State probes town’s affordable housing project
State probes town’s affordable housing project

By Patricia Chambers

The Taos News

The New Mexico Attorney General is reviewing findings by the state’s Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) of possible improprieties in the man­agement of the Chamisa Verde sub­division, the town of Taos’ affordable housing complex that date back to l999.

Phil Sisneros, a spokesman for AttorneyGeneralGaryKing,confirmed receipt in early August of the MFA findings, but did not have information on the time needed for review of the documents. The Attorney General’s Office has had no further comment on the matter.

State law requires MFA to review all land transactions and applicant qualifications for municipal affordable housing projects and requires munici­palities to provide that documenta­tion.

MFA has sought that documenta­tion since April 2007 but has not yet received it.

The state agency has raised numer­ous questions including whether the applicants were qualified for low­income housing and whether or not the properties had clear titles and deeds.

An attorney for the state agency, Marjorie Martin, sent a June 4 letter to the Town Council detailing the town’s failure to provide the needed informa­tion.

The Taos News learned that the MFA had informed the current coun­cil about the town’s failure to provide documentation on the Chamisa Verde project and formally requested access to correspondence between the town and MFA as related to Chamisa Verde on July 24.

For nearly a year prior to the MFA action, The Taos News had ques­tioned former Town Manager Tomás Benav’dez and former Town Attorney Renee Barela-Gutiérrez about the dis­pute with MFA, but the town officials repeatedly said the situation was a misunderstanding that was being resolved.

Town Clerk Renee Lucero respond­ed to the request in a July 28 letter stating, “The attorney handling this case has deemed this request to be excessively broad. Certain requested materials may be privileged.”

The letter continued with a state­ment that the town’s legal department would make a determination about the confidentiality of the documents and would provide “records which can be released” on or before Aug. 20.

In an attempt to obtain the records for the Aug. 21 issue, members of the Town Council were contacted by The Taos News.

Councilor Darren Còrdova released Martin’s letter and attorney Scott Sanger’s response to MFA on behalf of the Town Council to The Taos News

on April 18 after explaining that the councilors had agreed to waive attor-

See CHAMISA, Page A14

Spicy Spaghetti
This easy, but flavorful dish is a great way to spice up dinner any night of the week.

salt 1 pound spaghetti
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
3 red chili peppers, chopped
2 cups canned plum tomatoes freshly ground pepper
1 teaspoon sugar
10 small basil leaves 1⁄2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, freshly grated
8 ounces fresh mozzarella, cubed

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add salt and the pasta and cook until al dente. Meanwhile, in a skillet over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the red chili peppers and cook, stirring, until the oil turns red and the garlic starts to brown. Using your hands, crush the plum tomatoes into the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and the sugar. Stir to combine and simmer until the tomatoes break down and it has a sauce-like consistency, about 15 minutes. Add the basil and cook for another 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, then add it to the skillet. Add the Parmigiano and mozzarella and toss to combine. Serve immediately.

Taos Plaza Public Restrooms: The Town of Taos Public Restrooms in the Plaza-adjacent McCarthy parking area, behind the Old Taos County Courthouse, are now open for use.

New Director of Community & Economic Development, Town of Taos – A reception to meet/welcome Matthew will be held at 2:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 9th, right before the 3 p.m. joint Town/County meeting. Please join us at the Town of Taos Council Chambers for both events. Complimentary refreshments will be served. The public is invited.

Radio advertisements on Taos area radio stations will begin airing this month – ads completed by the Town of Taos concerning activities, meetings and information of import to area residents. “Listen up” each month as valuable information is shared – with each month’s ads featuring a “different Town of Taos voice”. This month’s “voice” is new Town of Taos Manager Daniel Miera. Next month is Council Member Amy Quintana.

Recent news clips about Taos –
Great intergenerational travel piece — http://www.grandparents.com/gp/content/travel/outdoor-adventures/article/vacation-idea-llama-trekking.html
UK Coverage — http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/artsandculture/2546926/New-Mexico-land-of-pilgrims.html

ANTIQUES & THE ARTS WEEKLY Circ./Aud.: 13,500
Newtown, CT 08/15/2008
“Artists’ Studios Featured In Countywide Tour In Taos, N.M., In September And October” view clip
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PASSPORT
New Milford, CT 10/01/2008
“LIVING SPA TAOS, NEW MEXICO” view clip
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POST-STANDARD Circ./Aud.: 164,702
Syracuse, NY 08/17/2008
“THE DAILY DOSE” view clip
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More news clips about Taos — particularly see “Oprah” – plus some clips about nearby places and people that are interesting.

1. Taos (US) to the top

Commercial Finance Advisors Closes $530,000 Commercial Mortgage Loan
PR.com – 08/26/2008, 01:46 am
Words matched: Taos, New Mexico
–(PR.com)– Commercial Finance Advisors is proud to announce it closed a $530,000 commercial mortgage loan in Taos, New Mexico. The building type was light industrial and is 100% owner occupied.
…proud to announce it closed a $530,000 commercial mortgage loan in Taos, New Mexico. The building type was light industrial and is 100 % owner…
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Autumn Glory: 4 Stimulating Weekend Destinations
Oprah.com – 08/25/2008, 16:29 pm
Words matched: Taos, New Mexico
By Jill Fergus Photo: AVTG/iStockphoto For some, it’s a beloved fall ritual: a drive through the countryside to ooh and aah over the changing foliage. For others, staring at leaves is about as exciting as watching dew dry.
…artisanal cheeses, pts, and fresh bread for a picnic on the grounds . Taos, New Mexico Luminaries from Georgia O’Keeffe to D.H. Lawrence have…
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New director wants to keep up interest in historic downtown
Casa Grande Valley Newspaper – 08/25/2008, 13:08 pm
Words matched: Taos, N.M, N.M.
FitzGerald started her new duties at the Main Street office Aug. 1, and since then has been busy meeting merchants, artists and volunteers of the downtown community.
…Street director. Prior to that she was an active member of historic preservation projects in Taos, N.M. In Taos, FitzGerald took charge of a $250,000…
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â Bay Ridge Humâ No Longer Heard
Brooklyn Daily Eagle – 08/25/2008, 10:19 am
Words matched: Taos, New Mexico
Brooklyn Daily Eagle BAY RIDGE — Hereâ⠬⠢s a humdinger, Brooklyn: a haunting, constant low-pitch humming noise, heard loudest at night, called â⠬Šthe Bay Ridge Hum.
…have been reported for decades around the world, the most famous being the Taos Hum in New Mexico (at a steady 76 hertz) from the 1970s into…
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Why the Immune System Can Never Go on Vacation
Plano Star – 08/25/2008, 09:02 am
Words matched: Taos, N.M, N.M.
| Text Size | Print Version | E-mail This Story Click image to enlarge (ARA) - The immune system can never go vacation, summer or winter. A travel bug can ruin a trip that has been planned for months.
…healthy diet and as much rest as possible,” says Dr. Elin Ritchie of Taos, N.M. Travelers who want to take their immune defense a step further…
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2. Taos (Int’l) to the top

ICU Registered Nurse needed
Guardian Unlimited – 08/25/2008, 15:03 pm
Words matched: Taos, New Mexico
Current Search Criteria Keywords: Locations: ANY Category: ANY Industry: ANY Job Code: 404898 Job Location: Taos, NM Category: RN-ICU A top notch facility in Taos, New Mexico is looking for a qualified Registered Nurse specializing in ICU and they are offering top benefits and great wages.
…Location: Taos, NM Category: RN-ICU A top notch facility in Taos, New Mexico is looking for a qualified Registered Nurse specializing in ICU and they…
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A New Mexico Dept of Transportation (NMDOT) instructional video as to ‘how to drive round abouts’ is being cablecast by Channel 22, and is on their web site, http://www.taostv.org.
This also links to more detailed information about this new road element, so to be complete on Paseo del Canon. Contact PIO Karyn Lujan for more information, email above.

No Taos County quorum present (two Commissioners only); Town did have quorum (five in attendance)- so some definitive actions postponed for quorum reasons.
Facilities:
1) Town and County agreed to take the ’swap’ of the County’s Old County Courthouse on Taos Plaza, and Town’s Visitor Center, off the table as a proposal.
2) Both also agreed to continue to try and jointly figure out how best to help the County with ‘housing’ for their Planning Staff during the new County Judicial Complex’s construction.
3) The Town’s 5 acres out near the Taos Regional Landfill is being provided to the County without charge in order to accommodate their need for an expanded Solid Waste Facility, including operation of an expanded recycling collection facility, hopefully to include plastics recycling/storage. Property is to be used by the County for these purposes or it will revert back to the Town.
4) The Town will submit a separate proposal, not linked to any swap, to potentially partner with the County to rehabilitate the Old County Courthouse into a redone community cultural center — with state/federal funding to be leveraged. Once the County gets this separate proposal, they will react to it and determine how/if to move forward jointly.

Animal Shelter: Potential litigation? Discussion of potential Executive Session (declined).
Joint open meeting discussion focused on displeasure with what’s been heard about Animal Shelter Board’s treatment of staff (alleged ‘verbal abuse’ referenced), other operational issues. Town/County pay ‘into’ this nonprofit organization for running of the Shelter (Town’s contribution around $90,000 a year), and so tangentially involved in such potential legal issues — and community obviously impacted. Town Mayor/Council suggested directing Town Management to conduct a ‘climate assessment’ of Shelter and its Board and empower staff to cause a professional evaluation to be completed — coming back to report out and recommend potential changes/actions. One of the immediate recommendations is to have the Town appoint a specific staff liaison to interface with the Shelter and its Board on an ongoing basis.

Upcoming Joint Town/County Meeting - September 9th at Town of Taos Council Chambers
2:20 p.m., Introduction (free public meet and greet reception) of Town Community & Economic Development Director Matthew Spriggs
3:00 p.m., Recycling issues only
5:30 p.m. Taos Municipal Schools — Bond Election issues

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FHA Raises Its Premiums to Insure
Repayment of Mortgages
By JAMES R. HAGERTY
August 27, 2008; Page A11

The Federal Housing Administration, a U.S. agency that is rapidly shouldering more of the risk on home loans, raised the premiums it charges for insuring that mortgages will be repaid.

In a posting on its Web site Tuesday, the FHA said the upfront premiums charged to most borrowers will be 1.75% of the loan amount, effective Oct. 1. That is up from the 1.5% that was in effect until July 14, when the FHA adopted a “risk-based” pricing system that created a range of charges depending on borrowers’ credit scores and the amount of the down payment or equity they owned in the homes. In late July, Congress approved a housing bill that included a provision requiring the FHA to revert to a standard premium at least until Oct. 1, 2009.

On a $300,000 loan, the new upfront premium works out to $5,250, up from $4,500. The annual premiums paid by borrowers would remain at 0.50% to 0.55% of the loan balance.

The FHA may well need more income to cope with the payouts it will have to make to lenders and loan investors in coming years. At a time when house prices generally are falling, the share of new mortgages insured by the FHA has soared to 23% in July from a low of 1.8% in 2006, according to Inside Mortgage Finance, a trade publication. Guy Cecala, publisher of Inside Mortgage Finance, said the FHA’s share could reach 30% by year end.

The FHA is taking a far bigger share of the market because investors last year began shying away from buying mortgage securities that don’t have backing from a federal agency or government-sponsored mortgage investors Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. More recently, Fannie and Freddie have become more cautious about buying or guaranteeing mortgages because heavy losses have depleted their capital. Borrowers can get FHA-insured loans with down payments as small as about 3%.

The FHA had assets of $19 billion in its reserves for single-family mortgages as of June 30. Some analysts have warned that the agency might need to ask Congress for money to rebuild its reserves if defaults continue to rise. Congress has given the FHA a prime role in backing new, more affordable loans for people who are struggling with their current mortgages. Those refinances are likely to be risky because borrowers who are rescued once often fall behind again later.

Write to James R. Hagerty at bob.hagerty@wsj.com

TEARDOWN DIARY

You Can Fight Back Against Change Orders – But You Can’t Escape
August 27, 2008 10:21 a.m.
Change orders are endemic in custom home building. As I recently learned, you can try to fight them — but they will happen anyway.

Technically, a change order is the written authorization to the contractor to make a change or addition to the work described in the original contract. It modifies the plans and specifications, and usually results in a new price for the project – either lower or higher, depending on the change. For example, if a homeowner decides halfway through the process that the family room ceiling should be vaulted or the master bathtub is too small, the contractor calculates the additional cost or cost savings, taking into account all the back work involved (plumbing, electrical work), the impact on other decisions (insulation, gas capacity) and presents the client with a summary of the difference. For the work to get done, the client has to sign the change order.

From Day One of my new home project I was wary of change orders. They are demonized in many housing “How To” books as significantly increasing the cost of a project. That’s because changes usually mean additions – and typically more additions means more revenue for the contractors. Some builders even charge a fee to process changes, upping the total more.

Early in the design process I announced to my architect and contractor that I wanted to make the plans so air-tight we would not need any changes whatsoever. I would choose every last fixture and make every material choice ahead of time. The architect and contractor both rolled their eyes. With a little humor and a touch of condensation, they explained that change orders are impossible to avoid with custom homes like mine: Even with the best drawings, things look different when you see the tangible rendition.

Other contractors concurred. “That question makes it clear you have never built a house before,” said Jay Grant, president of Grant Homes, a residential design/build firm in Mendham, N.J. Architects aren’t perfect – even the best have some mistakes in their drawings — and those mistakes (whether they be making a door too high for the ceiling beams or miscalculating the need for additional windows) aren’t always apparent until construction begins.

The only way to avoid change orders is if the clients physically remove themselves from the process, said Mr. Grant, returning only when the house is all built. “From ground to completion there’s a decision every day,” he said. “It is human nature to walk through a house and see little things that could be done better.”

It certainly is my husband Dave’s human nature, it turns out. When we started the house, Dave made it clear that it was my project: He was busy at work and I would have to take control of all the details. We have very similar taste, so he trusted my decisions. Dave kept an eye on the cost of the project and played the lead role in negotiating the loan. I handled all the meetings with the architect and contractors.

Then, suddenly, as soon as construction started, Dave became a player. He was at the site very day, walking through and checking to make sure everything was going as specified. He chided me for not going there as often and emailed photos to our relatives and friends. For the most part, this was a welcome development; it is our house and I wanted him to feel like he’d built it too. And the more involved he became the less likely he could blame me for any problems that might arise. But it also meant that since he didn’t pick all the details, he had new ideas for the house – ones that meant plenty of change orders.

Walking up the back stairway, Dave decided the house would be much nicer with two additional windows along the side wall. Kaching! A $2,732 change. But that meant we could get rid of another window, deducting $664, for a total add of $1,550. Dave read about on-demand, or tankless and instantaneous, water heaters — a process that uses less energy because it provides hot water only as needed, rather than maintaining a constant reserve. That sounded like a good idea, he decided: Another $4,234 extra.

I successfully blocked two of Dave’s suggested changes: Switching three of the windows to casements from double hung (the windows had already arrived and it would have meant eating the extra cost); and adding air conditioning, a request Dave made after Portland was hit with a week of 100-plus temperatures, which would have added another $5,500 to the final bill.

A few of the changes weren’t our fault – and they are the kind that infuriate homebuilders using a cost-plus contract model with their contractor (one that can change along with the scope of the job and the cost of the materials rather than a fixed contract). The contractor underestimated the gas pressure that would be required, adding $1,258 to our bill. And though tests for asbestos were included in our final contract, the contractor didn’t think we would need asbestos abatement. We did, to the tune of $1,604. Though it makes me mad, there’s nothing I can do about it. That’s why, typically, trust between the builder and the client can start to erode if there are many of these kinds of changes.

To be fair to my contractor and Dave, I’ve also been guilty of changing my mind. Somehow in the design process I allowed the stairway to be designed boxed in with a wall. After looking at the space it became clear that wouldn’t look great – and that wider steps would look better. That added $3,041 to our bill. But the biggest change order actually resulted in significant savings – and it was mine. By switching the roofing material from a product called TruSlate to asphalt, we saved $38,092.

Matt Breyer, head of Breyer Construction and Landscape in Reading, Pa., agrees that change orders are unavoidable. But he warns that unscrupulous contractors may intentionally quote projects leaving out as much as possible, with the intent to be the cheapest (and therefore win the bid), then use the change order to charge exorbitant amounts for things not covered.That can be unfair for the client.

At this point, with the framing and plumbing finished and the windows about to go in, we are about $14,000 below our contract total because of change orders. This will also reduce the commission we pay our contractor, which is a percentage of the overall price of the contract.

We could have avoided the changes if we were willing to get a house that was not exactly what we wanted. But by nature, anyone doing a remodel or a custom home is in it to get exactly what they want. Hence I have reluctantly concluded that change orders are indeed inevitable – but I’ve vowed that we won’t have any more.

Durable-Goods Orders Climb
By Jeff Bater
Word Count: 398
Demand for big-ticket manufactured goods was surprisingly strong in July, thanks to a dollar-fueled export boom that analysts warn may soon fade as overseas growth slows.

Orders for durable goods, items meant to last at least three years, jumped 1.3% last month, after increasing a revised 1.3% in June, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. The July gain partly reflected stronger demand for aircraft.

A barometer of business-equipment spending — orders for non-defense capital goods excluding aircraft — climbed by 2.6% …

El Prado Gardens takes seed, blooms in Taos
El Prado Gardens takes seed, blooms in Taos J annet Enright arrived in Taos in 1989 with a 4-year-old in tow and 15 years experience in “plantscaping,” having designed thousands of atri­ums for corporations such as McDonald’s and IBM prior to her move from Denver, and having grown everything from flowers, to vegetable starts and ornamentals.

Once here, however, she ran into the proverbial Taos tight-money syndrome, and needed to find a way to sta­bility — quick. So she worked her way around every nursery in town, including Wal-Mart, to make ends meet.

“Then, while I was work­ing in Embudo, a young man ‘dropped’ in. He recognized me from Denver. He was now a grower in the Albuquerque­Belén area. When I found myself unemployed a few years later, he suggested I open a seasonal yard of flow­ers. He lent me a tent and supplied the flowers.”

And the rest, as they say, is history. Soon Enright needed a location for her business. “Julian and Julia Romero went to bat for me with the town. No one had ever done what I wanted to do and Taos codes were not very well defined in the early ’90s, so we had a lot to sort out. The town agreed with my plan, and Tent-o-Flowers was born.”

The next year, with a scrap greenhouse frame and the help of friends, Enright built her first greenhouse.

That meant staying open year-round to sell ristras, Christmas trees, houseplants, potting soils, pottery and monuments … and ultimately the birth of El Prado Gardens.

Once El Prado Gardens became a reality, Enright was free to pursue her “true passion” of xersic garden­ing. “No one had even heard of the term,” she says. “The word and concept were coined by the Denver Water Department (where they’ve) lived with water restrictions since World War II and the huge popula­tion boom.”

Sound familiar? In New Mexico we face the same ongoing challenges, and horticul­tural methods can effectively address those challenges.

“We experi­mented with drought­tolerant plants and trees. In fact, xeriscape is defined as, ‘water conservation through creative landscaping’ — not quite zeroscape, such as cacti, rocks, etc. We just plant with the annual moisture as (our) guide.” At El Prado Gardens, you may go in for a plant, but you’ll come out with an education — “like it or not,” Enright says about our precious resources.

Included in every sale is Enright’s take on the non-use of pesticides and herbicides, for example. “In all these years … we’ve never once eradicated a bad weed or bug … we just make them stronger, and kill the friendly ones.”

But Enright’s work his­tory is only a fraction of this woman’s cameo because not only does she boast about her hor­ticultural “family”, but on her human extended family as well. “I thank the wonderful people of Taos for that … I have redefined my own expectations of what a good life is all about.”

Enright’s supporters agree and the specifics are, frankly, awesome. One of Enright’s “causes,” she says, is hiring “at-risk children and adults to work at El Prado Gardens.

It’s amazing how many U.S.

citizens have nothing … no family, no identity, no hope — nothing — runaways who have never had a social security number or birth cer­tificate, (let alone) a phone, a street address, clothes, daycare, food, or respect. I now have wonderful people helping (to get) them their identities and evaluate them for their GEDs.”

It’s Enright’s goal to help these people “speak and be heard,” and for that we applaud her efforts.

Even Taos High kids get in the act, along with Enright’s own grandchil­dren. “You may be surprised when you come to shop,” she says. “We truly have a family here … and by the way, we could always use more help in our cause.”

“My advice to future busi­ness owners is to hang tough and enjoy the beauty and people of our town — the hardest working and most loving people I have ever met. Think clearly — not about a business plan, but about a life plan — that’s what it’s all about. Because at the end of the day, I feel so lucky for what I have.”

And with Jan Enright in town, so can we.

Heidi Connolly and Christopher Madrid write exclusively to create aware­ness of the critical role entre­preneurship plays in our community. To learn about the many services available to businesses and start-ups or to make suggestions, contact the Taos Chamber of Commerce at (575) 751-8800.

INNOVATORS & ENTREPRENEURS

HEIDI CONNOLLY AND

CHRISTOPHER MADRID

After strong start,Lady Tigers seeking to step up their game
After strong start,Lady Tigers seeking to step up their game

By Gabe Toth

The Taos News

Buoyed by a strong week­end of scrimmages, the Lady Tigers soccer team is looking to build on their unexpect­edly strong performance last year as they enter play this season.

Despite a 5-0 loss against powerhouse Los Alamos to kick off the weekend, coach Yancey Ranspot said he “got some really good results out of the weekend,” as the girls went on to beat Santa Fe Prep 1-0 and tied AAA powerhouse St. Mike’s 2-2.

“The kids are definitely excited and pleased with themselves that we did as well as we did,” he said.

They’re working hard, he said, on getting down their positioning on-field, and making big steps toward integrating new players and working together as a cohe­sive group. “This season, the girls are already talking about building it as a team and going game by game,” Ranspot said.

With 14 returning players among the roughly 35 girls who turn out to every practice, the team has a solid base of experience to draw on, includ­ing seniors Sydney Swinehart, defender; midfielder Callie Benjamin; Jessica Christian, who doubles as a defender and midfielder; and forward Juanita Cohn, who scored one of the Lady Tigers’ goals against St. Mikes.

The Cancro sisters, junior Alex and sophomore Olivia, are also returning, and a corps of new players are help­ing round out a strong Lady Tigers team.

Among the new faces are eighth-grader Jackie Valerio, who despite her age has five or six years of recreational and club team experience under her belt; freshman and first­year player Helena Bassett; freshman Aili Siler, another young player who brings experience from youth league play; and new freshman goalie Melinda Young, who is “play­ing extremely well,” Ranspot said, and tended goal for all three games over the week­end.

“Our young up-and-com­ers are going to be a huge benefit for the team,” he said.

They’re opening the season with a tough weekend tour­nament in Artesia, sharpen­ing their skills against high­caliber teams such as the host Bulldogs, Carlsbad and Roswell.

“It’ll be a good test for us,” Ranspot said.

The home opener against Hope Christian will be anoth­er good contest, but it’s all just preparation for district play, he added.

“We’ve got a pretty good idea of the games we’re play­ing,” Ranspot said. “You play each team differently.”

Gabe Toth

The girls soccer team practices at the Ranchos Elementary fields Monday (Aug. 11). Pictured, returning varsity players Juanita Cohn, left, and Yaneis Autumn get some touches on the ball.

Blue Lake: Taos Pueblo celebrates sacred site
A.I.O. Award denotes tribe’s perseverance

By Andy Dennison
The Taos News
‘We were told by a congressman that Blue Lake would be a precedent, and now every Indian in the country would be knocking on our doors, wanting their land back.
To that I said, Why not?’
James Lujan David Gomez Sr. remem­bers camping at Blue Lake in the 1960s, and a group of non­Indians showed up to fish and hunt.
“I went to an elder and asked him why were they there, in our sacred place,” Gomez recalled. “He said, ‘It’s not ours.’” Gomez’ story was one of many related Thursday (Aug. 14) to highlight the tribe’s land­mark fight to reclaim Blue Lake and to receive an international award for its example of perse­verance.
With appropriate timing, the presentation of the Taos Blue Lake Spirit of Indigineity Award to Taos Pueblo comes just as the tribe is heading up for the annual pilgrimage to its most sacred site.
“Our Blue Lake ceremo­nies are soon,” Gomez, a Taos Pueblo elder, told a gather­ing of Indian activists, Pueblo luminaries and guests. “It’s a spiritual time for us. Everyone’s minds are on Blue Lake.”
American Indian activist LaDonna Harris gave the award toPuebloofficialsforAmericans for Indian Opportunity during a two-hour ceremony in the central plaza. Harris presented a sculpture by Santa Fe artist Bob Haozous that will become the permanent representation of the award.
“When I thought about what to create, I thought of how our heaven is a happy place,” said Haozous. “Why go to church when all you have to do is take a walk.”
Haozous’ bronze, cylindrical sculpture moves from the uni­verse to the skies to the trees and red willows, and finally to the earth, he said.
“That sense of relationship is what I looked for,” he said.
The award is given for “using core cultural values to facilitate positive change,” according to the group’s director, Laura Harris.
Members of the board of Americans for Indian Opportunity noted that Taos Pueblo’s 60-year “struggle” to wrest Blue Lake and neighbor­ing Bear Lake from the U.S. government set an example for all tribes who are fighting to get aboriginal lands back.
“We are going through our own settlement push and trea­ty claims,” said Bentham Ohia, a Maori from New Zealand, whose tribe received the award in 2006. “You are an example for many indigenous people across the world.”
Tribal council member James Lujan put it this way: “We were told by a congress­man that Blue Lake would be a precedent, and now every Indian in the country would be knocking on our doors, want­ing their land back.
“To that I said, Why not?”
Pueblo leaders also recalled the struggle and the day in December 1970 when legisla­tion finally passed that returned the lands to the tribe.
“It was during our quiet time,” said Lt. Gov. Thomas J. Lujan Jr. “We didn’t celebrate, we just thanked God.”
Performances during the ceremony included a Friendship Circle and the Flag Song, a quasi-national anthem written during the struggle for Blue Lake.
Editor’s Note: See related story in this week’s Tempo.

State funds UNM­Taos
nursing program
State funds UNM­Taos nursing program

By Chandra Johnson

The Taos News

UNM-Taos’ ailing nursing program has been restored to health thanks to a grant from the New Mexico Higher Education Department, dean of instruction Jim Gilroy reported Tuesday (Aug. 19).

“Ana Abeyta and I have been trying since 1999 to get a nursing program here because of the major demands we were getting from the health com­munity,” Gilroy said. “Holy Cross Hospital has been a partner every step of the way and we look forward to more collaboration with them.”

The program was in dan­ger of being eliminated from UNM-Taos last spring when the state Legislature did not fully fund UNM main campus’ request for program funding. The news of the possible cut came just as UNM-Taos grad­uated its first fleet of nurses.

The $337,000 grant is designed to help the program get off the ground and become self-sustaining, program pio­neer and professor Marty Hewlett said .

“This is critical. The nursing shortage nationwide is also in Taos. We’re losing senior nurs­es at an alarming rate. That is, they’re retiring,” Hewlett said. “We had the program for two years and then suddenly we were informed that we might not be able to continue.”

And the money is techni­cally earmarked for workforce development, which feeds the community, UNM-Taos direc­tor Kate O’Neill said.

“We’re setting up the pro­gram so that we can serve the community and so that people can be trained here and stay here,” O’Neill said.

The program officially began in 2006, when Gilroy and others in the health com­munity began to literally search for a nursing program, eventually finding willing vol­unteers in Luna Community College in Las Vegas.

After just two years, the college had to stop offering the program to UNM-Taos because of the cost. From there, the program became an extension of the college of nursing at UNM, Gilroy said. With the cut in funds, UNM­Taos was suddenly on its own. Holy Cross Hospital CEO Kean Spellman also had a lot to worry about. “When we heard the disappointing news about the funding, Kate O’Neill, Jim Gilroy and I invited UNM offi­cials to the hospital and collec­tively made the case that this was the exact opposite of what the state should do,” Spellman said. “We weren’t going to take no for an answer.”

And they hardly could. Spellman said that since he began working at Holy Cross Hospital about 10 years ago, the hospital has added about 120 nursing positions.

“To keep up with growth, we need a stronger supply of nurses,” Spellman said.

But with the new program set to take on its first group of about 8-12 students in August 2009, Spellman might just get his personnel wishes granted, and Taos may have an edge on the nursing shortage.

The new program will be slightly different from the old one, which offered a bachelor’s program through the main campus’ college of nursing. This program, which would be unique to UNM­Taos, would prepare students up to the level of becoming a Registered Nurse, after which time they could transfer to the bachelor’s program at the main campus.