This six-foot bison in the Sandia Resort and Casino lobby is on loan to the Pueblo of Sandia by La Mont's Wild West Buffalo, out of Bosque Farms.

Bernalillo mayor announces Christmas parade winners

“Parades delight the child in each of us, and this year community members were enchanted by the creativity, diversity, and number of the floats in the parade,” stated Bernalillo Mayor Patricia A. Chávez, as she announced the winners of the town’s twenty-second annual Nighttime Christmas Parade, held along Main Street on December 2.

In the Youth category, the Girl Scout Troop 3217, towing a very festive Hawaiian float, took top honors. Bernalillo Middle School cheerleaders placed second, and Village Academy Charter School placed third.

Water King, a local water supplier, took first place in the Commercial category. The Range Café followed solidly in second place, and third place went to Vigil’s Jerky, a food distributor from Algodones.

Bernalillo Motorcycle Toy Run, an impressive group of mostly Harley riders who make sure children in the community have bikes and toys for Christmas, took first place in the Noncommercial category. Cub Scout packs 707 and 708, led by Scout Master David Gardner, finished second, and Romero’s Thunder took third place.

In the Vehicle entries, first place was awarded to the Classic Chevy Car Club, with the nostalgic cars led by local resident Daniel Garcia. Deception Car Club, mainly rambunctious youth from the area, took second place, and Bernalillo’s own volunteer fire department placed third, with its newly acquired fire engine.

The overall Best of Theme grand award went to TaGrMo True Value. The Range Café was in second place, and the Bernalillo High School drill team was awarded third place.

Proceeds from parade entries and generous donations from area businesses and individuals fund the Children’s Christmas Fund, established to brighten the holidays for children in Bernalillo who might not otherwise receive gifts. To contribute to the Children’s Christmas Fund, please contact the Office of Community Development, at 771-7118.

The town of Bernalillo culminated its holiday festivities on Christmas Day, with Santa Claus visiting children of the community. Hosted by the Town of Bernalillo Volunteer Fire Department, Santa Claus and his helpers gave stockings filled with candy and goodies.

Historical society to present a talk on “Pioneer Women,” paintings by Eisenstadt and Karni

The Sandoval County Historical Society will hold their annual meeting, election of officers, and program planning for the coming year at the Delavy House, located off highway 550, west of the Coronado State Monument, north of the Warrior gas station, on January 7 at 2:00 p.m. Norma Libman will speak on “Pioneer Women,” and oils and watercolors by Pauline Eisenstadt and Michaela Karni will be on view. The meeting is open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

Sandia Ranger District Office: schedule changes and picnic-ground closures

The Sandia Ranger District has changed to its winter schedule due to seasonal decline of visitors and budget cuts. Operational hours will be Mondays through Fridays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; the office will be closed Saturdays and Sundays.

Picnic Area Closures: The following areas are closed for the winter until May 1, 2007: north of I-40—Las Huertas, Cienega, Sulphur, Upper Doc Long, Capulin, and Nine Mile; south of I-40—Pine Flat, Dead Man, Oak Flat, and Cedro Group Camping Reservation area.

Weather permitting, the following picnic areas and hiking trailheads will be open during the winter months. Lower Doc Long, Tree Springs, Dry Camp, Balsam Glade, 10K Trailhead, Ellis Trailhead, and Sandia Crest are open year-round. Severity of the winter and snow depth may cause additional areas to be temporarily closed.

When hiking in the Sandia Mountains, have a good map of the area, understand where you will be hiking, be prepared for changes in the weather during fall and winter months. Make sure you carry waterproof gear, extra clothing, snacks, and water. Notify someone of where you will be hiking and the time you will be returning. Winterize your car with extra blankets, emergency items—including snacks—and water.

For additional information on trail conditions and winter in the Sandia Mountains, call the Sandia Ranger District office, at 281-3304.

Master gardener program starts in January

The Sandoval County Cooperative Extension Service will offer a master gardener volunteer training program to residents who have been gardening for a few years. It is designed to educate and assist the residents of Sandoval County in all aspects of gardening. To become a master gardener you must complete forty hours of classes, including tests, thirty hours of volunteer work, and ten hours on the hotline.

The eleven-week course begins on January 9. Classes will be on Tuesdays from 1:00 until 5:00 p.m. at the Destiny Center (2003 southern Boulevard SE in Rio Rancho).

The program is limited to twenty-five students. Deadline to apply is January 5. For more information and a master gardener application, contact the SCCES at 867-2582 or 1-800-678-1802.

El Rinconcito español

• Ajo, cebolla y limón y déjate de inyección.
Garlic, onion and lemon or lime, and forget about shots.

• Desayunar como rey, comer como príncipe y cenar como mendigo.
Eat like a king at breakfast, like a prince at lunch, and at night like a beggar.

• A quien come muchos manjares, no faltarán enfermedades.
One who eats a lot of rich, sweet treats won’t be lacking in ailments.

Submitted by www.sospanyol.com, Placitas—Spanish instruction that focuses on oral communication skills.

Capulin Snow Play Area opens

The Capulin Snow Play Area, approximately eight miles up the Sandia Crest on Highway 536, was opened when crews and the highway department were able to clear roads and parking area after December’s first heavy snowfall.

To check on the status of the area, contact Sandia Ranger District, at (505) 281-3304 or www.fs.fed.us/r3/cibola/sandia. The Capulin Snow Play Area is unsupervised and offered at your own risk. Rental equipment is not available.

The following are prohibited at the Capulin Snow Play Area:

• Skis (downhill and cross-country); sleds made of wood, metal, molded plastic, or other hard materials; snowboards
• Alcoholic beverages and glass containers
• Sliding out of the defined area
Please note that sliding, sledding, and tubing are prohibited at the trailheads and slopes associated with the following areas:
• Tree Springs Trailhead
• 10K Trailhead and the hairpin curve on State Highway 536 below Tree Springs Trailhead

PLAY IT SAFE

• Observe all posted signs and warnings. Keep out of closed areas.
• Before starting downhill, look above, below, and to the side of you, and yield to others.
• People below you have the right of way. It is your responsibility to avoid them.
• Maintain control, in order to avoid other people or objects (rocks, trees, etc.)
• Do not stop where you obstruct a slope or are not visible from above.
An amenity fee of $3 per vehicle ($10 per vehicle with capacity of fifteen or more) is required. Self-issue fee envelopes are available on site. The Sandia Annual Pass is honored at the site, and can be purchased for $30 at the Sandia Ranger Station, in Tijeras, and at the Cibola National Forest Supervisor’s Office, REI, Charlie’s Sporting Goods, Two Wheel Drive, and Wal-Mart sporting-goods departments. For more information, contact the Sandia Ranger District, 281-3304.

Placitas MoveOn.org group invites public to town hall meeting

MoveOn.org has organized locally to promote change in the new congress and to help turn our country in a new direction. On January 7 at 3:00 p.m. the Placitas MoveOn.org will host “Mandate for Change,” a town-hall meeting, at the Placitas Fire Station. The public is invited to attend to hear U.S. Senators and Representatives and their staffs answer questions by attendees. Refreshments will be served.

For more information, contact Dan Gips, at 867-4801, or Roy
Streit, at 867-5644.