Opinion

Skolnik: What ‘Else’ We Need In Our Elected Officials

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By RICHARD SKOLNIK
White Rock

I thank Kevin Holsapple for his recent letter: “What I Wish For in Our County Councilors” (link).

All of the points Mr. Holsapple raised are fundamental.

However, they are not sufficient to ensure effective public service. For this, we need people who possess one additional trait:

The ability to focus unrelentingly on solving problems, in sustainable, cost-effective, and fair ways, despite the constraints to doing so.

This is in stark contrast, of course, to people who focus on telling us, often over and over again, “why problems can’t be solved”.

As someone who Read More

Holsapple: What I Wish For In Our County Councilors

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By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

With an election coming up, I am thinking about who to vote for, for the open County Council seats. I encourage every voter to have some criteria in mind when choosing who to vote for. It isn’t clear to me how the available candidates (or our current Councilors) match up to what I wish for in our County Council, but I would sure welcome hearing from them all on the following criteria as I decide who to vote for and talk to other people who ask what I think. All of the current councilors and candidates are good, nice, community-minded people who mean well, but voting for friends Read More

Gibson: Natural Gas Is Our Biggest Local Climate Change Challenge

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By ROBERT GIBSON
Chair
Los Alamos County Board of Public Utilities

What greenhouse gas (GHG) emission source is our largest and will be hardest for Los Alamos to reduce or eliminate? No, it is not automotive tailpipes or billowing smokestacks at the plants that still supply much of our electric power. It is natural gas, here called simply “gas”.

Gas is a hydrocarbon, like coal, oil, gasoline, and wood. Burning hydrocarbons produce carbon dioxide (CO2), the principal GHG. (They also produce harmless water vapor.) In addition, gas is primarily methane, a much more potent GHG. Unburned gas leaks Read More

Marshland: White Rock Canyon Petroglyphs

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Someone has added a modern-day message on this rock that has held a petroglyph of Kokopelli for the last few hundred years in White Rock. Courtesy/Susanna Marshland

By SUSANNA MARSHLAND
Intermittent resident
White Rock and Kensington, Calif.

As you can see on the above photo, someone has added a modern-day message on a rock that has held a petroglyph of Kokopelli for the last few hundred years.

I have been hiking the Red Dot Trail most of my life, and in the past few years have observed a proliferation of new additions, some likely done with a Dremel tool, some perhaps created by hand. In some places, Read More

Pawlak: Chocolate & The UNM-LA Bond

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By JOHN PAWLAK
Advisory Board Member
UNM-Los Alamos

Seriously, who doesn’t love chocolate? If chocolate were on the ballot, there’s no question as to whether it would pass. Rich in antioxidants, it can help lower blood pressure and reduce the risk of clotting. It’s a valued asset to our bodies and our culinary delights.

So why discuss chocolate? Well, it does get one’s attention and that’s what we need to remind us that UNM-LA  is a valued asset for our students and our community delights!

Well, maybe this analogy stops at the fondue table. But in all seriousness, voting YES on the UNM-LA Bonds Read More

Saenz: A Call For Change In Los Alamos County Leadership

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By ALLAN SAENZ
Los Alamos

My name is Allan Saenz, and I’ve been a business owner in Los Alamos for 26 years. I operate two local businesses—SALA Los Alamos Event Center, which has been a part of this community for two years, and Los Alamos Network, which has been providing high-speed internet for over two decades. Throughout this time, I’ve experienced firsthand the challenges of doing business in this county. And now, after many years of witnessing the same patterns, I feel compelled to share my concerns and call for change in how Los Alamos County operates, especially with the upcoming election Read More

Mead: Our Election System Is Biased

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By WILLIAM C. MEAD
Los Alamos

The 2024 Presidential election is a critical one in the life of our country, for several reasons: the outcome will lead to considerable chaos and possibly violence, no matter who wins. For example, if Trump wins, he has promised mass deportations of illegal aliens and severe punishments for election workers that he considers to have “cheated”. If Harris wins, Trump has already planted seeds for contesting the election and his rhetoric might inspire violence from “MAGA” supporters—possibly worse than January 6th.

Sadly, this election will occur under the rules Read More

Reagor: Stop The Solar Reimbursement Bait And Switch!

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By DAVID REAGOR
Los Alamos County Councilor

Facts:

        • Solar is the only abundant energy source in Los Alamos County.
        • The county cap is to not go past 6 MW total in home solar production.
        • Individual homes are capped at enough solar power to cover their needs.
        • For homeowners solar is a good investment.
        • Many homeowners invested significant amounts of money by assuming higher retail payment rates.

Our local producers of home solar have been given a new payment schedule. It essentially pays wholesale for the solar power generated. This is after many people invested tens of thousands of dollars into systems. Read More

Review: Want To Hear A Good Story? Go See LALT’s ‘Beowulf And The Bard’!

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Beowulf (Collin McDowell), left, and the bard (Patrick Webb) are comedy gold in the Los Alamos Little Theater’s production of ‘Beowulf and the Bard’. Photo by Thomas Graves

By KIRSTEN LASKEY
Los Alamos Daily Post
kirsten@ladailyposttest.ortizaudio.net

Los Alamos Little Theatre’s latest production, “Beowulf and the Bard” has all the components of a great story. There’s fighting. There are heroes. There are monsters. There is a hint of romance. There are peanuts.

Furthermore, the play has a great foundation; its characters and story line follow the Old English epic poem “Beowulf”. Read More

Crucet: Supporting Ryn Herrmann For County Council

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By LAURA CRUCET
Executive Chef/Owner
Pig and Fig Cafe, Sugar and Cream Cafe, Beef and Leaf Cafe

I am writing to express my strong support for Ryn Herrmann and her candidacy for a seat on the Los Alamos County Council.

Ryn has been a champion for small businesses during her time as director of the Chamber of Commerce, and has proven to be committed to improving the quality of life for everyone in Los Alamos County.

I am a small business owner and longtime resident of Los Alamos, and I have had the opportunity to witness the hard work and positive impact imparted by Ryn on the community. Ryn was an avid and Read More