Opinion

LAF&SF Hosts Lecture By Dr. Roy Hill At 6 p.m. Today

Dr. Roy Hill

LAF&SF News:

Dr. Roy Hill will be the guest speaker during the Los Alamos Faith &  Science Forum’s (LAF&SF) lecture series today at SALA Event Center.

A light meal will be served at 6 p.m. and the lecture will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Hill’s talk, “Psychology and the Near Death Experience”, will discuss how near death experiences are a means to glimpse who we are in God by first-hand accounts of the spiritual realm.

Although there is some empirical support for near death experiences, there is no objective proof of their existence. Rather, those who are predisposed to be interested Read More

Op-Ed: Homage To Educators

By MARVIN BLAIR
Los Alamos

As we approach the first week of school, we must pause and recognize the educators, assistants, custodians, and administrators who wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to caring for our children. While we go about our daily routines—it is work, errands, rest, or family responsibilities—they tirelessly nurture young minds. Teaching children gratitude and appreciation is a precious gift that transcends ethnicity, values, gender, and socioeconomic status. Although we often hear about combating racism, promoting justice, and ensuring equity, we sometimes Read More

Hampton: Electrification Or The Caja?

By DAVID HAMPTON
Los Alamos

At last Monday evening’s National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) public meeting at Buffalo Thunder, hundreds attended, mostly anti-nuke advocates. Most who spoke wound up speaking against the third power line, the Electrical Power Capacity Upgrade (EPCU) project, which is planned to go into the Caja del Rio. No one spoke in favor.

NNSA acknowledged that they have received 23,000 public comments on the EPCU. I would imagine most if not all are against it. The third power line is necessary to support expanded LANL operations.

On Tuesday evening, we learned Read More

Reconductoring Is Solution To Los Alamos Energy Needs

By JOHN BUCHSER
Chair
Northern Group of Sierra Club
Rio Grande Chapter

Over the last 10 years, new designs of wire for high voltage power lines have resulted in an over 85% capacity increase as compared to older wire design. This wire can be used to replace older wire at a cost 50% less than building new power lines.

If both power lines feeding LANL that cross the Rio Grande are reconductored, the total power capacity available to LANL will nearly double, without the disruption of a new power line that adds to the visual clutter across the canyon and traverses across a presently undisturbed section Read More

Op/Ed: A Bit Of History Behind ‘The Boys Of The Pajarito Plateau’

By LIZ MARTINEAU
Los Alamos

Dear Community,

This week the Art in Public Places Advisory Board is scheduled to discuss a piece of artwork called “The Boys of the Pajarito Plateau.” This community treasures Fuller Lodge, which is one reason I think this subject has generated such interest. (As someone who believes in historic preservation this warms my heart!) However, I want to provide some background information about the Los Alamos Ranch School students and dispel some inaccuracies that I have heard circulating in the community.

  • The subject matter of this painting is a group of Los Alamos Ranch
Read More

Op/Ed: MRA And Tools In The Toolkit

By KEVIN HOLSAPPLE
Los Alamos

The current MRA discussion about adding another “tool” to the “toolkit” for encouraging development to satisfy community needs and desires and the call for citizen input prompted me to provide input to the County.  Several friends encouraged me to share the input in an Op-Ed in our local media.

Three tools already in the County toolkit are the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA), the Los Alamos Creative District, and the White Rock MRA. All of these provide paths for the County to help projects that will help our community achieve our plans and goals without violation

Read More

Shin: Los Alamos Metropolitan Redevelopment Area Commission Necessary For An Open And Transparent Government  

By LISA SHIN
Los Alamos Family Eyecare

On May 9, 2024, our County Council voted to approve the boundaries of a Metropolitan Redevelopment Area (MRA). Now, it is time for our Council to establish an MRA Commission which complies with the New Mexico Redevelopment Code. This Commission should not include County Councilors or County employees, but rather key members from the community with experience in commercial property development, affordable housing, finances/banking and environmental sustainability. Additionally, there should be representatives from the small business community Read More

Española Mayor: Strength In Unity

By JOHN RAMON VIGIL
Mayor of Española

There is an old saying, “there is strength in unity, and in unity there is progress…” Nothing can be stated that is more similar to the truth when discussing this in the aspects of our federal, state and local government systems. Most importantly these words should be valued even more so at the local government level where our citizens expect that of our local bodies of jurisdiction.

During my first two years serving as Mayor of Española, the Española City Council was evenly divided and it prevented the adoption of much needed ordinances and general consensus Read More

Fuselier: About Grief

By BOB FUSELIER
Los Alamos

If you had asked me before my retirement if I thought that my perspectives of life would change much after my retirement I would’ve answered, “I doubt it, no”. Of course, I never thought then that the death of one of my adult children would be what dictated the timing of my retirement.

Mike’s death flipped our world upside down. My wife Susie and I suddenly found ourselves members of the worst club there could be; parents who have lost a child. Yet, we discovered immediately that the experienced members of the club are some of the most amazing people we ever met.

We feel the sense Read More

Op/Ed: Let’s Work Together Mayor

By Sam LeDoux
City Councilor
Española’s 4th district

When I was campaigning for city council, the thing most often brought up by voters was that they didn’t feel the city was being honest. This is because, to put it kindly, we haven’t been the best at communicating our goals. What most people see is a city that is just trying to figure out how to make it through the day rather than a city that has a bold idea of where it wants to go.

Looking at the City of Española’s master plan, which was written almost 8 years ago, you can tell it was a different world. The current plan was filled with ideas about a city on the Read More