Family Bedtime Stories, Wed. May 1 at 6:30 p.m., Oliver La Farge Branch

The Oliver La Farge Branch Library, 1730 Llano Street offers a series of Family Bedtime Stories. Join us on the first Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. when Children's Library, Walter Cook, will select and conduct story times.

Cook has been a Children's Librarian for over ten years. Telling stories to families is one of my favorite things about being a Children's Librarian. Not only am I sharing great stories, I see families together listening and creating their own memories, says Cook.

Children and their families are invited to participate in fun stories and hands-on activities. This is a great opportunity to make literature come alive for the whole family, as well as build memories and stimulate family conversations.

For more information please call (505) 955-4867.

This free program is sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library.

A Celebration of the Book, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., May 2-4, New Mexico History Museum, Meem Room

The Santa Fe Book Arts Group and the Palace Press present, A Celebration of the Book. May 2-4, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. in the Meem Room of the New Mexico History Museum, 110 Washington Avenue.

Handmade books, as well as poetry, activities and demonstrations will be a part of this free event. For more information call (505) 476-5096

Afterward, swing by the Main Library, 145 Washington Avenue, to check out the latest books.

The World of Papermaking, a lecture by Helen Hiebert

 Friday, May 10, 2013, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.; free admission

Santa Fe Community College Board Room (in the main building)

Santa Fe Book Arts Group presents Helen Hiebert, Master Papermaker.  Helen contributes to Handmade Paper Magazine and wrote several books, including Playing with Paper: Illuminating, Engineering, and Reimagining Paper Art (2013), Papermaking with Garden Plants & Common Weeds (2006), The Papermaker's Companion: The Ultimate Guide to Making and Using Handmade Paper (2000), and Paper Illuminated: 15 Projects for Making Handcrafted Luminaria, Lanterns, Screens, Lamp Shades and Window Treatments (2001). She exhibits at the Codex International Book Fair.  Recently, one of her books was displayed at the New Mexico History Museum.  www.helenhiebertstudio.com, www.santafebag.org

FAA: Painted Paper Collage, Friday May 3rd

La Tierra Torture Mountain Bike Race to be Held May 4th

Registration is open through May 2^nd

The seventh annual La Tierra Torture Mountain Bike Race will be Saturday, May 4^th at La Tierra Trails in Santa Fe’s northwest quadrant.

The La Tierra Torture Mountain Bike Race will be one day of great racing activity this year. The race has something for everyone—with categories for all levels of racers from beginners to professionals.

“The race will have a beginners course, which is primarily double track, and truly doable for all beginners. We would like to encourage anyone new to mountain biking to come try it out,” stated Jan Bear, race director.

Registration for the event is available online at www.newmexicosportsonline.com.

In the past six years, La Tierra Torture has raised and donated more than $40,000 31,000 to local charities including the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, Santa Fe Trails Alliance, Atalaya Search and Rescue, the ForeKids Scholarship Fund, and the Bike Coalition of New Mexico.

The La Tierra Torture Mountain Bike race is the result of a collaborative effort between the City of Santa Fe, local businesses and several nonprofit organizations

For more information, including registration and a map to the race site: http://www.latierratorture.com/  

Contact Margaret Alexander for interviews and more information: 505-989-7152 (home) or

505-231-0029 (cell) cmmalexander@cybermesa.com.

Historic Fort Marcy Site Tour and Exhibit Unveiling May 4 at Hillside/Prince Park, near the Cross of the Martyrs

The community is invited to celebrate the unveiling of an interpretive exhibit on historic Fort Marcy and a brief tour of the site on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at 10 a.m. This event is part of the Heritage Preservation Month.

Constructed in 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American War, Fort Marcy was the only earthen fort built in New Mexico by Brigadier General Stephen Watts Kearny’s Army of the West. Abandoned in 1847, wind and rain soon began to wear away its adobe walls, turning the onetime fort into an informal playground.

Today, the site consists of the remains of the irregular six-sided “star”-shaped fort, a moat and a blockhouse. It is listed on the State and National Registers and is a certified site along the Santa Fe National Historic Trail. Part of Prince Park, the former fort is a popular picnic spot and offers panoramic views of Santa Fe.

Following the unveiling ceremony, archaeologist Ron Winters will lead a short guided tour of the fort. Families are encouraged to join the tour, as children can earn a Junior Ranger badge for their participation.

The event is sponsored by the City of Santa Fe, National Park Service, and the End of the Trail chapter, Santa Fe Trail Association.

Photo from the Yale University Archives

Bike to Work Week is May 13-17

Bike to Work Week will be May 13-17, with a community-wide bike ride on Saturday, May 18. 
Check back often for more information. Please contact 
Laneia Marie Gonzlaes, Special Events Coordinator at 955-2507 
for meeting times and other information. 

http://www.santafenm.gov/index.aspx?NID=1278

Blind Date with a Book Ending Soon

Attention, romantics! Last chance to find true love on a Blind Date with a Book. The dating pool closes next week! Come by Main and answer a book ad that tickles your fancy.

Post by AA

Nominations for Annual Mayor’s Arts Awards Sought

Public Invited to Nominate Artists and Organizations by May 31^st Deadline

Mayor David Coss and the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission are currently seeking nominations for the 2013 Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts. Now in its 24^th year, the annual Mayor’s Awards recognize the outstanding contributions that individuals, organizations, and businesses have made to the Santa Fe arts community. Any member of the public may nominate an artist, writer, performer, philanthropist, organization, or business for consideration. Nominees should have a demonstrated, sustained commitment to the Santa Fe arts community with a lasting impact. Young artists who have demonstrated artistic excellence and extraordinary commitment to their artistic pursuits may be nominated for the Melissa Engestrom Youth Arts Award. Mayor Coss will present selected recipients with their awards at a dinner on Thursday, October 10, 2013. Information and nomination forms are available on the Arts Commission’s website, www.SantaFeArtsCommission.org, or by calling 505-955-6606. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Friday, May 31, 2013 at 5 p.m.

“Santa Fe’s thriving arts community is sustained by the impressive contributions and commitments of numerous individuals and organizations,” notes Mayor Coss. “The annual Mayor’s Awards for Excellence in the Arts ceremony is an important opportunity for the City to recognize some of these outstanding contributors.”

Individuals over 21 years of age are eligible to be nominated for the Mayor’s Award. Youth 21 years of age and younger may be nominated for the Engestrom Youth Award. Past recipients of the Mayor’s Awards as well as those who have received the Governor’s Arts Awards within the past five years may not be nominated.

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission is an agency within the municipal government of the City of Santa Fe. The Arts Commission provides leadership for the City in supporting arts and cultural affairs. In this role, the Arts Commission recommends programs and policies that promote artistic excellence in the community. Through its work, the Arts Commission nurtures and supports Santa Fe’s unique artistic cultural heritage. For more information visit www.SantaFeArtsCOmmission.org, call 505-955-6707 or email, artscommission@santafenm.gov.

City Launches New Mobile App in Honor of Earth Day

JouleBug Turns Low-Impact Living into a Game—Sign Up by May 10

In honor of Earth Day, the City of Santa Fe’s Sustainable Santa Fe Program is launching a new kind of tool for the city: JouleBug, a mobile app that makes a game of low-impact living!

JouleBug, inspired by software executive Grant Williard’s own experience trying to understand and apply the thousands of ways to go green, is designed to provide simple, straightforward tips for acting responsibly and saving money as one goes about their day.

The app, available on all smart phones, is a free download. After signing up, members can watch entertaining videos and see cost-savings estimates to learn about the benefits of actions such as riding the bus to work or school. Once an action is completed, users can “Buzz It” to compete with friends and earn points toward local contests. There is also a scoreboard that displays Santa Fe’s green champions for everyone with the app to see.

A friendly contest was launched on the campuses of Santa Fe Community College (SFCC), Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), and St. John’s College to encourage students to use this app and reduce their impacts. The contest runs until May 10, and students will be encouraged to sign up and use the app to earn points. The student with the most points by the end of the competition will receive their choice of a $50 gift certificate to the campus bookstore or an iPod shuffle.

There’s something in it for the schools too: the college with the most players signed up by May 10 will receive a $400 donation to its sustainability club for campus improvement projects such as community garden installations, recycling outreach, and energy-efficient renovations.

After the completion of the college competition, the City plans to host more competitions that will reward the wider community for doing the right thing. Get a head start—download the free app today!

Free Family Matinee at Southside, Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m.

The Santa Fe Public Library invites you to a free Movie Matinee at the Southside Branch Library on April 27, 2013.

This movie is family-oriented and free refreshments will be provided. No outside food is allowed in the library. The library will provide free popcorn!

Children under 10 years old must be accompanied by an individual 13 years of age or older.

The movie begins at 2:00pm in the Branch Community Room of the Southside Branch, 6599 Jaguar Drive. For more information, please call the Southside Branch Library at (505) 955-2820.

This free family matinee is funded by the Mary Dolores Vocelle Estate.

2013 Great American Spring Cleanup Day Scheduled for April 27

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful, Make a Difference, and Volunteer

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful, Inc. and the City of Santa Fe are sponsoring the 29^th annual 2013 Great American Cleanup on Saturday, April 27. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Antonio C. Roybal building located at 1142 Siler Road, from 7 to 9 a.m., to pick up bags, work gloves, and T-shirts. Volunteers are needed and will be assigned to areas to pick up litter or cleanup in neighborhoods; school groups also can pick up litter in their neighborhood or on their school campus.

City Environmental Services and Parks Division crews will pick up the trash for disposal. Afterward, beginning about noon, volunteers are invited to a picnic at the Nancy Rodriguez Center, 1 Prairie Loop, to thank volunteers who participate in the community event. Food is being donated by several different local restaurants.

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful, Inc. is a nonprofit volunteer program dedicated to environmental education, litter awareness and prevention, and beautification programs. Keep Santa Fe Beautiful Inc. and the City of Santa Fe also sponsor Trek for Trash Fall Cleanup days, the Adopt-a-Median program to landscape city street medians, the annual Keep Santa Fe Beautiful Golf Classic, the Keep America Beautiful Waste-in-Place program in local schools and the Otra Vez Trash to Treasures program. For more information visit Keep Santa Fe Beautiful at http://www.keepsantafebeautiful.org/ and on Facebook or call 505-955-2215.

Digital Public Library of America is now Online!

"A wealth of knowledge from libraries, archives, and museums" right at your finger-tips! Explore the site here:  http://dp.la/
and read about the launch from the Huffington Post here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/18/digital-public-library-of-america_n_3111264.html?ncid=txtlnkushpmg00000036

Main Library Spring Book Sale, Saturday, April 27 & Sunday, April 28

Main Library Spring Book Sale, April 27 & 28
The Main Library is located at 145 Washington Avenue.

• Saturday, April 27
• 10 a.m. to Noon, Members Only
• Noon to 4 p.m., Open to the Public
Discount and specially-priced books will be in the second floor Tatum Community Room. Gift-quality books will be in the Southwest Room on the first floor. Become a member of the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library at any library location.

• Sunday, April 28
• 1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m., Open to the Public
Bag Day in the Tatum Community Room. Fill a bag for not much bread! Bags provided.

GOT A BUSINESS IDEA? BIZMIX 2013 is Now Accepting Submissions

MIX Santa Fe and the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce BizMIX 2013, a business plan competition that brings together aspiring entrepreneurs with mentors and offers significant cash prizes to the winners. This program is designed to invest in a viable business idea that benefits the Santa Fe community as well as providing aspiring entrepreneurs with networking and mentoring assistance that will help build successful businesses.

This year the MIX business plan competition offers more in prizes, expertise, and access. Finalists will make valuable connections with Santa Fe’s innovators and entrepreneurial leaders as they compete for cash and other valuable prizes.

Submit an application at www.mixsantafe.com/bizmix by answering the following:

·         Venture name

·         What’s your business idea? What problem does this solve? 150 words or less

·         How will this business benefit Santa Fe? 75 words or less

·         Why should we invest in you? 75 words or less

·         Contact information

Eligibility:

Businesses entering BizMIX should be in the concept stage. Operational businesses (businesses that have current revenues and/or sales) are not eligible. Non-profit businesses are not eligible; however, MIX will soon unveil MIX+Match, an opportunity for non-profit projects.

Criteria for selection:

·         Businesses should benefit Santa Fe’s economy (by creating jobs, enhancing quality of life, filling a gap in the market with product/service, retaining talent, etc.)

·         This business might just become a reality. Winners will be ready, willing and able to get started.

·         Talent and tenacity of founder(s).

Sponsors and mentors for BizMIX 2013 are currently being identified. Please contact Kate Noble, Economic Development Division at kinoble@santafenm.gov if you are interested.

MIX is a structure for interaction and collaboration among inspired individuals, entrepreneurs, innovators, businesses and organizations. Through monthly events that showcase talent and local resources MIX provides an avenue for personal contact and networking. Through innovative web tools, social media and micro-stimulus, MIX provides a mechanism for the development of ideas, businesses, and projects with corollary opportunities for promotion, recognition and start-up funding.

Winners Announced for the 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards

Awards Ceremony April 27

Winners of the 2013 Sustainable Santa Fe Awards were announced at the April 10, City Council meeting. The awards will be given to the recipients at a public ceremony on Saturday, April 27, at 6 p.m. at the Eldorado Hotel’s gallery space. The event is open to the public and everyone is encouraged to come celebrate this year’s winners and to meet and learn more about the winning projects.

The winners and a brief project description follow:

Community Outreach Award: Solarize the Roundhouse

A group of Climate Master’s students collaborated on this project as part of the program and named their group “Got Sol?” The goal of the project is to install solar panels at the New Mexico’s State Capitol. Senator Peter Wirth submitted a capital outlay request for $250,000 to fund the design and installation and the 2013 New Mexico Legislature allocated $185,000 to the project.

Environmental Advocacy Award: Citizens Climate Lobby

The Santa Fe Citizens Climate Lobby (SFCCL) is part of a network of over 90 citizen chapters across the U.S. and Canada established to create the political will for a stable climate. SFCCL has mobilized dozens of its members to take on an array of tasks from speaking to the media and before public groups, to letter-writing and lobbying.

Environmental Justice Award: 2012 Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Living Conference

The 2012 Traditional Agriculture and Sustainable Living Conference, organized by a partnership of organizations including the Pueblo of Tesuque, Four Bridges Traveling Permaculture Institute, and Sostenga at Northern New Mexico College, brought awareness to the threat of genetically modified seeds and foods to the indigenous values and practices of native peoples. Featured 2012 keynote speakers were Paul Stamets and Oscar Olivera.

Food System Award: Gaia Gardens

Gaia Gardens is an urban neighborhood farm dedicated to modeling and teaching urban farming, that incorporates sustainability and permaculture practices through workshops and field trips for neighborhood schools, non-profit youth organizations, and homeless organizations on gardening, soil preparation techniques, food preservation, herbal medicine and water harvesting.

Water Conservation Award: Santa Fe Public School’s Water Conservation Program

The Santa Fe Public Schools launched a project to conserve water by, among other things, installing .5-gallon per minute aerators on all hand washing sinks, requiring 1.28 gallon flush toilets and .5-gallon flush urinals in all remodels and new builds, tightening its irrigation schedules, installing “smart” water meters on their top users to detect leaks quickly. These efforts resulted in a 6,846,389-gallon reduction in water use in Fiscal Year 2012.

Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Award: Sol Not Coal Installations

Sol Not Coal is a public education and awareness campaign engaging residents and businesses around the economic, health, and environmental benefits of solar power. Installations in 2012 included solar panels on a Santa Fe Fire Station #3 on Cerrillos Road and the Taytsugeh Oweengeh Intergenerational Center at the Tesuque Pueblo.

Affordable Green Building Award: Piñon Ridge Homewise 39 Home Housing Development

The homes at Piñon Ridge were constructed to exceed the green building codes and standards required by the City of Santa Fe, achieving the Build Green New Mexico Gold rating. Each home incorporates environmentally beneficial features, resulting in a 40 percent decrease in the demand for water and energy compared to a house built by standard code.

Green Building Award: 205 West Cordova Road House

This home exemplifies the integrated and thoughtful use of leading building science practices. This degree of green building excellence was achieved at a remarkably low building cost, demonstrating that efficient and low-impact construction can be available to the most cost-conscious homebuyer. It achieved a home energy rating score of 52 without the use of solar equipment, includes many water saving features, uses numerous sustainable materials and was certified under the EPA Indoor AirPlus program.

Climate Adaptation Award: Rocky Mountain Survivor Queen Bee Cooperative

The Rocky Mountain Survivor Queen Bee Cooperative promotes survivor cross-stock queen bee breeding through chemical-free management, conscientious production, and professional development through in-service trainings, workshops and conferences. Bee-keeping methodologies have been developed to promote breeding and production for the region founded on living laboratory observations.

Green Economic Development Award: Green Lodging Initiative

The Green Lodging Initiative helps the Santa Fe lodging industry to decrease water consumption, decrease toxic waste disposal, and reduce carbon emissions. The program is designed to support the lodging industry’s shift to different, healthier systems and products.

Low Carbon Transportation Award: Linograt ChargePoint Charge Station

Linograt LLC provided the first permanent, public access, plug-in vehicle charging station at a solar offset commercial location in the state. It uses a ChargePoint networked dual output charging station and is available to the public to provide daytime charging to top off battery-charge for electric vehicles while in town. Since its launch in June 2012, the charging station has provided 950 kilowatt hours of energy to plug-in vehicles saving 2,970 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions.

Waste Reduction Award: Water Buffalo

The Water Buffalo project is a portable water-filtration and chilling unit designed to be paired with reusable or compostable cups and to avoid the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and distributing single-use water bottles. The Water Buffalo was used at both the Food Depot Souper Bowl and the Santa Fe International Folk Art Market.

Green Journalism Award: Occupy New Mexico’s Website and Social Media

The website www.OccupyNewMexico.org (ONM) has provided independent journalistic coverage on the Occupy movements in New Mexico and on related movements for social and environmental justice. ONM uses video journalism from events as well as aggregation of grassroots and mainstream news sources. ONM uses social media to spread the word about the issues it covers.

Youth-Led Award: Institute of American Indian Arts Student Sustainability Group

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) Student Sustainability Leadership (SSL) held The Art of Change: Climate Justice and Indigenous Solutions conference that focused on culture and stories, creative communication, skills and technology and tools for change. The SSL also conducted a trash audit and displayed a week’s worth of trash during a Dumpster Warriors Trash Bash and Fashion show to raise awareness about waste reduction and recycling.

Immigration Reform Town Hall to be Held at the Santa Fe Convention Center Kearny Room Thursday, April 18, from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

Businesses, Students, Immigrant Workers, Faith Leaders to Share Perspectives and Stories on the Need for Reform

On Thursday, April 18, businesses, students, immigrant workers, and faith leaders from Santa Fe and surrounding areas will share perspectives and stories on the need for immigration reform at a public town hall in the Kearny Room at the Santa Fe Convention. Santa Fe Mayor David Coss will provide introductory remarks.

Speakers will share the perspectives of advocacy groups and individuals will share their personal stories on why immigration laws in the U.S. need a comprehensive overhaul.

Topics of discussion will also include: the effect of immigration policy on our economy, the separation of New Mexico families by existing laws, and the importance of creating a path to citizenship that allows those already in the U.S. to obtain citizenship. The event is open to general public and members of the media.

The event is being co-convened by the City of Santa Fe Immigration Committee, the United Worker Center of New Mexico, the Northern New Mexico Central Labor Council and the Interfaith Leadership Alliance.

WHO: Advocates, businesses, students, immigrant workers, and faith leaders on key topics surrounding immigration reform

WHAT: Santa Fe Immigration Reform Town Hall

WHERE: Santa Fe Convention Center - Kearny Room, 201 W. Marcy Street, Santa Fe, NM 87501

WHEN: Thursday April 18, 2013, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

Nonprofit and Government Agencies Should Register Now for CommUNITY Day

Free Event on the Plaza is May 11

El Dia de la Gente—the 20^th annual CommUNITY Day on the Santa Fe Plaza—is just  a few weeks away, and there is still room to set up a table. Applications are being accepted from any nonprofit or government agency that wants to let the public know what it does. There is no charge to participate in this fun and free event on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., with local talent performing live on the Plaza Bandstand from noon until 10 p.m.

The application, rules, and regulations are available on the City’s website at www.santafenm.gov .  Click on CommUNITY Day on the left side of the homepage; or A-Z, CommUNITY Day. Complete the application and return or send it to Bobbi Mossman, P.O. Box 909, Santa Fe, NM  87504-0909. For more information contact Bobbi 955-6979 or by email at bjmossman@santafenm.gov .

Participants are encouraged to provide giveaways and information, but cannot sell merchandise, memberships, or fund raise.

CommUNITY Day is the brainchild of City Councilor Patti Bushee, and has grown steadily since its beginning in 1993.

Banned Book List 2013

Captain Underpants tops the list of the top 10 most challenged books of 2012. See the rest at:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/banned-books-2013-captain_n_3083933.html

Things You Can Do at Your Library, This Week and Every Week!

Hey it’s National Library Week this week! To make sure you’re getting the most out of all Santa Fe Public Library has to offer, here’s a list of 7 excellent things you can do at your library, this week and every week:

1. Check out Downloadable Audiobooks - In addition to having a lovely physical collection of books on CD to check out from any of our locations; SFPL also has a fabulous collection of downloadable digital audiobooks (including children’s titles!) to listen to on your ipod, MP3 player, smartphone, or computer, available for check out through the library’s website with One Click Digital.  See http://santafenm.oneclickdigital.com/Home/Featured.aspx to get started.

2. Check out Downloadable e-Books for your e-reader - One of our newest services, SFPL now has a collection of e-Books to check out and read on your Kindle, Nook, smartphone, or other e-reader through OverDrive.  Try it out here http://sanfe.lib.overdrive.com . Our collection of titles is growing all the time, so check back frequently!

3. Place holds online- The library can’t be open all of the time, but our website and online catalog are; so no matter where you are or what time it is (as long as you have an Internet connection and your library card handy) you can search for library materials, put them on hold and have them sent to whichever location is most convenient for you. Who says Santa Fe doesn’t have a night life?  

4. Research Databases - The Library subscribes to numerous research databases for all of your research needs, and you have access from any computer anytime with your library card! You can find all kinds of articles, look up car repair information, look something up in an encyclopedia, or even start learning a new language. And we can almost guarantee your teacher will like theses sources better than Wikipedia. Take a look: http://catalog.ci.santa-fe.nm.us/screens/gate.html

5. Inter Library Loan - Is there a book or article that you need that Santa Fe Public Library doesn’t own? Don’t despair! We can try to borrow what you need from another library system with inter-library loan. Learn more here http://santafelibrary.org/ill.html

6. Attend a program - Looking for something to go out and do? All locations of the library have a wide variety of free family friendly activities and programs every week (and starting pretty soon our Summer Reading Program).  Check out our calendar of events to see what’s happening: http://santafelibrary.org/calendar.html.

7. Get a book recommendation - Not sure what to read next? Well the rumors are true, people who work at libraries do tend to read a lot, or at least have the inside track on what’s new and exciting; so if you’re looking for something to read, SFPL reference and children’s librarians are ready to help you find it, just ask! We also have this handy monthly list of new titles that have been added to the collection http://catalog.ci.santa-fe.nm.us/ftlist, and regularly changing displays with books that are available for check out too!

City of Santa Fe Water Policies Featured in National Report

One of 10 Western Cities Profiled

Severe drought conditions in 2002 forced City of Santa Fe officials to take a hard look at how to protect Santa Fe’s water supply—present and future. In 2004, Water Division staff drafted plans and implemented policies that encouraged water conservation, offered rebates and incentives and educated the public on the importance of conserving water. Because of this work, and ensuring that the city has a safe, plentiful, and sustainable water supply, Santa Fe is one of 10 western cities featured in a national report: New Visions, Smart Choices: Western Water Security in a Changing Climate, published by Carpe Diem West, a network of water managers, scientists, and conservationists.

“It is an honor to be chosen and featured in Carpe Diem West’s report,” said Water Resources Coordinator, Claudia Borchert. “This demonstrates that our Governing Body pursues and implements progressive and effective water policies.”

An excerpt from the report states, “The city called the community together in 2004 to develop a long-range plan with a big vision, and set out to increase production, amp up conservation even further, and protect its water. The results: Per capita water use declined 40% in 10 years, and the city’s water supply portfolio became more resilient in the face of climate change. Santa Fe has been able to serve more people with the same amount of water.”

Other cities profiled in the report include Salt Lake City; San Antonio; Tualatin River Valley, Oregon; Rocky Mountain Front Range, Colorado; Hayman Watershed, Colorado; Yampa River, Colorado; McKenzie Watershed, Oregon; Upper Clark Fork Basin, Montana; and San Diego County, California.

Celebrate Earth Day at the GCCC

Free Earth Day Event Celebrated at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center

Saturday, April 20 at 9:30 a.m.

The City of Santa Fe invites residents to the second annual celebration of Earth Day at the Genoveva Chavez Center, this Saturday, April 20, at 9:30 a.m. The Genoveva Chavez Center is located at 3221 Rodeo Road. This free event will feature a variety of entertaining and educational activities for all ages.

“We hope the entire community will come out and participate in this fun-filled and educational family event,” stated Lisa Gulotta, Recreation Section Manager for the City of Santa Fe.

Earth Day at the Genoveva Chavez Center runs from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The schedule of events:

• 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Local, Green and Sustainable Business Expo
• 9:30 a.m. until they are all gone – Free saplings will be distributed, courtesy of Keep Santa Fe Beautiful (limit 1 per household)
• 9:30 to 11 a.m. – West African Dance and Music with Soriba Fofana and Friends; Come move to the rhythms in the outdoors
• 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Residential Recycling Bin Give Away—city residents can start recycling at their homes by taking home 2 curbside recycling bins
• 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Archers de Santa Fe—Join us for Archery in the Park
• 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – What’s Recyclable?—Learn what you can (and can’t) recycle; why recycling is important; and where you can take recycling in Santa Fe
• 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Body Hoops—Fun Hula Hoop exercise and play with Diana Lopez

This annual Earth Day celebration is a result of the efforts of the Recreation Division in partnership with Keep Santa Fe Beautiful and the Santa Fe Solid Waste Management Agency.  

It's National Library Week!

Visit your local library today! Find out more at: http://www.ala.org/conferencesevents/celebrationweeks/natlibraryweek

WWII Warbirds Visit Santa Fe

The Collings Foundation brought four WWII warbirds to Santa Fe, from April 10^th through April 12^th. These planes are rare (and impressive!) in that they are still in flying condition. A B-24J, a B-17G, a Messerschmitt ME 262 jet, and a P-51C Mustang were on display at the Santa Fe Municipal Airport.

All the planes are painted in original colors of the time.  One photo shows the cockpit of the B-17G.  Visiting them was like stepping into 1945 for a brief while.

This year, these planes are on tour, visiting 130 cities in America.  A good reminder of all that was at stake and what was accomplished by the Greatest Generation!

Photos by John P at SS, post by John and Ally

Saturday, April 20th at Main: Japanese Crafts for Families

Free Seminars Available for Santa Fe Businesses

City Partners with Service Core of Retired Executives to Enhance the

Skills of Local Business Owners and Entrepreneurs

The City of Santa Fe Business Ombudsman’s Office in partnership with the Service Core of Retired Executives (SCORE), and the Northern New Mexico Human Resource Association are offering free seminars on “Financial Programs for Business Success” and “Incentives to Stimulate Your Business.” These seminars are designed to enhance the skills of business owners and entrepreneurs and are developed to bring key resources to Santa Fe businesses.

“We’re excited to offer these resources to help Santa Fe’s economy grow and prosper one business at a time,” said Fabian Trujillo, Economic Development Division Director.

Ten seminars will be presented on some of the most critical topics for business owners in Santa Fe. The seminars will give business owners free access to expert consultants in each subject. Registration is required and there is limited space, and participation is first come first serve. All seminars are free and will be held at the Santa Fe Business Incubator located at 3900 Paseo del Sol. For more information visit the website at www.santafescore.org.

Register by phone: 505-424-1140 (option 1) or by

E-mail: scoreseminars@hotmail.com.

These seminars provide information on key business resources and skills that are critical to the success of small businesses. The seminars are scheduled from 6 – 8 p.m. Below is the schedule:

• April 18, Financial Programs for Business Success, presented by the City of Santa Fe Economic Development Director, Fabian Trujillo with Ron Brown, Enchantment Land Certified Development Corporation, Walt Taylor, Accion, and Juan Torres, New Mexico Economic Development Department. This seminar will introduce business owners and entrepreneurs to some of the most common financial products to finance their business.

April 23, Developing a Successful Business Plan, presented by Rob Wilson. This seminar will lead you through the essentials of developing your own business plan.

• April 24, Financial Planning and Money Management, led by Bob Lantis. A continuation of the prior "business planning seminar," stressing the importance of using and understanding the financial reports of your business to help run a profitable and successful enterprise.

• April 25, Practical Accounting: Organizing and Using Financial Information, presented by Maryanne Mowen, PhD,. will help business owners and potential business owners determine how best to organize, track, record and review pertinent financial information using a simple approach without making it feel overwhelming.

• April 30, Effectively Marketing Your Business, presented by Jim Berry. A discussion of how to develop your own Marketing Strategy and Plan. Focus is on understanding and targeting your market, your customer, and your competition. Properly positioning your product/service, and developing your advertising message and strategy, as part of your plan of attack.

• May 1, Legal Structures for Your Business, led by Jim Langley. A discussion of the various legal forms available for businesses in the State of New Mexico, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of each, as they pertain to the various business types.

• May 2, Regulatory and Compliance Issues, presented by Jim Langley. A discussion and follow-up of the various legal and regulatory requirements of local, state, and federal government, including taxes of all types, copyrights, licenses, record keeping, insurance, labor laws and employee retirement and savings plans.

• May 7, Creating Your Website and Getting Visitor Traffic, presented by Bill Morrison. Mr. Morrison will show participants the necessary steps to create, register and publish their company website.

• May 8, Incentives to Stimulate Your Business, led by Fabian Trujillo, with Richard Anklam, New Mexico Tax Research Institute, Tobi Ives, New Mexico Film Office, and Sara Haring, New Mexico Economic Development Department. Mr. Trujillo will lead a seminar which will provide business owners and entrepreneurs information on the tax code and whether you can qualify for these incentives and how to access these incentives to stimulate your business.

• May 9, Hiring and Firing 101 presented by Linda Strauss and Maria Hidalgo. This seminar will be a vibrant and exciting experience in the world of managing employees in a variety of businesses.

HANDMADE ARTISTS’ BOOKS CELEBRATED IN SANTA FE

The Celebration of the Book, an annual exhibit of artists’ books made by members of the Santa Fe Book Arts Group (BAG), will be held from Thursday, May 2, through Saturday, May 4, 2013. 

Approximately 100 innovative, one-of-a-kind, handmade books will be on display in the Meem Room of the Palace of the Governors at 110 Washington Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87501, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Admission is free all three days.

“This event provides our members with the opportunity to exhibit one or more of their handmade book art creations,” said Ava Fullerton, co-chair of this year’s event with Andrea Gross. “The whole community is invited to see our work close up. It’s a rare opportunity for visitors to handle the unique books on display.”

BAG has also invited local elementary-age students to participate in several hands-on activities on Thursday, May 2, and Friday, May 3, in classrooms adjacent to the exhibit hall at the Palace of the Governors. The student activities will focus on creating simple one-page books, rubber-band books, pop-up cards, and bookmarks incorporating such elements as calligraphy, drawing, and poetry. Adults are welcome on Thursday and Friday to participate along with the students in hands-on activities. The exhibit is open to the public all three days from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

For more information on the Celebration of the Book, call Ava Fullerton at (505) 982-2846 or Andrea Gross at (505) 983-1373.

The Santa Fe Book Arts Group provides resources and opportunities for book artists to learn and share the skills of their craft. BAG consists of approximately 150 active members who participate in workshops, exhibits, and projects in Santa Fe and surrounding areas within New Mexico. For more information about becoming a member of BAG, visit www.santafebag.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Two codex-style books with handmade paper and collaged-paper covers by Marilyn Chambers of Santa Fe, New Mexico, will be among the artists’ books at the Celebration of the Book. Visitors can handle the books and ask questions of the artists.

User Alert: No Computers Today after 5:30 p.m.

No Internet access and no Library catalog access after 5:30 p.m. today at all branches of the Santa Fe Public Library due to the PNM power outage scheduled for the downtown area tonight.

The Library's systems will be back in operation tomorrow. We apologize for today's inconvenience.

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful Sponsors E-Waste Recycling Drop-Off Day April 13

Bring your E-waste to Siler Road free of charge

All those old computers, printers, cell phones – maybe even that old eight-track tape player you have been storing in the garage or attic - can be disposed of free of charge thanks to the Keep Santa Fe Beautiful program. E-waste may be dropped off from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 13, at 1142 Siler Road. Keep Santa Fe Beautiful, the City of Santa Fe and Albuquerque Recycling Inc. are sponsoring E-Waste Recycling Drop-Off Day.

“This event is an opportunity to recycle these and other types of items while also helping to preserve valuable landfill space,” said Gilda Montaño, coordinator for Keep Santa Fe Beautiful.

Cameras, video cameras, stereo equipment, VCR’s and CD/DVD players, printers, scanners, fax machines, flat screen monitors, computer monitors and equipment such as central processing units, keyboards, wire, cables, computer mice, television satellite equipment, Palm Pilots and hand-held electronic devices, and computer games, microwave ovens, batteries are just some of the items that can be recycled.

These items won’t be accepted on E-Waste Recycling Drop-Off Day: televisions, old style CRT computer monitors, coffee makers, household hazardous waste, appliances, hair dryers, bread machines, light bulbs of any kind, cardboard or paper (the City of Santa Fe does offer curbside recycling of cardboard and most paper items).

Keep Santa Fe Beautiful is a not-for-profit educational organization that sponsors environmental awareness and education programs, including the twice-a-year community clean-up days, the Adopt-a-Median program, the Waste-in-Place teacher resource and training program, Otra Vez: Trash to Treasures, and the school recycling program.

For more information, contact Gilda Montaño at 955-2215, or e-mail Sfbeautiful@santafenm.gov. Visit Keep Santa Fe Beautiful at http://www.keepsantafebeautiful.org/.

Flower Pot Decorating starts today! Register now!

City of Santa Fe Seeks Public Comment on Required Housing and Urban Development Consolidated Plan

The City of Santa Fe seeks public comment on the Consolidated Plan required by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The City receives an annual grant from HUD called the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and activities funded are based on the Consolidated Plan. This is a five year plan that identifies housing and community needs, priorities, goals and strategies.

A draft of the Consolidated Plan, which includes the 2013-2014 Action Plan, is available for review and comment from April 8, 2013 to May 7, 2013 on the website at http://www.santafenm.gov/index.asp?NID=647 and at the following locations:

·         Genoveva Chavez Community Center (3221 Rodeo Road)

·         Southside Library (6599 Jaguar Drive)

·         The Main Library (145 Washington Ave.)

·         Fort Marcy Recreation Center (490 Bishops Lodge Road)

·         Zona del Sol Youth and Family Center (1121 Alto Street)

·         Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center (6601 Jaguar Drive)

·         City of Santa Fe Office of Affordable Housing (120 S. Federal Place)

·         City’s website at: http://www.santafenm.gov/index.asp?NID=647

Included in the Consolidated Plan is the Annual Action Plan which describes the programs that are to receive funding in Fiscal Year 2013-2014.

Written comments will be accepted until May 7, 2013 and may be submitted to:

                        Kym Dicome, Senior Planner

                        Office of Affordable Housing

City of Santa Fe

P.O. Box 909

Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909

Or by e-mail at: kedicome@santafenm.gov.

For more information, contact the Office of Affordable Housing at: 505-955-6574