Aug 16 | 6 – 9 p.m.

Los Alamos Concert Series:

Cuarenta Y Cinco

Tonight at the Los Alamos Concert Series, we are excited to welcome Cuarenta Y Cinco. The traditional sound of New Mexico is what people think of when they hear Cuarenta y Cinco play its upbeat music. Known for its high-energy dance music, Cuarenta y Cinco has long ruled northern New Mexico and has been a favorite of many people throughout the southwest.

The next County Council Regular Session is Tuesday, August 20 at 6 p.m.

Council meetings are held at the Municipal Building in Council Chambers (1000 Central Ave., Los Alamos). Meetings are at 6 p.m., and a Zoom option is offered for remote participation (Zoom Link).

View the published agenda packet. Some items of interest include:

• Possible Approval of Financial Support to the City of Espanola Regional Capital Projects
• Presentation on Unite Us Closed-Loop Referral Program that Coordinates Social Services Care
• Overview of Council Strategic Goal-Quality Governance

For more information on the County Council, visit the County Council web page. For more information, please contact the County Manager's office at 505.663.1750.

Be sure to check the Los Alamos County calendar for all public meeting information, or visit the County's Legistar page.

What do black bears do in August?

How Bears Beat the Heat

Bears don’t have sweat glands, so they can’t cool off the way people do when it gets hot. They do lose much of the dense underfur that helps keep them warm when temperatures drop. Shedding lets air circulate while still “shading’ their skin from the sun. Bears will also pant like dogs and dissipate heat through their paws and other areas with little hair. They avoid the hottest parts of the day and often relax in daybeds under a nice shady tree, or sometimes seek shelter from the sun on a shady patio, under decks and porches, or in crawl spaces. They’ve also been known to plop down in the kiddie pool or koi pond, run through the sprinklers and do laps in the pool.

Cubs Are Weaned

Most cubs are weaned during August, giving mom a chance to focus on fattening up herself along with her cubs. Cubs may continue to nurse if they’re permitted to, but it’s time for them to start feeding themselves. Cubs still stick together and follow mom around learning the finer points of foraging. These lessons will be very important next year when they go out on their own. Cubs born this year typically weigh between 25 and 40 pounds in August. While most cubs of the year will stay with their moms until next spring, once they are weaned cubs are often capable of surviving on their own if they have to.

August Means Berry Good Eating

Berries, called soft mast, are a very important food source for bears. Blueberries, raspberries, wild plums, blackberries, pin cherry, chokecherry, crab apples, serviceberries, viburnum, paw paws and other seasonal berries ripen in July and August. Berries are small and grow in dispersed patches; a pound of most wild berries has fewer than 300 calories, leading bears to seek and eat as many as possible. Once a bear finds a good patch it will spend many hours patiently stripping off the berries with its tongue and lips.

Social Signals Influence Bears

In August and September many bears travel extensively throughout and even beyond their home ranges searching for those elusive bumper crops of berries and nuts. How do they know where to go? Some head to reliable sources they’ve used in the past. Some bears rely on other bears to lead the way. A bear’s nose is so sensitive it can decode a lot of information just by sniffing claw marks, tracks and scat. Those scents left behind can help them decide if they want to follow along.

Bad Food Years Impact Travel

You might think that a bear would naturally go exploring if it was slim pickings at home, but bears seem to have an ability to figure out if a food failure is local or widespread. If it’s local, they will leave. If it was a widespread regional failure, like a late frost or an insect infestation or natural disaster that wiped out berry crops, many bears will actually stick closer to home and explore all their options. That’s because traveling long distances and burning lots of calories for no reward isn’t a good investment of bear energy.

To read more about black bear behavior and find additional resources, visit BearWise.org. To learn more about the wildlife of the Pajarito Plateau, visit the County life page at the link below.

White Rock Skate Park closed for new module installation

The Los Alamos County Parks Division has closed the White Rock Skate Park for the disassembly of the old park equipment and installation of the new modules. Disassembly has been completed, and American Ramp Company has begun the installation of the new Pro Series modules beginning August 12. This process is expected to take two weeks. The park is scheduled to reopen at the end of August or beginning of September.

Los Alamos DWI Planning Council survey launches

The Los Alamos DWI Planning Council, in observation of the need for more activities that do not involve alcohol for young adults to adults, has launched a survey seeking public input. The results from this quick, three question survey will help the DWI Planning Council gauge what sober activities would be of the most interest to the community. The online survey is directed to adults ages 18 and older. The survey is open now and will run until September 30, 2024.

Did you know... a little trash in your recycling bin can lead to big problems? Our recycling goes to a facility in Albuquerque, where sorting out contaminates costs money, and too much of it could send the whole load to the landfill instead.

Despite these challenges, thanks to diligent recycling efforts, our contamination rate is only 17.11%, well below New Mexico's average. Let's continue to recycle correctly by ensuring only appropriate items are placed in recycling bins and at the designated drop-off locations in the townsite and White Rock. Every effort helps lower contamination rates further, saving money and strengthening our recycling program. Thanks for doing your part! For more information on recycling and access to the recycle coach, visit the link below.

NPS NEWS: Final Phase of Natural Gas Pipeline Decommissioning Begins

Work has begun on the third and final phase of decommissioning the retired natural gas pipeline that crosses the northern sections of Valles Caldera National Preserve. This phase continues with restoring natural ecological processes to a nine-mile-long section disturbed by the pipeline corridor, including reducing erosion, reconnecting wetlands, recontouring to promote natural revegetation, and removing evidence of the access road. During this reclamation work, the project area along with trail access from the park’s east boundary will be closed for the remainder of the year.

Los Alamos County is hiring for a range of fields!

With numerous openings in various areas, we’re sure to have a right position for you.