Features

Don’t miss the 44th annual Earth Treasure Show, sponsored by the Los Alamos Geological Society. The show will be from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 8 and from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Masonic Lodge, on the corner of 15th Street and Canyon. Note that the show has been moved one week later than usual, to coincide with WinterFest activities around town.
This year’s theme is “Collecting New Mexico.” Activities include exhibits, a silent auction, geode sawing, a wheel of fortune and food. Budding geologists of all ages are invited to bring their rocks and minerals for identification. In addition, a special craft activity is planned for this year; the Sand Man from Ouray, Colo., will provide sand, jars and expertise on the art of creating sand jar scenes at the kids craft table. This piece of smithsonite, the New Mexico state mineral, is from the Kelly Mine in Magdalena.

The annual Community Asset Awards search is underway and the Los Alamos Juvenile Justice Advisory Board and Chamber of Commerce want to know who you think stands out for 2012.
The Community Assets Awards strives to recognize the things people do — in and around Los Alamos — to make the community or the world a better place.
“I love that the Community Asset Awards honor those unsung heroes, those people who are not looking for praise or attention, but just do good things for the community because they enjoy doing them,” said Katy Korkos, Los Alamos Chamber of Commerce Member Services Director. “ I love it that people who have a good idea and follow through with it are honored.”
Each year, people of every age and background are nominated to receive recognition, with a youth and an adult recognized to receive the Director’s Choice Award and someone who will receive the Spirit of the West Award.
The Spirit of the West Award was created to honor former Los Alamos County Councilor and Leadership Los Alamos alumni Jim West. Before his passing away, West knew the award was created, in his honor.

Happy holidays!
This week, we are still in the asset category of empowerment with a look at the asset of safety (#10).
I will stretch on this area, but bear with me for a minute.
This Saturday, the Trinity on the Hill will offer the best event of the season, the Children’s Bazaar.
The event allows families, with children in kindergarten through sixth grade, an opportunity to shop for holiday gifts on their own.
Children arrive at the church between 9 a.m. and noon, with a list of 10 names or less. Youth workers escort them to a special room, where they can purchase gifts to surprise family members on upcoming holidays.
The items are varied and the prices are more than reasonable, but the increase in the asset category of empowerment is huge.
It doesn’t matter what holiday you celebrate. Yes, I realize it is a Christian church, but think of all of the upcoming holidays, including birthdays, during which your children would love the opportunity to surprise the adults in their lives.
While the pint-sized shoppers go on their merry way, parents and caregivers are treated to baked goods, newspapers and the excitement yet to come.
Trinity on the Hill has thought of everything, as they even wrap the gifts and include gift cards for each item.

Pajarito Environmental Education Center invites students in grades K-4 to come to their annual Holiday Eco Crafts event from 2-4 p.m. Dec. 5.
There, kids can hand-make gifts out of natural and recycled materials for everyone on their list.
Gifts to make will include pinecone fire-starters, recycled notebooks, cornhusk dolls, tree cookie ornaments, rock carvings and more.
Plenty of materials will be available to make gifts for parents, grandparents and brothers and sisters.
 There will also be recycled wrapping paper and cards on hand, so kids can wrap their gifts and address them to the recipients before they head home.  
Parents are welcome to stay during the class, or to leave kids at PEEC and enjoy a few hours of kid-free shopping.
PEEC’s own shop also has some holiday gift ideas, including stocking stuffers and animal adoptions.  
The class costs $15 or $12 for PEEC members. Register in advance at PajaritoEEC.org, call 662-0460 or email Programs@PajaritoEEC.org.

It’s an Indoor Holiday Bazaar at the Art Center
’Tis the season to go shopping. At many stores, one can expect to see the same kinds of things year after year, increasing the challenge of finding the perfect gift. Things are different at Fuller Lodge Art Center’s Affordable Arts sale, where there are always new artists joining the mix of regional artists, who share their artistic manifestations of what they believe makes the perfect gift.
This year, 33 new artists join the 98 regular Gallery Shop artists, to offer gifts for everyone, with all prices at $250 or less. There are many things for sale at less than $100. These artists are driven to produce and nothing makes them happier than knowing their art will be shared and loved by others.
For the Affordable Arts sale, the artists search their creativity to come up with work that will fit well into others’ lives.  When preparing for Affordable Arts, Gallery Manager Amy Bjarke specifically looks for things that will make good gifts — from the functional to the quirky. Functional items include things like  pottery and hand-tooled pens, cards and clothing. Quirky means whatever will tickle one’s fancy and make them smile. Melted record mirror anyone?

The 19th Annual Crèches From Around the World, an annual exhibition featuring nativity sets collected by members of the many churches in Los Alamos, will be from 1-7 p.m. Dec. 7 and from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 8, at 1967 18th St. (off 15th and Sage Street).
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Los Alamos Ward, sponsors the event. The event is free and refreshments will be served throughout the day.
The crèche, a French term, is the portrayal of the nativity through figurines of people and animals that often include the setting of a stable or a village scene.
The exhibit features crèches from more than 100 countries, collected by residents of Los Alamos, or by members of the LDS church, who have served missions in many parts of the world.
Crèches featured represent South and Central America, most of Europe, many from most of the United States, as well as many from most pueblos in the area; many Asian countries; most African countries; and many hand crafted by artists in nearby communities.
The nativity figures are made from a wide variety of materials, to include: wood, ceramic, papier-mâché, various nuts, straw, glass, fabrics, wood, stone, clay and bamboo.
The Créche Show is part of the annual WinterFest week, the first week of December.

The Los Alamos County Library System online catalog will be unavailable to patrons from 8 a.m.-noon Nov. 27, for a system catalog software update.
Though patrons may not notice a big difference, the planned upgrade to the integrated library system software will increase efficiency for librarians’ behind the scenes tasks, according to Mesa Public Library’s Carol Meine.
While the system is unavailable, patrons will not be able to use any online services. They will not be able to search for books, make requests, check their account or use the downloadable e-books and audio books services.
However, patrons are still encouraged to visit either library to browse and, if they bring along their library card, library staff can check in and check out books. However, even the librarians won’t be able to look up patron account information.
For more information, contact libweb@lacnm.us or call 662-8253.

Pfc. Casey Stavert of Los Alamos received a Meritorious Mast for academic performance from the United States Marine Corps during his graduation ceremony from the School of Infantry, Camp Pendleton, Calif.  
Stavert was raised in Los Alamos and graduated from LAHS in 2008. The award reads, “You consistently performed your duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner by scoring higher on the written tests and on the performance evaluations than any of your peers, making you the academic leader for the company with an overall average of 96.0%.”
The company consisted of approximately 450 graduates from around the country.
In addition to the award, Stavert was invited to a private lunch with the commanding officer of the Marine Corps Training Battalion, to discuss positive and negative aspects of his training and his future career in the Marine Corps.  
Stavert is continuing his training program at the U.S. Navy Air Station at Pensacola, Fla., and is being trained as an expeditionary airfield support technician.

Cancer is a four-letter word and that word, is hard.
October was breast cancer awareness month and November is pancreatic cancer awareness month. The Los Alamos Council on Cancer assists men, women and children with free resources, advice and a kind word.
While the Council on Cancer was founded in 1956, their members still work at full speed, to provide resources to those who have been affected by cancer.
One of those resources sponsored by the Council on Cancer, along with the United Way of Northern New Mexico is Look Good, Feel Better.
The meetings begin with a short video presentation by the American Cancer Society and free gift bags for each client.
The bags are filled with a variety of free products to assist those who have undergone — or are currently going through treatment — with head to toe pampering.
There are products by Cover Girl, L’oreal, Mary Kay, Bobbie Brown, Esteé Lauder and even Chanel. These major companies took the time to donate products for those going through what may be the most difficult time in their lives.
The goal isn’t for the women to feel like they need to wear makeup or make themselves look better, but to allow them to have some time to remind themselves that they are still beautiful women, that deserve to shine.