the Essence
of Los Alamos and White Rock
The Frolic
24 Fun Things to Do During Fall in Los Alamos and White Rock by Christel Hanson
Business Essence We Love our Pets by Katy Korkos
Essential People Kaffee Klatsch
by Mandy Marksteiner
Los Alamos Insight
The History of Churches in Los Alamos by Pastor Chuck McCullough, Edited by Lynn Strauss
Arts & Culture
THE ESSENCE OF AN OLION by Angie Chipera
Community Matters Take the 3/50 Challenge
Calendar Of Events October and November
October/November 2009, Volume 2, Issue 65
Freshly Baked
Plump Blueberries
Youth Music Education
Now you can support music education every time you buy coffee, meals, or fresh baked goods with the Locals Care program. With Locals Care, the non-profi t of your choice receives a percentage of your purchase every time you shop at participating local businesses. For more information, visit localscareLA.com.
Participating Merchants Bella Cosa Flowers & Gifts Blue Window Bistro Cook’n In Style Don Taylor’s Photography Home Run Pizza-Los Alamos Los Alamos Chiropractic Los Alamos Home Improvement/Ace Hardware Otowi Station Bookstore & Museum Shop *Ruby K’s Bagel Café The CoffeeHouse Cafe (home of The Coffee Booth) The Finishing Touch Village Arts
LOS ALAMOS
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Essence October/November 2009
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the
Essence
October/November 2009 6 The Frolic
24 Fun Things to Do During Fall in Los Alamos and White Rock by Christel Hanson
10 The Business Essence We Love our Pets by Katy Korkos
12 The Essential People Kaffee Klatsch
by Mandy Marksteiner
16 Los Alamos Insight
The History of Churches in Los Alamos: The Role of Religion in a Science Community by Pastor Chuck McCullough, Edited by Lynn Strauss
18 Arts & Culture
THE ESSENCE OF AN OLION by Angie Chipera
20 Community Matters Take the 3/50 Challenge
22 Calendar Of Events October and November
About the cover: Valles Caldera Photo by Holly Dodge
www.losalamoschamber.com
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Editor’s Note Leaves are changing and the air greeting us in the mornings and evenings is cooler. It is the time of year when we bundle up our children in the mornings on the way to school and see them swinging their jackets around on their way home. This is the most beautiful time of year.
In this issue of The Essence Fall invites activities such as playing in a pile of leaves and taking pictures of the beautiful foliage in our scenic community. But did you know about all the other activities one can do in Los Alamos this season? Christel Hanson gives us 24 other activities we can do in the Fall. It is hard to think of my childhood without thinking of the animals that I shared it with. They were a source of comfort and companionship that taught me what unconditional love truly means. Katy Korkos talks with animal lovers all around town and shares these stories with us in “Puppy Love.”
We all know about the more formal clubs and organizations around town. Mandy Marksteiner meets with less known, or less formal social groups that meet in a variety of places in our community. It was very interesting to learn not only about the diversity of people, but also the diversity of things that bring them together.
It is hard to dispute the relevance of churches in a community. This issue’s story about the history of churches is a reiteration of the “we will find a way” attitude that is ever so prevalent in the beginnings of Los Alamos.” The people believed in something and tirelessly put their efforts into having the presence of religion here in our community. Chuck McCullough and Lynn Strauss chronicle the humbling beginnings of churches in our science community. Those high school kids are a bunch of characters, literally! The Olions have a long history of performing in Los Alamos. Angie Chipera sits down with some students as they share stories about being an Olion and briefs us on the history of the group.
Change. Seasons are all about change. Some people have trouble with significant changes in their lives and some of us are looking forward to the time change. We hope you have enjoyed the stories in the last two volumes of The Essence. We’ve tried to feature stories that are insightful as well as thought-provoking. For the last two years I’ve had the benefit of providing a publication that connects readers with businesses and organizations as well as gives reasons to love this spectacular setting we live in. I now have welcomed changes into my life and am passing The Essence on to someone else. I look forward to see what changes The Essence has in store for the person who inherits it. Thanks for reading. Jeremy Varela, Managing Editor jvarela@losalamos.org Los Alamos Commerce & Development Corp. Events & Marketing Coordinator LA MainStreet Manager p: 505.661.4844 f: 505.662.8399
Check out what’s happening in Los Alamos!! LAmainstreet.com fyiLA.com
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Stay informed about projects around Los Alamos County! Visit www.losalamosnm.us and click on “Newsletters Subscribe� for updates on projects: Diamond Phase III Judicial-Police/Jail Complex Airport Basin Site Animal Shelter and more!
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Questions? Call Los Alamos County Public Works at 662-8150.
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The Frolic
25 Fun Things to Do During Fall in Los Alamos and White Rock By Christel Hanson
Enjoy heading to hills when the aspens are turning, but don’t forget that our town has
plenty to offer during fall! This year, add a new activity to your autumn recreation. Check out this list for things to enjoy in Los Alamos and White Rock during this colorful season: 1. Go to the skate park.
6. Eat lunch at the Ski Hill.
While the big kids are away, little kids can play. During school hours, the skate park is a great place to take tykes and their trikes. They have fun and get exercise and grown-ups can relax in the shade of the pines. For the young-at-heart, join them in sliding down the smooth sides on your behind. You may find “fall” has a different meaning …
Pajarito Mountain Cafe is open Tuesday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. until Oct. 10. Sit out on the deck for the best view of the aspens turning.
2. Shop seasonal produce at the Farmer’s Market.
If the skate park isn’t for you, meander over to the Farmer’s Market for seasonal pickings, including fresh corn, squash, and honey. Or scoop up ripe raspberries: they’re great for snacks, in salads, or, better yet—pies!
3. Hike the Red and Blue Dot Trails. Everyone thinks “Jemez” for autumn hikes, but fall is a great time to hike down to the Rio Grande from White Rock via either Dot trail. During the summer these treks can be blisteringly hot, but now the air is pleasantly cool. Just watch out for snakes: they like the nice weather, too.
4. Star gaze.
Take advantage of the last nights before winter and lay on your back at Overlook Park or Sullivan Field. Our altitude and low city lights make for spectacular viewing. Bundle up!
5.Take in the Scarecrow Contest and Pumpkin Glow.
The Arts Council hosts a Scarecrow Contest each year; you can see them posed all over Central Avenue. This year, stroll by Oct. 25 through Nov. 2 and get up close and personal with a straw man. Join in with one of your own or carve a pumpkin for the Pumpkin Glow, held Oct. 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Fuller Lodge
7. Institute Sunday drives.
Sundays were the day carriages drove around the park, with the people inside enjoying the scenery and some fresh air. Make an old tradition your own for a season; instead of cruising for Christmas lights, find as many colors as you can in nearby neighborhoods.
8. Take to the hills.
If you should head for the Jemez on one of your Sunday drives, try going along NM 4 to NM 485 to the Gilman tunnels. It’s a scenic drive and the tunnels are a great place to view the river.
9. Build a fire.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, try popping popcorn the old-fashioned way over the flames. If you don’t have a fireplace, consider a fire pit (or grill)— they’re a fun way to roast marshmallows with friends in your own backyard. (Fire pits are available from Do It Best’s online store and they ship to Metzger’s.)
10. Drink a Gingerbread Latte at The Coffee House Café.
Or try a Pumpkin Spice Latte at Starbucks! If coffee’s not your thing, sip the cider or pick up a Chai Latte at either place. All of them contain spices smacking of fall.
11. Take in a local football, soccer or volleyball game.
Bring your hat, your lap blanket, and a thermos of hot chocolate and yell yourself hoarse.
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12. See Sherlock Holmes at Los Alamos Little Theater. If sports aren’t your thing, investigate the Los Alamos Little Theater’s production of “Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure.” The play runs Nov. 6, 7, 13, 14, 15, 20, and 21.
13. Walk White Rock’s Canyon Rim. Fall looks a bit different in White Rock. You can see the wild grasses fading and the chamisas blooming if you take a walk along the canyon’s scenic rim. If you just want to sit and read, the rim is easily accessible from a cul-de-sac at the end of Kimberly Street.
14. Pick and press wildflowers.
Along the rim and county roads, asters and Indian paintbrush are blooming. Take a moment to enjoy their beauty. Or pick some of the remaining blooms in your own garden and press them to preserve your fall memories into winter and beyond.
15. Shop Arts and Crafts.
On the Saturday before Thanksgiving, do some early Christmas shopping at the Arts Council’s Arts and Crafts fair. You will find everything from jewelry and handmade toys to fine art, some created by Los Alamos and White Rock residents.
16. Eat a bit of fall.
Try something fun and new at home. Roast some pumpkin seeds with a little oil and salt, try acorn squash with cinnamon and brown sugar, or make calabacitas with summer squash. And don’t forget that pears are an autumnal treat!
17. Take alternative transportation. Grab a bike or ride a horse along one of our many scenic trails and enjoy the crisp air and scenery at a (continued on page 8) brisk pace.
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The Frolic (continued from page 6) 18. Dive into Warm Water Weekends. When the weather turns too cool to fully enjoy the outdoors, head down to the Aquatic Center for some exercise during their Warm Water Weekends. Kids will enjoy the fun blow-up toys and grown-ups can bask in the warmth. The water’s warm on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. select weekends in October and November.
19. Stop and smell the green chile.
Nothing says “fall” in New Mexico like chile roasting. Buy some and enjoy the lingering smell in your home (and probably your car) for days.
20. Take an art class.
Los Alamos and White Rock Fall Events Information The Art Center at Fuller Lodge Art Class Schedule
Check www.artfulnm.org/classes.php for the schedule and call 662-9331 to register.
Atomic City Cleaners
For a great fall indoor activity, indulge your creativity with an art class at the Art Center at Fuller Lodge. Fall instruction runs Sept. 28 through Nov. 21 (many classes start in October). Classes include drawing, painting, ceramics, making stained glass, and pine needle basketry.
Call 672-9711 to schedule.
Larry R. Walkup Aquatic Center Warm Water Weekends Schedule WWWs will occur on Oct. 17 and 18, as well as Nov. 7, 8, 28 and 29. Or go to www.losalamosnm.us/rec/aquatic/Pages/SpecialEvents.aspx to see all pool events.
Los Alamos Arts Council Event Information/Registration
21. Halloweekend
For Halloween this year, try a new mode of trick or treating: take your tots to local businesses on Central Avenue for Trick-or-Treat on Main Street on October 30 and the Costume Contest at Fuller Lodge on October 31 starting at 7 p.m.
Download an entry form at: www.laartscouncil.org/events.htm.
Los Alamos High School Athletics Schedule
Los Alamos Little Theater 2009-2010 Schedule Go to www.lalt.org/2009-2010/index.shtml.
22. Culture for free.
Take advantage of Mesa Public Library’s Authors Speak program; talks are free and begin at 7 p.m. For kids and those living in White Rock, take in a free movie courtesy of the White Rock Family Friendly Film Series. “Monsters vs. Aliens” is showing at the White Rock Library on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
See laschools.net for athletic schedules.
Los Alamos Mesa Public Library Author’s Speak Schedule
See www.losalamosnm.us/library/Pages/AuthorsSpeak for schedule.
Metzger’s Do It Best Website Go to doitbest.com to order a fire pit and have it shipped to Metzger’s.
Senior Center Fall Events Find Senior Center events at www.losalamos.com/lasc Or call the Betty Ehart Center: 662-8920.
23. Square Dance at the Senior Center.
Mountain Mixers Square Dance Club is offering lessons this fall Sundays from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
24. Gift yourself a pre-Christmas cleaning. Treat yourself to sparkling floors before the wet weather and holiday guests arrive. Dick’s Carpet Care, locally owned and operated since 1971, is offering a fall special on carpet cleaning (see inset).
These 24 ideas are just the beginning of fun things to do in Los Alamos and White Rock this autumn. Use your own imagination and enjoy this spectacular season of the year!
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The Business Essence We Love Our Pets
“I
t’s only puppy love (and kitty love, and gerbil love, and ferret love, and
goldfish love, and budgie love...) If you want to engage people in a passionate discussion, just mention pets. We love our pets with a pure and undying love. We’re sensitive to their every want and need; (sometimes more than to the people we live with). We buy videos and jungle gyms for our cats, we have their nails done, we lovingly clean their litter boxes and feed them hairball medicine. We take our dogs to classes and enroll them in sports, brush their teeth and have their hair sculpted into fanciful shapes. Many of our fish enjoy the company of miniature scuba divers, and our lizards have landscaped terrariums. We overcome our squeamishness and throw live rodents to our snakes. Our birds have little mirrors to help them with their preening, and cuttlebones to keep their beaks in tip-top condition. We even look for products that will help to reduce our pets’ carbon paw print! We get a lot of support from local businesses that have sprung up to help us keep our pets happy and healthy, from vets to groomers to Pet Pangaea, where owner Cyndi Wells, a former biochemist, is a resource for everything you ever wanted to know about pet nutrition. And if she doesn’t know, she’s happy to do the research. Pet Pangaea is also a great place to
By Katy Korkos
meet other pet owners who are happy to share advice and stories about their loved ones. Cyndi’s shop has outgrown its small space in Central Park Square and she is looking to expand into the next space over, to accommodate all of the cool pet-friendly toys, treats, beds, grooming aid, food, clothing- well, you can see why she’s outgrown the space. Pet Pangaea has its own spokes-dog and Chief Canine Officer, Jasper, and spokes-cat and Chief Feline Officer, Hana, who help to get the word out to their friends who are less fluent in human talk. Cyndi always jumps in to help sponsor the Dog Jog to support the Animal Shelter, as well as conducting pet nutrition seminars, both locally and for statewide organizations such as New Mexico Search and Rescue. Dan Dessauer, long-time vet for the Animal Clinic, came by his love for animals honestly. “My mother was a cat lady, my father is a biochemist, and I am a hybrid,” Dan says. Their beautiful and airy clinic has been out at East Gate Drive since 1997, but still looks brand new. Dr. Dan met partners Bob and Susie Fuselier while they were all in veterinary school together in Louisiana, and brought them out to join his practice. All of the vets at Animal Clinic have outstanding professional credentials, but their staff profiles give them street credibility as well- they are all pet owners! Ridgeview Veterinary Hospital’s two vets have longstanding local ties as well. Dr. Stephanie (Pratt) Williams graduated from Los Alamos High, and Dr. Kristine Weaver grew up in the valley but
participated in Los Alamos 4-H and many other activities. Both vets were working in Clovis until the opportunity presented itself to move back home, open their own practice and serve the local community. Yours Truly Diana’s on DP Road is the grooming shop where everybody from teacup poodles to English Mastiffs go to get spruced up. Persians and Himalayans add a graceful note to the shop as well. “We cater to cowards,” Diana says. She has run her grooming business for many years. To watch her at work is to realize that she loves every moment of time spent with animals. She has also mentored a newly licensed groomer, Joshua, who is looking at his dog grooming business as a great way to pay his college expenses. A new Animal Shelter is under construction right next to Ridgeview Veterinary Clinic, with easy access to the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club’s Quonset hut and the huge dog park at East Park. The county will operate the shelter, but the Friends of the Shelter provide hundreds of hours of volunteer time to enhance the quality of life of the animals. The volunteers just want to help find those perfect homes for each animal, and will love and nurture the animals for as long as it takes to make the right match.
fyi
—Be sure to thank your favorite vets, groomers and pet shop owners for all they do to support the Los Alamos Dog Obedience Club, the Friends of the Shelter, Los Alamos Civil Defense’s Search and Rescue Mountain Canine Corps, Assistance Dogs of the West and many more organizations. And if you’re ready to adopt a pet of your own, check out the Friends of the Shelter website at www.petfinder.com/shelters/friendsoftheshelter.html
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The Los Alamos County Animal Shelter is not technically a “no-kill” shelter, but euthanasia is extremely rare, because of the support of local vets and the Friends of the Shelter organization. Animal Clinic of Los Alamos performs an average of one hundred free pet wellness exams each year for animals adopted from a shelter. Both Ridgeview Vets and the Animal Clinic strongly encourage pet adoption. First-time dog owner Carol Clark says that her mighty five-pound Yorkie, Tyrone Nigel Clark, has changed her life. Carol works long and irregular hours in her job as a reporter and editor for the Los Alamos Monitor, a job she is passionate about. Before Tyrone came into her life, she often spent fifteen hours a day on the job. She still spends fifteen to eighteen hours a day working, but now some of those are more likely to be from home. “I can’t wait to get home, now,” Carol says. “He is always so happy to see me.” She says she had no idea how important a pet could be until she got him, and he has helped her to connect with people of all ages whom she might never have met. We shower them with affection, buy them toys and feed them balanced diets, and I think every pet owner would agree, they more than repay our efforts. }
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The Essential People Kaffee Klatsch
“T
wo years ago, I spent my first week in Los Alamos holed up in a hotel room with my newborn. I didn’t know what to do with myself when my husband went to work. I was lonely and bored. I didn’t have any friends! Luckily someone told me about a group of stay-at-home moms that meet every Friday at Film Festival. When I decided to go I felt like I was handed an instant social life. Halo Golden and a few of her friends started the group four years ago because they wanted to get together for coffee where their kids could play. The group has grown and become the center of a web of mom-friendly activities like play dates, workout groups, girls’ night out and other events. Los Alamos is full of groups that get together for coffee and to share common interests.
Some of the groups are intellectual. Every Thursday morning, for the past three years, a group of retired scientists have been getting together at Film Festival to drink coffee and discuss theoretical physics. Some of the groups are creative. “I think it’s really cool that people do that,” said Abbie Burk, who has owned Film Festival for 13 years. “There’s also a knitting group that meets at Film Festival who call themselves the ‘Happy Hookers’.” The social scene in White Rock is comprised of the Quik Stop, Metzger’s, and the Bandelier Grill. Many of the old-timers who sit at the small tables at Quik Stop have been friends since the ‘60s, and look forward to getting together to read the newspaper, have a cup of coffee and comment on the goings-on
By Mandy Marksteiner
at the busy corner. And many more friendships have been formed at the White Rock Dog Park. While Patience, Prudence, Chloe, Tabitha, and several Mollies cavort and tumble, their owners plan human play dates at area restaurants. Some of the groups are political. Garrett Eckhart, a host at the Blue Window, said, “A group meets every Wednesday for lunch. They have a constant reservation at the same table. They also have a name… I think it’s ‘The Liberal Lunch Group.’ It’s funny because we end up packing 11 people onto a four top table.”
Some of the groups are just for fun. Every Friday night at seven there is a game night at Daylight Donuts. Pat Kestell said, “We started it in ’96 to be a place for teenagers to hang out and get cheap sodas. It was kind of a church group. But those kids graduated so it’s more of a gaming place. “ Robb Casey, Bill Wingfield, Mike Levine and Bruce Gavitt, have been riding motorcycles together
for years. Since Casey, a contractor, started doing the concrete work outside of Uli’s, his friends began meeting for sandwiches at Daniel’s Café. Some groups who could be called “I worked out, I deserve a reward” meet at the CoffeeHouse Café, now conveniently located between Los Alamos Fitness and Curves for Women. A Curves carpool from White Rock has met faithfully every Monday morning, for coffee, and perhaps a scone, because “hey, we worked out, we deserve it!” And those who work out at the Family YMCA are now found at Tea World, inside Cookin’ in Style.
Many families, like the Irvings, go to their favorite restaurants as a weekly tradition. Every Sunday after church Ben and Emily Irving take their three daughters, Elaina, Anabel and River, to Ruby K’s for bagels. Jim Babich makes breakfast at Ruby K’s part of his daily routine. Every day he drives up from White Rock where he takes care of his parents, who are both in their eighties. “They don’t wake up until 10:30, so I come to Ruby K’s for my coffee break and usually meet two guys that I used to work with at Tech Area 55.” If you’re feeling bored, take a walk down Central Avenue and find a group to join, or create one of your own!
fyi
—It doesn’t matter whether you meet for a glass of wine at Central Avenue Grill, for a cupcake and three forks at the Hill Diner, for a pot of tea at Tea World, for a smoothie at Ruby K’s, for a giant potato at the Bandelier Grill, for a beer after work at the Aspen Lounge in the Hilltop House, for fresh-roasted coffee at the CoffeeHouse, for a quick cup at the Conoco station, for a rack of ribs at Bob’s Bodacious, for a hamburger and a hike at Pajarito Mountain, for margaritas at DeColores, for a heaping bowl of salad at Daniel’s Cafe- the point is to get together with your friends and enjoy the hospitality offered.
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Photo: Skip Wecksung
of Los Alamos and White Rock
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Photo: Skip Wecksung
COLUMBUS DAY Monday, October 12 HALLOWEEN Saturday, October 31 VETERANS DAY Wednesday, November 11 THANKSGIVING Thursday, November 26
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Los Alamos Insight The History of Churches in Los Alamos: The Role of Religion in a Science Community By Pastor Chuck McCullough, Edited by Lynn Strauss
Faith in something is inherent in the human condition,” says Chuck McCullough, pastor of the White Rock Baptist Church. “Everyone has a god.” In his 20-plus years in Los Alamos, McCullough has reflected on the role of the religious community in Los Alamos. This article is a distillation of Mr. McCullough’s conversations with members of the religious community and the community at large, interviews with people from the WWII era, assisted by research at the Los Alamos Historical Society and his personal observations. he percentage of church-goers in Los Alamos is only 20 percent of the population, while the national average is about 40% in a typical community -- not surprising in a science town. But McCullough contends that the religious community has had and continues to have a significant impact. “In Los Alamos of the 1940s, there were men and women for whom religious faith was earnest and authentic,” McCullough says. As is often the case in wartime, people needed a familiar place, a place of solace, some peace and quiet, a moment to reflect. McCullough explains that the situation was magnified by several contributing factors: the primitive living conditions, the pressures of the Manhattan Project, the sense of isolation from the rest of the world, and the fact that everyone was from somewhere else. It wasn’t very long before there arose a movement to start a church. Historical records of the United Church reveal, “When families arrived on the Pajarito Plateau in 1943, they found water in short supply, no
fyi—
phone service, censored mail, tight security and closed gates. This was a military post run by Army engineers. It also had no chapel and no chaplain. Every request to the project director was measured against one question— ‘does it further the mission?’ ” In the fall of 1943, five women got permission to have a Sunday School in the Nursery building and 100 people came the first week, according to McCullough’s research. By the following spring, permission was granted to allow clergymen from Santa Fe to hold services on the Hill. When they could not make it up the main dirt road because of torrential rains and icy conditions, the laity led the services. Then, in the summer of 1944, an Army chaplain who had seen combat with the 158th infantry was assigned to Los Alamos. He oversaw a large variety of community activities in addition to church-type duties (church council, choir, glee club, ushers, and the women’s church guild). But there was still no chapel. Catholic services were held in Post Theater #1 and Protestant services in Theater #2 (also the scene of prize fights, movies, and dances). A formal Sunday School was organized in the summer of 1946, with the coming of the second chaplain. After the war, the residents who remained in town “were faced with building a new community and laboratory out of a war-time, jerry-built military post,” according to the United Church records.
The First Church
The United Church was the first Protestant church organized and formally established in 1947. It was originally an Army Chapel moved from Santa Fe. Since it had to accommodate three faiths - Protestant, Catholic and Jewish faiths, as well as providing housing for a Catholic priest -- the cross on the altar had two sides, one with the crucifix for the Catholic services, and the other side without a crucifix for the Protestant services. The accoutrements for the Jewish service were stored behind the curtain that covered the back of the altar. “Just about all the early faith groups met in the facilities of the United Church at one time or another until they either were able to rent space or build their own,” says McCullough.
The Growth Period: 1943 – 1963 The first faith groups faced government red tape in gaining permission to meet, to rent facilities and advertise. Practically all the early churches acquired old barracks, theaters, and dormitory buildings and remodeled them for meeting spaces. Buildings were moved regularly from one spot to another to accommodate the needs. New churches included:
• The Latter Day Saints began meeting in 1943 with two families and 7 soldiers. • The First Baptist Church was organized as a mission of FBC, Santa Fe, in 1948. • The First Methodist Church began meeting in 1951, formally chartered the same year. • The Unitarian Church was founded in 1953. • The Jewish Center was founded in 1963.
“A certain measure of tentativeness and perhaps, I suggest, a subtle defensiveness, was built into the psyche of the faith community,” says McCullough. “That tentativeness, the struggle to survive, continues to this day.” With the development of White Rock in the 1960s, a second “spurt” of church building took place. White Rock Presbyterian was founded in 1966, White Rock Baptist in 1969, and most recently, Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church was founded in 2008.
The Impact of Churches
McCullough points out three levels of impact that the religious community has had. First there are social services (Self-Help, LA Cares, Hope Pregnancy Center, day care centers at The Ark and Horizons, thrift shops, and clothing and food distribution services). Also, several Christian schools have provided educational alternatives. Churches also provide meeting space for other social organizations. Houses of worship function for all kinds of meetings of groups from around the community. (The White Rock Baptist Church alone was used by more than 60 community groups last year.) The second tier of impact is care-giving, social and spiritual events for various segments of the
Communion, communication, community- it’s no coincidence that all of these words bring to mind the essential human need for getting together for a common cause, to be involved with something greater than one’s self. If you’d like to become more familiar with the diversity of faith activities in Los Alamos, read the Friday “Religion” pages in the Los Alamos Monitor.
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population. (For example, youth events, Ladies groups, Community Bible Study, Young Life, grief care, divorce care, counseling). The third level of impact is the support and resources for rites of passage (birth, baptism, confirmation, graduation, weddings, funerals, grave side service). “A closer look will reveal the not so obvious -- and possibly more important -- influences,” says McCullough. “There is a very personal dimension within a faith community. Churches provide a place of belonging and significance, something of an extended family.” Religious communities contribute to a healthy, vibrant society, according to McCullough. “When people within a group form bonds with each other at a spiritual level and when they rehearse the traditions of ancient faith, they seek to touch the essence of what it means to be human,” he says. “They are an affirmation that humanity is more than biology and chemistry and mechanisms of nature. They dare to explore the question of ‘why’ and to seek purpose in what exists.” On a broader scale, the variety of churches in Los Alamos demonstrates the religious freedom that this country was built on. “People of faith are evidence that the American experiment, the grand contribution of America to the world—religious liberty—is vital and robust,” says McCullough. “This is American freedom at its best. We should celebrate that fact.”
“I want to know how God created this world. I am not interested in this or that phenomenon, in the spectrum of this or that element. I want to know His thoughts; the rest are details.” -- Albert Einstein, from Black Holes and Baby Universes
“I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science… there is certainly no scientific reason why God cannot retain the same relevance in our modern world that He held before we began probing His creation with telescope, cyclotron, and space vehicles.” -- Wernher von Braun, from Creation: Nature’s Designs and Designer
“The trend is to look for God in dramatic discontinuities in physics or biology, and if none are found, to declare religion vanquished. But God may act in subtle ways that are hidden from physical science.” -- John Polkinghorne, physicist become Anglican priest
Los Alamos churches include more than 25 varieties and sects. • A Jewish congregation • A large Roman Catholic contingent • Orthodox Church of America (a mix of Russian, Slavic, Greek Orthodox) • Mainline Protestant: Episcopalian Methodist (one in LA, one in WR) Lutheran—ELCA, Wisconsin Synod, Missouri Synod Presbyterian—PCA, PCUSA, Korean • “Evangelical”—Assembly of God, Baptist (3), Calvary Chapel, Christian Church, Christian Fellowship, CM&A (Crossroads), Church of Christ (2), Grace Vineyard, Pentecostal (Hope) • Mixed denominational—United Church • Quaker • Seventh Day Adventist • Unitarian Universalist • Ethnic churches—Korean (Presbyterian), Chinese (Baptist) • American sects—Latter Day Saints, Christian Science, Jehovah’s Witnesses • Eastern—Buddhist, Baha’i, Hindu, Sikh • Islam— no organized presence • Pagan/Nature Religion—Wiccan
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Arts & Culture THE ESSENCE OF AN OLION by Angie Chipera
O
• l • i • o,
a mixture or medley of theatrical acts.
I sat alone for a moment on the stage in the Topper Theater at Los Alamos High School. Looking around me, the heavy felt curtains, industrial strength tile, and fold-up chairs brought nothing of their own to the room but yet I could feel a presence there. Thousands of spoken words, laughter, tears. Sadness, happiness, frustration, hope, fear. All of these and more reside there still, wanting to be remembered as the start of something great. Nearby, three scripts lay on instructor Nina Saunders’ desk, each yearning to be the next one whose words will be brought to life onstage. She instructed the Olions board members to take a copy of each script home and read them over the weekend. They have collectively chosen Knock ‘em Dead as their fall play and The Wiz as their musical. My first question for the Olions was, what is an Olion? My dictionary defined ‘olio’ as potpourri. To get the answer we have to go back in time to the Italian Renaissance. Theatre performances during that time period were acted out as though it was real time so during interludes, a group of actors would step out in front of the curtain and perform a mixture or medley of theatrical acts. These short performances were called Olios and the performers Olions. These singers and comedians later became show stealers, as audiences started coming just to see them perform. The Olions thespian organization came from humble beginnings as well. Over fifty years ago, Ross Ramsey, the first theater manager at Los Alamos High School, began this small theatre group that met after school. Liking the lighthearted yet fun nature of the olios, he named his group The Olions. It grew in popularity and several years later, the High School made theatre classes a choice in their regular curriculum. The group is still growing, says Saunders. One hundred and twenty students expressed an interest in theatre this year. She’s not overwhelmed by that number, though. For several years, Saunders has desired to expand the program, so she’s excited to have so many youth that want to give theatre a
try. She’s ready to try competition drama in order to expose some of the students to more dramatic roles rather than mostly comedy. There’s a place for everyone no matter their ability, she says. Lights, sound, set construction, acting. Creative expression comes in many different ways. Saunders puts the show in the hands of the youth as much as possible to give them a creative voice in the process. She sees her role more as a supervising director. When they own it, they feel more deeply connected and work more effectively as a team. Craig Mortensen and Amanda Jalbert are co-directing a murder mystery this year. It’s exciting and scary, says Mortensen, but he feels that directing will improve his acting. It’ll be his (and Amanda’s) vision coming alive on the stage. Saunders added to this that directors mold actors, pushing them to their emotional limits, bringing them out of their shell, and
transforming them into the characters they are trying to create. She’s excited for Mortensen and Jalbert because she knows the transformation that will happen within them. Like several of her students, Saunders got her passion for the theatre in high school. While working on her BA in Theatre Arts, she was hired as a student director, even though her emphasis was on acting. She has worked professionally for several years in the theatre industry and has won national awards for sound design. Currently, she’s teaching, raising a baby, and working on her MA in Theatre Education. In keeping with their tradition, the Olions will perform a fall play, a spring musical, student directed one-acts, and the Topper Revue, which is written by the Topper Revue Emcees. Alex deNevers, a sound designer for the Los Alamos theatre group, recalls an Emcee that did a fabulous impression of Mr. Houfek,
fyi—If you haven’t taken in a show at the Duane Smith auditorium for a while, you will be pleasantly surprised with how auditorium manager Ross Mason has spruced the place up, but it will never shine as brightly as the faces of the young people who are in the Olions’ productions.
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one of their teachers. One night, Mr. Houfek showed up to play himself during Topper Revue, and had to use a script! In addition to the shows, the Olions also go on a theatrical trip each year, with a big trip every four years. Two years ago they went to London and Paris, and this year they will be traveling to Albuquerque to see the musical Avenue Q and to stage an improvisational event downtown. Adult participation is always welcome for building and painting sets. In fact, if you show up at an Olions theatrical performance early, you may be greeted by one of the thespians, eager to hand you a paintbrush and say, “Glad you’re here. We need someone to finish painting a flat.” deNevers laughed when he said this but he wasn’t joking. As with most theatre groups, a lot of details get finished right before the show opens. The lighting and sound crews start their magic about two weeks before the opening, says Michael Swadener. He and deNevers remember a show where they realized just days before opening night that what the actors had been rehearsing wasn’t going to work with the lighting setup. The technical crew worked countless hours that week to get everything perfect. According to Swadener, technicians don’t get to enjoy the show until opening night. My last question was, what is the essence of Olions? There were as many answers as there were students. Putting on a good performance no matter what. Having fun. Comradery. Creative expression. Creating something together. An expression of self and soul. A sense of family. Mortensen remembered a night when a friend came backstage after the show and had an epileptic seizure and Olions stayed with him until the paramedics arrived. Saunders also feels that her students are part of her family and it’s difficult for her to say goodbye to them when they graduate and move on with their lives. But she knows that they are leaving more confident and secure, better able to handle whatever life throws at them. Come see the Olions Knock ‘em Dead. Let them wow you with their vision of The Wiz. Take an emotional journey with them in their Competition Drama. See the student’s talent in the Student Directed One-Acts. Laugh with them during Topper Revue. For more information, see their website at www.olions.org
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THE CALL FOR IMPROV Craig: I n Little Shop of Horrors, I had just killed my girlfriend and was placing her in the man-eating plant when I realize that my bracelet was stuck on Bethany Sullivan’s fishnet stockings. I pulled on the bracelet frantically and tried to stay in character while the plant is coming down over my head. I hear someone whispering, “Craig, get out of the way,” but I couldn’t. Finally I yanked my arm free and was able to get out of the way just in time. Alex: In Play On, one of our lead actors was going to be delayed by an hour or more at a band competition. Chip Carter, one of our backstage guys, volunteered to stand in for him on stage with no prior notice and a script in his hand. Chip read all his lines. By the second act, our lead actor had arrived so we told the audience that Chip’s character was awful so we replaced him with his brother, Sam. We accidentally interchanged their names once in a while and reminded the audience that the two of them looked so much alike that we’d get them mixed up. It was a hit with the audience because the two of them were as different as night and day. Arica: In Bye Bye Birdie, my mother, Sami Vish, was supposed to come on stage while I was on the phone. When she didn’t, I continued the phone conversation by talking about cute guys and whatever I could think of while someone fetched her.
www.losalamoschamber.com
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:Take the 3/50 Challenge
T
hink of local businesses that you would hate to discover were not in existence any longer. They could be merchants, restaurants, or snack places. They could also be service businesses that help you take care of your home, your car, your body, or your peace of mind. Make a mental list. Now, think about three of the businesses on your mental list that you have not visited or interacted with recently. This consciousness-raising exercise is at the core of the 3/50 Project, a grass-roots initiative aimed at supporting local economies … three businesses at a time. The “50” part of the 3/50 name suggests spending $50 a month with each of the three businesses to support them and help to sustain them. Making a conscious effort to support local businesses can pay significant dividends for our community’s economy as well. In our community, $50 in expenditures by 50% of the people who work in our community results in $450,000 in revenues, a very significant number. What do people think about the 3/50 idea? This month we interview Grace Martinez and Lorraine Hartway.
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Grace Martinez, Office Manager, SMSI
Lorraine Hartway, Owner, Lorraine Hartway, CPA
Are you up for the 3/50 challenge? This is a really interesting idea. And I think it is something that I can do something about, both as an individual and as office manager for our tech services business.
Are you up for the 3/50 challenge? Yes! … and this makes me stop to think about who are the businesses out there that I already support and others I need to learn more about. Restaurants are easy to think about spending $50 a month. We just bought a mattress at CB FOX so that was good.
What businesses come to mind? I like going to Village Arts. I was surprised to learn that they are moving locations and I was glad to hear that it is just a short move. CB FOX is another business I frequent. Our company has opened up an account at Bella Cosa so that we can get flowers to make our office more welcoming.
Can you think of a business you haven’t been to lately that the 3/50 idea has you thinking about visiting? Otowi Station Bookstore comes to mind. It’s a neat shop. I think that as I put more thought to this, there will be other places I’ll visit as well. How is SMSI involved in the community? Being involved is important to us and is rewarding. We sponsor and have people involved with youth sports teams in multiple sports. We make donations to community activities and fundraisers, we just sponsored a hole at the Chamber golf benefit for United Way and we are looking forward to putting together our scarecrow and being a part of Trick or Treat on MainStreet for Halloweekend. Economic times have been tougher, but we do our best to stay involved.
What businesses come to mind? We have a great medical center and medical services providers here. There are a lot of service businesses I would hate to do without. I think the important thing about this 3/50 idea is to raise consciousness and put some thinking into what more I can do to support our business community. Another business I want to mention is Pajarito Ski Area. They are working to become more of a year-round recreation place, and they are definitely a business that I would miss if they weren’t here. I’ll think of so much more after you have left … I guess that’s the point. Can you think of a business you haven’t been to lately that the 3/50 idea has you thinking about visiting? Home Run Pizza in White Rock
How is your business involved in the community? Our employees are active in so many churches and other not-for-profits and service organizations … we support them in doing that. Groups like Friends of the Shelter, the Heart Council, the Council on Cancer, Habitat for Humanity, and Kiwanis all come to mind. Being a local business, I can tell you that support from local clientele enables us to be involved in our community.
Read more about the 3/50 Project at www.the350project.net
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October 2009
10 Saturday
23 Friday
PEEC and Moms in Motion Present the Third Annual Trails Runs Festival at Pajarito Mountain – 10k, 15 mile and kids races
Los Alamos County Sunset Hay Ride Enjoy a hayride into the sunset on North Mesa.
Valles Caldera National Preserve – Galaxies and the Universe on the Caldera A two hour view of the universe with telescopes
13 Tuesday
Los Alamos Historical Society – Historical Lecture Series Harrison Schmitt, former astronaut and US senator and an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin
14 Wednesday
Father/Daughter Dessert and Dance Enjoy a funfilled evening of dessert, crafting and dancing.
24 Saturday
Art Center at Fuller Lodge Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair at the Los Alamos Middle School Little Forest Playschool Annual Fall Resale Los Alamos Arts Council Guitars and Gateaux. Come enjoy a dessert and beverage. Los Alamos County Sunset Hay Ride Enjoy a hayride into the sunset on North Mesa.
25 Sunday
15 Thursday
Outdoor Farmers’ Market The bounty of northern New Mexico farmlands for you to see, appreciate - and buy!
Valles Caldera National Preserve Elk Tour on the Caldera. The Rocky Mountain Elk or Wapiti (white rump) is one of the most majestic North American animals living today.
16 Friday
Art Center at Fuller Lodge Opening Art Reception – Life Drawing Sketchbook Los Alamos Concert Association Presents the Stradivari Quartet.
YMCA Free Community Health Event Guided Hike on the North Route Bayo Canyon
22 Thursday Outdoor Farmers’ Market The bounty of northern New Mexico farmlands for you to see, appreciate - and buy! Father/Daughter Dessert and Dance Enjoy a funfilled evening of dessert, crafting and dancing.
Valles Caldera National Preserve Elk Tour on the Caldera. The Rocky Mountain Elk or Wapiti (white rump) is one of the most majestic North American animals living today
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YMCA Free Community Health Event. Guided Two-mile Hike on Knifes’ Edge Trail - offers spectacular views of the Pajarito Plateau.
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Los Alamos County Aquatic Center Pumpkin Splash/ Halloween Carnival. A fun family event that includes catching your pumpkin, decorating it in the training room and participating in a fun Halloween carnival on the patio.
26 Monday
YMCA Free Community Health Event. Guided Hike on the Perimeter Trail Hike which is of moderate difficulty led by Craig Martin and Sylvan Argo.
30 Friday
Los Alamos MainStreet’s Annual Halloweekend Downtown Los Alamos will play host to trick-or-treaters! More events will take place on Saturday.
Los Alamos County Outdoor Movie at the Ice Rink. Monsters vs. Aliens. Rated PG. FREE!
fyiLA.com
Community calendar, searchable business directory, full event details, more events, and contact information at fyiLA.com
Essence October/November 2009
Richard B. (Mouser) Williams
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
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November 2009 7 Saturday Hope Pregnancy Center’s Annual Banquet
10 Tuesday Historical Lecture Series. Anne Hillerman and Don Strel speaking on “Tony Hillerman’s Landscape: On the Road with an American Legend.”
21 Saturday
Los Alamos Arts Council Fall Arts and Crafts Festival. A great place to start your holiday shopping!
22 Sunday – 23 Monday
Los Alamos County Ice Rink Frozen Turkey Bowling. Use a frozen turkey or Cornish game hen to knock down bowling pins and win prizes for your Thanksgiving dinner!.
27 Friday
Art Center at Fuller Lodge Annual Affordable Art Sale. The main gallery is transformed into a holiday gift paradise brimming with original, affordable arts and crafts. Everything priced between $10 - $250. Where your shopping becomes fun!
CB FOX www.losalamoschamber.com
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1735 Central • Los Alamos NM • 662.2864 • www.cbfox.com
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David Horpedahl, Owner/Qualifying Broker
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The Spa the Hilltop House now offering Yoga classes 5 days a week.
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