MarchApr10MYB

March/April 2010

FAN CLUB

The FAN Club generally takes place the 3rd Wednesday of every month from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

April 21, 2010 White Rock Tourist Information Center 35 Rover Blvd., Suite D White Rock, NM

We Need You to Sponsor "The Next Big Idea" STEM Student Day Festival - Showcase of Ideas July 16 & 17th, 2010 To bring students, scientists, engineers, and the latest and greatest technology to this event, we need sponsors!

To learn more, Call Suzette Fox at 661-4844 or email: suzette@losalamos.org

Business Breakfast Interested in setting up a Business Breakfast?

Contact Katy Korkos at 661-4816 or email katyk@losalamos.org

WHAT'S INSIDE:

LACDC

pages 1,2,3

SBDC

page

CHAMBER

pages 5,6,7

MAINSTREET

pages 8,9

LAMVB

pages 10,11

Event Photos page

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March FAN Club - Marketing & Promotions Fair Monday, March 15th * 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm Reel Deal Theater The Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corporation, with the Small Business Development Center and Chamber of Commerce, are teaming up to provide you with opportunities to learn about local marketing and promotions for your business or organization.

Meet us Monday, March 15th, from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the Reel Deal Theater. Local businesses involved with networking, communication, promotion and advertising will gather in one place, for your convenience, to share what they have to offer for your 2010 marketing strategies. This event is FREE and will give you great ideas that will help market your business more effectively.

And just for fun, be sure to take the Reel Deal Projection Room Tour!

Promotional businesses attending: • The Monitor • Mountain Engraving • Joseph Santoro • and many more!

Are you interested in promoting your services at this event, contact Katy Korkos at 6614816 or email katyk@losalamos.org.

Did you miss these?

LACDC News Executive Director's Message - Chamber Advocacy Update 2010 has been a very busy year already in terms of the number of important issues that the Chamber has been involved in and contributing input to. I would like to offer some brief summaries (for readers who want more in depth information, please visit the Chamber website at www.losalamoschamber.com and click on the “advocacy” menu item under “Member Benefits & Services”):

Assets In Action Holiday Inn Express

• The MainStreet Futures Committee presented and discussed three policy recommendations for improving prospects for progress toward the downtown vision with the County Council. The recommendations had to do with Kevin Holsapple LACDC Exec. Director ways to streamline business interactions with the County, remove causes of confusion and uncertainty, and solve issues of land assembly that are a barrier to potential redevelopment.

• We have participated with Los Alamos County in their drafting of an Economic Vitality Strategic Plan (EVSP) and have participated in County public input sessions to collect input for improving the draft.

• We have provided input to the County’s Charter Review Committee to oppose a number of ideas that have been suggested to change the way that the County makes capital investment and real estate decisions. We believe that the suggested changes would be detrimental to the community.

Hope Pregnancy Center Los Alamos Orthodontists

• We have provided input to the National Park Service, congressional delegation, and County Council on the Manhattan Project National Park Resource Study. Our input supports the preferred alternative to create a new national park unit here.

• We have advocated for improved signage for helping visitors to find their way around the County. A first phase of signage improvements is being developed and the hope is that it will be in place before the summer. A second phase involving a more comprehensive planning effort is anticipated after the phase 1 completion.

• We have advocated for choosing a downtown location for the Municipal Building in order to maximize potential synergies for economic impact in the downtown. The County Council has selected a downtown location.

• The Chamber has been a continuing voice for the importance of supporting local business interests. This message is delivered through a variety of channels including www.fyiLA.com, op-eds published in the Los Alamos Monitor and at blog.laprogress.info., the Essence of Los Alamos & White Rock, the Chamber's Facebook fan page, and video spots that have run at the Reel Deal and on Comcast.

Continued on Page 3

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Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation

LACDC News Keanna Cohen Joins LACDC The LACDC welcomes Keanna Cohen as our Student Intern. Keanna is a junior at Los Alamos High School. During the fall, Keanna enjoys playing soccer for the Toppers. She is also an active member in Los Alamos Youth Leadership and Los Alamos High School Student Council. Lately, her biggest focus is her role as editor of the La Loma Yearbook. She is interested in the fields of politics and journalism.

Keanna Cohen Student Intern

Over the past three months, she has helped our organization with WinterFest, organizing the Jemez Mountain Adventure event calendar, and editing our publications. Keanna also attended the Legislative Reception at the Santa Fe Convention Center. In the coming year, Keanna looks forward to the opportunities awarded to her through the Chamber of Commerce.

Update on Oliver Funsten Most recently, Oliver, our Marketing Intern, has spent most of his time organizing Rock the Top, a website with the goal of connecting youth and businesses. “I want to create a website that encourages businesses to contact teens, whether it is for job openings or other youth events,” said Oliver. Sponsored by the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, Rock the Top was created before Oliver joined the team, but was assigned to him as his own individual project in hope that he, as a teen, could connect with other teens. Oliver has organized three major events through Rock the Top. He has planned two dances hosted by the Fellowship Church; each dance had a turnout of over one hundred students. On a completely different note, Oliver organized a snowboard competition in conjunction with Warehouse 508, a youth warehouse located in Albuquerque.

The competition was sponsored by Red Bull and attracted over 35 competitors. Oliver is confident in Rock the Top as it gains momentum and connects adults to youth.

When asked about his experience at the LACDC, Oliver responded, “It has been a great experience. I have learned so much about running a small business and planning events- I now know what it takes. I’d like to thank everybody for the opportunity I have been given.”

Chamber Advocacy Update - Continued from Page 2 • While the State legislature is in session, we are involved in a variety of advocacy activities mostly as participants in larger groups such as the NM Chamber Execs Association, Association of Commerce and Industry, NM Industrial Development Executives Association, and the NM MainStreet Coaliton.

• White Rock Master Plan -- The Chamber has been an active participant in the process to develop the plan and in the County implementation committee.

• An emerging advocacy effort is to support nomination of our County for participation in Google’s Community Fiber project. See story on page 8.

If you have questions about any of these advocacy areas, contact Member Services Coordinator Katy Korkos at 661-4816, or email chamber@losalamos.org

March/April 2010

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UNM-LA SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER

SBDC March/April Workshops

$25.00 Workshops are FREE to Chamber members if you register at losalamoschamber.com

MARCH WORKSHOPS - March is Marketing &

Promotions Month at SBDC - top it off by attending our Marketing & Promotions Fair on March 15th!

Managing Success Through Managing Stress 03/04/10 Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 The wrong amount of stress can lead to disastrous results.

In this workshop you will gain useful information and apply proactive strategies for positive outcomes.

Speaker: Brian Korzec, MS - KORrelations Institute, LLC Improving Streetfront Curb Appeal 03/11/10 Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Small Business Center Fee: FREE Learn great design advice for curb appeal projects and which plants to use in our zone for all seasons.

Speakers: William Powell, Architect Main Street Program Charlie Deans, Urban Planner, Carlos Valdez, Horticulturist Marketing Plan Basics 03/16/10 Tuesday 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 Preparation and a sound marketing plan is key in the success of your business. This hands-on workshop will give you the opportunity to fine tune your products/services, differentiate between features and benefits and learn which to communicate to your customers.

Speaker: Venessa De Los Santos, Bus. Advisor, UNM-LA SBDC Media & Public Relations Planning 03/18/10 Thursday 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 From this workshop, you will leave with your very own MicroMedia & Public Relations Plan and all the necessary tools for immediate implementation.

Speaker: Rubina Cohen, Firefly Santa Fe Simplifying Market Research 03/23/10 Tuesday 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 This workshop will cover the custom market research process in depth, using the Web and other free or low-cost resources.

Speaker: Donna Berg, LANL, Technology Transfer Division

MARCH WORKSHOPS - Continued The Press Release Workshop 03/25/10 Thursday 1:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 This workshop is designed to guide you through the basics of a well-written press release using the guidelines of storytelling. It will equip you with the resources and tools to develop a media relations plan that is easy to implement.

Revised and updated with new take away material.

Speaker: Rubina Cohen, Firefly Santa Fe

APRIL WORKSHOPS Improving Your Leadership and Management Skills 04/20/10 Tuesday 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 In this workship you will understand the difference of leadership and management, developing both, and use each effectively to develop and retain high performance employees.

Speaker: Brian Korzec, MS, KORrelations Institute, LLC Hiring Without Regrets 04/22/10 Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 Often the most difficult decisions we make as business owners have to do with hiring employees. This session will help you put together a business strategy for recruiting, hiring and retaining the "right" employees for your organization.

Speaker: Karen Stewart, Executive Director, Stone Associates LLC Building a Team for Your Business’ Success 04/29/10 Thursday 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Small Business Center Fee: $25.00 Individual employees functioning as a focused synergistic team can make all the difference in the competitive marketplace. This session provides useful information, exercises, and discussions that enable you to build a team for your business’ success.

Speaker: Brian Korzec, MS, KORrelations Institute, LLC

Visit the SBDC website www.nmsbdc.org/losalamos for more information or contact Heather Campbell at 505-661-4803 heather@losalamos.org 4

Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation

From Your Local

Connections January/February 2010

CHAMBER BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT The Los Alamos Monitor

Agent Owner: Tracy Kitts

It’s a community newspaper, the place where we see pictures of the kids and the ducks at Ashley Pond, where the complete results from every swim meet and pace race are published, and where the opinions expressed on the Opinion page range from the radical to the conservative, and topics range from Billy the Kid to geology.

Located At 1789 Central Ave. Suite 4 Los Alamos, NM 87544

(505) 661-2554

While other community newspapers are cutting back on the number of days they publish or simply disappearing for many different reasons, Monitor subscriptions have been rising in the past few months.

After a rough patch where the paper was up for sale and its future was uncertain, the Monitor is now firmly back on its feet under the leadership of publisher Keven Todd. Todd has worked for all of the major newspaper chains in many different areas of the country, and chose Los Alamos as a place to settle after being sent here as a “roving” manager by the Landmark corporation. He has worked to make improvements in the efficiency of the business side of the newspaper, most notably in the circulation, advertising and customer service arenas.

Services We Offer  

Digital Scanning Archiving Various Document Production

Products We Offer     

Copiers Printers Multifunction Fax Machines Wide Format Engineering Machines

The look of the paper has also changed, with Todd bringing back a popular “Update” feature on the front page and adding a photo spread called “Seen at the Scene”. The website has been upgraded and now has up-to-the minute news!

Contact the Los Alamos Monitor at 505-662-4185 or go online at www.lamonitor.com March/April 2010

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Connections

Chamber News

Member Opportunities March is a great month to think about whether you’re doing all you can to promote your business, and keep your name in the forefront of your customer’s thoughts. We’ll hold our annual Marketing and Promotions Fair on March 15 at the Reel Deal Theater, where you can network and enjoy the great Marketing & atmosphere while you peruse the offerings Promotions Fair of some local media, public relations and promotions companies.

Some members have already taken advantage of the Coupon Creator feature on the chamber organizer- it’s easy to do, and the coupons show up on all our websites, in the LA Deals e-mail that goes out to nearly 1000 subscribers, and if you specify “print”, also in a coupon book that reaches visitors and newcomers. If you’d like some help, call Katy at 661-4816 or Claire at 661-4836 and we’ll talk you through the process.

If you’re a small business and you’ve found that the spot rate for display advertising in the Monitor is a bit steep, we’ve negotiated a deal to get you our contract rate on Tuesday and Wednesday publications. Julie Smith is the advertising rep we’ve worked with to secure that rate for Chamber members, so just give her a call at 662-4185.

The SBDC is helping by offering a full slate of workshops on the topic, from a “Press Release Workshop” and “Media and Public Relations Planning” to ”Simplifying Market Research”- and they are all free to Chamber members. The SBDC website is the best place to look for up to the minute info on the workshops, and you can register through the Chamber website to get your discount. The fyiLA.com website, under “events”, is also a good place to see what workshops might fit into your schedule- the whole list of SBDC workshops can be found on page 4. www.nmsbdc.org/losalamos

Katy's Corner Chamber membership brings with it three separate areas of benefits: Visibility, Resources and Advocacy, and I’d like to give you all a little insight into what advocacy really means.

Both Executive Director Kevin Holsapple and I devote many hours to serving on strategic planning committees, attending county meetings and regional meetings where topics that are relevant to our members are on the agenda, and facilitating meetings between our members and our political delegations.

I’ve served on the White Rock master planning committee since its inception and have provided a lot of input for a new visitor center, which could be built as soon as summer 2011. We’re using “reasons for our visitors to stop, stay and spend” as a mantra for the design of that complex, which will also include some RV parking and a transit hub. On that committee, I’ve worked with a smaller subcommittee whose job it is to identify funding opportunities to help create the community we all envisioned when we came together in 2007 and 2008 to create that master plan. Now I’ve also joined a “catalytic projects” subcommittee which is looking at the possibilities for using White Rock’s land wisely, and

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planning for a larger, more functional branch library and a larger, more functional senior center.

As a member of the Historic Sculpture master plan committee, I think I helped to broaden the view of the committee to consider how the sculptures would help to provide a positive impact on downtown business when we crafted a ten-year plan for historic sculpture placement.

We’ve been involved providing input for sign code revisions and downtown street standards; we’ll continue to advocate for safe, open access to our town from the west.

The Los Alamos Arts and Cultural District designation we received in the fall of 2009 would not have come about without Kevin’s advocacy. A dynamic group of people and organizations has come together to plan for the district, and they will begin meeting with planners and architects in April.

Kevin is working with the Main Street Futures committee and on the Economic Vitality Strategic Plan, and will continue to get involved with every group he feels will benefit the economy in general and our members in particular.

We’d like to hear from you, and will do our best to represent the views of our members at all of the meetings. Together we have a greater voice in shaping our community.

Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Business Name

Ensignal KORrelations Institute, LLC Mi Casita Mexican Food Restaurant Brown Dogs PR Balanced Body Nutrition, LLC

Contact Name

Shawn Vang Brian or Christina Korzec Claudia Duran Lynn Strauss Laura Dudley

Phone

505-661-9770 443-995-9493 505-662-7442 505-412-0319 505-661-9712

Type of Business Wireless Phone Consultants Restaurants Public Relations Nutritionalist

Chamber Member Anniversaries March

Date Business Name Joined American Cancer Society 2008 American Red Cross 1993 Atomic City Corvettes 2009 Bilingual Montessori School 2008 Coronado Paint & Decorating 1999 Daniel's Cafe Haagen-Dazs 2009 Don Taylor's Photography 1992 E2 Consulting Engineers, Inc. 2000 EHS Enterprises 2009 Habitat for Humanity/Esp. Valley & LA, Inc 1998 Hand Precision Machining 1997 Hand Precision Machining 2000 Hytec, Inc. 2003 J&M Management, LLC 2007 Land of Enchantment Guides

2009 Los Alamos Lodge 2009 Los Alamos Sales Company, Inc. 1998 Mountain Images Advertising 1996 NetProCity 2005 NMAEA - New Mexico Adult Educ.Assoc 2009 Otowi Station Bookstore & Museum 1990 Pajarito Greenhouse

2007 Perfection Stucco and Drywall LLC 2009 Pet Pangaea LLC 2005 Prudential Los Alamos Real Estate 2006 Quality New Mexico 1996 Technology Management Consulting Serv 2004 United Way of Northern New Mexico 1997 University of New Mexico-Los Alamos 2002

March/April 2010

April

Date Business Name Joined Association of Commerce & Industry 2001 B-Fit Chiropractic 2008 Blackrock Networks 2000 Bob's Bodacious BBQ 2004 Canyon Inn 1994 Caring Therapy 2008 Chaparral Siding & Windows 2001 Comfort Inn 1998 Del Norte Credit Union 1978 Family Strengths Network 2002 Finishing Touch, The 1979 Frank's Supply 2009 Grubb & Ellis/ New Mexico

2005 Los Alamos Association of Realtors 2007 Los Alamos Monitor 1978 Los Alamos Public Schools 1998 Los Alamos Schools Credit Union 2006 PMTec, Inc 1999 RE/MAX of Los Alamos - Suzie Havemann 2009 Rep. Jeannette Wallace - Individual 1989 Self Help, Incorporated 2007 Steve Stoddard - Individual 1991 Valles Caldera National Preserve 2009 Village of Jemez Springs 2009

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MainStreet News For more information on the MainStreet Program please contact: Suzette Fox Phone: 505.661.4844 E-mail: suzette@losalamos.org www.LAmainstreet.com

Los Alamos Creative District Work Moves Ahead The week of April 12th is the tentative timeframe for a visit to Los Alamos by a multi-disciplinary team of resource experts from the NM Department of Cultural Affairs, NM Department of Tourism, NM Arts Commission, NM Economic Development Department, and the NM Historic Preservation Division. The visit is a next step in the process of defining the Los Alamos Creative District (LACD). The resource team will be evaluating local conditions and developing recommendations for local use in producing a cultural plan for the LACD. The LACD is among the newest of New Mexico’s designated Arts & Cultural Districts and will focus on sharing the unique

creative heritage of Los Alamos. The development of the district is intended to serve as a catalyst for supporting and developing opportunities for arts, service, restaurant, retail and hospitality businesses through heritage tourism.

A steering committee which includes representatives of the Historical Society, Arts Council, Historic District Board, County, library, Chamber, and others is getting off of the ground to steer work on the project. More participation is welcomed.

Contact coordinator Audrey Garduno at 661-4886, audrey@ losalamos.org if you want to learn more or get involved. You can also read more about the project, follow its progress, and make comments at http://laccd.blogspot.com

Google Plans Ultra High-Speed Service Do you support bringing higher speed broadband service to Los Alamos? If so, you have a chance to participate in an initiative to attract the attention of Google’s “Fiber for Communities” project. The recently announced project is described by Google as an experiment that they hope will make Internet access better and faster for everyone. Google plans to test ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial locations across the country.

we know that they need to follow their established processes in making the decision,” says LACDC and Chamber Executive Director Kevin Holsapple. “A role that we will try to play is to move ahead with helping our community to understand the opportunity and to make it easy for people to communicate their support.” A web page has been established at www.FiberUp.org to provide information about the initiative and how to get involved.

“Our networks will deliver Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per second, fiber-to-the-home connections,” according to the announcement from Google.

“We'll will offer service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and potentially up to 500,000 people in one or more test communities.” Google says they will invest to build out the required infrastructure in the selected communities. Governments and municipalities have until March 26th to express their interest by responding to a request for information (RFI) from Google.

In addition to RFI responses from municipalities, Google is looking to hear from individuals, businesses, and other organizations in interested communities. One of the features of the FiberUp. org webpage is an easy link to the Google form for nominating the community. “If people are interested in this, it will be important to have as many nominations as possible submitted before the RFI due date,” says Holsapple.

The RFI has gathered the attention of the County government, LACDC, and others in the community who have already been conferring about the possibility of a response.

“The County must decide if they will submit a response, and

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Ultra-high speed connectivity and service is envisioned to enable a whole new class of services including such things as high-definition video, remote data storage, realtime multimedia collaboration, and other applications that we cannot yet imagine. It will enable new consumer applications, as well as medical, educational, and other services.

Los Alamos Commerce and Development Corporation

MainStreet Events For more information on the MainStreet Program please contact: Suzette Fox Phone: 505.661.4844 E-mail: suzette@losalamos.org www.LAmainstreet.com

Check It Out! "Next Big Idea" website! www.nextbigideala.com • Watch videos • Register • Sponsor

Time to sign up for Chamberfest - June 12, 2010 - Visit www.fyila.com to register

June 12: Chamberfest July 16 & 17: Next Big Idea!

August 6-8: Fair & Rodeo October 29 & 30: Halloweekend December 3-5: WinterFest Check out fy iLA.com for more event Information

Join The Fun! March/April 2010

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CALENDAR OF EVENTS Go to fyiLA.com for a complete and detailed list of events.

March 2010

April 2010

1-20 Art Exhibit – Let’s Celebrate Spring!

Art Center-Fuller Lodge 3 Los Alamos Arts Council Brown Bag Performance

Presents The Amhran Trio and The Black Mesa

Brass 4 Mesa Public Library FREE Film Series-Diner 6 Family Festival sponsored by Family Strengths 6 PEEC Event: Starlight Snowshoe for Families 7 Los Alamos Concert Association presents

Ensemble Caprice 9 Historical Lecture Series-Vern Glover,

The Richard Dorman Railroad Photographs 11 Winter Farmers Market At Fuller Lodge 11 Mesa Public Library Poetry Gathering 12,13 Los Alamos Little Theater Performance – Sylvia 13 Empty Bowls – Fundraiser for local non-profit 13 Skiesta Spring Ski Festival at Pajarito Mountain 13 PEEC Event: Camouflage for Kids and Families 19-21 Los Alamos Little Theater Performance – Sylvia 20 Little Forest Playschool Annual Resale 25 Authors Speak Series: Barbara Olins Alpert 24 PEEC Event: Winter Wednesday - Big Sheep

of New Mexico 25 Los Alamos Arts Council’s Guitars and Gateaux 26–5/1 Los Alamos Art Center Art Exhibit – Walls That

Speak 26,27 Los Alamos Little Theater Performance – Sylvia

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Touched by Fire – Art Show commemorating the 10th Anniversary of PEEC and the Cerro Grande Fire Winter Farmers Market at Fuller Lodge Mesa Public Library Poetry Gathering Los Alamos Dog Jog Fundraiser sponsored by the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club Pueblo Canyon Rappel presented by LA County Rec Authors Speak Series: Poetry Potluck!

Los Alamos Arts Council’s Guitars and Gateuax Earth Day Festival 2010 sponsored by PEEC Hershey Youth Track and Field Meet – LA County Rec Los Alamos Concert Association presents Simone Dinnerstein PEEC Party - Nativo Meal and Auction, Earth Day Activity Los Alamos Triatomics presents Atomic Man Duathlon

Spring Ahead!

Daylight Savings Time March 14th

Featured Events and Activities Self-Help, Inc. The annual Empty Bowls Project is a beloved local event. It starts early in the year at bowl making parties, then is open to the community to enjoy the art pieces filled with warm and tasty soup. It's a fundraiser to support Self-Help, Inc., a non-profit, which has been in business for the last forty years assisting Northern New Mexico families in need of immediate emergency aid, and encourages the growth of small businesses with seed money grants. For an affordable price, one walks into the room, chooses a beautiful hand-painted ceramic bowl, and a soup, then shares the camaraderie with friends, entertained by live music.

Los Alamos Triatomics - The Annual Atomic Man Duathlon Run/Bike/Run - Triathlon without the swim! This event is hosted in White Rock at Pinon Elementary School. The race features two races, a shorter, Littleboy Duathlon that is a 4k/12k/4k. The longer, Fatman Duathlon features a 10k run, a 40k bike, and a 5k run. There are lots of giveaways, post race food and entertainment. This is a festive event. Kick your summer off right and sign up for one of the races. Get three of your friends to join you and you can enter the team competition to receive $5 per team-mate back on race day. The Atomic Man is a non-profit event with all proceeds going towards local community groups and events.

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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.

Volunteers In Action - Mike Luna

by Chelo Rojas

Mike Luna is our newest volunteer. Mike is a home grown boy. He's lived in Los Alamos since 1949 and as he says couldn’t help it since he was born here. His dad worked at the Zia Company. His Uncle Sparky and Aunt Rose purchased Pierotti's Soda Bar which became Sparky's Soda Bar - the place for young people to hang out after a movie or bowling.

Mike has fond memories of growing up in Los Alamos having "absolute freedom of being able to play in the canyons." He also vividly recalls the old community center, all the "wonderful shops" and of course the Centre Theater. "I can still remember sitting in the balcony of the "Hill" theater which is now CB Fox." Mike lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan during the early 70's but chose to return to Los Alamos because of the small town atmosphere that to this day he still so much enjoys. He became a letter carrier for the Los Alamos Post Office for about twenty years and in 1997 decided to live out one of his teenage dreams and become an entrepreneur. He purchased Home Run Pizza. Mike says he had the pleasure of serving his community for about eleven years until he decided to sell the shop in March of 2008. Since then he has enjoyed a well-deserved retirement yet still itches to find another "entrepreneurial opportunity."

Mike Luna Visitor Center Volunteer

Currently, Mike enjoys participating in car shows, both local and in other states, and is currently the club president of the Atomic City Corvette Club. He and his wife, Judi, travel by car, not by commercial jet - "we fly low" with "Lucille" his red 2007 Corvette named after his mother. He admits he's clocked 145 miles an hour.

Mike chose to volunteer with the Los Alamos Visitor Center for many reasons, "I am very proud to be a member of the Los Alamos community and look forward to sharing my knowledge of the town with visitors from other places." Mike is a friend, has a great sense of humor and is a LAMVB Staff and volunteers - Cindy Whiting, Ruth talented and hard worker. Thanks so much for joining our team, Mike! Parker, Chelo Rojas, Vada Nemec and Peggy Pendergast

Dog Obedience Club and Friends of the Shelter - Annual Los Alamos Dog Jog. Each spring Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club (LADOC) provides a day of fun for the entire family, including dogs! Two jogs are offered at the same time - a timed, 3.1 mile run, and a not timed, 2 mile walk. Dogs are welcome - and encouraged - on both courses. If you don't have a dog, come join the fun anyway, there will be lots of furry friends to pet! The Dog Jog is coordinated by the LADOC, Mountain Canine Corps, and the Atomic City Roadrunners as a fundraiser benefiting the 'Friends of the Shelter'. The money is used for spaying and neutering and supports the Catastrophic Medical Assistance Fund. It also aids in medical expenses and the adoption program.

Pajarito Environmental Education Nature Center - PEEC This year's Earth Day's theme is "What a Difference a Decade Makes" and will incorporate the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Cerro Grande Fire as well as the 10th Anniversary of the founding of PEEC. Fun and informative displays by community groups and their earth-friendly products and practices will be offered, as well as, information about our environment on the Pajarito Plateau.

Activities include an Earth Day Art Show, guided hikes, a special Earth Day speaker, a festival and party for PEEC, as well as a Kids' Symposium.

March/April 2010

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Legislative Reception Newsletter Managing Editor: Suzette Fox - please call 661-4844 for comments and information.

Contributions by: Venessa De Los Santos, Suzette Fox, Kevin Holsapple, Katy Korkos, Chelo Rojas, Claire Roybal

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

PAID

LOS ALAMOS, NM

P.O. Box 460 Los Alamos, NM 87544

Permit No. 152