Gallup Journey Magazine - May 2023

J ourney

Mother’s May Mother’s May Weaving in Beauty

ART123 Gallery

Show Opening:

“Prussian Horizons” by Lakin Epaloose

A collection of Zuni, Baroque, Cubist, landscape and contemporary art through a sentimental lens.

LOOM Gallery

“Solitude” by Armond Antonio

Family Craft in the Events Center: Mini Woven Baskets

Use scissors, glue and yarn to turn paper cups into beautiful woven miniature baskets

Pop-up MuseumChildren’s in the Events Center

Play with us in the Construction Zone! Use the conveyor belt and wheelbarrows to move and construct walls with our foam bricks, create ball runners with our magnetic wall, and make designs on the sequence board.

Weaving demonstration and class information

Gallup TheaterRepertory at the El Morro Theatre presents - Cinderella

PRE-ARTS CRAWL - Gallup Repertory Theater at the El Morro Theatre presenting Cinderella.

Date of performance: May 13th, showtime 1pm, at the El Morro Theatre

Tickets are $10 a piece at the door. Door opens at 12:30pm

ARTS CRAWL 7-9 PM –Gallup Repertory Theater, outside the El Morro Events Center, will display the Cinderella Carriage for photo opportunity.

FACELESS – Zuni Rock Band – First Street and Coal Avenue

Jamming and throwing down some of your favorite hard rock/metal songs - Representing Zuni, NM

DJ Katrina – Curated

Dance Music – Second Street and Coal Ave.

Local Arts & Crafts Vendors

Food Vendors

Food Trucks

Thoughts From The West End

I always get excited with the return of spring and those longer and warmer days. This is the time when I start listening for the return of my favorite guest, the hummingbird. It is pure joy when they show up in my backyard looking for blossoming flowers and my sugar water mixture. It used to be a gallon sized hummingbird juice purchased from the store but now I take great pride in preparing my own.

Birds have always fascinated me and the more colorful one is the more impressed I become. My news feed seems to know that I enjoy reading about my winged friends and always presents me with a story about how to become involved in my birdie life. If we want to feed hummingbirds, we should get new feeders each season, and do a clear sugar water with no dyes. These are simple rules to follow to enjoy swarms of hummingbirds outside your window.

Growing up I always

remember hearing the saying, “stop and smell the roses.”

Being young and always on the move I never followed this age tested advice. However, as I have gotten older, and more gray has shown up in my hair the more I realize how sound this advice is. I know intentionally make the sacrifice and slow down to enjoy life a little bit more. Whether that is stopping to watch hummingbirds feed or taking the moment to listen to my children and really listen to what is going on in their world. So, remember to stop and smell the roses.

P.S.

I didn’t forget about screen time. I just discovered that my scary screen time included my desktop computer time and that is how I make a living. This last month I did make a conscious effort to use my phone less and enjoyed the time away from the handheld.

Jpa

The Ancient Way Café

El Morro RV Park and Cabins

MaySpecialsSunday

Noon to 3 pm

May 7th

Quiche - (Broccoli/Cheddar or Bacon/Mushroom/Swiss) with choice of Soup or Salad

May 14th

Chuck Steak, Baked Potato, and Green Salad

May 21st

Stuffed Chicken Breast (Sundried Tomatoes, Olives, Cheese) with Penne

May 28th

Cajun Catfish with Grits, Greens, and Cornbread

Our Regular Menu Always Includes:

• Smokehouse BBQ Omelet with our mouthwatering House-smoked Brisket

• Huevos Rancheros

• Ancient Way Burgers

• Black Bean Burgers

• Burritos

• French Toast

• Many other Breakfast and Lunch Delights!

• We have a wide range of Homemade Desserts

El Morro RV Park, Cabins & Ancient Way Café elmorro-nm.com elmorrorv@gmail.com

505-783-4612

sudoku

When you finish these puzzles, bring them to our office at 210 E. Aztec Ave, оr take a pic with your phone and email it to gallupjourney@gmail.com. Don’t forget to include your name.

April Master Finishers

Mark Gartner

Michael Johnson

Michelle Skeets

Yolanda Begay

A Burbank

Joseph Menini

Charley Benally

LiDeja Jones

Steph J

JB

Jordyn Manning

E. Pieras

2Quick4u!

AJ Mitch

Thomas Gomez

Celia Casuse Peters

Doma

N.T.N.

Richard L

R Morris

DK & Footies

E Skeet

Marie Enfield

Pepita

Jamie Shirley

8 Mr. Sun’s 4th and 5th Graders believe in the power to be…

14 Best of the Best Voting Sheet

24 Asparagus In the Home Garden Edit h Iwan

28 Questions for Eric Esparza

30 Event Calendar

36 Lt. Edourad Izac: The Last Medal of Honor Recipient from WWI Kenneth Riege

38 Walking In Beauty

Thanks to our Contributors this month

Edith Iwan

Eric Esparza

Kenneth Riege

Michele Laughing Reeves

Dr.Vicki Handfield

Publishers:

Daisy & Jason Arsenault

Chuck & Jenny Van Drunen

Art Director: Christine Carter

Gallup Journey Magazine

42 Part of the Family Michele Laughing Reeves

44 People Reading

48 Rehoboth 3rd grade Class presents Endangered Species Presentations at the Navajo Nation Zoo

53 Building Bikes of of Juniper!? Chuck Van Drunen

54 Anxiety, What Is It and Can It Be Helped?

Dr. Vic ki Handfield

56 Day Trip!

Do

local

505-722-3399 • 210 E. Aztec Ave. • PO Box 2187 gallupjourney.com • gallupjourney@gmail.com

Don’t want to miss an issue, subscribe to the Gallup Journey - one year $45.

May 2023 Issue #226

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.

Hard Medium

Cover Photo Courtesy of Valencia Smith-Chapito

Rehoboth Elementary Student Spotlight

These 4th and 5th grade students truly want to be a positive light in the world around them. Teaching throughlines allows us to better make that happen. Throughlines, like these are used as a way of teaching us more about our spiritual responsibilities or jobs that we believe God has placed on us to effectively guide ourselves to fuller lives. At Rehoboth, we desire to extend that beyond our school day. Rehoboth students want others to be blessed by the learning experience that they are receiving here. The opportunity to give our students this Biblical perspective to live life differently is extremely rewarding! Our deepest thanks and appreciation goes out to all the families and members of this community who support and build our children up. God is the answer we seek and the power He has to make “All Things New!”

-Solomon Sun-

Mr. Sun’s 4th and 5th Graders believe in the power to be a …

"They help in a tough situation and do what is right for others" -Nathaniel

"God gave this role to his people to do stuff that is right and not wrong. And for us to seek change " -Avellaka

Rico’s Auto Complex –2022 Best Place to Buy a Car

A car dealership isn’t just about the inventory on the car lot. Plus, we all know since COVID-19 everything has changed about purchasing a new vehicle. Rico’s doesn’t just sell a dependable and American made GMC vehicle, but they take care of you from purchase to maintenance to the day you are ready to trade that GMC in for a new vehicle. Their customer service is unmatched, and you can always count on them knowing their loyal customers by name. Head down there today to see what is available or order your next vehicle exactly how you want it!

WIN A 1957

This year’s V8’s for Vocations raffle car is a 1957 Chevy 210 Post with Bel Air Trim. Under the hood sits a 350 c.i. Crate Motor and an automatic transmission. This car is white, with white leather interior and has Air Conditioning, Power Steering, Four-Wheel Power Disc Brakes, overdrive transmission. and American Racing Wheels.

Proceeds from the V8s for Vocations raffle support the Diocese of Gallup seminarians and priest recruitment efforts.

BIG FUN FOR LITTLE

$2,799*

The CFORCE 110 is an easy-to-ride ATV built for riders aged ten and up—a smart solution for helping first-time riders build skills at their own pace. App-based geofence technology and a speed limiter help keep kids within a safe distance when they’re beyond your direct eyesight. It’s also equipped with a double A-arm independent front suspension, disc brakes, automatic transmission, and electric start.

At Twists & Turns™, kids will discover that Jesus guides us through all the twists and turns of our lives. He helps us know His ways and teaches us His paths. (Psalm 25:4) Following Jesus changes everything! Don’t miss out! First Baptist Church 2112 College Dr. Gallup, NM 87301 June 2-6th, 5pm-8pm Dinner provided! Register today @

Gordo’s – 2022 Best Restaurant

It might not be your first thought when thinking about where to eat, but maybe it should be. Their customers filled last year’s ballots to let everyone know how they feel about their downtown eatery. Gordo’s doesn’t just satisfy with their New Mexico chile dishes but serves up some amazing burgers (of course you can add chile), and other American classics. They are open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner giving you opportunities throughout the whole day to consume some great flavors.

Internship Opportunity with ATD Fourth World

atdfourthworld-usa.org

ATD Fourth World offers paid internship opportunities yearround and is based in Gallup. Our mission and focus revolve around social justice, poverty and community engagement. Responsibilities include supporting weekly art and other programs for children and families. We also work with adults in the community on issues related to poverty and how to overcome it. Our internship is a great fit for people who care about social change and who are looking for work that has a purpose!

To find out more, please contact us at: newmexico@atdfourthworld-usa.org / (505) 488-3624 101 East Hill Ave, Gallup NM 87301

Gallup Coffee Company 2022 Best Coffee Joint

One of the best ways to start your day is to head down to Gallup Coffee Company and order your favorite espresso drink, coffee, or tea. Take a seat at their large front window counter and watch the world go by. The Gallup Coffee Company is what a local business should be, a place where we gather and enjoy each other ’s company. Owners Tiffany & Justin are always looking for ways to expand their presence downtown and have added a bakery right next door. Get downtown and enjoy a tasty drink and delicious bake good!

ASPARAGUS IN THE HOME GARDEN

When I bought my home in Thoreau, one of the first things I looked for was a place to put an asparagus bed. Asparagus is one of the earliest harvested vegetables each spring. The spears are crisp, tender, and essential to an asparagus lover!

I didn’t grow up eating asparagus. When I moved away from home, I tried the canned variety, which does not even resemble the taste and texture of fresh asparagus. That changed when I had a friend who lived in an old farmhouse. They had an orchard with asparagus planted under the trees and we had asparagus every week for two months. I was hooked! I steamed or boiled it (only for a few minutes) and served it with butter, Bearnaise, or cheese sauce. Now I grill a lot of the asparagus for a healthier diet.

Asparagus is for the long run. You plant asparagus in the spring and begin harvest two years after planting crowns and three years after planting seeds. The first year of harvest is only to pick the largest spears for three weeks. After that first year, you can pick asparagus for two months (as long as the spears are as wide as a pencil). Most plant guides say a plant can live for 15 years but most beds will last a lot longer. Some people break off the spear by hand close to the ground but I don’t like the stem that is left in my garden so I use a knife and cut below the surface of the ground being careful not to injure spears coming up near your cut.

Asparagus grows well in New Mexico. It does not mind soil and water being alkaline. It grows best with lots of sun, warm days, cool nights, low humidity, and is drought and salt tolerant. Everything New Mexico has.

Almost all of our vegetables are planted, grow to maturity, and eaten the same summer. Asparagus is called a perennial because it continues to grow for years. The edible parts of the plant are called spears. They are the stems of the summer plant which looks like a fern. The spears emerge from buds at the top of the root system called a crown. The root system is extensive and spreads up to ten feet deep and wide. The fern

can also get large, six feet tall and three feet wide. Keep that in mind when you look for a place for asparagus.

Asparagus can only be harvested for two months in summer because the plant needs to build up energy to survive the winter and produce the crop for next year. The fern creates energy that will be stored in the roots to produce the following year’s spears. It is important to take care of the ferns even after the harvest is over to make sure you will have good future harvests. This is by doing three things: fertilize, water, and weeding. One year I had a worse than usual grasshopper invasion. They chewed all the ferns until they were dead. I was afraid they would not survive. Needless to say, they did not produce a good crop of asparagus the next year.

Because asparagus will produce for so many years, it is important to consider where you place them and how you prepare the planting bed. If you have never had your soil tested, this is a good time to do it. You can get information from the internet or from your county extension office which is listed at the bottom of this article.

LOCATION – Choose a sunny site. A fertile soil that holds moisture is an asset. On lava or bedrock, look for areas that have the most soil. You can always add

more soil if needed. Asparagus will rot if drainage is not good, so be sure water does not sit for prolonged periods after rain. If you have an existing garden, place the asparagus bed at the north end of the garden so the tall ferns don’t shade the other crops. Avoid sites with established perennial weeds, particularly bindweed and nutsedge. You cannot just dig them out or pull them. They Will Return! Late spring frosts can kill emerging spears. Find an area that is not low-lying or exposed to frost. My plot is protected by wood fences but every year I have to save my early spears from freezing with buckets or protective cloth.

Varieties that do well in New Mexico include: Hybrids with only male flowers that produce no seed: Jersey Giant, Jersey Knight, and Millennium. They have high yields, tend to live longer, and produce more spears. Heirloom varieties are open pollinated: Mary Washington and Martha Washington do well here. They are very cold tolerant and produce larger but less spears. The asparagus seeds that germinate in your garden can be a benefit or a nuisance. There is also a purple variety that appeals to people who love the unusual. You can buy asparagus in stores, on line, and in gardening catalogues.

When you’ve decided where to place your asparagus patch, it is time to prepare the bed. In May, or when your ground has warmed to around 50 degrees, you can plant the asparagus you bought. Dig a trench where the crowns will be planted. If you have clay soil, make it six inches deep and if you have sandy soil, go twelve inches. Place the dirt to the side to be returned to the trench as the ferns grow. Allow 12 inches between crowns and three feet between rows. You can plant a single row that is 10 feet long for 10 asparagus plants or several shorter rows each three feet apart. Plant the crowns along the trench either “head to toe” (bud to root tip) or spread the crown out in the middle of the trench like an octopus. (Just don’t put the crown upside down--that will delay growth). Adding a fertilizer at the time

of planting will ensure good growth. Use an organic balanced fertilizer(10-10-10) or compost that has no fresh manure that may burn tender roots. Cover the crown with 3-4 inches of the soil that was removed from the trench. The rest of the soil will be added gradually as the ferns grow. Make sure you don’t bury the thin stalks or break them off from hard soil clods. After planting, water the buried asparagus crowns well. The narrow spears will start coming up in two to three weeks. Keep your asparagus growing well by giving them at least one inch of water every week if no rain. If soil is sandy, water more often. Control weeds because they will compete with the asparagus for water and nutrients. It is important not to damage the asparagus roots. Remove weeds by hand or shallow hoeing. You can also use cover crops or mulch.

There are two ways to plant asparagus seeds. One way is to plant 2 to 8 seeds in pots that are 4-5 inches deep. Cover with ½” of seed starting soil, wet well, and cover with plastic wrap or a tray top to keep the soil from drying out. Keep the pots at 70 %F either with bottom heat or a warm room. The seeds will germinate in 2 to 4 weeks. Once they start germinating, remove the cover and put them in bright light. When the weather has settled in early summer, plant the asparagus that is several inches tall into the same trench you would dig for crowns. You will have to be more careful about adding the dirt as they grow. Asparagus seeds can also be planted directly in the garden. Prepare an area for babies to grow their first year. It should be level, have sandy soil, and will need one foot between rows with seeds spaced 2 to 3 inches apart. Wait until the soil is 70 ℉ and water daily until germination. The

plants stay in this bed until next spring when you dig the plants in early April and move them to their permanent location. For established beds: Fertilize in early spring before the spears come up. Harvest spears as directed above. In July, fertilize again and continue watering and weeding during the summer. In October, as the ferns start to turn yellow, decrease watering which will signal the plant’s roots to shut down and harden off for winter. When the stalks are brown, cut them down at the surface and remove them to reduce overwintering sites for insects and diseases. This is a good time to add two to three inches of compost to give protection to the crowns in winter and extra an start in the spring. Now for the eating! Wash the spears of dirt and place them on a cutting board. Starting from the bottom end, cut at 1” sections until the spear turns tender and the knife meets little resistance. You can break the spear with your hand but it is not a very accurate way to determine tenderness. Also, you can cut off 1” of the bottom and shave the outer layer with a vegetable peeler for more tender spears. Steam or cook asparagus in ½” water for three to four minutes. If they have turned dull green, you cooked them too long. Asparagus is great on the grill. Puncture the spears several times with a fork and soak them in a salt solution for 15 minutes. Dry them off, have the grill temperature low, and cook them for 10 minutes. Check out the internet for other ways to cook asparagus.

Enjoy your asparagus. Plan for the future. PLANT ASPERAGUS!

Edith Iwan is a Cibola-McKinley County Master Gardener who lives and works in Thoreau. As a Master Gardener she assists the County Cooperative Extension Service in providing accurate, research-based gardening information to county residents. If you have any gardening questions, please call the NMSU Cibola County Extension at 505287-9266 or NMSU McKinley County Extension at 505-863-3432

STI ON THE RISE!

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) have been sharply increasing in recent years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention there were 2.5 million new cases in 2021.

Anyone who has sex can get an STI, but some groups are more at risk: SYPHILIS

459% increased by CHLAMYDIA

132% increased by GONORRHEA

96% increased by

Young People Aged 15-24

Gay, Bisexual Men, MSM Individuals with Multiple Sex Partners

Individuals who use Substances

PREVENT THE SPREAD

TALK, TEST, TREAT

For more information, talk with your healthcare provider or visit cdc.gov/std. @navajohealthed

Questions for Eric Esparza

1. Your current film project

Waco: The Aftermath (It will be airing on Paramount + /// You can find the first season on Amazon Prime Video)

I am playing Defense Attorney Joe Turner where I am a Recurring “Top of Show Guest Star” where I will be featured in every episode. I am part of a legal defense team led by Giovanni Ribisi who is known for his work in Sneaky Pete, Ted, The Boiler Room, and Saving Private Ryan. The character that I am playing is one of the attorneys that represented surviving members of the Branch Davidians in the fallout of the Waco, TX tragedy that spurred on a series of American tragedies.

2. Your connection to Gallup

I was born and mostly raised in Gallup. I attended Jefferson Elementary, JFK Middle School, and Gallup High School. I played sports throughout my time at Gallup. At the Las Cruces Invitational, I was recruited to play on the traveling baseball team Nataani out of Farmington after posting the highest batting average in the state for most of my junior year which started a tradition of Gallup baseball players going up to Farmington to play baseball in the summer. I graduated from Gallup High in 2005 and moved on to attain my undergraduate degree from the University of New Mexico where I also studied abroad in Salamanca, Spain, and Guadalajara, Mexico. Upon my college graduation, I spent a summer working in the communications department of the National Science Foundation in Washington DC before eventually moving on to teaching English in Valencia, Spain for a school year. My time spent in Spain inspired me to move back to Gallup to teach at Turpen Elementary and Miyamura High School to serve my community and hometown. During my time working as a teacher in Gallup, I worked alongside the City of Gallup, community members, and my family in planting trees in front of the Pepsi plant, downtown, at the Dog Park, and at the tennis courts at Ford Canyon. I am the son of Kenneth “Tinker” Esparza, Rebecca Wall-Stauder and Michael Stauder.

3. Your achievements in the field of acting.

I started acting at a very early age alongside my brothers and friends by impersonating celebrities and tinkering with accents. I always knew I wanted to be an actor and moved on from my baseball career to pursue Acting in college which was a shock to my coaches, family, and friends. In the past 16 years, I have acted in several student films, independent films, local and national commercials, regional New Mexico commercials, a music video, and a web series that amassed over a billion views on Facebook. This hustle allowed me to improve my craft through hands-on learning. My Acting career began to shift to larger productions in the past

two years where I booked two feature films that fell through due to all the chaos the COVID-19 pandemic brought. In the past year, I appeared on The Cleaning Lady on Fox where I had played a Spanish-speaking Waiter in the episode titled “Full-on Gangsta”. I have also been featured as a 70s Police Officer in a documentary titled The Evil Good which aired on the Hillsong Channel. Having the opportunity to play Joe Turner in Waco: The Aftermath is by far the biggest opportunity I’ve had to date. It’s been amazing to work alongside Directors Drew and John Erick Dowdle and observe such a talented group of filmmakers, storytellers and actors. I love watching the magic behind the camera happen. There is so much that goes into telling stories on film. I have learned so much from Giovanni Ribisi, David Costabile, Michael Shannon, John Hoogenakker, John Leguizamo, and all the other uber-talented actors I’ve worked on this project with. I’m proud to be part of the film community and learn from my peers and colleagues. Acting and film is my passion and I’m excited to experience the process that this new opportunity will provide for me. My parents instilled work ethic and drive in me at an early age. They also encouraged me to pursue my dreams and I’m thankful for that. These values gave me the ability to fail and try again which is necessary when pursuing a career in film acting. I’m also proud to have been raised in Gallup which prides itself on its blue-collar values, its diversity, and its art.

MAY 6

Team Forever Bengals Relay For Life Yard Sale

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Corner of Mesa and Cliff

Contact: Pam (505) 870-6205

MAY 7

Birdhouse Auction at Sammy

C’s Sports Pub & Grill

Relay For Life Ups & Downs

Team Fundraiser

Starting at 6:00 pm

Come early to Preview and select your favorites

Contact: Linda Shelton (505) 297-9515 / Joyce Graves (505) 862-1457

MAY 11

Creative Economy Day

• “Starting a Business 101”

I DO!

I want a copy of God's message of strenth, hope and love. (Psalms and Proverbs). I understand there is no charge. IT IS FREE!

NAME: ADDRESS:

Workshop for artists, creatives and makers: 10am - 12pm at ART123 Gallery. Advanced registration requested.

• Creative Economy Open House: 4:30 - 5:30pm in downtown Gallup, featuring the Gallup Cultural Center, Dalone Skateboards, Goldie Luxe Studio, and Quintana’s Coal Street Venue (open to the public).

• Creative Economy “Happy Hour” for arts/creative sector entrepreneurs, small business owners, workers and organizations: 5:30 - 7:30pm at ART123 Gallery. RSVP to executivedirector@galluparts. org. More info: www.galluparts. org/creative-economy-day

MAY 13

ART123 Gallery Show Opening: “Prussian Horizons” by Lakin Epaloose. A collection of Zuni, Baroque, Cubist, landscape and contemporary art through a sentimental lens. 7:00 – 9:00 pm “Prussian Horizons” will be on view through June 3.

MAY 13

Relay For Life Board Food & Bake Sale

9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Gallup Lumber Parking Lot

Baked Goods, Frito Pie, Hot Dogs, Chili Dogs & Drinks

Contact: Pam (505) 870-6205

MAY 13

Native & Xeric Plant Sale

MAY 16

Community grief support group meets at 7 PM at 4501 E. Historic 66 Avenue. Hosted by the Gallup Masonic Lodge. For information, 505-615-8053 (Talk or Text)

MAY 18

Sam Robbins, Nashville singer and songwriter, appears for a house concert at the El Morro Events Center, 210 S. 2nd Street $20 per person in advance (call/ text 505-615-8053), or $25 at the door (subject to availability). Sponsored by the Gallup Masonic Lodge.

MAY 18

Artist Talk: Lakin Epaloose

ARt123 Gallery 6:00 pm Go behind the scenes of “Prussian Horizons.”

MAY 20-21

Featured Artists to Attend Fire and Ice Native American Art and Dance Gathering

To meet these artists in person, please come out to the El Malpais National Monument Visitor Center, located at 1900 East Santa Fe Avenue, Grants, New Mexico. This free event will be on Saturday and Sunday May 20-21, 2023. The event will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. each day. We hope to see you there!

To reserve a place and for more information call Pam (505) 8706205

MAY 27

Weekend Workshop: Cyanotype Printing with Cherille W. Learn how to draw with sunlight and experiment with a photographic process to create prints using objects and images on paper and fabric.

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

$40/person Register: www.galluparts.org/ workshops

MAY 31

Concert Presentation: Jacob C. Morgan Tour Music by the Delbert Anderson Trio Honoring the legacy of Jacob C Morgan, Navajo musician (trumpeter), educator, band director, pastor, tribal council chair, carpenter and helped create the Navajo Nation Band. 7:00 pm

ART123 Gallery

Free and open to the public.

MAY 5

Friday Night Rides –Cars & Coffee –6:00 pm

Camille’s

MAY 26

ZIP:

9:00 am – 3:00 pm

10:00 am-Talk on Native & Xeric Plants by Martin Link Holiday Nursery

224 S. Valley View

Sponsored by the Plateau Sciences Society

Contact: Martin Link (505) 863-6459

For more information, contact the El Malpais Visitor Center at 505-876-2783 or visit www.nps.gov/elma. Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ elmalpaisnps.

MAY 21

Paint Party Relay For Life Fundraiser

First United Methodist Church 1800 Red Rock Drive Limited to 20 people.

Open Mic Night 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Camille’s

May 24th

May 24th

May 25th

25th

Tse Yi Gai

Tse Yi Gai

Navajo Pine Thoreau

Navajo Pine

May 26th

May 26th

May 26th

May 26th

Miyamura

Miyamura

Gallup Central

Gallup Central

Gallup High

Gallup High

The Last Medal of Honor Recipient From WW1.

are 65 living MOH Recipients. Korea – 1, Vietnam 48 and GWOT (Global War on Terror) - 16.

By Kenneth Riege USAF Veteran

June 29, 2002, America lost an amazing hero and dear friend to all who met him, World War 2’s last Medal of Honor Recipient, Mr. Hershel “Woody” Williams. A mere 5 months later on 29 Nov 2022, my dearest friend Hershey passed thus leaving Retired US Army Colonel Ralph Puckett as the last surviving MOH Recipient of the Korean War. For the record currently there

The early part of the last century has always held a special place for me. Maybe it’s because my grandfather, Pvt. Paul Emerson Riege fought with the US Marine Corps during WW1. Or it could be that so much of what we have today, began during this time in history. I love to watch the history channel and there are many shows in the “That Built America” Documentary series that I enjoy watching and encourage all to check them out.

With the passing of Woody and Hershey, A lot of attention was being placed on the last surviving MOH Recipient from WW2 and Korea that I began researching who was the last surviving Medal of Honor Recipient from WW1 when I came across Lt. Edourad Izac.

Lt. Izac was born on 18 Dec 1891 and passed on 18 Jan 1990. He graduated from the

United States Naval Academy in 1915 and the very next day after his graduation he married Agnes Cabell who was the daughter of General DeRosey Caroll Cabell.

In July 1917, Lt. Izac was assigned to the troop transport ship The USS President Lincoln. He was tasked with helping to oversee the conversion of that ship from an ocean liner to a ship of war. These duties kept the ship in drydock until her maiden voyage on 18 Oct 1917.

By May 1918, Lt. Izac was now the ships XO (Executive Officer) and made several successful trips ferrying troops to Brest, France. However, during the early morning hours of 31 May 1918 as the ship had begun a return trip to New York City she came under attack from a German U-Boat. She was struck by 3 torpedoes at a range of only 1,000 yards and at 0930 she sank taking 26 of her 700 crew members, leaving the rest of her crew to fight for survival on lifeboats. Lt. Izac was taken prisoner as one of the crew members of the German U-Boat recognized his officer insignia. When questioned about the ship’s captain, Lt. Izac not wanting to give up his commanding officer informed his captors that the captain had gone down with the ship, which they believed since this has always been a common Naval practice.

To help everyone understand Lt. Izac’s action which earned him our nation’s highest award for valor against an enemy

force, I have included his Medal of Honor Citation.

“When the U.S.S. President Lincoln was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-90, on May 21, 1918, Lt. Izac was captured and held as a prisoner on board the U-90 until the return of the submarine to Germany, when he was confined in the prison camp. During his stay on the U-90 he obtained information of the movements of German submarines which was so important that he was determined to escape, with a view to making this information available to the U.S. and Allied Naval authorities. In attempting to carry out this plan, he jumped through the window of a rapidly moving train at the imminent risk of death, not only from the nature of the act itself but from the fire of the armed German soldiers who were guarding him. Having been recaptured and reconfined, Lt. Izac made a second and successful attempt to escape, breaking his way through barbed-wire fences and deliberately drawing the fire of the armed guards in the hope of permitting others to escape during the confusion. He made his way through the mountains of southwestern Germany, having only raw vegetables for food, and at the end, swam the River Rhine during the night in the immediate vicinity of German sentries.”

After the war, Lt. Izac was welcomed to the Department

Lt. Edourad Izac

of the Navy as a hero and was promoted to Lt. Commander. Shortly thereafter he was assigned as the director of munitions at the Navy Yard in DC and on 11 November 1920, 2 years after the end of WW1, Lt. Izac was awarded the Medal of Honor by then Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Franklin D. Roosevelt (later to become President Roosevelt).

Unfortunately, the injuries Lt. Izac sustained to his knees during the war forced him to an early retirement, thus ending his what was sure to be a very promising Navy Career. Lt. Izac and his family moved to San Diego to live with his father-in-law where be began

selling ads for the San Diego Union and began working as a freelance writer. In 1931, a group of veterans in the city convinced him to run for Congress in California’s 20th congressional district, but ultimately lost the election. However, in 1936 he changed his campaign strategy using his war record and MOH Status as selling points in his political campaign. He would retell the story of his capture and became noted for his animation while speaking and won the election in 1936.

Lt. Izac, now Congressman Izac would serve in the United States Senate until 1946 and after leaving office, he moved his family to land inherited

As with all my stories I end with a special quote from the “Medal of Honor Quote Book.” Unfortunately, this book was published after all the WW1 MOH Recipients had passed, but I came across this quote from WW2 MOH Recipient Lucian Adams United States Army and feel Lt. Izac would agree with.

from his father-in-law in Gordonsville, VA. Where now Mr. Izac became a farmer raising cattle and growing fruits and vegetables. Later in his life, like all the MOH Recipients that I have met downplayed the accomplishments of his Medal of Honor choosing to say, he was doing his duty.

In 1970 after 55 years of marriage his beloved wife Agnes passed and Lt. Izac lived the remainder of his life with his second daughter Anna in Fairfax, VA. By 1989 he was the oldest living Medal of Honor Recipient and on his 99th birthday he was honored by Willard Scott on the Today Show.

ON 18 January 1990, Lt. Edourad Izac died in his sleep of congestive heart failure. He was the last surviving Medal of Honor Recipient from WW1. He was laid to rest at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA in Section 3, Lot 422216.

While I never had the honor of meeting Lt. Edourad Izac, my family and I will be traveling to Washington, D. C. in September for an art show that my son Eric-Paul Riege will be a part of at the National Gallery of the Arts. While there we will be visiting Arlington National Cemetery and paying our respects to this amazing and humble war hero of WW1.

Here is a picture of Lt. Izac and his Tiffany Cross Medal of Honor and headstone at Arlington National Cemetery. The Lt. Edourad Izac Medal of Honor Display At the Comfort Suites in Gallup, NM

“The legacy of brave men and women who fought and died for their country is the freedom we enjoy as Americans.”

Mangos peak season runs from May through September, but you can find them year-round they are imported.

A New Fruit to Incorporate:TheMango

Just a cup of sliced mango is 107 calories

28 grams of Carbohydrate

3 grams of Fiber

Packed with Vitamin C

Good source of Vitamin A and also Folate

Mango Salsa

2 large ripe mangos, chopped

1 large red bell pepper

½ large red onion, chopped

1 jalapeno, finely diced and seeds removed

¼ cup of cilantro, chopped

Pinch of salt

Juice of 1 lime

Mix all of the ingredients together, enjoy right away or after refrigerated. Serve with chips or use as a condiment with protein bowls, tacos, burritos.

FAMILY P ART of the

By Michele Laughing-Reeves

One of the most difficult parenting decisions to make is when your child asks for a puppy. As adults, we know that pet ownership is a huge responsibility; it requires attention, care, and money. However, I grew up on a farm, and I had the privilege of having all sorts of family pets. We had the usual farm pets, like ducks, chickens, rabbits, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, dogs, cats, and I once had a horse named Snowy for a brief time. Yes, it was a huge responsibility to feed them all, to care for them, and to pay the veterinarian bill if one were to get sick or injured. As a kid who spent most of my childhood playing with our “pets,” I never had to ask for a pet. Sometimes we got a pet without asking.

My earliest memory of a pet is of our childhood guard dog, Bo Jo. I don’t know how Bo Jo came to be our pet; perhaps, he was a wandering Rez dog that found us and decided to stay. This dog was the last one to see us off whenever we left home and was the first to greet us upon our return. He would walk, or run, with us to the bus stop and meet us on our afternoon walk home. It seemed that Bo Jo would live forever, until he left for the playground in the sky.

Around the same time, we had a bull calf named 777. 777 was ironically named after the unrideable bull on the rodeo circuit in the

mid-70s. Our 777 was one of those tiny calves born in the harshest conditions of Winter and only survived because we took him into the house. Yes, we built a temporary pen in our living room, right next to the stove. As with any other baby animal needing special care, we raised him in our house, and just like a baby, 777 would moo in the middle of the night to let us know he was hungry, which meant one of us had to wake up to make him a bottle, more like a jug, of milk. When Spring came, and it was finally warm enough for Triple 7 to spend his days outside, he didn’t venture far from home or from us. It was in that way he grew up alongside us. It felt like he was one of us, so mischievous and playful. There were times when we wore chewed-through clothes to school because 777 had gotten to the clothesline--again. When he was old

enough to be outside the corral, Triple 7 would also wait for us to come home from school, so we could play together.

The unspoken rule on the farm stated that once we named a pet, we weren’t allowed to eat it. I’m sure that is a standard rule in every house, but back then we took that rule very seriously. When the ewes and goats were delivering babies in the Springtime, we did our best to get ahead of the rule by handing out names left and right. However, as young kids, we couldn’t do much to enforce that rule, so it led to some tearful heartbreaks—which was definitely the case with Triple 7. We often took livestock to the market, and one day we came home to an empty pen. We knew this was part of the farming business, but it hurt, nevertheless. There have been many tearful good-byes over

the years.

Now, my son and daughter have experienced the same rites of passage. Cinnamon was my son’s first pet kid. She was the joy of Michael’s childhood, and soon Cinnamon was having babies. Her babies had babies and so forth. When Cinnamon had gotten too old, she too went to the market, but her great, great granddaughter “Yams” became my daughter’s favorite pet. Yams is the most, what seems to be intentionally, stubborn pet we have on the farm. She loves to aggravate everyone--it is almost like she is human.

Regardless of how cute and cuddly our pets are now; parents still need to debate with their child about pet ownership. The debate is soon forgotten once you hold the puppy for the first time, and that is how we got our Charles. Charles was our chocolate Labrador who instantly became part of the family. Charlie, as he became known, was there for every birthday, for every family get-together, for every holiday, for every road trip, and for those quick spins around the block. No one flinched when Charlie needed (a pricey) surgery to repair a broken hind leg, and we all pitched in to nurse him back to health. We knew Charlie entered old age when his vitality decreased, and he spent more time lying on the sofa— yes, the sofa. We were fortunate that Charles outlived the typical life span of his breed, but we inevitably were forced to make the tough decision to have him put down. As my parents made sure we were away at school when our “pets” were hauled off, we made sure Michael and Kiyaannii were away at school when Charles was taken to the veterinarian.

At the end of it all, the decision to get an adorable chocolate Lab and the decision to have him put down were the toughest decisions to make, but they were also the right ones.

People Reading

Genevieve B Cooley, Di’Orr Greenwood a Dine Native Skateboard Artist from Fort Defiance, AZ and Adrian Lowery reading the Gallup Journey at the Art of the Skateboard Commemorative First Day of Issue Dedication Ceremony in Phoenix, AZ on March 24th, 2023 in conjunction with the PHXAM 2023 Contest. Di’Orr’s skateboard art, top right, is one of four artists selected to be featured on a USPS Forever Stamp.

Zuni Summer Lunch Program Sites

Begins June12 through July 21, 2023

LUNCH SERVED

Cottonwood Playground

Monday-Friday 11:30am -12:30pm

Lake Side Community Center

Monday-Friday 11:30am -12:30pm

New Fair Grounds

Monday-Friday Noon -1:00pm

Christian Reform Mission School

Monday-Friday

Breakfast 7:30am - 8:15am

Lunch Noon -1:00pm

Shiwi Tsana Playground

Monday-Friday 11:30am - 12:30pm

Bluebird Basketball Courts

Monday-Friday 12:30pm -1:00pm

Old Dowa Yalanne Elementary

Monday-Friday 12:30pm -1:30pm

Old Subdivision

Monday-Friday 12:30pm -1:00pm

June 12 - 21

WIC Healthy Lifestyle Office

Lunch 11:30am - 12:30pm

Summer School

June 5 - July 21

Zuni High School

Monday-Friday Breakfast 7:30am - 8:15am Lunch Noon -1:00pm

June 5 - July 21

Shiwi Tsana Elementary

Monday-Friday Breakfast 7:30am - 8:15am Lunch Noon - 1:00pm

May 30 - June 9

St. Anthony School

Monday-Friday Breakfast 8:00am - 8:30am Lunch 12:00pm -12:30pm

June 5 - July 21

Christian Reformed Mission School

Monday-Friday Breakfast 8:30am-9:00am Lunch Noon-1:00pm

Don Diego’s Restaurant & Lounge 2022 Best Stuffed Sopapilla

New Mexicans love their sopapillas. In fact, if you Google, “Where did the sopapilla originate,” you get the answer, Albuquerque, New Mexico. You will find contests across our great state that celebrate the best stuffed sopapillas. Don Diego’s won that honor for Gallup last year and is looking for a repeat. So, whether you like yours with beef, chicken, no meat, red chile, green chile, or smothered head down to Don Diego’s and find out why this stuffed sopapilla was voted a Gallup Greats!

Endangered Species the Navajo Nation Zoo

La Montanita Co-op 2022 Best Grocery Store

The idea of a co-op is that it is a community store, not some big corporation that is not giving back to the local residents who use its services. If you have never been in our food cooperative, you need to take the time to visit. The space is packed with healthy choices and a large selection of offerings. You will find a number of local suppliers like Native American Beef that uses high quality beef from our area Native American ranchers. Plus, you can always place orders for those specialized items that you just cannot find anywhere. It is time you became a member of La Montanita Co-op!

GALLUP GREATS

The Best of 2023

ASK WHAT WE DID TO DESERVE THIS HONOR!

Jerry’s Café 2022 Best Enchiladas

Getting a seat during peak breakfast, lunch, or dinner times can often be a challenge at Jerry’s Café. The dedication of their loyal customers lets you know exactly how good the food is at this Gallup institution. Last year they took the prize for the best enchiladas and green chile. The menu is filled with great tasting New Mexican favorites, and even has some of those Jerry’s originals you can’t find anywhere else. Go ahead and explore the menu and find your favorite Jerry’s dish and vote!

Building Bikes out of Juniper!?

Iconic Bicycle Builder Teaches High Schoolers New Skills

Each Spring Rehoboth Christian School offers students a week of alternative studies that introduce new skills that range from chef level cooking, to competitive chess, to classic rock guitar lessons. This year, however, a handful of students were likely confused when their first day of instruction had them wandering the grounds of the school looking for pieces of juniper wood they were told would soon become a bicycle?

Little did they know that legendary bike builder, Craig Calfee, was their guest instructor. Craig was the first person to build a bicycle out of carbon fiber, and crafted the first carbon fiber bike used in the Tour De France, by Greg Lemond (the only American to win the prestigious cycling event). Innovative and boundary defying, Craig also pioneered the use of bamboo as a sustainable bike frame building material, becoming the first to offer a production bike made of the plant in 2005.

The concept of making bikes from bamboo fueled Craig’s travels to Africa with the purpose of teaching rural communities the unique and wonderful properties of bamboo. He guided them through the process of building bamboo bicycles by hand, with the goal of helping them find a reliable and sustainable source of transportation.

Rehoboth Art Teacher, Rudy Folkerts, partnered with Craig on a such a trip to Africa, where they became friends. At Rudy’s invitation Craig came to Rehoboth to teach bike building, but instead of using bamboo Craig decided to use a local material, juniper wood, so students could learn to build bikes out of what was growing in their backyards.

The week-long course was a flurry of sanding, shaping and bending the various pieces of wood, careful registration for drive train points, and then bonding them together with epoxy. Rehoboth also offers as a part of it’s regular High School curriculum a course in bicycle repair called, Bike Tech. Taught by Rehoboth teacher, Chad Meekof, that class teaches and certifies kids as qualified in the repair and maintenance of bicycles.

But building a bike frame from scratch was a whole new level of experience for students. In the end, the kids build a great, functional bike. Craig says, “Juniper is a special material, it is structurally efficient and it has great character. I really had a enjoyable time working with the kids who made it.”

The Bike-Tech class at Rehoboth has purchased the necessary equipment to hopefully continue making wood bikes in the future. Craig’s business, Calfee Designs (https://calfeedesign.com/), is based in La Selva Beach, California, where he continues to make award-winning bikes and explore creative possibilities for cycling.

Craig with students assembling the wood frame.

A Rehoboth student bends wood to fit the frame template.

Craig Calfee takes a picture of the first known bike made of juniper wood.

ANXIETY, WHAT IS IT AND CAN IT BE HELPED?

It’s so great that mental health in general has become so widely accepted, and so many people are interested in learning more about mental health issues!

Anxiety is one of the more talked-about mental health challenges, which is very helpful for people who have anxiety, and for those who are close to or related to someone who has anxiety.

What is anxiety? Well, anxiety is fear, a fear response which occurs in the absence of a realistic threat. This is something that happens to us all, but when it occurs a lot more often than is typical it becomes anxiety.

It’s important to recognize that the experience of anxiety is not only mental but involves us physically and emotionally as well. It helps those of us who have anxiety and those who don’t to understand these elements.

Mental, or thought-based anxiety is frequent. It’s intrusive. It’s repetitive. We have thoughts about something we fear or worry about; these thoughts are very difficult to manage and threaten to overwhelm or exhaust us when we have them. When we have these thoughts, we’re often embarrassed by them, and are reluctant to speak about them – fearing being misunderstood, judged, or worse, just dismissed by others. As a result, the anxious thoughts get worse, and spiral in on themselves, on and on.

The physical elements of anxiety include many reactions and patterns. Frequently, these include: difficulty breathing, chest pressure, rapid heart beating, numbness or tingling in fingers, toes, arms or legs, urges to urinate or defecate or intestinal distress (including or leading to IBS – Irritable Bowel

Syndrome), and heavy sweating. There are other variations, these listed are the most common.

Emotional aspects include not only feelings of fear and worry. But also, feelings of shame, of feeling weak and small. We begin to feel isolated from others, afraid of being judged and found to be inadequate by those who matter most to us. This often leads to a great deal of reluctance to tell others about the experiences connected to anxiety. This easily leads to isolating more, which leads us to feel alone and that we are the only ones who have these problems. Given these swirling and compounding effects – and energy draining - it’s easy to understand how anxiety often leads to depression.

Fortunately, anxiety is one of the easiest problems to treat. The relief that comes with being able to speak freely to someone who understands and accepts your experiences is a huge relief. We are not alone! Then it becomes easier, through talking about it, to find just what contributing factors have been making us anxious. Often these factors include: our family history (which contributes biologically and via learned behavior and reaction patterns), physical issues, history of abuse (which may mean PTSD, very much associated with anxiety), other pressures and personal issues, and more. Our being able to discuss, separate and work on these matters also helps alleviate the pressure and confusion that comes with anxiety.

I don’t mean it’s easy to work on and alleviate anxiety, I do mean that it’s very doable. Even though it’s complicated, step by step it evolves and usually is successful. Medication isn’t always necessary; anxious folks often don’t want to turn to medication, and it helps to know it may not be needed. Even if it is and it’s not the main focus of treatment, it is helpful to feel that one can work on the issues and feel successful.

Finally, I have found that people who are anxious types are also quite gifted, in different ways. It helps a lot to see that part of yourself too!

Navajo Nation Zoo

Monday-Saturday 10 am to 5 pm

Admission is FREE

Hwy. 264, Bldg. 34, Window Rock, AZ 86515

navajozoo.com

The Navajo Nation Zoo is a home to injured or orphaned wildlife. It houses over 50 different species of native animals to the Navajo reservation and the Southwest. The zoo sits among the beautiful red rocks and is a fun trip for your family. Visit the website for more information and tips.