Published November 11, 2022

Ice Rink opens this Saturday, Nov. 12th.

Many great memories were made from the last ice rink season, let's make some more this season! The Los Alamos County Ice Rink will be open for the start of the 22-23 season this Saturday, November 12th from 2:00 - 10:00 p.m. There will be public skating all day Saturday. Sunday public skate will be from 1:00 - 6:00 p.m. The ice rink schedule, admissions, and rental information can be founding the fall activity guide on page 36 in the Fall Activity guide here: https://loom.ly/XI4jMQs.

UPDATE: Site visit scheduled to discuss Golf Course design concepts

The Community is invited to join Public Works staff and the golf course design team for in an in-person site visit of the golf course on Thursday, November 17 to review Phase 2 design concepts on the ground and discuss other ideas presented by members of the golfing community for improving the Golf Course.

Those interested in attending are instructed to meet at 3:00 p.m. at the Golf Course Clubhouse Community Room located at 4290 Diamond Dr. Golf carts will be available for use to travel to various areas of the course to review the areas contemplated for improvement. After the site visit, the group will reconvene at the Clubhouse for any follow-up discussion and questions.

Phase 2 of the project includes development of several design concept options for improving Holes 1 through 3, reconfiguring the driving range to improve safety, and other improvements such as practice area and cart path upgrades.

Questions/comments call the Public Works Department at 505-662-8150 or send an email to lacpw@lacnm.us.

Swing by Mesa Public Library to score free seeds and have all your questions answered by an NMSU Agricultural Specialist!

New Mexico State University agricultural specialist Del Jimenez will discuss beneficial uses for seeds in person at Mesa Public Library on Thursday, Nov. 17th from 6 to 7 p.m. Topics will include different types of seeds, how they're grown, and what they're used for. His work in the NMSU's Extension Service has been honored at the state and national levels, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Association of County Agricultural Agents.

Attendees will take away an assortment of vegetable seeds for their spring gardens!

This program is part of the Los Alamos Community Seed Library's annual program series and is made possible by a partnership between Mesa Public Library, the Pajarito Environmental Education Center (PEEC), the Los Alamos Seed Stewards, and other dedicated volunteers.

This event is free to the public and will take place in Mesa Public Library’s upper-level conference rooms. You may attend in person or watch the live stream online from home. Please register for either option through the library’s event calendar. Do you have questions or need help? Pease call (505) 662-8257.

Dive In Movie coming to Aquatic Center

Enjoy watching "the Bad Guys," while floating in the main pool at the Aquatic Center on Friday, November 18 from 7:00 - 8:45 p.m. The water is warmer than usual and participants can enjoy the movie while floating in the shallow end or lounging in the training room. The fee includes admission and treats!

Tickets are on sale now, $5 per person in advance or $7 per person the day of. You can purchase tickets in person at the Aquatic Center or online here: https://loom.ly/rUqGRBA

Turkey bowling on Nov. 19!

Join Ice Rink Staff in bowling with frozen turkeys on November 19th from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. Come on out with friends and family as you bowl with turkeys on ice with ice skates on! Prizes will be awarded.

General Admission Applies

Reminder: Hazard Mitigation Survey closes Nov. 18

Los Alamos County Emergency Management (EM) Division is conducting a study to better understand the preparedness needs and risk perceptions of those who live and work in the County as part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. To do so, a questionnaire has been created, and EM encourages the entire community to participate. The Hazard Mitigation Survey is open to the public and closes on November 18, 2022.

The purpose of hazard mitigation planning is to identify policies and actions that can be implemented before a disaster occurs to reduce risk and future losses. Mitigation forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.

“Understanding community perceptions when assessing potential risks will help us prioritize and plan mitigation projects accordingly,” explains Cody Ulrich, Los Alamos County Emergency Management Specialist.

The questionnaire should only take about 10 minutes to complete. All responses will be kept confidential, and the community’s participation is strictly voluntary. The public’s input will enable the County to better serve the community through the Hazard Mitigation Plan update process. If you have any questions, please contact Cody Ulrich at (505) 662-8290.

Don’t fall for phone scams!

If you receive a call from someone saying they need to collect a utility payment from you right away, make sure it’s a legitimate call!

“We’ve been made aware that someone is calling our customers and asking them to pay right away using Zelle or by dropping payment at a bank,” said Deputy Utility Manager Heather Garcia. “The person who alerted us to this scam was smart enough to realize it wasn’t a DPU employee and didn’t pay, but the caller was quite persistent and called her back several times.”

The Los Alamos Department of Public Utilities (DPU) will never require a specific type of payment such as Zelle and doesn’t allow customers to pay directly to a bank account unless they are enrolled in autopay. If you are ever unsure if a call is truly from DPU, simply hang up and call the Customer Care Center at 505.662.8333.

Frost at the Golf Course

Frost is now a common occurrence at the Los Alamos County Golf Course, as is the case each year in the Fall and Winter seasons. It is extremely important that we have everyone stay off the Grass when it is frosted. If you cannot determine if the Grass is frosted or not, please contact the Golf Shop at (505) 662-8139 before entering grassy areas, or simply stay off the Grass until LAGC staff has given the all-clear message.

As an alternative to walking on grassy areas of the golf course, golf cart paths run throughout the entire golf course, and a Trail system exists around the entire golf course. Staying on the trail system and golf cart paths will ensure fairways, tees, greens, and other grassy areas on the golf course to not damaged.

When grass is frosted, the grass blades are literally frozen. Any activity on the grass while it is frosty, such as walking, biking, and golf cars, will break the grass blades. When an object presses on frozen blades, the expanded water molecules slice through the grass and cause significant cellular damage.

Christmas tree permits available online at Recreation.gov

Permits also available at SFNF district offices and Walatowa Visitor Center



Stores are already advertising Christmas decorations. Now you need a tree to put them on! Make it an adventure by cutting your own Christmas tree on the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). Purchase a permit online or in person from Nov. 10 through Dec. 31, 2022.

The official cutting period begins on Nov. 16. Here are your options to obtain a permit:

— Christmas tree permits will be available for purchase at Recreation.gov on Nov. 10.

— In-person sales at district offices and SFNF Headquarters will begin on Nov. 16. The Jemez Ranger District will sell permits over the phone during regular business hours and mail them to customers.

— In-person sales at Walatowa Visitor Center will be available starting on Nov. 18, Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The SFNF’s nonrefundable Christmas tree permits are $10. Permits purchased online through Recreation.gov will include an additional $2.50 service fee. One tag is valid for a tree up to five inches in diameter and 10 feet in height. Trees taller than 10 feet and/or wider than five inches require an additional tag. For example, a 15-foot tree requires two tags.

You will need a Recreation.gov account to purchase a Christmas tree permit online. Need-to-know information about cutting your own tree, maps and tips for planning your adventure will also be posted on the website. You will need to print the online permit and place it on the dashboard of your vehicle before you head into the woods. The digital image on your smartphone is not considered a valid permit.

As part of the “Every Kid Outdoors” initiative, every fourth grader is eligible for a free holiday tree permit with a valid Every Kid Outdoors pass, downloadable at www.everykidoutdoors.gov. The student’s unique passcode is required to receive a free permit. Fourth graders can apply for their free permit through the online system by selecting the option and entering the code on their pass when prompted. The online Every Kid Outdoors permits will include the $2.50 service fee. Every Kid Outdoors permits can also be redeemed at all SFNF offices except the Jemez District Office.

Permit holders should be prepared for unpredictable weather changes and colder conditions at higher elevations. SFNF Christmas tree permits are valid only on land within forest boundaries. Tree cutting is prohibited in developed recreation sites and congressionally designated wilderness areas and within 300 feet of streams, rivers and paved roads. See this Forest Service video for more tips on harvesting your own Christmas tree.

Stay up to date on seasonal closures by checking the SFNF website and following the forest on Facebook and Twitter.

News releases with links can be found at https://www.fs.usda.gov/news/santafe/news-events