Features

Faith, hope and love — and the greatest of these, is the one you need at that moment.
Faith is the thing you believe in, that which is bigger than you. It doesn’t matter to me whether you wear the cross of Jesus or the Star of David or whether you believe in Buddha or some other good deity. Your faith is what pulls you out of the moment and makes you believe in goodness.
Hope, to me, is what lifts your eyes from the ground to sky. It is what lifts your heart out of your head and transports you to what could be, what will be and how life should be.
Love is also best defined by you at the moment. Love is the feeling that surrounds you — the people, the community and the zest for appreciation. It is those that take you for who you are, how you best receive it and highlight what is best about you, in any given moment.
I hope you have all three. I hope you give all three and I hope you look around to others that might not have all three and lend them a kind word or a smile. The best thing is they are free — a low-impact exercise yielding a large payoff.
I heard an interpretation of the Pope’s mass this morning, where I understand he told those in attendance not to mistake tenderness for weakness.
I hope the world is listening.

They say it takes a village to raise a child. I believe not only that, but even beyond. Sometimes life brings you rainbows and all is perfect in your world.
Sometimes life brings you a storm of the century and you wonder how you will ever make it through the darkness.
We have had so many of those storms, I’m wondering if the rainbows will ever come back.
One thing I do know, I can always count on my family, friends and community, because we have had so many storms in the last 16 years and without fail, all of you have been by our side.
Ken and I are very lucky to have so much love sent our way. Saturday evening, March 2 touched my heart beyond any imagination. There are so many people to thank, although words just do not come close to show how you all made me feel and what a financial ease you have given me.
Thanks to each and everyone of you for everything. You all are the silver lining to my very dark clouds. I send my love and deepest of gratitude to everyone.

Cindy Geoffrion
Los Alamos 

The Family YMCA is taking registration for its free Diabetes Education and Prevention program. Topics to be covered are: what Type 2 diabetes is; what having pre-diabetes means; the signs, symptoms and risk factors associated with type 2 diabetes; how to reduce the risk of getting type 2 diabetes; and how to make the necessary lifestyle changes to lower that risk.
 Sara Pocernik will teach the class. She is a registered dietitian with experience in many areas of nutrition. She completed her bachelor’s degree in dietetics and nutrition science at Michigan State University and a got her master’s degree in nutritional biochemistry from Tufts University. She has also worked as a clinical dietitian in intensive care and dialysis units.
This class is made possible by Lou Santoro State Farm Insurance Agency. Classes will be from 11:15 a.m.-noon, Tuesdays, March 26-May 7, for six weeks. Pre-register at the Y by March 21. Class size is limited.
  For more information, visit laymca.org, or call 662-3100.  

Sheree Lynch, executive state director for the Mrs. New Mexico Pageant, said the pageant is seeking applicants for the title of Mrs. Los Alamos. Once selected, the lady will advance on to represent her community in the Mrs. New Mexico Pageant, June 29 at the KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque.  
Applicants must be at least 18 years old (no age limit), married at the time of competition and a New Mexico resident, no performing talent required.   
To request the official application or for information, call Lynch at 970-674-0944 visit mrsnewmexicoamerica.com.

The Los Alamos Animal Shelter, 226 East Road, 662-8179, has a great selection of onsite adoptable pets waiting for their forever home. Others are currently off-campus in loving foster homes.
Be sure to visit the Friends of the Shelter website, lafos.org, where you can get more information about volunteering, adopting and donating.
Also check out the Petfinder page for pictures and to learn more about all of the adoptable pets, petfinder.com/shelters/friendsoftheshelter.html.
This would be a wonderful time to consider giving a home to one of the animals in the shelter.
All adoptable pets are spayed or neutered, have their shots and are micro chipped.
DOGS
Cessna —A German Shepherd/Lab-mix. He was found, lost and very thin, near the Los Alamos Airport. He recovered at the shelter and enjoyed attention from volunteers. He is a very nice dog and will be a fine family member for someone. He spent some time as part of an outdoor-dog family and seems to get along with some of the female dogs, but would do best as an only dog.
Fly —A very sweet female Border Collie-mix. She is very shy and living in a foster home, where she is gaining some confidence. To meet Fly in her foster home, call 412-3451.

The jungle is jumpin’ with jazz and colorful characters. Students are in their final week of rehearsals for Atomic City Children Theater II’s production of Disney’s “The Jungle Book Kids.”

The cast is made up of 34 third and fourth-grade students from all five elementary schools in Los Alamos and White Rock.

ACCT II will present two performances of Disney’s “The Jungle Book Kids” at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. March 16 in the Mountain Elementary school gym. Those attending are asked to enter through the gym doors at the back of the school. The show runs about 30 minutes and admission is free.

The following restaurant inspection reports were provided by the New Mexico Environment Department. 

Española

Cariños Charter School, 116 Calle Espinoza

Date inspected: March 6, other, second inspection

Violations: None

Status of establishment: Approved, no follow-up required.

Patagonia, one of the great wild places of the Americas, will be the subject of the March meeting of the Los Alamos Mountaineers. 

Doug Shepherd, who will tell the tale, is simultaneously a sponsored athlete (Mammut, Sterling Ropes, Cilogear Backpacks) and a post doc in systems biology at Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Doug writes, “Patagonia has always stood out as a far away place that I would never be able to visit, let alone climb in, because of the horrible weather. In December 2012, I took a chance and went on a two-week trip, crossing my fingers and hoping we would get to climb instead of sitting around and drinking wine. Thankfully, we had almost too much good weather, and spent the majority of our trip in the mountains.”

On Sunday, youth from across the community unite for one cause.
The Mexico Mission auction will feature both, a silent and live auction, designed to raise funds for homes to be built during spring break in Mexico.
The workers will include members from the United Church of Los Alamos, the Unitarian Church and non-church members, all who are on a mission to help their fellow man.
The students have donated their time and gift certificates for services. The items include tennis lessons, babysitting, a photo session and more.
The process wouldn’t be possible without UNCHLA member Laura Erickson and husband Randy.
“I am excited about the auction because it brings the whole community and church family together to support the mission trip,” Laura said. “It is a very tangible way for everyone to say they support the youth and adults who are going to build in Puerto Peñasco.”
The United Church of Los Alamos heads out on trip number 28 this year with an equal number of adults and youth — experienced and freshmen trip-goers.
Just prior to the auction, the team often finds out information on the families they will build for. Amor Ministries works with local Pastors of Puerto Peñasco to decide who will receive the gift.