HAPPY NEW YEAR - Mountain Times
Transcription
HAPPY NEW YEAR - Mountain Times
WWW.MOUNTAINTIMES.NET Mountain Times JANUARY 2009 HAPPY NEW YEAR The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar. With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year. The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had. The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new. The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts. In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1. The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21. Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year. www.GoalsGuy.com. Santa Brings Smiles to the children of Timberon The Timberon Youth Boosters asked Santa to come visit all of the good little boys and girls. Mitch Goss just found out that he was on the good list this year. See additional pictures on page 14. NEW RULES ADOPTED FOR BIG-GAME HUNTING New Mexico big-game hunters will see significant rule changes for the 2009-2010 seasons that affect the way hunters apply and pay for licenses and permits. The new rules, adopted Dec. 4 by the State Game Commission, are in the 2009-2010 Big-Game Rules and Information Booklet, now available on the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. A printed version of the booklet will be available in early January at more than 200 license vendors statewide, and at Department offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces. See article on page 8 HOLLOMAN RECEIVES ADDITIONAL F-22A RAPTORS HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – Three F-22A Raptors arrived at Holloman Monday, Dec. 15, following a flight from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. A fourth aircraft is scheduled to arrive later in the week from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The arrival of the four Raptors is the first since the F-22 made its official arrival in the Tularosa Basin during a ceremony in June 2008. At that time two aircraft with Holloman (HO) markings ushered in a new mission for the base following the retirement of the F-117A, which had been stationed at Holloman since 1992. “The arrival of these aircraft is another important step towards our operational readiness. As we edge closer to the day we have two 20-aircraft squadrons of F-22A Raptors, these aircraft underscore the important role Holloman plays in keeping the nation safe. From today well into the future, no matter where and when our nation calls, the Fightin’ 49er’s will be prepared to respond as we always have, ready to “Protect and Avenge.” The aircraft arrived in the late afternoon after an early morning take off from the largest Air Force installation in Alaska. The three aircraft will feature the tail markings “AK” until they can be painted with the traditional “HO” markings of Holloman at a later date. PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID WEED, N.M. PERMIT NO. 1 Current goals have the base projected to have a combat ready squadron by Nov. 1, 2009. Maintenance personnel with the 49th Fighter Wing look over the recent addition to the aircraft inventory at Holloman Air Force Base. The F-22A arrived from Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska, on Dec. 15. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration/Airman 1st Class Deandre Curtiss) Valentines Day Contest! Get a subscription to this newspaper 505-987-2523 today! Enter to Win a $25.00 Gift Certificate to Spring Mountain Restaurant. Details inside! Don’t Tell Anybody, but....by Don Vanlandingham You've probably been there. People finishing your thought for you. It happens to me a lot and I blame it in large part on this Newsletter. Most of my personal friends are subscribers to this publication. No, they're not my friends BECAUSE they subscribe and I don't believe they subscribe just because they are my friends but the fact remains. I was invited for another great weekend at the home of Bruce and Vickie in the Texas Hill Country last weekend. Also guesting at their house were two other close friends of mine, Lewis and Bonnie from Cloudcroft. Bruce and Vickie are world class cooks. I drove away after my stay saying to myself last night's meal was be best I've ever had which is saying something because the best meal I had ever had up to that point was also at Bruce and Vickie's the last time I was there...but I digress. We're sitting around the table after dinner over adult beverages and trading stories. Some great stuff. It's a good thing B and V's home is in a rural area because we were all laughing pretty loud. If we had been situated in a home close to many others our decibel level may have been high enough to attract a disturbance complaint. Among the accounts was that of Vickie's experience at a bank she worked for when she first moved to the hill country several years ago. The story is this as best as I remember: Bruce admired the grips on a handgun owned by a friend. The friend had handcrafted the grips himself. He told Vickie about this magnificent work of art. Vickie had the idea of taking Bruce's weapon and having the friend design new grips for it as a special gift. She contacted the friend and asked to see his gun before she ordered the work done. Soon after at the bank, another staffer summoned Vickie from her desk to the driveup window. She was told there was a driveup customer that wanted to speak with her. Vickie went to the window and opened the intercom. year. Over 400 stories since the beginning of the decade. It has been fun and rewarding but it has also made me a pretty dull party guest. I'll get two sentences into a recount of one of my experiences and someone will say "Yeah...I remember you wrote about that." "How are ya?" For a former high school class clown and a "Fine. You wanted to see the gun?" former radio person that had to be entertaining "Sure." every morning coming in last for the best story The friend/customer pulled out the revolver told during a dinner party is a little hard to and held it up for Vickie (and everyone else in accept. the bank) to see out the bullet proof drive up On the other hand my therapist (if I had window. one) would tell me just shut up and enjoy the That's an interesting enough chain of events, company of the quality of friends it took you a but it doesn't end there. lifetime to accumulate. Vickie says she opened the drive up tray and Thanks for a wonderful weekend, you guys. the guy outside dropped the gun into the And thanks for laughing at my stories even if tray. Vickie retrieved it, took it out of the tray, you've heard them before. examined it, put it back in the tray, punched the send button and slid it back to him. Don Vanlandingham writes a weekly newsletter She didn't think much about it until the guy about life in the Sacramento Mountains. Contact with the gun drove off and she turned to go back him at Don.Cloudcroft@gmail.com to her office. She saw a bunch of co-workers staring at her with very large eyes and very open mouths. “100 FANTASTIC FACTS ABOUT NEW MEXICO”, Our dinner party laughed until tears came to a history and travel guide book to The Land of our eyes when she told the story...but I digress Enchantment by THE CLOUDCROFT ONLINE again. NEWSLETTER’s Don Vanlandingham, is now In that situation of story telling, you're both available. enjoying the accounts and at the same time To order your copy, send $20 ($5 of which is trying to think of a worthwhile story to tell for shipping and handling) to: yourself. At least that's the way I am. The problem is, if something interesting Don Vanlandingham happens to me, I write about it and it usually Box 98564 shows up in The Newsletter. So, at a gathering Lubbock, Texas 79499 of friends when I say "That reminds me of the time..." that's a cue for everyone to get up and Each copy ordered by mail will be autographed go mix another cocktail. unless otherwise requested. I have been writing this thing for almost ten years. That's one personal reflection 52 times a Letters to the Editor Dear Editor: I should like to take this opportunity to say thanks to those on the newspaper staff who were so helpful to me in my campaign for Otero County Commissioner District 3. I appreciate all who voted for me. I especially am grateful for those who spoke up for and gave me bi-partisan support. It has long been my opinion that the positions of Commissioner and District Attorney should not be partisan positions or races. Sincerely, Robert Dulaney Barrett Sacramento, NM 575 687-4016 Hi. Compliments on your website. I noticed it lists FE McCleary as to believed to have arrived in WEED in 1885. He lived in Carlsbad in the 1890's. Do you have any documentation you could possible share with me? I am researching my family history and Frank is my greatgrandfather's brother. Thank you so much. Vince McCleary 7844 1/2 Flight Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90045 (310) 429-3997 PAGE 2 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Views from the Pioneer Village The El Paso & Northeastern Railroad “The Dream” Previous articles dealt with the Eddy ’s previous projects - the Colorado ranch a n d t h e Pe c o s Valley Railroad. Their third project was the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad. This time the Eddys avoided some of the “mistakes” of the Pecos Valley Railway. First, no longer would they accept a single, wealthy investor as a partner. Instead they looked for a large number of wealthy investors so that they would not be so dependant on a single investor. This would also assure adequate capitalization. Second, they did a better job of researching the market for a railroad to assure that there was a diversity of potential customers to support it. Never again would they build a railroad dependent on only one customer, like agriculture in the Pecos Valley. Eddy spent over two years planning the project before going back east to solicit investors. Finally they allowed alcohol to be sold on one block, but only one block, in the new town of Alamogordo, and thereby avoided the “Phenix” problem they had in Eddy. As before, they had a good pitch. They proposed to haul gold ore from White Oaks, silver and iron ore from the Jarilla Mountains, coal from White Oaks and the Salado coal field near Capitan, logs from the mountains to a sawmill in Alamogordo, lumber from the sawmill to El Paso and beyond, and farm and ranch products from the mountains and the Tularosa Basin, respectively. They even proposed to haul white sand from the Tularosa Basin, although that never materialized. And this time they were to build not just one new town, but three - Alamogordo, Cloudcroft, and Capitan. (After they decided to bypass White Oaks, they also built Carrizozo and put their shops there.) The towns provided lot sales and business opportunities, as well as supporting the railroad. Each town had a depot for passenger traffic and a stock yard for livestock shipments. Alamogordo would be their headquarters and would have their sawmill. Cloudcroft would be a tourist destination, and Capitan would service the coal mining at the Salado coal fields. Also supplies could be hauled, not only for towns in the region, but for Fort Bliss (just outside El Paso), Fort Stanton (east of Capitan) and the Mescalero reservation (on the north end of the Sacramento Mountains.) Fur thermore there were deposits of iron ore and fire and potter’s clay near Ancho (north of Carrizozo). Finally if the line were to be connected to the Rock Island, it would shorten the Chicago to El Paso distance by 250 miles and provide a connection to the west coast, Mexico City, and other places via El Paso. Of all these things, coal was considered to be the most valuable, at least in the short term, even more valuable than gold. Gold is measured by the ounce; coal by the ton. A railroad needs tonnage to haul to be successful, and the coal itself would be very valuable for their own use, as well as for a product to sell. The railroad was funded by a group of coal, steel, and mining executives from the sister cities of Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Eddy brought them on a special train in April of 1897 to San Antonio, New Mexico, (just south of Socorro) to see the region first hand. They lived cowboy style, sleeping on the ground and eating from a chuck wagon, but they rode in fancy carriages drawn by four-horse hitches. They toured ranches, the coal fields, the mountains, the basin, and even the Mescalero reservation. The tour ended in El Paso, where their train met them. They were convinced, and an agreement was signed October 1, 1897. Construction started that December. Although Eddy started building with used rail he got as a bargain, he eventually bought most of the rails and other steel products from his investors, so they had business reasons for supporting the project other that just as an investment. It is amazing how much money Eddy’s investors put up. An approximate inflation factor for expressing turn-of-the-century (1900) dollars in today’s money is a factor of 100. Eddy’s investors poured millions of dollars into the project - possibly a billion dollars or more in today’s money. If you enjoy our monthly articles, you will really enjoy our museum and pioneer village. Our hours are 10 to 4 p.m., Fridays and Saturdays. Introducing A new "pet vac" Which has now been installed in the dog wash. PAGE 3 MOUNTAIN TIMES - jANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 IN MEMORY OF ERNESTINE HALLER February 22, 1926 to December 5, 2008 Our Mother was born Ernestine Marie Schnieber in Inavale, Nebraska. Her parents were Charles and Grace. When she was a young girl, she used to think the big celebration each year was for her birthday, but later found out it also was George Washington’s birthday. Mother was the oldest of 4 siblings. Her two brothers are Kenny and Glenn. Her sister is Amy Skinner. Kenny lives in El Paso, while Glenn and Amy live in Nebraska. Mother was always a hard worker. When a teenager, she would wake before it was light. She prepared salad packages for her father, which she delivered to his store. She graduated from high school in Nebraska and soon married our father, Lou Fetters. She worked for our Father for 20 years, in his business, that at it's height had 3 offices covering 3 states. During this time, she ran the household and raised her 3 children. Of her 2 sons Russell was the oldest (now deceased). Joe was born next. Her only daughter Lou Anne is the youngest. Joe currently lives in Albuquerque, and Lou Anne in El Paso. While working for our Dad, she went back to college for 2 years while we were in high school. Mother has 5 grandchildren. Her son Joe has 3 boys, Joseph Jr., Brandon and Chris. Her daughter Lou Anne has 2 boys, Jonathan and Stephen. Our Mother has 4 great-grandchildren. While we were growing up, she took my brothers to guitar lessons and myself to dance lessons. She joined the booster club and supported our school activities. All 3 of us kids attended Eastwood high school and UTEP in El Paso. She was always physically active. She even used to race go-carts, when she was younger, at their Albuquerque racetrack. She was married many years to our Dad. She later wed Ed Haller. He was a well known high school basketball coach. They both retired and lived full time in Timberon. They enjoyed the beautiful views, the quiet, and the golfing. Mother was the first woman elected to the Board of Directors in Timberon. Later when she was widowed, she remained independent and continued to stay in her favorite place, the mountains. She had a green thumb and enjoyed gardening. She could grow tomato plants from seeds. Mother was an excellent cook. Even when she was older, she always insisted on cooking for us when we visited. It was a tradition to visit Mom in Timberon for Thanksgiving. And even though she was in the hospital this last Thanksgiving, we all got together; not knowing it would be our last holiday. We will remember her with love in our hearts. And an unending gratitude for all she has done and sacrificed for us. Mother, we love you now and always. THE ELDERLAW FORUM Reverse Mortgages and the “Generational Housing Bubble” SPRING MOUNTAIN RESTAURANT & TRADING POST We Use ONLY US Farm Raised Catfish Best BBQ and Catfish in New Mexico HOURS: Thursday, Fri, & Sat 11am - 8pm Sun 11 am - 3 pm CLOSED Mon-Wed. HWY 82 Mile Marker 12 (Between High Rolls and Cloudcroft) Call in Orders (575) 682-4550 Cobbler Cider Southwestern Art Local Crafts & Collectibles All-You-Can-Eat Catfish Fridays & Saturdays 5:00-Closing Reservations Suggested ASPEN CO. Construction George Corder PO Box 143 Timberon, NM 88350 phone 575-987-2372 PAGE 4 NM LIC # 30323 The paid-for family home—long considered a source of secure housing for the old and an eventual inheritance for the young—“ain’t what it used to be.” “I’ve had my mother’s home on the market for 18 months,” said the helpline caller. “It’s in a great location. I’ve received two offers; the first was for $90,000 under what the realtor said it was worth, and the second was $120,000 under the asking price. You estate planning folks are supposed to have an eye on financial markets. “Should I sell at this absurdly low price? How long is this deflated housing market going to last? Or, is it going to get worse?” My answer, paraphrasing Danish Physicist Neils Bohr: “Prediction is very difficult; especially about the future.” Many economists believe the current housing downturn will be bottom out next year and rebound by 2011. It may; but another, more disturbing view is held by two University of Southern California researchers. They believe the present housing bubble will be followed by a bubble of even more monumental proportions. They call it the “generational housing bubble.” Its underlying rationale is quite simple: 78 million “baby boomers” are entering the years when seniors typically sell their homes and downsize. Demographically, there will more sellers than buyers. The researchers—Professor Dowell Myers and Doctoral Candidate Sungho Ryu—speculate the “generational housing bubble” could last for up to two decades. They contend the market shift could come quickly after 2011 as the leading edge of the boomers pass age 65. At 75 they are three times more likely to be sellers, and at 80, nine times more likely to be sellers. One way to extract useful value from the family home is a reverse mortgage. It may not produce the same level of cash flow available to reverse mortgagors two years ago; nevertheless it may offer badly-needed income as the value of stocks and pension funds plummet. The caller’s mother may wish to sell the family home at the offered price and take advantage of a new reverse mortgage rule. Starting January 1, 2009, FHA will begin to insure reverse mortgage loans for the purchase of a new home. This would allow her to downsize, be nearer to her son’s family and keep more of the proceeds from the sale of the family home. This may be her best protection against the “generational housing bubble.” Professor Michael Myers Pro bono legal information and advice is available to persons 55 and older through the USD Senior Legal Helpline, 1-800-747-1895; mmyers@ usd.edu MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Rural New Mexico Receives $84.3 Million in Federal Funding From USDA Rural Development in FY- 2008 USDA Rural Development State Director Ryan Gleason today announced that in FY 2008 his organization provided more than $84 million in loans and grants throughout rural New Mexico to support the mission of improving the quality of life for rural New Mexicans. This money was provided for the construction of water, wastewater and other infrastructure projects and in support of business development and home ownership. In making the announcement, Gleason said, “I am really proud of our Rural Development staff and I’m honored to be leading an organization that makes such a difference in the lives of rural New Mexicans.” Gleason added, “Even during these difficult economic times, we have made possible the creation of quality jobs, financed affordable housing and ensured that clean water is available to those living in rural New Mexico. In fact, this was the single most productive year in the history of our organization.” Gleason’s comments came as the program areas that make up USDA Rural Development (RD) tallied the final numbers for the 2008 fiscal year. The $84-plus million is the single largest amount that Rural Development staff has ever funded in a fiscal year. Through RD Programs, loans and grants were distributed to rural New Mexicans in the following areas: The Business Program issued $22.8 million in federal funds for fifteen business projects which created or saved more than 206 jobs in rural New Mexico. Of that number, sixteen of the business projects received more than $900,000 in grant money. The grant monies were allocated to non-profit organizations for business studies or to provide equipment for six rural businesses. The Water and Environmental Program financed a total of over $29.3 million in loans and grants to build or refurbish 32 water and wastewater projects located in communities of less than 10,000 people in rural New Mexico. As a result of the financing, the environment was protected and clean, healthy water is available to thousands of people living in the affected areas The Community Facility Program financed twelve projects, including the construction of numerous community buildings and the purchase of first responder equipment, for a total of slightly more than $5 million. The Housing Program issued loans and grants in the amount of $27.1 million in several housing programs including mortgage loans to 355 families. This financing included $7.8 million financed the remodeling of homes belonging to the elderly and another $115,000 was given to a non-profit to further assist in the restoration of older homes through the Housing Preservation Grant (HPG) program. This also reflects a $1.3 million loan made in conjunction with other funding to build the Falcon Ridge apartment complex which replaced the Los Caballos apartments in Hatch, New Mexico, which was destroyed by a flood in 2006. USDA Rural Development's mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life in rural communities. Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA's web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov. SLIM RANDLES “HOME COUNTRY” Annette George, owner of the Soup ‘R Market, picked up the list of her New Year’s resolutions: www.ocec-inc.com Office 575-682-2521 Outage Assistance 1-800-548-4660 Yard Maintenance Wood Chipping Fire wood 1. Replace cracked glass on the meat cooler. 2. Walk two miles each morning before work. 3. Lose 15 pounds by summer. 4. Take a class in Spanish. She thought about the kind of person she’d be at this time next year with all those things done, and it made her smile. Then she looked out the window at the snow and crossed off number two. “Each morning” was just too … too, inflexible. It’s always best, she thought to make promises you can keep. Annette tapped her teeth with the pencil. The Spanish class was in the city, and with gas prices being what they are … well, she could always pick up a Spanish grammar book at the Read Me Now bookstore. Number 4 reluctantly had a line drawn through it. You know, that glass has been cracked on the meat cooler for six years now, and it has never caused any kind of health threat. So the line up the glass causes a slight distortion as a shopper looks at a pork chop. So what? And have you seen what they get to replace that glass? The pencil drew again, slowly but deliberately. This left number three: lose 15 pounds by summer. This is one she will not scratch off. She remembers sitting by the swimming hole on Lewis Creek last summer watching the kids swimming. Next summer, she’ll swim with them. She will lose those 15 pounds. How? Well, by … eating better. Sure. Maybe one of those chocolate milkshake supplements each morning. Well, better not say each morning, but … whenever, you know. And walking. How much? Who knows? But walking. Yes. Walking. Losing 15 pounds. By summer. She smiled and decided to celebrate with a candy bar. Only one, of course. Life is good. Brought to you by 3Rivers Archery, the traditional folks. Visit them at 3RiversArchery.com. PAGE 5 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUEARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 BUCKET DIPPER OR BUCKET FILLER The world is basically made up to two kinds of people – bucket dippers and bucket fillers. Or to put it another way, givers and takers, or spreaders and gatherers. Bucket dippers have immediate gratification but bucket fillers have lasting satisfaction. An example of a bucket dipper would be my friend “Sally.” Sally has a handicapped sticker for her car that she got legally when she had an operation that kept her from being mobile. The handicapped sticker is still valid, and when she goes to the mall, she parks in handicapped places simply because she can. She has healed enough that she can and will walk around the mall for two or three hours shopping, but still uses the handicapped sticker. Her using the handicapped parking spot when she doesn’t need it, takes that spot from someone else who might really need it. What she is doing is legal, yes, but that does not make it the right thing to do. Another very small example of a bucket dipper – A bucket dipper will leave the shopping cart next to her car instead of taking it to the corral simply because it is convenient. Givers and takers come in many forms and have very different attitudes. A taker will go to McDonalds and grab 5 or 6 extra sugars or ketchup because they are free. These kinds of people will take anything that is free whether they need it or not. Nothing is free. It always costs somebody something. Bucket dippers and fillers are all around us. You know, bucket dippers often show up at dinner time – hungry. Since the bucket filler is cooking anyway, it’s just as simple as putting another plate on the table. Bucket dippers ask bucket fillers to loan them “gas” for their car because they didn’t have time to get some earlier and they are almost always almost out. Bucket dippers almost always forget their wallet when you go to a nice restaurant and you (bucket filler)– of course–pay for the meal. They offer to pay the next time (usually doesn’t happen). Gatherers believe that what you get determines how your life is and how successful you are; they have a houseful of “stuff” they don’t need and don’t use. Spreaders believe that it is what you leave behind that is important – not what you take with you. When a world/society/person is a bucket dipper, they are drawing energy from the universe. The nature of the universe is that it maintains a status of equilibrium. When you upset this equilibrium, things deteriorate and the imbalance can be dreadful/serious/or detrimental to you and to the world. Many bucket dippers place their values above that of the world or society. It’s all about meme–me-me-me. I believe our country and its greatness has been built upon the sacrifices and insight of our forefathers who placed the value of the many over the needs of a few. They overlooked their individual likes and dislikes to make decisions that would result in a better future for the world. If our country has more dippers than fillers, we will be on the downhill slope to extinction or at least becoming, as many people have said, a third world country in the next generation or two. When our country has more fillers than dippers, we will prosper and be healthier, stronger, and well respected. We as a people tend to be our best when things are at their worst and are worst when things are at their best. The old adage, “it is better to give than to receive,” is still very true. What kind of legacy and world are we leaving to our children and grandchildren? We may not be able to choose some day, but the good news is, we can still choose right now. This applies on all scales – from the personal to the family – to the community – to the nation. Are you a bucket filler or a bucket dipper? What now? Shirley Holstrom Homes AND Land G02-008- 029 $98,500.00 This unique frame-built house has 1590 square feet +/-. Four beds, two baths. Two large sun rooms. Home has new floor coverings. Wood heater plus propane and electric heat. JUST REDUCED FROM $139,900.00 TO $129,900.00 Timberon Unit 3, Block 50, Lot 15 Beautiful home with view!!! 1981 Celtic Kaufmann mobile home on one acre +/- lot. 1680 sq.ft with a beautiful view. 3 beds, 2 baths. A nice pellet stove, central heat and one propane wall heater. Kitchen, living room, family room and dining room is an open floor plan. Master suite has a walk in closet, garden tub and separate shower. 28’x30’ garage/shop. 8’x10’ storage building. Owner Financing Available. $59,500.00 Unit 10, Block 106, Lot 32 1981 Mobile Home. 1164 sq. ft. (+/-). 2 beds and 2 baths. Large roomy kitchen, dining area that opens into the living room. Small separate laundry room off kitchen. Partially furnished. 2 front decks. This home is very well maintained home located on .500 ac. with a metal roof. $106,500.00 Unit 12, Block 103, Lot 215 1987 Double wide mobile home is 1,680 sq.ft. located on .344 acre! Has just been remodeled inside and out. 3 beds and 2 baths, living and dining room with a wood burning stove. Large kitchen and breakfast bar. New tile and/or wood laminate flooring, central heat and a.c, all new double pane windows. Front deck is covered. Home has new metal roof. Owner Financing. ROBERTS REALTY PO Box 1, Timberon NM 88350 575-987-2440 WWW.timberonnm.com PAGE 6 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Health Happenings! HELP IS HERE Finally for those people that are low income and live in Otero County they can get assessment and care for their substance abuse addictions. Have you heard about the ACCESS TO RECOVERY (ATR)? We have a large grant donated through SAMSHA. This agency is a clearinghouse for counselors and addiction educational materials. They have utilized monies through Value Options and the present ATR Program. We can now get care by calling Premiercare of Alamogordo. Yes this is true – FREE – counseling for those that live in Otero County and within 20 miles of this county. They must meet the income requirement of making less than $26,000.00 yearly. The age requirement is over eighteen. These people that qualify must commit to counseling and the assistance provided through the Recovery Support Services. But clients can freely choose from a list of providers. The program is targeted for METH, gay/ lesbian, and single mothers with small children but also this program can also be utilized for any substance abuse and any population that is tired of the lifestyle that drugs and alcohol have taken them. What is Recovery Support Services? Through this grant the clients can receive much needed additional services which are nutritional education, bio-feedback, and massage therapy. This is why it is called recovery support. The future holds true that more traditional, physical, and pastoral services will be made available soon to be added to this list and in addition to substance abuse counseling. There is a serious problem with substance abuse and dependency By: Sylvia A King, LADAC in Otero County. Please take advantage of this FREE service through Premiercare of Alamogordo. They can be reached at 575-415-5288. The counselors are licensed and will see you get the appropriate services needed to start your way to recovery from addictive behavior. Located at 1401 White Sands Blvd., behind Applebee’s the staff can be available by calling for an appointment. Office is usually opened weekdays. The ATR website is www.atrnm.com. Happy Holidays! Give you or a family member, a friend, or employee a great gift for this wonderful season or for the coming New Year - show them this article. All referrals and conversations are confidential. This column is provided as a service of the Otero County Community Health Council and the Mountain Times as a way to provide the latest in health and wellness information, services and events. The Mission of the OCCHC is “to assess, promote, and enhance the health and well being of county residents by creating a process that encourages broad-based community involvement.” If you would like more information about OCCHC or would like to be a part of our efforts, contact Lee Ann Loney, OCCHC Coordinator, at 700 E. First Street, Suite 720, Alamogordo, NM 88310, 443-8100, oteromch@netmdc.com for more information. The Community Health Council meets the first Tuesday of each month, 11:30 am at The Counseling Center, 1900 E. 10th St. Articles for this column are submitted by Health Council partners, but do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Otero County Community Health Council. New E-Presribing The New Mexico Prescription Improvement Coalition (NMPIC) recently launched an electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) pilot involving up to 100 physicians statewide. This pilot, based on a statewide e-prescribing strategy and work plan accepted by NMPIC leadership, promotes the adoption of e-prescribing to enhance medication management and patient safety in participating locations. Sponsoring organizations for this pilot are Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Lovelace Health Plan, Molina Healthcare of New Mexico, the New Mexico Human Services Department, Presbyterian Health Plan, and United HealthCare Insurance Company. NMPIC identified the 100 participating physicians based on a needs assessment conducted earlier this year. DrFirst, RxNT and ZixCorp have been selected as vendors for this pilot. Physician participants will work with the selected vendors to implement their e-prescribing software and receive the necessary training. Each physician group will need to sign an agreement with their chosen vendor. NMPIC will pay implementation fees for the participating pilot physicians as well as subscription fees for the pilot’s second year, contingent upon participants’ reporting the required quarterly data and submitting 80 percent of their prescriptions electronically. “E-prescribing can greatly reduce medication errors that can jeopardize the health and safety of patients as well as waste precious health care dollars in treating conditions that never should have occurred,” said Doug Lohkamp, RPh, NMPIC Health Information Technology Workgroup Chair, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. “E-prescribing informs providers upfront about their patients’ medication histories and the potential for dangerous interactions.” According to the Institute of Medicine, more than 1.5 million Americans are injured every year by drug errors. For more information on the e-prescribing pilot or NMPIC, contact Galina Priloutskaya, manager for drug safety at the New Mexico Medical Review Association, at gpriloutskaya@ nmmra.org. NMPIC is a group effort aimed at reducing the negative health effects associated with inappropriate drug treatment in Medicare beneficiaries and serves New Mexico’s community interest through education, clinical guidelines for appropriate treatment of people with chronic disease and drug utilization. NMMRA is a not-forprofit, physician-sponsored organization that is New Mexico’s federally contracted Medicare Quality Improvement Organization and External Quality Review Organization for Medicaid and works with health care providers, consumer and health care organizations, and state and federal agencies to improve the quality of health care in New Mexico. Anna Dykeman, MA Senior Communications Specialist New Mexico Medical Review Association (NMMRA) 5801 Osuna Rd. NE; Suite 200 Albuquerque, NM 87109-2587 (505) 998-9730 (800) 663-6351 adykeman@nmqio.sdps.org www.nmmra.org (575) 987-2553 Sacramento Mountain united methodist church Services in the Smith Chapel at the Sacramento Methodist Assembly in Sacramento New Mexico. Riverside Condos Worship Service - 10am Sunday School - 11am in Timberon, New Mexico 687-4016 PAGE 7 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Rule changes and important dates include: 2009-2010 Seasons Customer ID number: Beginning in 2009, everyone applying for a public-land license or permit, or purchasing a license via a private land authorization or the Valles Caldera must first obtain a Customer ID Number online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us or in person from any Department office. This number must be included on each application, or the application will be rejected. Application deadlines: Feb. 4 is the deadline to apply for oryx draw licenses, bear WMA permits, population management hunts, and turkey draw permits. April 8 is the deadline to apply for public deer permits; and elk, pronghorn antelope, ibex, Barbary sheep, javelina, and bighorn sheep draw licenses. Online applications must be made before 5 p.m. Mountain Time on the deadline day. Full fee up-front: Everyone applying for a pronghorn, bighorn sheep, ibex, javelina or Barbary sheep draw license must pay the full license and application fee when applying. Online applicants will be charged for the full license fee, plus the nonrefundable application fee at the time of application. Unsuccessful applicants will receive refunds. New online application fees: The new nonrefundable application fees are $9 for residents and $12 for nonresidents. Youth encouragement elk hunts: These hunts will be made available to youth hunters who applied for big-game hunts and were unsuccessful in the draw. These hunts will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis. New unit boundaries: Several Game Management Unit boundaries have changed, including: the elimination of Unit 44 and the creation of a new Unit 59; and boundary adjustments in units 5B, 41, 45, 51, 52, 54 and 55B. No deer application fees for resident disabled veterans: New Mexico resident Disabled American Veteran applicants do not need to submit an application fee when applying for a free deer permit. 2010-2011 Seasons Every-other-year restrictions: Beginning in license-year 2010-2011, anyone applying for a pronghorn license, or a public-draw Q (quality) or HD (high-demand) elk or deer license, may not have received a Q or HD public draw elk license the previous year. Anyone with questions about the new rules or hunting and fishing in New Mexico is encouraged to call (505) 476-8000. SPECIAL GAME COMMISSION MEETING WILL ADDRESS PRIVATE-LAND ACCESS, POSTING The State Game Commission will have a special meeting in Albuquerque on Saturday, Jan. 10, to hear public comments and discuss proposed rules regarding hunters' and anglers' access to private lands. The special meeting was called to gather more information from the public about proposed amendments to state hunting and fishing mannerand-method rules, specifically how property is posted against trespass. The proposed amendments also address responsibilities of landowners, hunters and anglers in obtaining or granting permission to hunt or fish on private land. The meeting will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, in the first-floor multi-purpose room or the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, 1801 Mountain Road NW, in Albuquerque. More information is available by calling (505) 476-8008. The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Albuquerque; Vice-chair Sandy Buffett, Santa Fe; M.H. “Dutch” Salmon, Silver City; Alfredo Montoya, Alcalde; Leo Sims, Hobbs; Tom Arvas, Albuquerque; and Oscar Simpson, Albuquerque. If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Shirley Baker, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms. SEND US YOUR BEST VALENTINES DAY STORY AND YOU COULD WIN: Dinner for two at the SPRING MOUNTAIN RESTAURANT (A $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE) JAMES ACKERMANN TREE TRIMMING 1-877-426-0385 1-575-987-2551 Scrub-Oak Cut - Lot Thinning - Removal Dead - Down - Hazard - Firewood FREE ESTIMATES SATISFACTION GUARANTEED IN GOD WE TRUST Name____________________________________________ Phone number_____________________________________ Address___________________________________________ Send your Valentine’s Day Story of 500 words or less to: Mountain Times Newspaper P.O. Box 266 Timberon, NM 88350 All stories must be original and be received by January 20th, 2009. The TWSD Minutes were not available at the time of printing. PAGE 8 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 The Forester’s Log: Bears and Burns July 1995 Fresh burn areas draw all kinds of curious animals, and foresters are among the crowd. From the years of mopping up forest fires— spending the last few days on assignment putting out any smoking log or duff that is near the control line—I have witnessed many animals that find fresh burned ground fascinating. The elk come in, and browse on the needles of remaining saplings as if they are discovering a smoke-flavored delicacy. The raptors fly around, hoping to catch some rodent emerging from the safety of their burrow but no longer into a world that offers immediate camouflage. The bears saunter through, turning over rocks and logs and generally just seeming to look around. Often we debate if we see so many bears after a fire because bears are attracted to burn areas, or if it bears are always this close in the woods, but until the brush has burned away, they are just hidden from our view. Therefore, I should not have been so surprised that afternoon, when marking trees on Buddy Elkins’ ranch outside of Grants, to hear three sharp whistles coming from the drainage below me. As a home schooling parent and a consulting forester, my kids often work with me. In this instance, my work was to mark leave trees on a private salvage sale after a major wildfire. The work required me to evaluate every tree in the area which meant continually moving up and down the slope. My seven-year old twins preferred playing in the drainage bottom while I worked the hillsides with marking trees that had the best chance of post-fire survival. We all had whistles, and through the day we would communicate. One whistle was a simple question, ‘everything is fine, but where are you?’ This was answered with single whistle. Throughout the day, each ten to twenty minutes, we would signal each other. I would also leave my gallon paint cans with the kids, and tie in with them in person each time I emptied the quart-size paint gun I carried with me. The two whistle call was more serious in nature. It meant come here as soon as you can, even though it is not an emergency. Usually the kids used this call to signal they were ready for lunch, or that they needed a jacket from the car, or some other pressing reason to ask Mom to set down her paint can for awhile. The three whistle call was a real emergency, and up until this day, we had never used it. When I heard it, I immediately came crashing down the hill slope in the direction of the kids. As soon as I spotted Roland he was waving his arms at me to stop. Between us there was a large black bear that was fixed on something behind the kids. It only took a second to realize it was a bear cub. I hollered at the bear to let her know I was behind her and to distract her from my children. Then I told the twins to start moving slowly up the drainage toward our car away from the bears. Mama Bear must have had the same idea, because she growled at her cub and the little guy started moving down the drainage. In less than a minute, I was reunited with my cubs, and she was reunited with hers. I’m not sure what the bear family did the rest of the day, but we broke camp and headed home. I left the kids with their father, and finished the marking job alone. For this month’s Forester’s Log column, I am sharing a story from 1995 which will appear in my new book, The Forester’s Log: Musings from the Woods, UNM Press, Spring 2009. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly The status of the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly will be reviewed to see if the insect warrants federal protection as a threatened or endangered species, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today. The announcement follows an initial review of a petition seeking to protect the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly under the Endangered Species Act. The Service will undertake a more thorough review of the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly to determine if it should be added to the federal lists of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants. Today’s decision, referred to a 90-day finding by the agency, is based on scientific information about the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly provided in the petition requesting listing the species under the Act. The petition finding does not mean that the Service has decided it is appropriate to give the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly federal protection under the ESA. Rather, this finding is the first step in a process that triggers a more thorough review of all the biological information available. The finding is available on the internet at www. fws.gov/southwest/es/NewMexico/. To ensure this review is comprehensive, the Service is soliciting information from state and federal natural resource agencies and all interested parties regarding the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly and its habitat. Comments and information will be accepted until Feb. 3, 2009, and can be submitted electronically via the Federal eRulemaking Portal at www. regulations.gov, or can be mailed or hand delivered to Public Comments Processing, Attn: FWS-R2-ES-2008-0110; Division of Policy and Directives Management; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 222; Arlington, VA 22203. The Service will evaluate all information regarding the status and distribution of the Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterfly, including the impacts or potential impacts to the species resulting from either human activities or natural causes. Sacramento Mountains checkerspot butterflys are found only in higher elevations in Otero County. The petition was filed by the Center for Biological Diversity and Forest Guardians, now WildEarth Guardians. In a settlement, the Service agreed to submit today’s finding and to conduct the more thorough analysis by August, 2009.The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. Please be Advised: SANDERS & DANLEY 2521 Nor th Florida - (505) 437-3820 Alamogordo, New Mexico Since 1959 PAGE 9 BLM will be in Timberon burning slash units on or around January 13th for approximately one week. MOUNTAIN TIMES -JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Mountain Top Daylight Lodge Donates Monies to TWSD Grandma Peggy’s Recipe Caramel French Toast French Bread 1 stick of butter 1 cup brown sugar 3 TB Caro Syrup 6 eggs 1 1/2 cups of milk 1 TB vanilla Cinnamon/fresh fruit Dick Dysart from Timberon’s Mountain Top Daylight Lodge No 81 presented Joan Schug representative of TWSD with a check on Tuesday December 9th to help with the swimming pool improvements. Melt butter and brown sugar, Caro Syrup over medium heat. Bring to a boil, pour into 9x11 pan. Slice bread into 1 inch widths and lay over caramel mixture. Mix eggs, milk, and vanilla and pour over bread. Sprinkle top with cinnamon, cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate overnight. Uncover and bake at 350 for 45 minutes. Serve with fruit and syrup. Timberon Baptist Chapel Timberon Rentals Timberon, NM 575-987-2201 Apartments $35 to $70 per Night Two and tHree Bedroom Houses $80 per Night PRIVATE RV SPACE FOR RENT Kevin & Shantel Keune, Managers PAGE 10 The Timberon Chapel is now becoming Timberon Baptist Chapel by constituting and incorporating into a free standing church. The property was originally purchased by Mountain Valley Baptist Association in 1977 from North American Land Development. In 1981 the land was sold to First Baptist Church of Alamogordo. Reverend Frank Wheeler and his wife Dorma Lee started the mission in 1979. The Baptist Convention of N.M. provided the chapel building. After 30 years, being a mission of First Baptist Church, it was decided that it was time to become a free standing church. In December 2008, the name Timberon Baptist Chapel was voted on by the members as the permanent name. The deacons and trustees are currently working on the constitution, by-laws, and articles of incorporation. MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-505-987-2523 Facts from a Pharmacist What OTC products can I use to lose weight? Of the dietary supplements that are available none have proven to help in losing weight, they list themselves as increased energy (caffeine), increase fat oxidation ( gre e n te a ) , i n c re a s e wate r elimination (dandelion & cascara), and increase satiety (psyllium). There is one new drug that could help because it is lipase inhibitor which prevents the absorption of fats into the blood stream. It is orlisata or trade name Alli. The best proven way is by Diet. A diet low in fat, saturated fat, trans-fats and cholesterol, and high in fruits, vegetables, fiber, and whole grains leads to lower rates of mortality. It is recommended that one receives 3-5 servings of vegetables, 2 to 4 servings of fruits, and 6 to 11 servings of grains daily, depending on an individual caloric need. Diet therapy includes working with a person to decrease their daily caloric intake. There are two types of diets, the low calorie diet (LCD) and the very low calorie diet (VLCD). The LCD is the diet that is recommended for most people. Low calorie diets consist of a diet that contains 1,200 calories/day for women and 1,500 calories/day for men. VCLD are not recommended as they require continued monitoring and special supplementations. Physical activity is an important component of weight loss therapy, and it appears to produce similar weight loss compared to diet alone. Most of the weight loss occurs by decreasing caloric intake. Physical activity further helps in preventing weight regain. The goal of a weight management program is to include 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise 5 to 7 times per week. A moderate amount of physical activity burns about 150 calories per hour. The next topic in weight loss is Behavioral Therapy. Behavioral therapy focuses on maintaining compliance with dietary therapy and physical activity and increasing a person’s awareness of how such compliance will help increase weight loss. The first step is to formulate clear goals that may be easily measured. Secondly, it is important to help patients find ways to achieve their set goals. Once the goal is set, the persons should examine factors that will help or hinder the achievement of the goal. The third behavioral approach is to advocate small changes, as they will produce success and help build a foundation for more distant goals. In order to help persons modify behavior, it is crucial to educate them on: 1. Self-monitoring by observing and keeping record of their behavior as it relates to goals, 2. Implementing a reward system to encourage them to attain goals, 3. Stimulus control to help encourage patients to modify behavior in order to attain goals. For successful treatment or initiation of therapy, a person should be motivated and willing to change their lifestyle habits. Most important is the fact that success of therapy depends on a lifelong commitment. If you have a question for the Pharmacist, you may contact him at newspaper@mountaintimes.net or Mountain Times, P.O. Box 266, Timberon, NM 88350 John Vaughan in the Army On January 7th, 19 year old, Timberon resident, John Vaughan, will be going to Ft. Sill in Sill, Oklahoma for ten weeks of basic training. Then he is on his way for 10 more weeks of advanced individual training in Redstone, Alabama. John has chosen to enter the army as an Ammuniton Specialist; one who gathers and distributes ammunition. He has signed up for four years and is hopeful to be going into the army as a class E-2. John states that he is going to keep the Mountain Times posted of his progress. Enjoying Timberon’s first Snow Fall The morning of December 9th, a little more than an inch of snow fell. Spud Jones hooked up a sled to the back of his pick-up and took his grandchildren, Bonnie and Katie Shields (center) and their friends, Nolan, (far left) Nathan (far right) and their mom, Nicole for a ride down Riverside Road. (Nan Ladd was all snuggled up nice and warm in the truck.) WEED COUNTRY STORE 3 Agua Chiquita Weed, NM (575) 687-3040 ~ Skin Care at the Spa ~ Facials Massages Spa Tan Pedicue and Manicure Waxing Permanent Makeup Microdermabrasion Facial is an alternative to laser or chemical peel. The non-invasive treatment can reduce sun damage, age spots, fine lines and acne scarring. Your skin is polished and dead skin cells a actually vacuumed away! This is all done by a trained professional... leaving your skin fresh and renewed... $75.00 The Royal Treatment is a great way to pamper yourself or someone you care about. The treatment includes a 30 minute massage, a signature facial designed especially for you, and a total hand and foot treatment... all part of your special day... $145.00 Many other treatments are available to fit any budget. Ask for Liz Noble Walker at the... OPEN: 7:30-5:00 Monday-Saturday 10:00-4:00 Sunday GAS Noble Spa 575-437-5175 PAGE 11 By Dave Eerkes MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANURAY 2009 ISSUE GIF TS GROCERIES TOBACCO COLLECTIBLES SUNDAY LUNCH 11:00-3:00 1-575-987-2523 Before the Holidays, Get Those Charitable Donations Lined Up After a Turbulent 2008, Make Some New Year’s Resolutions for a Financially Healthy 2009 Money worries are the most common cause of holiday stress, according to Mental Health America. The 2006 study showed that parents are more stressed than all other demographic groups by finances and females are more likely than men to feel stressed by finances. Money isn’t everyone’s No. 1 worry, but if it’s yours, why not consider the following New Year’s resolutions to improve your financial life? Resolve: 1. To write down your goals: Have you ever written down the big things you want in life? Granted, all great dreams don’t cost money, but many of them do. Money buys freedom – to travel, to retire early, to start a business, to change careers. Putting goals in writing gives them a formality and a starting point for the planning you must do. 2. To evaluate your risk tolerance: One of the most beneficial things financial planners do is help you articulate your financial goals and establish (or re-establish) your tolerance for risk. With the market turbulence that’s marked 2008, many individuals would benefit from an analysis of how much risk they want – or need – to take given what they want to achieve with their money. 3. To track your spending: If you haven’t purchased financial accounting software or set up a reliable accounting method of your own, this is the year to do it. Diligent expense tracking is the first critical step to getting personal finances in order. 4. To consider advice on taxes and planning: Maybe you’ve always winged it with your taxes and considered your company 401(k) the ticket to your financial future. Chances are your planning is inadequate. Start getting references on good tax professionals and consider sitting down with a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional to discuss your current retirement savings picture and what you can do to improve it. 5. To cut your credit card debt: If you can’t ever seem to get yourself completely out of credit card debt, make this the year to do it. Take inventory of your balances, figure out if you can consolidate them under your lowest-rate card, and resolve to pay off an amount that exceeds the minimum – on time, every month. Oh, and pay cash from now on. 6. To save: If you haven’t signed up for your employer’s 401(k) plan or begun a savings plan tailored for the self-employed, this is the year. And resolve to save at least 5-10 percent of your take-home pay based on your cash flow, and place the maximum in whatever retirement savings plans you qualify for. 7. Get ahead on your mortgage: This advice isn’t for everybody, but if you’ve paid off your credit cards by paying more than the minimum, you can apply the same principle to your mortgage payment. Every dollar you prepay will potentially save thousands in interest over the life of the loan if you plan to stay in your home long-term. In fact, if you make one extra payment a year, either at once or in equal monthly shares over the course of a year, you can cut at least five years of payments on a 30-year loan. Just don’t short your retirement investment plans to accomplish this. 8. Invest in yourself: If going back to college or taking specific coursework will help you advance in your career, plan to do it. If investing in a health club membership that you actually makes sense for your health as well as your insurance costs, do it. 9. To redefine the way you shop: If you’re an impulse shopper, break the habit in ’09. As a suggestion, get a legal pad and make that your centralized shopping list – use a single page for groceries, stock-up goods (it’s wise to start buying essentials in bulk if you can measure the savings), essential clothing or big expenditures you’ll need to make at specific times. Taking that pad with you wherever you spend money is a good way to keep a grip on your wallet as long as you don’t stray from the list. 10. To attack that miscellaneous column: Do you really need deluxe cable? How much are you paying for your Internet service? Can you wear a sweater around the house and lower the thermostat? In every budget, there are items that can be cut – or at least trimmed. Take a hard look at all your “essentials” to see how essential they really are. Aim for a target of at least 10 percent and start setting that money aside on a regular basis. This column is produced by the Financial Planning Association, the membership organization for the financial planning community, and is provided by Charles Wagner, a local member of FPA. ASPEN CO. Construction George Corder PO Box 143 Timberon, NM 88350 phone 575-987-2372 PAGE 12 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE NM LIC # 30323 1-575-987-2523 Below are articles taken out of “The Hitchin’ Post” from Weed, New Mexico. You can find the full version on the internet at www.mountaintimes.net, under Weed. You can also drive to Weed and grab a couple of copies. Editor - Patsy Ward. Weed If You’re Lucky Enough to Live in the Mountains, You’re Lucky Enough! Get Well Wishes & Prayers to: ...Julie & Kathy Burris who were involved in a one-car accident on Agua Chiquita Rd. on December 8. The accident was the result of slick roads due to snow and ice. ...Jim & Claudine Walls ...Tom & Shelia Fry who had the flu Comings & Goings ...Tom Ward’s son, Brent, and daughter-in-law, Bernie, visited Tom & Patsy the weekend of December 12. The visit was wonderful but much too short. Weed Community CHRISTmas Party On December 12, we attended the Community CHRISTmas party in the old Weed school gym. The food was fantastic and visiting with our friends was awesome. GOD is good in having such a wonderful party. We hope more of our friends will attend next year and make it an even better party. - Evelyn Miller Vacation Time Doug left on November 28 to visit friends in Texas and go deer hunting. He took a CHRISTmas tree to Dusty and Teri, and Teri did a good job of decorating it. Dusty sent us a picture of how pretty it turned out. Dusty got a deer when Doug went hunting with him, and we now have part of it and our dogs have a lot of scraps from it. Doug got back on December 12 so we could attend the Weed party and another party on the 13th that also turned out to be an awesome CHRISTmas party. We love living in this wonderful place that GOD gave us and being with so many godly people. Thanks to all of you with whom we spent the CHRISTmas holidays. - Evelyn Miller Sacramento News - Joy Garrett Goin Greetings from Sacramento....actually greetings from Sac-Bug Scuffle! Sacramento news first: Thanks to all of you who helped in any way to make the Candlelight\Dinner at SMA such a success....whether you helped with the service or came to worship, it all contributed to making a memorable evening. If you think "just showing up" doesn't count, try having a worship service with one or two people in the congregation! Now, the Bug Scuffle news: Got to thinking the other day about my Grammy Penny. During WWII, after Dad was drafted and Mom had to go to work to supplement his pay as a buck private, we all moved in with Grammy. "All" included the three of us and my Aunt and her kids. (Uncle Lewie also got drafted) My poor Grammy went from no kids to five kids... all except one pre-schoolers! I can see Grammy now during stressful moments....and there seemed to be an abundance of them...clapping her hand to her head and exclaiming loudly "I'm going to Willard before this day is out!"... ( Willard being the state mental hospital.) I have had a few Willard moments during our move down here! One of them was last Sunday when, in addition to our water being off as the result of an extremely hard to find leak, the power went out! Ever try to comb your hair in a windowless bathroom when the lights are out???? We are down here full time.....Sure would be nice if our stuff was also down here! We have the "basics," but the stuff that makes a place a home is still patiently waiting at the Sac place! We have had to change our plans several times because of various things. When the move is finally complete I will appreciate it even more! And it will happen, just have to be patient.... grrrrrr!....and never ever in the future move during December. Too much going on, plus, did you know it SNOWS in December??? But in spite of it all Ray and I are having fun. So many neat things happening at this time of year....impossible to fit them all in, but did get to help with decorating Weed, and sing in the Community Choir, and attend the Ward's open house! And weather permitting will attend the Christmas Eve service at Cloudcroft United Methodist Church. If weather doesn't co-operate, we will have our own here! Pinon News - Margaret Merritt Greetings from Piñon! In January on the 19th day of 2009, the Piñon Post Office will have been in public service to the community for 102 years. January 19, 1907 - January 19, 2009. The “house on the corner” in Piñon is in full possession of the old records of the Service. Twyla Monson Lewis offered to share them with me one busy day. I must ask her if the offer still stands? Her grandmother, Mary Tanner, was the Postmistress when I married in 1939 and had been for some time. I have since known four different Postmistresses - Ethel Smith, Mary Lou Stevenson, Linda Parker and Jeannette Coupland. Could I have missed one or so while my children’s school days were occupying my time and energy? The service we receive has always been kindly offered and efficient for the period of time. Once I recall when “The Mail Hack” was one of the ways folks got around over the mountains. No heater and maybe side curtains as I recall, but wheels which ran maybe three times a week? Vehicles have changed as well as road improvements available. No UPS or FedEx on the horizon then. Our zip code of 88344 is our identification now. Telephone numbers are nebulous as cell companies. My early memories of telephones here were tied directly to the Forest Service lines. There are still a few of the stub-posts still under my watchful eye on my fences. Sound of a saw “in a strange location” roused me some 25 years ago to investigate to find a potential wood cutter harvesting one (already had cut one down). No more of that if I can help it. History is history. On December 6, the Club Christmas part was held. Good food, lots of friends and fun, with silly gift exchange enjoyed by all, including the folks who lost their gift three times at least. A new family here just for a few months’ work were initiated into the Silly Game. Fast learners and participating in the Bookmobile, also. Game night will be held on New Year’s Eve at the Piñon Club House. Bring snacks and favorite games sometime after 6 p.m. Adios until 2009. THE WEED CAFE The Livelihood of Piñon - Mike Joy NEW: When any community is recognized, it is done so by the establishment of a Post Office and a zip code. In rural communities, the Post Office is also often times a meeting place for neighbors to get together. New neighbors are met there first oft times. In the community of Piñon, NM, for example, the Post Office is not only the place to pick up and send your mail, it is also where you buy your postage stamps, envelopes, cards, mailing packages, etc. If what you need is not available, the Post Mistress can have it for you in 3 days and sometimes less. This Post Office also offers a safe holding service for those customers who do not get their mail on a regular basis or are away for an extended stay. It serves people who live 30 to 40 miles and more away from Piñon. There is one other thing this Office does that is vital to this community. It provides a steady salary for the Post Mistress. In these distressed times, her wages are essential to the livelihood of her family. Please think about this, folks. Piñon desperately needs her Post Office. How many miles of road are kept up to allow folks to come to or through Piñon? Charbroiled Hamburgers Excellent Green Chile Cheeseburgers Always Daily Specials to tantalize your taste buds. Home-Made Desserts (575) 687-3611 Dates to Remember Closed Sunday Monday-Thursday 8-3 Fri & Sat 8-7 PAGE 13 January 1 - New Year’s Day (Post Office closed) January 19 - Dr. M. L. King Day (Federal holiday) January 20 - Bookmobile, Weed 1 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.; Piñon, 3p.m. - 4:30 p.m. MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 Continued from front page.... Santa Jayce and Lane Clark Clay and Calvin Hamill with Santa. Calvary Corner Question: What purpose does the Law of God serve for us who are born again? Answer: I understand that believers are saved by grace through faith in Jesus, and not by good works. (See Eph 2:8.) It is clear after reading Galatians that one cannot be saved by a combination of grace and performing of good deeds. Paul wrote that he did not nullify the grace of God, and that if righteousness could be attained by obeying the Law, then Christ died needlessly. (See Gal 2:21.) The Law of God does not simply reveal the standard of right and wrong, it also has the power shut the mouths of sinners who are willing to honestly admit their guilt. Any man who will man up to the truth that he has lied, lusted, stolen or hated, will then sit silently before the righteous Judge, and surrender his life to Christ. (See Rom 3:19-23.) Have you ever looked in the mirror and realized you needed to wash with soap? The commands of God are like a mirror which drives dirty people to the cleansing agent, which is Jesus. (See 1John 1:7.) Trying to keep God’s commands will never provide access into heaven. Jesus declared, “I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill the Law” (Mat 5:17). He already did the impossible for us, by keeping the Law in our place. Now we live by the leading of His Holy Spirit within us. (See Gal 5:16.) Christians are no longer under the condemning aspects of the commandments of God, but the law still helps us in our Christian walk. Paul exhorted the Corinthians when he said, “Examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this, that Jesus Christ is in you; unless indeed you fail the test” (2Cor 5:17). To examine ourselves would require a standard to examine against. That standard is God’s Law. If our behavior continues to be sinful while sensing no shame, then our salvation would be suspect. We would be found living under a false sense of security. Since God’s kindness leads us to repentance, how would we know what we were repenting of, unless we knew what God’s Law required? (See Rom 2:4.) Since God’s grace teaches us to deny ungodliness, how would we define ungodliness without God’s Law? (See Titus 2:11-13.) Christians know this to be true or they wouldn’t become rattled when the Ten Commandments are removed from schools and court rooms. The standard still stands, but born again Christians are no longer under its condemning power. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. (See Psa 51:17.) The brokenness which God desires is the breaking of our will to sin, and sin is explained in His Law. Our appreciation of God’s grace increases as we realize how sinful we’ve been. Psalm 66:18 Pastor Huck: calvarycorner.com Pastor Huck info@calvarycorner.com www. calvarycorner.com 623-374-5655 Ridiculous-nessss Get Your Gas and Diesel Here! "Pithy" to me's a funny word. I don't think I'll ever use it. I think it absurd to lisp a word So… I won't choose it. OPEN EVERY DAY 10-5 Josie’s Has NM LOTTERY TICKETS! And how about the "artichoke"? Its a stupid term for common folk. Just a harmless little vegetable Who's name is not too palatable. It's ridiculous I've got to say When silly words come into play. So let this be a lesson to me Not to obfuscate my "verbiality"! (575) 987-2365 Made that last word up… Tom Tannehill PAGE 14 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 THE MOUNTAIN Trading Post Real estate SECTION FOR SALE: MEMBER RUIDOSO AND OTERO BOARD OF REALTORS 7 Premium Golf Course Lots ***OWNER FINANCE NO QUALIFYING*** 7 Premium Golf Course Lots located on Paradise Valley Rd in Timberon. All located on the greens and fairways. In the process of being thinned under the Government Program. $25,900 each. Low Down Payment. Water and electricity nearby. Call for details: (575) 987-2563 FOR SALE: APEX 32' FLAT SCREEN TV EXCELLENT COLOR AND CONDITION $150 CASH FIRM. YOU MOVE. FOR SALE: California King Waterbed Mattress with baffles and heater $150.00 O.B.O. CALL 575-987-2563 575 987-2523 When was the last time you had your chimney cleaned? If you don’t know, now is the time! Good Selection-Including Golf Course SEE ALL OUR CLOUDCROFT AND TIMBERON AREA LISTINGS AT: www.diamondjrealestate.com Cloudcroft DRINKING WATER Storage Tanks Catch Rain!! Black, algae resistant, from 100 to 10,000 gallons, reasonable prices, free delivery. Please give us a chance to serve you!! MasterCard/Visa 1-800-603-8272 or (575) 682-2308. Call for an inspection: MOUNTAIN CABIN On 1.03 Acres 3 Bedrooms, 1 3/4 Bath- 2 Levels Recent Updates Call for Info or Showing PHONE: 575-682-1317 FAX: 575-682-1318TOLL FREE: 1-866-344-6190 FREE NOTARY PUBLIC SERVICES Call Shirley Holstrom (575) 987-2523 DIAMOND J REAL ESTATE, PO BOX 1374, CLOUDCROFT, NM 88317 BOBBY and JALENE JONES, Co-Qualifying Brokers Greg Adams, Caryn Pridemore Broker/Realtor Skip Pridemore Broker/Realtor LOTS OF GREAT LOTS FOR SALE STARTING AS LOW AS $2500.00 (575) 987-2403 Timberon Baptist Chapel Sermon Series in Daniel January 2009 A unique “Sacramento Mountains” gift! “A Cop’s Prison Letters to Cloudcroft …Pieces of the Puzzle, and more…” A book by Billy Anders. Available locally at The Hastings Book Store, on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble. com, E-Bay. $11.95 All profits to the family of Deputy Sheriff Robert Hedman, killed near Cloudcroft in the line of duty December 18th, 2004. Sermon titles and outlines from New Standard for Living series by Dr. Charles R. Swindoll. TIMBERON baptist CHAPEL The Ladies Bible Study is now being held at the Chapel on Wednesdays at 10 AM. (575) 682-2208 I would like a subscription to the January 4, Prophecy in Panorama (Survey of Daniel) January 11, How to Pass a Test Without Cheating (Daniel 1) January 18, A King on the Couch (Daniel 2:1-30) January 25, A Blueprint of Tomorrow (Daniel 2:31-49) Sunday Morning Bible Study at 9:45am Sunday Morning Worship at 11:00am Prayer and Bible Study at 6:00pm Wednesday Mountain Covering Timberon and the Sacramento Mountains of New Mexico ( ) $12.00 (12 issues, bulk rate) ( ) $30.00 (12 issues, first class) ( ) New Subscription ( ) Renewal name: ____________________________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________________________ city: ____________________________________________ state: ______________ zip: __________________ Phone: _________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Send this form and your check to Mountain Times, PO Box 266, Timberon, NM 88350 PAGE 15 MOUNTAIN TIMES - JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 PAGE 20 MOUNTAIN TIMES JANUARY 2009 ISSUE 1-575-987-2523 BRAIN GAMES
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