Features

During the next two weeks, I’d like to look at life from two perspectives.
The first week is a look at life from one’s end.
If you could think a moment about your own funeral, not in a morbid sense, but from the position of one that attends, what would they say about you?
There’s a poem by Linda Ellis called, “The Dash.”
It explains how the really important thing about your tombstone isn’t the date you are born or the date you die, but the dash that represents everything in between.
Mac Anderson worked with Ellis to put the poem of, “The Dash,” in book form. Anderson, an entrepreneur, has made a philosophy and a business in concentrating on positive attributes.
If you read any one of a variety of the inspirational resources, they help drive character, leadership or athleticism and put life in perspective.
If you have been to a funeral for a really good person, did the words spoken make an impact on you? Has hearing about the life of someone good been enough to change you?
So again, I bring you back to a seat at your funeral. Perhaps you aren’t sure of what would be said about you. Perhaps you can imagine what would be said and you aren’t happy about it?
Well, you can start fresh any day and that change can start today.

Los Alamos Youth Leadership registration is due by June 27 at the Family YMCA. The application can be downloaded from the JJAB website. First Step Orientation will take place on Aug. 3 and 4, which will be an overnight camping event. Sean Hall will lead the team building session the first day. The following day will be a physical challenge for students to break out of comfort zones.

Time Out Pizzeria, “The Place Where Friends Meet,” is the place to be on Monday, June 3 as they host an Asset building adventure with Minute to Win It games, for the community.
“Sounds like it would be fun,” Trish Sanchez said, who runs the eatery along with her husband, Omar.
The restaurant fleshed out the idea with the Assets In Action program, as a way to kick off the summer and inform parents and families about the work of the Assets program in a new space.
Assets In Action has led several very productive events, as a chance to engage residents and share information in a new way.
The event begins 6 p.m. Monday with the sale of tickets for 25 cents each. Players will have their names drawn on the spot to earn a chance to play.
The NBC summer hit show, hosted by Guy Fieri, “Minute To Win It,” uses household items and offers a chance to beat the clock with prizes on the line, although the prizes won’t resemble the high stake of those from the show.
The Assets In Action program is sponsored by the Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and is a community building project of the Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce.
The program is eager to work with community businesses to build relationships and spread the message of, “Healthy Community, Healthy Youth.”

Santa Fe
Subway, 540 Cordova Road, Suite 3
Date inspected: May 8
Violations: Four high-risk violations. Wet rag out of sanitizer bucket, hand washing station has wet rags in it, temperature on display varies from top to bottom, food is overstocked, lids of display refrigerator are open, employees are not washing their hands between glove changes, and ice pooling forms leak in return line in walk-in freezer. One moderate-risk violation. The sides, bottom, and tops of food equipment need to be cleaned, ice tea tops, door handles, bottom of refrigerator have food build-up, shelves have old food build-up, salt, pepper, cheese shakers have food build-up. One low-risk violation. Vents/fans have dust build-up and need to be cleaned.
Status of Establishment: Approved. Follow-up on May 15.

Subway, 540 Cordova Road, Suite 3
Date inspected: May 15
Violations: None. Follow-up inspection. All violations are corrected.
Status of Establishment: Approved. No follow-up required.

Richard Swenson, a local sculptor who focuses on creating art from unaltered objects such as scrap metal parts found in junk yards and repair shops, displayed his work for visitors of Betty Ehart Senior Center. Featuring animal shapes such as frogs, penguins, bunnies and crabs, the display cases can be found on the second floor lobby of the center.
The central theme of Swenson’s sculptures is “The Primacy of Nature Over the Industrial Society.” Born and raised on a ranch in North Dakota, the sculptor experienced a world without electricity, running water, or indoor conveniences. His childhood world, unaltered by industrial society, focused on the relationships between man and animal, something that most children of the current generation are not likely to comprehend.
“It would be a lonesome place in this high-tech world without animals, for we are one of them,” Swenson said, in a quote that stands out within the promotional pamphlet for the display.
His work has been shown at local venues such as the New Concept Gallery in Santa Fe, as well as out-of-state establishments, such as the Louisiana Art and Science Museum in Baton Rouge, and the Longue Vue House and Gardens in New Orleans.

The Chimayó Art Fair will be from noon to 8 p.m., June 1 and 2. The May 23 issue of Diversions had the start time listed
incorrectly.  

Wow, I can’t believe the final week of school has arrived.
I would like to take a moment to thank all of the Asset Champions that have made so many Assets related projects come to fruition.
Those that have helped me along the way include; Aspen Elementary School’s Tammy Moore, Barranca Elementary School’s Kay Sawdener, Chamisa Elementary School’s Valerie Adams-Harris, Mountain Elementary School’s Scott Johnson, Piñon Elementary School’s Karen Forsyth, Los Alamos Middle School’s Dawn Barr and Los Alamos High School’s Kathy Boerigter.
Our final push has included food drives with Aspen, Chamisa, Mountain, Piñon and LAMS.
The results were feeding families struggling through financial issues, feeding hungry school aged children, and large-scale project that will feed a large number of families throughout the summer when school programs are not available.
Thanks to Tom Nagawiecki for supporting our effort by allowing us to use new recycle bins.
Chamisa and Mountain both took part in a last ditch effort to build the bonding to school Asset with crafty projects that will beautify the school even after students have grown.

The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, 662-8179, has a great selection of onsite adoptable pets just waiting for their forever home!
Be sure to visit the Friends of the Shelter website: lafos.org, where you can get more information about volunteering, adopting, and donating. Check out our Petfinder page for pictures and to learn more about all of our adoptable pets. petfinder.com/shelters/friendsoftheshelter.html.
All adoptable pets are spayed or neutered, have their shots and come microchipped!
Calypso — A gentle brindle-point black lab mix found roaming near Pueblo Complex. He loves to go for walks. He prefers a home with a person that is home more often than not, and he doesn’t enjoy sharing his home with cats.
Cessna — A German Shepherd/lab mix that was found near the Los Alamos airport last summer. He would love to find a new family that will take him out for long walks. Cessna prefers not a home with other male dogs. Call sponsor at 231-3624.
Coconut — White male maltese or maltipoo found on Ridgecrest. His family never came for him, so now wants to go home with you. Call 920-8203.
Marmaduke — A brindle pit mix with loads of energy! Marmaduke learned how to walk on a leash and would probably be a good hiking dog. He seems to get along better with female dogs.

Cub Scouts from Pack 22 and 27 worked to collect canned goods on May 11 at Smith’s location in Los Alamos and White Rock. Donations were accepted throughout the day in addition to the box collection by the United States Postal Service. Cub Scout and Boy Scouts participated in the community event.