El Rinconcito español

• No hables mal de las mujeres, porque hijo de mujer eres.
Don’t speak badly of women, because you are the child of one.
• Saliste de Guatemala y te metiste en Guatepeor.
You left Guate-bad and got yourself into Guate-worse.
• Del dicho al hecho, hay mucho trecho.
From the saying to the action, there’s a long distance.

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

Placitas Library hosts candidates forum October 1

—ANNE FROST
The Placitas Community Library and the Placitas Optimists will host a Candidates Forum on October 1 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Las Placitas Presbyterian Church. Please join us for a chance to dialogue with many of those running for office this November. Candidates for county, state, and federal offices have been invited. Get informed and then get out and vote!

Also on the ballot in November will be a county general-obligation bond for libraries. This bond will not raise our taxes but will provide money over four years to each of the sixteen libraries in Sandoval County. These funds can be used for books, services, and various resources for the libraries. They cannot be used for operating expenses. As you know, the library is completely volunteer-run; no salaries are paid. We will use these funds to maintain and improve Internet service, fund programming for children and adults, purchase books, and the like. Please support this bond issue with your vote in November; libraries all over Sandoval County depend on it.

Speaking of volunteers, they logged over three thousand hours last year, and that does not count board hours. Many board members spend twenty to forty hours a week working to develop the library. This is a marvelous grassroots effort from a dedicated and ever growing team, and we have fun too. If you are interested in volunteering with the library, please call 867-3355 and leave a message for Pat. She will fill you in on all the myriad possible activities and get you started. Kudos to all of you who are already keeping this minor miracle afloat!

Attention, homeschoolers:
The library has received a grant of the Becoming American Collection. These twenty-six titles, two for each grade level, explore what it means to be “American” through a variety of experiences: immigrant, Native American, slave. The books give a fascinating look at our history. They are featured on a special shelf in the front room, so come in and check them out. We have also recently received a donation of several scholarly audio collections on Russian and U.S. history and Jewish thought. These are sure to be of interest to those of you approaching graduation. We have also recently purchased a number of new younger children’s titles in the areas of science and math. Let us know what we are missing! We are continuing to update and improve our Web site, so please visit us at www.placitaslibrary.com.

New Rio Rancho library to open December 4

As Rio Rancho eagerly awaits the opening of the new Loma Colorado Main Library, residents are encouraged to make special note of several important dates.

The Esther Bone Memorial Library, at 950 Pinetree Road SE, will close to the public on October 30. This is necessary for the movement of library collections and equipment to the new library, which will be at 755 Loma Colorado Drive, between Rio Rancho High School and Blades ice skating arena.

The opening date for the Loma Colorado Library will be December 4.

The Esther Bone Memorial Library will remain closed for refurbishing after the opening of the new library. During this transition period, patrons are encouraged to keep their already checked-out books and materials until the new library opening date in December, as all book return dates will be extended. If residents encounter a circumstance that requires the return of a checked-out item during this closed period, they may return materials to the Esther Bone Library book drop until December 3.

The book drop at the Loma Colorado Library will be available beginning December 1.

After October 30, residents who receive hold notices may pick up their items at the Star Heights Learning Center, at 800 Polaris Road, Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. From October 30 to December 1, requests for new holds from the library collection will not be accepted.

Public Internet access will be available at the Star Heights Learning Center on a first-come basis between 10:00 a.m and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition to submitting reference questions on-line via the library home page from the City of Rio Rancho Web site (http://www.ci.rio-rancho.nm.us), residents can obtain services from libraries in the surrounding areas. These libraries include the North Valley Library (770 2nd Street NW, 505-897-8823), Taylor Ranch Library (5700 Bogart NW, 505-897-8816), and Corrales Community Library (84 West La Entrada, 505-897-0733).

The library-services staff for the City of Rio Rancho thanks community members for their patience during this time of change.

Hunters were advised to avoid Spaceport rocket-launch area on 9/25

The New Mexico Economic Development Department advised hunters to stay clear of more than twenty-seven square miles of public lands in Game Management Unit 20 on September 25 while a private company launched a rocket from temporary launch facilities near the proposed Spaceport America in southern New Mexico.

Hunting seasons for oryx and dove were open at the time of the launch. For the public’s safety, officers with New Mexico State Police, county sheriff’s departments, the Department of Game and Fish, and private security companies were present at several roadblocks to discourage entry to the area surrounding the launch site. The area affected included twenty-seven square miles of state-trust land and surrounding Bureau of Land Management property west of White Sands Missile Range and about forty-five miles north of Las Cruces. The September 25 launch site was about twenty-three miles due east of Caballo Lake.

UP Aerospace planned its first successful launch of its SpaceLoft XL solid-fuel rocket to a suborbital flight into space and a landing somewhere in White Sands Missile Range. According to the company Web site, the rocket carried more than fifty payloads, including scientific experiments, personal items, novelties, and new products.

For additional information about the launch and Spaceport America, contact Lou Gomez, New Mexico Economic Development Department, 521-3407, or visit www.edd.state.nm.us/.

Pottery Mound: a progress report

On October 10, Dr. Dave Phillips will provide an introduction to Pottery Mound, located in the Rio Puerco Valley west of Los Lunas. His talk will begin at at 7:00 p.m., at the Sandia Ranger Station, in Tijeras.

The site is famous for its kiva murals, but unfortunately, few other details have been published. Phillips will describe the fieldwork being done there and the efforts being made to add to the published record of the site.

Phillips was born and raised in Latin America and has been involved in archaeology as a student, volunteer, and professional for thirty-six years. He is currently the curator of archaeology at the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, at the University of New Mexico, where the Pottery Mound collections and records are housed.

For further information, contact the Sandia Ranger District, 281-3304, or visit friendsoftijeraspueblo.org.

October 14 star party in Placitas

On Saturday, October 14, Las Placitas Association and the Albuquerque Astronomical Association will host the annual star party to promote dark skies in our community. The party, starting at dusk, will be held at the Homestead Village (Merc), on the road toward the Homesteads subdivision. Members of the Albuquerque Astronomical Association will be on hand with their telescopes to describe various astronomical phenomena that the visitors can observe. The members are well informed, patient, and open to questions.

The Piñon Café will be open during the event for hot and cold drinks and snacks. This is a free family event and everyone is welcome. For additional information, call Elaine Sullivan 771-1171.

How to control wildlife pests

George Cornelius, of the USDA Wildlife Division, will speak at the Gardening with the Masters Lecture Series on October 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. The program will be held at the Rio Rancho City Hall South Conference Room, 3900 Southern Boulevard SE, in Rio Rancho. Cornelius’s topic will be Controlling Wildlife Pests in Home Landscapes, and he will address problems with pack rats, pigeons, gophers (moles), rock squirrels, birds, and urban coyotes. Please call the Extension Office, at 867-2582, to reserve a space. Admission is free and all are invited to attend.

Signpost plans a community photo page

—SIGNPOST STAFF
Help us start up a fun community photo page in the Signpost. Send in a photo or two from a community or family event, from your backyard or thereabouts, or something extraordinary from around town to print in the Signpost. Write a short caption to tell people about the photos and include your name for the photo credit. Let’s get something going.

Mail your photos to: Signpost, P. O. Box 889, Placitas, NM 87043, or drop them in our drop box inside the Merc, at Homestead Village in Placitas. If you would like your photos returned, please include a self-addressed stamped envelope. E-mail digital photos to: email@sandovalsignpost.com. The deadline is the twentieth of each month.