Features

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.
 

Kids entering grades kindergarten through three can participate in Kids’ Summer Gardening at the Pajarito Environmental Education Center.
Led by gardener, and Montessori educator Laural Hardin, the class meets every Wednesday from June 5 through August 7, with a special Harvest Day in September. Each of the 11 sessions runs from 9 to 10:30 a.m. The fee is $75 per child, or $60 for PEEC members.
Laural Hardin loves teaching kids’ gardening because “A child has a natural love of all things living, so giving them a garden is magic in the making.” She’s taught gardening to elementary-aged kids and even helped to found an outdoor farm school for ages 5 through 10.
Kids’ Summer Gardening will feature garden stories, art, science and play, along with lots of time learning how to help plants grow.
For further information and to register (registration in advance is required), call 662-0460, drop by PEEC at 3540 Orange Street, or visit PajaritoEEC.org. 

SANTA FE — The Santa Fe Animal Shelter is urging the community to come forward and adopt dogs involved in the alleged hoarding case in Edgewood — the so-called Edgewood 48.
The 33 dogs released May 15 to the custody of the shelter are among the 48 seized in April at an Edgewood home. The owner relinquished her rights to the majority of the dogs last Monday. She agreed to pay for the upkeep and care of 10 of the dogs until the court case is resolved. She faces charges of animal cruelty.
“We know many of you have asked when and if these dogs would be available for adoption,” said Mary Martin, the shelter’s executive director. “Many of these kiddos will be available within 48 hours, and we urge anyone who has room in their heart and home for a dog that may need a little extra TLC to come meet them.”
The county transferred ownership of the remaining 33 dogs to the shelter late Wednesday. Some of the dogs are puppies and will require very little from new families aside from regular training and love. Others are timid at first, under-socialized or fearful and will require patience and training.
Santa Fe Tails Dog Academy and Dogcare will be offering some of the dogs care and socialization to improve their adoptability and to help ease the shelter’s space crunch.

A Los Alamos girl scout troop was invited to a science competition last month to promote the creation of a project for senior citizens. Two of the girls were chosen by President Barack Obama to present the project at the White House Science Fair.
The Atomic Flying Pickles is part of the Girl Scouts of New Mexico Trails. They are a First Lego League or FLL team of sixth graders, who follow a love of science.
“I am so excited and honored to be going to the White House and to be able to meet other students from around our country doing STEM related projects,” said Peggy Sanchez Mills, CEO of the New Mexico Trails. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. The girls, 11 and 12 years old, attend Mountain Elementary School.
The FLL team competition was held in St. Louis, Mo. The girls used Lego models with robots in an obstacle course to solve problems from the theme. Since the project dealt with how to help the elderly, the obstacle ideas revolved around balance and other health issues seniors have to endure as they age.
For the final project, the group of five had read a story in a Pittsburgh medical journal about a cooling headband that helps with insomnia. It is a non-pharmaceutical solution since seniors are susceptible to potentially dangerous drug side effects.

The organizers of Native Treasures: Indian Arts Festival are pleased to announce the 2013 recipient of the Native Treasures Living Treasure award: noted potter and sculptor Tammy Garcia, from Santa Clara Pueblo.
There will be a benefit ceremony honoring Garcia, 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Santa Fe Convention Center.
The Native Treasures Living Treasure Award acknowledges both the body of work by an artist and the participation of that artist in the community at large.
Garcia is renowned for her innovation, design and execution across a variety of media. She is an artistic mentor to younger artists and in 2012 funded the Tammy Garcia Award for Excellence at SWAIA’s Indian Market.
“We are thrilled to have Tammy as our 2013 Museum of Indian Arts and Culture Living Treasure,” Jane Buchsbaum said. “She is truly a gifted artist whose work incorporates traditional designs and modern iconography. Her forays into other media, such as bronze and glass, have been groundbreaking, while her pottery is always exceptional.” Buchsbaum is artist chairman for Native Treasures
Garcia is represented locally by Blue Rain Gallery, which carries her work in all media.

Last week, Assets In Action made their annual pitch for fiscal year 2012-2013. I have a 15 minute slideshow if you’re interested in our work.
Times are tough and money is tight, but often, simple things can be done to raise awareness, increase education, or tackle an issue from another direction with very little cost.
One suggestion was that many would often like to seek resources, or information, but simply don’t want anyone to know their business.
In this town, whether we want to believe it or not, we have some pretty big needs in our offices, our neighborhoods and our churches.
Many don’t readily want to ask for help, but the needs are out there.
Assets In Action has a wealth of resources for parenting issues like curfew and chores, too much television, anger management and self-acceptance.
We would like to know what you want to hear about and where you get your information.
What is your media preference? Would you access it on a webpage, sneak onto my Facebook page and creep? If you don’t understand the last reference, ask a teenager.
When Parents Ask for Help-Everyday Issues through an Asset-Building Lens is an Asset rich tome by Renie Howard. Howard addresses a slew of topics like; physical and psychological symptoms of stress, how not to be bullied and how to make friends.