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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The Cure for Your Sweet Tooth

The Candy Lady in Albuquerque has been serving up sweet treats for the past 30 years.   These homemade candies are made in the kitchen behind the store and each treat has a unique taste.  From her hot fudge to her truffles, make sure to take a day this summer and stop by to see The Candy Lady. Your sweet tooth will not forget it, and you will be sure to want to come back many more times.

Deborah Ball, aka The Candy Lady, was destined for the sweet life. She remembers being 10 years old and helping her mother make and sell rock candy for $1.25/lb. to earn money. And, as they say, rest is history, and Deborah has been making candy by hand, much of it with a uniquely Southwestern flair, for the past 30 years.

Using the best ingredients she can find, including Merkens Chocolate, Deborah and her small staff crank out a huge variety of hard candies, including handmade licorice, brittles, 21 kinds of fudge, turtles, truffles, and a delightful treat she calls peanut butter crunch.
“Our candies aren’t made in a factory,” says Deborah. “They’re all made right here in our little kitchen. And each candy tastes different from the next.”

Today she’s using heavy scissors to snip pieces off a shiny mass of black licorice. The candy, smooth and hard, has filled the room with a delicious aroma and it tastes complex, almost herbal; nothing like commercial black licorice.'

She makes her truffles with Merkens dark chocolate and real liquors like rum and Grand Marnier not flavorings. Instead of cream, she uses evaporated milk in the truffles which gives them a smooth texture and longer shelf life, but a slightly different flavor than traditional cream-based truffles.

One of her best sellers is her fudge, including a pinon (pine nut) penuche that’s creamy with a brown sugar flavor that’s nicely balanced and moderated by the pinons. She sells both red and green chili fudge too.

Another candy with a distinctly New Mexican flair are the Dia de los Muertos (day of the Dead) sugar skulls and her pinon brittle.

A small room off to one side of the main store features a sign that says “No one under 18 allowed.” That’s where Deborah displays her distinctly X-rated candy in molded chocolate, white, and pink varieties. This racy side of the business started with a customer’s request for a man’s private part in chocolate. Deborah, who wasn’t offended by the order, searched out a mold and made her first X-rated candy. Other somewhat bawdy fun sweets followed.

At the time, the business was only two years old and “hanging on by a thread” according to Deborah, when a church group heard about the hotsy chocolate items and decided to picket her store. The resulting media coverage put her on the map in Albuquerque and brought in scores of new customers. “Those protestors took my business from a two-year old company to one that has the potential to be a 100-year-old company,” she says, smiling broadly. “It wasn’t their intention, but they did really good things for the business.”

Another big seller and this reviewer’s personal favorite is her peanut butter crunch, large irregular lumps of peanut butter and crunchy candy. “This one is based on the old chicken sticks candy,” she says. “But it started out as a mistake. We were making a hard candy and by mistake put in some peanut butter and we loved it.”

It’s that kind of serendipity and creativity that keeps Albuquerque customers coming back to The Candy Lady. All of The Candy Ladies products are available online.

For more information check out realfoodtraveler.

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Summer Concerts Announced

This summer in Albuquerque will be full of warm weather, good food, and great music.   Every Thursday night from 7-9 at the County Line Restaurant will be the summer's concert series.  It is five dollars for adult admission, which goes to the Food Bank of New Mexico and children's admission is free!  Various acts will grace the stage as you enjoy the music and eat some of the restaurants famous barbeque.

Summer 2011 concert series includes Steve Holy and more, bringing you feel-good summer music PLUS you feel good about helping with hunger relief. Admission is $5 for adults to benefit Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, and free for kids aged 12 and under.
Giant Convenience Stores Concerts at the County Line run every Thursday night at 7-9 pm from May 19 to August 11, 2011 – just head over to The County Line restaurant to enjoy live country music (and of course some of their famous barbecue!)
Last year the concerts with free with a donation of a food item for the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico. In 2011 they’re asking $5 as a food bank donation instead.  That’s still pretty good value, and helps others in the community who can’t even afford food — let alone live entertainment.
The County Line music concerts schedule of notable country music performers kicks off with:

• Phil Prichett on May 19
• Bleu Edmondson on May 26
• Steve Holy on June 2

Other summer performers include Steel Magnolia and Emory Quinn.
The County Line Legendary Bar-B-Q restaurant is located in the far northeast heights. Check the
County Line restaurant map – it’s near the intersection of Tramway Blvd and Tramway Rd, at 9600 Tramway Blvd NE, Albuquerque.

For more information go to http://abqonthecheap.com.

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Discounted Entertainment for Kids this Summer

Keep summer boredom low, with Albuquerque's RIDE Summer Fun Pass.  Discounted coupons for miniature golf, food and much more.  This pass is for kids 10-18.  Come get yours now and start planning your kids fun and safe summer!

Youth ages 10 through 18 can enjoy affordable summer ride to Albuquerque’s fun spots.

ABQ RIDE is now selling passes for one of its favorite summer programs, the Summer Fun Pass. It's designed to provide youth 10 to 18 years of age with affordable, unlimited bus service to a variety of venues and summer entertainment throughout the City of Albuquerque.
"We want to show that Albuquerque's bus system provides more than a quality basic service," said Mayor Richard J. Berry. "Through the Summer Fun Pass, we can offer our youth easy and affordable access to a variety of summer destinations and events."

Fun Pass Details

And although the Summer Fun Pass is on sale right now, it is valid  June 1 through Aug. 31 and is only valid for ages 10 to 18.
The $13 price also includes coupons and discounts for food, miniature golf, swimming pools, museums and other entertainment to keep summertime boredom at bay. It is available at all ABQ RIDE bus pass outlets (however, not at any of ABQ RIDE's Ticket Vending Machines).

Kickoff Event

Youth and their parents can also buy the Pass when they attend the Summer Fun Pass Kickoff Event on Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Alvarado Transportation Center. From 4 to 6pm, the Transportation Center will transform into a Beach Party with live rock from the original "School of Rock," the Jefferson Middle School Rock and Rhythm Band, free snacks and giveaways, free raffles of an iPad2, Kindle Fire and iPod Touch and live broadcasts by KISS 97.3 and OMG! 106.7.
"We want everyone to know they can access just about any of the city's summer hot spots on one of our ABQ RIDE buses", said Transit Director Bruce Rizzieri. "The Summer Fun Pass is an affordable way to keep a family entertained this summer."

For more information see the City of Albuquerque website.

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Spring Cleaning Shortcuts

It's spring cleaning season again, and to help with the chore, RealSimple.com has some shortcuts to make the task easier.

Is there really a way around spending hours and hours on a massive seasonal spruce-up? Sure. Here are quick but thorough strategies and tested cleaning tips for carpets, windows, mattresses, and more that fit your schedule, meet your standards, and give you that let-the-sunshine-in sense of renewal. And for those who clean for the fun of it—instructions for how to go deeper on each.

 They've got carpeting and rugs, windows, curtains, mattresses, and upholstery covered extensively. Even breaking it down by fabric type. Totally worth looking through the whole thing here.

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