Praying for rain at Montosa Campground - Mountain Mail News

Page 6 • May 30, 2013 • Mountain Mail • mountainmailnews.comFather Tommy Means of Epiphany Episcopal Church in Socorro will participatein the Prayer Vigil For Rain.Photo by Matt MiddletonDROUGHTcontinued from page 1and pastures were rated very poorto poor in seven of the elevenWestern States. New Mexicotopped the list, with 98 percent ofits rangeland and pastures ratedvery poor to poor, followed byNevada at 69 percent Arizona at63 percent.A report from the SouthwestClimate Change Network statesthat “since October 1, extreme toexceptional drought conditionshave increased by about 70 percentin New Mexico.Temperatures were warmer thanaverage in Arizona and colderthan average in New Mexico in thelast month, and precipitation hasbeen minimal as is typical for thistime of year.“Above-average temperaturesare predicted to persist in bothstates through August, and sinceMay and June are historically drymonths in the Southwest, anyimprovements in drought will likelynot occur until the monsoonbegins,” the report says.“Although monsoon forecastsat this time of year are highlyuncertain, there is some indicationthat the season may begin soonerthan average, but this doesn’t necessarilymean that the season overallwill produce above-averagerainfall.”Forecasters say the Santa Feand Socorro areas have receivedjust 17 percent of their normalsnow and rainfall so far this year.Middleton said interest is growingin the Montosa event.“Prayers, songs, and ceremoniesare all part of a unique,and surely, memorable service,” hesaid. “We’re bringing in a largescreen TV for a few things. Firstoff, a four minute trailer of a moviethat came out last year, RestlessHeart, the first full-length movieever made of the life of SaintAugustine, a really beautiful filmabout a man that even someCatholics know little about.”Middleton will also screen aseries of clips from the movie BlueGold, a documentary about theworld water shortage, “and theethics of ownership and control ofthis scarce resource as it enters theglobal marketplace.”“Also music with thunderstormimagery with the narrative ofPsalm 29, which we’re calling TheSan Augustin Plains Prayer,” hesaid. “Rain prayers are especiallypotent among desert dwellers.Native Americans have for thousandsof years made prayers, songsand dances for rain, and they continueto do so today.”“Participants from AlamoNavajo will be attending, andBernie Romero is planning on alittle music together with somefolks from the San AntonioMission.”Father Tommy Means, ofSocorro’s Epiphany EpiscopalChurch will also be attending.“We want to offer a prayer andhelp in bringing people together,”Means said. “Anytime you can getpeople together and make themaware how critical water is, it’sgood for all of us.”Means also conducts servicestwice a month at Magdalena’sCommunity Church.Middleton said the agenda isstill being put together, “and if anyindividual or group in the areawould like to participate witheither prayer, song, or ceremonyget in touch with me atmatt@maninthemaze.com or call575-854-2306.”Socorro CountyRight to LifeCelebration of LifeSummertime TeaSaturday, June 15 at 1 pmBodega Burger Co., SocorroSpecial speakers from CareNet and Birthright,plus a student’s perspecve.Summer Fashion Show, prizes, refreshments. Wear a Hat!$4.00 adults, $2.00 children • Scholarships availableRSVP & Quesons Joy 575-835-2405, Audrey 505-864-8192Food Safety Modernization Actcould affect New Mexico agricultureNew Mexico Department ofAgriculture is encouraging farmers,ranchers, and food processorsacross the state to weigh in on twofederal food safety proposals thatcould impact how they do business.The Food Safety ModernizationAct is federal legislation beingimplemented by the U.S. Foodand Drug Administration.According to that agency, the newlaw “enables FDA to focus moreon preventing food safety problemsrather than relying primarily onreacting to problems after theyoccur.”Because FSMA covers suchwide-ranging areas as prevention,inspection, response, and imports,FDA will implement the new lawportions at a time over the next fewyears.Right now, FDA is acceptingcomment on two proposals thatwill guide the implementation ofFSMA:•Preventive Controls forHuman Food Proposed Rule(http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm334115.htm)•Standards for Produce SafetyProposedRule(http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/FSMA/ucm334114.htm)“I’m encouraging farmers,ranchers, and food processors inNew Mexico to be familiar withthe ideas behind these proposals,and then let FDA know how theirbusinesses could be impacted,”New Mexico Secretary ofAgriculture Jeff Witte said.“Particularly when you considerthings like our reliance uponirrigation, it becomes clear justhow unique agriculture is in NewMexico compared to other states.That makes our input on theseproposals absolutely vital.”Witte is encouraging those whowill be subject to the law to submitwritten public comment directly toFDA, whether it’s something theyauthor individually or on behalf ofan agricultural organization towhich they belong. FDA’s publiccomment period ends SeptemberMagdalena library summer programagdalena Librarian YvonneMagener has released the datesand activities for the summer program.She said in addition to thechildren’s activities, Don Wiltshirewill lead discussions on the book“The Secret Knowledge ofWater” by Craig Childs. OnSaturday, June 15 at 2 p.m. hewill present a preamble to thebook, with an overview of our currentwater problem. On July 20Wiltshire will lead a second discussionof the book’s content andthe future of Magdalena’s watersupply.The June summer program forchildren:Sat. June 1 – birdhouse decorating10 a.m.-noonTue. June 4 – Storyteller,Children’s Corner. 10-11 a.m.Wed. June 5 – Storyteller,Children’s Corner. 10-11 a.m.Fri. June 7 – LeatherWorkshop with Lilia Limbert.Make a key fob, cool pieces of jewelryor a coaster. 10 a.m.-noonSat. June 8 – Suncatchers. 10a.m.-noon/Storyteller, Children’sCorner. 10-11 a.m.Tue. June 11 – Storyteller, children’scorner. 10-11 a.m.Wed. June 12 – Storyteller,children’s corner. 10-11 a.m.Fri. June 14 – Skrinky Dinks.10 a.m.-noonSat. June 15 – Ojos de Dios.10 a.m.-noon/Storyteller, children’scorner. 10-11 a.m.Tue. June 18 – Storyteller, children’scorner. 10-11 a.m.Wed. June 19 - Storyteller, children’scorner. 10-11 a.m.Fri. June 21 – ClayOrnaments. 10 a.m.-noonSat. June 22 – Pysanky EggDecorating. Decorate an egg withhot wax and colorful dyes. 1-3p.m./ Storyteller, children’s corner.10-11 a.m./Turkey and IndiaSlideshow with Jon Hertz andpotluck.Fri. June 28 – Decorate a Pen.Make a pen flower, decorate a penwith polymer clay. 10 a.m.-noonSat. June 29 – SASSShooters. Demonstration and Q& A on the deck. 2-4 p.m.16, 2013.The USDA is also invitingpeople to comment on its ownwebsite regarding the legislation.NMDA will condense this inputand submit it to FDA.Farmers, ranchers, and foodprocessors should e-mail theirremarks no later than July 15 toDavid Lucero, director ofNMDA’s Marketing andDevelopment Division, atdlucero@nmda.nmsu.edu.“It’s important to note that submittingcomments throughNMDA should in no way take theplace of submitting comments onbehalf of your own agriculturalbusiness or agricultural organizations,”Lucero said.The Mountain Mail is publishedmonthly at 504 First St.,Magdalena, NM 87825,by Good News Graphics, LLCand over 3,500 copies aredistributed throughout Socorroand Catron Counties.Mountain MailPO Box 500 • 504 First St.Magdalena, NM 87825(575) 854-3500 • (575) 838-6452publisher@mountainmailnews.comOn the Web at:www.mountainmailnews.comFacebook:Mountain Mail-NewsStaff:Editor: John LarsonAdvertising Sales: Linda RitterPublisher, Production & Sales:Laurie Taylor GreggSingle copies:FREE to a good homeAvailable in blue newstand boxesin Socorro at Smiths, John Brooksand The Water & Ice Store.In Magdalena at the Post Office,Family Dollar and the MountainMail Office/Village Press.$1 for back issues$2.75 for back issues by mail