Theatre on the Hill at NMSU-A Rehearsal of Spring Play

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Actors who were still in Alamogordo and not gone on Spring Break reported to the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill to rehearse "The Mystery of Pirate's Cove", the Children's Spring Play. The set is coming along very well and it is amazing what these people can create with a little wood and paint.

L to R: Juls Pate, Assistant Director, Connie J. Breding, Director, Playwright and Producer, and Bob Trowbridge, Administrative Assistant to Connie, Set Designer, Actor and Playwright

Rod Barnes, Graybeard in his quarters aboard ship

Four of the children in the play known as Matty, Sofie, Colleen and David

Barbeesh (Bob Trowbridge) sneaking away from his wife

Rose (Carla Kerr) berating Barbeesh, her husband

Miranda (Victoria Kennedy) and Benjamin (Alan Gonzales)

Benjamin and Miranda getting serious about this sword fight

It was a good evening and a lot of blocking was accomplished as well as getting the young people used to their positions on stage.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

Democratic Party Pre-Primary State Convention in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico

Saturday, March 12, 2016

My husband, Doug, and I (Delegates) actually drove to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday to a hotel because the block of rooms for the convention at the Isleta Resort and Casino was already filled. We then went to the convention area to check-in and verify our credentials at 6:30 PM. We were going to attend the reception held by Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, but the lines were long and the area so crowded, we decided to dine elsewhere.

On Saturday morning we ate breakfast at an IHOP and got to the convention in time to caucus for Hillary Clinton for president before heading to our assigned area (Otero County) for the convention. The Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of the State of New Mexico (DPNM), Debra Haaland served as the facilitator and she did a great job of keeping the meeting moving along. Thank goodness she did because there were numerous speakers and much business to handle as well.

Governor Edward Paul Torres, Sr. of the Isleta Pueblo gave the welcoming speech and offered a prayer in the Isleta Tiwa language which was quite melodious. There were special addresses by Attorney General Hector Balderas, State Auditor Tim Keller, State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, State Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla and House Minority Leader Brian Egolf.

Report of the Credentials Committee was given by Martin Suazo, Chair, Judicial Council and Reading of the Call was by Neomi Martinez-Parra, Secretary DPNM.

Candidate Nominations and Speeches were as follows: Secretary of State: Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Supreme Court: Michael Vigil, New Mexico Court of Appeals: Julie Vargas, US House of Representatives CD l: Michelle Lujan Grisham, CD 2: Merrie Lee Soules, CD 3: Ben R. Lujan.

Introduction to Keynote Speaker Juan Sanchez, Vice Chairman, DPNM, Keynote Speech to Delegates Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut.

Video Address to Delegates given by Secretary Hillary Clinton and a video address given by Senator Bernie Sanders.

Report of the Platform & Resolutions Committee made by Chair John Dyrcz. The voting on this Democratic Party Platform was made by having each delegate vote yes or no on a small ballot and then take it out to the lobby and place it in a yes or no cardboard box. There was much discussion about this Platform as people lined up to give  pros and cons opinions. The results of the voting was NO by three votes.  Sometime during the lengthy counting of the votes Debra Haaland adjourned the convention.

It was an interesting experience and we are glad we took part in this great American tradition.

Otero County New Mexico Delegate Carla Kerr

Merrie Lee Soules Campaign Bus. She is running for U.S. Representative from New Mexico CD 2

Giving some New Mexico flavor to the convention were these excellent Mariachis

Hillary supporters getting ready to make a lot of noise

This lady was selling her Dump the tRUMP buttons

Attorney General Hector Balderas backing Hillary Clinton

Carla managed to get a Hillary poster

Carla visiting with Doc DuBois, a beloved WWII Pearl Harbor survivor and Otero County Delegate

Hope Swanson, first time voter and granddaughter of Donna & Jeff Swanson

Otero County Delegates AJ, Carla and Linda Barker

Otero County Delegates, Donna, Hope and Stephanie DuBois

A shot of the crowd assimilating for the convention. There were over 1300 attendees

Debra Haaland, Chairwoman, DPNM convening the convention

Pam Cordova, President, New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women leading the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and Zack Quintero, President, Young Democrats of New Mexico leads the Pledge to the New Mexican Flag

Attorney General Hector Balderas addresses Delegates

State Auditor Tim Keller addresses Delegates

State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg addresses Delegates

State Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla addresses Delegates

House Minority Leader Brian Egolf addresses Delegates

Martin Suazo, Chair, Judicial Council reports on the Credentials Committee

Neomi Martinez-Parra, Secretary, DPNM gives the Reading of the Call

Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Candidate for Secretary of State

Michael Vigil, Candidate for New Mexico Supreme Court

Julie Vargas, Candidate for New Mexico Court of Appeals

Michelle Lujan Grisham incumbent for House of Representatives CD 1

Merrie Lee Soules running for U.S.House of Representatives CD 2

Ben R. Lujan incumbent US House of Representatives CD 3

Juan Sanchez, Vice Chairman, DPNM introducing Keynote Speaker

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut gives Keynote Speech to Delegates

We returned to the hotel and took a well deserved nap. Then we went to our favorite Hibachi Restaurant for dinner and it was delicious.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking all the pictures and processing them to go in my blog. I do apologize for not taking a shot of him but he is always behind the camera and it just didn't occur to me.

This is all I have to say for now.

Rohovec Theatre on the Hill Guild Meeting

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Carla Kerr, president of Theatre on the Hill Guild at NMSU-A presided at the March 6, 2016 meeting of the Guild.

Perry Lawson gave a report on the Senior Jubilee event held at First Presbyterian Church in Alamogordo, New Mexico. There were about 60 people present. Perry first made a presentation about COPE (Center of Protective Environment) and their contributions to the community in the way of help for victims of domestic violence and their children.

The second part of the program was titled "What Can Seniors Bring to the Stage?" and many seemed quite interested in the Theatre on the Hill. Perry called on Bob Trowbridge, playwright, set designer and actor, and Carla Kerr, president of the Theatre on the Hill Guild, playwright and actor, to give information about their experiences associated with the theater stressing a need for more seniors to become active in theater.

Perry presented a tribute to Joylyn Mercouris who had just passed on Sunday, February 28, 2016. Joylyn was very active in the theater in many plays, as a member of the Guild and a playwright as well. Attendees were treated to a video of Joylyn and Monica Helm in their roles in a skit called "Pet Names", a section of the "Senior Moments" production at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill. The video was hysterically funny and from all the laughter we could tell enjoyed by everyone.

Carla reported on the "Celebration of Life" held for Joylyn Mercouris at Patron's Hall, headed up by Flori McElderry, president of the Flickinger Guild. There were probably about 75 people in attendance and it was a lovely event that Joylyn would have enjoyed. Many related their memories of Joylyn and the Orwoll family (four of them anyway) were much involved as Joylyn had been a volunteer at the Space Museum. Although Joylyn had only been involved in theater the past five years, it was a huge part of her life. The beautifully decorated cake had books on one side and theatrical masks on the other depicting her involvement with Books Revisited as well.

After several housekeeping items were discussed and voted on, two new members were recognized, Susan Gallegos and Scott Hancock, and welcomed to the Guild.

Guild President Carla Kerr

New member, Susan Gallegos

Connie Breding

L to R: VP Rod Barnes, Connie, Carla and Perry Lawson

L to R: Monica Helm, Victoria Kennedy, Secretary Kathy Barnes, Rod and Connie

L to R: Susan, Carolyn and Bob Trowbridge

Democratic Party of Otero County March Meeting

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

DPOC held their monthly meeting in Margo's Restaurant on Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 6:00 PM.

The Alamogordo Municipal Election was in progress so the turnout was lighter than usual because many DPOC members were working the election.

Nadia Sikes introduced principal speaker, Scott T. LaFevre, Field Representative with the Southwest Pipe Trades Association, who gave his take on the goings on at the most recent State of New Mexico Legislature. Scott is an excellent speaker and he appeared to be well informed on a number of subjects.

Dr. Gary Brown

Cute lady-regret not getting her name

DPOC Chair Nadia Sikes

Scott T. LaFevre, speaker

DPOC Treasurer Judy Pingel

Carol Teweleit

Henrietta Stockel

L to R: Nadia, Scott and Vice Chair Bill Wheatley

The meeting was interesting and informative as always and Mr. LaFevre certainly added interesting insights into what goes on in Santa Fe.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.