Placitas Library planning new facility

—ANN FROST
The future is at the library these days. We are taking our first baby steps toward creating our new library on the land Sandoval County is purchasing for Placitas. Watch this article for updates and announcements as we are planning some community events to make this land our own. The site-development committee is hard at work creating a request for qualifications. All you designers in Placitas (and beyond), start sharpening your pencils: this could be your chance to design a fabulous and “green” building for your community. Our request for qualifications will be announced in the Signpost and other papers.

We are also beginning the process of automation, thanks to the state general-obligation bonds you all voted for last year. In the next six months, we hope to enter all the data into our new program. Come 2006, we will be able to answer you when you ask, Do I have any other books out? or Does the library have any books on skydiving? When you see your volunteer librarian hunched behind the computer with an intense and bewildered expression, you will know we are learning as we go. Many thanks to computer wizard David Hawthorne, at Placitas Computer Repair. His ongoing support of the non-techies at the library has been invaluable.

Check out our 50 New Children's Titles

We have been the lucky recipients of a matching grant from the Libri Foundation, which is committed to providing quality children's books to rural libraries. Several adults and children in Placitas were involved in choosing our books from a list of over six hundred titles, both fiction and nonfiction, appropriate for primary grades through teen reading levels. Be sure to check out these new additions on your next visit.

Our three copies of the new Harry Potter have been checking in and out like crazy, so be sure to have us call you when the next one is returned. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince may be my favorite one yet. It certainly is the most suspenseful.

New to our Shelves

Hard Truth, by Nevada Barr, is the newest in the mystery series featuring park ranger Anna Pigeon. Newly assigned to Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, Anna becomes involved with missing children, religious cults, and an evil that threatens to destroy the serenity of the beautiful wilderness. This is a compelling story with complex characters and plot. The tantalizing descriptions of the park make you want to experience this beautiful area yourself.

Upcoming Events

September 5: Rocking R Gallery Annual Western Dinner and Concert. This is a benefit for the library and Watermelon Mountain Ranch. Tickets are available at the library. Join us for an evening of fun, food, and dancing.

September 8, 7:00 p.m.: “Wildly Successful Bird Feeding,” with Ann Shewnack of Wild Birds Unlimited. Join us on the portal for an informative discussion of the variety of wild birds we can attract here in Placitas.

October 4, 7:00 p.m., at Hacienda de Placitas: Dr. Eddie Dry, retired UNM tourism director, will share tips on independent travel “by the seat of your pants.” Have you always wanted to travel using local transport, guides, and small hotels? Learn how to leave the tours and reservations behind and venture out with your Lonely Planet Guide. Find out how to connect with other travelers and locals to enrich your experience.

UNM Senior Day introduces high-school seniors to campus life
The University of New Mexico will host more than one thousand prospective students and their families on the main campus during Senior Day, designed to introduce high-school seniors to campus life. The event will be held on Saturday, September 17, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Tours of the campus and the residence halls will be provided, along with information about admission, financial aid, scholarships, academic programs, and student activities. Prospective students will be treated to lunch at 12:30 p.m. To top off the day, discounted football tickets for the UNM Lobos vs. New Mexico State Aggies game will be available to prospective students and their families. The game begins at 6:05 p.m., in University Stadium.

Sponsored by the UNM Division of Student Affairs/Office of Recruitment Services, Senior Day is the major fall visitation day for high-school seniors.
“We are pleased to host prospective students and their families for this annual event, which allows us to showcase UNM's excellent academic programs and outstanding student support services,” said Lawrence Roybal, UNM Recruitment Services associate director.

For further information, call (505) 277-2260 or 1-(800)-CALL UNM (225-5866), Extension 3.

Rio Grande Children's Chorale auditioning

The Rio Grande Children's Chorale is a community choral group involving boys and girls who want to sing, have fun, make friends, and have goal-oriented artistic experiences. There are two levels of choirs within which advancement is based on ability rather than age: the Rio Grande Singers, grades five to eight; and the Kokapelli Singers, grades one to four.

Under the auspices of the Rio Rancho Performing Arts Association, the nonprofit Rio Grande Children's Chorale is secular, performance-oriented organization for children.
Music instruction will include vocal and choral technique, music theory and sight-reading. The program is partially fee-supported, at $50 per semester. Scholarships are available to those demonstrating a need. Purchase of concert attire is required.

Rehearsals will take place on Saturday mornings in the Choral and Band Rooms at Rio Rancho Mid-High School, 1600 40th Street, in Rio Rancho. RGCC is in session throughout the school year (September to May) and will include weekly rehearsals and performances as scheduled.

Existing members will not need to audition; however, new singers will audition on Saturday, September 10, at Rio Rancho Mid High School, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m.

RGCC directors include:

• Susan Passell, Ed.D., current director of human resources for the Rio Rancho Public Schools; former music supervisor (ten years) and choral conductor (eight years), Broward County Public Schools, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
• Crystal Troy, current director of choirs at Rio Rancho Mid High School; former choral director in Texas (six years); consistent recipient of superior ratings at choral festivals throughout the Southwest.
• Debbie Fleming, assistant principal at Vista Grande Elementary; nineteen years in public school choral music; early-childhood music teacher at UNM Music Prep School (six years).
For more information, contact Susan Passell at 867-0987 or Debbie Fleming at 896-5555.

Mural project starts

Placitas Elementary School and the PTO are sponsoring artist Ophelia Cornet in creating a ten-by-seven-foot ceramic mural involving all the children in the school. The mural, which will grace the exterior front wall of the school building, will reflect the cultural fabric of the Placitas community, its unique natural environment and rich history. Creating the mural will allow children the opportunity to experience a wide range of techniques and materials culminating in a permanent art piece.

The community is invited to contributing financially to this project. In recognition of your donation, your name or business name will be displayed on a permanent tile adjoining the mural.
For more information, please contact Linda at 867-0027.

Safe Halloween event planned, donors wanted

First Assemby Church in Bernalillo is organizing their Sixth Annual Harvest Festival to provide a safe and fun environment for all children on Halloween night, October 31, at 6:00 p.m. The activities planned are carnival games, rock climbing wall, hay ride, music, along with lots of food and candy. They are looking for business sponsors to donate services, candy, or help financially. Donations to this event are tax deductible. For further information, call Pastor Eric Montoya at 690-3219 or 459-0992.

Calling all parents, artists, architects

—LINDA HUGHES
Art in the Schools Coordinator for Placitas Elementary
Art in the School needs volunteer presenters and assistants for all grades at Placitas Elementary School. You do not need an art background to volunteer. You receive free art training and the opportunity to provide quality art education to children in your community.

AIS is a private nonprofit organization providing a comprehensive art curriculum to schools. The program at PES is purchased through proceeds from the Placitas Flea Market and donations from the school and parents.

The theme for this year's program is ”Tut to the Extraterrestrial: An Adventure in Architecture.” The units to be taught are: Pyramids of Egypt, Classical Temples of Greece, Medieval Castles of Europe, Starships, Earthships, and Multi-Family Homes.

Training and art classes start in September, with six lessons, and again in January, with four lessons. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please call Linda Hughes at 867-0027.