Read more about the nominees - City of Alamogordo

Going the extra mile – The German Helping Hands in Alamogordo
The idea of starting a charity that helps families in need in Alamogordo and Mexico was born
over two decades ago when the first German Air Force personnel arrived at Holloman AFB.
Since then, the German Helping Hands Alamogordo, whose members are mostly German men
and women affiliated with the German Air Force Flying Training Center, have helped people in
need of food, shelter or basic necessities. Not only do the children of the Tarahumara Indians of
Mexico's Copper Canyon benefit from their charitable work, but also non-profit organizations
located in Alamogordo such as Love´s Inc., Cope, House of Prayer or the Pregnancy Help
Center receive active support.
In addition to clothing and other subsistence items from collections the help offered also
includes financial support, funding for which is accomplished by way of bake sales at countless
events or yard sales in Alamogordo as well as financial donations. But that's not all. Members of
the group have put together and sold bilingual cook books and have organized benefit concerts
at Grace United Methodist Church and the churchyard of the German St. John the Baptist
Church.
The dedication and commitment of these volunteers do not stop here. They also provide handson
support where needed. Only last month some members of the German Helping Hands
cooked and dished out a warm meal for Alamogordo residents in need at the soup kitchen of the
Good Samaritan Society.
note: The German Helping Hands Alamogordo isn´t a part of the German Air
Force Flying Training Center.
Nominated by: Torsten Meynle
Chief Master Sergeant GAF
10/29/12
OCAER (Otero County Association of Educational Retirees)
Most volunteers hours from OCAER from Renee Walker.
I would like to give you some information of a group of individuals that
volunteer thousands of hours in this community. We have tried getting them
publicity lately and have struck out.
OCAER (Otero County Association of Educational Retirees) have won the
trophy for volunteers hours for the 4 year in a row. One of the local members
(Renee Walker) had the highest total of hours for any members throughout

the state. I am including into this e-mail data about the hours and value of the
hours.
The trophy was presented at the State Convention recently. Certificates were
also presented to those members who had volunteer hours. The certificates
were presented at the local meeting last Tuesday, Oct. 18 th .
Just think, the value of the hours this group provides is almost $700,000.
What an impact on the community. Volunteering is done in many venues:
Hospital Auxiliary (Pink Ladies), tutoring, reading to students, bulletin boards
for organizations, COPE, and on the list grows.
UNIT HOURS TOTAL VOLUNTEER
SERVICE
Otero Cty. AER/Alamogordo 29,722.5 $696,922.62
OCAER Volunteers with over 1000 of Community Service hours:
NAME UNIT VOLUNTEER HOURS
Renee Walker Otero County AER 3,908
Barry Steigler Curry County AER 2,600
Pat Trautman Otero CountyAER 2,172
Linda Castorena Otero CountyAER 1,762
Alice Money Otero CountyAER 1,479
Alvin Cook Otero County AER 1,400
Evelyn Cook Otero County AER 1,400
Diana Hamilton Otero CountyAER 1,315
Sandra Foster Otero County AER 1,248
Sheila Harrison Otero CountyAER 1,173
Nominated By:
Elise Haley 10/18/12

Mildred Evaskovich
I nominate Mildred Evaskovich to become a recipient of the "go the extra mile" award.
Mildred became a volunteer with the Alamogordo Cancer Resource Center in 2004 when she
had breast cancer and has been going strong ever since. She has never kept a personal record
of her volunteer hours, but estimated they are approaching 600 hours annually but probably
more.
In approximately 2009 she became Lead Chair of the Cancer Resource Center and as such,
proceeded to completely organize every facet of its operation. Mildred is always on call should
another volunteer need help or advice in handling any situation.
She stepped down as Lead Chair in October 2012 but is still very much involved in managing
the Road to Recovery portion of services at the center. Alamogordo can be extremely proud of
their Cancer Resource Center as well as the lady who was deeply instrumental in making it so
successful, Mildred Evaskovich.
Thank you for considering Mildred Evaskovich for this award. We are all very proud of her and
believe she is definitely deserving of your consideration.
Nominated By:
Carla Kerr 10/18/12
Al Hernandez
I would like to nominate my husband Al Hernandez: I believe he goes the extra mile every day.
He is always helping someone with a problem whether it is a personal problem, work related or
just going and helping them physically. He does not ask for anything in return. He has been so
supportive while having my (our) nephew live with us which is not easy helping to raise
someone else’s child. This is the second nephew that we have tried to help out.
My husband is a plumber by trade and there have been many times that he will get a call from an
elderly person that needs help with their plumbing, heating and cooling. He will take time to go
check it and/or fix it. Many times he will not charge them as he knows that they are on a fixed
income. However, there are times that they want to pay him so he will charge them, but only
charge them a price that they can afford on their fixed budget.
My husband is always helping someone out.

These are just a few of the many things my husband does for his friends, family and even people
he does not know. I feel that he deserves to be recognized for being a kind and generous person.
Mayor Galea replies: “I enjoyed reading his story of service. I have witnessed his generosity
firsthand when he was awaiting a neighbor at the billing counters in city hall. What kind of
person takes money from their own wallet to pay the water bill for their neighbor? I will
proudly recognize Al for going the “extra mile”, and I agree with you that such acts are
deserving of recognition.”
Nominated by:
AnnMarie Hernandez 10/18/12
Jeremy Garcia (Dj Digum Smack)
I would like to nominate a friend, his name is Jeremy Garcia (Dj Digum Smack) he is such an
outstanding person for many reasons. He has served our country & fought in Afghanistan.
Today he works for UPS as a loader but is finally training to be a driver! When he gets off of
work from there he is a DJ with BumSquad DJs, he DJs at Palmside, & travels out of town to a
few other venues, or any other venue that needs him, he also volunteers to Dj (for a very low
fee if not just for free) for people who can't afford to pay.
He doesn't have much but when he has an extra $30 or more he finds needy families or
individuals whom he can give it to help them out. He is constantly trying to do something to help
others out even if it’s just offering his services or giving his last few dollars to someone in need.
He does all this while trying to cope with the stress and memories from the war, and all though
he has a hard time dealing with everything from war can you believe a part of him still wants to
serve his country if he could!!! He has touched a lot of hearts. He may argue otherwise and say
he is no one special, but believe me he is VERY special!!!
Nominated by:
Maggie Landin 10/18/12
Domingo Garcia Jr
I would like to nominate my husband, Domingo Garcia Jr., for going the extra mile in helping
seniors and staff with projects they are not able to complete, do, or unable to pay for services.
Domingo, better known as Junior, is always assisting seniors with errands, driving them to their
places of business, putting in light bulbs, weeding, and doing minor fix-ups for them. He does

this for just about anyone that we refer him to especially if they are unable to pay to have their
project fixed or sometimes rebuilt.
He has also assisted staff members needing things fixed or needing minor repairs. One project
he assisted with was for a staff member that had had her rental home damaged prior to her
renting it, by people that just moved into the vacant home, unknown to the staff person. Junior
went in and patched many holes in the walls, painted walls, replaced facets, and did what he
could to patch holes on the roof that had caused ceiling damage. He basically assisted with
getting the house ready for renting. In between the time this happened, the staff member
ended up in the hospital very sick and Junior continued to fix up and clean up the house so that
the house would be ready for her when she got out.
He is a retired Police Officer and his public service has never ended. He retired in 1991 and to
this day continues to provided services for those in need. He is 74 years old now and I feel that
his willingness to assist others and his giving spirit has given him joy and also has kept him
going and going.
Nominated By:
Rosanne Garcia 10/31/12
White Sands Rotary
Rotarians are known for service above self. Though they do their service work without care
for recognition, I want to recognize them and other civic groups like them because I am
certain that their goodness will inspire greatness. From the annual wine fest, the donation
from ticket sales of $1600 goes to the City Rec Center for unprivileged youth, so they too
will have the opportunity to participate in after school programs and sports. Through the
wine fest they also raised $5,300 for the back to school program where they purchase new
clothes for children and a backpack full of supplies. This year they helped 23 children!
Each year Rotarians also beautify the City through their tree planting program of $2,000. I
am also grateful for the hours of service that go unknown.
Nominated By:
Susie Galea 10/11/12

Edward Cole
I nominate Ed Cole. In addition to his 12 ½ years of service as an elected City
Commissioner he goes out of his way to serve the City of Alamogordo in many ways.
Ed Cole walks 3 miles every day, but on Monday’s he brings along a trash bag to pick
up any litter that was left on the trail grounds over the weekend. Ed attends many of the
library’s functions and has taken an active role in promoting the library throughout the
community. Ed also engages business owners through the Chamber’s event called
“Business After Hours”. Ed Cole has sought to better his community through all that he
does, and especially cares about education after his long role as an educator and
superintendent. In his retirement, Ed goes the “extra mile”.
Nominated By:
Susie Galea 10/31/12
Donna Clark
During our lifetime we sometimes know what we are going to do with our lives, and we
begin with different occupations and businesses. Don and Donna Clark had a
restaurant opened on Canal in Alamogordo, NM but had to close it. The building sat
empty for a while.
Donna worked at NM Adult and Probation and Parole in Alamogordo, and saw a great
need for women to regain their lives back and be able to live drug and alcohol free.
With this idea Don and Donna Clark opened the James House in February 2005, within
the former restaurant.
The former restaurant became a transitional program and place for women released
from jail or prison. They were responsible for themselves with the assistance of the
James House Services. Not all women were model program participants. There were
those that graduated and did not return, those who could not complete the program, and
those who completed the program but later returned for more services.
One of the women that completed the transitional program was Cindy. She was
employed by the Clark’s to help with the women. She had once been where the
incoming women had been and could understand what they were going through, and
could provide the tough love needed when they chose to regress.

The James House was “closed” on July 23, 2007, and the New Life Recovery center
was opened in its place. The concept of the New Life Recovery was the same, but the
Clark’s were the sole owners of the house.
Through the transitional home of the New Life Recovery there are established rules and
guidelines participants must adhere to in order to graduate from the New Life Recovery.
So far, 450 women have successfully come and gone from this house. There they
received the help to fight through their problems with drug and alcohol. They left the
house free from addiction, and no longer are controlled by drugs and alcohol.
The women in the program currently assist in many community volunteer services.
They assist at the Boy’s & Girl’s Club during their Halloween event, do gift wrapping and
tree cards for the Angel Tree, and have yard sales to raise money to help the
community of Alamogordo in other areas that they are able.
This transitional program and new life gives these women their self-esteem back, and
provides a way for them to fight the demons of the alcohol and drugs that led them to
jail or prison. With the help of the staff they learn they are someone that is of
importance and are able to see beyond former put downs from those of their past.
Not one of the 450 women who have gone through the doors of the James House and
New Life Recovery would have been equipped to begin a “new life” if the service had
not been provided by Don and Donna Clark. Don passed away in January 2012, and
Donna has “retired” and the Recovery House is now run by her daughter, Vicky Clark,
with the assistance of Cindy.
Thank you Donna Clark for the vision you acted upon when you worked at NM Adult
Probation and Parole.
Nominated By:
Jo Lynn Hooker, Vicky Clark, and Cindy 10/15/12
Alamogordo Daily News
Better Newspaper Contest awards were handed out Saturday night during
the 104th annual NMPA convention at a Santa Ana Pueblo resort.
And the Alamogordo Daily News took home several awards.
The contest received more than 1,550 entries, the highest turnout in contest
history.

Judging was completed by the Kentucky Press Association.
For the Daily News, managing editor Michael Johnson (Daily Class II) took
first place in feature writing for "Pilot on escort flight."
He also took second place in feature writing with "We must be prefect."
"I am extremely proud of the Alamogordo Daily News employees," Daily
News General Manager Carol Burgess said Saturday night, "for going the
extra mile and exceeding the limits to make this a better newspaper."
In series or continuing coverage, staff writer John Bear took first place with
"Plaza Pub controversy."
Sports editor Mark Rudi took second place in sports writing with "honoring a
friend."
In the house advertising category, Daily News staffer Blanca Najar took first
place with "General manager is out shopping with us, gasp."
The New Mexico Press Association and the New Mexico Associated Press
Managing Editors continue to sponsor a merged contest between the two
groups.
The APME will judge and present AP Member of the Year.
Nominated By:
General Manager Carol Burgess 10/27/12