Pay Raises Approved for Local Teachers and Staff
Board President Kevin Honnell and Secretary Melanie McKinley, seated, board member David Foster board member Judy Bjarke-McKinsey and board member Dawn Venhaus, not shown, unanamously approved a 3 percent pay hike for teachers and staff during Wednesday’s school board meeting. Courtesy/LAPS
By Kirsten Laskey
Teachers and staff at Los Alamos Public Schools (LAPS) can expect bigger paychecks during the 2012-2013 school year.
The Board of Education unanimously approved a 3 percent pay increase totalling $850,000 during a Special Board Meeting Wednesday night.
Along with the pay Read More
SFI Presents Evolution on ‘Realistic’ Landscapes Tuesday
SFI News:
Peter Schuster of the University of Vienna and Santa Fe Institute external professor will present the talk, Evolution on “Realistic” Landscapes at 12:15 p.m., Tuesday May 22 in the Medium Conference Room at the Santa Fe Institute.
Abstract: Ever since Sewall Wrights publication of the landscape metaphor in 1932 evolutionary optimization is visualized as hill climbing on a rugged landscape. It took more than 50 years before the first reliable data became available that gave an idea how these evolutionary landscapes might look like and only this year the first large Read More
Public invited to PEEC/Pajarito Astronomers Annular Eclipse Event Sunday at Overlook
PEEC News:
One projecting telescope, four viewing telescopes with solar filters and 100 eclipse-viewing glasses will be available at Sunday’s big Annular Eclipse Event at Overlook Park in White Rock.
The Pajarito Astronomers and Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC) are sponsoring the event and will assist people who choose to make simple pinhole viewers at the park. People who have their own telescopes with solar filters are welcome to bring them to view the eclipse.
Thanks to a generous donor, solar viewing glasses will be distributed to the first 100 people who would like Read More
15th Annual Los Alamos Kite Festival Begins Friday
Giant Chess Match Set for Saturday
From 4-7 p.m., Saturday May 19, Mario will take on the Ringling Brother’s Circus in an oversized chess match like no other. Students in the 2-d/3-d and ceramics/sculpture classes have created oversized chess pieces out of paper mache. These pieces range in size from 7-feet tall to 4-feet tall. The chessboard is 24-feet by 24-feet. The two chess matches played by the district chess clubs, will take place at the auxiliary gym at Los Alamos High School. Admission is $2 and concession will be sold. Proceeds benefit the clubs and LAHS Art Room. Courtesy/LAHS Read More
Dance Arts Los Alamos to Feature Graduating Seniors
DANCE ARTS LOS ALAMOS News:
Erin Burr (Odile) and Megan Kelley (Odette) in DALA’s production of Swan Lake. Photo and design by Paulo T. Photography.
Dance Arts Los Alamos is celebrating 20 years of bringing professional dance training and high quality performances to the community.
This weekend, three distinct programs will highlight the accomplishments of dancers ages 3 through adult as well as the talent and diversity of the DALA faculty.
Intermediate and advanced level ballet students will present an abridged version of Swan Lake at 7 p.m., May 18 and 19. All performances will take Read More
A Neutron and Proton Go Into a Bar…
SFI News:
Alaina Levine will conduct a seminar at 12:15 p.m., July 17 in the Noyce Conference Room at the Santa Fe Institute.
Abstract. What did the bartender say to the neutron? What’s the difference between an introverted and an extraverted scientist?
When you think about it, being a scientist is, well, kind of funny.
In this boring, monotonous, time-wasting lecture, science journalist and comedian Alaina Levine will explore humor in science, probe the most comedic aspects of the scientific profession, and relate real-life anecdotes from a science communicator and wannabe nerd who worked Read More
Bandelier Offers Spectacular Viewing of Solar Eclipse
Bandelier National Monument News
Courtesy Poster By Tyler Nordgren
Bandelier National Monument, located in Northern New Mexico, will offer an amazing opportunity to witness a solar eclipse on Sunday, May 20. “The last solar eclipse in the United States occurred in 1994, this will truly be a once in a lifetime experience,” said Superintendent Jason Lott.
There are 33 national parks positioned for a great view of the eclipse. At Bandelier, visitors will see an annular eclipse where a thin ring of the sun is visible around the moon. Since the sun is not completely blocked, participants Read More
Local Teens Heading to World Championships
Los Alamos teens Natalie Smith and Maria Jones are traveling to Wexford, Ireland to compete in the CRN World Open Championships June 2-3. The girls are students at the Belisama Irish Dance, founded in 2006 in Santa Fe and Los Alamos. Smith won the Regional Championships in the under-19 category this spring, and Jones was the 2010 North American Champion in the under-14 category. Both are Craobh Grad dancers, the highest level of dance in the CRN organization. The girls will compete in one soft-shoe and two hardshoe dances, and will also join Santa Fe dancers Shannon and Caitlyn Kossmann and instructor Read More
Practice Taiji at Ashley Pond
Join a local group practicing Taiji and Qigong three times a week at Ashley Pond.
There is no charge for the program and no previous experience is necessary.
When: June through October
- Mondays 7-8 p.m.
- Thursdays 11 a.m.-noon
- Saturdays 11 a.m.-noon
Where: Ashley Pond
Who: Adults and children age 8 and older
- No previous experience is necessary
What: Taiji
Follow along. Beginning with a walk around the pond, followed by simple stretching and the Taiji Qigong 18 Form routine. Go over the Yang-style 24 Form Taiji sequence twice, with limited instructions. Ending with another Read More
Leadership Los Alamos Celebrates Newest Graduates
Leadership Los Alamos Board Member Cheryl Sowder with Leadership Los Alamos Chair/Los Alamos Police Chief Wayne Torpy. Sowder models the chief’s new hat presented to him in fun during the LLA graduation ceremony Friday at the Pajarito Ski Area Lodge. Photo by Kirsten Laskey/ladailypost.com
By Kirsten Laskey
Qualities in a leader could be courage, selflessness, integrity … but how about a sense of humor?
The ability to laugh, even in a top position, was practiced during the Leadership Los Alamos (LLA) graduation held Friday night at the Pajarito Ski Area Lodge.
Leadership Los Alamos Read More
Murray Gell-Mann Headlines SFI Science Series
Nobel Prize-winning physicist Murray Gell-Mann, a Trustee, Science Board and Distinguished Fellow of the Santa Fe Institute will present a talk on “Groundhog Day” at 7 p.m., Thursday May 17 at the Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail in Santa Fe.
The “Science on Screen” series is a joint collaboration of the Center for Contemporary Arts (CCA) and the Santa Fe Institute (SFI).
During each event, visionaries from SFI present some of their favorite films, offering eye-opening perspectives from their own research and the world of science. It’s Read More
Anticipating Annular Eclipse of the Sun May 20
Observing Blog by Kelly Beatty
The May 20 solar eclipse will be the best such event visible from the U.S. in decades — with a stunning annular ring observable from California to Texas.May’s event is called an annular or “ring” eclipse because
AAUW Hosting Spring Membership Tea
The Los Alamos Branch of American Association of University Women (AAUW) will host its Spring Membership Tea from 4-6 p.m., Friday May 18 at the Hearth Room at the Unitarian Church, 1738 N. Sage St.
Sharon Snyder is the featured speaker. She is the author of a new book, “At Home on the Slopes of Mountains” about the life of Peggy Pond Church.
Help celebrate Peggy Church’s era by dressing in 1940’s or 1950’s style hats, gloves and pearls, if desired.
Membership dues will be collected and new board members installed during the meeting.
Los Alamos Daily Post Launches History Nut Series
The Los Alamos Daily Post is launching a continuing series of columns concerning Pajarito Plateau history written by Dorothy Hoard, Judy Machen, Heather McClenahan, Janie O’Rourke, Georgia Strickfaden and Sharon Snyder – collectively known as the “History Nuts.”
To be labeled a “nut” is not generally a compliment, but these six local historians take pride in being affectionately called nuts because in this case the term carries respect for their research and publishing efforts related to Los Alamos.
The group came together informally in 2003 to meet and share research. Read More
Wildflower Neophytes Walk with Chick Keller
Chick Keller expounds on the inter-relationships between plants and insects during the Pajarito Environmental Education Center’s (PEEC) Wildflower Walk Thursday evening. Sixteen neophytes learned how to identify wildflowers now blooming in Los Alamos. The group met at PEEC on Orange Street for an introductory lecture and received a handout of species to watch for during their walk. PEEC’s monthly Wildflower Walks continue through September. Specific dates for the walks and to learn what’s blooming around town now, visit www.pajaritoeec.org. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com
UNM-LA holds 31st Annual Graduation Convocation
UNM-Los Alamos graduates recite the Pledge of Allegiance during Thursday’s 31st annual graduation convocation at Duane Smith Auditorium. Photo by Bonnie J. Gordon
By Bonnie Gordon
UNM-Los Alamos celebrated its 31st annual Graduation Convocation on May 10, 2012. Five students received bachelor’s degrees, 39 received associate degrees, 5 received academic certificates and 8 students received General Educational Development Diplomas.
Convocation Speaker Dr. Chaouki T. Abdallah is the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at the University of New Mexico. Read More
Don Davis is 2012 Teacher of the Year!
Donald Davis of Los Alamos High School is Los Alamos Public Schools 2012 Teacher of the Year. Davis was honored at a ceremony at Fuller Lodge Thursday evening. He has taught in the district for five years as Teacher/Robotics and Engineering Design. Davis will go on to compete for New Mexico Teacher of the Year. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Teachers nominated for Teacher of the Year include from left, Lorri McInroy, Alyssa Romero and Amy Vierra and unable to attend were Jennifer Schmiere, Cheryl Smith Ecke and Michelle Young. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com
Instructional Read More
Young Life Golf Tournament Helps Teens Go to Camp
By Carol A. Clark
Young Life Los Alamos is hosting its second annual golf tournament May19 at the Los Alamos Golf Course.
It’s a Four Man Scramble Format golf tournament in which participants can create their own 4-some or be placed on a team.
All monies raised will go to benefit kids going to camp this summer.
This charitable event includes dinner, a raffle and prizes for the cost of $85 per golfer.
“It costs about $500 to send a teenager to summer camp for a week,” said Young Life Area Director Ryan Gilbert. “With the economy the way it is, we are able to offset that cost for families in need.”
Gilbert explained Read More
Espanola YMCA Teen Center
ESPANOLA YMCA TEEN CENTER News
The Espanola YMCA Teen Center (EYTC) hosted the second annual Born-2-Cruise Model car & Custom Bicycle Show Saturday, April 14.
This event was a great success and was flooded with more than 200 visitors and more than 50 participants.
Low-rider enthusiasts from all around the community and outward attended and showed off their custom creativity.
Courtesy Photo
“The Espanola youth were given a chance to shine and that is what we (EYTC) are all about,” EYTC Program Co-Director Dion Gabriel said. “The kids love it … when they Read More