“Exotics of the Rainforest” at the Placitas Community Library

—NANCY GUIST, PLACITAS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

The Placitas Library’s 2008 Summer Reading Program is nearing an end. A bustle of activity has been occurring at the library this summer involving children, reading, and insects! Painted lady butterflies have emerged from their cocoons and have been released, baby praying mantises have hatched and traveled home with children to their own gardens, Charlotte, the tarantula, has made a visit, and the “bee lady,” Teresa Viramontes, has shared with children and adults alike the ins and outs of beekeeping. In addition, children have been reading, reading, reading, and the library caterpillar has been growing each week as children bring their reading logs to the library.

Our last event of the Summer Reading Program is one that should appeal to all ages. It will be on Thursday, August 7 from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. “Exotics of the Rainforest” will be featured at the library with their collection of live animals, such as parrots and reptiles native to the tropical rainforests and deserts of the world. Exotics of the Rainforest is an organization founded in 1992 by former school teacher, Carolyn Newell. Its primary goal is to educate the public on the tropical rainforests: its people, animals, and plant life.

Following the program, we will pass out bags filled with prizes to all children who participated in the Summer Reading Challenge, with special recognition to our top readers. We will also provide a free book to every child who has brought in his/her reading log and accumulated stickers on his/her individual caterpillar. The event will end with cake and lemonade for all.

We want to extend an invitation to our whole community to attend our Summer Reading Celebration. Learn about the animals of the rainforest, support our children’s reading and join us in having some refreshments. It’s been a great summer!

Advisors, veggies, and exotic animals at the Placitas Library

—ANNE FROST, CO-DIRECTOR, PLACITAS COMMUNITY LIBRARY

Recently, the Placitas Community Library (PCL) Board formed a Board Advisory Committee. This formalizes the relationship between the Library and a number of Placiteños who have been providing advice to the Board in their areas of expertise over the years. The Advisory Board members are: Joan Lucero, Jim Madueña, Dave Burlingame, Graham Hogan, Vicke Kneemeyer, Pepi Strahl, Dave Otter, Phil Messuri, Jack Bates, Dan Dennison, Jo Anne Fredrikson and Judy Gajkowski. The Library Board welcomes them aboard with much gratitude. Each of these people does much for this community in many ways.

The Board would also like to thank outgoing member Martin Bradshaw for his dedicated service on the PCL Board since 2004. Martin has chaired our Grants Committee and recently served as Secretary. We will all miss his stories and good humor.

Nancy Kellum-Rose has joined the PCL Board. With thirty-eight years as a professional librarian and community activist, Nancy brings a wealth of public library experience to us both as a volunteer and board member. She and board chair Judy Labovitz will be coordinating the Advisory Board. The Library is delighted to have her energy, enthusiasm, and expertise.

Nancy and her husband Scott Dueul are also avid gardeners. Beginning July 16 they will be selling Placitas-grown organic veggies at the Library on Wednesday afternoons and any time you see the “VEGGIES TODAY” sign out on the road. All proceeds will benefit the Library. The current harvest includes: rainbow chard, snow peas, spinach, arugula, garlic, shallots, and basil. Shortly, they expect to add green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, and herbs. If you have extra produce you would like to donate to the sale, please leave a message for Nancy at the library at 867-3355.

UPCOMING LIBRARY EVENTS

August 7—9:00 to 10:30 a.m.: Summer Reading Celebration with “Exotics of the Rainforest.” Over thirty rainforest and desert creatures will be featured at the Library. All curious minds are welcome!

August 14—3:30 to 5:30 p.m.: Placitas Library Board meeting at PVFB.

Library Book Group meets at 4:00 p.m. on the first Monday of the month. All titles for the Book Club are available for check out. In August, the group will be discussing Garlic and Sapphires by Ruth Richel. Call 867-3355 to verify date and location.

Register to vote each Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to noon.

For Library hours and other information, visit www.placitaslibrary.com.

L-Kabong!

—GREG LEICHNER• lab coat (1960)—a loose, usually white coat with deep pockets that is worn in a laboratory or a medical office: From the witness stand, with a sigh of disgust, she looked squarely at the defendant and said, “I thought I could trust a man in a lab coat.”

• lachrymose (1727)—given to tears or weeping: When Charlotte won her first Academy Award, her acceptance speech was sincere, lachrymose, and thankfully short, but when she won her third statuette, she marched up to the microphone and fired off two minutes of stand-up that had the distinguished audience in tears.

• la-la land (1983)—a euphoric dreamlike mental state detached from the harsher realities of life: For Henry, periodic escapes to la-la land were necessary to balance the months spent deep in the underground bowels of WeDI, the Weapons Design Institute.

• lamebrain (1944)—dolt: Pickle & Tater, both thought to be lamebrains, bought out their boss, changed the company name and have just been chosen Best Nashville Landscape Crew for the second year in a row.

• lampoon (1645)—a harsh satire usually directed against an individual: At first, Captain Ahab attempted to kill Moby Dick humanely, with a lampoon.

• lark (1811)—a source of or quest for amusement or adventure: On a lark in the nation’s capital, Roger rented a Godzilla costume and spent most of the rest of that afternoon being questioned by Secret Service personnel at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

• latitudinarian (1697)—tolerant of variations in religious opinion or doctrine: It was only his dark sense of humor that allowed him to remain latitudinarian.

• lazy Susan (1912)—a revolving tray used for serving food, condiments, or relishes: The tabloid headline read, “Electric lazy Susan spins out of control, injuring seven.”

• leaf scar (1835)—the mark left on a stem after a leaf falls: Where once love dwelt, there was now only a leaf scar.

• library paste (1953)—a thick white adhesive made from starch: Most boomers can recall the aroma and taste of library paste.

• lobbygow (1899)—an errand boy: Shawn started at the bottom as a lobbygow and worked his way up to toady.

• lone wolf (1909)—a person who prefers to work, act, or live alone: America is in love with its lone wolf persona.

• longhair (1920)—an impractical intellectual; a person of artistic gifts or interests; a person with long hair; especially: HIPPIE: Baba Quackberg was the latest longhair in a long line of longhairs with extensive records on file at Longview.

• loony (1872)—crazy, foolish: “Loony Earthlings” won the 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary.

• loosey-goosey (1964)—notably loose or relaxed: Our new President’s loosey-goosey truth-telling saved the world.

• low-tech (1981)—technologically simple or unsophisticated: “And for the third year in a row, the Lowe Tech Low-Techs win the Chip-Clip Bowl.”

• luftmensch (1907)—an impractical, contemplative person having no definite business or income: Now and then it is the luftmensch who says out loud what no one else will say.

• lummox (1825)—a clumsy person: “And one soccer score: it was Dover over the Isle of Lummox 37-0.”

The Goromonzi Project Administrator in Zimbabwe, Patrick Makokoro, will be traveling from Harare to New Mexico in August. He will meet with donors, sponsors and board members. He will deliver a message of hope for Zimbabwe’s orphans and vulnerable children and discuss the way forward given the current political situation. There will be several opportunities to meet Patrick in Albuquerque, Placitas, and Santa Fe. Call 505-350-3959 for details.

PB&J gets a makeover

A group of Intel Human Resources employees recently spent the afternoon volunteering at PB&J Family Services in Bernalillo and created a visible transformation, not only in the physical appearance of the center, but also in the lives of clients who attended the career clinic.

The group transformed the physical appearance of the center by painting the preschool classroom. The new, muted colors are much more pleasing to the eye. They also beautified the entryway by planting evergreens and annuals in twelve large flower pots. The paint and flowers provided a welcoming facelift to the center.

Intel also hosted a career clinic to help clients of the center experience real-time progress in their job searches. Intel provided mentoring on filling out job applications, interviewing tips, and résumé writing. The career clinic provided skills that the clients could use for immediate results.

Dina J. Ma’ayan, the Development Director of PB&J Family Services said, “Thank you, Intel, for reaching out to us. The entranceway and preschool room look beautiful. The clients who attended the career clinic got so much of out of it. The best part is we now have materials to incorporate into our own curriculum. You have made a positive impact to our center, staff, and the people we serve. Thank you, thank you!” In addition, PB&J Family Services will receive $2,290 from the Intel Foundation. As part of Intel’s volunteer program, Intel provides matching funds for school and nonprofit organization volunteer hours.

ABOUT PB&J FAMILY SERVICES
Founded in 1972, PB&J pioneered the use of interactive parenting and bonding programs as an effective way to prevent child abuse and neglect, and to preserve the family unit. Its mission is to help at-risk children to grow and develop to their full potential in nurturing families within a supportive community.

The organization got its name when a reporter interviewing a child at the center asked “What is the name of this place?” The child responded, “I don’t know, but they should call it peanut butter and jelly, because that’s what we always get for lunch.”

Aquatic Center hours and programs

Starting in July, the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center will have new hours and programs available to citizens. For full details, please visit the city’s website at www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us/aquaticcenter.

Highlights of the newly available amenities include the opening of the Pulte Homes Competition Pool, lap swimming times, diving board accessibility, water aerobic classes, extended hours, and much more. In addition, beginning on July 11, rentals for the facility (including party rooms) will be available.

The aquatic center is located at 745 Loma Colorado Drive adjacent to the Loma Colorado Main Library. For more information, please call (505) 891-5230.

Rune Dancer at Esther Bone Library

The Rune Dancer Belly Dance troupe will perform at the Esther Bone Memorial Library in Rio Rancho on Tuesday, August 12 at 6:30 p.m.

This performance is free, but tickets are required and are available at the adult services desk in the library. You may also call 891-5012, extension 3128 for more information.

The Rune Dancer troupe has well-rounded dancers, all of whom have a mastery of sword, veil, cane, fire work, shamadan, dancing on wine glasses, and drumming.

The troupe will be accompanied by conga drums to lay down the beat as the dancers perform. Audience participation will be encouraged for this all-ages show.

The library is located at 950 Pinetree Road SE in Rio Rancho.