Life Church TV

For all of you net nerds that would like a way to fellowship . . .
         For those of you who are unable to attend church services . . .

Check out Life Church TV - an on line ministry with uplifting messages of faith, hope, love, and help to find your Christian path in life.  Pod casts of messages are outstanding.  Can't make it to church, give Life Church TV a try!

http://my.lifechurch.tv.www.lifechurch.tv/who-we-are/beliefs

Christmas Land in Mountainiar

You Are Cordially Invited to . . .

 Christmas Land in Mountainair

 December 6 - 25, 2010

(Open House Monday 12/06/2010)

Week days from 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Saturdays 10:00am - 8:00pm

Admission is free but donations would be greatly appreciated.  Donations will go toward Summer Church Camp & Toy's for Tot's.  Anyone who would like more information or would like to volunteer, please contact Ben and Sandi Steinlage at 505-847-1854 (please call during day light hours). 



Note:  I have been fortunate enough to visit the Steinlage home during the holidays ~ they have such a large selection of Christmas decorations that young and old a like will be delighted.  Treat yourself and your families and visit Christmas Land in Mountainair!

How Christmas Land Came To Be

I’m a very fortunate person in that I’ve made money and lost it. I’ve gained fame around the world as an expert in the printing Industry and now a little as an author. The problem is that all of this doesn’t mean anything to me as much as a smile. This is one reason I’m the clown making wise cracks.

Some years back we invited a group of friends over for a Christmas cocktail.  One couple in their late 70’s was the last ones to show up. Eliane came in
without Bartie because he was parking the car. You have to understand he to some degree was the guest of honor for he was dying from cancer. He was the
type that made the best of everything. Though he would tell you how he felt and what the doctors had said he never complained. He was the type that never cussed or show his frustrations when he got mad. He always made the best of a situation.

Well he finally walked into our home that was (compared to now) moderately
decorated. He did not get more than 5ft into the living room before a tear
ran down his cheek. I had gone over to welcome him and I saw the tear and asked if he was in pain. He smiled as he looked around and he told me it had been 40-50 years since he had seen anyone decorate as we had. Within 6 months he died and I felt good about putting a smile on his face.

Since then we’ve added to the collection and it sits up in the shop waiting
for Christmas. It takes us 3 weeks normally to set it all out but it’s worth it. Our home has always been open to whoever comes by. As an example Ray and Heddy Kayser came by with their grandchildren. The boys inspected the tree from branch to branch touching an ornament here and there. Then they say the animated toys and began pushing buttons. Grandpa began yelling at them for touching and playing with them. As politely as I could I told him that was why they were there. The toys could be replaced but not the smiles. He was stubborn and the four of us had the same conversation a number of times as they went through the house.

You need to understand, the bathroom, to bedroom and throughout the house
gets decorated. We have been told it didn’t matter where we went for Christmas we still had to decorate since the neighbors know where our house
key is. With this need to see our decorations people have begun coming out the 12 miles. In fact one night we had 35 people in front of our place caroling (off tune). Once inside there was hardly enough room for everyone with the decorations and all. As with others these visitors commented that we should take our show to town. It seemed like a good idea but we know how difficult it would be. It sounded like a nice idea but a lot of work.

Then a couple of months ago we were talking and I realized it was time.  With the economy being as it is people need help. Then in looking around town I don’t get the feeling of a united community. With all that I saw I want to pay Mountainair back for being so nice to Sandi and I. I know I can’t do enough to make a difference but if I can give a few people something to smile about, and a bite of food. I will have done something. Keep in mind we have made it clear we can’t do it all by ourselves for we want this to be a community affair. This year we maybe furnishing the majority of the decorations but we still need help in setting it up and manning it. We also have explained we would like to ask an admission price of money for the Summer Church Camp, or Non perishable food, or toy for Toys for Tots.

So far everyone has been enthusiastic about the idea. Once it opens it will
be from the assistance of the city for letting us use the Community Center,
the Chamber of Commerce for buying the 3x30 ft banner, the Ministerial
Alliance, and the volunteers. So far we have also had decorations donated
(one item is on loan), and promises of cookies and cake for opening night.

I personally hope this will in some way bring all of us closer together and a smile on a few faces. I have to say I do wish for a little more to happen. I would like to see this become a yearly event with the art departments in the East Mountain Schools making things that can be added as I am with my Adobe Village. If I had thought of it sooner I would also have made a model Saw Mill. Still more buildings could be added, a meadow full of animals, or other dioramas could be designed and added to Christmas Land.

As you might have gotten this message, I don’t want this to be a Steinlage event as much as an event brought together by the community.

Brick Paving Machine - Green, Efficient, Fantastic!

Check Out the Company Web Site!

Higher Speed Internet Service - Available In Deer Canyon & Scholle!

Recent equipment expansion and upgrades has extended Higher Speed Internet's service area!  Higher Speed can now service folks in Deer Canyon Preserve all the way to Scholle!  If you have never heard of Higher Speed Internet, click here to read my recent review of Higher Speed Internet. 

Folks living beyond DSL and who are using satellite services now have a better option.  Interested in rural high speed internet without the lag time of satellite?  Give me a call or drop me an email at
George@WhisperingRange.com  Phone:  505-847-2220 (Please no calls before 9am and none after 7pm). 

Ande Marimba Band - Tomorrow

Just a quick reminder that the Ande Marimba Band will be playing tomorrow (Friday, November 12, 2010) at the Mountainair Elementary School Gym.  Click Here for more even information: http://mountainairarts.org/_Media/mmac_marimba_20101112.jpg

Hope everyone can attend and HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME!

1st Annual Food Drive by Cub Scout Pack 96 - Estancia

Cub Scout Pack 96 needs YOUR HELP to benefit

Torrance County's needy Families & Bethel Community Food Bank

during the 2010 Holiday Season 

On Saturday morning, December 4th, 2010, Cub Scout Pack 96 will be distributing "plastic bags" through out our community and all you have to do is . . .

• Place your donated non-perishable food items into your bags.
• On December 11th, 2010, place your donation bags outside your door or on your porch.

At 9am on December 11th, 2010, Scouts from Pack 96 will collect your bags and deliver them to Bethel Community Food Bank that same day.  Estancia Cub Scout Pack 96 Appreciates & Thanks You For Your Donations and for providing our children with the chance to learn to help others.

For more information on Donating Food or Scouting, please contact

Larry Brooks - Cub master, Cub Scout Pack 96
505-610-8128

Magdalena Ranger District Plans Sargent Prescribed Burn

MAGDALENA RANGER DISTRICT PLANS


SARGENT PRESCRIBED BURN

MAGDALENA, NM – NOVEMBER 8, 2010 - The Cibola National Forest, Magdalena Ranger District is planning prescribed burns totaling 800 -1,000 acres in the northwestern part of the San Mateo Mountains. Ignition is planned to begin Tuesday, November 16, 2010, and could continue into December, depending on weather and fuel conditions. Prescription parameters include having the appropriate weather forecast and the required personnel and equipment on hand, including identified contingency resources. Fire management crews will patrol for as long as necessary after ignition to ensure public safety.

The Sargent prescribed burn area is located on the Magdalena Ranger District approximately 28 miles southwest of Magdalena, New Mexico and about 33 miles northwest of Truth or Consequences. The dominant fuels in the area are Ponderosa pine, mixed conifer and piñon/juniper with light to moderate grass cover. This burn will help improve wildlife habitat and range management.

During this prescribed burn you could experience delays when traveling the following roads: Forest Road (FR) 220, FR 476, FR 477, FR 549, FR 719, and Bolander Canyon Road, Durfee Canyon Road, and Bear Trap Canyon road. Additional fire vehicles will be in the area patrolling and monitoring the road. Please drive carefully when on these roads. Visibility might be lower due to smoke. Use caution.

For more information contact the Magdalena Ranger District at 575-854-2281 or email cwolfe@fs.fed.us.

## End ##

Torrance County Commission Regular Meeting Today

A public hearing is on the agenda tday regarding the request for revocation of a Conditional Use Permit issued to Esperanza Gomez and Geraldine Hernandez to place a second mobile home on a single tract of land for caretaking purposes located at 49 Wilson Loop being lot 24-B Edgewood Meadows Estates.  The hearing is scheduled to begin at 9:15am.

Mid-Regoin Council of Governments, Loretta Tollefson is presenting information regarding initiation of a Salt Missions Trail Scenic Byway Project.

DWI Coordinator, Tracey Master, requesting actual expenses when attending the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

Joseph Ellis, Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority (ESVWA) - Resolution 2010-46 Authorizing Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority Joint Powers Agreement to include the Town of Vaugh.

Proposed Correction Corporation of America Inmate Confinement Contract

Norther New Mexico Resource Advisory Committee Request for Title II Projects

County Manager Updates

Meeting begins at 9:00am and is held in the old Torrance County Courthouse. 

Have A Great Day!

May your day show you how much your circle loves you, may you show your appreciation to those who love you most, may you show gratitude to those who support you, may your day be filled with thanks for every gift you have been blessed with, but most of all, to everyone that loves, supports, and have blessed my life . . . HAVE A GREAT DAY!

Mountainair Friends of the NRA Annual Banquet

Join your friends and neighbors at our Annual Fun(d) Raiser Banquet!

Great Food ~ Raffle ~ Silent Auction ~ Fantastic Time

Dr. Robert Saul Community Center

111 N. Roosevelt, Mountainiar, New Mexico

 Saturday, November 20, 2010

Begining at 6:00pm  

$25 individual, $45 per couple

To order tickets, call Susan Brazil 505-847-2321; Jim Greene 505-847-2475 (day) 505-384-5480 (night); Via the Net: http://www.friendsofnra.org/ ; or by mail:  Jim Greene, PO Box 458, Mountainair, NM 87306 (order form included in flyer linked below).

Click Here For Event Flyer

Come join your fellow NRA members and supporters for a fun-filled evening the whole family will enjoy.  This exciting event will raise funds in support of vital projects including;

• Youth Education
• Firearms Training Programs
• Hunter Safety Classes
• Raffels (See below)
• and Much, Much, More

Look at these great guns;

    Kimber 84M .308 Select Grade Rifle (The "Gun of the Year")
    Limited Edition NRA Glock Model 22.40SW
    Weatherby 12 Gurage Pump Shotgun
    Remmington 700SPS in .300 Win Gag
    Taurus .357 Mag. Compact Revolver
    Rossi Trifecto Three Barrel Set
    Savage 93R17 - .17HMR

Plus many other firearms and . . .

Fabulous Art Work, Jewelry & Many, Many Other Collectibles!

Get Your Tickets Today!

To order tickets, call Susan Brazil 505-847-2321; Jim Greene 505-847-2475 (day) 505-384-5480 (night); or via the Net: http://www.friendsofnra.org/ ; or by mail: Jim Greene, PO Box 458, Mountainair, NM 87306

Higher Speed Internet in Rural Mountainair Area

Living in rural New Mexico some days is more of a job than an adventure, especially when rural New Mexican's are seeking viable Internet services.  I, like many of you, have probably lived through the deadly dial up years, grant funded Internet providers that have failed, followed by satellite service companies. 

Over all, rural New Mexicans have enjoyed better internet service options, but we are still only offered sub-standard service when compared to our municipal neighbors.  Lucky for me and hopefully others, Higher Speed Internet can now service portions of rural Mountainair.  

If you don't know who Higher Speed Internet is, I can say that I have observed this company for the last 10 years and offer my observations and experience with Higher Speed as a new customer.

• Company Stability & Expansion:  Over the past 10 years, Higher Speed has grown its service area.  During that same 10 year period, our area has had numerous companies - grant driven and out of state companies that have blow into the area, sucked up money, provided minimal to no service and then just disappeared leaving customers searching for service over and over again.
  
  Higher Speed has had the ability to expand its service area over the past 10 years in spite of competition from the "big boys" and grant motivated operators. They have steadily grown the company adding new coverage areas only when they could fully service them.  Higher Speed is in it for the long haul, they are a part of our community, a small business that fully vested here.
   
• Company Ethics: Higher Speed has honored not only their spoken word and hand shake conversations, they have honored their contracts very well. Steve and all of his crew are some of the most honorable and hard working business people I have know in this area. They stand behind everything they do.
   
• Company Customer Service: Higher Speed has gone the extra mile for every customer, their customer service is outstanding in large part based on owner & employees honorable nature further complemented by living in our central mountain region instead of out of state.
      
• Company Knowledge: Steve and all of his crew are knowledgeable in the field. Higher Speed understands the technology they use to provide service, how to help customers who have limited technical skills, and their tech support services are top drawer in my opinion. Higher Speed tech support is a complete turn around from the pat response systems of satellite and other internet service providers.
     
• Community Support: Higher Speed and all of its staff support our area as a community through local purchasing when ever possible, by participating in local groups, organization, and education. As a small business Higher Speed understands that community focus and support is the key to the betterment of our area.
   
• Outage/Down Times:  As an individual and business person I understand that no matter what the service is, there are always problems that come along - just a part of life.  Is Higher Speed perfect, no, but they are continually working toward perfection.   As a new customer of approximately 2 months, I ask Steve about outage and down times.  Steve promised me that he would address outages as quickly as possible and that any down time/outages would depend on the situation at hand. I have experienced two outages since I began using Higher Speed's services and was very impressed with Steve and his staff.  The first outage occurred due to an equipment failure - Higher Speed resolved the issue in under 24 hours over a weekend and were forthcoming as to the nature of the problem. Going the extra mile, Steve has taken steps to reduce the potential of such an outage again.  My second outage was beyond Higher Speed Internets control - a massive power outage from CNME dropped the service but only briefly. 
   
• All Weather Connection:  While using satellite, I would have down time even during clear whether at home because my providers main equipment would experience weather events.  Unlike satellite connections, Higher Speeds signal type works through overcast skies and rain bands. 
   
• Contracts, Fee's & Billing:  I really like Higher Speed billing policy - No Contracts (unless a new customer needs to spread out the installation fee over time).  One time installation fee, and flat rate monthly billing. If you are unhappy with the service, there are no outrageous early termination fees and all parties can go their separate ways unencumbered. 
   
• Customer Perks:  Higher Speed Internet gives back to its customers - for every referral that joins Higher Speed Internet, the customer that referred gets a months service for free.
     
• Telecommuting: I have a family member who was to begin tele-working (working from home) this year.  Before hiring Higher Speed our teleworking capacity was greatly reduced because of latency (hesitancy) in signal and bandwidth reductions even for high end satellite services. Since we have been using Higher Speed's service tele-working from our home is now fully possible. 

If any one would like to try out Higher Speed Internet, email me (george@whisperingrange.com) or give me a call 505-847-2220 (please not before 9am or after 7pm) - we can set up an appointment to meet at my office for a test drive. 

Town of Mountainair Accepting Sealed Bids on the Mountainair Activity Center (MAC)

Click   New Mexico Public Notice  for the full notice.

NOTICE Sale of Property The Town of Mountainair will accepting sealed bids on the Mountainair Activity Center (MAC) formerly known as the Assembly of God Campgrounds. Sealed Bids will be accepted in the Mountainair City Hall located at 109 N Roosevelt, PO Box 115, Mountainair, New Mexico, 87036 until November 11, 2010 at 4:30pm.

Click New Mexico Public Notice for the full notice.

2010-2011 Torrance County Swearing-In Ceremony

We invite you to be our guest at the;

Torrance County Swearing-In Ceremony

Thursday, December 29th

Three O'Clock  through Five O'Clock 

~ Refreshments ~

Hosted by the 7th Judicial District Court located at

903 North 5th Street, Estanica, New Mexico

Make your reservations early, seating is limited. 

RSVP :  505-246-4745

Facebook users, click here for on line invitation!
(Facebook logon required)

Get Ready To Sort Your Trash Torrance County

During the October 27, 2010 Torrance County Commission meeting, Joseph Ellis of the Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority (ESVWA) presented information regarding possible stimulus funding for creation of a recycling center in Torrance County.  The funding would provide monies to erect a building and purchase necessary equipment for the recycling operation.  Mr. Ellis indicated ESVWA has space at their current location, required site testing in place as well as room to build the structure to house the recycling center.  He further commented that the project met criteria for stimulus shovel ready funding and that work had to be completed by June 2011.  

Commissioner Chavez-Gutierrez questioned additional staffing requirements included in the funding package to which Mr. Ellis commented that it was unclear how quickly new staff could be hired for the recycling facility because it was unclear how quickly the project would become self supportive.  Additionally, Mr. Ellis indicated that the recycling facility would be easy to operate as items would be pre sorted before reaching the facility.  Recycling in Torrance County - that would be nice!

Pre-sorted before reaching the recycling facility and questions regarding self supporting operations raises a few question from this writer.  How will that trash be pre-sorted?  Many residents in Torrance County (our family is one of them) have had running battles with Estancia Valley Solid Waste Authority for years. 

From on again off again hours, rules regarding what you can dump changing week to week, vacant rates applied to non-trash generating properties, to invasion of privacy via the ever unpopular residential trash inspections, I think it valid to cautiously question any changes to ESVWA and managements approach to consumers when those changes are on the horizon.  Will the opening of a recycling center in Torrance County create another opportunity for ESVWA to brow beat and abuse their mandated customer base?



An added concern is how will the recycling program be paid for?   Every item that ESVWA plans to accept for recycling should have resale value to recycling companies. ESVWA already generates income from refrigerators and other metal items deposited at trash stations.  Management should be able to produce projected figures regarding income generation for additional recycling activities.  Statements by Mr. Ellis regarding the unclear nature of how quickly the recycling facility will be able to generate self supporting income leads me to suspect additional increases for consumers from ESVWA in the near future as well as potential burden on Torrance Counties already depleted finances.

Don't get me wrong I am all for recycling.  Recycling has been a stated primary assignment of trash agencies since their inception and it is more than time for ESVWA to perform duties as assigned. 

My hope is that ESVWA management will put aside the my way or the high way approach on this and all future projects, instead, choosing to include consumers input during the formation of recycling policies, procedures, and cost increases to create a positive environment for successful recycling in Torrance County.  Let this be a project that all of Torrance County will take pride in as well as enjoy participating in.

CNME Power Outage Knocks Out Higher Speed Internet Services

Higher Speed Internet's central location was affected by a massive power outage. According to channel 4 news this morning, the outage affected Edgewood, Moriarty, Chilili, etc. and Central New Mexico Electric Co Operative (CNME) was working to restore power to those affected by the outage.

Higher Speed Internet customers should have service restored as soon as CNME gets the power back on.