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Confused, an essay, p 3Delightful dogs, p 4Arts & Culture, p 6New feature: Walk About, p 12

FFrroomm tthhee eeddiittoorr……

Whew! I didn’t think I was going to get this onedone. I had a great time interviewing JeanWarner, Joel Scheinberg and Barbara Ewing for

the article about dogs. We’ve had dogs over the years, butafter the last one, Chipper, the happiest dog on earth, escapedour enclosed yard and got run over, I said, “Never again!”After talking to these dog enthusiasts I’m close to rethinkingmy position. There is nothing like the relationship between apet and its human family. Even snooty cats take a down dayand make it better. See Delightful Dogs on pages 4-5.

Talking to the tag team Arts & Culture District duo ofAdam Caldwell and Roy Montibon had my head ringing withall the ideas out there. These two bounced comments andideas back and forth like tennis players with a great volleygoing. It was like sitting in on a strategy and brainstormingsession with Donald Trump and the apprentices, without theBSSS (blind silly selfishness and stupidity). It was a fun inter-view. See Grassroots on pages 6-7.

You get a break from my recipes this week. Check out thewonderful salad recipes by Kathy Allen, author of Someone’sin the Kitchen, a compilation of recipes she has gathered overthe years. These recipes can be used as a side or as a dessert.

I’m introducing a couple of new ideas. I don’t want to runa calendar, the Chamber does a great job of that and so doesthe Optic, but I want to hit the high points of activities goingon in town. I can’t think of a better source for that than themagical e-mail network of Karyl Lyne. See The Lyne Connectionon page 10. It’s a calendar, sort of.

The Happenstance Walk About on page 12 is a new feature,a bird’s eye view of what is happening in some of the busi-nesses around town. It is very much of a work in progress.My goal is to showcase the heroes of our town. Their heroismis at street level. They get up every morning, open the door totheir stores and do everything within their power to providea much-needed service, whether it is selling ladies’ apparel,jewelry, antiques, art, or diet Cokes. These happened to be thebusinesses I walked into this week. What businesses have youwalked into? These stores contribute to the economy of ourtown in ways we don’t always recognize. We need them. Forthem to thrive, they need us.

Enjoy Happenstance, life happens.—Sharon Vander Meer

Soap Box Diva

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 2

Happenstancelife happens

Vol 1, No. 6, April 9, 2010 Happenstance is a digital publication of vandermeerbooks.com

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Iam confused. For those folks who are acquaintedwith me this is not a particularly startling revelation.For me though, this is quite an epiphany. Like most

people, I have long maintained what I considered to be acognizant, sentient understanding of the world aroundme. Now it seems as though my somewhat smugawareness has paled to a degree.

How about you? Has your positionon politics, justice, social conscious-ness, or any number of questionsthat challenge the human conditionrecently been altered or evencompletely eradicated?

We indeed live in a com-plex and perplexing socialstructure, and so it wouldseem only natural for us tochange opinions and stancesbecause of the influences thatcontinually confront us. Thisis a normal reaction to circum-stances that may either hinder,or perhaps even help. The abil-ity of humans to evolve in wis-dom and comprehension isadmirable and this flexibility inour thought processes is integral tohow we grow and thrive in a some-times inhospitable environment.

But c’mon people, in the current ver-nacular, let’s get real. I don’t know about you,but recently I have begun to feel like everything Iunderstand about living in general has been attacked, vili-fied, and otherwise dismissed as passé. Who is guilty ofmaking me feel so reviled? You are. Now, before I get tarredand feathered, allow me to explain.

There are times when I, more often than not, withoutrancor or intent may say or do something that is contrary toyour position on any given subject. Likewise you may, withtotal innocence I am sure, cause me great angst. Conse-quently I am sometimes guilty of dismissing people whodon’t agree with me.

In a broad view of human interaction, we are all capableof inflicting pain upon each other. This is not to say we areincapable of also encouraging and sustaining one another,it’s just that it appears that we as a collective seem to domore of the former rather than the latter.

This is a fairly cynical observation I know, and I don’tcare, but hey, I’m old and I’m still entitled to my opinion.

Case in point, the foregoing statement probably nettledsome of you. I still don’t care. I’m sorry, I just can’t seem tohelp myself.

One debate that comes to mind, and one which surelyfires the imagination, not to mention outright fury on the

part of some, is global warming. The question isthis: Are we going to burn up as a result of thedepletion of the ozone layer or are wegoing to enter a new ice age as a resultof the depletion of the ozone layer?The single connective string here isthe depletion of the ozone layer. Ipresume this is an established sci-entific fact as it is postulated con-sistently as such. I am leaningtoward the ice age theory, if thisjust concluded winter is any in-dication.

Religion is another bone ofcontention between advocatesof the “God” and “no god”persuasion. Karl Marx fa-mously shared with us that “re-ligion is the opiate of themasses.” The social and politicalexperiments inspired by ComradeMarx have not proven to be viable,therefore one must extrapolate that he

was a buffoon. Case in point once again,if you are an adherent of Marx, I apologize

to you. This just proves how easy it is to beopinionated and contentious when promoting

one’s own position. Liberal left, conservative right, atheist, believer, up,

down, black, or white, I am far too confused to make heador tail of the whole thing. Lewis Carroll got it right when hewrote the children’s story Alice In Wonderland.

There is a great deal of difficulty in determining truthfrom fiction and separating passion from logic. I guess whatit all comes down to is treat each other with dignity and re-spect, give others a moment to express their opinions andgenuinely weigh what each thinks. Value your adversariesas much as you value your friends.

As for me I will continue to hold on to my belief system,even if that may include guns and religion, because at theend of the day, I am right and you most likely are not.

—by Marc ConkleA Happenstance Contributor

marcplum@desertgate.com

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Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 3

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I guess what it all comesdown to is treat each other

with dignity and respect, giveothers a moment to express

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They’re not human, but they are family.” This state-ment from Joel Scheinberg may very well definethe relationship between family pets and the peo-

ple with whom they live. It extends beyond that to those whoown animals for the purposes of work. Back when my hus-band was a boy living on the farm, the only purpose for an-imals was work. A dog may have been a beloved pet, but healso killed skunks, troublesome jackrabbits, rats, and go-phers. Horses were for plowing the fields (before there wassufficient confidence in the newfangled tractors!) and cowswere for producing milk and, yes, the occasional roast orhamburger patty. Chickens laid eggs or were the main coursefor Sunday supper.

The focus of this article is dogs, an animal whose rela-tionship with humans can be traced back to prehistoric times.Jean Warner said cave drawings of Salukis have been foundfrom six thousand years ago.

Jean and Joel can’t say enough about their Salukis, abreed of dog you have to be ready for if you own one. “If youexpect them to play fetch, forget it,” Jean said. “You mightthrow the ball once and he’ll run and get it, maybe bring itback or maybe not. Throw it again and he’ll look at you like,‘What? I already did that and you want me to do it again?’”

Salukis, as are all sighthounds, made for running. Theylove to run after anything that moves. In the great outdoorswhere there are jackrabbits aplenty they will run full out forwhatever distance it takes to catch them.

“Some dogs are bred for function,” Jean said, “and someare bred for looks.” While her Salukis are beautiful animalsand have won awards in American Kennel Club dog shows,that isn’t why she has them. “Showing dogs is a full time andexpensive commitment. We do shows occasionally to stay intouch with what’s happening. It’s as much about social in-teraction as anything.”

Barbara Ewing (known by her friends as Barb), is a Bor-zoi owner and breeder. As a certified judge she is much moreinvolved in the show side of the dog world.

“When you show or participate in coursing events yourfocus is on your dog and that’s it. As a judge you have to bewatching each dog and comparing its performance.” Ewingsaid the dogs in the show ring are not judged against eachother, but against a standard set by the American KennelClub.

Becoming a judge isn’t simply a matter of sending inyour name and saying you want to be a dog show judge. “Itstarts there,” Barb said, “but to be certified you have to gothrough a series of steps, among them having bred at leastthree champion dogs.”

Delightful dogs: Legs built for running

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 4

Dogs are bred for a purpose and you never know what will trigger thatbreeding. The caution is to know what you’re getting into when you decide to

make a dog part of your family, and select accordingly.

Barb Ewing with one of her champion Borzois being pre-sented with ribbons.

Kaz and Rusty, doing what they love to do.

COURTESY PHOTO

PEPPER NIX PHOTOGRAPHY

As a breeder Barb said herfocus is on ending up withhealthy animals. “I invest quitea bit up front to assure thedogs being bred are bothhealthy.”

It isn’t uncommon to findcertain ailments in purebreddogs, some physical, some res-piratory, and others behav-ioral. While breeding iscommon the results can be un-predictable. “Just becausesomeone has a litter of cutepuppies to sell isn’t a goodenough reason to buy one. Youdon’t know what you’re get-ting,” she said.

“We had one dog that no-body wanted,” Jean said. “Sheturned out to be one of the bestdogs we ever had. Part of itwas her sweet yet very protective nature; as it turned out shewas also a great hunter.”

Hunting in this case is often at a lure coursing event,competitions held nationwide and in Canada that simulatehunting on a controlled course usually in moderate to coolclimates. “You don’t want to run dogs in the middle of theday in ninety degree temperatures,” Joel said. “They can’tstand that.” Lure coursing is basically white plastic bags tiedto a string and pulled through an open field. Once released,the dogs streak after the lure at speeds up to thirty-threemiles an hour.

Despite their intense prey drive, when not in the field,Salukis tend to be calm, yet they are highly protective of theirterritory. Their speed and musculature make them a power-ful force. Long-legged and full-chested, these are not thepretty-boy dogs favored by some. They look like what theyare, dogs bred for speed, power and hunting instinct.

Barb has owned and bred Borzoi (sometimes calledRussian Wolf Hound) since the late ‘70s. She started partici-pating in lure coursing events in the mid ‘80s. Like Salukis,the Borzoi will chase anything that moves. While they willdo ‘all right’ in an apartment setting, the dogs need regularexercise, daily walks at a minimum, and occasional off-the-leash runs.

“The most commonly known dog when it comes to

sighthounds is the greyhound,”Ewing said. “But there are severalbreeds, not all of them are wellknown in this country. What theydo is more about instinct thantraining. I would say rather thantraining, a sighthound responds toconditioning.”

“Salukis are wonderful crea-tures. We love to watch them run,to fulfill their purpose,” Jean said.“Plus they are wonderfulguardians and great protectors.”

“And they always love to seeyou,” Joel said. “No matter howlate you are, they’re glad you’rehome.”

Joel and Jean have had severalshow champions over the yearsbut what gives them pleasure ishaving the dogs around. “Welove to watch them run. They’re

healthy animals and watching them is exhilarating.”One point made by all three people interviewed for this

article is that if you are going to get a dog of any kind, makesure the animal fits into your life style.

“Don’t get a sighthound and expect it to be happy andhealthy in a tiny backyard or apartment,” Barb said.

“Know about the breed your getting,” Jean said. “If youexpect to have a dog that will play catch, you don’t want aSaluki. If you want a dog that’s calm, you don’t want a bor-der collie.”

She said you have to be aware that for centuries somedogs were bred for specific purposes, to herd, to retrieve, tochase, to fight. “You need to be aware of what has been bredinto the particular kind of dog and know how to protectyourself, others and the dog from their instincts when youdecide to make a dog part of your family. Sighthounds, forexample, will jump out of a car in traffic to chase a plasticbag that is blowing in the wind. Obviously this is dangerousand experienced sighthound owners know to keep theirhounds carefully confined when riding in vehicles.”

If you have an interest in lure coursing go to the Ameri-can Sighthound Field Association website, or to learn moreabout specific dog breeds go to the American Kennel Clubwebsite.

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 5

And a heart built for companionship

Saluki’s are regal, independent dogs that love to run.Though generally calm when indoors, they are protective oftheir territory.

COURTESY PHOTO

When peoplethink aboutthe Arts &

Culture District the firstthing that pops into theirheads might be the SecondSaturday Art Walks. This in-novative idea of showcas-ing artists every month wasviewed with skepticism bysome and embraced by oth-ers. It is in some ways awork in progress, but it hasbeen going on for nearly ayear. While the activitiesmay fluctuate, the conceptcontinues to develop.

“What we do isn’t at allabout motivation,” saidcommittee chair Roy Montibon. “It’s about inspiration. Youcan’t motivate people to do anything, but people can be in-spired.”

Project coordinator, Adam Caldwell agrees. “Part of thatinspiration is developing a framework to nurture artistswhether they are well established or just starting out. Thething is to have accessible tools to help artists in their market-ing and promotion.”

Which was the stimulus for the creation of a ‘self-serve’website. If you want up-to-the-minute information postedabout who you are as an artist, this is a deal you won’t wantto pass up. The best thing about it is that it’s absolutely FREE.That’s right, free. All you have to do as a business or artist ishave access to a computer. With a few easy steps you can belisted as a member. From there you can post any upcomingevent you have, whether in your studio or in a gallery. Hav-

ing a workshop? Post it, anytime night or day. Roy, acommunity organizer andpassionate art advocate, saidthe purpose of developingthe site is to have a powerfultool for artists that is userfriendly.

What other resourcesare available? That’s underdevelopment such as post-ing materials and informa-tion that will be helpful toartists as they begin to en-hance their business andmarketing skills. Do youknow what Pricing and Ethi-cal Guidelines is? As an artistit is one of the best books for

developing your business. “That’s the kind of thing we wantto get out there through the network of artists,” Roy said.

A print directory is also under construction with an April15 deadline for getting your space reservation. For informa-tion or to reserve your space, click on print directory or callBirdie Jaworski at 505-718-6187.

As an educator and artist, Roy sees the challenges facedby those who want to create but have limited skills in sellingthe work after it’s finished. Throwing that person into aworkshop or classroom setting can be intimidating. Identi-fying resources and making the information readily accessi-ble is key to inspiring the artists to make use of the tools.

The steering committee’s vision is to position Las Vegas,New Mexico as a National Treasure, and its mission is to,“Build Las Vegas into a thriving Arts Community and Cul-tural Destination.”

“What we do isn’t at all about motivation. It’s about inspiration. You can’tmotivate people to do anything, but people can be inspired.”

—Roy Montibon, ChairArts and Culture District Steering Committee

Arts & Culture District: Grassroots and going forward

Any space can be an art gallery. Charlie’s Bakery and Cafe featuresrotating art shows throughout the year, many of the paintings by IsaacSandoval, an NMHU student and son of the bakery’s owners, Charlie andLiz Sandoval. At various times Charlie’s has hosted receptions for guestartists.

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 6

That’s a big job considering funding is limited and mostof the work is done on volunteer time. It couldn’t happen atall without a driving force and a well thought out strategy. Italso takes a couple of engineers to keep the project on trackin the development and implementation stages.

Roy’s bio, taken from his website, www.monibon.com,describes him as a true 21st Century American. “He is a con-fluence of genes and influences from across Asia, America,Europe and the Pacific. He got his start as a professional artistcustom painting Harleys and hot rods as a teenager. Sincegraduating from Art Center College of Design, his career hasencompassed design, animation, art direction, creative direc-tion, business strategy and technology development; and hastaken many forms – as consultant, corporate executive, entre-preneur, educator, community organizer and arts advocate.”

Since moving here with his wife, Julie, the couple havehad their feet firmly planted in efforts to move Las Vegasback to its artistic and cultural roots so it can move forwardwith a more entrepreneurial spirit.

“We don’t just talk the talk, we walk the talk. We advo-cate for people to invest in the community and in them-selves,” Roy said, “we’re examples of people who have donethat, and so is Adam.”

Adam is the other part of this team, a young man whogrew up in Las Vegas but left after his second year at High-lands to further his education and career opportunities else-where. He returned after several years largely because offamily. “I have an extended network of family and friendsand I love New Mexico.”

What he found upon returning was an atmosphere ofartistic and creative energy, which led to him apply for andland the part time job of coordinator for the Arts & CultureDistrict.

While managing a non-profit wasn’t in his background,Adam is more than qualified. He has an extensive art’s edu-cation focusing on performance, textiles, costume and fabrics,but he also has training and experience in IT (informationtechnologies). Creating a self-sustaining framework forartists, the self-help website, is the bottom line job Adam washired to do.

What impact does the Arts and Culture District have onthe economy? Roy says it’s about vibrancy. You can feel and

see great things happening. “But in terms of measuring suc-cess, it’s anecdotal and linked to Second Saturday. For in-stance at the last Second Saturday the new co-op gallery (elZocalo Los Artesanos de Las Vegas), was packed all day long.Blackbird (a gallery on Bridge Street), had people lined upoutside the door. Tito and Mary (Tito’s Gallery) were cele-brating their 25th anniversary in business and they experi-enced an increase in revenues.

“In terms of residual benefits, like hotel and motel occu-pancy or increased business in restaurants, that hasn’t beenmeasured,” he said.

While the Arts & Culture District projects are largelygrassroots, the steering committee is engaging with other or-ganizations in its economic development efforts. “Adam ishoused at the MainStreet office and MainStreet is our fiscalagent,” Roy said. “But we work with all the other groups asa show of unity and to promote Las Vegas together.”

The economy of the nation and the world is affecting LasVegas, perhaps to a lesser degree than some places, but it isbeing felt. It is through the efforts of people like Roy andAdam that the arts can contribute to a more prosperous fu-ture for the local community. There are no guarantees, butfor the first time ever, through the efforts of the Arts & Cul-ture District, local artists have the opportunity to be intro-duced to a global marketplace, and the internet part of it, theplace with the greatest potential for reaching a worldwideaudience, is free.

Other projects underway include event coordination andcommunity involvement (continuation and expansion of theSecond Saturday Artwalk), creation of a logo and media kits,outbound marketing, an ordinance defining the Arts andCulture District boundary, and U7, the former First BaptistChurch at Seventh and University, which is targeted for ren-ovation and development as an Arts and Culture center (incooperation with the United World College and others).

For more information about the Arts & Culture District,log on to their website at http://www.acd-lv.org, or contactAdam at adam.caldwell@acd-lv.com. For more informationabout the print directory contact Birdie at 505 718-6187. Atthe District’s website you will also find information aboutthe Artwalk on April 10.

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 7

Image from the attractive and interactive Arts and Culture District website

Happenstance • April 2, 2010 • Page 8

Salad sensations from KathySSOOMMEEOONNEE’’SS IINN TTHHEE KKIITTCCHHEENNSSOOMMEEOONNEE’’SS IINN TTHHEE KKIITTCCHHEENN

My mother-in-law, Rulene, loved tomake this salad. She always pre-pared it for holiday meals.

Consequently, my family has come toexpect this salad to be on our table forThanksgiving dinner, and if not then,at Christmas for sure. The sour creammakes it not as sweet as some Jell-Osalads so it goes nicely with turkey. Ifyou would like to use it as a dessert, addsliced bananas to the Jell-O mixture beforeletting it congeal.

Congealed Strawberry Salad2 pkg. strawberry Jell-O1 cup hot water2 small packages frozen strawberries, undrained1 15-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained1 8-ounce carton sour cream

Dissolve Jell-O in hot water, add strawberries andpineapple; mix well, pour half of mixture into large (2quart) container and place in refrigerator to jell. Do not re-frigerate remainder. When refrigerated Jell-O is firm,spread sour cream on surface, then add other half of Jell-Omixture on top of this. Chill until firm. Serves 12. (For asmaller salad decrease all ingredients by one-half.)

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Ruthe’s Delightful Fruit Salad1 can (15 oz.) can pineapple chunks 1 cup sugar2 Tablespoons flour1 egg, beaten1 cup pecans, chopped

Drain pineapple, reserving juice. Combine sugar, flour,egg, and juice. Cook over low heat, stirring constantlyuntil thickened. Cool. Combine pecans and fruit. Adddressing and toss to coat nuts and fruit with dressing.Chill.

Seven Layer Salad1/2 medium head lettuce, shredded (large head for larger salad)

1 medium onion or I bunch of green onions,chopped

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped1 cup finely chopped celery1 10-12 ounce package frozen green

peas, uncooked1/2 head lettuce, shredded

1 pint mayonnaise2 tablespoons sugar

2-3 ounces Parmesan cheese8 strips crisp baconLayer lettuce, onion, bell pepper, celery, peas, and let-

tuce in a large bowl or 13 X 9 inch casserole or glasscake pan. Spread mayonnaise over all, like icing a cake.Mix sugar and Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over themayonnaise. Refrigerate overnight. One hour beforeserving, top with crumbled bacon. 10 - 12 servings.

Orange-Cream Fruit SaladCombine and chill:1 20 oz. can pineapple chunks, drained1 16 oz. can peach slices, drained1 11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drainedImmediately before serving, drain additional juice

from fruit. Place into a large serving bowl; add 3medium bananas, sliced, and 2 medium apples, coredand chopped. In separate medium size bowl combine:One 3 3/4 ounce or one 3 5/8 ounce package instant

vanilla pudding mix1 1/2 cups milk1/3 cup frozen orange-juice concentrate–thawedBeat with mixer until well blended.Add:3/4 cup sour cream. Beat into pudding mixture.Pour over mixed fruit and gently mix to coat all fruit.

Chill.

Kathy Allen’s book of tasty recipes, Someone’s in the Kitchen, is now available onCD. Contact her at someonesinthekitchen@q.com for more information.

There are many rea-sons to like this siteand only one that is

frustrating: it is crammed withadvertising and differentiatingbetween Prevention contentand ad messages can be a bit ofa challenge, but don’t let thatkeep you from going on lineand checking out Prevention.

What I like about it is thatit is geared to all ages. While itis primarily targeted towardwomen, there are great nutri-tion and health ideas that willhelp anyone at any age im-prove their health by improv-ing their eating habits and lifestyle.

There are several videos about food prep, exercise andweight control, but again, every time you change to a newvideo you get to hear all over again the posted ad, which forthe moment is from the US Census Bureau.

There are lots of drop down menus with the main head-ings being Home, Health, Weight Loss, Fitness, Nutrition,Recipes, Age-defying Beauty, Video, 400 Calorie Meals andMy Health Tracker.

My Health Tracker is a great tool to keep you motivatedbecause it tracks (or rather You track using this tool) foodseaten, activities and exercise, weight, moods (how does yourmood affect your eating habits), body size, custom measure-ments, a calendar and something called My Reports.

With this tool you can:• Create a personal food

journal to track calories, fat,protein, fiber, vitamins, andmore;

• Track your workoutsand daily activities to see howmany calories you burned;

• Enter your weight lossgoal and track your progressdaily

• Watch your waist, hip,and thigh measurementschange as you lose weight;

• Get detailed nutritionalinformation on thousands offoods;

• Track your mood,stress, and energy levels;

• Monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugarlevels, and more;

• Track whatever YOU want, such as sleep, caffeine in-take, and headaches.

Like any other fitness tool you have to work at it to maketi work for you, but the concept has validity. It has beenproven that people who keep track of what they eat and howmuch they exercise are more likely to maintain a healthyweight and generally feel better overall.

Prevention does have a focus on making healthy choices,but both the website and the magazine caution that no majorexercise or diet changes should be undertaken without theadvice of a physician.

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 9

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WWHHAATT YYOOUU WWIILLLL FFIINNDD AATT WWWWWW..PPRREEVVEENNTTIIOONN..CCOOMMWWHHAATT YYOOUU WWIILLLL FFIINNDD AATT WWWWWW..PPRREEVVEENNTTIIOONN..CCOOMM

Prevention for a healthy life

The Prevention website has stunning photos and lots of inter-esting content. This photo accompanies a fruit juice cocktail recipethat is simple to make and can be adjusted by using their portion cal-culator so increasing the number of servings is much easier.

Health• Natural Remedies• Emotional Health• Sleep and Energy• Sex and Relationships• Brain Games

Weight Loss• Diet, Getting Started• Weight Loss Tips• Eat to Lose Weight• Success Stories• Flat Belly Diet

Exercise• Belly and Abs• Strength Training• Walking• Yoga

Nutrition• Food Remedies• Healthy Eating• Smart Shopping

Prevention focuses on making healthy choices, but both the website and the magazine caution that nomajor exercise or diet changes should be undertaken without the advice of a physician.

Check out this website; it is full of healthy ideas!

Animal Welfare Logo Design Contest EntriesThe Animal Welfare Coalition has received some amaz-

ing entries in their Logo Design Contest and they couldn’twait to share them with you! Click on the FaceBook link toan album containing the entries on the AWC FaceBookpage. While you’re there, don’t forget to become a FAN ofthe AWC on FaceBook.

Also, come to Traveler’s Café on Saturday, Apr. 10, at 1p.m. to find out which entry will be the new image of theAnimal Welfare Coalition, and bid on some amazing itemsin the AWC Silent Auction.

Synergyfest, Apr. 24Coming up Saturday, April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,

SynergyFest; music, sharing ideas on local and global sus-tainability, education about resource conservation, localcommerce and food production. This event, in shadyMelody Park on the New Mexico Highlands Universitycampus in downtown Las Vegas, is fun for the whole fam-ily. There’s entertainment by local bands and schoolgroups, displays by environmental groups and companiesas well as short classes on energy development and conser-vation. For details visit www.synergyfest.com.

Broadway Jazz with the NMHU Concert Choirand the NMHU Performing Arts Club

Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m., Ilfeld Auditorium: The per-formance will include selections from Carousel, Guys andDolls, Love Me Tonight, Man of La Mancha, My Fair Lady,Oliver, State Fair, The Fantasticks, The Pajama Game, TheWizard of Oz, West Side Story and more. General admis-sion, $8; NMHU Faculty/Staff/Senior Citizens, $5; Chil-dren, $3; all Students: FREE

It’s Patient Choice time againAlta Vista Regional Hospital is once again seeking to

honor one of its nurses through its annual Patient ChoiceAward program. The hospital is asking for input from thecommunity. If you or a family member have come to AltaVista Regional Hospital for inpatient, outpatient or emer-gency care in the last year and you have a nurse you’d like

to thank for going the extra mile, don’t miss this chance.Nominations for the 2010 Patient Choice Award will be ac-cepted until Friday, April 30. Nominations can be madeonline at the hospital’s website at www.altavistaregional-hospital.com/nominations, or e-mailed, mailed or faxed (aslong as it arrives by April 30). E-mail nominations tomathew_martinez@chs.net, mail to: Mathew Martinez,Marketing Director, Alta Vista Regional Hospital, 104 Le-gion Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701, or fax to 505-454-9502.

.Register now for the June 12, 2010 Studio TourThe April 16 deadline for registering for the Las Vegas

Arts Council sponsored Studio Tour is fast approaching.Entry requirements are:

1. Original art or craft, created by entrant (no manufac-tured kit merchandise allowed).

2. Residency in San Miguel County; exhibition loca-tions to lie within City of Las Vegas.

3. Membership in Las Vegas Arts Council.4. Registration form and fees to be submitted by April

16, 2010. For more information contact 505-425-1085, or505-718-6211, or stop by the Las Vegas Arts Council, 140Bridge Street.

Celebrate National Park Week 2010 with United World College-USA!

April 17-25 is National Park Week, a week to celebrateyour National Parks. In honor of National Park Week 2010,United World College-USA will be hosting speakingevents, as well as showing Ken Burns’ new documentary“The National Parks, America’s Best Idea” and more!Events will take place every evening from 7 to 9 during Na-tional Park Week in the Montezuma Castle at UWC-USA.Admission is free, but donations are greatly appreciatedand will be given to America’s National Parks. Snacks andother goodies will be available too! For more information,please contact Ruaidhí Crofton at ruaidhri97@hotmail.com.Bring your blankets and be prepared to be blown away bystunning shots of America’s National Parks!

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 10

TTHHEE LLYYNNEE CCOONNNNEECCTTIIOONNTTHHEE LLYYNNEE CCOONNNNEECCTTIIOONNI’m always amazed at the number of people who say there is nothing going on in LasVegas. Karyl Lyne gets and forwards just about every e-mail going around town andbased on her network there is A LOT going on. It is always helpful information and Ishare it here to further promote all the wonderful things happening in Las Vegas.

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We enjoy having people over yet the pace of our liveskeeps us from doing that very often. I think up everyexcuse possible to have a party. I enjoy all aspects ofthe affair from planning the menu and cleaning houseto cooking the food and setting the tables. For mehaving a party is an act of joy.

My husband and our guests would be happy withpaper plates and plastic forks, but I like hauling outthe glassware and metal utensils. These are inexpen-sive items we’ve acquired over the years when dishesand flatware were on sale. We now have enough tofeed a crowd. Our home isn’t designed for a crowd,but guests don’t seem to mind. They make them-selves right at home. For me there is no higher com-pliment.

The spirit and intent of hospitality gets lost in our busyworld. We construct boxes for ourselves with the fourwalls of responsibility, obligation, appointments, andambition. We seal ourselves in at the end of the daywith a lid of weariness. Perhaps it is because we areso busy that once in a while we need to kick off the lidand get out of the box. Make time to enjoy family andfriends in a festive setting. Not only do you catch upon what is happening in other people’s lives, you canlet go of what has to be done tomorrow and take timeto enjoy today.

Lord, the people in our lives bring us joy. Grant thatwe will find time to be with them in times of happinessand ease so that when a time of distress comes theywill feel free to call on us.

Happenstance • April 9, 2010 • Page 11

Books byF.S. Vander Meer

These books are available in LasVegas at Tome on the Range Book-store. Online purchases may be madeat Amazon, Xlibris, and Barnes andNoble.

Not Just Another Day isa series of daily reflec-tions that celebrate thegift of life. Based on theauthor’s Christian faithtradition the book usesBible passages, prayersand readings to capturethe common experienceof living a life of faith inan ever-changing world.

In Future Imperfect con-flicting forces control twoindividuals seeking stabil-ity and sanity amid esca-lating political andenvironmental chaos.Their lives are fraught withlies, treachery, and an al-tered environment.

In The Ballad of BawdyMcClure short hauler JakeCasey is confronted withthe age old question: Whocan you trust? From theopening scene in whichhe finds the body of hismurdered friend to theend he is constantly ques-tioning the motives ofthose closest to him.

At your service24/7

www.cfblv.com

A proud supporter of Happenstance

From From Not Just Another Day, Not Just Another Day, by F.S. Vander Meer by F.S. Vander Meer For ordering information go to For ordering information go to www.vandermeerbooks.comwww.vandermeerbooks.com

Happenstance WalkAbout will be aweekly visit with

several businesses to remindus of who in the community isout there and what they pro-vide.

This week I started atRough Rider Antiques, 501Railroad, an establishmentowned by Nancy Freeman,that features twenty dealerswho sell their wares throughthe store. It is a beautiful ex-ample of taking an emptyspace and turning it into some-thing wonderful. The cases arestocked with interesting itemsand the staff (dealers who ro-tate clerking) are friendly andhelpful.

My next stop was Gor-don’s Jewelers, 606 Douglas

Ave., a long established business with elegance and flair.The new window designs are charming, with baker extra-ordinaire Juli Salman’s ‘cake’ designs featured as part ofthe window dressing. Cakes? Jewelry? Anybody thinkingwedding? Inside the store is a smorgasbord of temptingpretties. Alana, Cal Baker’s wife, showed off her wonderfulbracelet made with stunning beads. These create-it-yourselfpieces of jewelry can start out with one bead and end up

with several. An excel-lent gift idea for thelady who has every-thing but wants some-thing unique.

My next stop wasat Charlie’s Bakery andCafe on Douglas, whereI grabbed a diet Cokeand some chat withJeannie and GaryMcKinley. Seriously,despite all that yummystuff, all I had was aCoke!

On Bridge Street Ivisited with Neita FranWard of WardancerGallery, a lovely shopfull of everything imag-inable in the way ofSouthwestern homedecor, jewelry and won-derful art. On this Second Saturday, April 10, from 2 to 4p.m. there will be reception for artist Napoleon Montoya,who will talk about his work.

My last stop was at Sam Arthur’s New Moon Fashions,132 Bridge Street, an eclectic shop full of women’s apparel

that will tempt the most dis-cerning of tastes. The colorsare vibrant, and accordingto Maggie Trigg Arthur,right up there with any-thing you will find in glam-our mags, trendy butaffordable, something youwill wear for years to come.The store has a welcomingenvironment and a knowl-edgeable staff. “We inviteour customers to shop andsit a spell, have a cup oftea.”

Walk About Las Vegasand shop, you will bepleased by what you find.

Ta-ta, till next time.

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Barbara Ann Downs, one of the dealers who sell theirantiques at Rough Rider Antiques, 501 Railroad Ave., standsbehind one of the many cases featuring a wide variety ofitems.

Check out the displaycases at Gordon’s Jewelry.The ‘cakes’ are from JuliSalman, and the stunningjewelry is from Gordon’s.Wedding time is on the way!

Wardancer Gallery, 125 BridgeStreet, will be featuring artistNapoleon Montoya this month. OnSaturday, Apr. 10, a reception forMr. Montoya will be held from 2 to4 p.m.

Maggie Trigg Arthur isamong three familiar faces atNew Moon Fashions, 132Bridge, who regularly assistcustomers.

It’s more than a Second Saturday; it’s a day for shopping!Take a look around town and see what’s cooking