the Essence
of Los Alamos and White Rock
February–March 2009, Volume 2, Issue 2
THE FROLIC
The Freedom to Skate by Mandy Marksteiner
BUSINESS
The Java Jive: CoffeeHouse Café by Katy Korkos
INSIGHT
Boys, a Bear, and “Buddies:” a Glimpse into the Pond’s Past By Christel Hanson
ESSENTIAL PERSON
Gillian Sutton: Deeply Rooted by Katy Korkos
CALENDAR OF EVENTS February and March
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009
Fresh, Fragrent Flowers Eye-catching arrangement
Support for addiction recovery
Now you can support community mental health treatment programs every time you buy flowers and gifts with the Locals Care program. With Locals Care, the non-profit of your choice receives a percentage of your purchase every time you shop at participating local businesses. For more information, visit localscareLA.com.
LOS ALAMOS the
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CONTENTS/FEATURES
8 THE FROLIC
he Freedom to Skate T by Mandy Marksteiner
10 THE BUSINESS ESSENCE
he Java Jive: CoffeeHouse Café T by Katy Korkos
12 LOS ALAMOS & WHITE ROCK INSIGHT
oys, a Bear, and “Buddies:” a Glimpse into the Pond’s Past B By Christel Hanson
14 ESSENCE FEATURE
Essence Pictures
16 ARTS & CULTURE
57 Years in Revue by Chelo Rojas and Jeremy Varela
18 ESSENTIAL PERSON
illian Sutton: Deeply Rooted G by Katy Korkos
�
20 COMMUNITY MATTERS
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Local Cares Update
22 CALENDAR OF EVENTS • Calendar
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February 2009–March 2009
Editor’s Note “Long lasting impressions”
is a phrase that is highly associated with our community. The history of the laboratory has left an indelible mark on the world. Long lasting impressions are still being made today, but on a smaller, local scale. Empowering youth is not a tangible value that is seen until later in life, but it is one of the fundamental values that our community is creating. This community has left an unforgettable impression on long time residents, so much so they can not imagine living in a better place. These long time residents have a stake in our community that runs deeper than most. On an unconscious level the dreams and effort that they put into their daily lives are providing a better place to live for all of us. The impressions on our landscape tell a story from the making of the mesas and canyons to our recent history that has scarred our mountains. There is one such impression in the heart of our community that is noticed by all and treasured by all who live here. In this issue of The Essence we touch on lasting impressions. The appeal of skateboarding gets Essence Writer Mandy Marksteiner up on a skateboard. She quickly learns it takes so much coordination that she envies the youngsters she meets at the skate park. The kids are taking pride in this skate park, and I believe that being part of the process was a valuable experience for the young people involved. I hope to see more projects in the future that have youth participation. From a small tent to a successful restaurant, Brian Booth pursued his passion in a way that is inspiring to all who know the journey he traveled. Katy Korkos gives a glimpse of the ups and downs of our local “Coffeepreneur.” While the Coffee Booth was still located in Cookin’ In Style, the aroma of roasting beans was intoxicating. I would literally be walking from my car to my office, smell the beans, and decide then and there it was time for coffee. Could you imagine what Los Alamos would be like if Ashley Pond wasn’t here? Christel Hanson fills us in on how Ashley Pond was almost filled in and other very interesting stories that the pond holds. As our community changes over the years, one thing will remain the constant. Ashley Pond will be a gathering place for concerts, picnics, fowl feeding, families and friends. Topper Revue has been entraining our community for 57 years now. Considering that The Ed Sullivan Show only lasted 23 years, Topper Revue’s run is impressive. The youth involved have done a great job with this production. This is another example of empowering our youth to have a stake in something meaningful and, might I say, very entertaining. Kudos to the Olions and all of the acts that performed; you all did an impressive job. If you missed Topper Revue this year, make it a point to see it in January 2010! When the Cerro Grande fire swept through our community, who did you turn to when you needed important information? When you cannot attend a Hilltoppers sporting event, where do you turn? It’s Tuesday and we just got two feet of snow, who knows about all the local closures? The simple answer to all of these questions is AM 1490 KRSN. When the fear of losing our community radio touched Gillian Sutton, she went into action. She and her husband, David Sutton, came to the decision of buying the radio station that is still providing coverage of important issues and topics. After resuscitating AM 1490, Gillian Sutton is now pursuing challenges that help give back to our community. Katy Korkos sheds some light on the new way Gillian is contributing to Los Alamos and White Rock. Our CommunityMatters! Our President called for a National Day of Service on Martin Luther King Day. Inspired by this, three ladies took it upon themselves to give back to our community. The act was well received by our local businesses and not-for profit organizations. This was a selfless act that shows how a little thought and effort can strengthens the ties of our community. There is nothing to do in Los Alamos and White Rock…….Yeah, right. Check out our community calendar in the back of The Essence it is loaded with activities all around the county. If you would like more information about these events visit www.fyila.com.
Jeremy Varela, Managing Editor
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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Managing Editor Jeremy Varela
Ads Coordinator Claire Roybal
Writer/Content Editor Katy Korkos, Chelo Rojas
Content Editor
Cindy Whiting, Kevin Holsapple
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February 2009–March 2009
Los Alamos Heart Council We teach you how to "Love Your Heart" for information on our programs visit: www.losalamos.com/heartcouncil or e-mail us at laheartcouncil@yahoo.com
Annual Brunches Easter Day- April 12th Mother’s Day - May 10th
Book your summer events now. The Spa the Hilltop House now offering Yoga classes 5 days a week.
$349.99
Brownell’s Mari-Mac Village 505.662.6501
For more information 662-2441 www.bwhilltop.com
LAFC Counseling Center Counseling Psychiatry Medication Management Case Management 24/7 Crisis Line
Office Phone 505-663-3264 Crisis Line 505-662-4422 Toll Free Crisis Line 877-602-4060
Counseling for o Domestic Violence o Depression o Anxiety o Sexual Abuse o Post Traumatic Stress o Couples/Marriage/Divorce o Child Behavior/ADHD o Suicide o Stress/Anger o Compulsive Disorders o Veterans Issues o Alcohol/Drug Abuse o Anger Management
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Bilingual Montessori School
Year Round School!
We have been selected by Los Alamos Small Business Development Center "The 2008 Success Client"
111 Longview Dr. Suite 8 White Rock Days:Monday- Friday Hours:7:30am-6:00pm Accepting applications for the Summer Session/ Academic Year 2009/10 half-time opening Available call the school for details! Phone:(505) 672-1800 www.bilingualmontessorischool.com
Ages: 3 months-6 years
Your donations are always needed.
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009
THE FROLIC
e
The Fr
ate k S edom to
by Mandy Marksteiner
I flagged them down and to say that I want to talk to them about skating. They look down at me from the tallest ramp, perched easily on their boards, and I have no idea what to ask other than, “What is the appeal of skating?” McMurry said, “I’ve been doing it for eleven years and I can’t stop. It’s hard.” After a brief pause he added, “Its freedom.”
Freedom. I liked that. The school day was over. About ten more boys, between the ages of 10 and 18, gathered on the other side of the park with their hands in the pockets of their hooded sweatshirts, deciding what ramp to fly off, what rail to slide along, or what corner to ricochet off. An old man with a beard walked by and asked me whether anyone had killed themselves yet. He’s like me: adults need to pre-book an appointment with their chiropractor and double check their life insurance policies before going over the edge. “Not yet,” I replied, and he walked away, casting a final envious look before going out to his car. I take a closer look at the skaters too.
I recently stepped onto a skateboard for the
first time, so that I could understand first hand the appeal of skating. When I watch the skaters at the new park, the skateboard appears to be an extension of their bodies, attached to their Vans with double sided tape. Instead of learning a trick or two, I learned what an incredible burden my body is. I stepped onto my own board, gingerly kicked, and moved a couple feet across the asphalt feeling pure terror.
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My bones, joints and inescapable clumsiness chain me to solid ground. The possibility of munching a wrist, snapping a rib, twisting an ankle, or living the rest of my life with an elbow that clicks is all too real to me. My fear of injury is like a prison. So I stood quietly by the garbage cans, watching Josh Martinez and Luke McMurry hurl their bodies across the strip of concrete that was clear of snow. It seemed like the most reckless and chaotic thing imaginable.
Two rollerbladers, Jesus Gallegos and Gerik “Twist” Przybyski, are making a movie of themselves gliding down a railing. I wonder how many hundreds of times they’ve done that before bringing the video camera to the park. Gallegos said, “I’ve progressed a lot in this park already.” Gallegos explained that even though the park is compact, it has a lot of technical challenges. Pryzybyski demonstrated a move that he learned at the park, a point star. The ones who do the wildest moves are all working hard, slowing down the moves like musicians practicing scales until they’re perfect. It’s a daily discipline that comes from the inside,
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rather than from a coach or from a parent. They make sacrifices, like taking turns shoveling the three inches of ice that blankets the park, coaching each other and supporting each other until they reach their goals. And that’s what outsiders have the hardest time pinning down; what the goal actually is. It’s simply to be natural and to be free.
“It makes me so happy,” said Przybyski.
f yi
672-4083
Located in White Rock next to Smith’s
www.bandeliergrill.com
Monday - Friday 11 to 2 & 5 to 8 Saturday 5 to 8
www.losalamoschamber.com
i New Items Added to Menu i Monday Night is Kids Night i New Dessert Menu i Live Music on Tuesday Night i Beer and Wine Menu Updated i White Rock’s Family Restaurant
February 2009–March 2009
THE BUSINESS ESSENCE The Java Jive: CoffeeHouse Café by Katy Korkos
It was a love of good coffee that originally
with the Small Business Development Center and were awarded the “Small Business Success Client of the Year” award for 2006. They also owned and operated the Bee Smart Cafe on DP Road, both as a cafe and catering establishment and also as a commercial kitchen producing school lunches for area elementary schools. “The school lunches are really a community service,” Brian said. The caterer is paid a minimal amount to provide the service, but the labor and expense of producing the lunches are substantial. In the spring of 2006, the Booths were running two full-time businesses, with the Coffee Booth and the Bee Smart Cafe. “Patty ran the Cafe and I did the Coffee Booth,” Brian said. “It was tough.”
inspired Brian Booth to begin roasting his own beans. From that humble beginning, with his coffee roaster parked in one of the repair bays at RPM Automotive, his business has grown exponentially and now encompasses not only the coffee roaster and industrial-strength espresso machines but also a full-service restaurant. Brian is grateful to be putting in much shorter days- only ten to twelve hours- now that the Coffee House Cafe is up and running at its new location in the MariMac shopping center, right next door to LAFitness. After six grueling weeks to prepare the new space while simultaneously running the Coffee Booth inside Liz Thomson’s Cookin’ in Style, where Brian’s day started at 5:30 a.m. and often didn’t end until midnight, those twelve-hour days seem relatively luxurious. The move itself was a Herculean effort, as “customers, employees, friends, families, trucks, trailers, everybody” rallied round to help. “The Coffee Booth closed up shop at 6 p.m. on Friday the 7th and the new place opened at 6 a.m. on Monday the 10th of November,” Brian said. Brian was born and raised in Los Alamos, and that community spirit that helped him get the move completed in one weekend is one of the big reasons he stays here. The coffee roasting business was not the first entrepreneurial venture for Brian, who has owned his own business in one way or another since he was 24 years old. He was at one time a partner in RPM before he decided to devote more of his time to his passion, coffee. With his late wife Patty, who died in a car accident in December of 2006, Brian began his coffee
roasting business selling out of his home in 2002. Patty’s sudden death proved to be another rallying point for the community, as many came forward to volunteer their time to help the family get through the tragedy with their business intact. From the inception of the business, Brian has always looked toward future growth. “We were roasting coffee, and selling it from a tent and a table at concerts and crafts fairs,” Brian said. He eventually purchased a trailer to replace the table and tents, then found a couple of different locations within other businesses where he could sell his coffee. When considering how to take their business to the next level, Brian and Patty consulted
But to get back to Brian’s true passion, coffee: Brian uses only Arabica beans for his coffee, because of their superior flavor. Coffee has about double the number of individual flavor nuances of fine wine, but in order to discover them, your coffee must be fresh from the roaster. Our small batch coffee roasting will bring the best qualities right to your cup! “We roast only 100% Arabica beans from across the globe to offer our customers an unparalleled variety of gourmet coffees. Our method of small batch roasting eliminates excess smoke and removes most of the chaff from the beans before it has a chance to burn; so the only thing you taste is fresh roasted gourmet coffee.” The new CoffeeHouse is open every day, and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a huge menu that runs the gamut from fresh baked goods and omelets through pizza and pasta. There are also daily specials, soups, freshly made gelato when the weather warrants it, smoothies, burritos and even cake. The atmosphere is modern, upscale and casual, with a hip urban feel. The space had housed several different restaurants over the
fyi —Brian Booth embodies the spirit of community with his devotion to providing a place where people can gather, network and support a truly local enterprise
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NEW
in
771 Central Avenue (in the Mari Mac Shopping Center)
LOS ALAMOS
More Choice. More Choice. More Choice.
Cardio
Gentle Yoga s Reward Tea Tim e
Introducing our NEW 50+ Fitness Program! Los Alamos Fitness Center is currently offering classes, lectures, and other health and fitness programs specially designed for people over the age of 50. Come join LAFC instructors, Kent Pegg and JoAnn Lysne, in getting stronger, more flexible, and fit! Stop by today for more information and a tour of our fitness facility.
Strengthening ching Stret
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1735 Central • Los Alamos • 662-2864 • WWW.CBFOX.COM
years, but none of those previous businesses are recognizable in the new space. The space was extensively remodeled, with beautiful new pendant lighting and all new furniture including leather bar stools at the coffee bar and couches in the lounge area in addition to the traditional tables and chairs. Right now it seems that staying open until 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday is just a labor of love, but Brian is really hoping to attract an all-ages pre-movie dinner crowd for munchies or dinner, a twenty-something crowd with specialty coffee drinks and free wi-fi and a young family crowd with a kid’s menu certain to appeal to the under-eight bunch. As anyone with a picky youngster knows, you can never go wrong with mac and cheese, pizza or spaghetti (Carter’s Basghetti and Meatballs) to choose from. The Cafe is open Monday through Friday from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., on Saturdays from 7:00 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Their website can be found at www.thecoffeebooth.com
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 11
LOS ALAMOS & WHITE ROCK INSIGHT Boys, a Bear, and “Buddies:” a Glimpse into the Pond’s Pastst by Christel Hanson
How often do we stop to look into the
depths of Ashley Pond, that unblinking eye lying in the center of Los Alamos, to see what it tells us? Not very often, since we can’t see to the bottom. That murky water hides a surprising past. Most Los Alamos residents know that the pond is named after Ashley Pond, the man who started the Los Alamos Ranch School that was eventually commandeered by the U.S government for the Manhattan Project. Ashley Pond received its current name during the Ranch School days, when “several of the more witty locals stumbled on the same idea around the same time. Bill Mills, an early faculty member known for his large size, good humor, and fondness for bad puns, thought the tank should be called Ashley Pond,” say Craig Martin and Heather McClenahan, in their book, Of Logs and Stone, which contains the most comprehensive information on the pond of any Los Alamos account. The boys from the Ranch School used the lake for swimming, canoeing, and fishing. A baby black bear named Andy Gump joined them in their watery frolics until he grew too large to be a suitable playmate and was shipped to the Albuquerque Zoo. “A slide and a diving board, far too rickety for
Photo credit: Los Alamos Historical Society
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today’s liability standards, provided an exciting way to splash into the chocolate-colored water,” say Martin and McClenahan. “Sometimes the water was deep enough for a canoe, and those who took a dive off the raft in the center ran the risk of coming up covered in mud from the bottom.” The pond was used for winter sports as well, including ice skating and hockey, until an ice skating pond was established in Los Alamos Canyon, where it still exists today. An icehouse was built near the pond and the boys cut enough ice from the pond to last one or two years. In addition to being a place of fun and sport for boys and bears alike, the pond’s history also contains tragedy. During the early days of the Manhattan Project, a boy drowned in the pond after diving in and hitting his head on a rock, vanishing beneath the murky waters. “It took 40 minutes to locate his body in the muddy water,” say Martin and McClenahan. After that, a fence surrounded the pond and it was no longer used for recreation, solely relied on as an emergency water supply for firefighting. It was not the first time death had been associated with the mesa’s water supply. “In the area that would become Los Alamos, the earliest known occupancy in historic times was by summer farmers who came from the valley to grow beans and garden vegetables and graze animals on their homesteads,” according to an account compiled by the Los Alamos Historical Society, Beginning of an Era.
At that time, the pond was “only a soggy natural depression fed by snowmelt and rainfall,” says Martin, in yet another of his books called Los Alamos Place Names. However, no one lived on the mesa because of the severe winter temperatures until Antonio Sanchez became the first homesteader on Pajarito Mesa in 1885; Sanchez’s land included the pond, which was used as a watering hole for livestock. “In dry years, the farmers hauled water to the mesa up an old trail on the south side of Los Alamos Canyon. The route is named Dead Man’s Trail because Sanchez was killed by a falling rock while building it, thus becoming part of the lore of the Pajarito Plateau,” says the Historical Society. After Sanchez died, his family sold the homestead, and the pond, to Harold H. Brook in 1907. “Brook bought the Sanchez holdings by paying $25 in back taxes that the family couldn’t manage after the death of its patriarch. Brook’s land included a small pond and was located where Fuller Lodge and Ashley Pond exist today,” explains the Historical Society. Peggy Pond Church, Ashley Pond’s daughter, has written extensively of early Los Alamos life and the history of Pajarito Plateau. She describes the area when Pond purchased it: it belonged to “a man named Brook [who] had homesteaded the place and put up a few ramshackle buildings near a rain-fed and muddy pool where ducks swam,” she says. “Brook centered his homestead just to the northeast of the watering hole, which his Spanish-speaking neighbors simply called ‘Tanque,’” Martin and McClenahan relate. By the time Brook sold the pond, it went by “the uninspired name of Stock Watering Tank and was later called the Duck Pond after the resident waterfowl,” says Martin. It wasn’t until a small dam was built in Los Alamos Canyon for the Ranch School that the pond became more than a puddle. The dam created a reservoir feeding a pipeline leading down Los Alamos Canyon to the school, creating its first reliable water supply. The water from the reservoir was usually more than enough for the needs of the school and the extra water was funneled into the duck pond. www.ReadTheEssence.com
More than just a historic landmark, the pond is a silent witness to the changes that have taken place on this mesa. Maybe the next time you stroll around it, those murky waters will record some of your history.
Bibliography: For more information on the pond or Los Alamos,
consider the following books which may be found at Mesa Public Library, the Historical Society Museum bookshop, or Otowi Station Bookstore.
Photo credit: Los Alamos Historical Society
The footprint of the pond changed further after the Ranch School closed. “During the Manhattan Project era it appears that a portion of the pond was filled in to accommodate the many project buildings that surrounded it, changing the size and shape of the pond. The construction of the current Community Building brought further changes to the landscape and perimeter outline of the pond,” says a Los Alamos County report. However, when the war was over, the pond’s very existence was threatened. The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) “announced that the best plan for the pond would be to fill it with construction debris, cover it with soil, plant grass, and make the area an open park,” say Martin and McClenahan. Los Alamos residents protested and were able to convince the AEC to preserve the pond as a historical landmark. Because of their efforts, the pond was cleaned of construction debris, sloping sides were put in, the old fence removed, and it became the landscaped park that we know today. In 1980, a plan to erect sculptures in the middle of the pond and possibly rename it folded due to community opposition. At various points in its history, the pond was lined with cement and a fountain was added. “I remember one year they drained the pond to clean it. The whole downtown stunk that entire summer. It was terrible,” says Brian Booth, owner of The Coffee House Cafe. Although the pond itself has undergone many changes, ducks have always been present at the pond, and have created stories of their own. Ellen Bradbury Reid discovered “what she was sure was the secret of Los Alamos: there were 11
white ducks in Los Alamos’ Ashley Pond,” says David Collins, in an article in the New Mexican. In the winter of 2007, the ducks made a big splash when the pump that operates the central fountain in the pond broke and was not immediately fixed. Because the pond froze, a few ducks perished and the remaining starving ducks came hunting food downtown. Their plight prompted community outrage. Bob and Cathy Anderson of Fur and Feathers rescued the remaining ducks and cared for them in temporary living quarters, and the county repaired the broken pump. The ducks were released back to the pond on Earth Day before a crowd of duck supporters. The group “Duck Buddies” was formed to ensure future provision for the ducks. If you like to feed the ducks, local bagel shop Ruby K’s has bucket of leftover bagel “bones” free for feeding a hungry pooch and often used to feed the ducks. Watch your children, though; more than a few have taken a plunge in the pond. Los Alamos native Erin Lonard remembers saving one such child: “He slid on the duck poop that was all over the ramp and just kept going further and further into the pond. I remember taking my shoes off and running in to catch him, but I slipped (on the duck poo) and fell flat on my rear. I think I was close enough to grab his hand and pull him up. We were both soaked and I remember our moms saying we might need tetanus shots!” says Lonard. The pond is the site of more positive experiences as well: during the winter holidays it is a wonderland of ice, snow, and sparkling lights. In the summer and fall, the pond is central to community events.
rode, Bernice. Tales of Los Alamos: Life on the Mesa B 1943-1945. Church, Peggy Pond. The House at Otowi Bridge: the Story of Edith Warner and Los Alamos. Hoard, Dorothy. Los Alamos Outdoors Los Alamos Historical Society. Los Alamos 1943-1945 Beginning of an Era. Martin, Craig. Los Alamos Place Names. Martin, Craig and Heather McClenahan. Of Logs and Stone: the Buildings of the Los Alamos Ranch School and Bathtub Row. Roensch, Eleanor (Jerry) Stone. Life Within Limits.
Other sources:
Collins, David. “Words on the dawn of the A-bomb: Group launches new book in the voices of nuclear-era veterans.” The New Mexican. Los Alamos County. “Draft Municipal Site Master Plan.” An Evil Bunny Production. “It’s a Wonderful Life in Los Alamos.” You Tube.
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— Ashley Pond is the magnet for all of the community, the one place in town for people of all ages. From toddlers who love to feed the ducks, to middle-school kids who come out onto the grass from the Youth Activity Center, to older teens who hang out and text each other during the Summer Concert Series, to young adults, the middle-aged and seniors, who might just want to watch the ducks, eat some lunch, check out the sculpture or catch a breath of fresh air, everybody loves the Pond.
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 13
the Essence
of Los Alamos and White Rock
Photo credit: Pajarito Mountain Ski Area
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Photo credit: Pajarito Mountain Ski Area
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 15
ARTS & CULTURE
57Years in Revue
by Chelo Rojas and Jeremy Varela
Variety shows started on Victorian era stages in the late 1800’s.
They made their way to radio and television throughout the years, and were widely popular in the 1970’s. Variety shows saw entertainment greats such as: the Marx Brothers, Milton Berle, Jackie Gleason, Bob Hope and Dean Martin to name a few. The Ed Sullivan Show was one of the most popular series and was helpful in bringing Elvis Presley and The Beatles to U.S. prominence. Variety entertainment worked its way through our culture and made its way into Los Alamos High School.
Sec Sandoval courtesy of Los Alamos High School Library
The originators of the theater club were LAHS teachers Ross and Lola Ramsey. They held two to four theatrical performances a year, and then added a fun “variety show” which became Topper Revue. The earliest record of Los Alamos’ own “Topper Revue” was pulled from a 1952 yearbook in Los Alamos High School’s Library.
Walt Siglock, Class of 1955 says he enjoyed the Topper Revue in the early 50’s. Two friends he remembers are local artist and long-time resident Sec Sandoval and Barry Coe, a young man who moved to California and became a movie actor. Walt says “Sec and Barry were both quite active and very entertaining. I still vividly remember that performance.” Sec Sandoval remembers he was part of the first Topper Revue in 1952. His act was a German clown band consisting of four guys. He was also one of the guys in the “senior boys dance” dressed up as a hoola dancers with coconuts as bosoms. He says Topper Revue became a source of family entertainment for years; his parents took the family to many performances since its conception.
Barry Coe went to college in California and was discovered by a talent scout during a trip with his fraternity in the late 50’s. He was signed to 20th Century Fox as an actor and appeared in many films such as Love Me Tender, Peyton Place, and secured a Golden Globe for “Most Promising Newcomer” in 1960. He still lives in California and his movie career can be found on the movie website IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base). In the past the feature performance was the humorous seniors boys’ dance - where the young men dressed in drag, sang and danced. Imagine a group of serious, well educated strapping young male teens dressed as females including prominent bosom prosthetics and lots of makeup. Yearbook photos show the guys doing: • a can-can dance • a ballet in tutus donning Greek flower wreaths • a, “Cowgirl Joes” show • a “Hawaiian Dancers” number • a “graceful exhibition of dancing prowess given by the senior boys who display talents by creating and executing their original rendition of Pretty Baby...” • In 1966 the “dainty senior boys” sang to the tune of “Oh You Beautiful Doll” dressed in southern bell hats and canes • In 1955 the boys did a bit called “The Boys Shy Ballet.” • In 1975 they dressed up as belly dancers calling themselves, “s-e-x appeal.” • In 1976 they were “Flat Foot Floogie with a Fly-Floy”. • In 1970 eight guys were the Barbarellas sporting cute little berets, mini-skirts and scarves. • “Cleo and the Girls” was a take off on Cleopatra -you can imagine the costumes. Through the years there have be adaptations and changes to the show. Today the theater club is called the Olions, and gives opportunities to people interested in both on and off stage dramatics. The Ramseys stayed active until 1974 when they retired due to illness. Since then, there have been different faculty sponsors/directors. Nina Saunders has been the director of the Olions for the last two years. Nina explains the coordinated effort beginning with how the emcees are cast in December. They write their own comedic monologue and perform it for the director and additional LAHS staff. In addition to their monologue they are put into different improvisational situations to see which groups have the best onstage energy. Once the emcees are cast they have a series of meetings with the director where they set a calendar, choose a theme, create their characters, and create a basic outline of the show. The emcees start to take control of the show. They take audition forms from the potential acts to get an idea of what they’ll be seeing and start taking into accounts the material they can use to mesh in with their own script. They write the scripts and do a film over Christmas break.
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—The beloved tradition of Topper Revue is only possible through the dedication of the performers, hundreds of hours of rehearsal, tireless work from the teachers and advisors, and the support of local businesses such as Curves for Women, CB Fox and Pet Pangaea.
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In January the emcees and the director meet to get the show tightened up; they may come up with additional ideas and a plan on how to meld the show together. Then come the auditions. Anyone who goes to the high school can audition. Traditionally, the acts are selected mostly on talent and are a mix of musical acts, skits, and dances from silly to serious. The acts are selected and the emcees and director put them in order according to what works best for the show. Rehearsals take place mixing in the acts and the emcee skits. As this is happening the tech elements such as lighting and backdrops are added in. The portal for the show is either designed by the director, an outstanding tech, or the emcees. The Olions try to offer as many opportunities for student designs as possible. During the final rehearsals of the show and the first couple of shows, the director acts as the stage manager making sure everything happens and that all cues are precise and work for the show. The student techs eventually get good enough so that the director hands it over to them and just supervises. The Revue starts off with the short film created by the emcees over the winter break- another form of “talent.” And this year’s film followed a spectacular young man performing on his unicycle in the woods and mountains of Los Alamos. This piece, in our opinion, would win a prize at the Cannes Film Festival. Not only does it show the creative skill of the athlete, it shows extraordinary talent of the film makers capturing and framing unbelievable unicycle feats with shots and movements that do the athlete justice. There are also adorable animated films created by several kids showing the “growth” of freshmen to seniors. And, instead of the guys in drag, a new tradition takes place on the last night of the show, where everyone involved in the show dances to the song, “Time Warp.” While variety shows have fallen out of fashion since the 80’s, Topper Revue has remained an annual tradition for our community providing an outlet for students to showcase their talents and an extremely entertaining production for all ages.
Photo credit: Los Alamos High School Library
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 17
ESSENTIAL PERSON � Gillian Sutton Deeply Rooted by Katy Korkos
“Of course, I had never owned a radio station,” Gillian said. “That inexperience may be good, though, because it makes it very easy to think outside the box.” KRSN is one of fewer than 20 locally owned radio stations in New Mexico, making it a unique community asset. “I love the opportunity of entertaining the community and keeping them informed of local news, the community calendar and Monday Matters,” Gillian said. “So much of the available news is not specific to our area, and our high school activities are largely overlooked by the out-of town media sources. We broadcast high school football, basketball, and hockey; we announce school closings, road closures, emergencies and even your lost dog.” Gillian said that she sees the role of the radio station as both an awesome ability and an awesome responsibility. KRSN was the first to broadcast the news that the skier who was lost overnight had been found, and the first to report on last year’s bomb threat at Bandelier. “To sum it up in one sentence, you can call AM1490 KRSN and I can tell the world in a matter of seconds. We webcast, so I really am talking to the world. I never realized the true meaning of “Freedom of Speech” until I owned KRSN.”
Gillian Cushing Sutton has lived here almost her entire life. She
was born here and graduated from Los Alamos High School. She left town to go to college, but returned to raise her family, and all of her children have attended Los Alamos schools. Her husband David is a relative newcomer to town, since he was already in second grade when his family arrived. So what better people to take on the running of Los Alamos’ local radio station AM 1490 KRSN? Gillian worked at Safeway, which later became Furr’s and then Smith’s supermarket, and as the flower lady, was often the grocery store’s unofficial greeter. “I loved the customers because they were friends; my fellow employees were great to work with; and of course I love plants and flowers.” After she and David bought the station out of bankruptcy in December of 2005, she began to think about leaving the flower business to take on a new challenge. “I had grown up with AM1490 and even worked there in the ‘70s. I knew it was as old as the town and a fiber of our community. I feel it is a real asset to this town and should not be lost.”
Gillian has also taken on the coordination of Los Alamos’ beloved “Empty Bowls” project for 2009. It will be held on March 14th at the Betty Ehart Senior Center from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the months leading up to the event, Gillian has been visiting schools and community organizations to enlist their help in creating the 800 bowls needed. She has also organized a community bowl painting party, where all of the supplies will be on hand and people can indulge their creative impulse to their heart’s content, all for a good cause. “We’ll have 800 hand-painted bowls to choose from, soups, bread and beverages from restaurants such as The Bandelier Grill, Bob’s Bodacious BBQ, the Central Avenue Grill, and the CoffeeHouse Cafe.” All of the food is donated, and the proceeds from the $10 suggested donation go to benefit Self Help, Inc. Self Help is one of the oldest non-profits in Los Alamos, having served the residents of northern New Mexico for the last 40 years. The organization is “committed to enhancing life skills and empowering individuals by providing programs and services that focus on developing self-reliance.” They provide assistance for people in crisis situations as well as small grants to help people start their own enterprises. The Empty Bowls project on March 14th will be Self Help Inc.’s single largest fundraiser for the year.
fyi —KRSN radio has long been the primary radio source for minute-by-minute information about local happenings. During the Cerro Grande fire the station was invaluable to people who could not get real information from people who knew the town from any other source. When the station filed for bankruptcy and the community was faced with the prospect of living without a local station, the Suttons stepped up to provide the service.
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¢†¢¢¢††††† To have a look at some of the beautiful bowls, people can go to Mesa Public Library, to the CoffeeHouse Cafe, or better yet, stop by KRSN. KRSN is also hosting the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce FAN (Food and Networking) Club on Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. “We’ll have great refreshments and the hand-painted bowls for the Empty Bowls Project,” Gillian said. Dave and I will be there to advocate for AM1490 KRSN, and the board of directors of Self Help will be there to answer questions. Please come by and enjoy each other’s company- everyone is invited.” Gillian is also a member of the 2009 Leadership Los Alamos class, which trains people to become more engaged in the community. Many past Leadership graduates have gone on to greater public service after getting an overview of the issues facing our community. “Since I am a member of the local media, I feel I should understand the challenges facing our area and learn how to help. Once a month we gather for an all-day seminar to learn about local issues. We have discussed issues facing our youth, our Native American neighbors, education and regional concerns that affect us.” “As an owner of a small business, I believe you need to be involved in your community.” Gillian and David combined devote at least 160 hours per week to their business, but still find time for family, fun and community service. “Owning a small business is very challenging and time consuming, but we make time for fun. Dave, Michaelle and I are members of the Mountain Mixers Square Dancers and every week we swing our partners and laugh. Our parents live in town, and we visit often. Our dogs get walked and we take time to enjoy the unique place we have always called home.”
Two ways to help our local schools shine brighter. Scan this bar code one time at smith’s and the public schools in los Alamos will be better off every time you shop this school year.
Consider a donation to the: Classroom makeover ‘09 The remodel of this physics and biology lab at LAHS will do wonders for the way kids think about school and their future in science.
Donate at
www.lapsfoundation.comȱ or by calling 505.470.3734 www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 19
CommunityMatters More than 100 people stopped by the Chamber of Commerce on Martin Luther King day to drop off donations for the Buy Local Give Local project. Thousands of dollars worth of items were purchased in Los Alamos and donated to local not-for-profits, including Friends of the Shelter, the Los Alamos Public Schools and the Los Alamos Historical Society.
A volunteer conceived and driven service project conducted in January serves as a great example of how local people prove this point through their commitment and service. BUY LOCAL, GIVE LOCAL called upon our community to help fulfill needs of service and not-for-profit organizations throughout the community by purchasing needed items at local businesses. The volunteers collected wish lists from recipient organizations and worked to Our community matters. Being part of a community get the word out to potential donors. They set up shop matters to all of us from the most self-reliant among us at the Chamber on Martin Luther King Day to receive to those who need help. Former Supreme Court Justice the donations, and then delivered them to the recipient Sandra Day O’Connor wrote, “We don’t accomplish organizations. This effort will have literally involved and anything in this world alone ... and whatever happens is affected hundreds of people in our community. Good the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the for the receiving organizations, good for local businesses, weavings of individual threads from one to another that good for our community. Said one local merchant, “This creates something.” Without community, no individual is a most thoughtful act toward businesses from the person can survive much less thrive. community …. Just exceptional! …Thank you!” Do you believe that community matters? If The Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce’s “CommunityMatters” initiative is a community building so, we invite you to learn more about the Chamber’s and support activity. Our community matters and our CommunityMatters initiative, and get involved at www. members work on a broad variety of things that matter OurCommunityMatters.info And, as always, please in our community. It is important for people to recognize “Think Los Alamos and White Rock First” when planning that and support them as we work together for a better for your shopping needs. community.
Need to do a Fundraiser? Reusable shopping bags are available to Los Alamos and White Rock community organizations, clubs, teams, churches, and other organizations for use in your fundraising project • • • •
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No risk to fundraising organization Environmentally friendly – help reduce disposable bag blight Product immediately available We’ll assist in publicizing your fundraising project Contact Claire Roybal, 661-4836
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We have great services designed just for you! Like FREE Online Banking, FREE Bill Pay, No minimum balance Checking Accounts, Credit, Debit and ATM cards, Home Equity, Real Estate, and Personal Loans & much more! Proudly serving our members since 1955!
Not yet a member at Zia Credit Union? Membership is open to those who live, work or worship in Los Alamos County, Rio Arriba County, and the Pojoaque Valley!
1001 Central Ave, Los Alamos Ɓ 505-662-4671 Ɓ 1-800-392-7629
“OHH! UNEARTHLY CHOCOLATE!! WHERE IS THY SOUL ?” Exquisite European chocolates. Chocolates to die for. Chocolates to say, “I loff you eternally, my darlink.”
ʻIT ART HERE, MY DEAR. WONʼT YOU COME IN?” Chocolates with the soul of the old world. Chocolates of the Alps, from the now charged, now deep - flowing Danube’s course...und, Ya, from zee Zuider Zee!
THE CUNNING VALENTINE TEMPTATION: PURE CHOCOLATE CHOCOLATES. Ecstatic Chocolates ...Just Inside Our Big Front Door
David Horpedahl, Owner/Qualifying Broker
CB FOX www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 21
••
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• Los Alamos • White Rock • Community • Events • Coupons • Shopping Directory
Community calendar,
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full event details, more events, and contact information at fyiLA.com 2/7/09
FEBRUARY 2009
Sweetheart Skate at the Ice Rink Door-prizes all night and a grand prize drawing of dinner and flowers at 8:30 pm (must be present to win) 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
2/7/09
College Day at Pajarito Mountain 20 % lift ticket discount with valid ID. 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
2/10/09
Los Alamos Historical Society Lecture Series, Danny Stillman, author of The Nuclear Express. Stillman is a Los Alamos physicist with decades of experience in nuclear design and testing. He directed the Los Alamos Technical Intelligence Division. 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
2/14/09
End of Season Slush Hockey Tournament One last “hurrah” for our adult pick-up hockey players to celebrate a year of great hockey and ice before it turns to slush. 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
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2/14 and 2/15/09
• Calendar • News “Slopestyle Contest.” • Job Listing • Local At Portal the new Crazy Mother Terrain Park at • Area Search Mountain. Pajarito
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
2/16/09
Adventure Edge – Rock Gym Climbing Trip Transportation, Gym Admission, and Climbing Equipment Provided By the Los Alamos County Recreation Division. 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
2/19/09
Los Alamos Winter Farmers’ Market Help Northern New Mexico growers while enjoying their fresh produce. 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
2/20, 21, 22/09
New Mexico Dance Theater performs Cinderella, the ballet. 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
2/20/09
Opening Art Reception, Who’s Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue? Socialize with artists, members, and other interested parties. 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
2/21/09
60th Anniversary Event, Community Winds Concert, Music of Scotland with the Albuquerque and Four Corners Pipes and Dreams 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm
2/21/09
2/21-22/09
Winter Ecology and Ski Weekend Join the Valles Caldera National Preserve, Pajarito Mountain Ski Area, and Pajarito Environmental Education Center for a weekend of winter knowledge and recreation. Go to their website for locations and times www.pajaritoeec.org or call them at 662-0460
2/26/09
Los Alamos Arts Council Guitars and Gateaux presents guitarist Michael Chapdelaine 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm Los Alamos Arts Council Authors Speak Series presents Anthropologist Polly Schaafsma on her extensive career becoming the leading authority in the field. 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
2/27/09
60th Anniversary Event, Variety Show and Pie Auction Local groups performing and pies for sale to help to restore and enhance the Duane W. Smith Auditorium on the campus of the Los Alamos High School. Time - TBA
2/28/09
19th Hole! Indoor Golf Tournament A relationship and community building fun filled day sponsored by the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Initiative called CommunityMatters and integrates the program called “40 Assets in Action.”. Also sponsored by the non-profit JJAB. Community support and great indoor golf! 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Marble Brewery Brew Tasting at Pajarito Mountain Lodge 11:00 am to 3:00 pm
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3/01/09
MARCH 2009
60th Anniversary Event Art Exhibit, New Mexico Women in Politics This exhibit consists of photographs by AJ Melnick and is open during regular historical museum hours. 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
3/2, 3, 6, 7, 13, 14/09
Los Alamos Light Opera performs, The Sound of Music 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm
3/19/09
Los Alamos Winter Farmers’ Market Help Northern New Mexico growers while enjoying their fresh produce 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
3/20, 21, 27, 28/09
Los Alamos Little Theater, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm
3/4/09
Los Alamos Arts Council, Brown Bag Performance Series, Light Opera Preview of The Sound of Music 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm
3/21/09
Los Alamos Concert Association presents pianist, Jie Chen, Awardwinner Arthur Rubenstein, Santander, Washington and VillaLobos International Competitions. 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
3/21/09
Fundraiser Fabulous Fifties Sock Hop A community dance and party to support the Los Alamos Youth Activity Centers and the Los Alamos Family Counseling Center. 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Mark The Electrician, Inc.
Mark Hartman (505)662-0857, office (505)690-3892, mobile info@marktheelectrician.com
NM License 57196
3/8/09
Matinee production of the Los Alamos Light Opera performs, The Sound of Music 2:00 pm to 4:30 pm
3/10/09
60th Anniversary Los Alamos Lecture Series – Ellen McGehee, Hidden History: Manhattan Project sites Behind the Fence. 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Communications Cabling/Networking High Tech Electrical Specialties Telephone Systems/Lighting Control Distributed Audio/Video/Home Theater
www.marktheelectrician.com
3/14/09
Fundraising Event: Empty Bowls Come choose a hand painted bowl, enjoy a delicious soup and bread lunch with live entertainment. All of the money raised at this annual event goes directly to support the work of Self Help, Inc. which assists Northern New Mexico families in need of immediate emergency aid. 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
3/19/09
60th Anniversary Event, Women in Government Panel Discussion An evening panel discussion with some of the most influential women in Los Alamos and New Mexico. Time: TBA
www.losalamoschamber.com
February 2009–March 2009 23
Brownell’s
Mari-Mac Village 505.662.6501