Storyteller Susi Wolf tells folktales and fables at the Placitas Community Library

Children read 1,245 books at the Library

—NANCY GUIST, CHILDREN’S SERVICES COORDINATOR, PLACITAS COMMUNITY LIBRARY
The summer children’s program at the Placitas Community Library held its final event on Saturday, August 18. Families enjoyed a library scavenger hunt, as well as a game entitled “Where in Placitas?’’ Professional storyteller Susi Wolf entertained children and parents alike with her lively folktales and animal fables. Along with her stories, she shared fascinating bio-facts, as well as animal items ranging from impressions of animal footprints to a turtle shell for hands-on-learning. Afterwards, the library recognized all children who had participated in the Summer Reading Challenge with bags filled with prizes, including a book for each child. Altogether, the children read 1,245 books, far surpassing the library goal of eight hundred. The celebration ended with refreshments, including a specially decorated cake.

The library will again be holding its monthly Preschool Story Time on the first Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. The first one will be on September 6. Bilingual Story Time will also be returning on September 18 at 3:00 p.m., and will continue on the third Tuesday of every month for children two to ten years old.

The library is located at 1 Tierra Madre in Placitas. Check the bulletin board out front for announcements of future events.

Calling all parents, artists, and volunteers

—LINDA HUGHES, ART IN THE SCHOOL COORDINATOR, PLACITAS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Art in the School (AIS, Inc.) needs volunteer presenters and assistants for all grades at Placitas Elementary School (PES).

Volunteer for Art in the School and you will enjoy fun and motivating training programs that prepare you to teach four comprehensive art units to the children in our community. The interesting background lectures and hands-on studio workshops by local experts and educators will help you to teach art lessons which reinforce art and math concepts.

AIS, Inc. is a private, nonprofit art education organization that provides a comprehensive visual art curriculum to schools. Our program at PES is purchased through donations from the school, parents, and proceeds from the Placitas Flea Market.

The theme for this year’s program is “Art Tells the Story: My Community.” Units to be taught are:

• Origins of Art: Paleolithic Painting

• Sculptures of the Old and Famous: Greek Gods and Heroes

• Journey to Japan: Hokusai’s “Great Wave”

• Impressions of Beauty: Claude Monet’s Water Lilies Training and art classes start in September with three lessons and again in January with two lessons. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information, please call Linda Hughes at 867-0027.

Upcoming programs at the Loma Colorado Main Library in Rio Rancho

• Scrapbooking 101—September 11 at 6:30 p.m. Learn all of the basics on how to get started with this popular craft. All supplies, as well as handouts, will be provided. You will actually make your first scrapbook. The program is being run by Tina Burwinkle, Tish Peterson, and Liz Carlson, owners of bugabooscrapbook.com, a home-based business in Rio Rancho. This program is geared toward the scrapbook beginner. Loma Colorado Main Library auditorium.

• Wild Mustangs at the Library—September 19 at 4:00 p.m. Marian Bray, horse owner and trainer, will bring her Colonial Spanish horses to the library for an entertaining and informative program—Colonial Spanish horses are doubly-rare as they run wild on Mount Taylor and are a direct remnant of the Golden Age of Spain. This program is geared toward children and adults. Loma Colorado Main Library, outside in the back of the building.

• “My Adventures as a Writer in New Mexico,” with Don Bullis—September 25 at 6:30 p.m. Noted author and Rio Rancho resident Don Bullis will present a talk on being a writer in the Land of Enchantment. A book signing will follow his presentation. Loma Colorado Main Library auditorium.

No tickets or registration are required for any of these free programs.

• Are you a teen that reads manga and watches anime? Join the Twilight Zone—Teen Scene to watch and review the latest anime trailers and episodes of the newest anime shows from ADV films—the Number One producer and distributor of Japanese animation outside of Japan. Thursdays: September 6, October 11, November 8, and December 6. To sign up, contact the librarian at the number listed below.

• On September 28, October 19, and November 30, the library will present Open Mic nights. Ages 13 and up are invited to share their own original poetry, short stories, and songs. Songs can be accompanyied by the library’s new Karaoke machine.

The Loma Colorado Main Library is located at 755 Loma Colorado Drive NE in Rio Rancho. For further information, call (505) 891-5013, ext. 3030 or email rnankin@ci.rio-rancho.nm.us.

Optimist Club de Sandoval hosts poetry, music event

—MAGGIE WANTLAND
The Optimist Club de Sandoval has had a very busy, fun summer. Cub Scout Pack #708 had a blast decorating an old trailer for the Placitas 4th of July Parade. These same Cub Scouts are planning to have an overnight retreat with Pack #707 at the Las Placitas Presbyterian Church site in Las Huertas Canyon. Shortly after July 4, a group of about fifteen children and counselors participated in a weeklong adventure we lovingly refer to as Optimist Day Camp. The children visited the Balloon Museum, went bowling one day and swimming another day, along with a few other activities.

Now that summer is winding down, we are making plans for a fall event. Have you ever been to a Cowboy Poetry Slam? Well, neither have any of us! We’ve heard it’s a blast, so we’re planning to host a Cowboy Poetry Slam on November 3 at the Rocking R Gallery’s arena in Placitas. It should be a wonderful evening of poetry followed by music. Speaking of music, is anyone interested in playing some after the Poetry Slam?

We’re planning to start the Cowboy Poetry Slam (which includes a competition with judging) at 4:00 p.m. Music should follow around 5:30 or 6:00 p.m. until…? If you’re interested in performing or would like further information, contact Maggie at 573-6513. The event is open to the public.

ReadWest hosts Spanish class fundraiser

—SUSAN MARKIN-RYERSON, READWEST LITERACY CENTER
ReadWest Literacy Center is offering, as a fundraiser, a “Communicating in Spanish” class. It is a twelve-week class offered by Cathy Varney on our behalf. Cathy is a well-qualified ReadWest Tutor Trainer, tutor, and multi-language teacher.

The cost, which includes materials, is a $50 per person donation for the twelve-week class. The class is held at ReadWest every Wednesday starting September 19, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. You are welcome to brown bag your lunch. To enroll, call ReadWest at 892-1131. Class space is limited and fills up quickly. Payment must be received before September 19.

Youth basketball registration to be held in Bernalillo

The Bernalillo Youth Basketball Program is registering youth for the 2007—2008 season at the recreation center Mondays through Fridays, September 5 through October 13 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Children ages five to thirteen are eligible to participate. Fees are $40 per child and are payable at registration. The program runs from October 2007 through February 2008. Call Jason Soto at 238-0689 for more information on registration requirements. Late registra- tions will not be accepted.

Federal grant kick-starts UNM literacy project

The College of Education at the University of New Mexico has received a five-year, $1.5 million federal grant through the U.S. Department of Education designed to train more teachers in strategies to meet the academic needs of English Language Learners (ELLs). The grant will fund the Academic Literacy for All Project (ALA), which will develop and design activities to improve UNM’s teacher education program, better preparing teachers to provide effective instruction to students with limited English proficiency.