Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Red Hatters Attend The Flickinger Guild Turquoise and Silver Tea

Sunday, October 19, 2014, 2:00 p.m.

The Turquoise and Silver Tea has been the Flickinger Guild's annual fundraising event for twelve years. The Red Hat Society New Mexico Roadrunner Chapter members attended last year and couldn't wait to go again. The chapter actually had eleven in attendance, however two of our members are also members of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and they chose to sit with them this year.

The tea began with entertainment by a country/western band who played and sang so many familiar songs that at times we felt compelled to sing along. The fashion show presented fashions from jeans to beautiful ball gowns. Some of the stores highlighted were, Maurices, Bealls, Dollar Boots and Jeans, GRMC Gift Shop, The Lodge Shop in Cloudcroft, and Rue. The fashions were beautiful and the models did a terrific job showing off their ensembles. Three young men from the military modeled male fashions and were very appreciated by the audience.

Ann Bagby (a local citizen with a beautiful voice) sang  a wonderful song "The Wanderer" while the Guild Dancers entertained us in their top hats.   

Intermittently,  tickets were drawn for door prizes and several were won by New Mexico Roadrunner members. My ticket was the last one drawn and I won a gift card to buy something at Maurices. Other Red Hat ladies won interesting books among other items. The Guild also had a silent auction going on with everything from lovely paintings to kitchen items and jewelry to bid on.  One of our ladies bid on a great looking bracelet and won.

The young people waiting on us were very attentive, keeping our teacups filled and trays of fruit, finger sandwiches and dessert cakes coming to our table. The Willie Estrada Civic Center was packed if this is any indication of monies made from this obviously successful event. The funds are used to provide essential items for the Flickinger Center for the Performing Arts. Some examples of this are: lighting in the auditorium and on stage, wooden frames and lighting in the lobby, the concession stand beautiful counter top, replacement of a major potion of the tattered stage curtains, and the Marley dance floor.

Carla, ready to head out to the tea
Dorothy E. and Dorothy S. looking lovely for the tea
Our snowbird from Colorado, Donna W. and Carla
A model in a cute ensemble
Aren't these two models cute!
Joy is really having fun modeling this ensemble and it looks great on her
She is with the Hospital Auxiliary where the gift shop there sells some great fashions
Another adorable model having the time of her life
Front: Donna W., Margie and VQ Penny all looking gorgeous
Dorothy E. and Alice, who arrived late because she was at a mastodon dig in the desert
Dorothy S. and Mistress Marian looking spiffy
We are already looking forward to next year and this great event.

This is all I have to say for now.


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Alamogordo Public Library Grand Re-Opening

Saturday, October 18, 2014 at Noon

The local library has undergone a massive interior facelift including carpeting, lighting and painting. They managed to keep the library open to the public throughout the entire labor intensive beautification. There were times when the library looked more like a fallout shelter, but finally it all came together and the results are spectacular.


The Friends of the Library members, President Nadia Sikes, Karen Hutchison, and Carla Kerr served at a reception table at the front door, having visitors register for great door prizes given away periodically during the day. Prizes were donated by Alamogordo Community entities including: A behind the scenes tour of the Alameda Park Zoo for a group of up to 30 people conducted by the Zoo Superintendent Steve Diehl; Two greens fees and a golf cart rental from the Desert Lakes Golf Course; A pair of tickets to an upcoming production at the Flickinger Theater; Four memberships, each good for 10 months, at the Alamogordo Family Recreation Center; and Library T-shirts along with tickets and popcorn to the newly reopened theater on New York Avenue.

Bob Flotte, Radio Personality and Manager of KHII 88.9 FM Cloudcroft  (97.5 FM Alamogordo) was on hand to report on the event and broadcast the door prize drawings on the air. He also interviewed two authors doing book signings; Lynda A. Sanchez with her latest book "Apache Legends and Lore of Southern New Mexico" and Amy Bennett who reviewed her latest book, "No Lifeguard on Duty".

Refreshments were delicious including, finger sandwiches, cookies, fresh fruit and punch. The crowd seemed to enjoy themselves and the food. Mayor Susie Galea came by to put her blessing on the event and she too was interviewed by Bob Flotte. Library Manager Sharon Rowe kept things moving including the huge book sale outside on the lawn. Books were being sold for as low as ten cents and many people came to take advantage of this bargain.

L to R: Karen Hutchison and Nadia Sikes of Friends of the Library

Josh Richards, Special Events Manager of the Alamogordo Family Recreation Center being interviewed by Bob Flotte of KHII Radio with Nadia looking on waiting for Josh to draw the first door prize ticket
Bob Flotte interviewing the first door prize winner, Martha
Mayor Galea talking with Library Manager Sharon Rowe
Nadia Sikes on air with Bob Flotte
Library Manager Sharon Rowe on air with Bob Flotte
The event was a huge success and those whose names were drawn who had already left will be notified of their door prize winnings soon. Manager Rowe has a great library staff and everyone outdid themselves in their various assignments. Thanks to all who contributed in any way.

This is all I have to say for now.

American Cancer Society "Relay for Life" in Alamogordo, New Mexico

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Finish the Fight

The day began at 9:00 a.m. in the Alamogordo High School Cafeteria with the Survivors Brunch at which Carla Kerr was the keynote speaker. The school cooks outdid themselves on the food, serving scrambled eggs, sausage patty, fruit, croissant, blueberry/granola compote and coffee. Everything was delicious. The young people in the Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors Group did a great job of waiting on everyone, keeping those coffee cups refilled.

Ms. Kerr related that the American Cancer Society's new mantra is "Finish the Fight" and that their scientists are working hard in their laboratories to find a cure. She talked about her journey with cancer, starting in 1961 when she was just 22 years of age when she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Then in 1984 she had a tumor in her vaginal wall and in 2005, she developed tumors in her tongue. She said her mantra beginning in 1984 is "God's not done with me yet." She then reminded everyone to walk over to the football stadium to take the Survivors Walk around the track to begin doing their part to "Finish the Fight".

Several survivors were introduced at the brunch including the most recent diagnosed with breast cancer just one month ago, to a beautiful young boy, the youngest survivor, and gifts were given to each. The event was organized by the Alamogordo Cancer Resource Center (CRC), which is jointly sponsored by ACS and the Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center. The CRC mounted its own team, the Sassy Survivors, composed of CRC volunteers and their friends.

Kudos to the volunteers at Alamogordo's Cancer Resource Center on 9th and Cuba for hours of hard work to pull this together as well as the Team Captains who worked diligently to raise funds to make this a successful Relay for Life.

Members of the Cancer Resource Center checking Survivors in and handing out t-shirts
Alamogordo Chamber of Commerce Junior Ambassadors were servers for the brunch
It takes a lot of cooks to feed a crowd and they created some delicious food for the brunch
Ann Marie Gallagos did a stellar job of emceeing the program for the brunch
Local pastor' wife, Kathy Crispin giving the invocation
Carla Kerr, keynote speaker, stressing "Finish the Fight"
Group shot of one section of the crowd at the brunch
Carla Kerr telling her story about her cancer journey

Youngest survivor, Nicholas with his little sister, Christiana
Lacey Daniell, ACSCAN Grassroots Manager from Albuquerque and Louis Jeantete, Specialist, Relay for Life, also from ACS, and Vivian, owner of Hairitage Salon and founder of Cancer Resource Center here in Alamogordo.
Carrying banner for the Survivors Lap are L to R: Lacey Daniell, Newest Survivor, Mayor Susie Galea and Louis Jeantete followed by the ROTC Junior Honor Guard.
Bringing up the rear as the longest survivor (53 years) is Carla Kerr.
Mayor Galea speaking at the event
Newly diagnosed survivor with Mayor Galea
Recognition of all the Team Captains for Relay for Life
Vivian was honored for her years of volunteerism with the Cancer Resource Center. She does the "Look Good, Feel Better" make-overs for survivors and styles their hair and wigs in her Heritage Salon.
Chaparral High School Cheerleaders in their pink shirts cheering everyone on
Jerry, another dedicated survivor and volunteer giving his time at the fund-raising Baker Walking Taco Trailer.
Berene, another Cancer Resource Center dedicated volunteer cooking up those tacos.
As of this posting, haven't heard any figures as to how much was raised, but I'm sure it was substantial. Thanks to everyone who worked so hard to make this event the success it was. Special thanks to Sue Baker and all the volunteers from the CRC  as well as the team captains and their teams.  Great job!

Thanks to Louis Jeantete and Mike Spencer for the great photography of the event.

This is all I have to say for now.





 

Monday, October 13, 2014

Meet and Greet for Ray Powell for Commissioner of Public Lands, New Mexico

Saturday, October 11, 2014

I rushed from my Red Hat event to pick up my husband, Doug, and head up the mountain to High Rolls, New Mexico to attend a Meet and Greet for Commissioner of Public Lands Ray Powell. This was held in the delightful mountain home of Dayna and Charles Bisbee. One really needs to know where they are going to find this lovely hideaway. We were happily greeted by their German Shepherd, Buddy.

Ray was there visiting with everyone individually before speaking to the group. He is a very unassuming man with eyes that twinkle and a ready smile. After hearing this man speak, I'm sure everyone in attendance was well aware of the steely determination and passion, behind those eyes and that gentle smile, that Ray has for this great state of New Mexico and the care of its land. He explained so much that we weren't aware of (Doug and I, being newcomers) regarding the trust and integrity needed to maintain the lands properly and to oversee that the funds in the millions of dollars therein produced get to the proper entities.

He also talked about how the Constitution of the State of New Mexico gave a massive amount of power to the position of Commissioner of Public Lands and how the wrong person could undermine the trust given them to do the right thing and basically make themselves rich before anyone else was the wiser. Ray had been Commissioner of Public Lands for eight years when his term ran out. He was happy to go back to the normal life with his wife. However, he stayed alert to what was going on around the state and when it became apparent to him that this position was being badly mishandled four years ago, he got back in the fight.

He can serve four more years before he must step aside again. We need to vote Ray Powell in for another four years. Hopefully, by that time someone will show up on the horizon who is deserving of this position.  We received quite a history lesson about the Statehood and Constitution of the State of New Mexico as Ray talked and we are extremely happy that we took the time to go meet him.

Thank you Dayna and Charles for inviting people into your lovely home to meet Ray Powell.

Ray Powell in deep discussion with Karen Hutchison
U/K gentleman on left. Right is Charles Bisbee
Ray talking with Carla Kerr
The Tularosa Basin can be seen all the way to the other side from the Bisbee veranda
Nadia Sikes talking with Mike Espiritu
Nadia and her husband, Aaron
Random group shot. People still arriving
Center: Ray Powell talking with Chris Jones, Linda Barker and Ellen Wedum
Carla must be making a point about something!
Ray Powell speaking to the group
Karen and Steve Haydu
Ray Powell
Linda Barker asking questions
Our hostess, Dayna with neighbor Peggy Holland
Ray listening as Nadia expounds on something
Chris Jones asking for clarification
Host Charles Bisbee talking with Ellen Wedum
L to R: Ray, Chris, Steve Brockett, Linda
Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking pictures of this event.