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Photo courtesy of Todd FuquaOne Dashing Eagle winning the

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Andthey’rethey’re

running!Story on pg. 3

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2 The Zine • Living & EntErtainMEnt guidE May 21, 2013

A property of

The Zine is published every Tuesday by the Ruidoso Free Press, 1086 Mechem, Ruidoso, New Mexico 88345. The circulation of The Zine exceeds 11,000 printed copies weekly delivered via direct mail to homes and post o� ce boxes located exclusively within Lincoln County.Over 3,000 papers are available at newsstands, stores and hotels throughout Lincoln, Lea,

Eddy, Chaves, and Otero Counties. First class subscriptions to the Ruidoso Free Pressare available for $80 by calling 575-258-9922. Classi� eds, legals, obituaries, wedding an-

nouncements, birth announcements and thank-you ads are available by calling the classi� ed department at 575-258-9922. For all advertising opportunities, call 575-258-9922.

For submission of all editorial copy, press releases or letters to the editor, please email [email protected], or call 575-258-9922.

Member New Mexico Press Association • Member New Mexico Broadcasters AssociationAll advertising copy and artwork, news stories and photographs appearing in The Zine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced or reprinted without

permission of the general manager or editor. Management reserves the right to reject advertising or news copy considered objectionable.Liability for any error in advertising is limited to the value of the actual space in which the error occurs and will be satis� ed by correction in the next issue. Errors of fact or erroneous re� ection upon the character, standing or reputation of any individual, � rm or corporation appearing in this newspaper will be

corrected upon being brought to the attention of the general manager or editor.

Will Rooney, Director of Radio [email protected] • 575-937-4413

Eugene Heathman, Managing [email protected] • 575-973-7227

Todd Fuqua, Sports [email protected] • 575-973-0917

Sue Hutchison, [email protected] • 575-973-8244

Beth MacLaurin, Radio [email protected]

Penny Heggestad, Newspaper [email protected]

Marianne Mohr, Advertising [email protected] • 575-937-4015

Molly Sheahan, Business [email protected] • 575-937-3472

Dina Garner, Business [email protected] • 575-937-2667

Lori Estrada, Business [email protected] • 575-390-3569

Tina Eves, Advertising [email protected]

Kathy Kiefer, Graphic [email protected]

L I V I N G &E N T E R T A I N M E N T guide

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Sandi Aguilar, General Manager • [email protected]

Advertising space and copy deadline: Wednesday 3 p.m. prior to publication date.

1086 M E C H E M • R U I D O S O, N M 88345575 - 258 - 9922

LO V I N G TO N O F F I C E : 575 - 396 - 0499W W W. R U I D O S O F R E E P R E S S . C O M

W W W. M T D R A D I O . C O M

Zine distributionThe Zine, southeast New Mexico’s

most recognized entertainment and lifestyle magazine, is designed to ac-company our readers throughout the region as they enjoy the diverse and entertaining activities and destinations.

The Zine can be found at the fol-lowing locations, in addition to being inserted in each week’s Ruidoso Free Press.

OTERO COUNTYKent Quick/ Texico, Alamogordo

Chamber of Commerce, White Sands National Monument, Hampton Inn, Mo-tel 6, White Sands Missile Range, Super 8 Motel, Imax/Space Hall, Holloman AFB, Plateau Expresso, Boothill RV Resort, Alamo Tire, 84 Lumber, Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center

EDDY COUNTYCMC, Hotels/Motels, Sutherlands,

La Tienda, Artesia Chamber of Com-merce, Bennies Western Wear, Eddy

Federal Credit Union, Artesia General, Yucca Health

LEA COUNTYOcotillo Golf Course, Hampton

Inn, Hospital, Lea County Inn, Coun-try Inn and Suites, Iron Skillet Café, Event Center, Albertsons, Denny’s, Ranchers Steak House

CHAVES COUNTYRoswell Chamber of Commerce,

Visitor Center, IGA Lawrence Broth-ers, UFO Museum, Candlewood Suites, Holiday Inn, Dennys, IHOP, Farmers Market, Albertsons, Days Inn, Farley’s

LINCOLN COUNTYRuidoso Chamber of Commerce,

Ruidoso Athletic Club, Ruidoso Downs Race Track, Apache Travel Center, La Quinta, The Lodge, Hub-bard Museum, Jorge’s, Lincoln Tourist Center, Smokey Bear Museum in Capitan

‘Celebrate Sinatra!’ kicks off Spencer’s summer season

Dave Alexander is a mighty presence, a towering horseman with a hearty personal-ity and commanding vocals – and the sweet gift of swing. Alexan-der, who many know as a trumpeter, guitarist and singer with his own Big Texas Swing Or-chestra and hit country swing acts like Asleep at the Wheel, is also an amazing interpreter of Frank Sinatra.

Together with his 15-piece jazz band, Alexander, a four-time Grammy nominee, per-forms Sinatra’s greatest tunes with the genu-ine affection that only a true Sinatra interpreter can convey. He takes center stage in “Celebrate Sinatra!” at the Spencer Theater at 2 p.m. & 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 25. Tickets are $42-$49, and a smoked beef short rib buffet is available before the evening performance for $20. Call the Spencer Box Offi ce at 575-336-4800 or go online to www.spencertheater.com for tickets.

Dave Alexander’s big band fl are and vocal likeness to Sinatra may be due, in part, to his personal affi lia-tion with Sinatra. Alexander is a fi fth generation musician who, once off the ranch and out of college, became a professional trumpet player and vocal-ist performing with Joe Williams, Mel

Tormé and “The Voice,” Frank Sinatra. With roots deeply planted in jazz and Big Band, as well as horse and ranch culture, Dave eventually formed his own orchestra and entertainment produc-tion company for special events in the Dallas - Fort Worth metroplex.

He increasingly fi nds the songbook of Frank Sinatra to be his favorite. The iconic singer had more than 17-chart top-ping hits, including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “My Way,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “New York New York,” “That’s Life,”

“You Make Me Feel So Young,” “Come Fly With Me,” “For Once In My Life,” “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” and more.

Joining Dave for this sumptuous night of Sinatra’s Big Band sound is Randy Firth, lead alto saxophone; Adam Hutcheson, 2nd alto saxo-phone; Jon Stutler, tenor saxophone; Kelsey Pickford, baritone saxophone; Marco Gonzales, lead trumpet; Larry Spencer, 2nd trumpet; Ken Edwards, jazz trumpet; Tyler Mier, 4th trumpet and assistant conductor; Travis Har-ris, lead trombone; Greg Waits, 2nd trombone; Jon Adamo, bass trombone; Sein Oh, piano; Russ Rand, acoustic bass; Pat Bubert, drums and Andy LaViolette, guitar.

Saturday,May 25

2 p.m. & 8 p.m.575-336-4800

for tickets

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And they’re running!

By Eugene Heathman Editor

Every year, Friday before Memo-rial Day starts the summer Ruidoso Downs’ racing season.

Opening day is dedicated to the trials to the Ruidoso Futurity. This upcoming Friday the 2-year-old Quarter Horses will be racing to become one of the 10 horses with the 10-fastest qualifying times to be eligible for the $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity, which will be run June 9.

Ruidoso Downs’ opening weekend starts with day-long action Friday (May 24) with the trials to the $750,000 Ruidoso Futurity (post time 10 a.m.) and follows Saturday with the trials to the Ruidoso Derby, (post time 1 p.m.) which could have a record-setting $800,000 purse. Post time is 1 p.m.

Sunday’s program offers a stakes doubleheader with the Fine Loom Handicap and the First Lady Handicap. Post time

1 p.m. Sunday and Monday.Many of those young racehorses

will be starting their careers in the Ruidoso Futurity trials. Thus, they will be making their first starts at the start of the season.

The ultimate goal for all of the 2-year-old Quarter Horses at Ruidoso Downs this summer is to race in the $2.6 million All American Futurity on Labor Day, closing day of the season. The 440-yard All American Futurity is the iconic Quarter Horse race and its purse is the largest for any Quarter Horse race and the largest for any horse race, regardless of breed, for 2-year-olds in North America.

On the way to the All American Futurity the top prospects will be vying for a spot in the $1 million Rainbow Futurity, which will run on July 21.

Ruidoso Downs racing runs on a Friday through Monday schedule. Post times (with the exception of some holi-days and opening weekend) are 1 p.m.

More information can be found at www.raceruidoso.com and follow the racing action on Twitter at Ruidoso Press Box (@RuiPressBox).

The record-breaking start of theRuidoso Downs’ summer season

Courtesy photo


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Players must be present and actively using players card during promotion times and days to win. Table game players are not eligible to participate. Player may win more than once on promo dates and within the entire promotion. Winner must provide a valid photo ID in order to receive prize. The Mescalero Apache Tribe promotes responsible gaming. For assistance, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. (1-800-426-2537).

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By Eugene HeathmanEditor

On the cusp of the fi gurative boundary of southeast New Mexico on Interstate 10 is Caballo Lake State Park (CLSP). Caballo (Spanish for horse) lake is the closest and largest seriously navigable body of water from Otero and Lincoln County.

Known as ‘the quiet lake’ or by some old timers as ‘lake Geritol,’ Caballo lake is a hidden gem for family watersports, fi shing, camping, hik-ing and mountain biking. There are no hotels, fast food establishments or Walmarts like its northern big sister El-ephant Butte in Truth or Consequences. What outdoor recreationalists will fi nd is a quaint but well-stocked mini-grocer, supply and bait shop named Lil’ Abners just a couple miles to the north of the park entrance with auto fuel, propane and RV supplies just a short distance further at the KOA campground.

CLSP encompasses approximately 11,500 surface acres of waters from the Rio Grande impounded behind Ca-ballo Dam, as well as 5,384 land acres. Caballo Dam was completed in 1938 and was constructed as part of the Rio Grande Compact in order to provide a dependable supply of water for the farmers in New Mexico, Texas and the Republic of Mexico. Initial recreational facilities were constructed in the 1960’s. The United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) constructed the Riverside Campground, a shady oasis just below the dam com-plete with playgrounds, river fi shing opportunities and well maintained mod-ern facilities. In 1964, Caballo became a state park. The dam and reservoir continue to be maintained and operated by the BOR. The friendly and knowl-

edgeable staff and rangers are one of the fi nest attributes of the state park.

CLSP is the primary aquatic desti-nation for many New Mexicans and for visitors to southwestern New Mexico from all over the nation. Located in the dramatic landscape of the northern Chi-huahuan desert, it has become an oasis in an otherwise arid environment. Visi-tors are attracted to the lake’s majestic Caballo mountain landscape, striking desert sunsets, accessible shoreline and the warm waters for fi shing, boating, sailing, swimming and water skiing. The lakeshore provides a retreat for resident wildlife as well as seasonally migrating species of waterfowl.

Offering many conveniences for the outdoor recreation enthusiast; visi-tors can choose to camp along the miles of undeveloped beach or at one of three improved campgrounds. Improvements to campgrounds include electrical and water hookups, showers, fl ush toilets and delineated camping sites. Day use areas adjacent to the lake and along the river permit opportunities for picnick-ing. Two nature trails, as well as the seemingly endless shoreline, offer the hiker hours of walking experience. Two paved launch ramps accommodate boat-ing visitors.

CLSP is open 365 days per year, 24 hours per day, with the exception of those areas which are seasonally closed, or those areas or facilities which are closed temporarily for maintenance or safety purposes. The offi ce is generally open from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. www.nmparks.com.

Caballo,‘the

quiet lake’

Photo courtesy of Eugene Heathman


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Saint Joseph ApacheMission restoration crew tours La Luz pottery factoryBy Lynda A. Sánchez

What does a “restoration” crew do on a fi eld trip? They check out other historic sites and learn about the unique history and preservation goals of yet an-other gem of the New Mexico cultural landscape.

Recently just such a trip was taken to the famous La Luz Pottery Factory. Founded in 1929, the site is located near the base of the brooding Sacramento Mountains on 250 acres of classic Chi-huahuan Desert lands. It was a cultural cross road for the Mogollon and Apache peoples as well as early day settlers of the Tularosa Basin.

“Most people know about the La Luz pottery and beautiful clay tiles for roof and fl oor, however very few know the history behind the founding of the factory,” stated noted archaeologist and tour guide Pete Eidenbach of High Rolls. Eidenbach is spearheading a plan to restore the site to its intrigu-ing past and to nominate it as a National Historic Landmark.

Stepping back in time, the restoration crew from St. Joseph Apache Mission listened intently to the details of the history and observed for themselves the large kiln and other aspects

of an unusually fascinating chronicle unfolding in their own backyard. Inside the kiln one could see hundreds of tiles still intact and awaiting a purpose, however that ended with the fi nal fi ring about 1949 and they remain in neatly stacked rows awaiting an unknown fate.

One of the younger members of the crew commented that his grandmother and other family members either lived there or worked at the factory during its heyday. That information could lead to additional fl eshing out of the early history and might even provide pho-tographs for the research phase of the

project. For the restoration crew,

it had special meaning since they have now learned that the beautiful original roof tiles that provided covering for the St. Joseph Apache Mission church built by the Apaches and Father Albert Braun came from this unique setting and only a few miles away from their own restora-tion project. The stones for the church walls were also quarried locally and now the crew members know the “rest of the story.”

Photos courtesy of Mary M Serna, restoration director, St. Joseph Apache Mission

The St. Joseph Apache Mission restoration crew take a fi eld trip to the La Luz Pottery Factory. Above is the kiln chimney.


By Sue HutchisonMillions have donned appropriate

footwear across the decades and headed down into the depths of the earth at Carlsbad Caverns national park which provides a paved path to surreal beauty. The caves were given status of national monument in 1923. Beneath the rugged desert are more than 115 known caves held by limestone full of ocean fossil re-mains of plants and animals which have been said to have been imbedded before dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The Caverns have provided eco-nomic support to the southeast corner of New Mexico for decades. Providing employment for locals in addition to the millions of tourist dollars spent in area lodging, the benefits are far reaching. More than 400,000 visit the caverns annually, with many repeat visitors in

the mix. Tom and Mannie Bemis are natives

to Carlsbad. Among other specialties, Tom is a nationally recognized Incident Commander and specializes in Search and Rescue and National Cave Res-cue training in addition to Ham Radio Operation. Mannie taught elementary and high school more than 20 years. To-gether they’re currently affiliated with the Caverns and live in Carlsbad.

From the observation deck atop the visitor’s center to the depth of the cav-erns some 780 feet below the surface, it’s clear the area was once a part of a vast oceanic ecosystem. Fossil remains are seen in many areas of the caves. Because of recent findings regarding destructive algae growth, the caverns are currently undergoing a change which will bring new lighting to the speleothems.

Heat from the extensive lighting system throughout the cave causes a thermal change in atmospheric condi-tions. When heat builds, conditions change which gives invasive algae a chance to grow, causing damage to the formations which took tens of thousands of years to develop. Recent-ly approved, LED lighting will replace current illumination in the cave.

Human interaction with the cave has caused significant concern as well. Although well notified, visitors still touch cave formations and leave skin oil on surfaces. Park rangers still deliver the message: please don’t touch any-thing in the caverns. Keeping the spe-leothems intact and free from outside influence is a park priority.

Tom Bemis has come out of retire-ment and has assumed leadership of the relighting project. Bemis has been climbing through fissures, balancing on precarious ledges and wedging his

body in tight spaces for decades as he works with the caverns. He knows the caves like his own backyard, and has maintained the lighting prior to retire-ment. He knows specific routes to arrive at the areas mapped out for lighting needs. There are many climbs which would be life threatening to most, but Bemis knows the pathways to each system. The project will take more than 15 months to complete, according to Bemis.

There are several tours throughout the explored sections of the Caverns,

some self guided and others led by rangers. Both Bemis, his wife and the cavern rangers guide visitors and give extraordinary informa-tion in the process.

Visit nps.gov/cave for more information about Carlsbad Cav-erns, or phone 575-785-2232.

Photos courtesy of Sue HutchisonMannie (far left) and Tom Bemis (at left), park rangers at Carlsbad Caverns.

Carlsbad in aCaverns new light


Music in the Mountains of Cloudcroft, June 14-16About to hit the mountain with

fresh Bad Ass Mountain Music Festival (BAMM) will take place June 14 through 16 in Cloudcroft. Music will be heard for miles and miles, with a lot of horns. Mark your calendars and take dad for Father’s Day weekend. Enjoy a relaxing weekend full of fun for the whole family and music sure to please everyone. BAMM Festival happens at Ski Cloudcroft, two miles east of Cloudcroft on Hwy 82.

Gates open Friday evening at 4 p.m. The line-up this year features a variety of bands with a touch of everything, from reggae to punk. Friday’s first band, Rockytop Alien Breeding Experiment from Terlingua, Tex begins at 5 p.m., The band is a mostly instrumental trio featur-ing mandolin, guitar, harmonica, percus-sion and fiddles. Foot-stomping varieties of Irish, Celtic and American Folk are signature sounds of the band. At 6:20 p.m. hometown sounds of Eclectic Blues from Cloudcroft will take the stage. At 8 p.m. Faceless, a Las Cruces group starts and will bring a taste of hip-hop to the festival.

School Bus Gypsies begin an 9:20 p.m. on stage and feature rock, jam, coun-try, blues and a bit of reggae sound. The

group is a local favorite. 11:20 p.m. will host the one man blues sound of C.Y. Ayon. He’ll finish out the day around 1 a.m.

Saturday’s line-up offers even more diversi-ty. Beginning at 11 a.m. Dusty Low, an El Paso, Tex group will offer alternative country with a dash of folk music along with a jazz sound. 12:40 p.m. will bring Trevor Reichman from Terlingua, Tex to the stage and will be followed by Todd and the Fox at 2 p.m. Todd and the Fox are a Santa Fe group which brings banjo driven rock and electronic music to the BAMM Festival.

Later in the day at 3:20 p.m. Zoltan Orkestar, a group from Albuquerque will bring a high energy circus swing sound. With vocals, guitar, accordion, bass and a swing beat, group members say, “You’ll be on the dance floor before you know it.” 4:20 p.m. features Sorry About Your Sister, a group from El Paso. The group fea-tures hard rock from Jimi Hendrix, Black Crowes and Bob Schnieder’s style. Mem-phis Strange from Austin, Tex will take the stage at 6 p.m. with dueling guitars and vo-

cals, featuring a blues, country and southern rock sound. Chuco Soul Project from El Paso and Bourbon Legend from Las Cruces con-tinue the evening. The last scheduled group at 11:20 p.m. is The

Casual Friday, from Las Cruces who round out the sound with a combo of sould, sakcore, reggae, punk and 50s tunes.

Cost is $25 per person and includes the entire weekend. Children under 12 are admitted free. If camping is the lodging of choice, come early. It’s free and first come, first served at Ski Cloudcroft. If camping in a national forest is more to liking, try the Lincoln National Forest website at www.fs.usda.gov/lincoln for info.

If sheets, a flush and a shower are more to your liking there are several special rate packages at a variety of local lodging choices. Try the Lodge Resort and Spa at 575-682-2566. Mention the BAMM Festival for special rates. Summit Inn at 575-682-2814 has space and can be ac-cessed online by visiting www.summitinn-nm.com. Spruce Cabins at 575-682-2381,

or Treehouse Bed and Breakfast at 575-682-3754 would be happy to offer choices.

There are food vendors scheduled and will offer all sorts of food to please everyone. Cold refreshments will also be available for sale at the event site. On Sun-day, everyone must be paced up and out of the ski area by 1 p.m. and what is packed in needs to be packed out. There will be a Dumpster located by the front gate.

There are no pets allowed at BAMM. No alcohol or glass containers are allowed either. Camping restrictions apply and for-est service fire restrictions are in place. No open flames or campfires, no charcoal grill-ing but propane cooking is allowed as long as there is a pan for protection under the cook stove. Quiet hours are from 2 - 8 a.m.

A huge thank you to all the sponsors this year from the BAMM committee (Bri Ligon, Justin Munoz, Tara Johnston and Kara Cochran) – we couldn’t do it without you. And to Mike Beckler, “Thank you for building the BAMM website. We re-ally appreciate you and your hard work.”

For more information, visit us online at www.bammfestival.com or become our Facebook fan at www.facebook.com/BAMMFestival.


By Todd Fuqua

The journey beginsMy wife got me an interesting gift for my birthday

last year – for us really, since our birthdays are right next to each other. It’s called “Drives of a Lifetime: 500 of the World’s Most Spectacular Trips,” published by National Geographic.

These are trips that feature breathtaking views, visits to areas oozing history, and have a gazillion things to do along the way.

What I found interesting is that of these 500 trips across the globe – from the Strip in Las Vegas to Ang-kor Wat in Cambodia – three of them are centered on Lincoln County.

I’m not sure if many people living here realize all the wonderful things to see and do in a short driving distance from Ruidoso. This series will follow one of those trips and highlight how you and your family can take a vacation right here at home.

I’ve chosen the Guadalupe trail, a trip that starts at Aguirre Springs near Las Cruces and continues

clockwise around Southeast New Mexico, with trips through Alamogordo, Carrizozo, Capitan, Hondo, Ro-swell, Artesia, Carlsbad, and El Paso before returning.

We decided to go the other way, driving down to Tularosa and starting south.

Day one, Friday, started out with breakfast at the in-laws, which necessitated a trip past the starting point of a completely different trip in the book, that of the Billy the Kid Trail.

Starting at the Hubbard Museum of the Ameri-can West and the Billy the Kid Byway Interpretive Center in Ruidoso Downs – which the book states will provide background for the trip – the 84-mile route follows U.S. 70 and 380 and New Mexico 48 on trips through old Lincoln, the site of the Kid’s famous escape, all the way to Fort Sumner, the site of his fi nal resting place.

But that’s another trip for another time. Right now, we’re on our way to White Sands National Monument.

By this point, we’re in the Tularosa Basin, sur-rounded by mountains on all sides that keep all rainfall in one place. That’s led to the formation of Otero

Lake, from which the famed dunes of white sands spring.

“Some of the dunes can move about 30 feet per year, but the ones at the edge anchored by plants are only moving a few inches per year,” said Rebecca Wiles Chief of Interpretation at White Sands National Monument. “So, thou-sands of years, perhaps, the dune fi eld will be at Alamogordo.”

Wiles said the dunes are particularly enjoy-able for families with young children, who can buy sleds at the gift shop to ride the waves of the dune sea.

Next, it’s a 30-minute drive to the entrance to Aguirre Springs, located at the foot of the Organ Mountains, so named be-cause of their resembles to a pipe organ due to erosion.

In fact, driving up to the camp sites – which require a $5 day pass – we’re struck by how much the mountains resemble the alps, thanks to the unusual formations. It’s been raining – it showers right after we eat lunch – so the greenery makes the mountains look even less like they belong in New Mexico.

If it wasn’t for all the yucca and cactus, you’d never know we were still in a desert climate.

Then, it’s through San Augustin pass and down the other side into Las Cruces, a booming city that continues to grow in leaps and bounds. There’s plenty to do here, but we unfortunately can’t stay long. Just a quick stop at the Chamber of Commerce and then it’s on to El Paso.

This is the urban part of the trip. The I-10 corridor between Las Cruces as El Paso – the most populous city along the U.S.-Mexico border – is rapidly becom-ing one big city corridor, and you’re in the state of Texas before you even realize it. That’s assuming you can handle all the road construction made necessary by the high traffi c.

Having said that, I’m glad we decided to go the direction we did. The north-bound lanes of I-10 were backed up for miles while we cruised south.

A side note – it’s been raining on us off an on since we got to Aguirre Springs, and there’s nothing like the smell of a desert that’s just been kissed by

From deserts to caverns- The Guadalupe Trail

Photo courtesy of Todd FuquaWhat is it about kids and sand? The gypsum sand dunes at White Sands National Monument are an irresistible draw.


water from above.There’s plenty to do in El Paso, but we’ve got one

place to go, and it’s someplace that my wife – who was born and raised in El Paso – has never heard of.

It’s called the Magoffin Home, and it was the home of a very prominent family in the area. It’s a family that, according to the site’s official website, was a major participant in settlement of the area, trade on the Santa Fe-Chihuahua Trail, the U.S. Civil War and the development of El Paso into the city it is today.

“A large number of people come to this home from the surrounding area,” said Leslie Bergloff, man-ager of the Texas State Historical Site. “Those are our main visitors. Some people also don’t realize that El Paso has 26 museums. It’s pretty amazing when you think about it.”

So, day one is done, and we’ve done some things that we’ve never done before. Tomorrow, it’s a trip across the desert to a big, spectacular hole in the ground.

Part twoWe left El Paso at 8 in the morning, before the

desert sun really started to cook, and headed east. This is the only part of the Guadalupe Trail drive that I’ve never been on before, and as we pass through the Hueco Mountains, I’m struck by the view. This is what desert mountains are supposed to look like.

I’m also struck by the desolation of it all. It’s beautiful, but there’s no development here, just yucca plants and rolling hills. All this less than an hour away from a metropolitan area that is home to more than 2 million people.

There’s not a whole lot to see on this drive, and on our way to Carlsbad, we pass Hueco Tanks State Park and the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, but with little time to spare, we can’t stop to take them in. Of course, it’s kind of hard to ignore the Guadalupes, rising from the low desert floor. Living in a place like

Ruidoso, you can take for granted just how big these mountains really are.

In fact, we’re passing by the highest point in Texas, although it’s just barely in Texas. Guadalupe Peak rises 8,751 feet. El Capitan, it’s striking neighbor just to the south, forms a sheer cliff and once more, I’m glad we’re going this direction. As we as-cend the road to the park, El Capitan stands majestically against the sky and provides a breathtaking – because I can think of no other word to describe it – view. If we had gone clockwise – as the book suggests – that view would be in our rear view mirror and not nearly as spectacular.

We still stop at the visitors center – na-ture calls – and are impressed at the interpre-tive displays. The girls certainly love the reproductions of the skunks, coyotes, foxes and other animals that live on the park’s grounds.

Our goal today is the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park in Carlsbad, featuring numer-ous species of plants and animals native to this area of the world. That includes the rare Mexican Gray Wolf, the black bear, and even elk and mule deer. Of course, we can see those last two by walking out of our front door back home.

We were trying to get there before it gets too hot, although we’re dragging at the end of an intense walk through to interesting natural exhibits.

After that, it’s a drive to the shores of the Pecos River and Carlsbad Lake, an area of the river that features boating, swim-ming, and even a mini cruise line. It’s that cruise line that gives tours of the river during the Christ-mas season, highlighting the spectacular displays created by residents backed up to the river.

While we’d love to stay, it’s much, much too hot, and a descent into a dark and cool cave sounds mighty inviting.

The cave in question is, of course, Carlsbad Caverns, one of the first areas dedicated by the National Parks Service.

This is one of the most popular destinations

in New Mexico, for good reason. The park was dedi-cated as a national park in 1930, and was first entered by cowhand Jim White way back in 1898. Seeing the cavern today – with all its developed trails and lights throughout – it’s sobering to think White descended on a rope with nothing but a lantern to light the way.

The only drawback is the closure of two of the four elevators that descend 750 feet into the cave. The backup isn’t going down, it’s coming up. The wait to return to the surface is about an hour.

When you have two small children, climbing back up through the natural entrance isn’t an option. So, unless you’re willing to make that long trek – or unless you have no small children – it’s best to wait until all the elevators are functioning again before making your visit.

That said, my kids were extremely well behaved while in line, which is a lot to ask of a five and one-year old. Also, it was at least nice and cool down there, and the park rangers were very polite. I’ve spent worse times in line.

From there, it’s a quick drive into Roswell for the night. Tomorrow, we right the trail back home.

For more information on the attractions highlighted here, visit: www.visitmagoffinhome.com, www.nps.gov/whsa/ and www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/las_cruces/aguirre_spring_campground.html.

ENMU-Roswell swimming pool to open soon

The ENMU-Roswell swimming pool will open to the public on Satur-day, May 25. The pool will be open daily, Sunday through Saturday, from 1 - 5:30 p.m. through August 11. Pool hours may vary occasionally to accommodate private parties. Regular daily admission is $3 for adults and children. ENMU-Roswell students and personnel with a validated I.D. card pay $1.50. Children under the age of 10 must be accompanied by an adult. Family Swim Nights are held every Tuesday from May 28 through August 6 from 6 - 8 p.m. Each family member pays only $2 on Family Swim Nights. The pool can also be reserved for special events and season passes are also available. For season pass information, call Eva Watley at 575-624-7191 or 575-624-7195. For private pool party reservations, contact Frances Dubiel at 624-7250 or email [email protected].


Saturday, June 12 p.m. & 7 p.m. Tickets $28

Eugene Heathman Editor

The brilliantly colored ridge line above Lake Lea dazzle spectators with brilliant pastel colors at sunset, just before star gazing enthusiasts gather at the pavil-ion to enjoy the wonders of the night sky.

One probably wouldn’t guess that southeast New Mexico, just a few miles east of Roswell, boasts New Mexico’s oldest state park. Bottomless Lakes State Park, dedicated in 1933, is the home of some of New Mexicos most geologically fascinating wonders.

The lakes are bottomless in name only but the perception of great depth and the greenish blue color is created by algae and other aquatic plants covering the lake bottoms. The lakes are actually sink holes rather than lakes and range in depth from 17 to 90 feet. They were formed when circulating underground water dis-solved salt and gypsum deposits to form subterranean caverns. Ultimately, the roofs of the caverns collapsed from their own weight to form the sink holes that soon fi lled with water. The lakes are rather small and only Lea Lake is large enough to support swimming and other water recreational activities.

Scuba divers are attracted to the extraordinarily clear waters in Lea Lake due to the continuous fl ow of approximately 9 million gallons of water daily from the caverns deep below the ground. In the summer when the water comes in, it is cool. Then when the lake water warms up, the temperature differences cause such clarity; visibility is 50 to 60 feet.

The state park hosts several miles of walking and mountain bike trails through a variety of geological

terrain and vegetation zones which in-clude a unique wetland area which has been accessorized with raised pathways and sturdy wildlife viewing blinds. The wetland was formed from the outlet at Lea Lake for which millions of gal-lons of water fl ow through daily. Just driving by, one might never guess the sheer abundance of wonders this state park has to offer as it’s off the beaten path and situated below a color-ful ridgeline. The CCC workforce is responsible for the construction of the large bathhouse and pavilion at Lea Lake, the southern-most lake at Bottomless Lakes State Park in New Mexico. The State Parks are proud to be renovating these CCC structures to their historic appearances and preserving the nearby water tower.

The campsites range from discreetly primitive to fully developed and Lake Lea’s swim beach offer all the amenities a summer destination should have. Visitors can swim or rent hydro bikes, paddle boards or rafts for a nominal fee, from the fi rst weekend in May through Labor Day. Lifeguards are on duty during the summer, and the sandy beach is well-maintained.

Bottomless Lakes State Park is located approxi-mately 13 miles east of Roswell, New Mexico south of US 380. The campground has 32 well-spaced sites with electricity (20/30, some 50 a.m.) and wa-ter. Six sites have sewer connections. There are nicely designed covered picnic tables and grills. The camp-ground is situated at the base of a hill that has exposed

red soil and rocks. The entry gate is open 24 hours a day but the campground/day-use area is locked from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. during the summer months. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed. www.nmparks.com.

Photos courtesy of Eugene HeathmanThe swim beach and pavilion at Bottomless Lakes State Park off er abundant recreational activities including swimming and non-motor-ized water sports.

Bottomless Lakes, endless recreation


By Sue HutchisonDown the hill from Ruidoso is the world’s largest

gypsum dune fi eld. More than 270 square miles of desert with fi ne, white sand occupies a signifi cant por-tion of the space reserved for the White Sands Missile Range. Several sites are open to the public to view, explore and tour on a limited basis, and White Sands National Monument occupies a corner of the range.

Lake Lucero’s dry bed, once a part of larger Lake Otero several thousand years ago, is home to an ecosystem which can be found nowhere else. While water runoff from nearby mountains would usually run into rivers and be carried to the sea, the Tularosa Basin has no outlet. With no escape, gypsum-laden runoff fi lled the lower part of the basin and created what used to be a 1,600 square mile lake named Lake Otero thousands of years ago. Gypsum crystals named selenite grew to be as big as four feet long as Lake Otero slowly evaporated hundreds of cen-turies ago. Remnants of crystals still populate the dry lakebed and shoreline. Visitors to Lake Lucero can walk along what used to be wetlands to view the protected selenite deposits.

Robin Milne, a monument Ranger, is a third generation Alamogordo resident who has found a career home at White Sands National Monument. “I’ve been a ranger here for three years now, and I love what I do,” says Milne. One of just a few, she leads the monthly Lake Lucero tour. In addition to the lakebed, she leads visitors to the northern ruins of the Lucero Ranch, where cattle were raised until

the area was appropriated by the government in the 1950’s. Milne gives a description of those days. “Both Lucero brothers were sheriffs in Dona Ana County and also ranged more than 200 cattle in the late 1800s,” she explained.

With the lakebed sur-rounded by the missile range, those who register for the tour meet at the small missile range gate on Highway 70 to caravan in private vehicles with an escort. The 17.5-mile road which winds through restricted space ends at check-point Wanda where the walking tour begins. “We can handle around 40 cars, so reservations are required,” says Milne.

The walk to the shoreline follows a natural ar-royo and can be shifty with loose sand. Those who register for the walk are required to carry suffi cient water, snacks, wear proper footwear and sunscreen. While not diffi cult, the 1.5 mile roundtrip walk is not ADA compli-ant. Pets on leashes are permitted.

After heavy local rains, water can still col-lect at the lake, although rare. Beneath the dry

lakebed, selenite crystals still continue to form. In addition to selenite, sodium chloride (table salt) and magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) may be found when ground water evaporates.

Visitors are encouraged to walk out on the lakebed, explore the crystals and ecosystem, and leave the area as found. To register, go online to White Sands National Monument or phone at 575-479-6124 ext. 232.

Selenite crystals, a form of gypsum are still in formation at dry Lake Lucero, Visitors can walk through the crystal beds during the tour.

Photos courtesy of Sue HutchisonRobin Milne, third generation Alamogordo resident, leads Lake Lucero tours monthly from White Sands National Monument.

The crystals of Lake Lucero


Bataan Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Black River: Stream fl ow at Malaga on Monday was 2.3 cfs. Trout fi shing was slow.Blue Hole Park Pond: Trout fi shing was slow.Bonito Lake: Closed. Bosque Redondo: Fishing was slow but there were a few trout caught by anglers using worms and PowerBait.Bottomless Lakes: Fishing was slow. Brantley Lake: Anglers are to prac-tice catch-and-release for all fi sh here as high levels of DDT were found in several fi sh.Carlsbad Municipal Lake: No reports from anglers this week. El Rito Creek: Trout fi shing was fair to good using parachute adams, worms and salmon eggs. Greene Acres Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Green Meadow Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Grindstone Reservoir: Trout fi sh-ing was very good using PowerBait, worms, salmon eggs, small Kastmas-ters, small Z Rays, Pistol Petes and spinners. No reports on other species. Jal Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Lake Van: No reports this week.

Oasis Park Lake: Fishing was slow for all species. Pecos River: Stream fl ow below Sumner Lake on Monday was 66 cfs. Fishing was slow to fair using Power-Bait and worms for trout. A few catfi sh were caught by anglers using worms and liver. Perch Lake: Fishing was slow. Ruidoso River: Stream fl ow near Hol-lywood on Monday was .08 cfs. No reports from anglers. Santa Rosa Lake: The lake has re-opened to boating but the launch area is undeveloped and boating is restricted to no wake speed only. Fishing was fair using jerk baits, senkos and tubes for smallmouth bass. Fishing was slow to fair using crank baits, minnows, grubs and tubes for walleye. A few crappie were taken by anglers using worms, minnows, grubs and tubes. No reports on other species.Sumner Lake: Fishing picked up a bit this past week as anglers reported catching white bass, walleye, crappie and smallmouth bass. Best baits were grubs, minnows, jerk baits, nightcrawl-ers and crank baits. No reports on other species. The surface water temp was in the high 50s to low 60s. The Violation Canyon boat ramp remains open at this time and will remain open as long as lake levels permit.

Fishing report for Southeast NM

Hike It and Spike it tournament Memorial Day weekendBy Karen Boehler

ROSWELL – Every Memorial Day weekend, thousands of fl ag football players, of all ages and skill levels, descend on Roswell for the annual Hike It and Spike It 4-on-4 fl ag football tournament.

It’s a celebration of all things football, and since it began in 1995, it’s gotten bigger and better each year, with more than 550 teams comprised of almost 3,800 players from 18 states competing in 2012 and even more expected this year.

“We’ve actually surpassed last year’s registration,” said organizer Clay Avery. “It’s just unreal.”

This year, 571 teams are reg-istered, and with additional players allowed on each team (seven play-ers on each squad with eight for co-ed and Show Me the Money), individual numbers will also go up.

As always, players will compete in divisions rang-ing from youth (5 through 8 years old), to high school, with men’s, women’s and co-ed classes, as well as the always popular Show Me the Money division, which of-fers $15,000 of prize money to the top three teams in the men’s class, and $2,800 in the co-ed class.

Those classes always draw the top fl ag football teams from across the nation. Last year, teams came from as far

as Florida, Texas, California, Ohio and ev-erywhere in between, with the 2011 champ, Goose Crew, from Los Angeles, fi nishing just out of the money in fourth, while Dal-las Blackout – a perennial top team that fi n-ished third in 2011 – and the Youngstown, Ohio, Penguins, battling through two overtimes before the Ohio team fi nally took the money – and the $10,000 – with a 21-20 overtime victory in an “if” game.

Those teams, along with 2012 No. 3 Get Off Me from Jacksonville, Fla., will compete against a number of very com-petitive squads from Dallas, El Paso and California.

The non-money divisions, which also come from a number of states, win cham-pionship T-shirts and footballs for the fi rst place winners; long-sleeve T-shirts and a sponsorship plaque for second; and T-shirts and a sponsorship plaque for third.

Each division also has a Down and Out Bowl, for the teams with the worst record, and teams can also compete for the Best Dressed and Character Counts/Sports-manship awards, earning Character Counts com-memorative coins and a free entry into next year’s event. (Sportsmanship win-

ners are selected by offi cials on the fi eld.)Fans are always welcome to cheer on their favorite

teams, with competition beginning after opening ceremo-nies Saturday at 8 a.m. and lasting until all games are complete Sunday evening.

Last year’s estimated total attendance was 40,000, and with all hotel rooms sold out in Roswell, Ruidoso and Artesia for the weekend, and Carlsbad and Portales getting full, that number could also increase.

Organizers estimate the direct economic impact to the area at more than $3.4 million, with indirect impact spread over several counties at almost $12.5 million. The HISI board donated $11,000 to charities in 2012.

Hike It and Spike It takes place at Cielo Grande Recreation Area, 1500 W. College Boulevard in Roswell. There is no entry fee for spectators, and local organization have food and drink booths set up throughout the site.

Weather is expected to cooperate this year – “The latest forecast is showing upper 90s with a 10 percent chance of rain all Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Typi-cal Hike It and Spike It weather,” Avery said. Fans are encouraged to join the fun and competition.

Safe Boating Week kicks off New Mexico’s recreational boating season

SANTA FE – As New Mexicans pre-pare to enjoy the warm weather, they look to the Land of Enchantment’s expansive outdoors and waterways for relaxation and recreation. New Mexico’s lakes, riv-ers, and streams are enjoyable, but can sometimes pose dangers. National Safe Boating Week, May 18-24, provides an opportunity to highlight the importance of safety precautions and sensible behavior when spending time on the water.

The goal of National Safe Boat-ing Week is to educate and inform the boating public about the need to follow safe boating practices and wearing your lifejacket. It doesn’t matter if you’re only going out for a short boat ride, fi shing for an afternoon, or paddling with friends - safety should always be foremost on your mind. National Safe Boating Week in New Mexico parallels efforts throughout the United States, focusing on drawing attention to the number of people who die each year in boating-related accidents.

“Tragically, many boating accidents

are the result of operator error, an error that is too often caused by fatigue, reck-lessness, inclement weather, or intoxica-tion from alcohol or drugs that cause seri-ous injuries, and claim lives of innocent people,” said Toby Velasquez, chief of law Enforcement and boating safety for the New Mexico State Parks Division. “The simple act of wearing a lifejacket could mean the difference between life and death during a boating accident. If we can prevent one fatality by reminding the public to wear a lifejacket, we have accomplished our goal.”

This year during National Safe Boat-ing Week, and throughout the boating sea-son, practice these simple steps that can save your life as well as the lives of the people boating with or around you: get a vessel safety check; fi le a fl oat plan; des-ignate a sober operator; wear a lifejacket; be aware of weather; take a free boating safety course.

For more information, call 888- NMPARKS or visit www.nmparks.com.

Photo courtesy of Robert Bailey Isaac Oliver of the Tucson Turf heads for the end zone with an interception during the 2012 tournament.


Cooperative eff ort creates craft and farmers market in historic LincolnBy Rosalyn Stevenson

The Craft and Farmers Market held at the famous Dolan House every Saturday, May 25 through October should make for a pleasant experience for visitors.

Organized by artisans and crafters who all live in historic “Billy the Kid territory” Lincoln, New Mexico, the market will offer an array of handmade arts and crafts, vegetables and herbs from local private gardens, plants, seeds, music and more. The fi rst event May 25 will feature fun local Karaoke.

The market will add local color and ambience to the atmosphere in Lincoln this summer as thousands visit the Lincoln Monuments, the number one most visited monuments in New Mexico. Historic Lincoln is also home to other art and craft galleries that will be open during the summer. Plenty of dining is available at the Dolan House and at the Wortley Hotel.

Participants in the craft and farm-ers market include: Elaine Allen,

one of the prime organizers of the market; Susan Weir Ancker; Linda Fox; Melissa Boutte; Linda Caperton; Sue Maness and others.

Elaine Allen: “I play with clay. I make bowls and ceramic containers with a whimsical feel.”

Susan Weir Ancker: “I am of-fering handmade and eclectically glazed

ceramic cups and bowls and root-ings of house plants in hand thrown ceramic pots from my stu-dio. I will also be in the Art Loop, July 5 – 7 show-ing new sculptural work fresh from the kiln.”

Linda Fox: “My work is in paper, 2 dimen-sional, using lots of color in representative and abstract designs in

matted works, framed pieces and cards. I like to incorporate ink and watercolor sometimes. My colors are vibrant and I use many kinds and weights of paper, including Washi, Pantone, painted pa-per, watercolor and others. These are all one-of-a-kind original pieces.”

Melissa Boutte: “handmade wine totes and other gifty type things. Later in the summer we will have lots of veg-gies and herbs.”

Linda Caperton: “At the farmers market I will be showing some of my new nuno scarves, a combination of my dyed silk and merino felted wool. I will also show my different types of silk and silk painted cards.”

Sue Maness: “I make hand dyed wool. I prefer food coloring or Kool-Aid to dye with because it is totally

non-toxic and can be done in the food kitchen and won’t hurt my dogs. I have been felting wool onto round goats milk soap balls and onto rocks for paper weights. I can have all the colors of wool roving, I want and rainbow effects as well.”

May 25 into October

11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Vendors of

hand-crafted items invited to

participate.For more info: Elaine Allen,

575-653-4251

Photos courtesy of Rosalyn StevensonAbove, Melissa Boutte’s hand-made wine totes; at left, Susan Weir Ancker working in her studio and below, a sampling of Weir’s ceramics.


Our occupational health is an important contributing factor to a healthy lifestyle. It becomes more apparent when we think about the average person spending 40 hours a week in the workplace, leaving only 2/3 of our day to enjoy life. Another consideration is the suggestion that we should sleep for eight hours a night, which would then snatch up another 1/3 of our day; consequently minimizing the hours in which we can truly enjoy life to only 1/3 of our day, if we don’t work wisely.

Lucky for us, the above equa-tion usually affects only fi ve of our seven days a week on average. But if we included wellness into our workplace every day it is possible to enhance our quality and enjoyment of life; therefore leaving plenty of room for happiness.

What goes on at work can affect our personal wellbeing in various ways, including the affects our work place may have on our stress levels, and our emotional and interpersonal feelings as we may question if we did a good job, if we feel creative, if our contributions even matter, etc..

Another thought is how often does the environment we expose ourselves to at work, affect how we feel when we get home where we interact with our loved ones? The good thing is we don’t necessarily have to quit our job to fi nd happi-ness in the workplace, all we have to do is invite happiness to come to work with us. We may even fi nd that the invitation to happiness may fl ow to our co-workers, therefore chang-ing the whole dynamic into one that encourage, inspires and makes everyone feel good.

So take the initiative to make work a better place and watch the happiness vibration fl ow. Here are a few ideas to help make work places better:• Say hi to everyone at your place

of work, make everyone feel special and included

• Be a cheerleader. Recognize and encourage individuals on specifi c efforts in front of other

team members, making them feel appreciated and perhaps inspiring other co-workers to thank and identify other con-tributors.

• It’s all about teamwork; we need to make sure our contribu-tions are solid.

• Email or leave notes of encour-agement where all coworkers can be inspired and feel good

• Walk away from negative conversations or gossip ses-sions about other employees, including the boss. We could even change the subject. It’s one thing to gossip and it’s another thing to vent. If things need to be changed, make sure it is handled in a positive man-ner, leaving no room for hurt feelings.

• Coordinate a healthy potluck for all employees. A smaller scale event might be a healthy coffee break, which might include fresh fruits and healthier made pastries and discuss opportuni-ties to be healthier at work.

• Encourage a recycling program at work to include environmen-tal health into the daily routine

• Find out everyone’s strengths and weaknesses and passions to help rotate duties accordingly Remember that happiness is a

mindset and can often be achieved by attitude and this can fl ow at the workplace and at home.

Workplace wellness

Angie [email protected]

By Sue HutchisonTucked away at 9,000 feet is The

Lodge at Cloudcroft, which, since 1899 has been delivering visitors a unique lodging experience. Clark Gable and Judy Garland used to frequent The Lodge and today, hospitable luxury is still their hallmark.

A family atmosphere, with stellar service offers guests warmth coupled with excellence. A few of The Lodge’s em-ployees have been in service more than 20 years, and several have been a part of the workforce family for more than 10. With staff loyalty the norm, guests expect friendliness and familiarity from visit to visit. Some have made The Lodge their home away from home.

The structure today is not original. In 1909 a fi re destroyed The Lodge. A two-year project moved and rebuilt The Lodge in its current location. Today’s structure stands proudly on a hilltop overlooking White Sands National Monument in near-by Alamogordo. It still retains the charm of the early 1900s, with rooms excelling in providing modern amenities.

The Lodge offers a variety of lodging choices, to match many budgets. From the Governor’s Suite to a standard guest room, each is outfi tted with luxury. Stand alone lodging, and rooms at the original site in The Pavilion Bed and Breakfast are available year round. Amenities include a fi tness center, swimming, sauna and hot tub, lawn games in the summer and pristine hiking trails tucked away on the grounds, reserved for Lodge guests.

The Lodge’s world class restaurant, Re-becca’s, offers outstand-ing dining. A legend is repeated of a beautiful red-haired chambermaid whose lover found her in the arms of another. Re-becca soon disappeared and there are those who insist her spirit still inhabits the halls of The Lodge. Regardless of her presence, Rebecca’s res-taurant offers a delicious

and relaxing dining experience. Charles W. Johnson quietly and with perfection plays the dining room grand piano to ac-company evening and brunch meals. He takes requests and provides a memorable experience. The menu is expansive, pre-pared by internationally trained chefs and dessert is afl ame. Peach or cherry fl ambé is prepared at guest’s tables and is excep-tional. Sunday Brunches are attended by not only locals and guests, but lowlanders from outlying communities of Otero and Lincoln Counties.

Lisa Thomassie, General Manager, along with Chrystal Watters, who is the Administrative Assistant/Market-ing Manager frequently visit among the guests, making certain each one receives the superior service for which The Lodge is famous.

An unmatched alpine golf course, one of the highest in the nation, awaits Cloudcroft guests. With pristine air and thinner oxygen, golfers notice their games improving and golf balls soaring farther than at lower altitudes. A nine hole, designed with Scottish traditions of playing two tees with separate fl ags at the hole, make an 18-hole course to challenge all golfi ng levels. Open from April to November each year, it’s advised to call ahead for tee times.

The resort includes a spa, several meeting spaces, a ballroom for special events and is sought after as a venue for special occasions. For information regard-ing fees, availability, and reservations, phone 575-682-2566 or 800-395-6343.

Luxury at the Lodge


EvEntS CaLEndar Member Hobbs Chamber of Commerce • Member Lovington Chamber of Commerce • Member Artesia Chamber of CommerceMember Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce • Member Carrizozo Chamber of Commerce

Member Roswell Chamber of Commerce • Member Alamogordo Chamber of CommerceMember Cloudcroft Chamber of Commerce • Member Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce

CHavES COuntY EddY COuntY LinCOLn COuntY LinCOLn COuntY OtErO COuntY

HOBBS:Jun16 Bill Cosby, Father’s Day

performance, Lea County Event Center, 5101 N. Lovington Hwy., 7 p.m. Selectaseatlubbock.com; 1-800-735-1288

20 Hobbs Chamber Annual Ban-quet and Hobbs Jaycees Com-munity Awards, Zia Park - Annex, 5:30 p.m. 575-397-3202; [email protected]. $50 per person; $450 per 10-seat table

ARTESIA:MayThur’s Summer Classic Movie Series,

presented by the Artesia Arts Coun-cil. On the plaza, 8:15 p.m. Bring a chair and a drink. Free. 646-4122; artesiaartscouncil.com

Jun 7-9 Gus Macker 3 on 3 Basketball

Tournament, event Location TBD. Register at www.macker.com. For more information: Vickie Grousnick, 575-746-2744 or 575-513-4290; [email protected]. $132/team

28-29 2nd Annual Smokin’ On the Pecos State BBQ Champion-ship, Eddy County Fairgrounds, 1302 13th Street. Live music both days. NM Cowboy Mounted Shooters Sanctioned Shoot and a 2-day Craft Show. 575-513-4291 or 575-513-4290. Free admission/parking to the public

CARLSBAD:Fri’s Friday Focus, Best Western

Stevens Inn, 1829 S. Canal St. 7:30 a.m. Carlsbad Chamber networking breakfast - come share information about your business and organiza-tion. [email protected]

Pre-School StoryTime, Living Desert Zoo and Gardens State Park, Time: 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. A short walk in the Park, weather permitting and activity will follow the story. 575-887-5516. No fee for this program: however, children must be accompanied by an adult.

Jun 1 2013 Carlsbad Chamber Golf

Tournament, 8 am. shotgun start. Four-person scramble, longest drive; closest to pin; lunch. $35 entry fee plus cart and green fees. Corporate sponsors, $1,000 and $500. Hole sponsors, $100. Call Robert Defer 575-887-6516 or 575-706-3678 for more information.

ROSWELL:May24 Aaron Lacombe Duo playing live

on the Peppers patio, 500 N. Main, 6 p.m. 623-1700

25 Free Summer Movie “Wreck It Ralph,” Cahoon Park, 1101 W. 4th St., at dusk. mainstreetroswell.org

30 World Hepatitis Day, Cahoon Park, 1101 W. 4th St., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Refreshments available. Test-ing, vaccines available for Hepatitis A/B and the � u.

Jun 1 Free Summer Movie “Franken-

weenie,” Cahoon Park, 1101 W. 4th St., at dusk. mainstreetroswell.org

7-8 2nd Annual MainStreet Roswell Fiddle & Griddle Festival, 400 N. Main St., 8 a.m. The Country’s best � ddle players will entertain attendees while competing for $20,000 in available prize money. The festival features local talent as well as musicians from far and wide. Also featured is our 2nd Annual BBQ Contest with $8,000 available in prize money. [email protected]

DEXTER:Jun 1 29th Annual Milkman Triath-

lon, solo competitors or teams register online at www.active.com. Entry fees for soloists range from $50 to $62 depending on age and membership status. Team fees vary. 734-5415

ALAMOGORDO:May24 Healthcare and Your Business,

Lunch and Learn, Pepper’s Grill - 3200 N. White Sands Blvd., 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Presented by John Battle, general manager Accounting & Consulting Group. Learn how heathcare reform can impact business owners and indi-viduals. Sponsored by Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce and Small Business Development Center. RSVP to 437-6120

Movies Under the Stars, “Shrek,” Griggs Field, North Florida Ave and Fairgrounds Rd., 7 - 10 p.m. FunFlicks presents this outdoor movie associated with White Sands Pup� sh baseball. Catch the game at 7 p.m. and stay for the movie which begins at sun-set. Concessions available. Bring a blanket and snack. 575 479-7002

25 Lake Lucero Tour, White Sands National Monument. Take a three-hour tour with a ranger and learn about the formation of the sands and the special plants and animals that live in and around the dunes. Reservations required. 575-679-2599. $3 per adult and $1.50 for kids and America the Beautiful Senior and Access pass holders

CLOUDCROFT:May24-26 Memorial Day Weekend. Get

away from the heat and come enjoy the nice, “cool” weather. The Cloudcroft Light Opera Company will be having a Melodrama, “The Great Ice Cream Scheme,” each night at 7:30 p.m. at the Open Air Pavillion in Zenith Park. Fun for the whole family. Free

25-26 Mayfair juried art show. An art show where spectacular artists from all over have their handmade products available for sale. Food vendors and live music all day

Jun8 Cloudcroft Chamber of Com-

merce Inaugural Golf Tourna-ment, The Lodge Golf Course. Registration 7:30 a.m.; Shotgun start 8:30 a.m. 4-Person Scramble is $55 per person and Mulligans 2 for $5. Come play at 9,000 feet in Cloudcroft – the “cool” place to be

29 Carapalooza Car Show, Zenith Park/James Canyon Highway, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Also be a “Pie in the Sky” pie auction, great food, 50s, 60s, and 70s music, Shopping on the Boardwalk and lots of family fun. Trophies and/or cash prizes will be awarded. 575-682-2733

LEA COUNTY

ALTO:May24 Flying J Ranch Opens, Highway

48 N, 6:50 - 9 p.m. Chuck wagon dinner and stage show featuring the Flying J Wranglers. Great food and excellent family entertain-ment. Pony rides for kids, an “old west town” with gift shops, a pistol range and gold panning. 1-888-458-3595 or 575-336-4330; www.� yingjranch.com. Adults $24 (13 years and older); Children $14. Children 3 and under do not require a ticket or reservation.

25 Sinatra Celebration, Spencer Theater, 108 Spencer Rd., 2 and 8 p.m. Dave Alexander, a four-time Grammy nominee, is joined by his 15-piece band in performance of Frank Sinatra’s greatest tunes. Sinatra had more than 17 chart-topping hits including “Fly Me To The Moon,” “My Way,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “New York New York,” “That’s Life,” “You Make Me Feel So Young,” “Come Fly With Me” and more. Beef short rib bu� et at 6 p.m., $20. 2 p.m. tickets are $45 and $42. 8 p.m. tickets are $46 and $49. 575-336-4800; www.spencertheater.com

CAPITAN:May27 Julie Carter Cancer Fund

Bene� t Ranch Rodeo, Capitan, 1 p.m. Dance and pie auction follow-ing rodeo. 575-799-0120

RUIDOSO:May24-25 Ruidoso Valley Noon Lions Gun

& Collectible Show, Ruidoso Convention Center, 9 a.m. Explore booths � lled with all sorts of treas-ure. 575-257-2476 or 575-802-0275. $5 adults; kids get in free when accompanied by an adult

24 Roadmap concert, 2710 Sudderth Dr., 7 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy the best songs from Classic Rock, Motown, Blues, Funk, Jazz and Country. Free soft drinks and snacks. 575-257-7982. $15; $12 military and student. Kids 12 and under free

25-27 Mercado Del Artisan Outdoor Fair, River Rendezvous, 524 Sud-derth Dr., 10 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Enjoy live music and � ne art including, gourd art, pottery, mosaics, jewelry, metal art, photography and more. 575-258-3409. Free

25 Free Movie “The Harmonists,” Sacred Grounds, 2825 Sudderth, 6:30 - 9 p.m. A tuneful but serious docudrama about a group mostly unknown now but wildly popular

in pre-war Germany. Set against the backdrop of 1930s Nazi Germany, this biographical drama is about the music that de� ned the individuals of the close-harmony vocal ensemble known as the Comedian Harmonists. The weight of politics and prejudice a� ected them when their Jewish members are forbidden from performing in public. 575-257-2273; www.sacredgroundsco� eeshop.com

RUIDOSO DOWNS:May24-27 Ruidoso Downs Racetrack

Opening Weekend, 12 - 5 p.m. Ruidoso Downs Race Track hosts exciting annual live racing from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. Spectacular summer races take place Friday through Monday with a 1 p.m. post time, with the exception of some holidays, special meets and horse sales – on opening weekend, post time is 12 p.m. 575-378-4431; www.raceruidoso.com. Free

Thru “Time Exposures: Picturing a 7/5 History of Isleta Pueblo in

the 19th Century,” Hubbard Museum, 26301 Hwy 70. This exhibit focuses on one of the oldest Native American communities with photos, interactive video, stories of the Pueblo of Isleta during the 19th century, artwork and pottery. 575-378-4142; www.hubbardmu-seum.org. Admission: Adults, $6; seniors and military, $5; ages 6 to 16, $2; under 6, free

Thru “Celebracion del Arte” Juried9/9 Art Show, Hubbard Museum,

26301 Hwy 70, 10 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Original art from some of New Mexico’s best artist. The Celebracion del Arte is a juried � ne arts competition that seeks to rec-ognize and honor excellence in the visual arts of the American West. Thirty-two artists were selected as � nalists for the show. 575-378-4142; www.hubbardmuseum.org

WHITE OAKS:May24 Rascal Fair, White Oaks Com-

munity Market open for 2013 season, every Friday 4 p.m. to dusk. Located just east of No Scum Allowed Saloon in White Oaks. Lo-cal, organic fruit and produce, fresh eggs, plants and seeds, hot weekly favorites at the Goldrush Grill, baked goods, pottery, woodwork, handmade soaps, baskets, jewelry and metalsmithing from local artisans. Pan for gold and sip free co� ee by the camp� re

MayWed’s Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club,

Club 49, Inn of the Mountain Gods. 7 p.m. Professional comedians will perform live every Wednesday night. $5 admission. Must be 21 or older to attend. 575-464-7028

26 Sundays Under The Stars, Inn of the Mountain Gods, 6 - 11 p.m. Live music by Viente Saucedo at 6 and “The Lorax” after sunset. 1-800-545-9011. Free

Jun 8 Dokken and Quiet Riot, Inn of

the Mountain Gods, Carrizo Canyon Rd., 8 p.m. Rock out 80s style with metal bands Dokken and Quiet Riot. Dokken’s most recent album, “Broken Bones” came in 2012. Known as one of the best metal bands of the 70s and 80s, Quiet Riot’s album, “Metal Health” was the � rst American heavy metal debut album ever to reach No. 1 in the U.S. Tickets start at $25. www.InnOfTheMountainGods.com

MESCALERO

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Zine May 21, 2013