Beating the Heat

This heat wave has taken over the country. Temperatures are well into the upper 90s and past 100 degrees, and everyone is looking for a way to stay cool.  Here are some great tips on how to beat the heat, but still have a great summer.

The National Weather Service said the record-breaking heat that has baked the nation's midsection for several days was slowly moving into the mid-Atlantic states and Northeast. Excessive-heat warnings remained in place Friday for all of Iowa, Indiana and Illinois as well as much of Wisconsin, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio and Kentucky.


St. Louis hit a record high of 105 on Wednesday and a record low of 83. In Wisconsin, the coolest Milwaukee and Madison got was 81 in the early morning, beating previous low records by 2 and 4 degrees respectively. Temperatures didn't fall below 79 in Chicago, 78 in Grand Rapids, Mich., and 75 in Indianapolis.

"When a day starts out that warm, it doesn't take as much time to reach high temperatures in the low 100s," said Marcia Cronce, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. "You know it'll be a warm day when you start out at 80 degrees."

For people in other parts of the country who aren't used to hearing the weather man say, "It'll be cooling down to 105 tomorrow," here are a few unique tips from the Valley of the Sun:

1. Keep your ride cool. Those cumbersome windshield reflectors are your new best friend. And if you have young children, buy an extra one to strap over a car seat to keep metal clasps from heating up in the sun as your car sits in the parking lot. You might even throw an ice pack or frozen water bottle in the seat to keep it cool for little ones while you shop.

2. Get creative about sleeping arrangements. Set up beds on a porch or back yard. Or just sleep in the shade, during the heat of the day.

3. Avoid the sun. Sure, sunscreen helps. But you can avoid it altogether by waking up and doing yard work before sunrise or going for your daily run at midnight.

4. Think before you touch. Any surface that sits in the sun could be hot enough to burn. There's no shame in using pot holders to open doors. Also, carry a towel to put on hot seats, and keep curtains pulled tight to block out the rays.

5. Water is your friend. Drink it. Swim in it. Spray it on your face. In Phoenix, shopping centers and cafes greet visitors by showering them with a fine, cool mist. You can get the same effect by filling a spray bottle with water.
And if all this talk about smoldering temperatures is getting you down, look on the bright side. You can always bake cookies on the dashboard of your car. We really do that.

For more information check out the Christian Science Monitor.

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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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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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