July/August 2010
Mind Your Business
A Publication of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
WHAT’S INSIDE: LACDC
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SBDC
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CHAMBER
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MAINSTREET 8, 9 LAMVB
ChamberFest - Big Success! It takes a whole community to create a successful event on the scale of the 2010 ChamberFest, held June 11 and 12. From the fantastic sponsors - LANB, Compa Industries, SMSI, Zia Credit Union, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Security - to the volunteer committee who devoted time and energy to helping our staff with planning and promoting the event - to Russ Gordon, who brought the perfect music to the corner of Central and Main Street - to the County of Los Alamos, which gave us assistance with closing the streets, the sand pile and trash pick up - to the food vendors who came out to make everyone’s experience that much more pleasant - to
by Katy Korkos
friends and relatives of LACDC staff who always can be pressed into service to our accomplished staff who executed a fun event for everyone involved - all of the efforts are completely worthwhile because ChamberFest gives us a chance to showcase our members. Chamber members enjoyed the opportunity to meet new people and attract new customers with special offers and free samples. The car show and kids activities have proven to be great draws, and invite people to linger in downtown Los Alamos.If you didn’t get a chance to come, mark your calendars now for next year - June 10 and 11, 2011.
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FAN Club
The Next FAN Club July 21st LA Concert Association Duane Smith Auditorium 5:30 pm to 7:00 p.m.
Health Care Forum
July 28th - 3:30 pm Federal Health Care Legislation - How It Affects Your Business. Go to fyiLA.com for details
LACDC News LACD Performs Labor Study LACDC has recently performed an extensive Labor Study for the Los Alamos labor shed. Under its Business Development Services contract with Los Alamos County, LACDC partnered with Foote Consulting Group Inc. to perform a detailed analysis of the workforce within a thirty mile radius of Los Alamos County. Detailed workforce information is very important for several reasons. Quality and availability of workforce in an area are essential to economic development. Understanding the local workforce is critical to both local business retention and expansion as well as business recruitment. Performing a study helps to identify strengths and gaps in the workforce. The results can be a powerful marketing tool for the community. The study was comprised of three surveys: a random residential phone survey, an employer survey, and a survey of high school seniors performed by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce. Overall, the workforce ranked very high both in terms of quality and availability. Highlights of the results include: • 15,740 total workers in the area • Very well educated workforce – 57% with college degrees • 37% of workforce is technical in nature
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A word on....
LACDC Labor Study • 7,800 willing to change jobs • 2,000 career LANL employees eligible for retirement within 5 years • Large technically skilled trailing spouse group • Over 80 % of high school Seniors plan to attend college.
Final analysis is still being completed on parts of the data and should be completed in a few weeks. Please feel free to contact LACDC Business Development Director Patrick Sullivan to request a full copy of the final report. Patrick can be reached at Patrick@losalamos.org Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Painting A Vision What would you like the Los Alamos and White Rock community of the future to look like? Take a read through the following statements. •Envision…never hearing again that our lack of community ammenities make it difficult for employers to recruit. •Envision…never hearing again spouses cried or became depressed when they moved here •Envision…that people moving here did not suffer from sticker shock over the price of housing. •Envision…that people who come here to work….whether scientist, teacher, business person, policeman or clerk…see our community as their first choice for a place to live. •Envision…not needing to worry about the financial viability of our school system. •Envision…improving the quality of our school facilities to match the quality of our education. •Envision…additional technological and educational enterprises that offer ex-
panded employment opportunities to our current population.
•Envision…residents believing they can get their shopping needs met at acceptable prices right here in Los Alamos. •Envision…a downtown so attractive and inviting that people who visit go home and tell others how fabulous Los Alamos is. •Envision…businesses sharing how easy
July/August 2010
it was to get permits and make improvements to their businesses •Envision…that no one ever says, “There’s nothing to do around here”. •Envision…that Los Alamos has the well deserved reputation as the best place to raise kids. These are the kinds of future states that are appealing and that are seen as an opportunity to try to address through implementation of the County’s Economic Vitality Stra-
tegic Plan (EVSP). This plan was recently adopted to provide the first strategic view on economic matters that our local government has had in place in more than a decade. The four interrelated goals of the plan, together with its implementation strategy, provide the basis and rationale for actions to breath full life into these statements. The Chamber and LACDC will be working to contribute to see this plan put into action by our local government.
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UNMLA Small Business Development Center
The Youth Business Grant Program would like to say THANK YOU!
On behalf of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation and the UNM-LA Small Business Development Center, we would like to extend a special thank you to the following companies, organizations, and individuals for their support of the 2010 Youth Business Grant Program. In its 25th year, the program provides an opportunity for youth in the area to learn the basics of entrepreneurship and business operation. The program would not be possible without the contributions of time, money, and energy from a variety of sources. We wish to thank: Hope Pregnancy Center, KORrelations Institute, LLC., Buffalo Thunder Resort and Casino, Lorraine Hartway, CPA., Zia Credit Union, Los Alamos National Bank, and TRK Management for their generous financial support of this year’s program. We also want to thank and recognize the Los Alamos Monitor for their help in promoting all the youth businesses of Los Alamos. Additionally, we would like to thank the volunteers for 2010 who served on our interview panel and/or will volunteer time as a mentor: Bryan Farmer, Brian Korzec, Judy Ruggles, and Sarah Taylor. We had another successful year; 12 youth applicants received over $4600.00 in grants to run their businesses in the community. Here is a list of recipients: Clay Newell
LA Quality Lawn Care
505-662-9846 Yard work
Amanda Martinez
Amanda’s Room to Groom
505-351-1733 Dog/Cat grooming
Ashley Garduno
Garduno’s Weaving
505-351-1195 Handmade weaving
Chandler Lauritzen
Christ Cross
505-672-4089 Handmade crosses
Sidney Ellis
Sid’s Landscaping
505-695-0255 Yard work
Anna Wermer
Creations by Anna
505-661-6043 Knitting/cards
Brandyn Ortega
Ortega’s Lawn Care Plus
505-412-7160 Landscaping
Logan Cunico
Logan’s Yard Work
505-661-6937 Yard work
Domenic Cunico
Dom’s Landscaping & Yards
505-661-6937 Landscaping
Lauren TenCate
Topper T’s
505-672-1953 Tie-die T-shirts
Emily TenCate
Strictly Strings
505-412-8173 String quartet
Isaac Martinez
Mow for Low
505-747-7328 Yard work
If you have the opportunity, please employ these youth businesses. They are our future. Congratulations to our 2010 Recipients!
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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Chamber Business Spotlight
Hampton Inn
The Hampton Inn on State Road 4 in White Rock has been open since January 2003 but continuing upgrades keep it looking brand new even seven years later. With 72 rooms and suites, beautiful landscaping, a meeting room for small groups, a business center, 24-hour sauna and fitness room and high-speed Internet, the hotel offers all of the amenities that both families and business travelers are looking for. They serve a hot breakfast each morning and also keep coffee and tea available around the clock. Each room has high quality beds and bedding, a microwave, refrigerator and a flat-screen television. The Hampton has a selection of rooms and suites, including rooms and suites with one king bed or two queen beds. The bathrooms have stateof-the-art shower heads, luxurious towels and upgraded soaps and shampoos. Manager Nancy Chavez says that the things that set the Hampton apart from other local hotels are the quality of the staff, the excellent breakfast and the proximity to Bandelier and the Valles Caldera. The hotel often plays host to visitors of Los Alamos National Laboratory who are surprised to find out about all of the recreational opportunities in the area. The Hampton has recently signed on to offer a special rate for Valles Caldera visitors to receive a second weekend night at 50 percent off the first night’s rate. The offer is also being made by the Comfort Inn, the Holiday Inn Express and the Best Western Hilltop House, to entice people who are participating in Valles Caldera activities to stay close by and enjoy an extra day in Los Alamos. The hotel is locally owned by the Waterman family, who also operated the White Rock Motor Lodge on the site previously. Hampton Inns are part of the Hilton family of hotels, so they participate in the Hilton Honors rewards program. July/August 2010
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Chamber News
Thank You Kiwanis! In sincere appreciation, we want to thank the Kiwanis Club for refinishing our Chamber Conference Room Table. We are in the midst of sprucing up our offices and the conference room and will post a before and after photo in the near future.
Pictured above - Don Casperson accepting a donation on behalf of Kiwanis Club for refinishing the Chamber Conference Room Table
If anyone out there is wanting to help, we are in need of a painter to repaint a few walls. Contact Suzette Fox at 661-4844 or email suzette@
Katy's Corner - Regional Business Breakfast
Suzette Fox and I both attended a regional “Business Over Breakfast” hosted by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce at the Santa Claran Hotel in early June, with the purpose of making connections with business people from Santa Fe and Española but also to see how the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce does their breakfasts, with an eye to revitalizing ours.
always offered a very light breakfast free to Chamber members, but the Santa Fe Chamber charges for the food and the Santa Claran put on a lavish spread with a full breakfast. Ours have started at 7 and ended at 8:15, and theirs start at 8 and end at 9:30.
What both of our Chambers have in common is that attendance at the breakfasts has gradually been declining. We both think it’s because everyone is so busy- that’s pretty much a given, but maybe there is another cause?
So with all of these variables, what would it take to get you to come out to a business breakfast? And I’d like to throw out one more idea for your consideration- what if we all got together at 10 a.m. at a local member business like Ruby K’s or the Coffee Booth or Tea World? Should we assign a topic? Maybe the topic could be “What is the Chamber doing in regards to retail development?”
Our breakfasts have traditionally been more about informing ourselves, whereas theirs focus on networking, with everyone in the room given two minutes to say a little bit about themselves, their businesses and their pet projects. We have
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Please call or e-mail me with your ideas. Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Welcome New Members!
Business Name Contact Name Phone Fuller Lodge Art Center Chris Ward Energy, Technology, Environmental Business Association Scott Gustafson 505-662-0606 B-Fit Chiropractic Dr. Kim Lazarus 505-662-1905 Mountain Canine Corps Search/Rescue Larry Maassen 505-690-3496 Debbie Gill for Council Debbie Gill 505-982-4296 Hollywood Roofing Greg Gonzales 505-203-1553 Terranear PMC Susan Maestas 505-663-7106
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Non-profit Health & Medical Non-profit Government Contractor Contractor/Engineer
Chamber Member Anniversaries
Business Name
Date Joined
Atomic City Cleaning 2005 Burns and Roe Enterprises, Inc. 1997 COMPA Industries, Inc 2008 EMV Studios 2008 Fund Raising Solutions, LLC 2007 Kiwanis Club of Los Alamos 1978 LANL Community Programs Office 1996 Los Alamos Concert Association 2006 Los Alamos County Government 1997 Los Alamos Fitness Center 2003 Los Alamos Retirement Communities 2002 Los Alamos Youth Soccer League 2008 Mandy Marksteiner Writing and Editing 2008 North Wind, Inc. 2005 Pajarito Environmental Education Center 2003 Pearl’s Place 2009 Quizno’s 2003 Royal Crest Manufactured Home Commun. 2006 Sage Cottage Montessori School 2001 Smith’s Food & Drug 2006 Templeton Design & Custom Homes LLC. 1997 The Santa Fe New Mexican 2009 Title Guaranty & Insurance Co. 1984 Tritium Roofing 2009 Village Arts 1989 Virtual Los Alamos 1995
July/August 2010
Type of Business Non-profit
August
Business Name
Adobe Pines Bed & Breakfast Assets in Action Bella Cosa Flowers, Gifts, & Events Creative Consultants Digital Publications, LLC Eye Associates of New Mexico Fran Berting for County Council Gordons’ Concerts HomeHelpers & Direct Link J. Robert Oppenheimer Memorial Com. Los Alamos Chiropractic Los Alamos Orthodontics Lynn M. Finnegan, P.A.. Names & Numbers Telephone Directory Polk Oil Company Primak Builders River Mediation Services Stewart Central Title, LLC Waddell & Reed
Date Joined 1998 2007 2005 2009 2007 2003 1998 1993 2009 2005 1997 2008 2000 2001 1980 1995 2007 1998 1999
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MainStreet News & Events
For more information on the MainStreet Program please contact: Suzette Fox Phone: 505.661.4844 E-mail: suzette@losalamos.org www.LAmainstreet.com
July 16th - STEM Student Day - 9 am to 4 pm
7th through 12th graders can take advantage of an opportunity to spend the day with scientists, inventors and innovators. Experience Cyrogenics demonstration with liquid nitrogen to explore extreme cold; fractals in nature and build the world’s largest fractal triangle; see inventions in the works with thermoactuators and heat generators; hands on engineering design challenges; robot demonstrations! $50 registration fee - lunch included. Register at www.nextbigideala.com. Sponsorships are available.
July 17th - Next Big Idea - 11 am to 3 pm - Ashley Pond Showcase of Ideas! - A Festival of Discovery, Invention and Innovation •
Hands on Activities - Kids Discovery Zone
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Music/Food/Technology/Arts
A family-friendly event designed to inspire illuminate and educate through science, technology, arts, food and music! To be an exhibitor, register at www.nextbigideala.com
August 14th - Fair & Rodeo Parade
Save the Date for Fair & Rodeo Weekend - August 13-15! If you would like to participate in the Parade, go to www.fyiLA.com under events to register. The more the merrier! Parade starts at 10 am on Central Avenue. Be sure to participate in all the events for the weekend including: County Fair Exhibits at Mesa Public Library, Festival and Fair at Ashley Pond, Arts and Crafts Show at Fuller Lodge, LA Concert Series, Dinner at Posse Lodge and the Rodeo of course.
September 17th - Golf Tournie - Los Alamos Golf Course
Do you LOVE Golf? Be a part of our Golf Committee! We want people who play golf to participate in this committee so it is ensured that this Tournament will be the best ever! We are looking for people with connections to get great prizes. Would you like to be a sponsor? All proceeds will benefit United Way of Los Alamos and Rio Arriba County. Contact Suzette Fox at 661-4844 or email suzette@losalamos.org
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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
Los Alamos MainStreet Improves Curb Appeal Looking good! Several Los Alamos MainStreet businesses have put on a new face. Last spring, it was determined through the Chamber of Commerce’s community assessment that our MainStreet businesses could use a little pick-me-up. Based on this assessment, Los Alamos MainStreet was successful in pursuing funding from Los Alamos County to use for matching funds grants to downtown businesses. With this funding, over ten MainStreet businesses applied and recieved the grants for some much-needed improvements to their store fronts. You will notice changes happening to places such as the YMCA, LA Fitness, REA, Finishing Touch, Dr. Lee Acupuncture, BiLingual Montessori School, Pet Pangaea, ReMax, and Southwest Office Solutions to name a few. “This award helped us address a muchneeded landscape issue on the corner of our property. Assistance positively impacts our ability to use operating funds in other much needed areas, such as scholarships for our after school or camp programs, or for maintenance and equipment in the facility,” said Linda Daly, Executive Director of the YMCA.
The Finishing Touch Storefront
The Curb Appeal Program has been a proven success and is destined to become a staple in the community. A special thanks to Carlos Valdez, of the NMSU County Extension Office, and William Powell with New Mexico Main Street who provided great work on the workshop. The next round of grants should be available after July 1st, 2010. Contact Bryan Farmer at 505-661-4862 or email: BryanF@losalamos.org
July/August 2010
Tracy Kitts, Owner of Southwest Office Solutions
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LAMVB News
Calendar of Events Go to fyiLA.com for a complete and detailed list of events. July 2010
August 2010
1 2 2 3 4 4 4 6 7 7 8 8 8 9 9-11 10-18 10 13 14 14 14 15 16 16-18 17 17 17 17 17 20 21 21 22 22 22 23 23-25 24 24 27 28 28 29 30 30 31
1-27 2 2-6 4 4 5 5 6 8 8-31 13-15 20-22 27-29 6 7 7 9 11 11 11-14 12 12 13 13 14 14 15 17 18 19 20 21 21 22 23 25 26 26 26 27 28-30 30,31
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Outdoor Farmers’ Market LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Peter Case Band Valles Caldera – Hiking/Tours/Mtn biking/fishing Cruise - Valles Caldera Mountain Bike Ride YMCA 5K Fun Run Kiwanis Club - Annual 4th of July Celebration Valles Caldera - Hiking/Tours/Mtn biking/fishing Family Day at the Bradbury Science Museum Movies in the Park-Willy Wonka/Chocolate Factory Nightwalk at Bandelier Valles Caldera - Fly Tying/Archaeology Tour Poetry Gathering at Mesa Public Library Outdoor Farmers’ Market LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Eliza Gilkyson Valles Caldera - Hiking/Tours/Mtn biking/fishing Jemez International Music Festival Hike and Mountain Bike Pajarito Mountain Family Day at the Bradbury Science Museum LA Cty Rec - Movies in the Park- Hoodwinked Nightwalk at Bandelier Harry Potter’s World Exhibit at Mesa Public Library Outdoor Farmers’ Market LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Sisters Morales Valles Caldera - Hiking/Tours/Mtn biking/fishing The Next Big Idea! Festival at Ashley Pond Charity Car Show by Elk’s Lodge Movies in the Park-Journey Center of the Earth 3D LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Last Call Harry Potter’s Exhibit Opening at Mesa Library Family Day at the Bradbury Science Museum LA Cty Rec - Movies in the Park-The Goonies Nightwalk at Bandelier Outdoor Farmers’ Market LA Arts Council - Guitars and Gateaux Mesa Library - Authors Speak w/Cheo Torres LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Del Castillo Valles Caldera – Hiking/Tours/Mtn biking/fishing Valles Caldera – Tour/Youth Fly Fishing Clinic Hike/Mountain Bike Pajarito Mountain Family Day at the Bradbury Science Museum Movies in the Park-Bugs Bunny Movie Nightwalk at Bandelier Outdoor Farmers’ Market Fuller Lodge Art Center - Bits and Pieces LA Cty Concert Series - Hot Club of Cowtown Los Alamos County Golf Tournament
Valles Caldera - Fishing - Jemez River East Fork Valles Caldera - Guided Hike Valles Caldera - Fishing on the San Antonio LA Cty Rec - Movies in the Park-Chicken Little Nightwalk at Bandelier Valles Caldera - Redondo Border Guided Hike Outdoor Farmers’ Market Valles Caldera – Biking/Hiking/Tours Valles Caldera – Biking/Hiking/Tours Valles Caldera - Fishing on the San Antonio Valles Caldera – Biking/Hiking/Tours Valles Caldera – Biking/Hiking/Tours Valles Caldera – Biking/Hiking/Tours LA Cty Concert Series - Warren Hood Band Hike and Mountain Bike Pajarito Mountain Cruise - Valles Caldera Mountain Bike Ride Valles Caldera - Guided Hike Movies in the Park-The Princess Bride Nightwalk at Bandelier Valles Caldera - Tours Poetry Gathering at Mesa Public Library Outdoor Farmers’ Market Los Alamos County Fair and Rodeo LA Cty Concert Series - Fishtank Ensemble 33rd Summer Arts and Crafts Fair LA Cty Concert Series - Jimmy Stadler Band, LA Big Band, Orange Blossom Express Valles Caldera - Workshop Valles Caldera - Guided Hike Nightwalk at Bandelier Outdoor Farmers’ Market LA Cty Concert Series - Nick Curran & Lowlifes Los Alamos Triathlon - LA Cty Rec Hike and Mountain Bike Pajarito Mountain 16th Annual Kids Triathlon - LA Cty Rec Valles Caldera - Guided Hike/Tours Nightwalk at Bandelier Outdoor Farmers’ Market Valles Caldera - Guided Hike LA Arts Council Guitars and Gateaux LA Cty Summer Concert Series - Uncle Lucius Valles Caldera – Youth/Adult Fly Fishing Clinic/ Tours/Hike Valles Caldera - Fishing - Jemez River East Fork
Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation
The LAMVB, a program of the Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation, operates the Visitor Center in Los Alamos and the White Rock Tourist & Information Center (WRTIC). The LAMVB also produces and distributes advertising and marketing materials such as the Los Alamos Visitor Guide. We also maintain the online visitor guide at visit.losalamos.com.
Day of Enchantment The Los Alamos Monitor and Chamber of Commerce are partnering to support a Statewide initiative called “Day of Enchantment.” Day of Enchantment is a promotional campaign by the NM Department of Tourism to highlight New Mexico’s many interesting places, attractions, landscapes, events, and activities. Individuals, businesses, and organizations are invited to upload a photo and a short description of their own day of enchantment to the NMDOT website at www.dayofenchantment.com where it will be displayed throughout the summer. Uploads made through June are entered into a contest boasting a $10,000 first prize. The Los Alamos area is already beginning to be quite well represented on the NMDOT site and the Monitor and Chamber are out to encourage the growth in entries featuring our community and area. “Monitor Publisher, Keven Todd, and I talked about it and we thought this kind of promotion could be a great way for our community to show its pride by showing off what people think are distinctive days of enchantment we have to offer to visitors to our area,“ says Chamber Executive Director Kevin Holsapple. “The State is promoting the idea of New Mexicans touring within the state and entries that show off our area will help to get people interested in visiting here.” Chamber businesses making special offers are featured on the site so it helps to promote them as well. Visitors to the site can filter the photos to view the Los Alamos-related content. A button leads to a listing of special offers available from Los Alamos area businesses. One of the links is to the Chamber’s special offer page. Any member may place a special offer on this page by creating a coupon from within their Chamber member account. If you need assistance or training to do this, please contact Member Services Representative Katy Korkos at 505-661-4816, katyk@losalamos.org
July/August 2010
Valley Thunder photographed by Steven R. Lee is one of many Los Alamos area entries into the NM Department of Tourism ‘Day of Enchantment’ photo contest at www.dayofenchantment.com. The Monitor and the Chamber of Commerce urge you to submit your own enchanting image of our area at the website. First prize statewide is $10,000 and will be awarded later in June. The Monitor and Chamber are teaming to also offer local prizes that will be awarded later in the summer.
Member Hotels Offer Valles Caldera Special The Meeting and Visitor Bureau program of the Chamber has facilitated a great special offer by member hotels to people visiting the Valles Caldera National Preserve for events and activities. Comfort Inn, Best Western Hilltop House, and Holiday Inn Express are offering a “stay Friday night, receive 1/2 off on Saturday night” special. Hampton Inn is also in the process of joining the special. “We will be promoting this offer to our extensive mailing lists of people who request Valles Caldera information as well as to the many volunteers who come to help with our activities,” says Tom Wilke, VCNP Recreation Assistant. People who are interested in the special are directed to the Chamber’s coupon and special offers page which appears on visit.losalamos.com, lahighaltitudesports.com, losalamoschamber.com, fyila.com, and other websites. Links to this page are also emailed to VCNP and Chamber subscriber lists. Every business can help by being aware of this special and encouraging their clients and customers to make use of it. They can also get their own message in front of people tuning in to the special by creating their own special offer or coupon from within their Chamber member account.
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Pictured right: Ronda Harmon winner of $500 in chamber checks Newsletter Managing Editor: Suzette Fox - 505-661-4844 email:suzette@losalamos.org Contributions by: Heather Campbell, Bryan Farmer, Suzette Fox, Kevin Holsapple, Katy Korkos, Patrick Sullivan
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