The Essence of Los Alamos & White Rock
volume 1 issue 5
Publication of
August - September 2008
Welcome to The Essence The Essence is nearing a year of publication and we hope you have enjoyed learning more about our community. Personally I have learned so much about our community in the last five issues and have been looking forward to each issue as we are producing them. Public input needed for The Essence to continue publication your please read the CommunityMatters section page 15. We are going back to school in this issue. In LA &WR Insight we take a look back to see just how we got our school buildings. Education of our youth was as important today as it was when Los Alamos and White Rock began building our schools. In the article Jody Benson gives us a look at how our schools grew with our community. The Business Essence is all about the different ways you can use the Los Alamos County Library to find any information that you crave or need.
Editor’s Note
Contents
LA & WR Insight School History by Jody Benson Page 3
The Business Essence Find it @ Your Library by Carol Meine Page 5
The Frolic Go Toppers!! by Chelo Rojas Page 7 ,8 & 18
Essence Feature Essence Pictures Page 9 & 10
Arts & Culture Ch-Ch Changes by Marganne Glasser Page 11
The Frolic features Hilltopper Sports. We get to meet some of the athletes and hear what a big role their sports have in their lives. Sporting events are something that I hold near and dear to my heart because if you follow a season it is as entertaining as reading that novel that you just cannot put down. Get into Hilltopper Sports this year each game is a new chapter. GO TOPPERS!
Essential Person It Was Meant To Be by Katy Korkos Page 13
Community Matters Essence Future & Asssets in Action Page 15
The Arts & Culture features Duane W. Smith Auditorium. Lots of changes have been taking place behind its closed doors. Marganne sits down with Ross Mason and gives us some of Ross’s experiences before coming to Los Alamos and sheds some light on all the work that has been done over the summer.
Cover Photo by Jeremy Varela
With school beginning it seemed appropriate to feature someone that is very essential to each and every one of our schools. Mary McLeod is our Essential Person. She has dedicated most of her life to education and majority of it spent right here in our community. Katy Korkos sits down with the newly appointed Superintendent and says “It was a great interview; she was so enthusiastic!” Back to school! In the last few years I seemed to have lost that feeling of excitement and anticipation that the new school year brings. Now that my oldest daughter is starting kindergarten those feelings that I had are creeping back into me. Reading some of these stories let me take a trip into my past experiences and I felt like that little boy wearing new clothes and carrying a fresh box of crayons to meet my new friends and teacher. I hope that the stories in this issue help you relish in your own memories of your school days. The staff here at LACDC would like to wish the students and staff of LAPS and UNM-LA a happy, great, and successful school year.
Volume 1, Issue 5 Managing Editor * Jeremy Varela
jvarela@losalamos.org * 505.661.4844
Ads Coordinator * Claire Roybal claire@losalamos.org * 505.661.4836 Writer/Content Editor * Katy Korkos katyk@losalamos.org * 505.661.4816 Writer/Content Editor * Chelo Rojas chelo@losalamos.org * 505.661.4817
Essence Committee * Sharon Springer * Cindy Whiting Jeremy Varela Managing Editor Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce/LACDC
The Essence is produced by Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce and printed & distributed by Los Alamos Monitor
Comments or Questions? Call 505.662.8105 1
The Essence
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1.4 million years of history, including the geology of the Pajarito Plateau at the Los Alamos Historical Museum Just north of Fuller Lodge. Open M-S 9:30-4:30, Sun 1-4 505-662-6272 http://www.losalamoshistory.org
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LA & WR Insight
School History By Jody Benson
Back during The Day when The Project defined the Secret City, the first school classes were held in the dayrooms of barracks. Kids only had benches because desks couldn’t be ordered from Santa Fe—somebody would get suspicious and wonder what was going on in a place that wasn’t supposed to exist. In her book, Tales from a Teacher, Lucille McCleskey remembers her first day on the job when she came into the barracks dayroom that was to serve as her fourth-grade classroom to find it littered with beer and liquor bottles. A very young Mrs. McCleskey sent the kids out to play with PE teacher, Mr. Tripp, while she cleaned up the mess. After the War, however, both General Groves and Robert Oppenheimer saw a need for continuing nuclear research. In 1946, when Norris Bradbury became the Director, the newly formed civilian Atomic Energy Commission, gained oversight of the mission, which Bradbury hoped would be the development of nuclear energy. Los Alamos decided to become a real town. Central School was built when The Project was the only purpose of the town. The first school combined all the grades on top of Mesa Hill where Mesa Public Library now spreads its concrete-bird wings. Built of wood, it nestled in the neighborhood of Ranch School cottages, Sundts with their forest of stove-pipes, Morgan and McKee homes, and barracks near the then-undomesticated Ashley Pond. Craig Martin’s book, Quads, Shoeboxes, and Sunken Living Rooms, chronicles the creation of the city. As the housing expanded, neighborhoods got schools. If you recall, most of the occupants of Los Alamos were young and healthy— and many of the couples decided it was time to start a family. By 1945, Box 1663 held 330 infants. These kids would need education. The community of the world’s smartest scientists demanded the world’s best schools. With the completion of Western Area in 1948, came Mesa School, an elementary school that is now UNM-LA. Local tour guide Georgia Strickfaden, who attended Mesa School, says that she always looked forward to going back to school, to see her friends and to get new school supplies. Her older sister also went to Mesa, but Georgia said that wasn’t always an advantage. Georgia said that she was “the good kid” and a hard-working student, but her sister’s reputation preceded her. The teachers would say, “Oh, you’re Peggy Wilder’s sister.” In 1949, we got A, B, C, and D wings of Los Alamos High School, and in 1952, Pueblo Junior High, now a LANL business complex, Canyon, now also a LANL facility, and Mountain Elementary School. (Yes, Mountain is older than little wooden-classroomed Aspen) Aspen School followed in 1950. Los Alamos also had separate teeny weenie neighborhood schools serving the early grades: Canyoncito (now a private Montessori) in Eastern Area, Little Valley (now Pajarito Environmental Education Center) serving Western area, and Little Forest (now a private preschool) for North Community. In the days of neighborhood schools before five-car families, most dads drove the car to work while moms stayed home, and both kids and moms walked to school and local shopping. With neighborhood schools, kids went home for a one-hour lunch. That meant that those who lived way up on the tops of 35th or
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LA’s 1st School
37th had the choice of either running back up that steep hill, wolfing down a peanut butter sandwich, and running back, or eating a lonely playground lunch out of a paper bag. It was the moms who worked for a closer school, and in 1958, Pajarito School was finally built to serve the neighborhoods up on the hill. By 1959, the Townsite, still suffering its chronic, critical housing shortage, expanded out of the government-built area and into the first privately owned housing on Barranca Mesa. As in all early Los Alamos housing developments, Barranca Elementary School received a central swatch of land in Barranca’s design. In 1962, Cumbres Junior High preceded most of the construction on North Mesa. This was Aspen School Class 1951 the first non-neighborhood school. Junior high students who lived within walking distance of Pueblo, along Diamond Drive, walked. Everybody else got bussed out to Cumbres. Los Alamites thought it was crazy to build a school way out on a mesa whose primary structures were horse stalls and ball parks. One vision was to build a bridge across Pueblo Canyon at the end of 15th street to better connect the school with the population. The Cold War’s escalation of nuclear weapons technology continued to increase the Lab’s mission, and therefore the Los Alamos population. Previously, from 1949 to 1953, the White Rock Construction Camp had its three-wing White Rock Elementary near where Chamisa now sits. The AEC reopened White Rock in 1960 for more private homes, but the development didn’t begin to be occupied until 1962. In 1963 we got Piñon School, and in 1968 came Chamisa. Beginning in the seventies, the dozen schools (plus Central) serving the baby boom were eventually retrenched to the seven currently educating our 3575 students. From its founding, the mission of Los Alamos has required excellence in education—from the brilliance of the founders to the distinction of our graduates. Now, within the next decade, the School District’s plan is Superintendant Dr. Wagner 1948 to rebuild or refurbish most of the remaining old schools. Depending on how you relate to history, you can either rejoice or bewail the loss of these “historic” concrete structures. But whatever buildings we have, the schools have been and will continue to be at the heart of the story and mission of the community. Pictures Courtesy of Los Alamos Historical Society
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Business Essence
Back to School? Find It @ Your Library by Carol Meine
What institution in Los Alamos really does have something for everyone? The Los Alamos County Library System! The libraries are at the heart of the community and students of all ages, teachers, and parents-all patrons and visitors-will find a full slate of programs, services, and collections in an array of formats available at both Mesa Public Library and White Rock Branch Library. What’s the best part? It is all free! Did you know you have an entire library at home and at your fingertips at http://library. losalamosnm.us ? The library catalog is online 24/7 to find materials, check your account, reserve books, and access the phenomenal online databases to help kids find science projects, timelines, maps, and more, all arranged in age appropriate sections from K12. Adult level academic and special interest databases, such as auto repair and genealogy, are available too. Library card holders can access the databases from anywhere using their library card barcodes. No question is too obscure for the reference librarians, whose job it is to seek out every answer. “How do I clean my fish tank?” “How much does a 50 gallon drum of oil weigh?” “Does an octopus have a sense of smell?” “Do you have a pattern for a jingle dress?” and “How long do you have to keep flour in the freezer before the bugs die?” have been some of the entertaining questions posed to librarians in recent years. “We’ll try our very best to find out for you,” reference librarian Kathy Bjorklund said. You can talk to a reference librarian live during business hours, by calling 662-8253, or e-mail them those crazy questions you think of in the middle of the night, at refweb@lacnm.us There is a brand new Biography Resource Center that features comprehensive biographical information on over 340,000 people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas, perfect for those last minute reports. The Library should be the first place people call when they need information on local happenings or history, research for school or other projects, recommendations on what to read next, consumer information, maps, medical, financial and genealogical information. Our county library system is a New Mexico State Documents Depository and offers government information at the local, state, and federal levels. Library staff can instruct you in Internet use (library website, research, e-mail) and also proctor exams by arrangement. Do your research from home or the office! The extensive online databases cover everything from literature to medical questions, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for there, you can email your questions to the reference
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LA County Library
desk. The emailed questions should include your name, email address so the reference librarian can respond to you, what the question is, and any information that will help, such as where you have already looked and when you need your answer by. Students can come by weekday afternoons to Mesa Public Library or by appointment to White Rock Branch Library for free homework help provided by our expert high school students. From elementary subjects on up, our helpers cover the whole range. Get together a group of friends and add a tutor: it (almost) makes studying fun! All work and no play makes for a very dull student, and the library caters to those who are experiencing research burnout with an art gallery, games computers and free internet. The lightfilled art gallery upstairs at Mesa Public Library has played host in recent months to shows ranging from traveling museum exhibits and traditional painting to handmade lace and dramatic cast paper installations. The library’s popular film series and “Authors Speak” series also take advantage of Mesa Public Library’s beautiful upstairs spaces. The White Rock branch is home to the “Family Friendly Film Series” with fun movies for families to enjoy together, all rated G or PG. The library has something going on almost every day of the week, and contributes lavishly to our community event calendar, www.fyila. All of the films are listed there, along with gallery openings, And if you can’t get to the library, the library will come to you! Home Delivery Service is available to patrons of all ages in Los Alamos County who have an extended illness or are physically disabled in their ability to get to the library. Deliveries can be made to private homes as well as organizations, such as Sombrillo Nursing Facility. With downloadable audiobooks, story time for the little kids, magnifying readers for the visually impaired, teen club, Wednesday afternoon programs for elementary school students- the list of additional services the library offers could fill a book – check it out!
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The Frolic
Go Toppers!! By Chelo Rojas
It’s been said that a true athletic contest requires four elements - the participant, coach, official and spectator, which would explain the sports bonding experience. A small town such as Los Alamos just about depends on this concept. We want quality entertainment and we get it from our school athletic events. Win or loose, the shared thrill experienced by the fans at the events is palpable. The fun includes rooting for your own kid, getting the competitive adrenaline going; vicariously re-experiencing your past sports glory days, bonding with others who show up for the same reasons, and getting to know some of the athletes during the season such as the ones featured in this story. LAHS senior, Megan Townsley is on the girl’s tennis team and was a member of the team who won the state Girls Varsity Tennis championship in 07-08. She relishes this win. She says the team put all the pieces together - coaching, family support, sportsmanship, teamwork, confidence in being a good student and in being a well-rounded human being. Her style is to “tear up the courts”- that’s tennis lingo for playing intensely. She has been on the varsity team since she was an eigth grader - that’s how talented she is. Megan’s interest in tennis was discovered when her Nana Caroline introduced her and Megan Townsley her brother to the game when she was about eight years old. It became a family activity when her dad also decided to take up tennis. It was obvious she was a natural at it and realized she could play at a competitive level. Megan is also a serious student and wants to major in business and economics - serious material - but always looks forward to playing tennis as a diversion from the academics. The physical part is a stress reliever yet the mental competitive part and the desire to win is also a stressor of a different kind. She prefers the latter. Megan claims to be very competitive and does well under pressure. For someone so young her favorite pros are John McEnroe and Billie Jean King. She likes McEnroe because of his intensity and Billie Jean Megan Townsley King because she “stirred the pot.” Kyle Pittman participates in track and cross-country. He’s 16 and is going to be a junior this year. He was born in Las Cruces. His family has a seven-year old dog they got from the pound and a 3-month old cat. He lives with his parents, an older brother, who’s going off to college this year, and a sister who’s going into 7th grade. Kyle likes the people at LAHS and loves his friends there. “We have some amazing teachers, and have fun days and weeks that go on during the year.” His family is “Number One” because in a way, they’re his biggest fans. “They go to nearly all my meets, just so they can see me run”. He says they’re always able to tell it to him “like it is.” Whether he did something wrong in a race, or
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Hilltopper Sports saw something happen, “they are able to tell it straight to me.” Kyle’s coaches are the ones who made him a runner. From the very first day of cross-country, he says he knew he would love the Hipwoods as his coaches. They have been two of the most inspirational and supportive people to him. Mr. Baca has been his track coach since the end of 8th grade when he was asked to come finish the high school season. “I’ve loved it ever since!” Kyle says, “If I didn’t have as much fun doing crosscountry and track as I do with my friends, I’m not sure how long I’d be able to stick with it. We’re almost always together. We eat lunch together, spend several hours after school with one and other, and get together on weekends for a run, or even just a movie night.” He knows that coaches, family and friends believe in him, whether or not he’s the best one out there. His favorite “pro” runner is Bernard Lagat. He says, “I’ve met him a few times. I like how he treats running and life. When I first met him, he sat down at a table with my team and we ate dinner together. He just told us stories of where he grew up and stories about his Kyle Pittman running and his family. He’s not cocky, he’s good at running and he loves doing it.” Kyle says his biggest strength as a runner is probably the mental aspect. “Just simply knowing people enjoy watching me run and compete is enough encouragement for me to run as fast and hard for them as I can.” With success and failure, Kyle says he’s had a lot of both. “One of my successes was getting the sophomore records last year in the mile and two-mile and being named to the sophomore All-American Team by The Harrier magazine, also being on the national team for two years, and then getting second in the nation last year.” Some of his disappointments/failures was not breaking the five minute mile in 8th grade and feeling Kyle Pittman sick in a race. “But my coaches assured me it wasn’t that big of a deal and it doesn’t seem to be now, but it sure felt like it back then!” His “dream success” would be something like breaking a big school record. “I doubt it’ll happen this year, and I don’t know if it’ll ever happen at all. That’s just something I look at and think ‘wow that guy was really fast’. I want people to think of me like that, too. Chasing after a record is hard. I tried to do it my freshman year. I should have been able to get at least one or two that year, but I didn’t. And it’s not that I didn’t do good that season, but making a goal to get something like that and not accomplishing it sure made me feel like I didn’t do very good, so I don’t want to have that feeling again. It would be really cool if I did get it, but it’s ok with me if I don’t.” He says for sure he’ll be going to prom. “Even if I have to just go with my friends, it’ll still be fun!” Jason Reagor is on the track team, the swimming team and the soccer team. Besides his obvious love of sports, he says having fun with his friends is his
The Essence
Hilltopper Sports (Continued) greatest joy in life. He claims that he and his friends might be considered “nerds” but he’s already wise enough to know that friends and good relationships are the keys to a good life. He’s also wise enough to know that an athlete such as Lance Armstrong is someone to admire rather than the big names that fans had idolized and then were devastated to find out they were using performance enhancing drugs. He likes the determination Lance has exhibited. Maybe Jason calls himself a nerd because his favorite subjects at LAHS are calculus and chemistry but he’s a cute nerd! Look for Jason this fall when he runs the 100 and 200-meter races.
this year. Of course, he’s going to prom, “There’s no way I’m missing senior prom.” His philosophy in life is, “Don’t jump to conclusions.” And, “Just f.y.i. - I like to play my music very loud.”
Jason Reagor
Evan Black, a native Los Alamosan, is on the golf team. He’s 17 and a senior. He has an older brother and lives with both his parents. “I like that LAHS has open campus and in general I like the atmosphere at the school and in the town. I like having a golf course and a ski hill so close, too”! His favorite subjects are photography and other creative courses. Besides golf, he makes music, does snowboarding, is into photography, works on the yearbook, and travels. “Golf is a sport that makes you want to play more and more. It’s always challenging you to push Evan Black harder and do a little better. Even if you had a bad day, it gives you a reason to go back and improve. I have been interested in golf for a very long time, and I always knew playing high school golf would be awesome. When I graduate, I will have played all four years. I will continue to play golf for the rest of my life, without a doubt.” Evan’s favorite professional golfer is Jim Furyk. He likes the way Jim never takes his head out of the game and his swing is exactly the same every time, which is consistency at its best. “John Daly is like the ‘gentle giant’ in the PGA. He seems very quiet on the course and is a nice guy but he hits the ball like a monster.” He says his strength at golf is the way he can keep his composure at all 18 holes. “This year my greatest achievement was clinching the number two spot on the varsity team. In golf in general, eagles are nice”! Winning state this year would be his dream. He knows it would be amazing and would be a complete underdog story. Three seniors are gone Evan Black this year but the team is trying to be optimistic for
The Essence
Zack Walterscheid is a 17-year old senior born in Albuquerque with a family consisting of two dogs, his parents and two younger brothers. He believes the close community in Los Alamos is defiantly a plus. “My coaches have always been there supporting me and helping me to improve, it’s easy to go out and play your heart out when you get along with the coaches that are calling the plays.” He says his family has backed him throughout his athletic career. “I wouldn’t be here without their support. And having a great group of guys to work with and push me definitely makes me play better. I know that the guys on the field with me are going all out so I have to step up and do the same, every practice, every play, and every game.” Zach Walterscheid “Football is such a blast, you get to be with your friends, and you get to hit people without getting in trouble for it. It’s organized chaos, it’s great.” This will be his third year playing football at LAHS. On offense, he plays guard, and on defense, they will be trying him out at linebacker this year. He says he can’t really imagine what he’d be doing with his time if he didn’t play sports. “I can’t really say that I have a true favorite subject in school, they all have their ups and downs. I really enjoyed my sports medicine classes though.” He doesn’t really have a favorite team or player. “Mad props to all of them for making it as far as they did though.” He claims success on the football team is because, “You can’t function on the football field without the ten other guys there with you, I don’t care how good you are. Our team just meshes and it works out for us, we know that the guys next to us are getting their job done, so we can focus on getting our job done.” Zack says the bonding that takes place between players out there makes it all worth it. “You’ve worked, sweated and even bled together, so there is something special in that.” He believes his greatest achievement is in getting to be starting on both sides of the ball. “It’s definitely going to be a winning season! If you don’t know that coming in, then you need to change your attitude or find another hobby.” Pati Stan is a 16 year old junior volleyball player born in Bucharest, Romania. She lives with her mom, dad, brother and cat. She says that one of her favorite things about LAHS are all the opportunities to try different things. There are many sports, clubs, classes, and extracurricular activities to choose from.
Continuted on Page 18
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Arts & Culture
Ch-Ch Changes By Marganne Glasser
Duane W. Smith Auditorium
Emerging fashionably late as the true diva she is, the Grande The newly retouched lobby includes a flat screen marquee Dame of local forums, the Duane W. Smith auditorium is which can advertise coming attractions as well as display still undergoing the restoration process that will transform the show in progress so busy young patrons no longer her from a dowager to an ingénue. Her debut is expected in need deprive their parents of their viewing pleasure. the fall. Mason says that besides enabling on-line purchases, Starring in the role of cosmetic surgeon is Ross Mason the new electronic ticketing system will cut down on who has been a journeyman of many theatrical trades. The paperwork while allowing for better financial tracking performing arts bug first bit Mason during childhood in and planning of shows. Las Vegas where his best friend’s father managed Highland Like many fine performances, much of the show is University’s theater and the two camped out there at every concealed. This is true for the remodel. Although opportunity. He trained as a bass player and had a touring invisible, the new air circulation system will enhance career for the better part of ten years. He has done road performances by eliminating the noise disruption by the crew work, served as Entertainment Manager for the Santa blowers coming on at inopportune times. An opening will Ana Casino, and came to Los Alamos after working as the Ross Mason, Manager of the Duane W. Smith Auditorium, in front need to be made in the roof so a crane can hoist out the Farmington Municipal Schools Theater Manager. of the newly installed flat screen marquee anticipates the arrival of ancient mastodon blowers and replace them with smaller The auditorium upgrade has made good use of Mason’s and more efficient modern ones. the new electronic ticketing system. extensive production equipment knowledge as well as his Mason is replacing what he calls “old Frankenstein willingness to contribute elbow grease. lighting” with a newly expanded lighting booth upstairs and Mason’s first undertaking was to clear out the orchestra pit (did building a sound-proof recording studio. Four tiny windows that you even know one existed?) and the scene shop. Both were so were used for projection cameras have been opened up to a fullcrammed with “sentimental treasures” that the space was unusable. size viewing booth. The collection of items dated back to the founding of the theater Reconfiguring the upstairs rooms into usable space will allow about sixty years ago when the Atomic Energy Commission had it Mason to teach stagecraft. He plans courses in rigging theory built for lectures and meetings and allowed the young community and practice, or ”how to fly things above the stage”; and of Los Alamos to use it to show movies and plays before the days technical lighting, such as color mixing theory and live sound of television. Among the historic sundries Mason found were reinforcement. The theater will now have the capacity for audio “Applause” signs held up for a live audience of the one-time radio and video production, and Mason supports the possibility of a station that operated there. student news station. After hauling away over a dozen truckloads of, ah, items slated Not surprisingly, the remodel project is requiring twelve-hour for the new county recycling program, Mason built a removable days most days of the week for Mason. He takes it in stride cover for the orchestra pit which created usable floor space with a smile, saying “everything I do is for the public, and I when not in active use. He also discovered two pianos, five love it when people come into their theater.” He relishes his choir riser sections and a wood stove that had been buried in work and says he sometimes muses, “they pay me to do this? the detritus. I am so fortunate! I love doing this!” Immediately noticeable are the new floor tiles in the lobby Flight of the Bumblebee is the ring tone on Mason’s cell and the fresh paint on the auditorium walls and ceiling. The phone. “That’s my life,” he says, “hurry, hurry, hurry.” But he Ice Cube White paint color of the ceiling meant that Mason wouldn’t have it any other way. could switch from 500 watt bulbs to 250’s with little change Additional projects rounding out the overhaul include new in brightness. This cut the theater’s electricity bill almost carpet and slip-resistant floor paint. The teensy multiple in half. Programmable LED lights that enable color changes dressing rooms are slated for consolidation by removal to complement the curtains or stage scenes have also been of several walls and a stackable washer and dryer will be installed along the side walls. Some of Mason and crew’s elbow added. grease went into cleaning and oiling the wood around the stage Mason’s wish list for future projects includes extending the to subtle and beautiful aesthetic effect. lobby and reconfiguring the bathrooms so noise does not carry into the theater. He would A Cabaret Red curtain is the damsel’s equivalent of a new lipstick. The former black one like flat screen monitors in the green rooms so performers back stage could watch the did not quite meet the ends of the proscenium, leaving backstage views to disrupt the on-stage proceedings. His current office will become a green room, theater-speak for magic of theatrical illusion. Besides full coverage, the new curtain is fire proof, not just backstage gathering. Locating his office with easier access from and viewing of the front fire retardant. entrance would be optimal. An expanded lobby would allow for better patron hospitality Mindful of every precious drop of performing arts budgets, Mason had Pat Randall of and display space for artwork. ChairWorks recycle the old curtain into double-layer curtains at the back of the theater While a feasibility study is required before making plans to expand the lobby, everyone’s and in the new booths upstairs. This will provide better light and sound blockage from wish for new seating is more easily accomplished. Moving the control panel from the the lobby and restrooms. seating area to the new sound booth upstairs allows for expansion of seating to 999, Also enhancing performance value is the new rigging system and Morley performance “because the insurance goes up at 1000”, says Mason. grade stage floor. It is an improvement over the wood and splinters one because it resists The proceeds from a fall fund-raiser will determine whether the existing seats are respeed or slippage so as to minimize falls yet has a beautiful protective coating, explains upholstered or completely replaced. Jill Cook of Los Alamos Bank, the local certified Mason. Dance Arts Los Alamos and the New Mexico Dance Theater are especially happy auctioneer, will be auctioning off pies. Keep your ears to the ground for both the debut of beneficiaries of the new floor. the improved theater and the pie auction.
11
The Essence
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12
The Essential Person
It was meant to be By Katy Korkos
Mary McLeod
“I’m pretty darn excited about a new coordinator Kate Thomas, who also school year,” Mary McLeod says. After brings a lot of experience to the table. a national search resulted in no suitable Mc Leod has four main areas she will candidates from elsewhere for the Los focus on for the coming year. First and Alamos Public Schools top spot, the foremost is the whole fiscal picture for school board decided that their best the district. candidate was right under their noses. “It’s a pivotal year for the district,” Former assistant superintendent Mary McLeod said. “We had a very well McLeod took a deep breath and stepped balanced community group work on our up to become superintendent after Jim 20-year facilities plan. We’ve prioritized Anderson left at the end of June. our needs and put together a bond There’s a lot going on for schools proposal. We’re not bonded to capacity administration this year, with seven the way many other districts in New schools, hundreds of students, and Mexico are.” The other big monetary hundreds of staff and teachers, but issue is the funding formula from the McLeod is well prepared. “It’s my 45th state legislature, which threatened to year in education,” McLeod said, “but take money away from Los Alamos and actually it’s been much longer than that two other districts. “We just want our if you count my own education in the schools funded at the existing level,” Los Alamos schools and when I began McLeod said. teaching at camps at ten years old.” She Also high on McLeod’s list of priorities said that she has taught at every school is enabling Los Alamos to become a in the district with the exception of “premiere school district. “We’re darn Barranca Mesa and Pajarito, and still good, but there’s always room for loves getting back in to the schools. improvement. We’re looking at what’s Mary has taught at all levels, “Every age out there in the future for our kids. from three years old through graduate Reading and math are a given- what students,” she said. And also within the we’ve got to do is show students the district in administration she has served way to ethics and accountability, how Mary McLeod in many different positions, including as to work together in groups and how to curriculum coordinator and as assistant principal at the high school. apply what they’ve learned. We’ve formed a strong partnership with UNM-LA, “I have a clear view of all levels,” she said. creating classes where kids are taking what they’ve learned and applying it.” When asked whether she preferred teaching or administration, and whether she McLeod also wants to get a good strategy in place for drawing Los Alamos’ missed the interaction with students, she said, “I love both. And I still have a lot own school leadership. She’s going to work to get a local program for a master’s of ways of getting in to the schools.” degree in education, to get new principals ready without people having to leave And she gets the same kind of comments from her former students. One of her town to further their education. favorite teaching experiences was with an art class where her students made And her fourth priority will be on strengthening existing relationships. She said films. She said that her former students are always stopping her on the street to “Engaging our stakeholders and building community relationships” is something remind her how much they loved her class and the experience in filmmaking she will seek to do throughout her tenure. McLeod graduated from Los Alamos High School, but her connections to the She is very proud of all the teachers, administrators and staff in the system. school district go even further back, since her mother also taught here. Sometimes “I’ve got a great team of ethical, caring people, who’ve proven themselves as people who come in to the superintendent’s office will see her mother’s picture effective teachers, and who care about the community. It’s exactly who we want and say “Oh, I had your mother for sixth grade!” in these positions.” Because of all her experience here and the fact that she has been involved all “I’m definitely excited about the new year,” she said. “It’s fun to see what we’ve the way along the line, McLeod does not feel that the transition from assistant been building,” she said. “The research that’s been going on now into how the superintendent to the lead role will be a difficult one. Anderson has left her copies brain works and how kids learn, being able to recognize in kids what’s going on of everything she could possibly need, and she spent her first few days going so we can tailor our approaches- it’s a really exciting time to be in education.” through those papers. She has an able assistant superintendent in curriculum
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Do you know somebody from Los Alamos or White Rock that has a great story? They could be featured as The Essential Person. Contact Jeremy Varela 505.661.4844 jvarela@losalamos.org
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CommunityMatters The Essence needs your input to continue! The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce created a new initiative last fall that we call CommunityMatters with a goal of enhancing our community-building efforts and supporting the connections between our members and the community at-large. One of the features of the CommunityMatters initiative has been the creation and publishing of The Essence of Los Alamos and White Rock, a new bi-monthly periodical that focuses on essential people, places, organizations, businesses, events, and activities that make our community a great place to live. We are committed to publication of The Essence through October, but we are currently seeking input about whether we should continue the publication after that time. Your input as a reader would be greatly appreciated. There are two ways to provide you input … online at www.OurCommunityMatters.info or by completing the brief survey on the right and mailing it or dropping it by the Chamber of Commerce or White Rock Tourist Information Center. To thank you for your feedback, each person who responds will be entered into a drawing for $100 in free Chamber Checks.
1 . W h ere d o yo u live ? W h ite R o ck
L o s A la m o s
O th e r
2 . H o w d id y o u o b ta in y o u r c o p y ? (c h e ck a ll th a t a p p ly ) R e ceived it in a LA M o n ito r de live re d to m y h o m e o r bu sin e ss P icked it up a t a lo ca l b u sine ss G ive n to m e b y a noth e r pe rson O th e r (p lea se spe cify) _ __ _____ _____ ____ _____ _____ ____ 3 . D o y o u k ee p y o u r c o p y o f th e E s se nc e a ro u n d b e y o n d th e d ay y o u rece ive it? (i.e . to re fer b ac k to , s o th a t o th e rs ca n rea d it, e tc .) Yes
No
4 . W ill y o u re a d th e E ss e nce in th e fu tu re if y o u re ce ive o n e o r fin d o n e b e in g d is trib u te d fo r fre e ? Yes
No
5 . T h e C h a m be r o f C o m m erc e is c o m m itte d to p u b lis h in g th e E sse n ce th ro u g h O c to b e r 200 8 . D o y o u th in k w e s h o u ld c o n tin u e p u b lic a tio n a fte r th a t tim e ? Yes
N o o r N o op in ion
6 . D o y o u s u b s crib e to th e L o s A la m os M o n ito r?
Yes
No
T h e fo llow ing in fo rm a tion is need ed to en te r you in the d raw ing fo r $10 0 in C ha m b e r C he cks: N a m e ___ _____ _______ _____ _____ ____ ____ _____ ___ A dd re ss ___ _____ _____ _____ _____ ____ ____ _____ ___
Assets in Action
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By Bernadette Lauritzen
The “Assets Approach,” is alive and well in Los Alamos. After a year spent educating the community about the 40 Developmental Assets from the Search Institute of Minnesota, some ground breaking work has begun. The Search-Institute has identified 40 positive experiences and qualities that all children need to become successful adults. As part of their community building work, the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce brings this approach to the community to enhance all relationships throughout Los Alamos. The local program, called Assets In Action was created with funds from the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board (JJAB), in August of 2007. The work began with the creation of a local website www.AssetsInAction.info and community presentations from Kiwanis, Rotary and from Parent Teacher Organization to teacher in-service days. The funds for the new fiscal year have been approved by the JJAB and augmented with a grant from the State Farm Insurance Company. The $5,000 grant will keep this new work growing in our community. Assets In Action (AIA) started out by creating a forum for local youth and senior citizens to come together once a month to increase the potential for relationship building. The event called Cookies and Conversation unites the generations for some lighthearted conversation and, of course, cookies. The work has drawn interest from the Search-Institute and will be
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M a il o r de live r to : Lo s A la m o s C ha m b e r o f C o m m e rce 10 9 C en tra l P a rk S quare Lo s A la m o s, N M 8 7544
taught at their national convention in November of 2008 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Assets In Action work will expand this school year with the addition of many new programs and a collaborative relationship with both the Los Alamos Monitor and AM 1490, KRSN. KRSN radio hosts a weekly program called Monday Matters from 910AM, featuring programs and projects that help our community build the 40 Developmental Assets in our community residents. The Los Alamos Monitor will host a weekly Assets column once the school bell rings, featuring one of the 40 Assets each week. The same assets will be available through free, electronic newsletters that are available by visiting the Assets In Action website and signing up. As with any non-profit, AIA will also look into ways to increase their work through fundraising. Plans are underway to host an indoor golf tournament during the winter months when idle duffers pine for the hot days of summer. Additional information will be available soon or local golfers can call the program office for more information. To learn more about the Assets or to request the 40 Developmental Assets in a variety of languages including; Spanish, Russian, Chinese and more, visit our website http://www.losalamosjjab.com/40-developmentalassets/ or call 661-4846.
The Essence
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The Essence
Hilltopper Sports (Continued) She says she believes the main thing that made her C Volleyball Team so successful last year was the attitude of the team as a whole. All of the girls were extremely supportive no matter how the game was going. If one person missed a pass or a hit, everyone did their best to give that person encouragement. Nobody on our team ever brought each other down during a game. We were all like a big family’! She says another thing that made the team strong was how the coaches pushed them and how much they got out of the practices. “It was said that neither the JV nor Varsity girls could Pati Stan last a week with our practices.” She says she decided to play volleyball because “it’s just a lot of fun”! She started on the 8th grade team and played both freshman and sophomore years. “Setting is my favorite position and the one that I’m best at.” She’s part of the New Mexico Dance Theater and is currently taking ballet and pointe classes. She has taken hip hop classes as well and hopes to start Jazz this fall. She’s been playing the piano for the last seven years and is one of the Junior Volunteers at the hospital. She also volunteers at the animal shelter. “I love to draw, as well, and my school notebooks are always full of doodles.” “As an athlete I am very good at not letting pressure get to me and keeping my calm. I don’t get too frustrated with myself if I mess up and I always just tell myself to shake it off and that I will get it next time. I do well under pressure and don’t loose my focus even if the other team is about to win. I would like to get a lot better at defense and be able to dive for the ball and move faster. I have to say my favorite part of being on the C team was always the bus rides to away games and back. Our team always had a ton of fun and we all have inside jokes from those trips. Also, losing only one game the whole season was something to be proud of.” Pati did earn a special nickname on the team, “Satin.” This happened when the team was decorating shirts as a team activity. She was running out of time and still had the whole back side of her shirt to do. She was trying to write her last name -STAN- on the back and everything started out fine until she got distracted and thought the next letter she was to put was an “A” when it should have been a T. It was too late. It was non-removable t-shirt paint and she had spelled out SATN instead of STAN! So, “Satin” she is. “About every week we would go to a different girl’s house for our team dinner. It was a great time to talk about school, friends, and boys. One time we also went on a team hike just to do something different and ended up finding charcoal and drawing lines on our faces like football players. During one practice we even brought a TV and exercised to a Hip Hop Abs video!”
other’s behavior which obviously transfers to the sports audience’s supportive influence and impact on the athlete’s and the team’s performance. Competitive spirit, humility and the youthful camaraderie of our high school athletics help keep our lives in perspective. Some spectators prefer the individual sports where they can follow the career of their favorite kids such as Meagan, Jason, Kyle and Evan. Some prefer the team sports with football and volleyball players such as the Zack and Pati where they can attend every game and as supporters greatly influence the development and ultimate outcome of the team’s success during the season. “A season is like a good novel you can’t put down. You want to keep reading chapter after chapter - there’s the plot, characters, heroes, anti-heroes (the opponent), drama, climax, denouement and the ultimate ending,” says Jeremy Varela, former high school athlete and #1 Cubs fan. High school sports are also an equalizer of sorts. As Larry Baca, LAHS track and field coach says, “Without attitude, talent means very little.” Sports attracts every kind of student - the God-given talent of the mighty shot-putter, the dedicated hard working second string team player, the scholar and the hands-on kid who will be your best auto mechanic some day. High school athletes aren’t just “jocks” anymore - especially at Los Alamos High School. They’re well-rounded enthusiastic young adults. Thank you LAHS for coaching the kids into the kind of athletes that make hometown sports entertaining and heartwarming. Getting to know some of these LAHS athletes has been inspiring and fun. The kids we talked to are “real,” honest, positive, and brimming with integrity. The definition of sportsmanship includes having the qualities of generosity and genuine concern for others. The kids we met may not even realize they’re attraction to sports is due, impart, to these same qualities we found in them. Come out and be a spectator! Support the Toppers this school year! Go to: www.laschools.net/lahs/athletics for the LAHS sports calendars and schedule.
Her philosophy on life is “Don’t worry, be happy.” The value factor reminds us of the impact of an individual’s influence on
The Essence
18
Chamber Golf Tournament Benefitting the
Sign up at www.losalamoschamber.com www.losalamoschamber.com
September 19th
100% Tax deducible golf outing
Halloweekend Trick or Treat on MainStreet Pumpkin Glow Costume Contest & Concert
WinterFest www.LAmainstreet.com
December
October 31-November 1, 2008
5-6
Fall Home Varsity Sports Schedules
For full schedules visit www.laschools.net/lahs/athletics
Football 9/19 9/26 10/17 10/24 10/31
Silver City Belen Farmington Bernalillo Espanola
Volleyball 7:00pm 7:00pm 6:00pm 7:00pm 7:00pm
9/23 9/25 10/01 10/15 10/25 10/29
Robertson Moriarty Taos Capital Bernalillo Espanola
6:30am 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm 6:30pm
Boys Soccer
8/29-30 Louie Cerneck Tourney 8:00am 9/16 Alb. Academy 4:00pm 9/27 Capital 11:00am 10/02 Moriarty 4:00pm 10/03 Piedra Vista 4:00pm 10/07 Bernalillo 6:00pm 10/09 St. Pius 4:00pm 10/11 Espanola 1:00pm 10/18 Taos 11:00am 10/21 La Cueva 4:30pm
Girls Soccer
9/20 9/24 9/27 10/07 10/11 10/18 10/23
St. Pius Cibola Capital Bernalillo Espanola Taos St. Micheal’s
11:00am 4:30pm 1:00pm 4:00pm 11:00am 1:00pm 4:00pm