Happy Fourth of July!

Everyone wants to watch the fireworks this Fourth of July!  Here is your Albuquerque information on where to watch the fireworks and all the other exciting events that are happening that day.

Join us July Fourth to celebrate our nation's  independence. Enjoy live music, family entertainment, food vendors, and much more!

The main stage will feature local musicians throughout the day, with country superstars Diamond Rio to close out the show. At 9:15pm get ready for one of the state's largest fireworks displays.

There will also be a Youth stage, sponsored by our friends at Warehouse 508.

Other activities to include a car show, balloon glow, kids' activities, and free face painting.

The Fire Cracker Café features a covered area with private tables and a premier vantage point. Treat your family, friends or employees to the "red carpet" experience. BBQ and other delicious edibles will be part of the package. Prices are $30.00 per person, or $200.00 for a table of eight. Kids 12 and under are half-price. The package includes VIP access route and parking, table with seating, shade, a BBQ Dinner, soft drink coupon and cash bar. Call 821-1000 for tickets.

Park & Ride will be available from St. Pius High School and Coronado Mall. For more information visit ABQ Ride. Onsite parking is $10.

For more information see ItsATrip website.

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River Development Project Takes First Steps

The Bosque and Rio Grande river are being put up to vote on whether or not to develop these areas.  Mayor RJ Berr wants to develop these rivers into recreation areas for kayaking, swimming, and other outdoor activities.  The Mayor explains that there is not a ton of activities to do in Albuquerque, and he wants to give residents more place for outdoor recreation.

The first step in Albuquerque Mayor RJ Berry's plan to transform parts of the Bosque and Rio Grande is up for a vote at Monday's city council meeting, but not everyone is diving in.

The Rio Grande is one of the state's greatest treasures, but in the city it's rarely used for recreation and Mayor Berry wants to change that.

The Mayor wants to open the river up for kayaking, canoeing and even swimming. He believes if the city puts in the infrastructure, businesses and private developers will set up shop near the water, creating jobs and luring in tourists.

"There's not a whole lot of things to do in Albuquerque," said Jonathan Rodriguez. "I think this new plan they're doing now by the river is going to be comforting for people to come in and just have a blast together."

"We have one of the largest urban parks in America running right through the city of Albuquerque. We have a wonderful asset with the Rio Grande, and we have people that haven't been near the river in years because access is difficult," said Mayor Berry while explaining how he wants to build board walks and trails closer to the water.

But others aren't so sure, expressing concern about the river.  "It's very important. We go down there sometimes, and we love to fish. If there's a lot of people down there, there will be no more fish for the birds of prey," said Mikayla Salgado who thinks planners need to be very careful about protecting the river's ecosystem.

Monday the city council will vote on whether to approve a $150 contract for a planner to come in and create a game plan for the 10 mile stretch of the Bosque that's up for development from I-40 north to Alameda. Planners will collect public input, survey the area to generate cots and assess the wildlife.

The Mayor expects the contract to pass.


Read more through KRQE.

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Different Worlds Come Together

Walking a day in someone's shoes in a different culture would be an amazing opportunity for anyone.  Here is New Mexico, this opportunity is created with the Green Village Schools' Advanced Education Center.  

It is a project that is helping bring together students from two very different worlds; one in war ravaged Afghanistan and the other right here in New Mexico. And because of the project, hundreds of Afghans are getting the education they never dreamed possible.

 

Blake Batten is part of an Albuquerque 
organization that helps fund and support Green Village Schools' Advanced Education Center, an Afghan initiative.   

But his organization is just one of three. He said most people who learn about the program are surprised or apprehensive of the partnership.

 

"Sometimes you get questions like, why are you trying to work there? That's just a completely hopeless situation." Batten said he could not disagree more with that thinking, and said his latest trip to Helmand Province in Afghanistan is only proof of progress.

 

The main reason for Batten's trip was to attend graduation ceremonies for the school.  More than 200 boys and girls, men and women,  became certified in English and computer literacy and will now go on to further their education and enter the workforce. 

 

For Batten, the ceremonies were personal.  He not only does office work to help keep the school running, he has also developed strong relationships with the students, which until this trip, were based strictly on letters and Skype.

During his visit, Batten also spent time with elders from a nearby village.

He said they had one message. "They told me, take this message back to the American people, that we're tired of war and what we want is education for our children."

Education is key in Helmand and New Mexico. One of the organizations involved leads a pen pal program out of Los Alamos High School.  The letters initially act as an English lesson, but Batten said the take away on both sides is far more valuable.

This is the first time youth over there have really had the opportunity to directly connect with youth here in the U.S....ultimately, what we want here, is just for youth to try and understand one another and go beyond the typical images they might see in the media.

For more information go to KOB4.

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New Baby on the way for the Albuquerque Zoo

The newest addition to the Albuquerque zoo is only about a year and a half away.  The first glimpse of the new baby elephant from the Albuquerque Zoo was seen thanks to a very clear ultrasound.  The baby is expected to be born in November 2013. 

Today’s ultrasound of Rozie the elephant revealed a striking image of her calf, due in November 2013 at the ABQ BioPark Zoo. The image shows a healthy calf about the size of a fist.  Over the next 18 months, the calf will gain 200-250 pounds. 

Reproductive experts, Dr. Thomas Hildebrandt and Dr. Frank Goeritz, from the Berlin Institute for Zoo Biology and Wildlife Research, worked with Zoo animal care staff to assess the progress of Rozie’s pregnancy. The consultants also performed reproductive assessments on the other two female elephants, Alice and Irene, and two rhinoceroses, Lulu and Bernie.

“It’s been a whirlwind of activity as we hustle to get as much done as possible while we have this expertise,” said Rhonda Saiers, Elephant Barn Manager. “We have a long standing relationship with this team—they did the artificial insemination that resulted in Rozie’s first baby, Daizy. They have seen it all, and our animals and staff really benefit from their experience and knowledge.”

Zookeepers and veterinarians work year-round to do proactive training for health care procedures like the ultrasounds performed this week. The elephants and rhinos are rewarded for volunteer participation with goodies like Fruit Loops, hay and peanut butter.

The information gained during this week’s assessments will be used to manage Rozie’s pregnancy and to keep an eye on the reproductive systems of the other female elephants as they age. Keepers will also be working on future breeding possibilities for the rhino pair.

For more information on the ABQ Bio Park Zoo or Rozie's Baby check out the City of ABQ website.

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