Heinrich and Lujan Score Big at Democratic Pre-Primary Convention

Staff Report

Former New Mexico House Speaker Ben Lujan high fives son Rep. Ben Ray Lujan who won the Democratic Party Pre-Primary Convention garnering 91.91 percent of the delegate's vote to Harry B. Montoya's 8.09 percent at the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos Democratic Party Delegates Greg Kendall and Chris Chandler with U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan. hoto by Karen Kendall

Rep. Martin Heinrich with wife Julie. Henrich received 54.77 percent of the votes from delegates in his bid for U.S. Senate over opponent Hector Balderas' 45.32 percent. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos delegates from left, Chris Chandler, Greg Kendall, George Chandler, Mike Wheeler and Kyle Wheeler. Photo by Karen Kendall

Democrats packed the Albuquerque Convention Center Saturday for the 2012 Pre-Primary Convention. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Retiring U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman greets delegates at the Pre-Primary Convention. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Los Alamos delegates join with delegates from across New Mexico to elect candidates who will compete in the June Primary. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

State Auditor Hector Balderas garnered 20 percent or more of the delegates' vote guaranteeing him a spot on the June Primary Election ballot. Even though he came in second, Balderas is considered to have done surprisingly well against Martin Heinrich in the Democratic race for the U.S. Senate. Photo by Greg Kendall.ladailypost.com

Supporters are elated by U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Lujan's big victory in his run for re-election. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Convention results:

U.S. Senate:

Martin Heinrich907 votes (54.77%), Hector Balderas 749 votes (45.32%)

U.S. House of Representatives:

Congressional District 1: Michelle Lujan Grisham 179 votes (25.94%), Eric G. Griego 281 votes (40.72%), Martin J. Chavez 230 votes (33.33%)

Congressional District 2: Frank McKinnon 42 votes, Evelyn Madrid Erhard 305 votes (87.9%)

Congressional District 3: Harry B. Montoya 50 (8.09%), Ben Ray Lujan 568 votes (91.91%)

New Mexico Court of Appeals:

Victor Lopez 614 votes (37.35%), M. Monica Zamora 1,030 votes (62.65%)

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Second Strange Being Sighted in Los Alamos!

The second weird creature has been sighted in Los Alamos in as many weeks. "It" was sighted lurking around the Los Alamos Little Theater attempting to enter through a side door. “It” appeared to be a “Lovable Creature” but seemed to find English difficult. "It" appears to be a carrodactyl flying-carrot-type radiculose from the planet Radicule by the name of Ramseed. People are beginning to question whether Los Alamos is being invaded. Contact the Los Alamos Daily Post if you observe any unusual creatures roaming about town. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

Local Hoop Shooting Robot Now Locked in Bag

Steve Aumack and Nate Phillips work on the robot operator control panel as the team gets ready for the competition in Salt Lake City March 15. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

A team of 14 Los Alamos High School students and 10 adult mentors built a robot that can shoot hoops. The team began work Jan. 7 and wrapped up the project Feb 21.

The group is competing in the FIRST Robotics Competition. The competition involves short games played by robots. The students build and program their robots, which are remotely controlled during the competition.

Each team receives a kit of parts made up of motors, batteries, a control system, a PC and a mix of automation components – but no instructions. Designing and programming the robot is up to the students.

This year’s competition is Rebound Rumble. The object is to manipulate the robot to score as many baskets as possible during a two-minute and 15 second match.

The competition also includes a balancing component in which the robots are required to balance on a bridge.

The group is heading to Salt Lake City March 15 to compete in the regional round of the competition.

Ben Schilling works on the robot's pit stop enclosure for the upcoming competition in Salt Lake City. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

The Los Alamos robot now lives in a locked bag. The robot was placed in the bag at midnight Feb. 21 when all work had to be completed. Photo by TK Thompson/ladailypost.com

 

Beautiful Bowls Available at the March 17 Empty Bowl Event

KRSN 1490 News:

The annual Empty Bowls event draws volunteers from across the community who create colorful bowls for sale to raise money for Self Help, Inc. Courtesy/KRSN

The 18th annual Empty Bowl event is set for 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 at the Betty Ehart Senior Center.

For a donation of $10 or more, community members can choose a hand painted bowl and enjoy a delicious soup and bread lunch with live entertainment. 

All of the money raised during the Empty Bowl event goes directly to support the work of Self Help, Inc.

Self Help, Inc. assists Northern New Mexico families in need of immediate emergency aid, and encourages the growth of small businesses with seed money grants.

Purpose and Mission: Self Help, Inc. is committed to enhancing life skills and empowering individuals by providing programs and services that focus on developing self-reliance.

Winner of the prestigious Piñon Award, Self Help, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those in need in northern New Mexico. Since 1969, Self Help, Inc. has provided consultation and advocacy, emergency financial assistance and seed money grants to residents of Los Alamos, northern Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos counties.

Each year, through grants and private and public contributions, our organization is able to support those who need help most, during emergencies or in the quest to become economically self-sufficient. Self Help is a member of United Way of Northern New Mexico Serving Los Alamos and Rio Arriba Counties.

Self Help, Inc. is committed to enhancing life skills and empowering individuals by providing programs and services that focus on developing self-reliance.

Winner of the prestigious Piñon Award, Self Help, Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting those in need in northern New Mexico. Since 1969, Self Help, Inc. has provided consultation and advocacy, emergency financial assistance and seed money grants to residents of Los Alamos, northern Santa Fe, Rio Arriba, and Taos counties.

Each year, through grants and private and public contributions, our organization is able to support those who need help most, during emergencies or in the quest to become economically self-sufficient. Self Help is a member of United Way of Northern New Mexico Serving Los Alamos and Rio Arriba Counties.

Los Alamos Democrats Attend Pre-Primary Convention Today

Today's New Mexico Democratic Pre-Primary Convention at the Albuquerque Convention Center with members of the Los Alamos Delegation including David Izraelevitz, Chris Chandler and Karen Kendall. Photo by Greg Kendall/ladailypost.com

Tribute Concert March 18

School Board Holding Several Meetings This Week

Los Alamos Public Schools News:

From left, Los Alamos School Board Member David Foster, Vice President Kevin Honnell, Board Secretary Judy Bjarke-McKenzie and Board President Melanie McKinley. Board Member Dawn Venhaus is not shown. Courtesy/LAPS

The Los Alamos School Board is set to meet three times this coming week:

• 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Los Alamos High School Speech Theater to discuss district construction, a preventative maintenance plan an Excellence for Student Achievement Award nominee, Trinity Renovations, Quality of Education Survey questions, the School Board’s meeting schedule and the donation of Los Alamos Middle School Garden Shed and agreement with the Family YMCA on the Garden Shed. Also on the agenda is the superintendent’s Professional Development Plan, the superintendent’s evaluation process, disposal of Fixed Assets formulation of policies and responsibility of the school board.

• Immediately following Tuesday’s Regular School Board meeting, the board will hold a Special Meeting to discuss the district’s collective bargaining agreement.

• 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Los Alamos High School to host the New Mexico School Board Region II Meeting.

Arts in Public Places to Discuss Art for White Rock Visitor Center

County News:

A meeting of the Arts in Public Places Advisory Board is set for 4:30-6 p.m. Wednesday at Mesa Public Library.

Members will discuss potential art for the White Rock Visitor Center.

Among other items on the agenda is an update of information regarding the re-location of “Strange Trio,” a brief update on the “Call for Artists” for the Animal Shelter and a discussion of the remaining work needed to develop a 5-Year Strategic Plan.

The public is invited to attend the meeting.

The mission of the Arts in Public Places Advisory Board is to encourage the integration of art into the architecture of municipal structures, increase the general public awareness of art, to visually enhance the community, to capture a part of local history for future generations, to promote the establishment of a collection of art, with the works of artists who live or work, or who have lived or worked in Los Alamos County having a high priority.

 

Former New York Times Reporter to Talk on State of Nuclear Threats and Possibility of a Nuclear 9-11

Phillip Taubman

Former New York Times reporter Philip Taubman talks about the current state of nuclear threats, including Pakistan, North Korea, Iran, and the possibility of a nuclear 9-11 at a presentation beginning at 6 p.m. March 15 at Los National Laboratory’s Bradbury Science Museum.

Taubman also will talk about his newly published book, “The Partnership: Five Cold Warriors and Their Quest to Ban the Bomb.”

The talk is open to the public; seating is limited to 100.

Taubman is a former Moscow and Washington, D.C., bureau chief for the New York Times.

He worked at the Times for more than 30 years and also worked at Esquire and Time.

He was twice awarded the George Polk Award for National Reporting and for Foreign Affairs Reporting.

Now a consulting professor at Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, Taubman in his book explores in-depth the bipartisan efforts of George Shultz, Henry Kissinger, William Perry, Sam Nunn, and Sid Drell to reduce nuclear threats and ultimately abolish nuclear weapons.

A book signing at the Otowi Station Bookstore next door to the museum follows Taubman’s talk.

LANL Schedules Three Community Forums

LANL News:

Los Alamos National Laboratory is hosting three Northern New Mexico community forums about the Lab’s voluntary workforce separation program now under way.

The public is invited to ask questions and get answers about Lab workforce action starting Monday, March 12.

Employees, spouses and the general public are welcome to attend.

Lab officials will be on hand to answer questions:

• March 12 in Pojoaque, 6-7:30 p.m., Cities of Gold Conference Center
• March 13 in Española, 6-7:30 p.m., Nick L. Salazar Center for the Arts, Northern New Mexico College
• March 14 in Los Alamos, 6-7:30 p.m., Duane Smith Auditorium

On March 1, LANL announced it received government approval to reduce its workforce by between 400 and 800 employees through a voluntary separation program.