Unimportant information is discarded from working memory. If the input contains important information about data that has already been stored in the knowledge bank, it is quickly retrieved and converted to output, such as speaking or writing. If the information has not been previously stored, higher thinking processes must then occur. Reasoning, auditory processing, and
spelling testing
Knowledge Bank Academic Performance
visual processing must be used to solve the problem or complete the task. If the task is practiced often enough, however, the information is stored in the knowledge bank, which will decrease the time between input to output. This occurs because the higher thinking processes can then be bypassed. SEVEN KEY COGNITIVE SKILLS • Attention: Focus over time, despite distraction, or while multitasking • Processing Speed: Think and perform tasks quickly and accurately • Working Memory: Hold on to and use information during the learning process • Auditory Processing: Distinguish, blend, and segment sounds accurately • Visual Processing: Create and picture mental images while thinking or reading • Logic & Reasoning: Reason, form ideas, and solve problems • Long Term Memory: Efficiently recall facts and stored information Kristen is looking for an interest in this program in the Gallup community. If so, she would like to offer programs right here in Gallup.
Kristen Dickey, Exec. Director LearningRx Albuquerque 7120 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Ste. 16 Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 856-1596 k.dickey@learningrx.net www.LearningRx.com/albuquerquenortheast
HI-VIZ
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606 E. Hwy 66 • (505) 722-3845 Like us on Facebook!
December 2016
59
By David Conejo-Palacios
The Spirit of Christmas As the winter solstice sets in and the snow begins to fall, gently covering the earth and streets in the softest of linen, our thoughts turn to Christmas. In the quiet of the moment, the ageless question permeates each mind. “What is the meaning of Christmas and what is that feeling which lifts our spirit?” The more cynical mind challenges the significance of Christmas by pointing to the fact that solstice celebrations existed long before the birth of Christ. By parallel, consider that fall equinox and harvest celebrations of the past in no way diminish the fact that we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States. The founding of a celebration date, Thanksgiving as an example, establishes the significance of that event, regardless of what preceded it. Likewise, when the church established a day to honor the birth of Christ, it reigned as special, no matter what other winter celebrations preceded it. But it's the spirit of the event that is special. As we celebrate the season, we ask ourselves, “What is that specialness?” That spirit of Christmas and its meaning became real in the mid-eighties to one family in this true story. There was a talented craftsman who was out of work. He took on odd jobs, sold tamales, or whenever possible, performed skilled labor… anything to make a living. In order to be of help to this man, one family hired him to build a deck and round picnic benches which could seat six people. He soon became a friend of the family and they often recommended him to others. With this help he was able to make a living by selling his tamales and doing yard work and other odd jobs.
Still, it was a living which only furnished the week-to-week needs. There was no extra money for entertainment such as movies, or Friday night dinners. It was a meager living but the family gave prayerful thanks for their home, food, and transportation. The year went by and as summer turned to fall the need for yard work became less. Once the leaves were raked, there were no more odd jobs for the man to do. He tried selling more tamales, but how many would he have to sell to feed a family of five? December entered with snow flurries that year, which meant less work and more prayer. The kids needed coats and shoes along with school lunches. Christmas was in the air in many places but not in this home. Although the man never let the family get down in spirit, they didn't have special weekends or Christmas gatherings to go to. Each day was like the one before it, selling tamales in order to have enough to eat. So it was that on Christmas Eve his friends waved him down at the parking lot by Zecca Plaza. “What are you doing?” they asked. The man responded with his standard reply, “Selling tamales.” But this night was different. He had his children in the back of the car so he whispered, “I have to sell enough for food and a few presents.” Quickly his friends bought six dozen…to help out. They exchanged hugs and each went on their way. On the way home to put the tamales in the refrigerator the family was quiet until the dad spoke. “They will never make it, you know,” he said quietly. “It's almost 8:15pm and the stores close at nine. We have already opened one gift each and have many more for Christmas Day while our friend is trying
to earn enough for food.” It didn't take long for the family to decide to put the tamales in the fridge and then go out to buy food and gifts for their friends before the stores closed. WOW! The spirit of Christmas? Close…but wait! The Spirit of Christmas is still coming. As the family was getting ready to leave the house, the eleven yearold son came from his room. Holding a brand new football, he asked, “Can we give them this, dad?” The father replied, “But that's the gift you just opened tonight.” “I know dad,” said the boy, “but I have a football. And they don't have anything!” The father felt a lump in his throat and his eyes watered. “I'm proud of you son,” he answered. “We'll wrap it when we get back with the other gifts.” Here it was, THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. It was more than just giving. It was about reaching out to others. Not just giving, but giving of oneself. It's the same spirit which made George Bailey realize what he had and cry out, “I want to live!” It’s what made the people rush to his house and pour money into a basket…to help another. When Christ was born, he brought to us the gift of giving…so much so that he would ultimately give his life for us. Give of yourself…a hug, an hour of your time, a visit to a person alone, a load of firewood, a dinner, a hand delivered card…maybe even buy six dozen tamales. But let it come from your heart. And when someone says, “But that's the gift you just received,” answer by saying, “Yes, but I already have a gift and I want to pass it on.” After all, that's the spirit of Christmas! Merry Christmas to you all!
December 2016
61
Oh
By Sandra McKinney
Christmas Tree Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree! Thy leaves are so unchanging Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, Thy leaves are so unchanging Not only green when summer’s here, But also when it’s cold and drear. Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, Thy leaves are so unchanging! Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, Such pleasure do you bring me! Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree, Such pleasure do you bring me! Christmas isn’t about giving stuff; it is about family, spending time together, traditions, and the celebration of the miraculous birth of Jesus. Mickey and Lynn ( Jensrud) Menapace certainly understand the joy of family time and wonderful traditions. One of their favorite holiday traditions starts well before Christmas day when they head to the forest to find a perfect tree to hold their old and cherished ornaments. This gathering of family goes back to when Mickey was a small child and his parents, Howard and Julia Menapace would take the growing family to McGaffey to locate just the right pine tree to adorn their home. Mickey and his siblings, Debbie, Marty, Rick, and Dianna still practice this family outing each year; involving their own children, grandchildren, in-laws, cousins, and even close friends. It is certainly a jubilant time of family celebration and fellowship. Anyone who wants to participate in the “great tree hunt” loads up their family in a pick-up truck, (even the family dogs are welcome), packs a lunch, and makes a day-long outing while in search of the perfect tree. If the weather is nice, many of the group will hike and explore the area at length, getting good exercise all the while in search of just the right tree. Cold and snowy days, however, can certainly accelerate the effort. Regardless of the weather, they always come home with big and beautiful trees. Back in the earlier days, Howard would take an axe and a sturdy saw to cut down the trees. Fortunately, today, they have the convenient chain saw that makes the effort so much easier. The one thing that has never
62 December 2016
changed is getting tree pitch on your hands, gloves, or even on your face. They found a useful trick a few years back to use hairspray to remove the pitch. A can of hairspray is now an essential item to pack for a tree-cutting outing. There is nothing like a Christmas tree all decorated and lit up next to a roaring fire. Mickey and Lynn, along with other members of the family, have fireplaces to warm their homes and their hearts. When out on the tree hunt, it is not uncommon for a lot of firewood cutting to be going on too. This is why it is a necessity to make the trip in a pick-up truck! There is no strapping firewood or a tree on the top of a car rack for this family. It is not just trees for their home; the Menapace family will always get a couple of large trees for the family business, Rico Auto Complex, plus several small trees as a personal touch for their individual offices. When you walk into the auto showroom during the holidays, you will smell the beautiful aroma of the pine trees. The family not only celebrates the joys of Christmas at home, but Christmas time is very festive at Rico Auto Complex as well. If you hit the right day, you can even see the staff celebrating the holiday in their “ugly Christmas sweaters”. Sometimes a tree will need a bit of pruning for it to fit into a tree stand. Even those tree-trimmings are used for hearth décor or door wreaths. Debbie (Menapace) Thomas is the artistic one in the family, and she loves to create beautiful pine bough wreaths, with pine cones, ribbons, and other Christmassy items. Mickey and Lynn have three children, Ryan, Randy and Carrie, who still live here in Gallup. They were fortunate to experience the tradition with their grandparents, Howard and Julia. Ryan has two sons, and Randy has one son, and they also received the love and meaning of Christmas from their great-grandparents. There has certainly been a lot of family time and a lot of tree-cutting outings through the years for this beautiful family.
From Mickey and Lynn: they just want to remind you that the Joy of Christmas is FAMILY. They would also like to wish everyone a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!
Julia and Howard Menapace are greatly missed by the family.
A family Christmas Tree Outing: Howard Menapace, Debbie Menapace Thomas, Rick Menapace, Johnny Thomas, Julia Menapace, Dianna Menapace, Mickey Menapace with sons, Randy and Ryan, on a long-ago tree-cutting day.
Ugly Christmas Sweater Day at Rico Auto Complex.
Mickey putting the lights on the Christmas tree and of course a big fire is blazing in the fireplace.
Be home for the Holidays!
Beautifully open floor plan with large, spacious great room highlighted with gas fireplace, tall ceilings – Light and Bright! Move in ready, this home has a sizable master bedroom, including French doors to backyard. Just enough grass to enjoy the green, yet all landscaped. Recently painted and new carpet.
Please call Karla to make your appointment! Karla Benefield, CRS
204 E. Aztec Ave. Gallup • 505-863-4417 KarlaSellsGallup@gmail.com
Action Realty of Gallup
New Mexico License # 11519
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63
by Robert Keene
Information on Dementia It has been described as a “looming crisis” for our health care system. Diagnosed cases of dementia are forecast to increase by 47% in New Mexico and 66% in Arizona over the next 10 years. Dementia is not actually a disease, but a term utilized to describe approximately 50 different degenerative diseases of the brain, of which Alzheimer’s is the most common, followed by vascular dementia. Each disease creates similar behavioral changes, which are the biggest challenge to caregivers and families as they struggle to care for the dementia patient. These changes can include loss of memory, physical or vocal aggression, wandering outside, loss of inhibitions, and sometimes even causing injury to themselves. Until recently, it was thought that either ignoring the behaviors and dealing with the consequences or providing various medications, such as sedatives and anti-depressants, represented the two methods of managing the behaviors. New methods of managing these behaviors with non-medical techniques, in combination with medications, are showing very positive results to an improved quality of life for patient and caregiver alike: reduced levels of stress, 64 December 2016
anxiety, depression, and aggression, along with a reduction in unnecessary visits to already overcrowded emergency rooms and overworked doctors. Three examples of non-medical behavior management that are available locally include: CAREGIVER COACHING/ TRAINING – while home health agencies and caregivers are usually well trained in working the ADL’s (activities of daily living), such as eating, dressing, etc., few professional caregivers, and even fewer family caregivers, have received any training in recognizing, understanding, and managing dementia related behaviors. Their actions or inactions can make situations much worse. A caregiver coach works side-byside with the caregivers to lead them to a better understanding of controlling and managing dementia behaviors. HOME ASSESSMENTS – Occupational and physical therapists provide great assessments of safety and accessibility for patients in their bedrooms and bathrooms, but the majority of dementia patients have access to other parts of their homes and yards. These areas often contain items and situations which can be a danger to their safety and can affect negative behaviors.
PRIVATE FAMILY СONSULTATIONS – Whether a loved one has already been diagnosed with a dementia or there is concern over unusual changes in their behavior, the diagnosis of dementia can be very difficult, confusing, and sometimes an embarrassing time for everyone involved. What does a dementia diagnosis entail, what changes are ahead, what needs to be done now to provide the best transition as the disease progresses, what is the role of family members. A family consultation allows everyone in the family to come together, to learn more about the disease, to work through their emotions, learn what lies ahead, what to expect in providing care, and to make important decisions in a private location. Robert Keene provides local dementia education classes and services, facilitates local support groups for dementia caregivers, bereavement, and provides private counseling for persons dealing with grief, care- giving, and end-of-life spirituality issues. He can be reached at (505)615-8053 or GallupWellness@yahoo.com.
wants to wish you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! And we hope you enjoy the Red Rock Balloon Rally December 2, 2016 - December 4, 2016.
Attorneys at Law • 505 722 4463 • 104 E. Aztec www.milawfirm.net
This Holiday Season treat yourself to our Steak & Lobster!
Banquet Room & Group Rates Available. Please call to make a reser vation. 926 N. Hwy 491 Gallup, NM 87301 • (505) 722-6498 Sun-Thu 11am-9pm • Fri-Sat 11am-9:30pm We Offer Kid & Honored Guest’s Menus and Military Discounts!!!
December 2016
65
Merry Christmas
From the Gallup Cultural Center Open Monday through Saturday 8am - 4pm Come see this year’s Art Scholarship submissions. Get out of the cold and try our Miniature Golf Course. Open Monday through Friday, 8am - 4pm Angela’s Cafe December Hours: Monday 8am - 4pm,Tuesday through Friday 8am - 8pm
For More Information Contact Colin McCarty Director, Gallup Culteral Center 505- 863-4131 • thedirectorgcc@gmail.com 201 E Hwy 66 • (505) 862-9344
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Shop Downtown Gallup “Gallup Business Improvement District”
Get more gifts for your money this year by shopping local, and not going out of town! Shop Downtown Gallup * Visit with friends and family Enjoy a holiday dinner in a downtown restaurant Buy More • Save More • Buy Local
For every $100 spent locally, $68 stays local. For every $100 spent at a national chain store, only $43 stays local. The bottom line... shopping Downtown Gallup will keep more of your money in your community to be recirculated. By Shopping Downtown Gallup, you help build your local economy and improve your town’s quality of life! For Information: Gallup Business Improvement District (505) 722-4430 • francis@gallupbid.com
Gallup Business Improvement District
Go
505.722.4430 www. Gallup.com www.nmMainstreet.org