Weekly News & Updates From Los Alamos County
Published June 3, 2022
Upcoming Events
Amazing Women of the Wild West at Fuller Lodge
Mesa Public Library, in partnership with New Mexico Humanities Council, presents Amazing Women of the Wild West live at Fuller Lodge on Thursday, June 9th from 7 to 8 p.m. This is a family-friendly, lively musical performance with living history portrayals and optional audience singalongs. This program is free to the public. For more information, please visit the Library's event calendar.

Questions? Please email jessica.jenkins@lacnm.edu or call (505) 662-8257.
2022 Primary Election: last days to vote early—Election Day is Tues. June 7th
Early Voting Services available thru Sat. June 4th…Clerk Maestas would like to remind citizens that Early/Absentee In-Person voting for the 2022 Primary Election is available thru Saturday, June 4th, 8am to 6pm, in Council Chambers - OR - the White Rock Town Hall.
 
Same-Day Voter Registration continues thru Election Day, Tuesday June 7th… Residents who are not registered, have moved, or changed their mailing address may utilize Same-Day Voter Registration (SDVR) services at any Early or Election Day Vote Center, during regular voting hours and days of business. NOTICE: Minor Party and Independent registrants can vote in the Primary Election by updating their registration to one of the major parties using Same-Day Voter Registration at any Early or Election Day Vote Center.
 
Return your Absentee Ballot by 7pm on Election Day… Voters can drop their completed absentee ballots at either the Mesa Public Library or the White Rock Branch Library Secure Drive-Thru Ballot Drop-Boxes, or at any Early or Election Day Vote Center, thru 7 p.m. on Election Day. ALL absentee ballots are physically due back to the Clerk’s Office no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.
 
Election Day is Tuesday, June 7, 2022 – The following Vote Centers will be open between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.:
  • LAC Municipal Building - Council Chambers, 1000 Central Avenue
  • White Rock Town Hall - Conference Training Rooms,139 Longview Drive
  • LAC Golf Course Community Building - Multi-Purpose Room, 4244 Diamond Drive
  • UNM – Los Alamos - Building 6 Room 631, 4000 University Drive
  • Betty Ehart Senior Center - Downstairs Classroom, 1101 Bathtub Row
 
Stay informed…For additional information on anything related to the 2022 Primary Election in Los Alamos County, please call the Clerk’s Office at (505) 662-8010 or email elections@lacnm.us. As the election season progresses, the Clerk’s Office will share updates via the web at www.losalamosnm.us/clerk. Follow the Los Alamos County Clerk’s Office on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
June 14 next Council regular session
The next Los Alamos County Council meeting is a regular session and will take place on June 14th, at 6 p.m., Council Chambers, 1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos.

The full agenda packet and Zoom link to join the meeting are posted online. View the complete agenda packet for this meeting here.
News
Aquatic Center is open
Staff with the Los Alamos Public Works and Community Services Departments worked steadily through the week to troubleshoot and find a temporary solution to bring the Olympic pool equipment back online, allowing the Aquatic Center located at 2760 Canyon Road, to reopen to the public on June 3, 2022.

Adjustments and additional manufacturer intervention may require another temporary shutdown of the pool. More information will be shared in coming weeks.

The County appreciates the public’s patience as the construction team worked through these unforeseen issues. For additional updates on the Aquatic Center and the Leisure Lagoon from the Project Manager read the press release.
Date change for Golf Course greens aerification
The Los Alamos County Golf Course has changed its June schedule to aerate the greens. This process relieves the compactions caused by the additional traffic on the putting green and helps create a firm, smooth putting surface by controlling thatch and promoting healthy turf roots. Typically, the golf course staff will aerate the greens one to three times a season.

The following are updated June dates for aerification at the Los Alamos County Golf Course:
  • June 21 & 22, 2022 Ninja Tine Application on Greens
  • June 21: tee times begin at 9:30 a.m., play begins at hole #10.
  • June 22: tee times begin at 9:30 a.m., play begins at hole #1.

  • September 14, 2022, Greens Aerification, course closed
  • September 15, 2022, 9:00 a.m. first tee time

For more information call 505-662-8139 or visit the county's website on the Golf webpage.
Mandatory Bandelier shuttle buses begin June 4
All visitors who would like to visit Frijoles Canyon including the visitor center, park store, café, and Pueblo Loop Trail, will be required to take a shuttle between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. daily. Outside those hours, visitors may drive directly down into Frijoles Canyon. The shuttle bus will carry visitors from the White Rock Visitor Center to the Frey Trailhead (across from Juniper Campground) and then to the park visitor center. Shuttles run every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 20 minutes on weekends. There is no charge for riding the shuttle but fees to enter the National Parks still apply. All visitors are required to check in with a ranger when they arrive in the park.

These are exceptions where visitors are not required to ride the shuttle:
1. Visitors can drive in before 9 a.m. and after 3 p.m.
2. Bicycles
3. Anyone with Handicap Placard
4. Anyone seeking an Overnight Backcountry Permit
5. ALL Commercial Groups
6. Educational Groups in a Bus or Van
7. Anyone on Official Park Business
8. Campers going ONLY to Campground (Shuttle Stop into Canyon at Campground)

Phone scams targeting the elderly are on the rise
Los Alamos County Police is sounding the alarm and asking the public to heed its warning about an increase in phone scams targeting the elderly in Los Alamos. According to Police Officials, criminals are finding new ways to take advantage of elderly or vulnerable citizens. In 2021 there were 67 crimes that involved fraud or scammers trying to get money. This is up from 54 in 2020. In the first 5 months of 2022, there have already been 20 new cases. If individuals feel they are victims of a crime please contact the Police Department at 2500 Trinity Dr. in Los Alamos, or call 505.662.8222.
County in need of Personnel Board members
Los Alamos County is still accepting applications for eligible candidates to be appointed immediately to complete the terms of three vacant seats on the Personnel Board. Interested Los Alamos residents who do not hold public office and who are not employed by the county government may submit an online application by visiting the County’s Boards and Commissions webpage and selecting Personnel and then selecting “apply.” Applications will be accepted now until the vacancies are filled.
Tidbits and Treasures
Zero Waste Champions of the Year announced
Los Alamos County Environmental Services Division and the Environmental Sustainability Board are proud to announce this year’s winners of the Los Alamos County 2022 Zero Waste Champion of the Year awards.

Each spring the County presents the Zero Waste Champion of the Year awards to promote environmental sustainability and zero waste in the community, as well as to encourage more local businesses and schools to participate. To become eligible, organizations must be nominated by a member of the community for contributing to sustainability, recycling, and waste reduction. The nomination period opened on April 20, 2022, and closed on May 16, 2022. Once nominated, organizations are required to submit a brief overview of how they recycle, reduce waste, conserve energy or water, and contribute to environmental sustainability.

This year’s categories include Schools, Non-Profit Businesses, Small Businesses (< 200 employees), Large Businesses (> 200 employees), and Restaurants. The Environmental Services Division and Environmental Sustainability Board are proud to announce the four winners in each category and how they contributed to environmental sustainability in our community.
Communitree recognizes Pride and Juneteenth
The Communitree in the Los Alamos County Municipal Building has been updated for June in observance of Pride Month and Juneteenth. All community members are welcome to visit the tree and walk away with items that recognize the themes.

In addition to the tokens on the tree, a video montage honoring Juneteenth, officially observed on June 19, is playing next to the tree. It was written and composed by Ricardo Lambert, a member of the Gas, Water, and Sewer crew in the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Despite being celebrated since 1865, Juneteenth wasn’t recognized as a federal holiday until 2021. Many people are still learning about this day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. The montage aims to provide a basic overview of the holiday with historical and symbolic references throughout. It can be found on YouTube at https://lacnm.com/1865.

This month’s tree is sponsored by the Los Alamos County Finance Division and DPU. The Finance and Utilities employees are promoting the importance of community, particularly as it pertains to diversity, acceptance, freedom and inclusion.

“Please stop by the Communitree to celebrate Pride and Juneteenth with thoughts of “Be kind to every kind,” said Utility Manager Philo Shelton.

The tokens on the Communitree include buttons, enamel pins, stickers, candy sticks and butterfly magnets and stakes, as well as small, informational cards. Some of the cards encourage community involvement in give and take related to assistance programs while others include a link to the Juneteenth video.

These items will be available throughout the month of June. The Municipal Building is open to the public Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
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