Essence Dec2010-Jan2011

the Essence of Los Alamos and White Rock December 2010/January 2011, Volume 3, Issue 7

Giving & Neighbors Walter Barkley, Essential Person YMCA’s Black & Red Ball Joyce Richins - Watching LA Grow Kiwanis kids

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Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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the Essence Walter Barkley- Helping others help themselves ......... 6 YMCA’s Black & Red Ball .....8 Joyce Richins Watching LA Grow.............. 10 Made in Los Alamos Affordable Art Show ......... 12 Lab Helps Throughout the Region ............................................. 14 Chamber Checks Perfect Holiday Gift ............ 16 Kiwanis Kids ................................ 16 Calendar of Events

Local Happenings in Your Town...............

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Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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Editor’s Note Welcome to the Essence! It has been a year now that I have been editor of the Essence, a bi-monthly publication, created to inform and remind us of what’s special about living in Los Alamos and White Rock. It has been my goal to bring the community a publication that is relevant to as many people as possible. With that, I would like to reinforce the message of the Essence. It is part of a larger vision from the Chamber of Commerce called CommunityMatters.

CommunityMatters is an effort to get citizens involved in sustaining Los Alamos as one of the nation’s best communities, as well as one of the world’s most important science centers. CommunityMatters participants work on a variety of things that matter in our community. They are the supporters of a multitude of local activities and services...charities, social services, senior activities, athletic events, activities for youth and adults, concerts, dances, festivals, history and education.

Your support makes it possible for participants (listed on the left) to give back. You help build a stronger community when you shop locally. Taxes paid on purchases flow to our local government to help fund fire, police, cultural, recreational, and infrastructure services and facilities that provide a foundation for our community.

The Essence aims to build and improve community relationships. Having said that, what’s quintessential about our community are the people. These resourceful, giving, hardworking individuals go largely unnoticed. The stories in the Essence are aimed at getting to know these people, business owners and organizations, a little better…giving them the recognition they deserve and reminding us why we chose to live here.

Participating CommunityMatters Chamber Members Assets in Action Atomic City Cleaning Bennett’s Jewelry B & B Environmental Safety Inc. Best Western Hilltop House Hotel Brownell’s Hallmark CB Fox & CB Fox Kidz

In this Issue of the Essence – Giving and Neighbors

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Reading this issue, you will discover a theme of ‘Giving and Neighbors’. It’s the time of year when we reflect on the blessings in our lives - giving and neighbors are a large part of that. If one feels blessed, then one feels the desire to give back.

Mandy Marksteiner, writes of one very special ‘Essential Person’ – Walter Barkley. Walter’s leadership with Self Help makes it possible for more people to help themselves. Complimenting that article, Mandy tells of Don Casperson’s dedication to community service.

In ‘The Frolic’, Carol Clark shares the YMCA’s vision as a community resource and its fundraising efforts for the Black and Red Ball.

Be sure read the CommunityMatters interview with Joyce Richins, Los Alamos Medical Center’s OB clinical manager, to get her take on community matters. You will be inspired.

For a bit of ‘Arts and Culture’, take a peek at the Affordable Art Show for gift ideas during the holiday season.

In the Business Essence, Linda Anderman of LANL Community Programs Office relates what LANL is doing to reach out to the community and give back.

Check out a gift that gives the economy a boost. Bernadette Lauritzen talks about Chamber checks. If you haven’t heard of them, please read the article. You won’t be sorry! She also writes about the gift of time and how invaluable that is.

Finally, ‘Edible Essence’ offers special recipes from a few great cooks that I thought would be fun to share with you during the holiday season.

I wish you all a very special holiday filled with love. I will leave you with this thought:

Family YMCA Family Strength’s Network Fuller Lodge Art Center Hill Diner Hope Fellowship Juvenile Justice Board Lorraine Hartway Los Alamos Family Council Los Alamos Farmers Market Los Alamos Fitness Center Los Alamos Heart Council

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members, a heart of grace, and a soul generated by love.” – Coretta Scott King

Los Alamos Historical Museum Los Alamos Heart Council Los Alamos National Bank Los Alamos Medical Center Los Alamos Properties Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation New York Life North Road Inn Pajarito Mountain Pet Pangaea Untied Way UNM Los Alamos Upex

ON THE COVER: Volunteers place wreaths on grave sites for LANL/LANS Wreaths Across America.

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Essential Person Walter Barkley’s Leadership Makes it Possible for More People to Help Themselves Ellen Morris Bond is the Executive Director of Self Help, Inc. and has known Walter Barkley for the six years that he has been involved with the organization.

By Mandy Marksteiner During the first session of the 2010- 2011 Leadership Los Alamos Class, Walter Barkley, who has been the Chairman of the Board of Self Help, Inc. for the past two years, learned an important lesson about himself.

During the weekend he and the other participants took a personality test to find out their leadership style. Based on the results of the test, people were divided into four distinct categories: driver, expressive, amiable and analytical.

Barkley wasn’t surprised that he was a driver. He sees the big picture, gets things done and knows how to effectively delegate – he was a perfect match. “The test told me who I was, but also let me know about others,” he said. “Before I was pretty insensitive to the other types. I just didn’t know where they were coming from.”

He especially had a hard time relating to analytical people.

They like to personally go through every detail, and he (as a driver) would rather see the big picture and focus on results.

His big picture thinking helped him to introduce changes that make Self Help, Inc. run more smoothly. His biggest success was to streamline their fundraising efforts so that they can give more money to people who need it.

When Barkley started, Self Help already received yearly allocations from the United Way. By carefully following The United Way’s instructions, they received more funding. “When I started they gave $60,000 per year, but last cycle they gave $100,000,” Barkley explained. “We showed them that we would respond to their requests: We re-wrote the by-laws. They were originally typed up on carbon paper in 1972. They weren’t written that well so we corrected the mistakes and brought them up to date. We also wrote a policies and procedures manual with a conflict of interest section.”

The Empty Bowl Project has been Self Help’s major fundraiser for the past 17 years but Barkley noticed that the fundraiser had become a major chore. He said, “It was too much work and the volunteers were getting burned out.”

Every year a number of artists produced all of the bowls for the event. Barkley eased their workload by purchasing prefabricated bowls that had already been fired from a company called New Mexico Clay.

Local artists still make bowls for Self Help when they have time, but buying the premade bowls has made it possible for Gillian Sutton, the Empty Bowls Coordinator, to arrange more bowlpainting parties at churches and schools.

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Self Help’s financial success is good news for many people in Northern New Mexico. Most of the money goes directly to people who need help. Their mission is to help families in need with onetime grants and to provide seed grants for small businesses.

Individuals and families can become more self-sufficient by taking advantage of Self-Help’s one-time grants.

• After the Cerro Grande fire they helped people obtain housing, food and utilities before they were able to obtain insurance benefits or assistance from other sources.

• They help victims of domestic abuse find housing on very short notice. In one situation they were able to buy and move a mobile home to the community where the victim lived.

• They accept donated cars, which they give to people to help them be more employable.

• They have helped people whose houses burned down to get furniture and other living necessities.

Bond believes that Barkley is an ‘Essential Person’ because, “He is a person who makes a difference in the community. We needed a strong driver in our stage as a non-profit. Through his effective leadership things are running very smoothly and communication has improved.

He is very involved in the community on many levels, in causes that he cares deeply about.”

His volunteer work includes: coaching little league and soccer, volunteering as assistant Scout Master of Boy Scout Troop 22, working as a merit badge counselor and a summer camp coordinator and serving as Eucharistic minister at Immaculate Hear He artt of M Mar ary y Ca Cath thol olic ic C Chu hurc rch h.

• They help people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol to pay for substance abuse treatment and counseling.

• They help homeless people from a broad geographical area find shelter. “There are homeless people in Los Alamos, even though most people think of us as a rich community,” Barkley said. “There was a guy living in his car and we helped him get a place to stay.”

• They prevent evictions and utility disconnections, especially in the winter.

They help small businesses get off the ground • They bought mirrors and a more secure cash register for a hair stylist who was opening her own salon.

• They helped a restaurant in Chama get started.

• They gave money to a business in Espanola that makes fabrics using antique weaving machines.

• They set money aside for school supplies.

Every year parents receive a list of supplies that their child needs for school. Some parents simply can’t afford it. Self Help asks the schools how many sets of supplies they need. Last year, they provided over $10,000 in school supplies.

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The Frolic Community generosity adds magical element to annual ball Lane’s wife Denise Lane, chamber member with both RE/MAX and the Hill Diner, has been involved in the local Y for more than two decades. “I love the YMCA because when I first came here 23 years ago I served on the YMCA board because I had little kids and I really cared about there being quality things for kids to do,” Lane said. “I’d bring my baby to the board meetings and all the members would be so patient about it. The Family YMCA is such a great community asset for both kids and gown-ups.” RBC Capital Markets has worked in Los Alamos for many years and has become a Family YMCA supporter. “We are very much into community support and especially with communities we work in,” Director Kevin Powers said. “Our managing director Paul Cassidy and I have worked with Los Alamos County and the schools here since the 1980s. When Sharon Stover mentioned this Red and Black Ball we thought it was just a great opportunity to give back to this community.” In 2000, The Family YMCA, located at1450 Iris St., held its first Red and Black Ball to help raise funds for its gymnasium. The nonprofit organization is a United Way member agency. “The United Way is really proud of the YMCA and the job it’s done,” United Way Executive Director Donna Schroeder said.

The upcoming Red and Black Ball is set for 5:30 p.m., Feb. 12, 2011 at Central Avenue Grill. The theme is “A night in Monte Carlo.”

For information, contact the Y at 662-3100.

By Carol A. Clark The YMCA Red and Black Ball has become one of the most popular events in town as evidenced by its annual sold out status. Held each year near Valentines Day, the event is all about raising funds for The Family YMCA to ensure that no community member is ever turned away from its programs because of inability to pay. The organization held its 10th consecutive gala last February and grossed an estimated $60,000. “Each new year seems to be our best ball ever in terms of fund raising and people having a great time,” said Executive Director Linda Daly of the Family YMCA. “We always have a full house at Central Avenue Grill and our live auctions are so much fun. We really appreciate all the donated auction items people contribute for this important event.” Youth from the Y-operated Española Teen Center contributed a number of items for the auction including jewelry and a wooden bench – all handcrafted by teens at the center. Daly extended a heartfelt thanks to all of the community members and organizations whose efforts help allow the YMCA to provide a variety of healthy and fun activities for area youth and families. She praised the Española teens and also commended top contributors Los Alamos National Bank, TRK Management, Lou Santoro’s State Farm Insurance, Polk Oil, Richard Cook and Los Alamos Medical Center for exhibiting such generosity. LAMC supports the work and the mission of the YMCA because its activities encourage healthy lifestyles for children and families. “In looking at the future of healthcare, reinforcing healthy choices will be an incredibly important factor in controlling the spiraling cost of healthcare delivery,” said LAMC Public Affairs Director Wendy Hoffman at February’s event.

The Family YMCA has been in Los Alamos since 1955. When people think about the YMCA, Daly said she hopes they know “that we are a community resource for youth, adults, seniors and families and that our focus is in the areas of health, wellness and youth development. We want them to know that our policy is that the Y is for everybody.”

Growing up in Los Alamos, TRK owner Roger Waterman spent a lot of time at the Family YMCA. His father was 15th of 16 kids and recounted to his children how when he was young, the only two places he could go that were free were the YMCA and church, and the Y was more fun.

“My father was always been a big supporter of the Y,” Waterman said at last year’s ball.

Lou Santoro of State Farm Insurance has served on the Family YMCA board for five years and works on fundraising events. He said that when a community serves its youth and provides them leadership then it’s a bright future. Other business and community leaders also shared their reasons why the organization is so important to them and to the community. Paul Parker owns Parker Construction and has been a supporter of the Family YMCA for many years. He said that the organization does a great job, especially with the kids and that they are an important community asset. Randall Ryti, president of Neptune and Associates also has been a big supporter of the Y for many years. The Y does a great job locally and also in Española, Ryti said, adding that he thinks it is important to support the Y. “The YMCA is really about the youth,” Attorney Mike Lane said during last year’s event. “It’s an investment in the community and what’s better than investing in our youth – They are our future.”

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The YMCA Gives Back County Council Vice Chair Sharon Stover has served on The Family YMCA Board for more than a decade. She explained that the local Y exists to serve the needs of the community. “We focus on youth, family and adult outreach, community health and personal well-being,” Stover said. “We partner to support active lifestyles and healthy life choices beyond our facilities for people of all ages. We never turn anyone away due to inability to pay thanks to support from the United Way, our ‘Strong Kids’ annual campaign and our generous contributors.”

The Y provided more than $50,000 in scholarships this year to youth and families for healthy, supervised, value-based programs and membership, she said.

“Our Española Teen Center is supported by the City of Española and grants and donors, however, we cannot accomplish our overall mission without the help of contributors. We are dependent on a goal of $100,000 of annual support to ensure that our programs can serve the needs of our community members. The generosity of the people who attend the annual Red and Black Ball helps us toward meeting that goal.” In 2009, the Y provided character building programs to 900 youth, nurtured 260 youth in after-school programs and another 380 youth through its summer camp enrichment program.

“We also provided leadership opportunities to more than 100 teens in programs including Los Alamos Youth Leadership, JUNTOS and Youth Mobilizers in partnership with the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board,” Stover said.

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Community Matters Interview: Joyce Richins Joyce Richins has lived in Los Alamos for most of her life. Her family moved to town from Washington State and settled in White Rock when Joyce was in the first grade. She grew up here until it was time for college and then returned here in 1993 after more than a dozen years away. Joyce and her husband Mike moved here with daughters Briana and Tyree.

Travis and Aliya were born here since.

Essence: Tell us about what you do, Joyce Joyce: I have worked at Los Alamos Medical Center for many years in the OB clinic. I am currently the OB clinical manager. Our team is involved with all of the births that take place here in Los Alamos.

Essence: That has to be a pretty interesting perspective on the community.

Joyce: We are involved with bringing about 250 new community members into the world each year in recent years. It used to be a bit higher than that. It is a neat perspective being involved with families during one of the big events of their lives, getting acquainted with them, and then following those kids as they grow. Quite a few of all of the kids currently in school here came into the world at the LAMC. Essence: In the Essence, we are trying to tell the stories of the people, places, businesses, events, and activities that make Los Alamos and White Rock a special community. What do you think about the concept of community here?

Joyce: It was interesting to grow up here, move away for many years, and then move back. As a kid growing up in White Rock it seemed like a pretty small world. Everything that seemed to happen happened close by in our neighborhood. Neither of my parents worked at the Lab so that always made us seem different.

Now I see a lot more of the connections. There seem to be a lot more opportunities for connections … all the community events create opportunities to get together. Winterfest, which is one of my favorites is coming up. Halloweekend was a big one that just happened.

The Farmers’ Market is super. When my kids were little, they used to call that the “umbrella party.” I know that all of these things don’t just happen by themselves. They take a lot of work and support by local people, local organizations, and local businesses. That motivates me to support all those local Chamber members.

Joyce: Well, the short story is that Morrie and Cheryl Pongratz asked and it was hard to turn them down. They Foundation Board wanted and needed parents of school age kids to get involved. When I thought about it, it was clear to me that everyone has something they can contribute to make a better community. I didn’t know anything about the money issues other than there are issues. But I do know people …. parents and kids and what they want and need from our schools. I felt privileged to be asked and I did not give a second thought to getting involved.

Being involved has made it clear to me that the old “it takes a village” cliché is pretty true. I see so many organizations and businesses playing a role. Whether it is Kiwanis Club, the LA Senior & Retiree Organization, volunteers and leaders from local businesses and organizations, or donations from businesses and individuals, so many contribute. People want to help and ask how. I think it is only natural and I think it is important to help them in return by patronizing their businesses and organizations. I encourage everyone to think about these connections on a very conscious level.

Richins

Essence: Any other thoughts to share?

Joyce: I think our community is getting better over time. A childhood friend of mine Carrie Hanlon visited me from afar and observed how cute of a small town we have here. My kids coming back on break from college have expressed a newfound appreciation for Los Alamos. Sometimes I think it is hard for people to remember how great of a community we have if they can’t take a step back for perspective. But it takes working together to keep it that way and improve it. Just remember … everyone has something they can contribute to make a better community.

Essence: You are involved right now as a volunteer with the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation Board. How did that come about and what’s that like?

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Arts & Culture

“made in los alamos” It has a ring to it, doesn’t it? Who says Los Alamos doesn’t have much in the way of manufacturing?

There are dozens of people in town who produce things for the market – the affordable art market, that is. Artists and crafters work year round to get ready for the annual Affordable Art show at Fuller Lodge Art Center. It is a much anticipated event, bringing art-lovers and art-makers from all over northern New Mexico together. This year will be no different – dedicated shoppers and gift-givers have been mapping out their plans for months.

With more than 90 people represented in the consignment shop and more than 30 special artists’ work brought in for the Affordable Art show, shoppers are bound to find something that suits them to a T. Not everything is locally made, but many of the out-of-towners have local roots, like Cricket Messersmith, whose washi (Japanese paper) boxes are perennial favorites. Cricket’s work was a mainstay of the gallery shop when she lived here in town, and she has sent extra boxes just for her local collectors.

Debby Cromer is fairly new to the area, and a recent retiree. She said that she volunteers at the Art Center because she loves the shop. “I already buy stuff here because I love it – there’s such a variety here, and the quality across the board is very high.” There is an additional incentive to volunteer in that regular volunteers can get a discount on purchases, but she does believe that volunteering is a great way to get to know a community and become a part of it. She also volunteers at the Los Alamos Historical Museum, the Betty Ehart Senior Center and the Los Alamos Medical Center.

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The Art Center is operated by Ken Nebel, who also owns and operates Village Arts, the art supply and framing store, on DP Road. Ken got the contract from the county to operate the Art Center in July of this year, and has been working ever since to keep the popular features from the old Art Center while bringing in new ideas of his own. He is himself a working artist, teacher and illustrator. He became familiar with the business side of art while working for Marilyn Warren, the previous owner of Village Arts.

The Art Center is managed by another Village Arts alum, Amy Bjarke. “So many people have asked about the show (Affordable Art), we had to bring it back,” Amy said. We have glassblowers, artists’ cards, wreaths, birdhouses, chili ristras, tin work, rag rugs – you name it, we’ve got it,” Amy says.

Silk scarves, woven scarves and knitted scarves are popular gifts, but time-consuming to make- so if you’ve run out of time, this is your chance to still give a handmade gift – and chances are, it will have been made by a friend or neighbor. Jewelry made of glass and crystal and semi-precious stones, of precious metals and copper wire, of paper and string.

Unique, unusual, spectacular, beautiful, handcrafted, made with love- wouldn’t anyone love a gift with those characteristics?

The Affordable Art show will be open through December, until January 3.

For more information about Fuller Lodge Art Center, go to fullerlodgeartcenter.com

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Volunteer Debby Cromer enjoys working among the beautiful handcrafted goods for sale at the Fuller Lodge Art Center.

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Business Essence Lab Helps Throughout the Region

By Linda Anderman, CPO Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is committed to giving back to its Northern New Mexico neighbors, and their employees and retirees and do so through their gifts of time, talent, and money. While Los Alamos National Laboratory and its manager, Los Alamos National Security, LLC (LANS) are involved in community giving yearround, it’s in the fall and winter months that this work peaks.

Lab employees and LANS pledged more than $3 million to nonprofit organizations during 2010. Additional charitable giving comes in the form of scholarships, food, gifts, school supplies, monetary contributions, and even shoes disA volunteer places Christmas wreaths at tributed to children who need the Santa Fe National Cemetary during the them.

Wreaths Across America event.

“We had a record-breaking Employee Giving Campaign this year,” said Kurt Steinhaus, head of the Lab’s Community Programs Office. “With employees contributing more than $1.5 million this year, and LANS matching those contributions to the $1 million level, that means a lot of nonprofits will receive the benefits of our employees’ generosity.”

Just how many nonprofit organizations will benefit from the most recent giving campaign?

As of the latest count, designations have been made to 310 of them.

However, while the Employee Giving Campaign garners the most cash donations, it’s far from the only community-oriented giving activity that takes place at the Lab.

Year-end Giving Feed the 500—This year, Lab employees and contractors are being asked to help fill 500

Take a Turkey to Work Day—The title of this program refers to employees and contractors bringing a frozen turkey to work as a donation—and not any potential companions in their vehicles. The goal for this effort is to garner 500 turkeys.

Holiday Gift Tag Drive—Each year the Lab and a number of community organizations identify children and seniors who could benefit from a holiday gift. For this activity, employees and contractors obtain gift tags that identify the gender, age, and gift request of individuals whose holiday spirits could use a lift. In some cases, employees within organizations work together to purchase large-ticket items, such as bicycles.

Wreaths Across America—For the second year, LANS, SOC-Los Alamos, URS, and Lab employees will contribute funds and volunteer to help place wreaths on gravesites at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on December 11. Last year, more than 150 employees and their families participated in the event.

Giving During Other Times of the Year LANL Laces—The only year-round giving opportunity, LANL Laces collects funds to purchase shoes for children identified as needing them by their school counselors. Periodically, volunteers take hundreds of children for fittings at “The Shoe Department” in several locations within the state.

School supply drive—During the annual school supply drive held this past fall, more than 1,100 backpacks were collected, along with 1,475 notebooks and 280 reams of paper.

Chili Bowl—The Fourth Annual Chili Bowl this past spring raised more than $20,000 for the San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen in Espanola. The event has become very popular over the past few years with 700 tickets sold at the 2010 event, which included more than 34 entries of red and green chili and a variety of salsas.

Volunteer - linked Contributions—Each spring, for the past several years, LANS has contributed funding based on where employees and retirees have volunteered. With a minimum of 100 hours volunteered within the calendar year, and continuing up to 500 hours per year, these nonprofit organizations have received an additional $100 to $500.

Organizations that benefit and partner on these efforts include the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation, United Way of Santa Fe County, United Way of Northern New Mexico, San Martin de Porres Soup Kitchen, St. Elizabeth Homeless Shelter, Taos feeds Taos, Espanola Valley Toy Run Inc., St Vincent de Paul, Wings For Hope, Portage, Inc., SOCLos Alamos, URS, Wreaths Across America, The Shoe Department, LA Cares, and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.

For additional information, contact the Lab’s Community Programs Office at (505) 6654400.

food baskets to help those in need by bringing 10 items each.

Take a Second to Make a Difference

By Bernadette Lauritzen The gift of time is occasionally overlooked when as a society we are constantly fundraising for a multitude of programs.

Take A Second, Make A Difference is the theme of the community building activities of the Assets In Action program.

Last year, Assets In Action (AIA) launched the first annual Community Awards Ceremony based on the attributes of the 40 Developmental Assets from the Search Institute.

Approximately forty, clubs, organizations, businesses, individuals and couples were awarded a certificate of appreciation and treated to dessert buffet as thanks for their effort.

The mini gala was also sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, URS, and the Chamber of Commerce, with a little help from AM 1490, KRSN and the Los Alamos Monitor.

The work of Assets involves eight categories; Support, Empowerment, Boundaries & Expectations, Commitment to Learning, Positive Values, Social Competencies and Positive Identity.

Peter Song walked away with the first annual Spirit of the West Award, given in the name of former County Councilor and Leadership Los Alamos Alumni, Jim West.

Jim and I believed in the need to recognize youth in the community for their valuable contributions, not related to good grades or sports. The idea was extended to the larger community where we

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could recognize the good deeds of many throughout the year.

The 2009 winners included familiar names like, Sharon Stover and Morrie Pongratz, but also some additional life long contributers like; Rita Sanchez, Carol Hermes, Sharon Jewett and TJ Cooper.

The youth category held a dozen entries with Song being recognized for helping fellow students overcome learning obstacles.

Song became both a student and a teacher assisting students in accomplishing their goals, which contributes to the Asset category of Life Long Learning.

The nomination form is available online at www.AssetsInAction. info and can be completed in just several minutes. Those that prefer the handwritten version are welcome to commit pen to paper, answering the same questions or requesting an official form via mail or email.

The nominations need to be completed by mid to late December, with the winners being recognized in January again with a dessert banquet.

Additional information about nominations, those wishing to sponsor a table at the event for a small fee or those wishing to make any financial contribution to the program may contact the Assets In Action office at 661-4846.

Essence December 2010 - January 2011

TJ Cooper an auxiliary volunteer at the Los Alamos Medical Center receives an award from Assets in Action Coordinator Bernadette Lauritzen www.ReadTheEssence.com

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Discover Our History

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Starlight sparkles and little fires glow Over the white and silent snow And a Christmas wish that is old and true Shines from our mesa land for you*

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Our best to you and yours this season.

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Share time with family and friends during a visit to the Los Alamos Historical Museum Free Admission 10-4 Mon.-Sat., 1-4 Sun. www.losalamoshistory.org 505-662-6272

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*Poem by Peggy Pond Church. This and other holiday cards and gift items are available in the Historical Museum Shop.

www.losalamoschamber.com

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Business Essence

Give the gift that gives the local economy a boost

By Bernadette Lauritzen Some people find the holidays a horrible time and those people are usually the ones that hate to shop. This year the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce hopes to make it easier with Chamber Checks.

Local resident Ronda Harmon found herself the proud recipient of $500 in Chamber Checks after a raffle ticket was pulled with her name on it.

“Winning was awesome,” said Harmon, I never imagined they would call My name! $500 is a lot of money!

According to Harmon, her choice of places to spend them were great. “There are several restaurants, and a good variety of other businesses that are members. I spent the Chamber Bucks in several different places.”

Harmon enjoyed using them to eat out and used her generous side to purchase gifts for others with them too. “Chamber Bucks are great gifts because of the variety of businesses where they can be spent and the many options for merchandise. It is also a good opportunity to support the businesses that the community and schools so heavily rely on. It’s a win-win situation,” Harmon said.

Chamber Member Services Director, Katy Korkos couldn’t agree more. Korkos not only runs the program but loves to give them as gifts too. “I buy Chamber checks because they’re the perfect gift – that is, people can buy what ever they want with them. They can choose to buy a meal, or a sweater or a water bottle, they can re gift them to a charitable organization or put them in the collection basket at church – what ever gives them pleasure,” Korkos said.

Korkos says that Chamber Checks allow residents to think about local spending and demonstrate what businesses they value because of how they contribute to the quality of life we

have here.

“All Chamber members accept them-and you’ll get a list of chamber members in the envelope with the checks,” Korkos said.

The checks come in denominations of ten dollars and can be given year round. They make excellent gifts for teachers and staff members that often overlook themselves in order to further the work of their students.

The portable presents are also available in bulk for larger organizations that like to reward their employees at the end of the year. They are packaged in an attractive envelope and are redeemed just like cash.

Korkos is ready for the gift giving season and believes that if given the gift of Chamber Checks this year, she would give hers to the United Way of Northern New Mexico Community Action Fund, to benefit all kinds of social services in the region. She stated that fact while proudly wearing their United Way, fundraising chair hat.

Find out more about Chamber Checks, Member Services and more at 662-8105 or visit their website at www.losalamoschamber.com

Kiwanian of the year is working to get kids involved

By Mandy Marksteiner When Don Casperson joined the Kiwanis in 2009, everyone in the club noticed his productive start. Because of his dedication to community service, Casperson was honored last October as the 2010 Kiwanian of the Year. Now he’s helping young kids gain community service experience by helping to form the Builders Club and K-Kids.

Joanna Gillespie, executive director of the Los Alamos Public Schools Foundation, told the club that LAPS had planned to refurbish room E-19, a chemistry lab that was built in 1962 and was starting to look its age.

Even though Casperson had just joined the Kiwanis a few months earlier, he took on the role of chairman of the project. He organized volunteers to disassemble, sand and refinish all the oak cabinet units, paint the wall cabinets and replace the bottoms of the drawers with a durable black laminate that matched the new black tabletops.

LAPS had raised $87,000 for the refurbishment project. Since members of the Kiwanis, the Key Club and LAPS provided their time, completing nearly 500 hours in volunteer labor, LAPS was able to stretch those funds much further. They hired a contractor to refinish the floor and ceiling, and replace a wall, install an ADA compliant workstation, upgrade the sinks, fixtures and electrical system.

Young students inspired by how much a group of volunteers can accomplish now have an opportunity help others by joining a Kiwanis affiliate club specially formed for junior high and elementary students.

Casperson and Morrie Pongratz are the official Kiwanis Advisors to the Builders Club at the junior high and the K-Kids club at Barranca Elementary School. Both clubs provide kids with a chance to complete service projects and get leadership training.

Hopefully, students who join these clubs will be interested in joining the Key Club when they reach high school and the Kiwanis when they become adults.

Builders Club is a student-led community service organization that selects projects that meet their communities’ needs. Examples of what other Builders Clubs have done include: raising money for HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa, organizing recycling or canned food drives, and cleaning up local parks.

In cities across the country, the Builders Club has over 42,000 members. Students develop leadership, improve self-esteem, increase civic engagement and learn life skills through service.

Stephanie Krantz teaches 8th grade science, GATE science, and Casperson community service at the middle

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school. She is also the faculty advisor for the newly forming Builders Club.

At this point they’re trying to build their membership and elect officers.

Although they haven’t lined up a specific service project yet, the students were interested in adopting a family, or running a food drive for LA Cares. “I’ve been trying to let them decide what to do because it’s ultimately their club,” said Krantz.

Any seventh or eighth grade student can join the Builders Club – just show up! They meet every Wednesday during 6th period lunch in room 127, by the science rooms.

Kiwanis Kids (or K-Kids) has more than 33,000 elementary school student members nationwide. K-Kids work together on service projects, develop leadership potential and create strong moral character.

Examples of K-Kids service projects include: organizing clothing, book, food and recycling drives; planning teacher appreciation events; creating greeting cards for nursing home residents, making sew-free blankets for children’s hospital patients and making picture books for kindergarten students.

K-Kids has generated a lot of interest at Barranca Elementary School. 27 students attended the first meeting. Sharron Allen is the faculty advisor.

Any school can form a branch of their own. A member of the faculty needs to volunteer to be the advisor and the Kiwanis will provide an official Kiwanis advisor.

Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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Edible Essence Bavarian Cream 1 c. milk plus 1 c. half and half 6 egg yolks 2 ⁄3 c. granulated sugar

1 tbsp. unflavored gelatin 3 tbsp. cold water Touch of vanilla

Put milk and vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Beat the egg yolks and the sugar on medium speed until the mixture whitens and forms a ribbon. Still beating, add the milk to the egg yolks. Pour the mixture back into the saucepan. Heat slowly, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon. DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL. When the liquid coats a spatula, remove from heat, and place the pan in a bowl of cold water to stop the cooking. WHILE STILL WARM, add the gelatin that has been dissolved in the cold water. Cool in refrigerator. Serve in dessert dishes.

Katy’s Fresh GingerBread ⁄4 cup minced fresh ginger ⁄4 cup white sugar 2 2⁄3 cups flour 1 1⁄4 tsp baking soda 1 Tbsp. ground ginger 2 tsp. cinnamon 3 ⁄4 tsp. dry mustard 1 1

⁄4 tsp. ground cloves 1 cup butter 3 ⁄4 cup brown sugar 1 ⁄3 cup molasses 1 ⁄3 cup strong coffee or espresso 4 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1

After finely mincing the fresh ginger, put it in a cup and cover with the white sugar. Leave that to develop a syrup, which will take a couple of hours before beginning the rest of the process.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Blend together the dry ingredients (flour, baking soda and spices) and set those aside.

In an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the brown sugar and butter together.

When that is completely blended, slowly add the molasses, the ginger/sugar syrup and the coffee.

Then add the four eggs, then add small amounts of the buttermilk alternately with small amounts of the dry ingredients. Place in a 9”x12” baking pan. Bake for approximately one half hour.

This is a delicious, spicy cake, best served warm- I love it with poached pears, or warm applesauce. And a generous dollop of whipped cream.

Angie’s Cheesecake 1 ½ inside packages of graham crackers 5 Tbsp. melted butter or margarine 2 (8oz.) pkgs. Cream cheese 1 cup sugar 2 eggs

3 egg yolks 2 (8oz) cartons sour cream 1 tsp vanilla 3 egg whites

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Crush graham crackers; stir in melted butter.

Press graham cracker mixture onto bottom and up sides of a greased 9-inch springform pan. Set aside.

Beat cream cheese until smooth. Add sugar and beat until fluffy. Add whole eggs and egg yolks, beat on low speed until just mixed. Stir in sour cream, lemon juice and vanilla.

In a separate bowl beat egg whites until stiff. Fold egg whites into sour cream mixture. Turn into prepared springform pan.

Bake for 60-65 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool on wire rack for 5-10 minutes then loosen sides of pan. Let cool for 30 minutes more then completely remove sides. Cool completely. Cover and chill for several hours or overnight. Serve with your choice of fruit topping or plain.

Makes 12-16 servings.

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Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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December 2010

Events 12/4 WinterFest ‘Sounds of the 12/8 PEEC presents: “Harvesting Holidays’ Lights Parade the Rain” talk and book signing Central Avenue downtown Los Alamos Annual holiday light parade

2 Mesa Public Library FREE Film 12/4 Ashley Pond Tree Lighting Series presents The Visitor Mesa Public Library Simmering drama about a college professor and recent widower, Walter Vale (Jenkins), who discovers a pair of home-less, illegal aliens living in his New York apartment.

3-5 WinterFest Downtown Los Alamos A three day celebration of winter’s beauty, fun, music, activities and tradition!

Ashley Pond Hundreds gather to see the trees around Ashley Pond that are brilliantly lit up for the holiday season.

Pajarito Environmental Education Center According to Nate Downey, “We simply have to collect, store, distribute, and reuse a small percentage of that which falls from the sky.”

12/4, 11, 18 Santa at CB Fox CB Fox Come see Santa at CB Fox!

Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Horse drawn wagon rides departing from the front of the Chamber of Commerce

selection of produce for their holiday cooking and decorating needs!

Masonic Temple Annual Gem show. Geodes and silent auctions, with things from jewelry to sand sculptures, to mineral specimens.

12/4 – 1/3 Affordable Arts Holiday Celebration Fuller Lodge Art Center

Extra shopping days just when you need them!

12/5 Starstruck Youth Theater presents Rap-Punzel Los Alamos Middle School This is a modern day fairy tale spoken in rhyme and for younger audiences.

12/4 New Mexico Dance Theater 12/5 Pet Pangaea’s Pet Photos presents ‘Twas the Night Before with Santa Pet Pangaea Christmas Fuller Lodge Dance of the classic holiday tale

12/4 Starstruck Youth Theater presents Rap-Punzel Pinon School This is a modern day fairy tale spoken in rhyme and for younger audiences.

Get your pet’s picture with Santa and donate to the Friends of the Shelter

12/5 10th Annual Holiday Luminaria Walk

Two special Nightwalks, which are special evening interpretive programs, are offered during the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

12/31 Valles Caldera National Preserve presents Fire & Ice New Year’s Eve Celebration Valles Caldera National Preserve Fees include moonlit permit to cross-country ski and snowshoe. There will be fireworks, hot cider, refreshments, and more.

January 2011

12/11 PEEC presents Holiday Eco-Crafts for Kids 1/11 Los Alamos Historical Pajarito Environmental Education Center Society Lecture Series - Bengt Children will create environmentally friendly holiday gifts using recycled materials Carlson: Super Computers and Apple Wine and objects found in nature.

12/4 Knights of Columbus Browse among the fine arts and crafts of sponors a Christmas Craft Fair 120 artists from northern New Mexico.

12/12 Los Alamos Community Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church 12/5, 12, 19 CB Fox Open Sundays Winds will perform Christmas with the Winds 12/4 Los Alamos Arts Council in December from 12 – 4pm.

White Rock Baptist Church presents Fuller Lodge Open House CB Fox Come celebrate the season with music!

Fuller Lodge The open house, a collaboration between the Los Alamos Arts Council and other community organizations, features children’s programs, local authors, refreshments, music, and the ever popular Red Cross Cookie Walk.

Los Alamos County Ice Rink Enjoy a quiet evening of holiday music, holiday lights, hot cocoa, and skating under the winter sky.

12/9, 16 Los Alamos Farmers Market Holiday Farmers Market 12/28, 30 Bandelier National 12/4 WinterFest Horse Drawn Fuller Lodge Monument Nightwalk Everyone will be love the fresh and organic Bandelier National Monument Wagon Rides

12/10 Los Alamos Symphony 12/4 Los Alamos Arts Council Orchestra Winter Concert 3-5 Dance Arts Los Alamos pres- presents Best Brass of Christmas Crossroads Bible Church Crossroads Bible Church ents The Nutcracker A holiday music coming together of brass Duane Smith Auditorium 12/10-11 Atomic City Children’s The Classic ballet performed by our local musicians from all over the country.

Theater presents Beauty and the youth dance organization 12/4 LAHS Dance Beast Jr. Fuller Lodge 12-Midnight Duane Smith Autitorium 12/3, 4 Church of Jesus Christ Hosted by MainStreet School theater production of a beloved of Latter Day Saints 16th Annual fairy tale about very different people findCreches From Around the World 12/4-5 Los Alamos Geological ing strength in one another and learning Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Society Earth Treasure Show how to love.

Annual display of international manger scenes from around the world.

12/24 Los Alamos County Recreation Department presents Christmas Eve Luminaria Skate at the Ice Rink

Fuller Lodge Todd Urbatsch will lecture on Manhattan Project veteran Bengt Carlson and his many contributions to Los Alamos and the world.

1/13 Los Alamos Farmers Market Farmers Market 12/18, 19 Los Alamos County Winter Fuller Lodge Recreation Department presents Everyone will be love the fresh and organic Skate with Santa and his Elves selection of produce for their cooking and Los Alamos County Ice Rink Santa always takes time during his busy holiday schedule to visit the Ice Rink!

decorating needs!

CB Fox

Sergei Babayan’s piano performances reveal an emotional intensity and bold energy.

1/22 Los Alamos Concert Association presents Sergei Ba12/21, 22, 23 CB Fox Open Late bayan ‘til 8 on Christmas Week nights Duane Smith Auditorium 12/24 CB Fox Open Christmas Eve 9:00 am to 3:30 CB Fox

North Mesa Stables The stables come alive with beautiful holiday spirit! Free hayrides, treats, hot cider.

12/5 Los Alamos Recreation De12/4 TOTH’s 8th Annual Chil- partment’s North Pole Workshop Los Alamos Posse Shack dren’s Christmas Bazaar Trinity on the Hill Epsicopal Church Time for children only to buy their holiday gifts – no parents allowed!

www.losalamoschamber.com

Participants of all ages can enjoy cookie decorating, holiday crafts, hot cocoa and a digital photograph with Santa and his helpers.

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Essence December 2010 - January 2011

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