June 2012 Xpress New Mexico Rail Runner Express Magazine

Page 1

X

press J UNE 2012

New mexico rail runner express magazine

inside New train schedules New fares Free bus connections Events along the corridor

The Santa fe new M exican • www.santafenewmexica n.com



JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

3


X press | JUN-AUG 2012


Cover illustration William Rotsaert Cover design Deborah Villa

owner Robin Martin Publisher Ginny Sohn editor Rob Dean editorial Creative director Deborah Villa 986-3027, dvilla@sfnewmexican.com

X

press PuBLISHED JuNE 6, 2012

New mexico rail ruNNer express magaziNe

Magazine editor Craig Smith advertising Advertising director Tamara Hand, 986-3007 Art Department Scott Fowler, manager Dale Deforest, Elspeth Hilbert, Melyssa Holik Advertising layout Rick Artiaga advertising sales Kaycee Cantor, 995-3844 Mike Flores, 995-3840 Margaret Henkels, 995-3820 Belinda Hoschar, 995-3844 Cristina Iverson, 995-3830 Stephanie Green, 995-3820 Art Trujillo, 995-3820 nationals aCCount Manager Rob Newlin, 505-995-3841 nationals@sfnewmexican.com systeMs Technology director Michael Campbell ProduCtion Operations director Al Waldron Assistant production director Tim Cramer Prepress manager Dan Gomez Press manager Larry Quintana Packaging manager Brian Schultz distribution Circulation manager Michael Reichard Distribution coordinator Casey Brewer web Digital development Geoff Grammer www.santafenewmexican.com address Office: 202 E. Marcy St. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday Advertising information: 505-986-3082 Delivery: 505-984-0363, 800-873-3372 For copies of this magazine, call 428-7645 or email caseyb@sfnewmexican.com.

Jay Faught

Features

in every issue

14 Find a date, romance and true love on the WEDDING TRAIN

06 Welcome

20 NIGHT TRAIN: From face washed to wheels checked

08 Fares 10 Weekday schedules

22 When it comes to MAGIc AND MysTERy, trains are film favorites

12 Readers, riders write

30 There’s railroad lore a-plenty in Valencia county

18 Route map and connections

13 Weekend schedules 24 crossword puzzle (answers page 34) 31 Events calendar 34 All Aboard

Published by The Santa Fe New Mexican with The New Mexico Rail Runner Express

JuN-AuG 2012 | X PRESS

5


READ ALL ABOUT IT ON BOARD THE RAIL RUNNER EXPRESS

ERNIE MONTOYA

RAIL RUNNER: A ROLLING ASSET FOR TODAY’S MOBILE PUBLIC Imagine what it means to take more than 185 million vehicle miles off of some of our busiest roadways in Central New Mexico. That’s exactly what the New Mexico Rail Runner Express has done since beginning operations nearly six-years ago. That means far less pollution, far fewer vehicle accidents, and on top of that – our roads will have a longer life when it comes to day-to-day wear and tear. This is just one of the many benefits of having a commuter rail system run right through the heart of the Rio Grande Valley – an area where approximately 50 percent of the state’s population resides. And while we are continually reminded that “rarely does a public transportation system in the world make money,” we’re starting to see that there is a bigger, more global measuring stick with which we can measure the Rail Runner’s success. For instance, take a look at the following statistics. In the nearly six years since the Rail Runner started, it has carried: • More than 5.5 million passengers • More than 190,000 bicyclists • More than 29,000 passengers needing assistance. Since the Rail Runner began operating in July of 2006, there have been significant increases in bus service in all four counties served by the rail line, as well as current and planned road improvements, enabling commuters to reach destinations throughout the region. There are connections between Rail Runner stations and various work and commerce centers including Downtown Albuquerque, Downtown Santa Fe, the Sunport, Southern Rio Rancho, the North and South Valleys of Bernalillo County, Journal Center, Intel and the campuses of the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College. Investing in an improved public transportation system today is an essential part of providing a functional and sustainable transportation system for the residents and businesses of central New Mexico. The Rail Runner is the most strategic element in this system because it provides the connection between the various communities and cities throughout the corridor. Augusta Meyers Communications Manager Mid-Region Council of Governments 6

X PRESS | JUN-AUG 2012


Train Rides!

Offer Expires 08/31/12

Ride through the beautiful high desert on Vintage Coaches. Snacks/full bar on every car.

Scenic Day Trains

Wednesday through Sunday

Sat. & Fri. Night BBQ Trains! Special Event Trains

Fourth of July Fireworks Party! Train Robbery Trains: Hold on to valuables! Murder Mystery: you solve this one!

Reservations

505.989.8600 410 S. Guadalupe St, Santa Fe, NM www.theTRAINinsantafe.com

Fine Art & Crafts from

LOCAL ARTISTS Featuring quality toys and games from fair-labor manufacturers in America, Europe and ports around the world. Monday - Thursday 10 - 5ish Friday & Saturday 10 - 5:30ish Sunday 12 - 4ish Plaza Mercado • 112 W. San Francisco St. Suite 212-C • 982-9373

RAILYARD PARK

Paseo de Peralta at Guadalupe

Saturdays

APRIL THRU DECEMBER 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

CATHEDRAL PARK

One block East of the Plaza

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

MAY 5 & 6, JULY 7 & 8 OCTOBER 6 & 7

www.SantaFeArtistsMarket.com

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS


ZONE-BASED FARES Effective May 21st, 2012 SYSTEM MAP (Receive Discount Online)

HOW TO CALCULATE YOUR FARE

Santa Fe Depot

Step 1: Count the number of zones Count the number of zones through which you will travel. Step 2: Pick the type of fare you need Do you want a one-way ticket, a day pass, or a monthly or annual pass? Are you eligible for a reduced fare? Step 3: Check the chart below and see how much your fare is

FULL FARE 1 zone 2 zones 3 zones 4 zones 5 zones 6 zones

one-way $2 $3 $5 $8 $9 $10

day pass $3 $4 $6 $9 $10 $11

monthly pass $39 $55 $72 $105 $110 $121

South Capitol Zia Road

Santa Fe Co. NM 599

annual pass $385 $550 $715 $1045 $1100 $1210

Kewa Pueblo

Sandoval Co. / US 550 Downtown Bernalillo

REDUCED FARE 1 zone 2 zones 3 zones 4 zones 5 zones 6 zones

one-way $1 $1 $2 $4 $4 $5

day pass $2 $2 $3 $6 $7 $8

monthly pass $19 $28 $36 $52 $55 $61

annual pass $187 $275 $352 $517 $550 $605

Sandia Pueblo Los Ranchos Journal Center Montaño Downtown Albuquerque

Children 9 and under ride free!

Bernalillo Co.

REDUCED FARES ARE AVAILABLE TO

#CF9;< /?B> 1$&1) # 5;9EB!;> ":;< / 6/2:E >;9EB!; 0' #5B!:F@> /?B +.*

# =BFD2B ":;< E:>/-:2:;:B> "<F ><F"% - A Medicare card - An NM Motor Vehicle Department notification - A letter from doctor indicating the disability (with exp. date) - An ABQ RIDE Honored Citizen Card & , 5/!;/ 8B 7:EB (/@E F@ 5/!;/ 8B 3@/:2> 4/2A 8/@B (/@E - A disabled veteran ID card

866-795-RAIL (7245) ! www.nmrailrunner.com Customer Service Hours: Mon.-Fri. 5am-8pm

!

Isleta Pueblo

Los Lunas Station Coming Soon

Sat. & Sun. 9am-5pm

Rio Metro Regional Transit District is committed to its Title VI obligations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in the delivery of service. 8 obtainXmore PRESS SEPT-NOV 2011 To information|on our nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI complaint, contact us at 809 Copper Avenue NW, ABQ, NM 87102.

Belen


THE RAILYARD S

AN

E T A F

S AN TA F E ’ S NE W P L AC E TO ME E T The Railyard is where Santa Fe comes to meet friends and neighbors, shop at New Mexico’s largest farmers’ market and other unique stores, have a great meal, see thought-provoking art, experience live performances, or just relax and PL AY. WWW.R AILYARD SANTAF E .COM Photo credit: Jennifer Esperanza

Ranch museum says city is too close for comfort Page A-10

Locally owned and independent

Monday, February 6, 2012 www.santafenewmexican.com 75¢

SUPER BOWL XLVI

2012 LEGISLATURE

The other Manning one-ups Brady, Patriots — again

Tax cut on retirement pay aims to keep vets in state

Quarterback Eli Manning leads Giants to second thrilling Super Bowl victory over New England, 21-17, in Indianapolis. SPORTS, B-1

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE PROFILES DISTRICT 1

North-side incumbent faces young challenger

City Councilor Patti Bushee, the city’s longest-serving councilor, is seeking her fifth term in District 1 on March 6.

Houston Johansen, 25, speaks with Janet Lowe, a District 1 resident, while gathering signatures in November.

LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN

JANE PHILLIPS/THE NEW MEXICAN

Age: 52 Education: Bachelor’s degree in international affairs from the University of Maine; studied international economics at George Washington University; studied for a year in Spain at La Universidad de Sevilla. Occupation: Owns a landscaping company. Experience: City councilor since 1994; chairs the city Bicycle and Trails Advisory Committee; serves on the

Age: 25 Education: 2005 Santa Fe Preparatory School graduate; bachelor’s degree in political science from Creighton University. Occupation: Intern at Santa Fe Innovation Park. Experience: Serves on the board of Earth Care International; opened One World Coffee at age 19 and worked for a year as manager; interned for Bill Hume,

Finance Committee, Public Utilities Committee and Regional Planning Authority; former employee of the State Engineer’s Office. Personal: Born in Stoneham, Mass.; moved to Santa Fe about three decades ago years ago from Maine; lives in the Barrio de Torreon neighborhood. Campaign info: Publicly financed campaign; http://pattibushee.com.

D

istrict 1 geographically is the largest of the four Santa Fe City Council districts, covering the area north of the Santa Fe River, as well as some west-side neighborhoods south of the river. Thanks to redistricting last summer, the western end of the district now dips all the way to Osage Avenue, northwest of Cerrillos Road. The territory includes mansions on the northeast as well as small, old-family homes in less-affluent barrios, and a chunk of mostly undeveloped city land northwest of the downtown area. Census data show that it’s the district with the fewest children and the highest percentage of Anglos. The city’s longest-serving councilor, Patti Bushee, is facing a challenge from the youngest candidate of 10 seeking election to the council

this year. Houston Johansen recently returned to the city, where he was born and raised, after completing college in Nebraska. He says he is living off savings and devoting his full attention to overthrowing the incumbent. Bushee, who had said in 2008 that she would likely not run for office again, said recently that now is not the time for her opponent to get “on-thejob training” as a councilor. If she is re-elected, it would be her fifth elected term, since she was appointed to the council in 1994. Each of the four council districts has two representatives, elected to staggered four-year terms. The other councilor in District 1 is Chris Calvert, a United States Postal Service carrier. He is serving his second term.

former Gov. Bill Richardson’s water-policy adviser; worked on President Barack Obama’s campaign in Omaha, Neb., and worked at a law office there. Personal: Born and raised in Santa Fe, returned to the city after college; rents a house with a friend in the St. Catherine’s neighborhood. Campaign info: Privately financed campaign with $6,866 in contributions; www.houstonforsantafe.com.

By Richard Mauer McClatchy Newspapers

Index

Calendar A-2

Please see MIRACLE, Page A-4

Classifieds B-5

Comics B-12

La Voz A-7

Santa Fe Archaeology Past and Future Southwest Seminars lecture by Stephen Post, 6 p.m., Hotel Santa Fe, 1501 Paseo de Peralta, $12 at the door, 466-2775. More events in Calendar, A-2 and Fridays in Pasatiempo

This is the second in a series of profiles of candidates for the Santa Fe City Council in the March 6 city election: ◆ Sunday: District 3 (southwest) ◆ Monday: District 1 (north) ◆ Tuesday: District 2 (southeast) ◆ Wednesday: District 4 (south-central)

1

Today Partly cloudy, with times of sunshine. High 45, low 22.

2

PAGE A-12

4

3

Obituaries

City Council districts

See profiles on Page A-5

Big Miracle, which opened over the weekend, is loosely based on the 1988 rescue effort in Barrow, which bought together a motley crew of rescuers: Greenpeace, the oil giant Arco, Ted Stevens, the Soviets, the U.S. military, a chain-saw distributor, a guitar-playing whale-song singer, a couple of Minnesota ice fishermen and,

Please see TAX, Page A-6

Pasapick

COMING UP

The real ‘miracle’ of Barrow whale rescue ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Once Roy Ahmaogak decided to report three gray whales trapped in the ice near Barrow rather than leave them to their natural fate, it was probably inevitable that their story would wind up in Hollywood. What’s amazing is that it took 23 years for a film to be made.

State official touts potential of military retirees to bring New Mexico money, expertise By Kate Nash The New Mexican

When he left work at Kirtland Air Force Base in 1983, Dave Coulie, a retired Air Force captain, thought about moving to a state that doesn’t tax military retirement pay like New Mexico does. Coulie ended up with a lucrative second career at Honeywell, and stayed. But many veterans like him have moved to states that don’t tax the paychecks of military retirees. Now, Coulie is behind an effort to get those like him to stay, and to do away with the tax on veterans’ retirement pay. Measures introduced in the House and Senate this session would give veterans a 25 percent tax exemption on their military retirement pay in 2013. The amount of the exemption would rise to 50 percent in 2014, to 75 percent in 2015 and be 100 percent in 2016. The exemption is capped at $1,000. Sixteen other states offer 100 percent tax exemptions for military retirees. Nine states have no income tax. That means New Mexico is pretty far down on the list when many veterans think of where they will retire, Coulie said. “It’s just phenomenal, the potential our state

Houston Johansen

Patti Bushee

Robert F. “Bob” Bailey Jr., Feb. 2 Elizabeth S. Estes, Feb. 1 PAGE A-10

Another risk for kids in cars: Secondhand smoke By Lindsey Tanner

The Associated Press

A California gray whale surfaces near rescuers in Alaska in October 1988. The event helped spawn the movie Big Miracle. BILL ROTH/ANCHORAGE DAILY NEWS

Opinion A-11

Police notes A-10

Managing editor: Rob Dean, 986-3033, rdean@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Cynthia Miller, cmiller@sfnewmexican.com

Sports B-1

CHICAGO — Texting while driving, speeding and back-seat hanky-panky aren’t all that parents need to worry about when their kids are in cars: Add secondhand smoke to the list. In the first national estimate of its kind, a report from government researchers says more than 1 in 5 high school students and middle-schoolers ride in cars

Time Out B-11

Education A-9

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010

while others are smoking. This kind of secondhand smoke exposure has been linked with breathing problems and allergy symptoms, and more restrictions are needed to prevent it, the report says. With widespread crackdowns on smoking in public, private places including homes and cars are where people encounter secondhand smoke these days. Anti-smoking advo-

Please see SMOKE, Page A-6

Two sections, 24 pages 163rd year, No. 37 Publication No. 596-440

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS


WEEKDAY SCHEDULE Effective May 21, 2012 Please note: schedule subject to change. Check website for latest schedule information.

Designated QUIET CAR Service Only cars nearest to locomotive are Quiet Cars Northbound

#508

#510

#512

#514

#516

3:55A 5:44A 6:40A 8:07A

3:30P

5:46P 6:56P 7:52P

4:15A 5:55A 6:51A 8:18A

3:41P

5:56P 7:07P 8:03P

4:35A 6:08A 7:04A 8:30A

3:54P

6:11P 7:21P 8:17P

Bernalillo County

4:45A 6:15A 7:11A 8:38A

4:01P

6:24P 7:30P 8:26P

Downtown ABQ

4:00A

4:32A 5:01A 6:25A 7:21A 8:45A 9:35A 4:20P 5:29P 6:42P 7:37P 8:33P

Los Ranchos / JC

4:18A

4:47A 5:16A 6:37A 7:36A

9:50A 4:35P 5:44P 7:00P

Sandia Pueblo

4:52A 5:21A

7:41A

9:55A 4:40P 5:49P 7:06P

Downtown Bernalillo

5:01A 5:30A

7:51A

10:03A 4:48P 6:02P 7:20P

Sandoval / US 550

4:36A

5:05A 5:34A 6:49A 7:56A

10:08A 4:53P 6:07P 7:25P

5:25A 5:56A

8:16A

10:28A 5:13P 6:29P 7:43P

5:11A 5:11A 5:48A 6:20A 7:23A 8:39A

10:51A 5:36P 6:52P 8:06P

New Mexico Rail Runner Express Reading The Schedule 1. Decide whether you are going north (at top) or south (at bottom).

3. Read across to find the times the Rail Runner departs from that station. 4. From there, read down to find what time the Rail Runner will arrive at the station to which you are traveling.

Train arrives but does not continue.

Downtown ABQ

Isleta Pueblo

SF County / NM 599

#502

#506

#520

5:28A 6:08A 6:42A 7:40A 8:59A

11:11A 5:56P 7:12P 8:26P

Santa Fe Depot

5:33A 6:13A 6:47A 7:45A 9:04A

11:16A 6:01P 7:17P 8:31P

#511

#513

Shown are departure time unless otherwise noted #101 #515 EXPRESS #517 #519 #521

READ DOWN Southbound TRAIN STATIONS

#501

Santa Fe Depot

5:39A 7:13A 1:02P

4:10P 5:04P 5:25P 6:41P 9:00P

South Capitol

5:43A 7:17A 1:07P

4:15P 5:09P 5:30P 6:46P 9:05P

SF County / NM 599

6:01A 7:36A 1:26P

4:34P 5:21P 5:49P 7:05P 9:24P

Kewa

6:24A 7:54A 1:44P

4:52P

Sandoval / US 550

5:41A

6:43A 8:13A 2:03P

5:11P 5:57P 6:26P 7:42P 10:01P

Downtown Bernalillo

6:47A 8:17A 2:07P

5:15P

6:30P 7:46P 10:05P

Sandia Pueblo

6:56A 8:26A 2:16P

5:24P

6:39P 7:55P 10:14P

Los Ranchos / JC

6:04A 7:01A 8:31A 2:21P

5:29P 6:09P 6:44P 8:00P 10:19P

#500 Purple:

Use bus stop on 1st street at Alvarado Transit Center

#505 B:

Use bus bay “N”

#503 #505-A #505-B #507

#509

6:07P 7:23P 9:42P

4:50A 5:43A 6:20A 6:25A 7:15A 8:44A 2:37P 4:30P 5:45P 6:20P 6:57P 8:13P 10:32P

Bernalillo County

4:58A 5:51A

6:37A 7:23A

2:45P 4:38P 5:52P

7:04P

Isleta Pueblo

5:06A 5:59A

6:49A 7:31A

2:52P 4:45P 6:01P

7:12P

Los Lunas

5:18A 6:11A

7:09A 7:43A

3:05P 4:58P 6:17P

7:26P

Belen

5:29A 6:22A

7:27A 7:54A

3:15P 5:08P 6:28P

7:37P

866-795-RAIL (7245) ! www.nmrailrunner.com Customer Service Hours: Mon.-Fri. 5am-8pm

!

Sat. & Sun. 9am-5pm

Rio Metro Regional Transit District is committed to its Title VI obligations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in the delivery of service. To obtain more information on our nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI complaint, contact us at 809 Copper Avenue NW, ABQ, NM 87102.

X PRESS | JUN-AUG 2012

Downtown ABQ

READ DOWN

10

#518

South Capitol

Service provided by Rio Metro bus. “ – ” Means train does not stop.

Los Lunas

Kewa

Legend 0:00

Belen

#504

#102 EXPRESS

TRAIN STATIONS

2. On the left-hand side, find the station from which you are leaving.

Shown are departure time unless otherwise noted

#500 PURPLE PURPLE SHUTTLE


& Gift Show

Funded and hosted by

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

11


TRAIN OF THOUGHT

Letters from the rail line A RIDE THAT RELIEVES

THE JOY OF TRAINS

I think the Rail Runner is one of the best things to ever happen in New Mexico. I ride the train about every 2 to 3 months from the Bernalillo County stop in the South Valley to the State Archives and State Library in Santa Fe to do research for my book. The entire round trip is clean, relaxing and quiet. (Thanks for designating a “quiet” car.) I’ve met many people who work or go to school in Albuquerque and ride up from the south — and many who work in Santa Fe and ride from Albuquerque north in the mornings, and make the return trip at the end of their day. It is a real pleasure not dealing with traffic when riding the train. Also, parking in Santa Fe can be frustrating, so using the bus and the Santa Fe Pickup is a plus. Years ago, I made almost daily car trips from Albuquerque to Santa Fe and Las Vegas, N.M. It was brutal. Driving back was very tiring. Now my return trip on the Rail Runner is relaxing and I can even take a nap. Aside from the ease of commuting, I’m sure the impact of the Rail Runner on the environment is significant from less automobile pollution. Hopefully, the Rail Runner network and schedule will expand in the future. Thanks for making my life a little more stress-free.

I love the Rail Runner. As soon as I see the train approaching, I become an excited little girl with an adventure in her immediate future! When company comes in from out of town, the Rail Runner is my first choice for entertaining my guests. We board in downtown Albuquerque on our way to Santa Fe. We can visit as we glide through the countryside, and when we arrive in Santa Fe we are ready for a bit of walking and sightseeing. I can introduce my out-of-state friends to the Land of Enchantment in a very relaxed manner — one that gives us plenty of options in things to see. I lived in Los Angeles for 25 years and was an avid fan of the Metrolink. Now we have the Rail Runner here. I am proud of this bit of mass transit that connects New Mexicans and allows us to be neighbors because the stress of commuting is gone. New Yorkers may have the subway and Chicagoans the Elevated, but I think we are immensely lucky to have the Rail Runner.

CHARLIE ZDRAVESKY ALBUQUERQUE

FAMILY VISITS A BREEZE I have for years driven from Pojoaque to Albuquerque to pick up my grandchildren so they can come visit me at my home. It takes me about 4 hours (with no traffic delays) to pick up my “kiddoes.” This costs me, in gas, about $25 each time. Then I do it all over again to take them back home. Now … I just drive to Santa Fe depot and pick them up, and drop them off there to go back home. For $3 each way. The children love it. It is safe for them. I never worry about them during their ride. The staff is very friendly and helpful. And, I can go see them more often by taking the Rail Runner. Thank you, Rail Runner. You have made this grandmother’s life a lot easier! LAUREL VALENTINE SANTA FE

IREYNE B. DUNCAN ALBUQUERQUE

A POETIC TRIBUTE

(with a nod to Chattanooga Choo-Choo) Pardon me, Amigo — is this the Rail Runner station? I’ve got my fare; I bought my ticket online. It’s Saturday, and Farmer’s Market’s at the Depot ... in Santa Fe. All of their produce is fine. We leave Belen, head north and get a glimpse of the Rio. Read a magazine and then we’re in Bernalillo. Folks are wavin’ bye bye, I log onto WiFi, Beep beep, Kewa Station, here we are. There’s going to be a lot of shuttles at the Depot. Headed for the Plaza? They’re your free ride. Poke around the Railyard, restaurants are great, pard. And the shops display their wares with pride. This day has been fun, but now it’s time to catch the Southbound. As we depart, I hear the whistle’s sad wail. While I relax and watch the sun set, I’m dreaming of my next ride on the rails. KATHY BARCO ALBUQUERQUE

12

X PRESS | JUN-AUG 2012


WEEKEND SCHEDULE Effective May 21, 2012

Please note: schedule subject to change. Check website for latest schedule information.

Southbound Saturday

Northbound Saturday TRAIN STATIONS

#702

#704

#706

#708

#710

TRAIN STATIONS

#701

#703

#705

#707

#709

#711

Belen

8:47A

1:05P

5:27P

7:06P

9:50P

Santa Fe Depot

10:57A

3:13P

7:40P

9:20P

Los Lunas

8:57A

1:15P

5:37P

7:16P

10:00P

South Capitol

11:01A

3:17P

7:44P

9:24P

Isleta Pueblo

9:08A

1:26P

5:48P

7:27P

10:11P

SF County / NM 599

11:11A

3:27P

7:54P

9:34P

Bernalillo County

9:15A

1:33P

5:55P

7:34P

10:28P

Kewa

11:29A

3:45P

8:12P

9:52P

Downtown ABQ

9:25A

1:43P

6:05P

7:45P

10:38P

Sandoval / US 550

11:47A

4:03P

8:30P

10:10P

Los Ranchos / JC

9:37A

1:55P

6:17P

7:57P

Downtown Bernalillo

11:50A

4:06P

8:33P

10:13P

11:58A

4:14P

8:41P

10:21P

Sandia Pueblo

9:42A

2:00P

6:22P

8:02P

Sandia Pueblo

Downtown Bernalillo

9:50A

2:08P

6:30P

8:11P

Los Ranchos / JC

12:03P

4:19P

8:46P

10:26P

Sandoval / US 550

9:53A

2:11P

6:33P

8:15P

Downtown ABQ

7:55A

12:15P

4:33P

6:11P

8:58P

10:38P

Kewa

10:11A

2:29P

6:51P

8:33P

Bernalillo County

8:05A

12:25P

4:43P

6:21P

9:08P

SF County / NM 599

10:29A

2:47P

7:09P

8:51P

Isleta Pueblo

8:12A

12:32P

4:50P

6:28P

9:15P

Los Lunas

8:23A

12:43P

5:01P

6:39P

9:26P

Belen

8:33A

12:53P

5:11P

6:49P

9:36P

READ DOWN

South Capitol Santa Fe Depot

10:39A 10:43A

2:57P 3:01P

7:19P 7:23P

9:01P 9:05P

READ DOWN

Northbound Sunday

TRAIN STATIONS

#702

Southbound Sunday

#704

#706

#701

#703

#705

#709

Santa Fe Depot

10:57A

3:13P

7:40P

South Capitol

11:01A

3:17P

7:44P

SF County / NM 599

11:11A

3:27P

7:54P

5:55P

Kewa

11:29A

3:45P

8:12P

6:05P

Sandoval / US 550

11:47A

4:03P

8:30P

1:55P

6:17P

Downtown Bernalillo

11:50A

4:06P

8:33P

2:00P

6:22P

Sandia Pueblo

11:58A

4:14P

8:41P

Los Ranchos / JC

12:03P

4:19P

8:46P

6:33P

Downtown ABQ

7:55A

12:15P

4:33P

8:58P

6:51P

Bernalillo County

8:05A

12:25P

4:43P

2:47P

7:09P

Isleta Pueblo

8:12A

12:32P

4:50P

2:57P

7:19P

Los Lunas

8:23A

12:43P

5:01P

3:01P

7:23P

Belen

8:33A

12:53P

5:11P

Belen

8:47A

1:05P

5:27P

Los Lunas

8:57A

1:15P

5:37P

Isleta Pueblo

9:08A

1:26P

5:48P

Bernalillo County

9:15A

1:33P

Downtown ABQ

9:25A

1:43P

Los Ranchos / JC

9:37A

Sandia Pueblo

9:42A 9:50A

2:08P

6:30P

Sandoval / US 550

9:53A

2:11P

Kewa

10:11A

2:29P

SF County / NM 599

10:29A

South Capitol

10:39A 10:43A

Downtown Bernalillo

Santa Fe Depot

Customer Service Hours: Mon.-Fri. 5am-8pm

READ DOWN

READ DOWN

866-795-RAIL (7245) ! www.nmrailrunner.com

TRAIN STATIONS

!

Sat. & Sun. 9am-5pm

Rio Metro Regional Transit District is committed to its Title VI obligations. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color or national origin in the delivery of service. To obtain more information on our nondiscrimination obligations or to file a Title VI complaint, contact us at 809 Copper Avenue NW, ABQ, NM 87102.

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

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WEDDING TRAIN JAY FAUGHT

Couple finds romance a la Rail Runner BY DENNIS J. CARROLL

It would be hard for newlyweds Tina and Mathew Pierson to have more in common than they do, unless maybe they’d bumped into each other in a past life somewhere. The Albuquerque couple are both from small towns in the Midwest, Tina from Decatur, Ill., and Mathew from Fayette, Mo. They each have an 18-year-old son, Miles and Tyler, respectively. Both have a dog — Tina’s Mae and Mathew’s Hansum. They also are hooked on long-distance running, hiking and camping, and share common personal and life values — and a real love of train travel. Well, not so much for Tina. That is, until Mathew introduced her to the Rail Runner Express for their second date. The two first connected via the online service match.com. Their first in-person meeting took place July 28, 2010 over appetizers at the Horse and Angel tavern in Albuquerque — just to make sure one or the other didn’t have two heads or an attached invisible twin or something. Mathew then called Tina, a planning analyst with University of New Mexico Hospital, the next day and suggested a trip to Santa Fe. “We decided to have another date and that happened to be a day up in Santa Fe via the Rail Runner from here,” said Mathew, who is 14

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a manufacturing supervisor at Intel. “We thought it would be a great opportunity to have uninterrupted conversation and not have to concentrate on driving. Just getting to know each other on the train and walking around the Plaza.” Despite it being a rainy day that July 31, the two said they had so much fun that they ended up taking a later train back to Albuquerque than they had planned. “It was raining, we were underneath the (Ore House) portal.... It was really just a lot of fun,” Mathew confided. Well, by now, you can probably see where this is going. Tina and Mathew made other dating trips to Santa Fe on the Rail Runner, and somewhere along the way... drum roll, please ... they fell in love and decided to get married. After all, they had so much in common. It was on one such rail trip to Santa Fe that they discovered what they considered the perfect place for their nuptial reception: the Milagro extension of the Ore House, whose Plaza portal had kept the rain off that first date. With its gas lights and two-story atrium with a tree in the middle, “it kind of looked like New Orleans,” Tina said. “And that’s where we planned to go on our honeymoon.” With that settled, the next question centered around where the wedding would be and how to get the guests up to Santa Fe and to the Milagro for the reception. And, “We said, why don’t we just get married on the train if


that’s possible, and everybody will be en route up to the reception already?” Mathew said. A few phone calls later, arrangements were made with rail officials. The top half of the southernmost car of a late-afternoon Santa Fe-bound train on February 29 was reserved for the bride, the bridegroom and about 35 guests — all dressed either in Victorian attire or flashier outfits from the 1920s. “Everybody dressed in something from another time,” said Tina. “It was about romance and times when people dressed up to travel (on trains) a lot more. We wanted it to be something memorable and fun for people to do.” The guests and bridegroom boarded at the downtown Albuquerque station. Mathew was decked out in a custom-made Western-era wedding suit, complete with tailcoat and fedora. In lieu of a march down a church aisle, the bride — parasol in hand and dressed in an ivory lace and satin Victorian gown and ostrichfeather hat — boarded with her flower girl at the next northbound stop, the Los Ranchos station. The couple sat opposite each other, with the bride’s guests sitting behind the bridegroom so they could see Tina, and Mathew’s family and friends behind Tina, facing the bridegroom. A friend of Tina’s, Eddie Tafoya, an “ordained comedian” and professor at Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M., performed the ceremony standing in the aisle. The whole wedding-train experience, tagged by the couple as “Our Love’s Journey,” was wrapped in whiffs of nostalgia laced with blooming boughs of romance. Guests snacked on Cracker Jacks and sipped apple cider as the train rumbled toward the capital city. Love songs crooned from a compilation CD that also featured train tunes — including Judy Garland singing “On the Atchison Topeka and the Santa Fe,” from the 1946 movie The Harvey Girls, much of which was filmed in Las Vegas, N.M. Once at the Santa Fe Depot, guests caught a shuttle to the Milagro a few blocks away, and the newlyweds climbed into a horse-drawn carriage for the trip. A few guests took the train back to Albuquerque after the reception, but the bridal couple and others stayed overnight, cruising the Plaza the next day before heading back. The rail wedding “was just very memorable for us,” Tina said, “and for both us and our guests it was unique.” Rail Runner spokesman Jay Faught said those interested in a Rail Runner wedding should call the customer service number at 505866-795 (RAIL) for information. Costs vary, but reserving part of a car on an existing train, as the Piersons did, runs about $2,000 for the day. If a couple wants an entire, three-car train, they are looking at $2,000 an hour.

JACKIE STILL, WWW.JSTILLPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

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NIGHT TRAIN Servicing the Rail Runner fleet

BY DENNIS J. CARROLL

Rail Runner Express Train 518, inbound from Belen, pulled up to the downtown Albuquerque station just as the sun was going out and the lights of Albuquerque were popping on. In a few minutes, engineer Travis Atwell’s train would be switched to service track No. 3 and slowly, almost silently, No. 518 would creep into the nearby railyard for its nightly servicing. The glint of a setting sun off the cars cast a soft silver glow across the area. Atwell’s train was the first of six desert leviathans to show up at the railyard on a recent clear, balmy evening. Over the next few hours, five more Rail Runners would pull into the yard — as they do every evening — for their nightly maintenance and inspections. “It starts out slow, and the next thing you know there are trains backed up all the way out there and things are moving,” said Anthony Ruiz, transportation manager for Herzog Transit Services, which operates the Rail Runner Express for the Rio Metro Regional Transit District. “Between 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. things are moving fast .... Trains are moving every which way possible.” Before moving from the station into the yard, Train 518’s engineer, conductor and ticket agent conduct a sweep of the train. “They do a security (check), making sure that no one left any suspicious packages on the train, that there aren’t people trying to sneak into the yard or asleep on the train,” Ruiz said. The lion’s share of the servicing is done under a canopy on Track 3. Sort of a Jiffy Lube for trains. Yard workers, this evening led by Kendrick Gaines, seem to appear suddenly from nowhere, descending on 518 like an army of worker ants. Some push trash barrels. Others bear brooms and mops, water buckets, assorted tools and other maintenance equipment. “While one guy is washing the windows and nose of the locomotive the other guy is oiling or dumping something,” Ruiz said. “There are so many things going on.” Each train gets its turn under the canopy before being parked on an adjacent track for more intense scrutiny or a scheduled maintenance. Under the canopy, Kendrick oversees the work as maintenance crews crawl under the cars inspecting brakes, walk through the coaches cleaning seats and picking up trash, and ascend the sides of the cars on hydraulic lifts to clean or service windows and anything that’s not like it’s supposed to be. 20

X PRESS | JUN-AUG 2012

Upon finding, say, a burned-out light bulb, a worker would trek back to the equipment shed, and bring a new one back to the train. A pit underneath the canopy and jacks allow crews to do heavy repairs such as changing out wheels and wheel mounts, which most often occurs during the day. During the course of the night, as one train is being serviced under the Track 3 canopy, other trains, ending their day’s journeys along the 96.7-mile Belen to Santa Fe line, creep into the yard. To prevent trains from running into each other or worse yet, maintenance workers, “derail switches” with flashing solar blue lights are attached to the tracks at key points. Hitting the switch would bump the engine off the track ensuring there are no collisions. As the trains move through the service line, the derail switches are disengaged and then set again. The switches also prevent unattended cars and engines from rolling into a work area. “For the sake of safety, we are willing to derail a piece of equipment as opposed to crushing someone between two couplers,” Ruiz said. Also to protect the workers, each is cleared upon entering or leaving the service areas. And before a train is allowed to move during or after servicing, Kendrick checks worker locations and issues an all clear to the engineers via radio. “It’s important for everybody to know where everybody’s at, because all it takes is for one person to be in the wrong place at the wrong time,” Ruiz said. “It’s a matter of life and death. And efficiency.” Night crews must also make sure that the trains are properly positioned for the morning commuter runs, with enough leeway to allow for last minute changes for whatever reason. “We have to protect ourselves so that if one train breaks down or we have some kind of problem, we have a backup plan. We can’t just bring in the equipment and just stack it up somewhere, because we could (hurt) ourselves in the morning,” Ruiz said. Besides the nightly inspections, the trains also undergo regularly scheduled inspections — from daily to 10-day, quarterly, annual and every four years — dictated by Federal regulations and manufacturer’s specifications. Much of that work is done by day crews. Before a night’s work begins, Gaines said, everyone is briefed on what likely will need to be done on the trains. “The briefing keeps everyone organized and on the same page.” In the end, by the time Train 501 pulls out of the yard at 4:25 the next morning, the ultimate goal is “making sure we send out equipment that’s clean, safe and reliable,” Gaines said.


JAY FAUGHT

JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

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MAGIC AND MYSTERY ON THE EXPRESS STORY BY CRAIG SMITH ILLUSTRATION BY WILLIAM ROTSAERT

One of the great things about the Rail Runner is that there’s so much to do while you are on it. Yes, really. You can watch the scenery go by and daydream. You can read a book, magazine or newspaper. Lulled by the steady click-click of the wheels on the rails, you can nap. You can chat with your traveling companions, or even catch up on work or study. Thanks to Wi-Fi and downloads, you can use your computer, cell phone, Kindle, other E-reader, or iPad. And if you feel like some entertainment — including movies or books — that feature trains, you can download, load up from DVDs pre-boarding, or stream as you go. I admit a fondness for classics when it comes to train movies, and there are many of them. One of the most fun is the 1946 film musical The Harvey Girls, starring Judy Garland. This cinematic and historic treat is based on Samuel Hopkins Adams’ novel that recounts the civilizing influence of the Fred Harvey Houses along the early Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railway system. It’s filled with railroad and restaurant lore, romantic relationships, and great songs and dances. You’ll find yourself tapping your toes all the way up or down the line. Then there are the murder mysteries – and plenty of them. Many of the most famous train film thrillers were inspired by novels, and most of them are electronically available for Kindle. One of the best-known is Murder on the Orient Express, a famous locked-room mystery by Agatha Christie. When a slaying takes place on the most luxurious train in the world, every person in the coach is a suspect, yet everyone has an unshakable alibi. Detective Hercule Poirot is up to his massive mustache in mystery here. There are several versions available, collectively starring such luminaries as Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Barbara Hershey, Leslie Caron and Albert Finney. Another Christie railroad mystery stars another of the author’s beloved sleuths, the lavender-and-old-lace Miss Marple. It’s 4:50 from Paddington, in which a friend of Miss Marple’s witnesses a killing in a train passing her own – but there’s no evidence to be found on the deathly express. As you can imagine, Jane M. goes right to work. Again, various versions exist. The Lady Vanishes, based on the novel by Ethel Lina White, stars Dame May Whitty as the vanished dame and Margaret Lockwood as 22

X PRESS | JUN-AUG 2012

the fellow-traveler who finds no one else remembers the disappeared woman … and that the longer she insists on the disappearance, the more oddly the other passengers look at her. Strangers on a Train, adapted from a novel by Patricia Highsmith, links Farley Granger and Robert Howard in a weird cross-family murder scheme that will have you vowing never to talk again to anyone you don’t know on a bus, streetcar, or monorail. A more contemporary take on train thrillers is The Taking of Pelham 123, with Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw and Martin Balsam among the characters. It also was adapted from a novel. Other scary train films are the so-bad-it’s-good Under Siege 2: Dark Territory with Steven Seagal; Runaway Train with Jon Voigt and Eric Roberts, a guaranteed bad-nerves time; and one I’d never heard of till nosing around for this story: The Narrow Margin, known as a grim film noir starring Walter Brown as a detective trying to get a female informant cross-country in one living piece. Of course, the train is brimming with danger. Even though they don’t feature a train all the time, we can’t overlook J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter books (and films), with the wonderful red Hogwarts Express steaming through pristine English countryside. Those films, and The Polar Express (based on Chris Van Allsburg’s’ children’s classic) are good choices if you have children along for the ride. Then there’s Disney’s cartoon extravaganza Dumbo, which has some charming scenes on the circus train, and for the youngest travelers, all the Thomas the Tank Engine episodes. If you feel like just reading, trains and railway lines are often settings for ghost and fantasy short stories. Some of my own shortstory favorites are Charles Dickens’ “The Signal-Man,” Robert Bloch’s “That Hell-Bound Train,” Basil Copper’s “The Second Passenger,” Fritz Leiber’s “Belsen Express” and “Smoke Ghost,” and E.F. Benson’s “In the Tube.” All these and more might have you looking nervously over your shoulder if you happen to be the only traveler in your car. Well, the only visible traveler in your car ... Finally, if you’re after serious histories of railroads, and their influence on American growth and culture, a number of fine scholarly books have recently been issued. One of the best is Richard White’s Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America. This big but fascinating book is just the thing for reading over weeks of commuting. And yes, you can get it for Kindle.


JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

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ALL PUZZLES ABOARD CROSSWORD BY MYLES MELLOR 1

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1 Stunning islands in the Indian ocean

1 Hemingway loved this city

5 Strait of Dover port 10 Made an unreturnable serve 11 German city

4 Lost city of gold (2 words)

13 Praiseful poems

5 Restaurant

14 Over, old way

6 Temperature control, for short

16 Wedding words

7 Sign of summer

17 It laps the shores of Veneto and Croatia (2 words)

8 African city whose name means “new flower”

19 Order member

9 Good for the environment on a long term basis

24 Deli order 49

25 City transport 27 Sicilian title

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28 Aegean Sea island

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31 India governor of old 33 Escape 35 The whole enchilada 37 Peruvian peaks 39 Port city of Denmark

SUDOKU BY MYLES MELLOR AND SUSAN FLANAGAN

41 __ Doc Smith, sci fi writer

Each Sudoku puzzle consists of a 9x9 grid that has been subdivided into nine smaller grids of 3x3 squares. To solve the puzzle each row, column and box must contain each of the numbers 1-9. Level: medium

42 First to try out the water 43 Museum item 45 British isle 46 Arts degree 47 Romance language

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48 It’s in the Pyrenees 50 Windsor, for one

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15 Amusement park feature 18 Middle Eastern republic 21 Cheerleader’s cheer 23 Spots 25 Nation with the spectacular Zlatni Rat beach on Brac island 26 Legendary wine region 29 Arriving soon 30 Having a private bathroom attached to the master bedroom (2 words) 31 They won the Battle of Hastings 32 In a state of high tension (2 words) 34 Riviera city 36 Executive jet 38 That was a lie! 40 Chinese dynasty name 44 Shower 46 Camembert’s cousin

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12 Wander

49 Horace’s “___ Poetica”

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9 4 Answers can be found on page 34.


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EXPLORE THE ARTS IN VALENCIA COUNTY Two museums and an art gallery are within walking distance of the Rail Runner stations in Los Lunas and Belen. In Los Lunas, the Museum of Heritage and

Arts is one long block north and east from the Rail Runner station, the equivalent of three normal city blocks. Stay on the same side as the tracks, walk north to Main Street (Highway 6), and turn right. The museum is on the right, at 251 Main Street SE, under the water tower. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call 505-352-7720 or visit www.loslunasnm.gov/ museum for more information.

PHOTOS BY KITTY LEAKEN

Judy Chicago’s Through the Flower, located at 107 Becker Avenue.

This summer, the museum features two well-known New Mexico photographers. From May 12 through July 26, view “My Camera in New Mexico,” by Craig Varjabedian of Santa Fe. From August through October, visit “Drawing With Light,” by Albuquerque’s Armando D. de Aguero. In Belen, The Harvey House Museum is just across Reinken Avenue from the Rail Runner, the equivalent of four or five normal city blocks. Stairs and a walkway take you from the south end of the parking lot, under the road and back down onto First Avenue. Continue along First Avenue to the Harvey House, which is on the left side of the street, adjacent to the railroad tracks (104 N. First Street). The free museum has permanent exhibits about the Harvey House hotels and Harvey Girls, the Santa Fe Railroad, and Valencia County history. There is also a model railroad display, courtesy of the Belen Model Railroad Club. It is open Tuesday through Saturday 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. and Sundays 1 to 3 p.m. Call 505-08610581 for more information, or visit www. belenharveyhouse.com

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This summer at the Harvey House, New

Mexico’s Statehood and Centennial are featured from June 5 through July 7 with a display and two Saturday speakers. On June 16, listen to Rita Smith’s adventures as a young nurse employed by the railroad during the heyday of the Harvey House hotels. On June 30, follow New Mexico’s road to statehood with Professor B. G. Burr of the University of New Mexico’s Valencia campus. In August, come see the New Mexico Quilters’ Association quilt show. Just a short block from the Harvey

House is Judy Chicago’s Through the Flower, located at 107 Becker Avenue. This is open by appointment only; visit www. throughtheflower.org for more information. A few blocks farther along at 509 Becker

Avenue is the Belen Art League’s gallery. Home to over one hundred artists, the gallery is a showcase for some of the best of Valencia County’s fine art and fine crafts. Summer hours are Tuesday through Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Call 505-861-0217 or visit www.belen-nm.gov/ community/art_league.htm for more information.

On weekdays, the Rio Metro bus service

offers dial-a ride service in Belen and Los Lunas. Rides cost $1 each way, must be reserved 24 hours in advance, and are on a first-come, first-served basis. There is no bus service on weekends. Call 505-352-3595 for reservations. Remember: If you are walking during

the heat of the summer, be sure to bring adequate water and shade, especially if you are traveling with young children or the elderly.


JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

31


The New Mexican’s Weekly Magazine of Arts, Entertainment & Culture

published by The Santa Fe New Mexican www.santafenewmexican.com to subscribe call 505-986-3010

32

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JUN-AUG 2012 | X PRESS

33


ALL ABOARD

Name: Crystal Payne Birthday: August 30 Family: Single mom to

two beautiful children Job Title: Conductor

Where you do you live:

Belen

Describe a typical work day: After I arrive

to the office, I gather all paperwork needed and go over any restrictions that may apply to our train with my crew. I inspect my train and move it out of the yard and onto the platform to pick up our passengers. While onboard, I calculate number of passengers and other pertinent information in case of an emergency. I make security sweeps to ensure safety of all passengers and crew members and sell tickets to passengers. How long have you worked for the NM Rail Runner Express? Almost 4 years. Where did you work before you started with the Rail Runner? I worked for 16 years in the hospitality industry as Front

Desk Agent, Auditor and Supervisor. Ten of those years were spent in Las Vegas, Nev., at Fitzgeralds and the Venetian Hotel, Resort and Casino. Most commonly asked question from passengers? Which way is this train, “bus” going? What do you do with your time off? As an Extra Board Conductor, times off can be few and far between. When I do receive a day off, I spend it with my kids. A simple day of staying home with them or a day at the park makes for a most pleasant day off.

Do you have any interesting stories or moments that have stood out while working on the train? Seeing youngsters

on the train for the first time and watching their faces light up as we take off to the next station is a fond memory for me. Having them on the train and giving them an opportunity to experience something new and memorable is rewarding for all of us at the NM Rail Runner. What do you like most about working for the NM Rail Runner? There are a lot of things I enjoy about working with

the NM Rail Runner. I love my career and the relationships of my Rail Runner crews and passengers that have become an extension of my family. Watching ridership grow and listening to passengers’ stories as to how they came to begin riding with us lets me know that we all have played an important role in enhancing New Mexico’s Transportation industry.

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PUZZLE ANSWERS

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