The Battles For Socorro - Mountain Mail

Thursday, January 26, 2012 

IN THE NEWS 

Village Board Trustees 

revisit BIA dorm issue 

By John Larson 

An offer to take the BIA dorm complex off 

the Village’s hands was made at the Jan. 17 

Village Board board meeting. 

Ronald L. Horsley of Ojo Caliente gave a 

presentation and said he wanted to purchase the 

complex for a vocational center for disabled veterans. 

According to his proposal, the property would 

be upgraded to be in compliance with EPA regulations 

regarding asbestos contamination, and 

that it would also be upgraded to ADA compliance 

“to better serve those veterans who survived 

and are now physically impaired and have disabilities; 

thus promoting and providing vocational, 

technical and educational training, and 

See VILLAGE, Page 13 

---------------------- ◆ ---------------------- 

New funding formula 

for New Mexico Tech 

New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez officially 

unveiled the new higher education funding 

formula at a press conference at New Mexico 

Tech. 

According to a press release from Tech, the 

old formula was largely based on student headcount 

on the 21st day of each semester and the 

square-footage of campus buildings. Martinez 

pushed the universities to agree upon a formula 

that is based on course completion, degrees 

awarded and technical degrees. 

In her presentation, Martinez said the state’s 

funding formula should provide incentives to hitting 

benchmark goals “that will help the state 

See TECH, Page 4 

---------------------- ◆ ---------------------- 

Hunter education classes 


New Mexico Game and Fish has announced 

its schedule of Hunter Education Classes for 

Magdalena and Socorro. 

In Magdalena, the class will be taught by 

Marshal Larry Cearley. 

Cearley has been teaching the hunter’s safety 

course for 17 years. 

“It’s mainly about being safe when handling 

weapons,” Cearley said. “Other skills like first 

aid, some survival guidelines and GPS tracking 

will be covered.” 

See HUNTER, Page 10 

OF NOTE 

Artists young and old will be filling the floor 

of Finley Gym at the annual Community Arts 

party Febuary 11. Dozens of artists and crafts 

people from the area volunteer their time to show 

participants how to express their creativity. See 

story Page 8. 

Serving Magdalena, Socorro & West Central New Mexico Since 1980 ~ Locally Owned ~ Vol. 32, No. 1 ~ All Rights Reserved. FREE 

A period cannon is trained on opposing soldiers off Sixth Street during the Battle for Socorro by Civil War re-enactors. The Socorro event, 

scheduled for Feb. 23-26, is the only Civil War re-enactment in the country held on actual city streets. 

Photo by John Larson 

The Battles For Socorro 

Socorro and Escondida to be sites of Civil War re-enactments 


Amidst the smoke and noise of musket 

fire and cannonading, Civil War reenactors 

will battle it out on the streets of 

Socorro and banks of the Rio Grande at 

Escondida February 23-26 for the 14th 

annual Battle For Socorro weekend. 

The yearly event commemorates part 

of New Mexico’s involvement with the 

War Between The States. Following the 

Battle of Valverde, the Confederate army 

took control of the city of Socorro. 

“This year marks the 150th anniversary 

of the taking of Socorro,” amateur 

historian and Civil Was enthusiast 

Charles Mandeville said. “This event is 

what we try to re-create every year.” 

Mandeville said he hopes the event 

will attract more interest in Socorro’s 

diverse history. 

“Both the city and county have a 

unique place in Civil War history,” 

Mandeville said. “The retreat of the 

Texas Volunteers stopped the 

Confederacy from taking the Southwest, 

from New Mexico, the gold fields of 

Colorado, and all the way to California 

coast. It could’ve happened if not for their 

losses and retreat after the Battle of 

Glorieta Pass.” 

Mandeville said the Battles of 

Socorro weekend is one of the premier reenactment 

events in the four states of 

New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, and 

Utah. 

“We’ll have a fairly large contingent,” 

Mandeville said. “We have people coming 

in from El Paso, Las Cruces, 

Albuquerque, and Alamogordo and others 

from Arizona and Colorado.” 

Volunteers have been preparing the 

fort and the battlefield for the past few 

weeks. A wooded area east of the battlefield 

has been cleared, giving re-enactors 

more options, especially with cannon fire 

and cavalry charges. 

“We call the Battle of Fort 

Escondida.” Mandeville said. “It’s all 

about tactics. The two commanders are 

going to do their own scenarios. They 

dream up all sorts of things, and it promises 

to be very exciting. Neither side will 

know what the other will do.” 

Period music, demonstrations, and 

tours will be given in and around Fort 

See BATTLES Page 12 

No contest in Socorro; 4 Magdalena 

candidates file for March election 


The March 6 municipal elections will see no change in the 

Socorro City Council, as the only candidates filing on Jan. 10 

were the four incumbent councilors: Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez, 

Toby Jaramillo, Michael Olguin Jr. and Peter Romero. There 

were no write-in candidates, so the four will run unopposed. 

Socorro’s Municipal Judge Francis Cases is also unopposed. 

The same cannot be said for the municipalities of 

Magdalena and Reserve. 

In Reserve, Robert Taylor is challenging the 

incumbent mayor, Constance Wehrheim. Two Village Trustees, 

Eddie Varela and Wilfred Estrada are up for re-elction. They 

are being challenged by John Noah and Clay Snyder. 

In Magdalena, Toby A. Jaramillo is challenging incumbent 

Robert Serna for Municipal Judge. 

Magdalena’s village board has two trustee positions up for 

grabs, and four candidates have filed for the positions. 

Current Trustee Carmen Torres has decided not to run for 

re-election. The other position is currently held by Barbara 

See CANDIDATES, Page 13 

VISIT THE MOUNTAIN MAIL ONLINE! www.mountainmailnews.com

Page 2 • January 26, 2012 • Mountain Mail • mountainmailnews.com 

The 

MarketPlace 

COMMUNITY CALENDAR 

Jan. 27 

•Roadrunner Food Distribution, 10 

a.m.Magdalena Rodeo Grounds 

•Rhythmic Circus, 7:30 p.m. Performing Arts 

Series, Macey Center 

•Open Mic Night - Golden Spur Saloon, 

Magdalena 

Jan. 28 

•Wildlife Photography Workshop, 6:15 a.m. – 

4:30 p.m. Bosque del Apache National 

Wildlife Refuge 

Jan. 29 

•Friends of the Magdalena Library Annual 

Fundraiser, 2 p.m. - Bear Mountain Coffee 

House 

Feb. 1 

•DAV Bingo Night, 7 p.m. - Socorro DAV, 

200 N. 5th St. 

Feb. 4 

•1st Saturday VLA Guided Tours - Very Large 

Array, Plains of San Agustin, Highway 60 

Feb. 6 

•Magdalena Village Board of Trustees meeting, 

6 p.m. - Village Hall, North Main St. 

•Socorro City Council meeting, 6 p.m. - City Hall 

Feb. 7 

•Permit Application Hearing for Augustin Plains 

Ranch LLC, 10 a.m. - Socorro County 

Courthouse 

Feb. 11 

•Community Arts Party. 10 a.m. - 

3 p.m. Finley Gym 

•Friends of the Library Book Sale. 11 a.m. - 

1p.m. - Book room across from the Socorro 

Public Library 

•Socorro County Fair and Rodeo Association 

Annual Dance/Fundraiser, 5:30 p.m. 

Socorro County Fairgrounds 

•Historic Forts Day - El Camino Real 

International Heritage Center 

Feb. 12 

•Friends of the Library Annual Meeting, 2 p.m. 

The 

MarketPlace 

Old Fashioned General Store Atmosphere 

in the Historic Wool Warehouse 

February Specials ForYour Valentine! 

From Books to Wild Rags – Jewelry – Saddles – Music – Cards 

Free Gift Wrap in our Rodeo Paper! 

Open Everyday 11 - 4 

(Sometimes Earlier - S ometimes Later) 

575.854.3088 •105 North Main St. 

Magdalena, New Mexico 

Michele Grecco, E.A. 

Grecco Tax Services 

COMPLETE BOOKKEEPING 

AND ACCOUNTING SERVICES 

Speaker: author Steven F. Havill - 

Socorro Public Library 

Feb. 14 

•Socorro County Commission meeting, 6 p.m. 

County Annex building, Neel Ave. 

•San Augustin Water Coalition meeting, 6 p.m. 

Datil Baptist Church 

•Valentine Dinner and Dance, 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. 

New Mexico Tech Fidel Center Ballroom 

•Glenn Miller Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. - Performing 

Arts Series, Macey Center 

Feb. 15 

•Socorro County Land Use Commission meeting, 

5 p.m. - County Annex Building, Neel Ave. 

Feb. 18 

•Socorro Chamber of Commerce Awards 

Banquet, 5:30 p.m. - Bodega Burger Co. 

and Lounge 

Feb. 20 

•Magdalena Village Board of Trustees meeting, 

6 p.m. - Village Hall, North Main St. 

•Socorro City Council meeting, 6 p.m. City Hall 

Feb 23-26 

•Battles for Socorro Civil War Re-Enactment 

Socorro Plaza; Escondida Bridge 

Feb. 24 

•Eleanor Roosevelt Chautauqua, 6 p.m. 

Quemado Senior Center 

•McPeake and Cathie Ryan, 7:30 p.m. - Celtic 

Music - Performing Arts Series, Macey Center 

Feb. 25 

•Birdwatcher’s Guide to Duck Butts, 9 a.m. - 

4 p.m. - Bosque del Apache National Wildlife 

Refuge 

•Science Olympiad - New Mexico Tech campus 

Feb. 28 

•Socorro County Commission meeting, 6 p.m. 

County Annex building, Neel Ave. 

Mar. 3 

•Childbirth Education Class, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. 

Socorro General Hospital’s Cafeteria 

Land Use Commission meeting cancelled 

The Socorro County Land 

Use Commission did not meet in 

the month of January. The next 

regularly-scheduled meeting will 

be Wednesday, February 15 at 5 

p.m. at the Socorro County 

Announcing Our Magdalena Office: 

103 East First St. • Magdalena, NM 87825 

575.772.5816 

Home Office: 

2609 Hwy. 12 • Aragon, NM 87820 

575.533.6816 

Please call for an appointment: 575.772.5816 

Annex building at 198 Neel 

Avenue. 

Leo Gabaldon describes drawing techniques to students at one of his classes 

last fall at the Magdalena Public Library. 

Photo by Yvonne Magener 

Magdalena Librarian announces 

arts and crafts classes 


Art classes are returning to the Magdalena Public Library, with 

drawing classes taught by local resident Leo Gabaldon. 

Librarian Yvonne Magener said the first class will be Wednesday, 

Feb. 1, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. 

“The classes last fall were so popular we decided to do them again,” 

Magener said. “We encourage everyone age 12 and over to sign up. 

Classes will be every Wednesday.” 

Gabaldon is a cartographer/graphic artist at New Mexico Tech and 

also teaches a class at the university titled Perspective/Industrial 

Drawing. 

“I started to volunteer to teach a drawing class at the Magdalena 

See CLASSES, Page 11 

NOTICE 

The regular meetings of the Magdalena 

Village Board of Trustees will be held 

Monday, Feb. 6 AND Tuesday, Feb. 21 

6:00pm at theVillage Hall 

Visit Village Hall on North Main Street to view an agenda. 

Bear Mountain 

Coffee House & Gallery on Rt. 60 

902 West First Street��Magdalena, NM 87825��575-854-3310 

Wednesday – Sunday��9:00 am – 3:30 pm 

Restaurant: Down Home Food at Good Prices 

Gallery: Jewelry, Fabric Art, Many Unusual Items 

Collectible Books: Books of the Southwest 

Magdalena Visitor’s Center: Passes to Kelly Mine & Ghost Town 

Feel the flavor of the Old West Take in some history of the area 

Enjoy a meal in a relaxed atmosphere 

www.bearmountaincoffeehouse.com

obituaries 

Frances Fratello 

(July 10, 1941 - Jan. 12, 2011) 

Frances Ann 

Torregrosa Fratello, 

70, passed away 

peacefully on 

Thursday, January 12, 

2012 in Albuquerque, 

surrounded by her loving 

family. She was 

born in Manhattan, New York on July 10, 

1941 to Alfred Francis and Hanora (Ball) 

Torregrosa. 

Frances was a resident of Socorro since 

1977 when she and her husband and her 

daughter moved from New Jersey and 

embarked on an adventure of owning and 

operating an Automobile Dealership. 

They bought a small farm house in 

Lemitar and on Memorial Day weekend, 

1977 with a ply wood sign and a can of 

spray paint, they opened the doors to their 

dealership, known as Viva Chrysler. They 

sold five cars that weekend which was just 

the beginning of 33 years in the industry. 

Fran loved and enjoyed the partnership, 

she and her husband shared. Frances was 

an avid fan of boating and “RV” camping. 

She loved spending time at the lake with her 

family. She was especially fond of holidays 

and always had a way of making them special. 

More than anything in this world, 

Frances adored and loved all of her family to 

the fullest. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; 

her step father, Leroy Burgess; her sister, 

Nora McGovern; her brother, Leroy 

Burgess Jr.; and her great nephew, Nicolas 

Santomenna Chavez . 

Frances is survived by her loving husband 

of 49 years, Edward Fratello; her 

devoted daughter, Helena Armijo and husband, 

John; four grandchildren, Alisa 

Gonzales and husband, Matthew; Sherree 

Roberts and husband, Michael; Raymond 

Torres and wife, Tiffany; and Dustin Armijo; 

ten great grandchildren; her brothers, James 

Burgess and wife, Linda; George Burgess; 

Healthy Workouts 

Healthy 

Eating 

her sisters, Phyllis Santomenna and husband, 

Angelo; Patricia DiBartolomeo and 

husband, Patrick; Margaret Kelly and husband, 

John; and Catherine Rodriguez and 

husband, Carlos; 18 loving nieces and 

nephews; and many other loving family 

members and close friends. 

A Rosary will be recited on Tuesday, 

January 17, 2012 at 10:00 am at the San 

Miguel Catholic Church followed by a Mass 

of Resurrection which will be celebrated at 

10:30 am with Father Andrew Pavlak as 

Celebrant. 

Interment will take place in the San 

Acacia Cemetery following the services. 

Pallbearers are: Oscar Lucero, Jonathan 

DiBartolomeo, Raymond Torres, Matthew 

Gonzales, John Armijo, and Richard 

DiBartolomeo. Honorary pallbearers are 

Angelo Santomenna, Charles Fratello, 

Edward M. Fratello, and Michael Roberts. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions 

and donations may be given in 

Frances’s honor to: American Cancer Society, 

PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123- 

1718. 

To view information or leave a condolence, 

please visit www.danielsfuneral.com. 

Frances’s care has been entrusted to 

Daniels Family Funeral Services, 309 

Garfield St., Socorro, New Mexico, 87801. 

575-835-1530 

Charlie A. Gomez 

(Mar. 3, 1944 - Jan. 10, 2012) 

Charlie A. Gomez, 


peacefully Tuesday, 

Jan. 10, 2012, surrounded 

by his loving 

family. He was born in 

Magdalena on March 

3, 1944, to Bacilio and Mela (Madril) 

Gomez. 

After graduating from Magdalena High 

School in 1963, Charlie moved to California, 

where he worked as a Warehouse man for 

Weslock Manufacturers. He relocated to the 

q 

Socorro County 

Diabetes Prevention 

mountainmailnews.com • Mountain Mail • January 26, 2012 • Page 3 

Magdalena area in 2009. 

Charlie was an avid fisherman and 

especially enjoyed Deep Sea Fishing. He 

loved to hunt. 

Charlie was always a happy go lucky 

guy and loved his family and friends very 

much. He was preceded in death by his 

beloved parents, his sister, Eva Trujillo, and 

his brothers, Gilbert Gomez, and Bacilio 

Gomez Jr.. 

Charlie is survived by his son, Charlie 

Gomez Jr.; his grandson, Charlie Gomez III; 

his sisters, Mary Baca and husband, Monico; 

Corine Sanchez and Juan Malvido; his 

brother,Tommy Gomez and wife, Dolores; 

and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and 

other loving family members and friends. 

Visitation was January 15, 2012, at St. 

Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in 

Magdalena followed by a Rosary. A Mass of 

Resurrection was celebrated January 16, 

2012, at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic 

Church with Father Andrew Pavlak as 

Celebrant. 

After Cremation, Internment was in the 

Magdalena Cemetery on January 18, 2012. 

Pallbearers were Joshua Gomez, Edward 

Baca, Michael Sanchez, Pat Trujillo, Jacob 

Gomez, and Andrew Sanchez. Honorary 

pallbearers are James Trujillo, Leroy Trujillo, 

and Bobby Gomez. 



Charlie ‘s care has been entrusted to 


Garfield St. Socorro, New Mexico, 87801. 

575-835-1530 

Keyanda Shonie Lopez 

(Aug. 19, 2011 – Jan. 7, 2012) 

Keyanda Shonie 

Lopez went to be with 

the Angels in Heaven 

on Saturday, January 

7, 2012. She was born 

in Socorro on August 

19, 2011, to Matthew 

L. Lopez and Shishonie 

Happy Valentines! 

from Socorro General Hospital 

Community Based Program’s 

Diabetes Education Program 

Listen to your heart. February is American Heart Month. 

Show your Valentine you care by being aware of your 

heart disease risk and practicing healthy habits to help 

ensure you're together into your twilight years. 

Call 575-835-8707 for more information 

J. Monte. 

Keyanda is survived by her loving parents; 

her paternal grandparents, Lawrence 

and Marisa Aragon; maternal grandparents, 

Narcisso and Valorie Monte; grandmother, 

Anna Padilla; great grandparents, Perfil 

R.(Rick) Jr. and Mary Lopez; Cecil and Janie 

Monte; and great grandmother, Maria 

Padilla; and great great grandparents, Perfil 

R. and Flora Lopez. 

Visitation was January 11, 2012 at 

Daniels Family Funeral Services - Socorro 

Chapel. 

A Mass of the Angels was held January 

12, 2011, at San Miguel Catholic Church. 

Interment was in the San Miguel 

Catholic Cemetery. 

Pallbearers will be Marisa Lopez, 

Angelica Lopez, Veronica Lopez, and 

Madalynn Lopez. 



Keyanda’s care has been entrusted to 



575-835-1530 

Jeanette Phillips 

(Apr. 6, 1919 – Jan. 2, 2012) 

Jeanette Phillips, 


peacefully on Monday, 

January 2, 2012 in 

Socorro, surrounded by 

her loving family. She 

was born April 6, 1919 

in Highridge, Ohio to 

Harry and Elizabeth (Brown) Dixon. 

Jeanette was a resident of Socorro since 

1977. She enjoyed sewing and babysitting 

and loved to bake. 

She is preceded in death by her husband, 

William R. Phillips; her parents; and 

her daughters-in-law, Diane Phillips; and 

Suzanne Phillips. 

Jeanette is survived by her children: 

Roger Phillips of Socorro, William Phillips of 

Daytona Beach, Florida, Patrick Phillips of 

San Antonio, New Mex., and Beth Phillips of 

Tok, Alaska; her sister, Dorothy Bartlett and 

husband, Arthur of Jupiter, Florida; 

eight loving grandchildren and fourteen 

great grandchildren. 

A Memorial Service was held January 7, 

2012 at the Daniels Family Funeral Services 

- Socorro Chapel with Phil Preston officiating. 



Jeanette’s care has been entrusted to 


Garfield St. Socorro, New Mexico, 87801. 

575-835-1530 

Earl “Pop” McKee 

(Apr. 1, 1933 – Jan.16, 2012) 

Kenneth Earl 

“Pop” McKee, age 78, 

passed away Monday, 

January 16, 2012 in 

Albuquerque. 

He was born in 

O’Donnell, Texas, on 

April 1, 1933, to Roy 

Earl and Maudie (James) McKee. 

Kenneth was a resident of New Mexico 

since 1938. 

He was preceded in death by his sister, 

Elaine Carrejo, and his parents. 

Kenneth is survived by his loving wife of 

54 years, Thelma Morgan McKee of Pie 

Town; son, Kenneth Mark McKee and wife, 

Carol; daughter, Pamela Sue Humphrey and 

husband, Sam; brothers, Jack McKee and 

his wife, Ima, and Joe McKee and his wife, 

Jill; sisters, Kathryn Roberts and her husband, 

Ronnie, and sister, Del Roy Gray; and 

his grandson, Michael F Strahle. 

Memorial Services were held on January 

22 at the Pie Town Community Center in Pie 

Town. 

Interment was at the Pie Town 

Cemetery. 

Kenneth’s care has been entrusted to 



Mountain Mail Print Edition - Published the Last Thursday of the Month 

FREE On Newstands & Retail Locations • Online: www.mountainmailnews.com 

575.854.3500 or 575.838.6452 • 504 First St., Magdalena, NM


A young hunter poses with the turkey he harvested during the 2011 Youth 

Turkey Hunt at Bosque del Apache NWR. 

Courtesy Photo 

Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Offered 

at Bosque del Apache NWR 

Bosque del Apache National 

Wildlife Refuge will conduct its 

Spring Rio Grande turkey hunt 

for youth hunters - ages 17 and 

under - during the 2012 New 

Mexico Spring Turkey Season. 

The Bosque del Apache 

NWR Spring Turkey Hunt is a 

limited youth hunt. A total of five 

permits are available. 

Hunts will be conducted over a 

period of four weekends: April 7- 

8, April 21-22, April 28-29, and 

May 5-6. A fifth hunt will be 

offered Sunday and Monday, 

April 15-16. 

Eligible hunters will be drawn 

randomly from a pool of qualified 

applicants. Letters to successful 

applicants will be mailed by the 

week of March 26. 

pValentine’s 

Day Giftsp 

Fudge • Cupcakes • Gift Baskets 

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 

Dine In, Take 

Out & Patio 

Seating thru 

the Golden 

Spur Saloon 

Cosas 

BuenasFudge 

Applications will be available 

beginning Feb. 1, 2012. A nonrefundable 

application processing 

fee of $6 is required per application. 

Applications are available at 

the Refuge visitor center, located 

on Highway 1, eight miles south of 

San Antonio, during normal business 

hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

weekdays and 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

on weekends. Applications will 

also be available on-line at: 

www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/ne 

wmex/bosque/huntfish.html 

Completed applications must 

be received on or by March 16. 

Youth hunters selected must possess 

a hunter education course certificate, 

and be accompanied by a 

parent or guardian age 21 or older. 

Located in the Alamo Gallery & Gifts 

1008 N. California St. - right next to Socorro Springs • 50 5.507.1665 

Open Tuesday - Saturday, 12 noon to 6pm (and Monday, February 13) 

M & M GRILL 

• • • • • 

Hours Starting Feb. 5: 

Sunday: 7 am to 12 noon 

Monday: Closed 

Tuesday to Wednesday: 

12 noon to 9 pm 

Thursday: 12 noon to 6 pm 

Saturday: 12 noon to 9 pm 

SOUPS • SALADS SANDWICHES BURGERS 

SPECIALS EVERYDAY 

Hwy. 60 Magalena, NM • 575.835-8485 • 575.640.1724 

VLA adopts new name (kind of) 

The world’s most famous radio 

telescope, the VLA, will become 

the Karl G. Jansky Very Large 

Array in honor the founder of 

radio astronomy - the study of the 

Universe via radio waves naturally 

emitted by objects in space. The 

National Radio Astronomy 

Observatory announced the new 

name for the National Science 

Foundation’s Very Large Array at 

the American Astronomical 

Society’s meeting in Austin, 

Texas. 

The new name will become 

official at a rededication ceremony 

at the VLA on Saturday, Mar. 

3 1 . 

After more than a decade of work, 

the VLA, originally dedicated in 

1980, is nearing completion of a 

technological transformation that 

has turned it into a completely new 

and vastly more capable radio telescope. 

The new name recognizes 

the VLA’s dramatic new capabilities 

and its promise for important 

scientific discoveries in the future. 

“When Karl Jansky discovered 

radio waves coming from the center 

of the Milky Way Galaxy in 

1932, he blazed a scientific trail 

that fundamentally changed our 

perception of the Universe,” 

NRAO Director Fred K.Y. Lo 

said. 

Lo said it was particularly 

continued from front page 

develop a stronger workforce 

and be globally competitive.” 

New Mexico Tech President 

Daniel Lopez said the new formula 

is an improvement and that 

Tech will benefit somewhat 

because of the extra weight given 

to science and engineering degree 

programs. However, because of 

Tech’s small student body, the 

benefits will be small, he said. 

Coincidently, Tech has just 

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appropriate that the upgraded 

Very Large Array honor the memory 

and accomplishments of Karl 

Jansky. 

“The new Jansky VLA is by 

far the most sensitive such radio 

telescope in the world, as was the 

receiver and antenna combination 

that Jansky himself painstakingly 

developed 80 years ago,” he said. 

The new name was selected from 

among 23,331 suggestions submitted 

by 17,023 people from more 

than 65 countries. The NRAO 

asked the public and the astronomical 

community to suggest names 

that reflected both the proud heritage 

and the future promise of the 

telescope. 

Karl G. Jansky, who died in 

1950 at age 44, designed and 

built advanced, specialized equipment 

in 1932 that allowed him to 

identify thunderstorms as major 

sources of radio interference, along 

with a much weaker, unidentified 

radio source. 

Careful study of this “strange 

hiss-type static” led to the conclusion 

that the radio waves originated 

from beyond our Solar System, 

and indeed came from the center of 

our Milky Way Galaxy. 

His discovery was reported on the 

front page of the New York Times 

on May 5, 1933, and published in 

been named as one of the “Top 

100 Best Values in Public 

Colleges,” by Kiplinger, the 

Washington, D.C.-based publisher 

of business forecasts and personal 

finance advice. 

New Mexico Tech is ranked 46th 

nationwide and is the only New 

Mexico public college on the list. 

Tech’s in-state ranking is 36th in 

the country. 

The academic quality and 

affordability of over 500 four year 

public schools were researched for 

Karolyn’s Hair Kare & Florist 

Valentine’s Day u February 14th 

Fresh Flower Bouquets, Assorted Colored Roses, Blooming and 

Green Plants, Chocolate Covered Strawberries, Jewely, Bath 

and Body Gift Sets & Much More! Gift Certificates also available. 

Call Karolyn at 575-854-3470 • Free Delivery to Magdalena, Datil & Alamo 

u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u u 

Golden Spur Saloon 

h February EEvents i 

Fri., Feb. 3: 9 Ball Tournament 

Sat., Feb. 11: VALENTINE’S DAY PARTY 

Bring your sweetheart for Dinner and Drinks 

Karoke begins at 9 pm 

Fri., Feb. 17: 8 Ball Tournament 

Fri., Feb. 24: Juke Box Dance 

Put a Spur 

to Boredom 

505 First St., Magdalena 

575.854.2554 

professional journals. Janksy thus 

opened an entirely new “window” 

on the Universe. Astronomers previously 

had been confined to 

observing those wavelengths of 

light that our eyes can see. 

“This discovery was like suddenly 

being able to see green light for the 

first time when we could only see 

blue before,” Lo said. 

Through the new “window” 

that Jansky opened, astronomers 

study radio emission from objects 

throughout the Universe. 

Jansky was never was honored for 

his discovery, but a Nobel Prize 

was awarded in 2002 for comparable 

discoveries of cosmic radiation 

in other regions of the spectrum. 

Jansky has been memorialized 

by the scientific unit “Jansky” 

that astronomers use every day as a 

measure of the strength of astronomical 

sources. 

The Jansky VLA is more than 

ten times more sensitive to faint 

radio emission than the original 

VLA. It will provide astronomers 

the capability to address key outstanding 

scientific questions, ranging 

from the formation of stars and 

planets in the Milky Way and 

nearby galaxies, to mapping magnetic 

fields in galaxies and clusters, 

and imaging the gas that forms the 

earliest galaxies. 

TECH: Named one of America’s best values for college 

the rankings. Factors such as 

admission rates, incoming freshmen’s 

ACT and SAT scores, and 

graduation rates were considered, 

along with tuition fees, room and 

board, and financial aid for both 

in-state and out-of-state students. 

The average cost per year for 

in-state students is $12,419. For 

out-of-state, $22,871. 

Tech currently has an enrollment 

of 1,385 undergraduate and 

graduate students. 

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One of Socorro County’s Sheriff’s longtime 

deputies, Joe Tafoya, is retiring after 

26-plus years. At a party at the 

Diamondback Restaurant held in his honor 

Jan. 7, he recounted his years in law enforcement. 

“I have to admit, I will miss it,” Tafoya 

said. “Talking and working with the people 

in the county.” 

In 1985 Tafoya got his feet wet as a new 

deputy, literally, in the Socorro County 

Sheriff’s Department. 

“I was hired by Sheriff Ray Spurgeon. 

Ray talked me into becoming a Search and 

Rescue diver. At that time the department 

had its own little dive team,” he said. “Billy 

Romero was the undersheriff at that time, 

and I learned a lot from both of them.” 

As a member of the dive team he was 

trained by State Police at Elephant Butte 

Reservoir. 

“That first year we had six drownings in 

the river from 1985 to 1986,” Tafoya said. 

“That was the worst year. The department 

maintained the dive team until Felix 

[Saavedra] became sheriff. 

“One of my biggest kicks was working 

with kids. Going to the schools and giving 

talks about what the department does,” he 

said. “Talking is one thing, but once I 

brought out that dive equipment they 

became really interested.” 

Tafoya said his career in law enforcement 

actually spans 32 years, beginning his law 

enforcement career as a security officer at 

White Sands Stallion Site in 1981. 

“I was there for four years before working 

for the county,” he said. “That experience 

helped me when I went over to the Sheriff’s 

Valentine’s Day Dinner Special 

FOR RESERVATIONS 

854-2696 

office. Ray was a big influence.” 

While at Stallion, Tafoya joined the New 

Mexico Mounted Patrol, an all-volunteer 

organization that had its beginnings in the 

late 1800s, when cattle rustling was still 

prevalent. 

“It was originally under the direction of 

the county sheriff, who paid for horses 

upkeep. They were formed to help the sheriff, 

basically,” he said. “In 1941 the 

Mounted Patrol became officially activated 

by the governor and fell under the authority 

of the State Police. They helped during the 

prison riot in 1978.” 

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Deputy Sheriff Joey Tafoya retires after 26 years 

He stayed with the Mounted Patrol for 

ten years, from 1982 to 1992. 

The one big difference he has seen over 

the years is “drugs, that has been the biggest 

change. Marijuana, meth, prescription pain 

pills,” he said. “And heroin is coming 

back.” 

Friends and family threw a retirement party for longtime Socorro County Deputy Sheriff Joey Tafoya. 

Tafoya (far right) put in 26 years as deputy before deciding to retire. The party was held at 

Diamondback Restaurant. Also pictured: Anthony Tafoya and Melissa Tafoya. 

Photo by John Larson 

He remembers the drug-sniffing police 

dog the department used in the eighties. 

“We had a lot of roadblocks under 

Sheriff Billy Romero,” Tafoya said. “Under 

[President] Reagan there was more money 

for law enforcement. We confiscated probably 

millions in drugs, property, and cash 

during that period.” 

But what he enjoyed most was connecting 

with the public. 

“I made it a point to stop and visit with 

everybody,” he said. “That’s the best advice 

I got from Ray and Billy. Stop, get out and 

talk. 

“I learned to always take that extra time 

to listen to what people have to say. Let 

them tell their story,” Tafoya said. “People 

are happy when they are listened to. Just that 

they were able to get what’s bothering them 

off their chest.” 

He said he could also glean information 

on what’s going on locally. 

“Ray taught me to go out to the ranches. 

Be seen by people. Be open to people. Sit 

down and have coffee. Old timers have 

excellent stories to tell.” 

“They’re eager to tell you. They trust 

you,” he said. 

Part if that trust came from his accessibility. 

“My house was always ‘open’,” he said. 

“They would come over to the house, even 

when off duty. The one thing that made the 

job a lot easier, was having an understanding 

family.” 

He said there was one person would call 

him at home, saying, “I didn’t want to bother 

you when you were working.” 

He said that more than once he would 

help people work out conflicts by getting 

them to talk to each other. “There were 

occasional disputes and I was able to help 

them solve their land problems. Also a few 

domestics.” 

For now, Joe Tafoya is content to enjoy 

some free time on his small farm in 

Polvadera with Melissa, his wife of 30 years.


Entries Sought For 

Prairie Chicken 

Poster Contest 

Artists of all ages are invited to 

try their hand at depicting one of 

New Mexico’s most colorful game 

birds as a participant in this year’s 

High Plains Prairie Chicken 

Festival poster contest. 

The contest is among several 

events that will celebrate the 11th 

annual festival in and around 

Milnesand in eastern New 

Mexico. The festival, limited to 

the first 100 registrants, still has 

spots available. 

The grand prize winning entry 

will be reproduced on the annual 

festival poster, and the artist will 

receive $300. Top winners in 

three age categories: adult, grades 

7-12, and grades K-6, will receive 

$50. Prize money is courtesy of 

the Grasslans Charitable 

Foundation. 

Any two-dimensional media, 

including but not limited to prints, 

oils, pastels, acrylics, water media, 

pen and ink, graphite, photography, 

digital and mixed media will 

be considered. Images should represent 

the lesser prairie chicken 

and its habitat. 

Entries must be received by 

Mar. 1 in the Public Information 

and Outreach Division, 

Department of Game and Fish, 1 

Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 

87507. 

Entries will be returned only if 

accompanied by a self-addressed, 

stamped envelope, or may be 

picked up at the Department office 

in Santa Fe after March 30. 

Artists should submit 35mm 

slides, prints, high-resolution digital 

images or original work. 

Artwork must include the 

artist’s name, address, phone or email, 

and entry category. For more 

information about the contest, 

please call (505) 476-8004. 

Love 

BODEGA STYLE 

letters to the editor 

To the editor: 

Local Control of Local Water. 

Sounds like a no-brainer, doesn’t 

it? Apparently not. 

The State Engineer is set to 

hear our case to dismiss the application 

by the Augustin Plains 

Ranch LLC to pump massive 

amounts of water from this region 

and send it down the Rio Grande 

on its merry way to Texas. 

If this sounds like a bad idea to 

you, join us on Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 

10 a.m. at the Socorro District 

Courthouse, 200 Church Street. 

The seating capacity of 

Courtroom 1, on the second floor, 

is about 90. This is hardly enough 

room for all the attorneys involved 

in this case. If you want a seat, get 

there early. If you want to be part 

of a show of force, come with a 

warm jacket, umbrellas, tents, 

champagne to celebrate a dismissal, 

or torches and pitchforks. 

Now, this is the first time that 

our new State Engineer, Scott 

Verhines, will be making a decision 

in this case. From what I understand, 

he will not be there. Our 

new Hearing Officer, Don Core, 

will be in charge. He will prepare 

tapes of the proceedings, bring 

them back to Scott Verhines, who 

will then have two months to make 

a decision. Perhaps bringing the 

champagne would be premature. 

It is vitally important that we 

show up in large numbers to put a 

stop to this mad scheme now. The 

alternative would be similar to the 

2000 Bolivian Water Wars. I just 

watched Iciar Bollain’s movie 

Even the Rain. He went to 

Cochabamba, Bolivia, to shoot a 

film about Columbus’ exploitation 

of the natives, only to find the 

region in a similar exploitation by 

Bechtel, the multinational water 

giant, who had succeeded in privatizing 

the local water supply. 

Why wait until The Great 

Thirst is upon us to act? 

(formerly Rancher’s Steakhouse) 

606 N. California St., 

Socorro, NM • 575.838.2087 

Romance 

Can’t Wait! 

Taking reservations for 

Valentine’s Day Weekend 

at Bodega Burger Co. 

Feb.10 - Feb.14, Friday - Tuesday 

DINNER 

SPECIALS 

Come, join us to save our little 

section of New Mexico for us, for 

our children, for our grandchildren, 

and for all of the wildlife who 

will most likely not be able to 

attend. 

Don Wiltshire 

Magdalena 

To the Editor: 

It’s amazing to me that the people 

of Socorro have finally given 

up all together about which direction 

this town has taken over the 

last two decades. 

New blood is good in elected 

offices, and we should be ashamed 

of just sitting on our behinds while 

our city continues to slowly fall 

apart and only a few well positioned 

politicians make hay while 

the gettins’ good. 

We need councilors who have a 

spine and won’t sit at every meeting 

announcing at every chance 

that this mayor is the best thing 

since peanut butter, while he’s lining 

his pockets with real breadand 

our butter! 

It’s time we send the message 

that a dime and title are not 

enough for the future of Socorro, 

and people who practice and 

accept that kind of politics should 

be sent on their way. 

Look around everyone. 

Take a drive down main street 

and ask yourselves what kind of 

future your children will have if we 

continue to accept this kind of do 

nothing attitude from the people 

we elect to make things happen. 

Other cities without Universities 

that are much smaller than ours are 

thriving and have made “Best 

places to raise your children” magazines 

across the United States. 

Small villages across the state 

like Magdalena have so much 

more on the ball than Socorro with 

far less resources because they all 

believe in personal and city growth, 

and are going out and finding what 

they need to make their lot in life 

more exciting and invigorating for 

everyone. 

How can we take ourselves or 

our futures seriously if we just 

stand by and accept “nothing” as 

the answer. Fixing roads, paying 

bills and daily upkeep of the city is 

nothing special and is not a favor 

from the Mayor or Council to any 

of us. We elected them to do that. 

They volunteered for that job. 

We haven’t gotten to the point 

here in Socorro yet to thank anyone 

in city hall for anything wonderful. 

When I start to see new 

businesses that offer real life sustaining 

jobs with benefits for our 

citizens, I’ll be the first to give my 

thanks – but until the few haves 

and the majority of have not’s 

move closer together on Socorro’s 

equality charts – I’ll keep on fighting 

for the things that just haven’t 

happened in Socorro in the last 

twenty years. 

I would have run for office this 

time around, but thought everyone 

wanted something different than 

someone who fought honestly for 

their best interests in an open and 

brave way. I should have run 

though, because now I realize that 

apparently no one really cares 

about Socorro’s future anymore – 

and I always will. 

And, for those of you that think 

I’m just a trouble maker, tell me 

what these guys have really done 

for your family lately? A title and a 

dime - maybe? 

Gary Jaramillo 

Socorro, New Mexico 

The Mountain Mail Letters to 

the Editor section is intended to 

allow the people of our communities 

to have a voice. The Mountain 

Mail encourages signed letters to 

editor. Anonymous letters will not 

be considered for publication. 

Please limit the length of letters 

to 500 words. We reserve the right 

to edit for context, style and grammar. 

Letters will be printed in a first 

come, first served basis, although 

email submission may receive higher 

priority. The deadline for publication 

is 5 p.m. on the Tuesday 

before the last Thursday of every 

month. 

Readers can send letters to: 

Editor, PO Box 500, Magdalena, 

NM 87825 or Editor@ 

mountainmailnews.com or in person 

at 504 First St., Magdalena, 

NM 

The Mountain Mail 

is published monthly 

at 504 First St., 

Magdalena, NM 87825, 

by Good News Graphics, LLC 

POSTMASTER: 

Send address changes to: 

Mountain Mail 

PO Box 500 

Magdalena, NM 87801 

(575) 854-3500 • (575) 838-6452 

publisher@mountainmailnews.com 

On the Web at: 

www.mountainmailnews.com 

Editor: John Larson 

Advertising Sales: Linda Ritter 

Publisher, Production & Sales: 

Laurie Taylor Gregg 

Single copies: 

FREE to a good home 

$1 for back issues 

$2.75 for back issues by mail 

Happy New Year from Fur & Feather Animal Assistance, Inc. 

Thank you all for your support during 2011. 

Please think of us when you are looking for a new 

companion dog or cat. 

• call Laurie at 575-772-2661 

• check out our web site @www.furandfeather.org 

• find our pets @ adoptapet.com and furandfeather.rescueme.org 

• facebook.com/furandfeatheranimalassistance 

Fur and Feather Animal Assistance, Inc. 

PO Box 555, Pie Town, NM 87827 • furandfeather.org • adoptapet.com • furandfeatheranimalassistance@gmail.com 

26th Annual Spring Auction 

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Consignors Advertising Deadline 

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(505) 239-5913 or (575) 835-2321 

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www.tumbleweedequipment.com info@tumbleweedequipment.com

Students at Magdalena Elementary 

School recently had a chance to learn the 

basics of Crime Scene Investigation during a 

field trip to Sandia National Laboratories in 

Albuquerque. 

The past two weeks have been quite busy 

for Magdalena Elementary School fourth 

and fifth graders, said teacher Jim Sauer. 

He said that Wednesday, Jan.11, the students 

were invited to Sandia National Labs 

for an exercise simulating a Crime Scene 

Investigation. 

“The students were asked to assist 

Sandia scientists Tim Boyle and Leigh 

Anna Steele in locating a stolen dog using 

elements of forensic science, in particular 

chemistry, to evaluate evidence of who had 

stolen the Afgan pooch,” Sauer said. 

“Students moved between eight testing and 

measurement stations. One testing the viscosity 

of substances, another the pH’s of fluids. 

They also had to measure lengths using 

the unit referred to as nanometer. They 

made, and tested, for nano-gold, examined 

man-made and natural fibers left behind by 

the perp and then evaluated the data to produce 

a suspect.” 

Tim Boyle, principle Member of the 

technical staff at Sandia National 

Laboratories and inorganic chemistry 

teacher, started the program completely on 

his own, funding the project out of pocket, 

Sauer said. 

After the exercise the students returned 

to Magdalena, and a “good number of parents” 

approached Principal Kitty Martin, 

wanting to know what she had done to get 

all of the kids this excited. 

“Apparently, a good number of children 

went home and drug out the baking soda 

and vinegar wanting to experience more,” 

Martin said. 

Fourth grade teacher Becky Ramzel said 

that there wasn’t one child who wasn’t completely 

immersed in the eight different learning 

tasks. 

Fifth grade teacher Nancy Jaramillo said, 

“Not only did it provide meaningful learning 

experiences to student learners, it also 

gave teachers great ideas on how in adopt 

some of learning activities into our individual 

classrooms.” 

Although Magdalena Elementary 

School is a four day one - attending classes 

Monday through Thursday - fifth grade students 

in Sauer’s class took their Friday day 

off in January to take another field trip to 

Albuquerque. 

“They got up and boarded school vehicles 

as early as 6:30 a.m. on their day off to 

go to StarBase, at Kirtland Air Force 

Base,” Sauer said. 

StarBase is a Department of Defense 

111 Manzanares East 

Socorro, NM • 835.0730 

Educational Outreach Program supported 

by New Mexico Tech and the USAF 

Research Laboratory for grades 5-12. 

At DoD Starbase students participate in 

challenging “hands-on, mind-on” activities 

in Science, Technology, Engineering, and 

Math (STEM). They interact with military 

personnel to explore careers and observe 

STEM applications in the “real world.” 

“In one experiment, we studied inertia,” 

Magdalena student Trevor James said. 

Another student, Hallie Fetrow, went on 

to explain that they had to engineer a 

restraint system that would protect an astronaut 

during a crash landing on Mars. 

Students David Ryan and Andy Otero 

were completely engrossed in using a 

Computer Assisted Design (CAD) program 

to construct a space station module 

that would later be fabricated in a 3-D printer, 

while Garrison Monte measured liquid 

and Nizhoni identified mystery metals by 

weight. 

Second grade teacher Diana Sauer went 

along as a driver and indicated that there 

were activities that were easily adaptable to 

her level of instruction. 

“I think these types of outreach programs 

have great value,” she said. “Especially 

when you consider how interest and attentiveness 

peaks in instructional situations 

such as this.” 

Students will attend four additional 

blocks of instruction, all on Fridays. 

But the extracurricular learning wasn’t 

restricted solely to Friday. 

Sauer arrived at his classroom again early 

Saturday, loaded a school vehicle up with 

two ninth graders, one second grader, two 

fifth graders and a sixth grader, dragging 

them off to launch rockets with the 

Albuquerque Rocket Society in Rio 

Rancho. 

Richard Hobbs launched three times 

while the younger of the Stephens family 

launched a rocket that returned as a helicopter, 

“at least, that is what it was supposed 

to do. 

“Mine lawn-darted,” he said. 

The two ninth graders, Barak Stephens 

and Jonathan “Spike” D’Armor were 

launching a high-power rocket which carried 

an experimental nose cone designed by 

Barak. 

According to the young engineer, “I have 

adapted the nose cone into a Lyden Jar, a 

battery or capacitor like device being toyed 

with around the time of Ben Franklin. By 

connecting it to a Vernier charge sensor and 

LogPro recording device, I hope to demonstrate 

that energy can be collected during 

flight.” 

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Magdalena Elementary Strives to Improve Student Gains via 

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Programs 

Magdalena students get an education in forensic science during their CSI field trip to Sandia 

National Laboratories in January. 

Photo courtesy of JIm Sauer 

Bluefeather Secatero was the machinist 

for the high-power rocket parts, and 

D’Armor filled in as airframe engineer for 

the boost section. 

To answer the final question: “Yes, data 

was collected.” 

Sauer hopes to expand upon these learning 

events. 

“We are losing our technological edge 

while raising our young to find the easy way. 

Students are bored with school and don’t 

really get why they should strive to work 

hard,” Sauer said. “When they get to the 

point when they have pretty much finished 

�� 

high school and have a couple of hours off in 

the afternoon, we as school leaders and mentors 

should be dropping them off at institutions 

like New Mexico Tech to work in labs 

with instructors like Mike Heagy, 

Bernadette Hernandez, or Dan 

Klinglesmith. We need to teach them to 

work hard throughout school, so they can 

play for the rest of their lives. That’s what 

you can do where science is concerned. 

After a bit of hard work, you play for the rest 

of your life.” 

�� 

� 

Socorro 

501 N. California St. • 575-835-2410 

� 

Magdalena 

First & Main, PO Box 456 • 575-854-2533 

� 

� 

wellsfargo.com 

© 2011 Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. 

All rights reserved. 

Member FDIC. 122934 01/12


Everybody gets to be an artist at Arts Party in Finley Gym 

Co-founder Becky Titus Taylor will be creating “floating 

dawgs and caterpillars” from helium-filled balloons 


Everyone – young and old - are 

artists when they attend the 16th 

Annual Community Arts party 

Saturday, Feb. 11, at Finley Gym. 

Arts and crafts, ranging from bottle 

blowfish to wire art, will be 

demonstrated and created throughout 

the day. 

All the arts projects are run by 

local volunteers, either professional 

artists or people who love doing 

arts and crafts projects. 

The Arts Party was originally 

founded by Ronna Kalish, 

Director of the New Mexico Tech 

Performing Arts Series, and 

Becky Titus-Taylor, former 

Socorro artist. 

“The idea is that hands-on arts 

and crafts workshops are not just 

for kids, but all ages,” Kalish said. 

“It became so well attended we 

added it to the PAS schedule. We 

wanted to provide meaningful arts 

activities that families can learn 

and do at home together; and to 

spend quality time together as a 

community engaged in the arts.” 

Titus-Taylor, who has moved 

from Socorro to the Jemez area, is 

the artist responsible for the 

Festival of the Crayons installation 

each year during Festival of the 

Cranes. 

She and her husband Mark 

Taylor, participate each year with a 

center-piece project, always something 

big and fun. 

“I do something different every 

year. Last year we did 33 1/3 L- 

People, where we had warped 

vinyl record albums and painted 

faces on them,” Titus-Taylor said. 

“In the beginning we wanted to 

have the kids make one large thing 

together, like a show piece. But 

that became a problem with what 

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to do with the thing afterward – 

who was going to be the one to 

take it home.” 

She said this year she’ll be 

showing how to make Floating 

Dawgs and Caterpillars. 

“We’ll have long helium balloons, 

over two feet long and six 

inches wide, and decorate them to 

look like caterpillars and wiener 

dogs,” she said. “Kids can decorate 

them with markers and add 

legs, heads, feet, noses, out of tissue 

paper or cellophane. Then 

we’ll put them on a string and float 

them. 

“Ronna and I started this 

because we thought that there 

should be an arts event in town that 

everybody could take part in; a 

place where artists could participate 

and bring in fun things to do,” 

Titus-Taylor said. “The City of 

Socorro supported the idea by letting 

us use Finley Gym. It’s the 

perfect venue.” 

She said the first party was a 

hit. 

“It was well attended right off 

the bat, and pretty quickly it mushroomed,” 

Titus-Taylor said. 

The first Community Arts 

Party drew about 600 people, and 

last year the event was attended by 

“well over one thousand,” filling 

the floor of Finley Gym, Kalish 

said. 

Some of the projects and artists 

include: 

Beading - Peggy Lopez 

Bottle Cap Magnets - Darleen 

Torres 

Bucky Balls - Joe Martinic 

Buttons - Mike Fort 

Candle Dipping - Beth 

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Greetings Your Way! 

Have A Happy 

Valentine’s 

Day! 

One of the biggest events of the year, the Community Arts Party has art projects and craft making for all ages. Last year’s 

party attracted over 1,000 participants to Finley Gym. 

File Photo 

Clay Creations - Georgia 

Raymond and Francie Deters 

Clay Hearts - Georgia 

Raymond and Francie Deters 

Corn Starch Mush - Michael 

Hanauer 

Crayon Soaps - Gerry K. and 

Girl Scouts 

Eskimo Art Cards - Deborah 

Treder 

Face Painting - Dana Chavez- 

Baca 

Floating Dawgs & Caterpillars 

– Becky Titus 

Flower Fairies - Karyn De 

Bont and Bev Hansen 

Leather Works - Nathaniel 

Whitehorse/Socorro Leather 

Leftovers - Aspen 

Mice Hearts - High School 

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Mono-Prints - Gwen Roath 

Mr. Squiggley - Becky Titus 

Mug Decorating - Theresa 

Rosales 

Mural Painting - Erika 

Burleigh 

Papier Mache Hearts - Rena 

Cowan 

Play Dough - Karin Willaims 

Printmaking – Laurie 

Taylor ----Gregg 

Rock Painting - Maggie, Rose 

and Matti 

Sand Art - Crystal Dupree 

Sunglasses - Elise and Gina 

Swirling Colors - Ginese and 

Deanie 

Tie-Dye - Antonio Sanchez 

and Loretta Lowman 

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Tile Painting - Contreras 

Tissue Butterflies - Becca and 

Moni Apodaca 

Valentine’s Cards - Barbara 

Sanchez and Vicky Gonzales 

Whimsical Wire Wonders - 

David Burleigh and Friends 

Food - Jenelle Partridges 

Other activities include: 

Flip Books To You-Tube 

Glitter Galaxy 

Graffitti Boards 

Ojos 

Rockets 

Tote Stamping 

In addition, Coop Nursery 

School will be hosting a bake sale 

at the gym. 

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New Mexico 87825 

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Performing Arts Series brings Celtic music to 

Macey with McPeake and Cathie Ryan 

The New Mexico Performing 

Arts Series presents an evening of 

Celtic music Friday, Feb. 24, with 

performances by the Irish group 

McPeake, and singer Cathie 

Ryan. 

For generations, the name of the 

McPeake Family of Belfast has 

stood for one of the most distinctive 

sounds in Irish music. This revived 

band fuses original Celtic compositions 

and contemporary rhythms 

and styles. 

McPeake began life as nothing 

more than a group of musicians 

who came together for special gigs 

and occasions. Francis McPeake 

first brought the band together for 

a stage show based on the Titanic, 

that he co-wrote in 2003. Since 

then they have worked with many 

prominent Irish artists including 

Brian Kennedy, Finbar Furey, 

Kieran Goss, Juliet Turner, and 

Ralph McTell. 

Each has performed individually 

with many artists including Van 

Morrison, Mary Black, Ronan 

Keating, Riverdance, John Hurt, 

Denis Hopper, The Chieftains 

and more. 

McPeake has a creative 

approach to music, blending influences 

from Irish traditional, folk, 

acoustic and country genres to create 

their own unique sound that is 

an experience for the ears and soul. 

Irish American Cathie Ryan, with 

her crystalline vocals and insightful 

songwriting, is an original and distinctive 

voice in Celtic music. 

Cathie has been named “Female 

Vocalist of the Decade” by liveireland.com 

and the Irish American 

News in the USA. 

Since Cathie Ryan’s acclaimed 

seven year tenure as lead singer of 

Cherish the Ladies, the Detroit 

born Ryan has established herself 

as one of Celtic Music’s most popular 

and enduring singer-songwriters. 

The Boston Globe recently 

wrote, “Cathie Ryan is a thrilling 

traditional vocalist whose honeypure 

soprano is equally at home on 

probing original ballads about a 

woman’s place in the modern 

world.” 

In 2003 Cathie was included in 

the famous Irish music collection, 

“A Woman’s Heart - A Decade 

On,” placing her amongst Irish 

music’s finest female vocalists and 

songwriters. It was the first time 

Americans were featured in the 

series and she shared the honor 

with Allison Krauss, Dolly Parton 

and Emmylou Harris. In recent 

years, her original songs have been 

recorded by such distinguished 

Irish vocalists as Frances Black and 

Mary Black among others. 

Cathie is a captivating and 

deeply affecting performer. 

“There is nothing like a live 

show, being with an audience, 

sharing the music. That is the best 

part of being a singer and writing 

songs,” she said. 

She has built a loyal following 

throughout Europe and North 

America by touring steadily and 

singing “songs of the heart.” 

At a live performance The Irish 

Echo observed, “Cathie Ryan certainly 

knows how to communicate 

with her audience. And what she 

communicates through song are 

the enduring values of home, family, 

memory, and spirit...” 

Cathie has released four critically 

acclaimed CDs on Shanachie 

Records: Cathie Ryan, The 

Cathie Ryan (above) performs at Macey Center February 24 on a double bill 

with the Celtic band McPeake. 

Courtesy photo 

Music of What Happens, 

Somewhere Along the Road, and 

her latest. The Farthest Wave. She 

is featured on more than forty compilations 

of Celtic Music.Cathie 

has performed on national and 

public television in the United 

States and Europe, appeared on 

NPR’s Mountain Stage and 

Thistle and Shamrock, PRI’s The 

World, BBC2 in England, Radio 

Scotland, and RTE, RnG, and 

TG4 in Ireland. 

She was voted one of the Top 

100 Irish Americans by Irish 

America Magazine, Chicago’s 

Irish American News honored her 

as Irish Female Vocalist of the 

Decade, and the LA Times 

recently named her, “One of the 

leading voices in Celtic music.” 

Mary Mac’s Cafe 

at the High Country Lodge 

VALENTINE’S DAY PRIME RIB DINNER 

Tuesday, February 14 - 5:30 & 6:00PM 

14 oz. Prime Rib, Dinner Salad, Baked Potato, Vegetable, Dinner Rolls, 

Beverages, Choice of Dessert. $19.95 per person. Call for Reservations. 

SAT., FEB. 25 • 9AM - 4PM • WRITER’S WORKSHOP WITH STEVEN HAVILL • CALL FOR INFO 

Mon.-Sat. 7AM-7PM • Sun. 9AM-7PM • Hwy. 60, Magdalena • 854.2063 

Veterinary Clinic 

DaveBaker, DVM • Jack Duncan, DVM • Terri Gonzales, DVM 

�� 

Identifying 

ducks by their 

tail feathers at 

Bosque 

A Birdwatcher’s Guide to 

Duck Butts will be presented at 

Bosque del Apache National 

Wildlife Refuge, Saturday, Feb. 

25. 

As an introduction, Raymond 

VanBuskirk will have a 45 minute 

slide presentation in the Visitor’s 

Center exploring the various 

species of ducks (and their allies) 

that can be found at the Refuge. 

He will teach how to identify them 

by plumage, sound, habits, and 

most importantly, their rear ends. 

After the presentation attendees 

will venture out on to the 

refuge for an up close look at the 

ducks, and their butts. VanBuskirk 

will explain some of the problems 

with identifying these birds and 

will help you learn - through field 

observation - how to identify the 

ducks of Bosque del Apache. 

The workshop runs from 9 

a.m. to 4 p.m. 

Attendees must have warm 

clothes, water, binoculars and provide 

their own snacks and lunch, 

Limited to 25 participants; To 

make reservations call 575-835- 

1828 

Bingo at the DAV 

The Socorro chapter of the 

DAV has announced that its 

Bingo Night returns for 2012. 

The general public is welcome 

every Monday and Wednesday 

night beginning February 1 at 7 

p.m. Doors open at 6 p. m. 

There is a $1,500 progressive 

blackout jackpot on each night. 

The DAV is located at 200 North 

Fifth St. in Socorro. 

Love Your Pet... 

FEBRUARY IS 

PET DENTAL MONTH 

20% OFF ALL DENTALS 

APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED 

(575) 835-9002 • 1-888-349-3189 

Big Blue Building - West US Hwy. 60 • Socorro, NM 

OPEN: Monday-Friday 8am-5:30pm, Sat. 8am-12noon


Bird man of Magdalena tells tales 

of Mongolia and Kazakhstan 


World traveler and writer 

Stephen J. Bodio loves birds. 

Especially big birds like falcons 

and eagles. 

Bodio recently presented a 

slideshow and talk at the 

Magdalena Public Library about 

his two extended trips to 

Mongolia, where eagles are used 

by hunters. 

His first trip to Mongolia was 

in 1998, staying for five weeks, 

returning to Asia in 2000 for six 

weeks and documenting his trips in 

a book titled, “Eagle Dreams: 

Searching for Legends in Wild 

Mongolia.” 

Bodio’s talk centered around 

the culture and history of the 

Mongolians and Kazakhs, people 

he said he came to know and 

respect, and their love of eagles 

and falcons. 

“Mutton eating, vodka drinking 

people. The finest people in the 

world.” 

He said it was his interest in falconry 

that lead him to an appreciation 

of Asian culture. 

“I became interested in falconry 

very young, inspired by the life and 

writings of Frank and John 

Craighead,” Bodio said. 

The Craigheads are known for 

Humble Pricing & 

FREE Wi-Fi 

Old-Fashioned Service 

Coffee Always $1 

110 Willow St., Socorro • 575.835.1567 

Changes 

Salon 

their studies into many forms of 

wildlife, including grizzly bears, 

and of course, falcons. 

“I started reading them in grade 

school, and by the age of 13 had 

my first falcon,” he said. “I helped 

write the regulations for falconry in 

the state of Massachusetts at age 

18.” 

After attending various colleges, 

Bodio turned to writing articles 

for Gray’s Sporting Journal 

and other publications. 

“I was writing on different topics,” 

he said. “But I was always 

interested in birds. Falconry is a 

way to get into so many things. 

This took me to explore the eagle 

culture in Asia, which goes back 

thousands of years. 

“I found one picture of a 6,000 

year old petroglyph depicting a 

large beast, probably a wild donkey, 

with an eagle on its back,” he 

said. “There next to it was a horse 

and a stick figure of a man. So 

hunting with eagles goes back a 

long way.” 

His library slideshow featured 

pictures of some of the people and 

places he got to know in Mongolia, 

including shots of the annual Eagle 

Festival, when hunters proudly 

paraded their eagles. Bodio said 

he was told he was the first “out- 

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sider” to attend the festival. 

He said he had to travel 600 

miles to get to Mongolia’s eagle 

culture from Mongolia’s capital 

city, Ulaan-Bataar, “on nothing 

more than a camel trail.” 

An excerpt from Eagle Dreams 

recounts his difficulty with language 

while ordering breakfast at a 

hotel dining room in Ulaan- 

Bataar. 

“Let me enter here a partial 

roster of Bisrelt breakfasts that we 

complied weeks later as we waited 

for our plane, given in the order 

that we ate them. 

I order an omelet; get fried 

dough. 

I order an omelet, and Ed 

orders a boiled egg by drawing it 

on his napkin. We both get 

omelets. 

Ed orders a “cheese omelet” 

and gets one. 

Ed orders a boiled egg by finding 

and pointing at the eggshells 

under the counter; gets it. 

We order an omelet and a 

boiled egg, and each get two hot 

dogs and a ball of fried dough. 

We order tea and coffee and get 

two coffees. 

We order tea and coffee and get 

Steve Bodio gives talk at Magdalena 

Library. 

two teas. 

We order tea, coffee, and two 

omelets and get what we ordered. 

“Every order comes with individually 

wrapped cheese food 

slices.” 

Bodio, who has been a familiar 

figure since moving to Magdalena 

in 1979, chronicled some of his 

experiences in his book 

“Querencia.” 

He still resides in Magdalena 

with his wife Libby, along with 

their much-loved dogs, pigeons, 

and one well-behaved Peregrine 

falcon. 

HomemadeFudge 

In all of your favorite flavors! 

• Chocolate Pecan 

• Mint Swirl 

• Amaretto Swirl 

• Peanut Butter 

• Chocolate 

San Antonio General Store 

575.835.4594 • Highway 380, San Antonio, New Mexico 

Monday - Saturday: 7am - 8 pm • Sunday: 8 am - 8 pm 

The Owl Bar & Cafe 

San Antonio, New Mexico • 835-9946 

Home of the World Famous Green Chile Cheeseburger 

SServing NNew MMexico ffor 667 yyears 

Celebrate Life, Love & Good Cheeseburgers - 

Today and Everyday! Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Come in and enjoy the ORIGINAL 

Green Chile Cheeseburger! 

HUNTER: Students 

to learn laws and safety 


He said attendees will also 

learn all Game and Fish laws, 

including awareness of trespassing 

violations. 

“We do instruction but also 

have a proficiency test on handling 

weapons,” Cearley said. 

“For instance, being aware of 

what is behind your target, what 

you’re shooting at. Another is 

how to cross fences. When you 

come to a fence you unload your 

gun, lay it down on the other side 

of the fence.” 

He said students will also be 

tested on muzzle control. “Where 

the end of the barrel is pointing. 

“You cannot rely on the safety. 

It’s a mechanical lever, and it can 

fail,” Cearley said. 

He said the best advice is to 

“keep your gun unloaded until 

you’re ready to shoot.” 

Other skills taught, include 

where to place your shot; and 

wildlife and waterfowl identification. 

Students must register online 

at http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us 

/education/hunter_ed/index.htm. 

Registration for the Socorro 

class must be done by Thursday, 

Feb. 9. Contact Andrew at 575- 

835-8911 with any questions. 

Magdalena registration must 

be completed by Thursday, Feb. 

23. 

• Chocolate Fudge 

• Choc. Rum Raisin 

• Rocky Road 

• Butter Pecan 

• Sucrose Free 

HAND-DIPPED 

DREYER’S ICE CREAM 

DELI SANDWICHES

Extended family turns out for 

Torres’ 90th birthday party 

The Eagles Club on California Street in Socorro was the scene of the 

90th birthday party for Eva Torres on Jan. 15. 

According to family members, Eva is still very active and has always 

been very generous to neighbors and family alike. 

“She gets out and about just as often at 90, as she did in her 70’s,” 

said one family member. “Her humor and a life time of making everyone 

that she sees and meets each day so comfortable is why so many in 

Socorro have loved her for the better part of a century - and why everyone 

calls her Aunt Eva. 

“She has been a fabulous cook all of her life and has generously 

shared her wonderfully tasty dishes throughout the decades with anyone 

who might be hungry and willing to sit, talk for a while and enjoy the delicious 

dishes she prepares.” 

For many years Eva and her late husband Candy, ran the family store 

on Highway 60 that her older sister Clara ran for many years in 

Socorro’s earlier days. Although the years have past, the love and 

respect for “Aunt Eva” has been consistent and has continued to grow in 

our community. 

“She’s a gift to the family, and to Socorro,” nephew Tony Jaramillo 

Sr. said. “We all love and cherish her with all of our hearts. She’s not 

slowing down any time soon, and we’re all hoping to be here to celebrate 

her 100th birthday.” 

Family nephews and nieces, along with great nephews, nieces and 

great-great nephews and nieces supplied the party with a great buffet of 

foods, desserts and two beautiful cakes prepared by Selfa Lucero 

inscribed with ‘Happy 90th Birthday Auntie Eva.’ 

Her great nephew, Gary Jaramillo, sang old standards and a variety 

of other songs for her, and the large family crowd all joined in to sing 

Happy Birthday just before it was time to cut and enjoy the two cakes. 

“I’ve really enjoyed this party and the love my family and friends have 

shown to me today and every day,” Eva said. “Thank you to everyone 

who thought of me on my 90th birthday. It’s so wonderful to share a day 

like this with all of the people I care about so deeply.” 

Eva Torres (center) standing next to nephew Tony Jaramillo Sr. poses with all of 

her nieces and nephews at her 90th birthday party. 

Happy 

Valentine’s Day! 

Gift Certificates 

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' 


A few of the Ragnaritas after an early Saturday morning run to Lemitar. Pictured (from left) Back Row: Melissa Begay, 

Nancy Hoffman, Addy Bhasker, Kim Schaffer and Lindsey Montoya. Front Row: Team Captain Julie Ford and Stacy 

Timmons. 

Photo courtesy of Kim Zuidema 

The Running of the Ragnaritas 

By Kimberly Zuidema 

The Ragnaritas are a 12 person, 

all women running team, 11 

of which are from Socorro. They 

will be running a 200 mile relay 

that takes them day and night 

through the beautiful Arizona 

desert. The ladies will run ‘round 

the clock, passing beautiful 

Saguaro cactus and red rock cliffs 

making their way south to the 

Phoenix area and on to Tempe. 

The team is made up of 12 

individuals, 11 of whom are local 

Socorroans, including Julie Ford 

(team captain), Kim Schaffer, 

Lindsey Montoya, Liz Clabaugh, 

Dolores Beames, Stacy Timmons, 

Nancy Hoffman, Addy Bhasker, 

Mary Grow, Mary Brill (formerly 

of Socorro), Melissa Begay and 

Mary Rose Twohig (from 

Albuquerque). 

They will take with them a support 

staff driving two 15-passenger 

vans adorned with colorful 

Mexican blankets, sombreros, and 

pictures of each of the runners 

attached to cartoon bodies with 

margaritas in tow. 

The drivers, also from Socorro 

are Kitty Pokorny and Willa 

Lagoyda. 

According to Julie Ford, the 

team captain, the ladies have been 

planning and training since 

November. 

“We get together on Saturday 

or Sunday mornings for a group 

long distance run,” Ford said. 

“Last night five of us braved 

the cold and got together for a 

moonlight eight miler - great fun - 

and a chance to try out our headlamps.” 

The Ragnar Relay, named 

after the great Viking hero Ragnar 

Lodbrok, an adventure seeker, 

takes place in several cities across 

the United States. Boasting over 

60,000 audacious runners last 

year, the Ragnar Relays are the 

nation’s number one overnight 

relay events. 

The Del Sol adventure begins 

in Wickenburg, Arizona on 

February 24 and ends about thirty 

hours later in Tempe. 

Each lady will run three legs. 

The legs vary in difficulty and distance, 

from 3-8 miles, with the 

average pace being near 11-minute 

miles. 

Over two days and one long, 

dark night, the Ragnaritas will run 

across 200 miles of the country’s 

most scenic terrain wearing crazy 

costumes that have been described 

as “ridiculously short, red metallic, 

ruffled skirts and bright yellow tshirts 

with the team name and logo 

on them,” keeping with the 

Mexican margarita theme. 

Some have called the Ragnar 

Relay a slumber party without 

sleep, pillows or deodorant. 

These ladies call it FUN. 

SENIORS! GREAT NEWS! 

If you have diabetes, heart failure or medicaid 

(low income subsidy) you may qualify to enroll in 

a care improvement plus plan anytime of the year. 

CALL: 575.835.1030 

FOR HOUSE CALL PRESENTATION


BATTLES: Reliving the clash between North and South 


Escondida - a redoubt to represent 

Fort Crag - at the Rio Grande 

bridge. This where the re-enact- 

ment of the Battle of Valverde will 

take place. The historic Battle of 

Valverde preceded by two days the 

taking of Socorro. 

Adoptable Pets 

Grizz Project Adoptable Dog of The Month 

“China” is a well cared for, dearly loved companion 

animal in need of new home. China’s owner must 

move very soon and cannot take China with her. 

This beautiful shepherd/retriever mix is about 5 years 

old and is already spayed. She is only about 16 

inches high and is a good “indoor dog” and will fit 

in best with a family wanting a lap dog/couch dog. 

She can be outside for a few hours a day but needs 

a fenced yard to keep her safe. China is very sweet 

and gets along with other cats and dogs. For those 

interested in meeting China, please call Marguerite 

at 575-418-8647. 

On Feb. 16, 1862, the 

Confederate 5th Regiment of 

Texas Mounted Volunteers formed 

a battle line, heading for Fort 

Craig. The Union army’s Col. 

Fur and Feather Adoptable Dog of The Month 

Sadie is a very good natured, spayed female, with 

lots of love and attention to give her person. We 

think she is a Weimaraner/hound mix, 3-4 years old, 

assertive but not pushy, and she gets along very well 

with other dogs and cats. Sadie is totally house 

trained and weighs in at about 55 pounds. She stays 

in a fence well, she is not a barker and she has tons 

of potential. As FFAA Pet of The Month her adoption 

fee is reduced to $25 and that includes her spay, 

shots and worming. This truly is a great dog. Contact 

Laurie at 575-772-2661, or Sharon at 575-772- 

2543 right away. 

Edward Canby stationed a battery 

of guns and howitzers outside 

south-facing walls of Fort Craig. 

The Confederates then called off 

the attack and withdrew. 

Three days later, the 

Confederates, under the command 

of Gen. Henry Hopkins Sibley, 

moved north to control the ford on 

the Rio Grande at Valverde, driving 

the Union soldiers back to Fort 

Craig to meet them. 

The next day the two armies 

clashed near the river. The Battle 

of Valverde ended in a tactical victory 

for the Confederacy, but Fort 

Craig remained in Union hands. 

On Feb. 23, 1862, the 

Confederates broke camp and easily 

captured Socorro. The capture 

of Albuquerque and Santa Fe followed. 

After the Confederate defeat at 

Glorieta, Sibley gave the order to 

return to Texas, and in order to 

avoid getting too close to Fort 

Craig, took his army around 

Ladrone Peak to pass between the 

Magdalena and San Mateo 

Mountains. Confederate uniform 

buttons and other artifacts have 

been discovered along that route in 

the area of Pueblo Springs, north 

of Magdalena. 

Mandeville said that over the 

last 14 years interest has grown in 

the Civil War re-enactor community 

is attracting more participants 

each year, particularly from Texas. 

“With the support of the City 

and business community, we could 

foreseeably bring more Texas 

money into our local economy,” he 

said. 

According to local re-enactor 

Eddie Fratello, the battle ends at 

City Hall, when the Confederate 

flag will temporarily replace the 

stars and stripes. 

“After the end of the battle, the 

federals will surrender,” Fratello 

said. “In real life though there was 

no real battle in Socorro. Just two 

cannon rounds and then Yankees 

gave up.” 

At least three battles will be 

fought over the period, and in 

between the public will have a 

chance to mingle with the soldiers 

and others involved in the event. 

The most popular event is the 

battle fought in the center of 

Socorro, when rebel forces – Texas 

Volunteers – attack Federals 

defending the Plaza. The Siege of 

Socorro will commence in the area 

of Spring and California, and proceed 

- muskets and cannons blazing 

- along Center Street. The 

rebels will push the Federals to a 

final skirmish at the Plaza. 

“Of all the re-creations of Civil 

War battles around the country, 

not one uses city streets,” he said. 

“We’re doing it on the actual site 

of the original battle.” 

The taking of Socorro by the 

Texans will be formalized with the 

surrender of the Union troops and 

the raising of the Confederate flag 

at City Hall. 

“Texan Confederates move 

against the rear guard of the 

Second Regiment, New Mexico 

Militia, to capture the town and 

liberate it from the Union,” 

Mandeville said. “The surrender 

will take place at the Baca House, 

where we are led to believe it actually 

took place.” 

CLASSES: Craft days begin in Feb. 

continued from page 2 

library because I felt that that 

would be a way to give back to the 

town that basically started me 

along the path my life has taken,” 

Gabaldon said. “I try to show students 

how to see things from an 

artists point of view.” 

He said he likes to teach classical 

and modern art techniques in 

perspective drawing and the development 

of the imagination. 

“I want students to draw or 

paint from a conceptual point of 

view,” Gabaldon said. “I want students 

to learn to create art as much 

a they want to copy from a photo 

they have taken or an object the 

actually see. I want students to 

learn to make a drawing or painting.” 

Gabaldon has been involved 

with drafting and illustrating for 

most of his life. Beginning when he 

worked for the VLA as an electromechanical 

draftsman during his 

last year in high school and into 

college. 

He also worked for TERA - 

now EMRTC - as a draftsman 

and trained as an illustrator, and 

put in time as a Civil Draftsman 

for Dennis Engineering 

After college Gabaldon worked in 

Albuquerque as an 

illustrator/draftsman for a company 

called Tech REPs which also 

sent him to go work for other such 

companies as Intel, NASA, JPL, 

and finally doing classified work at 

Sandia National Labs under 

DOD and DOE. 

As for his class at Magdalena 

Public Library, “right now we are 

starting by learning to draw,” 

Gabaldon said. “I want to just 

start with graphite pencils. I would 

like to explore charcoal, ink in the 

near future. Later on, when everyone 

is well schooled with drawing 

I would like everyone to start with 

color.” 

Magener said the library will 

also be bringing back craft classes 

in February. 

“Craft days will be every third 

Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon,” 

she said. “We’ll have a variety of 

crafts people teaching the classes.” 

Also starting in February is the 

Rosetta Stone Spanish course. 

“The course is a self-paced 

interactive computer program,” 

Magener said. “We have one computer 

that is not connected to the 

internet for the Rosetta Stone lessons. 

It’s dedicated for language 

learning. In addition to Spanish, 

the Navajo language will be 

offered later in February.” 

She said the Rosetta Stone 

programs are courtesy of the 

Friends of the Library volunteer 

group. 

The annual get-together 

fundraiser for the Friends of the 

Library will be Sunday, Jan. 29, 

at Bear Mountain Coffee House. 

“It’s a good time to become a 

‘Friend’,” Magener said. “Annual 

fees are a reasonable $10 for an 

individual, and $15 for a family. 

The fees go to keep the library 

with new books and any other 

improvements.”

VILLAGE: Horsley aware of asbestos 


employment opportunities for returning veterans and other qualified persons.” 

He said the project would “bring economic enhancement to the business 

community in general by providing jobs, purchasing local goods, 

and increasing the tax base.” 

Horsley’s plan includes training is noble metal arts and lapidary, job 

training graphic design, sign-making and three dimensional arts. 

He said military veterans would be available through Albuquerque 

Vets Procurement Agency. 

Members of the board wondered if Horsley was aware of the asbestos 

problems. 

Barbara Baca asked if water and sewer lines were still connected to 

the complex, which has been vacant for 28 years. The complex is 

designed to house 400 people. 

“Ideas of bringing jobs into the community is exciting,” Carmen 

Torres said. 

Horsley currently operates a sign making business called Designsmith 

LLC in Ojo Caliente. 

The board voted to turn the proposal over to the village attorney for 

any legal ramifications. 

Over the past few years there have been several offers from entities 

wanting to take over the complex. 

In March 2005, a man named Raymond Hollingsworth made an 

offer to buy the dorms for one dollar, with the promise that he would 

bring in 2,000 Native American Eskimos from Alaska to Magdalena to 

live and train at the facility. 

Another offer in April 2007 was from Alfred Poblocki to purchase 

the BIA Cafeteria and two acres of land on which it sits. He said he it 

could possibly be used as a VA rehabilitation center. 

Other past discussions have included condo housing for MRO 

astronomers, hazmat funding to remove or seal in asbestos, and a variety 

of other ideas over the past few years. 

In other action: 

Adren Nance was named the new attorney for the Village. Although 

Nance also gives legal advice to the Socorro County Commission and the 

County of Socorro, the Board approved the appointment with the understanding 

that in the event of a conflict between the municipality and county, 

another lawyer would be retained. 


CANDIDATES: Trustee hopefuls introduce themselves 


Baca, who is running again. 

She is being challenged by Dolly 

Dawson, William Otero and 

Arthur Rauschenberg. 

The two candidates with the 

most votes will win the election. 

The Mountain Mail asked 

each of the four candidates to submit 

a brief statement on why they 

are running. 

Barbara Baca 

I believe that I am the best candidate 

because I was born and 

raised in Magdalena. I graduated 

from Magdalena High School in 

1972. I worked for the schools 

from 1979-1997 as a substitute 

teacher while working at the nursing 

facility, as well as doing home 

care and helping EMS. 

I am currently on the council, 

was on the 2000 council, and 

know the people well enough to 

know what they want, and what is 

best for our village. 

I listen to the people and do my 

best to accomplish what they see in 

the future for our community. 

I do not care if they are well off 

financially or need help, all are 

equal in my eyes. 

I guess you could say I am for 

the people, by the people, and am 

the voice of the Magdalena people. 

I enjoy speaking for those that 

cannot or are afraid to. This is 

what a good representative does. 

Dolly Dawson 

It’s not for the pay, the glory, or 

the headaches. It’s for Magdalena, 

which is a good western village 

whose citizens have made it what it 

is today. 

My folks came to Magdalena in 

1935. I was raised here and graduated 

from here. These people 

and I go way back. Although 

we’ve had our ups and downs, 

these people are all special to me, 

as is Magdalena. 

I’m running because I have the 

experience from being on the 

board for eight years, and I also 

have the time to do the job. 

The things I have done are: 

Title searches for the village as 

they are unique as to what property 

they owned. Then the board 

had the Village limits and the 

Village owned property surveyed. 

A friend and I went to the 

cemetery and marked it off with 

stakes and string. We marked 

down everyone that had a headstone 

making records of where 

everyone was buried. We continue 

to keep track of where people are 

being b buried for the records. 

I dispatch part time for the 

Magdalena Fire and Rescue. 

The things that are important 

to me are the water/sewer/trash, 

airport, streets, senior citizens, Fire 

and EMS, the BIA dorms and 

the people. 

The citizens have a lot of good 

ideas and we the board should listen 

to what they have to say. 

I will work with the board and 

the Village with honesty and hard 

work. 

Thank you for supporting me. 

William Otero 

My name is William Otero and 

I am a resident of Magdalena. My 

father is a local building contractor 

and he owns and operates 

Chrystal’s rock, jewelry and saw 

shop at the east side of 

Magdalena. I graduated from 

Magdalena High School in 2007 

and I am 24 years old. 

I am running for trustee 

because I would like to push for 

cleaning up the alleys in town of all 

vegetation, especially the elm trees 

that cause so much of a problem 

with sewer system. I would like to 

see the village put more effort into 

the youth center by trying to get 

volunteers to help with repairs. 

I think that something has to be 

done in town to regenerate the 

economy with a cleaner town, 

more people and spend more 

money, creating more jobs. Of 

course, I would work hard with the 

board in order to identify and try 

to acquire all available funding for 

village infrastructure projects. 

Arthur Rauschenberg 

Government should include all 

citizens with an equal power to maintain 

and protect their rights. 

Governmental power should be used 

for the good of the citizens in a positive 

and constructive fashion, as 

power is a Trust in which the 

Trustees should be held accountable. 

I believe every town has the 

government it deserves. Without 

active participation and watchfulness 

by the voters, the elected few 

may “forget” who put them in 

office. 

No promises (too ‘political’), 

just an open ear and mind to ideas 

and constructive recommendations 

by the citizens of Magdalena. 

Remember...you get the government 

you deserve. 

For Magdalena, Art 

Rauschenberg 

Voting will take place on 

March 6, between 7 a.m. and 7 

p.m.


Burnin’ Love s 

By Nancy Newberry 

February makes me nostalgic. Though 

the holidays proper seem to bring a lot of 

expectations, Valentine’s Day is a holiday to 

play with. 

I believe that anything in (or on) a heartshaped 

dish spells love. Ever since my quiet 

Aunt Jeanette delighted me with a heartshaped 

cake pan - I was probably 8 - I’ve 

had the packrat’s impulse to collect hearts. 

In Seattle, every February 14th, a recycled 

glass company scatters glass hearts all 

over the beach at Shilshole Bay; I’ve gone 

out there in a cold gale at dusk to find mine, 

astonished every time at how even a halfsanded-over 

heart stands out on a vast beach 

in the near dark. 

When I was young in the picket-fence 

Midwest I was fortunate enough to live in 

the sort of 50’s family often portrayed on 

TV but rare in reality. A few blocks from 

grandmas and the library, kids on bikes and 

on foot had free run of the world and no 

sense of hazard. Icy streets became skating 

rinks and in big years we built immense 

snow warrens. 

Valentine’s Day broke the spell of cold 

winter; we made paper valentines for the 

kids in our classes and looked forward to the 

candy hearts, those early precursors to texting. 

A Be Mine from tall, blond Bobby 

would have made my day, but it just wasn’t 

in the cards. 

As Room Mother, my mom took on the 

project of making Valentine cookies for the 

class. She’d get the class list from the 

teacher, and make a sugar cookie for each 

140 Acres $49,900. Lot 3 Windmill 

Ranch, Lincoln County. Electric is 

available at the road frontage. 

505-990-6180 

NMLands.com 

700 S. Main, Magdalena. 2 BD adobe and 

frame. Cozy living, great light in kitchen. 

Pro-panel roof.1.67+/- Lots. Asking $72,000. 

Lee Scholes, Qualifying Broker 

Wind Spirit Realty 

800-462-4590/www.WindSpiritRealty.com 

Lee@WindSpiritRealty.com 

2 BD, 2 3/4 BA, 4,900+ sq ft home on 60+ 

acres. Beautiful grnds with horse/ hay barn, 

access to N.F. Indoor pool. Passive solar, 

great well, open floor plan. Asking $448,000. 

Hayden Outdoors participating with Cabelas Trophy 

Properties. 575-854-3090/www.HaydenOutdoors.com 

Lee@HaydenOutdoors.com 

child, with each name in script. She’d go 

over the list countless times, check spelling, 

double- and triple-check with the teacher; 

her version of No Child Left Behind. She’d 

agonize over cutting enough, frosting 

enough, her icing-tube script and finally 

pack each cookie with a name flat in boxes 

with wax paper, carrying along a blank one 

and extra frosting as insurance. 

Mom’s anxiety was a clear lesson in how 

important it was to be kind and fair. I made 

sure, too, to take extra paper cards to school 

in case I’d missed somebody, so that every 

desk’s mailbox had a Valentine from me. 

Oddly, the holiday for love was no time for 

playing favorites—not at school, anyway. 

See what nostalgia does? I’m completely 

off track. 

I want to tell you all the ways to share love 

from your kitchen on this silly holiday, so 

here we go: for breakfast, make a heartshaped 

frittata. 

If you line the casserole with parchment, 

buttered on both sides, you can run a knife 

around the edge and turn it out onto a plate. 

Frittata for Two is easily doubled. Use your 

heart-shaped cookie cutter to make bread 

hearts to toast. 

Then send those heart cookies to work or 

school, sprinkled with sprinkles or scripted 

with names. You will have made these a couple 

of days ahead – they’re a lot of work. I 

suggest using The Best Rolled Sugar 

Cookies from Allrecipes.com, but your 

favorite old sugar cookie and frosting recipes 

will do just fine. 

Let me know if you need to borrow my 

heart-shaped cookie cutter. 

40 Acres Bordering National Forest 

Lot 187 Pinon Springs, NW of Magdalena. 

Phone and Electric at the 

road frontage. $49,900. 

505-990-6180 

NMLands.com 

“Suds ‘n Stuff” - Perfect Hwy. 60 location, 

profitable business with gallery space to 

expand your possibilities. Top quality construction, 

huge lot. Asking $175,000 

Wind Spirit Realty 

575-854-3090/www.WindSpiritRealty.com 

Jericho@WindSpiritRealty.com 

1,000 acres (380 deeded) Horse & cattle 

ranch 3 mi. S. of Magdalena, 3BR 2.5BA 

House, lg barn, corrals, great well, wonderful 

views. - $685,000 ($1,958/deeded acre) 

Ranch and Management Services 575-854-3090 

www.Ranch-ManagementServices. com 

Lee@Ranch-Management Services.com 

Cookie hearts and dots, sanded with sugar, are ready to give away. Recycled glass hearts are free 

for the taking every year on Seattle's Golden Gardens beach. 

Photo by Nancy Newberry 

each month in the 

Mountain Mail 

Call 854-3500 or 838-6452 To Advertise Here 

30 Acres Bordering National Forest. 

Lot 59 Abbe Springs, NW of Magdalena 

$45,000. Well and Electric on 

property. 

505-990-6180 

NMLands.com 

TREES! Access to National Forest, 1,316 

sqft 2 story, passive solar home 2 BR, 1 

BA, 2 great decks, quiet, 3 miles south of 

Magdalena, 5+ acres. Asking $189,000. 




End of The Road 40.05 acres 17 miles N. 

of Magdalena. Power, Phone bordering 

Forest Land, Pinon Springs Lot 55 - 

$44,000 




Then if you truly love your True Love, 

and want them to live forever, you can fix a 

heart-healthy salmon dinner with a tender 

green salad - I actually found gorgeous wildcaught 

salmon at Trails’ End! 

Dust that salmon with lemon zest, salt, 

and pepper and broil or grill it until it flakes 

with a fork. 

To cap the day, since (I hope) your love 

is a burning flame, serve a chocolate crème 

brulee. 

Always a fan of the easy but dramatic 

dish, I love my kitchen torch, and love to 

brandish it to sizzle sugar into caramel crust 

on creamy crème brulee. If you don’t have 

one of these, you need one! I’ve also been 

known to use it to light candles - I can never 

find matches - and it is remarkably effective 

REMOTE , REMOTE, REMOTE! 5 

Ac. fenced, trees, views w/30'X20' cinder 

block shell, land borders Public 

lands. Phone at property & electric 

close by. T3N,R4W,S25. $12,000. 

Cash/Firm 

505-990-6180 - NMLands.com 

All NM Has to Offer! Straw Bale guest 

house, underground electric, water storage 

system, fenced on North, Forest Road to 

St. Hwy 107. 160 acres. Asking $235,000 




Just North of Riley 50+/- rolling 

acres, Road, Power borders thousands 

of acres of BLM Santa Rita Ranches 

Lot 82 - $60,000 ($1,200/acre). 




for controlling fruit fly populations in the 

summer (that action you’ll just have to picture 

for yourself). It’s almost as dramatic as 

the roaring propane burner my husband 

uses to light the woodstove, which brings me 

full circle. Lots of love to share on a silly holiday, 

igniting in the kitchen, and warming up 

your world. 

Frittata for Two 

Serves 2 

20 minutes 

This is a method for a frittata or Spanish 

tortilla, a simple dish to serve any time. With 

a salad, it’s a light supper; with heart-shaped 

toast and jam, it’s great for breakfast. 

Acreage for sale by NMLands.com. 

Great Prices- Lands are Semi remote 

to very remote. Many properties border 

Natl. Forest, BLM or State land. 

Please call 505-990-6180 or visit 

www.NMLands.com. Prices and pictures 

are posted on the web. 

Classic Quality Adobe. With radiant heat, 

courtyards, top of the line applicances and 

360 degree views. All on 2.5 acres - Asking 

$395,000. 




BEAUTIFUL VIEWS! Historic property 

with natural spring. Approx. 260 acre 

ranch, 1.5 miles N. of Magdalena Very 

secluded. Includes 2 BD home with 

shop/garage. Fenced. Appraised at $495,000 

but will consider all offers. 575-854-2527.

1 6-inch heart-shaped baking pan 

Parchment 

1 Yukon Gold potato, cut into 1/3 inch 

cubes 

2 slices bacon, chopped 

3 green onions, chopped 

2 tablespoons chopped red bell pepper 

4 eggs 

¼ cup milk 

2 ounces fresh goat cheese, broken into 

chunks 

Salt and ground black pepper 

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Using 

nonstick spray or butter, grease the baking 

dish. Trace the outline of the dish onto 

parchment and cut to fit. Place parchment 

in the baking dish and grease the parchment. 

Place potatoes in a small saucepan and 

cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over 

medium heat and cook until just tender; 

drain and set aside. 

Meanwhile, cook and stir bacon in a skillet 

over medium heat until it begins to crisp, 

about 5 minutes. Add green onion and red 

bell pepper and cook and stir until wilted, 

about 3 minutes. Scatter potato pieces and 

bacon mixture evenly in the prepared pan. 

Whisk together the eggs and milk. Pour 

into the hot skillet; cook gently until eggs just 

begin to set but are still runny, about 2 minutes. 

Pour eggs over vegetables and bacon in 

the baking pan; placce goat cheese chunks 

evenly over the top. 

Bake in the preheated oven until puffed 

and set, about 12 minutes. Remove from the 

oven and let stand for 5 minutes; run a knife 

around the edge of the pan to loosen, and 

turn out onto a plate to serve. 

Chocolate Crème Brulee 

by Fran Bigelow from the cookbook Pure 

Chocolate 

Fran’s Chocolates, an unsurpassed 

Seattle favorite, offers up this recipe for 

creamy, rich, crème brulee. You may be 

tempted to increase the chocolate, but if you 


Classif ieds 

FREE CLASSIFIEDS! Place your classified ad online or call 854-3500 / 838-6452 today!! 

GENERAL 

FREE ADS Place your 

FREE classified ad now in 

the Mountain Mail News. 

Its easy and it's free not 

even a $1.00. 

www.mountain-mailnews.com 

- 575-854- 

3500 or 575-418-7504 

AUTOMOTIVE 

WANTED FOR PARTS: 

1984 Honda Big Red 

200ES ATC Three 

Wheeler. Call 

505.533.4941 

ANNOUNCEMENTS 

ALANON - If you are 

interested in joining or 

attending a local 

ALANON meeting, 

Please contact me. We 

will attempt to start an 

ALANON chapter in 

Socorro. Contact Duane 

Baker – 575-835-2895 

BIRTHRIGHT OF 

SOCORRO office closed 

Dec 20-29. Reopening 

Tues Jan 3 in new location: 

203 Manzaneres 

Ave E, Ste. 16 (Val Verde 

Hotel) Tues/Thur. 10 aml 

pm or by appointment. 

do, the crème brulee will be too firm! 

Serves 6 

4 hours 

5 egg yolks 

¼ cup sugar, plus an additional 6 tablespoons 

sugar for caramelizing 

2 cups heavy cream 

½ vanilla bean, split lengthwise 

4 ½ ounces bittersweet chocolate (preferable 

70% cacao), finely chopped 

Position a rack in the middle of the oven 

and preheat the oven to 300°F. Have ready 

six 7-ounce shallow, oval ramekins or crème 

brûlée dishes. 

In a small bowl, combine the egg yolks 

with 2 tablespoons of the sugar. Gently 

whisk, without beating in air, until smooth 

and the sugar begins to dissolve. Set aside. 

In a large heavy saucepan heat the cream 

with the split vanilla bean and 2 tablespoons 

sugar until it comes to a simmer. Remove 

from the heat. Lift out the vanilla bean and 

let cool a minute. Holding the bean over the 

cream, gently scrape loose all the seeds with 

the back of a paring knife so they fall into the 

pot. Discard the empty pod or rinse and let 

dry for vanilla sugar. (Place the dried pod in 

a sugar canister.) Stir in the chocolate until 

thoroughly melted and smooth. 

Pour one-third of the chocolate mixture 

into the egg mixture and stir to combine. 

Then add the remaining chocolate mixture, 

gently stirring until smooth. 

Strain the custard through a fine-mesh 

sieve into a large measuring cup. Pour about 

3 ounces into each ramekin, about ½ inch 

deep. Firmly tap the base of each cup on the 

counter to remove any bubbles. 

Arrange the ramekins in a heavy-rimmed 

baking sheet or roasting pan. Put the baking 

dish into the oven and fill with ½ inch simmering 

water for a bain-marie. 

Bake the custards for 20 minutes, or until 

set. The tops should be glossy and the surface 

should move evenly when shaken. If the 

center moves independently, return to the 

oven. 

With a wide spatula, lift and transfer the 

custards to a rack to cool. Then transfer to 

the refrigerator to thoroughly chill, 2 to 4 

hours, uncovered. 

About an hour before serving, sprinkle a 

tablespoon of sugar over each chilled cus- 

(575) 835-4236. Emergency/urgent, 

please call 

Hotline 1-800-550- 

4900. 

Family Crisis Center in 

Reserve – If you or someone 

you know is struggling 

to cope with an 

abusive relationship, we 

are here to help. Services 

are free and confidential, 

and translation services 

are available. Contact 

Carla Fisher. Phone: 

877-412-7233. 

LOST & FOUND 

FOUND: VERY friendly 

kitten, about 6-8 months 

old, maybe older. 

Cream-colored with grey 

on tail and face, blue 

eyes. Found outside of 

Magdalena (Brahman 

road, near airport). 

Hungry, but affectionate, 

seems to be from good 

home. Call: 505-859- 

1966. 

MERCHANDISE 

Miscellaneous 

WHITFIELD PELLET 

STOVE FOR SALE - 

Includes fireplace insert, 

self lighting. Excellent 

A butane kitchen torch melts sugar into crackling caramel quickly, is easy to control, and is fun to 

have around as your own mini flamethrower. 

Photo by Nancy Newberry 

tard. Holding a propane or butane torch 

several inches from the surface, begin passing 

the flame back and forth until the sugar 

begins to melt and caramelize. Your goal is 

a thin crisp crust so that each bite of custard 

is accompanied by a bite of caramel. 

Refrigerate to set the crust, about 30 

minutes but not too long. Lengthy refrigera- 

condition! 575-772- 

5344 

REAL ESTATE 

Land For Sale 

Spectacular views in 

Datil, NM. Beautiful 

Mountain setting consisting 

of 10 acres+- of land 

SW of Datil, NM. 

Beautiful 360 degree 

views with trees and privacy. 

Property has electricity, 

septic system and 

productive well. 

Completely fenced. 

Photos available. Contact 

575-772-5095. 

Don’t miss out . . . FREE Classifieds! 

PLACE YOUR FREE CLASSIFIED AD ONLINE - MOUNTAINMAILNEWS.COM 

$41,000 

110+ acres between 

Magdalena/Alamo. Yearround 

spring, game trail, 

archaeological site. 

Amazing views. 

Completely surrounded 

by National Forest! Can 

divide in 3 lots. Listed 

$150K, but offers welcome. 

Email 

kellilynnhann@yahoo.co 

m for pics or call 505- 

859-1966 for more info. 

SERVICES 

tion will cause the caramel to weep. For the 

creamiest consistency, serve at room temperature. 

What would you like to see in this column? 

Let me know! I’d love to hear from 

you at cheesemite@wildblue.net. 

MVD introduces telephone service 

New Mexicans can now renew their vehicle 

and boat registrations, check driver’s 

license status or pay traffic citations through 

an interactive phone system without having 

to visit a Motor Vehicle Division office or 

talking to a customer service agent. 

By calling the toll-free telephone line, 1- 

888-683-4636, they can also request for a 

replacement license plate and sticker; locate 

the nearest MVD office and office hours; 

and send or receive electronic faxes. 

“Our goal is to provide more online and 

interactive phone services to our customers 

so they can save time from visiting an MVD 

office,” said Demesia Padilla, Cabinet 

Secretary for the State Taxation and 

Revenue Department. “This will not only 

improve our operational efficiencies, but cut 

down on longer wait times for customers visiting 

MVD offices for other services.” 

Magdalena Computer 

Services. IN-home or 

business computer 

help, repair or training. 

$15/hr within 20 miles 

of Magdalena - outside 

that a $15 trip 

fee. Windows, Mac, 

MS Office, Photoshop, 

hardware upgrades, 

repairs. Ted 854-3394 

WANTED 

Wanted: Pottery kiln and 

wheel. Blacksmith equipment. 

Anvil, firebox and 

blower. Contact 575- 

772-5095 

Place your FREE classified ad online - it will run for one month on the mountainmailnews.com website and once in the next print edition of the Mountain Mail.


Romance and dancing on Valentine’s Day with Glenn Miller music 

Optional Valentine’s dinner at Fidel Center with a free 

ballroom dancing lesson in the atrium prior to the concert 

The distinctively romantic sound of the 

Glenn Miller Orchestra will fill Macey 

Center’s main auditorium on Valentine’s 

Day, Tuesday, Feb. 14. 

It’s the latest event for New Mexico 

Tech’s Performing Arts Series, and Ronna 

Kalish said the evening will offer something 

extra, a dinner and dance. 

“Prior to the Glenn Miller Orchestra 

perfrorming, we are having a pre-show 

Valentine’s Dinner at Fidel Center with a 

free ballroom dance class in the Atrium of 

Fidel Center following the dinner,” Kalish 

said. “But you do not have to have gone to 

the dinner to do the dance class. 

According to the menu, the entrée choices 

for the dinner are Coffee-Dusted Filet 

Mignon, Salmon en Papillote or Portabello 

Mushroom. 

“Following the ballroom dancing lessons, 

we will have a lover’s lane stroll, lined with 

luminarias from Fidel Center to Macey 

Center, with chocolate covered strawberries, 

roses, and sparkling cider,” Kalish said. 

“The Glenn Miller Orchestra is always a 

huge hit and we’ll have areas for dancing. 

They are really one of the most popular touring 

big bands in the world today.” 

Dinner Tickets are $20 for PAS members 

and $30 for non-member. 

Concert Tickets are $20 adult, $18 for 

65 and older, and $10 for 17 and under. 

The concert starts at 7:30 p.m., and 

social hour for the dinner as at 5 p.m. 

With its unique jazz sound, the Glenn 

Miller Orchestra is considered to be one of 

the greatest bands of all time. 

Nick Hilscher is the current band leader, 

the ninth since the founding of the present 

Glenn Miller Orchestra which was formed 

in 1956. The band has been touring consistently 

for 55 years, playing an average of 

300 live dates a year all around the world. 

“A band ought to have a sound all of its 

own. It ought to have a personality,” is how 

Glenn Miller described the band he formed. 

Glenn Miller was born in Clarinda, Iowa 

on March 1, 1904, but it was in North 

Platte, Nebraska, several years later that his 

father brought home a mandolin. Glenn 

promptly traded it for an old battered horn, 

which he practiced every chance he got. In 

fact his mother worried, “It got to where Pop 

and I used to wonder if he’d ever amount to 

anything.” 

In April 1935, Glenn Miller recorded, 

for the first time under his own name. Using 

six horns, a rhythm section and a string 

quartet, he recorded “Moonlight on the 

Ganges” and “A Blues Serenade” for 

Columbia. 

In 1937, Glenn Miller stepped out to 

form his own band. There were a few recordings 

- one for Decca and one for Brunswick - 

a couple of week long stints in New Orleans 

and Dallas, and many one-nighters, but it was 

not to be. 

It is said that Miller could never remember 

precisely the moment he decided to emphasize 

his new reed section sound. But it was 

during this interim, that he realized the 

unique sound - produced by the clarinet holding 

the melodic line while the tenor sax plays 

the same note, and supported harmonically 

by three other saxophones - just might be the 

individual and easily recognizable style that 

would set his band apart from all the rest. 

Formed in March 1938, the second 

Glenn Miller Orchestra soon began breaking 

attendance records all up and down the 

East Coast. At the New York State Fair in 

Syracuse it attracted the largest dancing 

crowd in the city’s history. 

In early 1940, Down Beat Magazine 

announced that Miller had topped all other 

bands in its Sweet Band Poll, and capping 

off this seemingly sudden rise to the top, 

there was, of course, Glenn Miller’s 

“Moonlight Serenade” radio series for 

Chesterfield cigarettes which aired three 

times a week over CBS. 

In 1942, Glenn Miller reported for induction 

into the Army and was immediately 

assigned to the Army Specialist Corps. 

His training complete, he organized the 

Glenn Miller Army Air Force Band. 

Miller’s goal of entertaining the fighting 

troops took another year to be realized, but 

in late 1943 he and the band were shipped 

out to England. 

There, in less than one year, the Glenn 

Miller Army Air Force Band engaged in 

over 800 performances. Of these, 500 were 

broadcasts heard by millions. There were 

more than 300 personal appearances including 

concerts and dances, with a gross attendance 

of over 600,000. 

In the Fall of 1944, the band was scheduled 

to be sent on a six-week tour of Europe 

and would be stationed in Paris during that 

time. Miller decided to go ahead, in order to 

make the proper arrangements for the 

group’s arrival. And so, on Dec. 15, 1944, 

he boarded a transport plane to Paris, never 

to be seen again. 

In his book “Glenn Miller & His 

Orchestra,” George Simon wrote this about 

the man. 

“His favorite quotation was not from 

Duke Ellington: ‘It don’t mean a thing if it 

ain’t got that swing!’

The Battles For Socorro - Mountain Mail

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