Vision Magazine for December 18, 2014

YOUR FREE ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 18, 2014

Also Inside:

Covered Wagon Rides

Remembering Roswell Christmas on the Pecos

The Downtown New Years Bash

Roswell Daily Record’s

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY

DECEMBER 31 7PM TICKETS $125 DINNER INCLUDED

LEE BRICE

JANUARY 10 8PM TICKETS FROM $25

Thursday, December 18, 2014 Volume 20, Issue 24

Publisher: Charles Fischer Editor: Rey Berrones Ad Design: Sandra Martinez, Steve Stone Columnists: Donald Burleson, John LeMay, Sara Mitchell Roswell Daily Record Staff Writers: Randal Seyler Roswell Daily Record Staff Photographers: Jeff Tucker, Mark Wilson Contributing Writers: Martha Mauritson Contributing Photographers: Jessica Onsurez Get in touch with us online Facebook: facebook.com/PecosVisionMagazine Twitter: twitter.com/PecosVision Pinterest: pinterest.com/VisionMagazine Email: vision@rdrnews.com www: rdrnews.com/?page_id=215 For advertising information, call 622-7710

Correspondence: Vision Magazine welcomes correspondence, constructive criticism and suggestions for future topics. Mail correspondence to Vision Magazine, P.O. Drawer 1897, Roswell, N.M. 88202-1897 or vision@roswell-record.com.

Submissions: Call 622-7710, ext. 309, for writers’ guidelines.

Vision Magazine is not responsible for loss or damage to unsolicited materials.

TESLA

JANUARY 24 8PM TICKETS FROM $25

Vision Magazine is published twice a month at 2301 N. Main St., Roswell, N.M. The contents of the publication are Copyright 2012 by the Roswell Daily Record and may not be reprinted in whole or part without written permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

One copy of each edition is provided to 13,000 weekday subscribers to the Roswell Daily Record in the first and third Friday newspaper of each month. An additional 3,000 to 5,000 copies are made available free of charge to county residents and visitors and select site newsstands, and direct mailed to non-subscribers in the retail trade zone. Subscriptions are available by mail for $2 a month or free through subscription to the Roswell Daily Record.

The Roswell Daily Record and Vision Magazine are represented nationally by Paper Companies Inc.

On The Cover

ALL-4-ONE

FEBRUARY 14 6PM TICKETS $55 DINNER INCLUDED For tickets visit InnoftheMountainGods.com or or call (800) 545-9011

Mescalero, NM near Ruidoso | Minors must be accompanied by an adult.

The Reischman Park project now has a temporary facelift.

Photographer: Rachel Hayes

JUMP AROUND. 6TH ANNUAL DUMMY GELUNDE SKI JUMP Saturday, December 20, 2014 Dummy Gelunde: 3-4:30 pm | Torchlight Parade: 6-8 pm Build your best snow-riding dummy, tie him to a pair of skis or a snowboard and watch him fly down the hill and off our giant ski launch! Then, hang out for our torchlight parade down Capitan Trail followed by a spectacular fireworks show and more!

CULTURE

Randal Seyler Photo Second graders at Gateway Christian Elementary School display toys the elementary students gatthered for the Community Volunteers toy giveaway, planned for Christmas Eve at the Yucca Recreation Center.

Collecting toys for those in need

.COM for more information, call 575-464-3600 OR Visit SkiApache.com! *Weather permitting.

The Community Volunteers, led by Johnny Gonzales are hard at work spreading joy to the community.

C

By Randal Seyler Record City Editor ommunity Volunteers are preparing to spread some holiday cheer beginning on Dec. 21.

Community Volunteers, led by Johnny Gonzales, is in the process of collecting toys and canned foods for local residents.

“The food baskets will be distributed this Sunday at 11 a.m. at the Ponderosa Center,” Gonzales said. “We can still use some help with the canned foods.”

Students at Gateway Christian Elementary collected toys in a Toy Drive for over the last two weeks and presented the toys to Gonzales on Tuesday.

Gonzales said the toys will be distributed at 7 p.m. on Dec. 24 at the Yucca Community Center. Gonzales said he expects about 1,000 children to come out for Christmas gifts.

“I’ve been doing this for 35 years, and we always have a lot of children come out,” Gonzales said. He is still looking for volunteers to help with the Yucca event, as well as donations of new and used toys to distribute.

“Kids don’t really care if a toy is new or not,” Gonzales said. “They are just happy to get something.”

Gonzales said he is also seeking donations of apples and oranges to give the children at the Yucca Center giveaway on Christmas Eve. Gonzales, 64, recently underwent quadruple bypass surgery, and has been busy recovering while still hosting his holiday events.

“All the children in the school worked together to collect the toys,” Gateway Christian Elementary Principal Robin Parker said.“The school has worked with Mr. Gonzales for a number of years. I know I have worked with him for at least 15 years, and the school was partnering with Community Volunteers years before I came here.

Those that wish to contribute to the Community Volunteers or know of someone that is in need of a food basket can contact Gonzales at 575-6247579. People that need rides to the event can also contact Gonzales to make arrangements.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 | VISION MAGAZINE / 3

Count Down to Christmas at

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Farmers Country Market

Postal Annex

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Lopez Insurance Agency La Familia Care Center

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CULTURE

Covered Wagon Rides

Christmas tree contest underway; ends Dec. 31 A total of $3,000 in prizes is up for grabs at Roswell Toyota’s first-ever Christmas tree decorating contest.

Students from Dexter High School, Goddard High School Honor Society, Goddard High School Project Graduation, Roswell middle schools’ Shine volleyball program, Roswell High School Project Celebration, University High School and Valley Christian Academy decorated Christmas trees at the dealership.

First-place prize is $1,500, second-place is $1,000 and thirdplace is $500.

Ballots, due by 6 p.m. Dec. 31, are located at desks and counters inside the auto dealership.

The winners will be announced Jan. 3 at the dealership at 2211 W. Second St. Roswell Toyota general manager Mike Baker said an extra $100 will be donated to any of the school organizations credited with an auto sale referral.

Baker encouraged people to visit the dealership’s showroom floor and cast ballots for their favorite tree or school.

Baker said he hopes the holiday contest will grow bigger each year.

“We’re hoping next year to have 12 trees from schools,” he said.

The annual wagon rides to view Roswell houses decorated in their Christmas finest raises money for children in need of glasses.

By Rey Berrones Vision Editor

Mark Wilson Photo Mid-Day Lions Annual Horse Drawn Carriage Rides led by Betsy and Zeke prepare to disembark for the Christmas Lights Wagon Ride last year.

Jeff Tucker Photo Roswell Toyota general manager Mike Baker and receptionist Haley Norris look over a Christmas tree decorated by Roswell High School Project Celebration. The auto dealership is sponsoring a Christmas tree decorating contest for local schools, with a $1,500 first-place prize.

4 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

T

he SP Yates Scout Service Center Conquistador Council on 2603 N. Aspen St., has been turned into an old fashioned stable, as it has for many years. In what has become a Christmas tradition, the Roswell Mid-day Lions Club has been taking residents through Roswell neighborhoods that have been decorated with fantastic Christmas light displays.

The club hosts the event every year to raise funds for children in need of glasses, said one of the organizers of the event, Shelly Law. She added, "We purchase eyeglasses and eye exams for Children that can't afford it. We are the Roswell Mid-day Lions Club, and our whole purpose is to pay for glasses for kids.

"This is our only fundraiser for the whole year. It takes two full wagon rides to pay for one set of glasses for a child. That puts things into perspective

for people as to how important it is for us to have a successful run."

Returning this year are all of the elements that help make this a memorable family event.

Law said, "We will pulling the wagon, singing Christmas carols, and going through the same beautiful neighborhoods as we have in the past."

There are a few additions to this years event, the most noticable being the opportunities for everyone that wants to have a picture of their family enjoying the event.

According to Law, "This year we have a photo booth set up.

We have a gentleman taking pictures of people with the horses and the wagon and printing the pictures on-site.

We are asking for an additional $5 donation for the photos, but it is not a set price."

She went on to say that the addition of the photos is to help raise money for the cause.

Because of the fact that people will be traveling through the neighborhoods in a wagon, coats and blankets are recommended. At the end of the adventure, riders will be able to warm up at the stable, where Law said, "there will be hot chocolate, hot cider and coffees" ready for the riders.

Also now is the ability for riders to book their tickets online.

Law said, "It is something new.

The biggest thing is that we are trying to get the word out this year that we are booking tickets online."

Each ticket is $10, and the remaining opportunities for wagon rides are on Dec. 19 and 20 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m., or Dec. 21 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The capacity of wagon is roughly a dozen people, so reservations are recommended. Those interested in booking tickets for the event can go to holdmyticket.com.

CALENDAR

The Nutcracker

Ongoing Events Roswell

Every Week, Mon - Sat

Lest We Forget: Roswell Army Airfield - The Early Years This Walker Aviation Museum display will remain through the end of the year. This exhibit features a short history of the base and many items from the WWII era, as well as information about the planes that flew at Roswell Army Airfield from 1941-1945. The museum is open from 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

For more information, call 3472464 or visit wafbmuseum.org.

Every Week, Mon - Sat

Peace Through Strength This Walker Aviation Museum exhibit is a tribute to the 579th Strategic Missile Squadron assigned to Walker Air Force Base during the early 1960s.

The squadron was responsible for operating and maintaining 12 Atlas missile silos around the greater Roswell area. The exhibit was funded through a grant from the Association of Air Force Missileers. The museum is open from 10 a.m. 3:30 p.m. For more information, call 347-2464 or visit www.wafbmuseum.org.

Every Wed

Sing Out Loud at Club Revue Sing Out Loud, Wednesdays, from 9pm to 11:30pm, at Club Revue, located at 3905 SE Main. Enjoy karaoke night with no cover charge and drink specials. Sing Out Loud is a 21 and over event. For more information call 623-8557

Every Week, Tues, Wed, Thurs

Games at Pair-A-Dice Pair-A-Dice game shack, located at 309 N. Main St., holds weekly gaming events. Tuesday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. is

Spencer Theater

The Ruidoso Dance Ensemble presents The Nutcracker on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is the Ruidoso Dance Ensembleʼs original adaptation of Tchaikovskyʼs Christmas classic, featuring outstanding student and guest dancers, is always a delightful trip into a magical world of dancing nutcrackers, soldiers, sugar plum fairies, candy canes, mice and little girls and boys! The spectacular sets come to life: the Christmas tree grows to 40-feet before our eyes, the cannon shoots smoke rings above patronsʼ heads and a swirling grandfather clock spins and flaps wings like a great hooting owl. Choreographed to precision, RDEʼs Nutcracker is a must-see, a timeless Christmas gift for the entire family. Tickets are $30. For more information, call 1-888-818-7872 or visit spencertheater.com.

Trading Card Game night, featuring free play of games like Pokemon, Yu Gi-Oh!, Card Wars, My Little Pony and collectible card games. Wednesday from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. is board game night. Thursday is Miniature Night, featuring paint and play for games like Warhammer from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Friday nights feature Magic: The Gathering from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Saturday afternoons have special featured games, which change weekly.

For more information, call 575623-4263, or email vbriseno@pairadicegameshack.com

Every Week, Wed

Weekly Knockout The Roswell Fighting Game Community presents Weekly Knockout at The Unity Center located at 108 E. Bland every

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Wednesday from 7 p.m. - midnight. Dragonpunch with Ken, slash with Sabrewulf and smash with Kirby all night long without disturbing your neighbors. Casual and competitive gamers are welcome. Bring your favorite games and set up. All games are welcome.

For more information, visit facebook.com/RoswellFGC.

Every Week, Wed, Sat

Karaoke at Billy Rayʼs Restaurant and Lounge Karaoke at Billy Rayʼs Restaurant and Lounge at 118 East Third St. from 9 p.m - until people stop singing.

Every Thu

Ritmo Latino at El Toro Bravo Ritmo Latino plays El Toro Bravo at 102 S. Main St. from 6 >>

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 | VISION MAGAZINE / 5

>>5 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information, call El Toro Bravo at 622-9280.

Every Week, Fri, Sat

David and Tina at El Toro Bravo David and Tina plays El Toro Bravo at 102 S. Main St. from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. For more information, call El Toro Bravo at 622-9280.

Every Saturday

Cuic Gonzales at El Tapatio Cuic Gonzales plays Latin Pop and Country music at El Tapatio at 3012 N. Main from 6 p.m - 9 p.m. For more information, call El Tapatio at 578-1915.

Every Saturday

Open Mic at Ginsberg Music Ginsberg Music opens up the stage every Saturday from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. P.A. system and drums are provided, all other instruments must be brought by the musician.

Every Saturday

Open Jam at Dragon and Rose Open Jam Every Saturday from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. at Dragon and Rose music studio located at 4504 W. Second St. For more information, call 575840-5744.

Every Sunday

Sandbox Sundays Sandbox Sundays, every Sunday, from 1pm to 5pm, at Carmineʼs Italian Eatery, located at 625 N. Main. Enjoy

summer jams to Top 40 Favorites with live music performed by Digital Beat Junkeez and DJ Tao In The Mix. For more information call 578-1914.

Every Week, Thu

Karaoke at Cree Meadows Lounge Karaoke with DJ Pete, every Thursday evening from 6 p.m.

- 11 p.m. at Cree Meadows Lounge. There is also an all you can eat taco bar for $5.95 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Calendar October 24 - January 5

Carlos Kemm The Roswell Artist-in-Residence program and the Roswell Museum and Art Center present Carlos Kemm.

Over several decades, Kemm has explored numerous techniques along with various methods of assemblage and applications that have evolved and represented in his current works. Each piece has emerged out of spontaneous play and may been looked upon as having been borne out of an experiment, and active dreaming. The use of dimensional space from images adhered at various heights and depths within the visual plane add a visual intimacy. His works are also painted and inked, adding yet another visual texture. For more information, call 624-6744.

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6 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Since 1945

CALENDAR

Cloudcroft

November 29, December 20

SantaLand Visit with Santa and have a marshmallow roast with hot chocolate in Zenith Park on November 29 and December 20. Santa arrives at 5 p.m. For more information, visit coolcloudcroft.com.

Ruidoso

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AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRIAL • DEEPCYLE

Retrofit

Roswell December 19

Roswell Adult Center

Retrofit will be performing from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., at the Roswell Adult Center, located at 807 N. Missouri. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, please contact the RAC at 624-6718.

November 26 - January 17

Michael Hurd Exhibit: Drawings and Watercolors A special exhibition of Michael Hurdʼs drawings and watercolors featuring works not previously seen by the public.

Michael is the artist/owner of the Sentinel Ranch and The Hurd Gallery and Guest Homes. He is the son of the celebrated artists, Peter Hurd and Henriette Wyeth. For gallery hours and more information, visit wyethartists.com.

Carlsbad

November 28 - December 31 Christmas on the Pecos

A Unique Christmas Wonderland - Christmas on the Pecos - is from November 28 - December 31, every evening except Christmas Eve. Imagine an evening boat ride on the Pecos River with illuminated backyards and islands of twinkling lights. The holiday spirit shines through as wise men and angels sparkle in a fairyland of lights. Tickets are $15 for Sunday - Thursday and $20 for Friday and Saturday for 13 and over, or $10 for Sunday Thursday and $15 for Friday and Saturday for children five 12. For tickets, please call the office at 575-887-6516 or visit christmasonthepecos.com.

December 14 - 20

Season in Bethlehem Live Nativity The Season in Bethlehem Live Nativity is from Dec. 14 to 20 from 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. at 2603 S. Eisenhower. Feed the animals and listen to Christmas music. Thereʼs more than 70,000 lights on display.

Wagon rides and hot wassail will be available. For more information call 575-420-7554.

December 17

Kaler Bells The Kaler Bells will perform a Christmas concert at First United Methodist Church located at 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave., at 5:45 p.m. The concert will be a carol ring-along and audience members will be able to participate with the group.

The event is open to the public and there is a dinner for $5 before the concert at 5 p.m.

Childcare will be provided.

7 >>

Christmas Wreaths now available!

Accent Flowers Delivery or pickup 575-623-6086 3110 N. Main

>>6

Annie Jr

December 17

Fall Movie Night Get out of the cold and stop on by at the Roswell Museum and Art Center and partake on the showing of The Polar Express!

Enjoy this free family fun with some snacks and drinks. The Fall Movie Night is at 7 p.m.

For more information visit roswellmuseum.org.

Roswell

December 18

Business After Hours Business After Hours is from 5 p.m. - 7 p.m., at Builders Do-It Center, located at 200 S. Main St. Join in for the fun, and bring your business card and enjoy this great networking opportunity. For more information call 623-5695.

Alamogordo December 17

A Christmas Carol, The Musical Enjoy all the nostalgia of the holidays wrapped up in this lively musical retelling! A Christmas Carol, The Musical will surprise and delight those who are familiar with the original, while entertaining the entire family with a holiday classic and an experience theyʼll not soon forget. Traditional Christmas Carols are weaved throughout the performance making it an exceptional Must See show. The sponsor for this event is Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center. The perfromance is at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts located at 1110 New York Ave. Tickets are $14, $25 and $36 with a 20 percent senior and military family discount available. Childrenʼs seats are $8. The performance begins at 7:30 p.m.

For tickets and more information visit flickingercenter.com or call 575-437-2202.

Roswell

December 18

Photographic Arts Society of Roswell Club Meeting The Photographic Arts Society of Roswell will hold its December meeting at 6:30 p.m. in room 28 at the Roswell Adult Center, located at 807 N. Missouri. We will share and discuss photos from this monthʼs challenge “Holiday Lights.” As always, free coffee, and with this being the December meet-

ing, it is also the annual potluck party. Interested in photography? Come join the PASR. For more information, call Cliff Powell at 626-2529.

Roswell December 20

Ocotillo PAC

Ocotillo Performing Arts Center presents the Ocotillo Comedy Troupe in Annie Jr. The Musical with shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center located at 310 W. Main Street. As an infant, Annie had been abandoned on the front steps of the New York City Minicipal Orphanage with a note from her parents promising to return for her someday. Life in the orphanage had been rough under the strict hand of Miss Hannigan, but annieʼs life was about to change. Billionaire Oliver Warbucks invites Annie to spend Christmas with him in his mansion, and together, they each discover new happiness. Warbucks soon decides he wants to adopt Annie, but when he learns about her dream of finding her parents and the secret of the half-locket she has treasured for so long, he sets his own feelings aside and orders an exhaustive search for Annieʼs parents. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids. For tickets and more information, visit artesiaartscouncil.com.

December 19

Retrofit Retrofit will be performing from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m., at the Roswell Adult Center, located at 807 N. Missouri. Admission is $5 per person. For more information, please contact the RAC at 624-6718.

Alto

December 19 - 20

The Nutcracker The Ruidoso Dance Ensemble presents The Nutcracker on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and on Dec. 20 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is the Ruidoso Dance Ensembleʼs original adaptation of Tchaikovskyʼs Christmas classic, featuring outstanding stu-

CALENDAR

dent and guest dancers, is always a delightful trip into a magical world of dancing nutcrackers, soldiers, sugar plum fairies, candy canes, mice and little girls and boys! The spectacular sets come to life: the Christmas tree grows to 40feet before our eyes, the cannon shoots smoke rings above patronsʼ heads and a swirling grandfather clock spins and flaps wings like a great hooting owl. Choreographed to precision, RDEʼs Nutcracker is a must-see, a timeless Christmas gift for the entire family.

Tickets are $30. For more information, call 1-888-818-7872 or visit spencertheater.com.

Roswell

December 19 - 21

Covered Wagon Rides The Mid-Day Lions Christmas Lights Wagon Rides are Dec. 19 and 20 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. and Dec 21 from 6 p.m. 9 p.m. They begin at 2603 N. Aspen. Warm drinks and a hot fire will greet you at the loading stable. Tickets are $10 per person. For more information or 10 >>

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T

he community has been invited to celebrate the new year on the wrong side of the tracks.

According to Albert Cruz, who is coordinating the event, "The name of it is the First Annual Third Street New Year's Bash. If this is a success, we are going to be doing it every year. We are just trying to figure out new ways to bring in a new year.

We hadn't heard anything about anybody doing anything on New Year's so we figured we might as well give people a reason to go out.”

He continued, "It is open to the public, anyone and everyone is welcome. 21 and over, of course, because you don't want your kids hanging out past midnight.

"T here are going to be three bands. Kingdom's Fall unplugged, which will be Josh and Zack peforming an acoustic set, and then Klas from Secret Circus. Everyone around here knows who Klas is, he has been doing a lot of gigs, and work f or local music venues, and then Cosmic Purple Carrot from Artesia. Cosmic Purple Carrot plays funky psycadelic music. T hey are kind of a mixture of Jamiroquai and Motown. It is very different from what you hear around

here, and very original.

"This is on a Wednesday, and normally T hird Street Station starts their week on Thursday, so this is an early kick-off to the weekend. The party starts at 8 p.m., and we are not putting an end-time on it. We are going to keep it going as long as we legally can.

"Tickets are $25, and that includes a free champagne toast and half-price cab fare home so that no one is drinking and driving. This is an extra precaution that we are taking. We have discounted rates at the Holiday Inn located at 3620 N. Main.

"For anybody that is at the station partaking in the festivities, there will be cabs on-site waiting to take people home. Your cab ride from Third Street home, whatever the f are is, they will cut it right in half. That is for a cab r ide home. T hey are not going to take you to another bar f or half pr ice. We just want to make sure that people aren't getting pulled over, or even worse.”

According to Cr uz, T his bash, along with the other activities have star ted to form a night life downtown.

He said, "It has been picking up, and there has been progress in these last two years... right in the center of

MUSIC

Rey Berrones Photo Kingdoms Fall will be opening the New Years Eve festivities with an acoustic set at Third Street Station

Downtown at New Years

With a NYE bash planned on Third Street, the downtown Roswell night life is heating up.

By Rey Berrones Vision Editor

Roswell, building on the par ts that nobody has touched in quite some time.

"Then you have Pecos Flavors and Stellar Coffee. All of our seasonal activities hap-

pen in downtown. It is slowly starting to migrate.

"T he Liber ty is gaining ground, Pair-A-Dice is getting a following, and Ginsberg is right down the street.

They are getting more traffic in, and word is getting around.

"T his is my home, and I should be able to go out on

the town in my own home. I think that we can all agree that people my age have left Roswell because there is nothing to do. Just f or that basic fact, and now we have a downtown that is asking, 'Why not make something?'"

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CULTURE

I

Jessica Onsurez Photo Visitors watch as other guests board the Bella Sera on the inaugural night of Christmas on the Pecos 2014 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center in Carlsbad. The event kicked off on Nov. 26 and will be open until Dec. 31.

Christmas on the Pecos

Viewing the Christmas lights along the Pecos is a SE New Mexican tradition.

By Martha Mauritson Carlsbad Current-Argus

t doesn't take much to put on the annual Christmas on the Pecos.

All you need is a shed full of blankets and another full of life jackets.

Oh, yes, and a river in your backyard, with community-

spirited residents who have lined the riverbank with eyepopping displays of Christmas lights every year for a quarter of a century.

And to get the best view of those decorations, you should have at least three

for a month.

That's the way the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce does it.

The 2014 version of Christmas on the Pecos kicked off the night of Nov. 26 right on schedule, as Tourism Director Lisa Boeke opened the barrier and announced the boarding of the 5:15 boat, the Bella Sera.

The group at the head of the line was led by Odessa, Texas, resident Lyndel Lee. He had with him children and grandchildren from far and wide.

"We've been doing this for 12 years," Lee said as the group headed down to the first boat.

T here were a number of long-term volunteers who made everything go off as planned.

Outside one portable shed, Nuclear Waste Partnership employee Norman Whitlock said he was in charge of the blankets stacked inside.

Nuclear Waste Partnership purchased the blankets, he said, and they will be cleaned and folded away at the end of the season in

river boats with a combined capacity of 100 passengers and experienced personnel to drive those boats up and down the river every night

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preparation for next year.

"We always have some come back wet," Whitlock said, as he pointed out the hooks installed in one side of the shed for hanging up the wet blankets.

Something new at the event is in a third shed near the departure point.

Local photographer Chris Mathews will be shooting green-screen souvenir photos for the participants.

"We just contracted to do this," Mathews said.

Bef ore jumping onto the boat, boat riders will be photographed bef ore a green backdrop, and by the time they return from their boat ride, a photo that now shows them standing before a sample of the elaborate lighted displays along the tour route will be waiting for them.

For more inf ormation on the Christmas on the Pecos, and to purchase tickets, contact the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce at 575-8876516, or visit christmasonthepecos.com.

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>>7 tickets visit www.holdmytickets.com or call 1-877-4663404.

Artesia

December 20

Annie Jr. Ocotillo Performing Arts Center presents the Ocotillo Comedy Troupe in Annie Jr. The Musical with shows at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Ocotillo Performing Arts Center located at 310 W. Main Street. As an infant, Annie had been abandoned on the front steps of the New York City Minicipal Orphanage with a note from her parents promising to return for her someday.

Life in the orphanage had been rough under the strict hand of Miss Hannigan, but annieʼs life was about to change. Billionaire Oliver Warbucks invites Annie to spend Christmas with him in his mansion, and together, they each discover new happiness. Warbucks soon decides he wants to adopt Annie, but when he learns about her dream of finding her parents and the secret of the half-locket she has treasured for so long, he sets his own feelings aside and orders an exhaustive search for Annieʼs parents. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids.

For tickets and more information, visit artesiaartscouncil.com.

Roswell

Flying J Wranglers

December 20

Dwain and Jill Dwain & Jillʼs End of the Year Dance will be on Saturday, December 20, from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., at the Roswell Adult Center, located at 807 N. Missouri.

Admission is $5 per person.

Dinner will be at 5 p.m., with the dance starting at 6 p.m..

There is also a Salsa Contest that day, so if you would like to enter it, please call Carla for the rules by December 18. For more information, please call Carla Cobb at 627-3400.

Ruidoso

December 20

Dummy Gelunde Competition & Torchlight Parade The annual Dummy Gelunde Competition and Torchlight Parade is from 2 p.m. - 8 p.m. at the Ski Apache Ski Resort located on Hwy 532 at Ski Run Road. The Dummy Gelunde will take place on Easy Street.

Dummy Gelunde is a sport of sorts, where teams of one to three people construct snowriding dummies attached to a pair of skis or a snowboard and launch the handmade contraptions over a giant on-snow jump. Put your skills together to craft the best non-manned dummy to fly down the slopes and jump. Awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd. Judged on creativity,

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F rs! u o y o t house

Peachtree Village Retirement Community 1301 W. Country Club Rd. Roswell, NM 88201 575-627-8070

10 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

December 21

Christ’s Church

The Flying J Wranglers are playing a western Christmas concert at Christʼs Church in Roswell located at 2200 N. Sycamore Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Admission is free. No childcare is provided, but kids are welcome to the show. For more information, visit christschurchroswell.com.

height, distance, and originality. Then stay for the Torchlight Parade with Fireworks after.

The competition is from 3 p.m.

- 4:30 p.m. and the Torchlight Parade is from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

For more information, visit skiapache.com.

Ruidoso

December 20 - 21

Mescalero Christmas Arts & Crafts Fair Vendors from NM and TX will

be selling arts/crafts/baked goods & holiday crafts at the gym at the Mescalero Tribal Offices. Items range from NFL jerseys, candles, paintings, beaded items, jewelry to baked goods. Come & support the local vendors. The event is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days. There is no admission fee and the public is invited. For more information, call Alma Morgan at 575-4649232.

SSERT* ONE FREE DE of hase with the purc l. a dinner mea m 5pm to 8p turday Monday to Sa

100 S Richardson • 627-2263 In the Petroleum Building - Roswell

*Valid 1 per person Must present this coupon.

Expires Jan 3, 2015

CALENDAR

Alamogordo December 21

Mariachi Fuego del Sol and the Alamogordo Ballet Folklorico The Flickinger Center for Performing Arts is pleased to present a benefit concert featuring Mariachi Fuego del Sol and the Alamogordo Ballet Folklorico, under the Artistic direction of Lina Guzman in an upbeat holiday program in English and Spanish. Partial proceeds will benefit the Alamogordo Downtown Lionʼs Club Charities including the New Mexico Eye Foundation and New Mexico Lions Operation Kidsight, Inc. each charity gives the gift of sight to those who cannot afford eye exams, glasses, cataract or other surgeries to prevent blindness and vision problems. We are currently raising funds to pay for much needed surgery to prevent blindness for a child in our community. So, please attend our benefit concert and/or send donations to the Alamogordo Downtown Lionʼs Club, New Mexico Lions Operation Kidsight, Inc. Sponsored by Twice Blessed Thrift Store and Si Senor Restaurant The Flickinger Center is located at 1110 New York Avenue and the performance is from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 general admission, tickets sales by telephone at (575) 437-2202 or at box office. For more information, visit flickingercenter.com.

Alto

December 21

Winter Solstice Celebration Winter Solstice has been celebrated at High Mesa Healing Center for more than 20 years.

Winter Solstice is the start of the solar year and is a celebration of Light and the rebirth of the sun. It is when our hemisphere is leaning farthest 11 >>

>>10 away from the sun, so the daylight is the shortest. Solstice means “standing still sun.”

Though the winter solstice lasts only an instant in time, it is sometimes thought to be the first day of winter. The seasonal significance of the winter solstice is in the reversal of the gradual lengthening of nights and shortening of days. HMHC invites you to join in its Winter Solstice Celebration, which usually begins with smudging with sacred sage and an opening invocation and meditation.

The ceremony includes a labyrinth walk, which is a walking meditation. High Mesa Healing Center is located at 133 Mader Lane, and the celebration is from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission is free. For more information, visit highmesahealing.com.

Roswell

December 21

The Christmas Shoe Tree Roswell First Church of the Nazarene will host a childrenʼs Christmas musical titled “The Christmas Shoe Tree” at 10:45 a.m.

Roswell

December 21

Excerpt from Messiah The Masterworks Chorale will present the Christmas portion of Handelʼs “Messiah” at the

NYE Bash

christschurchroswell.com.

Roswell

December 24

Community Volunteer Program Christmas Party A Christmas party for people in need will be hosted at 7 p.m. at the Yucca Recreation Center. To donate money or toys, call Johnny Gonzales at 6247579.

Alamogordo December 27 December 31

Third Street Station

Third Street Station, located at 301 N. Railroad, is hosting a New Yearʼs Eve Bash with live music by Kingdoms Fall, Klas (from Secret Circus) and the Cosmic Purple Carrot.

Tickets are $25, which includes hor dʼouvres, party favors, complimentary champagne toast and half price cab rides home. This is a 21 and over event that begins at 8 p.m. For more information, call 575-910-7395.

First United Methodist Church, 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave., at 3 p.m. The public is invited to this free performance directed

by John Fuss and accompanied by Michelle Olson and members of the Roswell Symphony Orchestra. Soloists are from the Eastern New Mexico University School of Music.

Childcare will be provided. For more information, call 6221881 or 626-9624.

Roswell

December 21

Flying J Wranglers The Flying J Wranglers are playing a western Christmas concert at Christʼs Church in Roswell located at 2200 N. Sycamore Ave. Doors open at 5 p.m. Admission is free. No childcare is provided, but kids are welcome to the show. For more information, visit

Lake Lucero Tour The Lake Lucero Tour is at White Sands National Monument on Dec. 27. Have you ever wondered how the white sands formed? Take a tour to Lake Lucero with a ranger and learn about the formation of the sands and the special plants and animals that live in and around the dunes. This 3 hour tour is to the dry lakebed of Lake Lucero and only offered once a month and reservations are required.

Admission is $3 per adult and $1.50 for kids and America the Beautiful Senior and Access pass holders. For more information, call 575-679-2599.

CALENDAR

Roswell

December 31

New Yearʼs Eve Party Way Out West is celebrating New Yearʼs Eve with a 21 and over party. Doors open at 8 p.m. Tickets are $12.50 - $15 and include party favors and a champagne toast at midnight.

For more information, visit wayoutwestroswell.com.

Roswell

December 31

New Yearʼs Eve Bash Third Street Station, located at 301 N. Railroad, is hosting a New Yearʼs Eve Bash with live music by Kingdoms Fall, Klas (from Secret Circus) and the Cosmic Purple Carrot. Tickets are $25, which includes hor dʼouvres, party favors, complimentary champagne toast and half price cab rides home. This is a 21 and over event that begins at 8 p.m. For more information, call 575-910-7395.

Ruidoso

December 31

Rio Celebration Ring in the New Year with great music, delicious food and an unforgettable evening at Inn 12 >>

Holiday attire is now in for Christmas and New Years.

LAYAWAY AVAILABLE 575-347-8857 126 S. Main Roswell

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 | VISION MAGAZINE / 11

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CALENDAR

and the most energetic, spontaneous dance parties ever seen. You donĘźt want to miss this unique group as they rock the stage and party their way into 2015. For more information, call 464-7777 or visit innofthemountaingods.com.

Hobbs

January 2

Willie Nelson Willie Nelson is playing the Lea County Event Center. For tickets and more information visit hobbsroadtrip.com or come directly to Lea County Event Center and we will be glad to help you.

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Roswell January 3 January 2

Lea County Event Center

Willie Nelson is playing the Lea County Event Center. For tickets and more information visit hobbsroadtrip.com or come directly to Lea County Event Center and were they will be glad to help you.

>>11

of the Mountain GodĘźs New YearĘźs Eve Rio Celebration December 31 at 7 p.m. The evening will feature delectable dinner options, live DJ at 8 p.m., and a live performance from world-renowned performance group, the Pink Flamin-

12 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

gos at 10 p.m., all inside the Mescalero Ballroom. With over 20 years of experience touring the United States and Europe, the Pink Flamingos provide a wide-range of performances from elegant and classy dinner music to Broadway-show tunes, themed extravaganzas

Through the Gates Through the Gates is a Dardcore (Deathcore/Post-Hardcore) band from Albuquerque, is playing the Unity Center, located at 108 E. Bland. Also playing are Rivalry and Wagoner. Doors open at 6 p.m. For more information, visit facebook.com/theunitycenter.

If you would like your event listed on the entertainment calendar, please email vision@rdrnews.com or call 622-7710 ext. 309.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

T

Reischman Park is a-始flutter

By Rey Berrones Vision Editor he Reischman Park location has recently gone through two noticable changes. The first was the new activity of construction and renovation. The second is the bright colored panels that have covered the the construction fence.

The eye-catching addition has brought attention to the project that has begun to be known informally as the "Remembering Roswell" project. It has taken on this name because the of the community has given input that has helped shape the mosaic of tiles that will be used to finish out the project. The tiles will have vignettes that represent the personal stories of Roswell.

This project was covered in Vision more than a year ago, and in that article, Sue Wink, one of the project leaders, said, ""It is a great thing to try and revive that history where there were parades, people were shopping on Main Street, people walking up and down the street and hanging out. I think that because shopping and all these other

Courtesy Photos

Reischman Park received a temporary facelift.

aspects of our community are farther out, it isn't as necessary to go downtown.

"To make a cool spot and draw people downtown is the hope. It is kind of the heartbeat of the community, and we want to make that active.

We are an arty community, with artists that live here and fantastic museums, so we want to show that off.

"There are already musicians that play there, so now this will be a better spot.

There will have more of a focal point, a showcase that will set them off from the audience.

"When the stage isn't functioning, it is still a functioning park, with picnic tables and art benches that will be covered with the tile that members of the community have made."

The L. J. Reischman Park Renovation is a community project that will take the empty lot that was created when KBIM burned down and turn it into a community park area with a stage.

The seating and stage are intended to be used for music

events, such as the UFO Festival, the Jazz Festival, and the Alive After Five events. In addition, it is hoped that the stage will be used by the community as a public gathering place for small concerts, presentations or even for people to read poetry.

The park is part of the MainStreet Roswell Master Plan that was adopted by the city in 2011. It is part of the "Improve Green Space" section, with a renovation of Library Park slated to begin after the completion of Reischman Park.

Having a stage in the park also contributes to eventually creating an Arts and Culture District in Roswell, which is also in the plan.

While the Reischman Park project and the Railroad District improvements have shown some activity from the city, the wayfinding program seems to be stalled.

At that time, the stage had just been completed at Ginsberg Music, and the Liberty Theatre was just about to open. And while the the city may have stalled on the

wayfinding program, private business has begun to take hold with the addition of Main Street Arts, Stellar Coffee, The Liberty, Pair-A-Dice, Roswell Judo Club, and other private investment that has turned the area into an emerging part of the city's growth into a nice place for tourists and locals alike.

This doesn't even touch on the drastic public reaction to the possible demolition of the Roswell Motor Supply where the public raised money to save the site.

Which is to say that the community is starting to come together to make downtown vital.

Again, the new thing that is drawing attention back to the project is the highly visible public art installation that was done by Roswell Artist-inResidence fellow Rachel Hayes. She has used the construction fence as the framework to affix panels of col-

ored fabric that she calls "flutters."

Hayes moved to Roswell in August, and upon arriving helped install the Remembering Roswell informational Column at Stellar Coffee that has information on the Reischman Park project. She added, "We spent an afternoon here at Stellar Coffee, drinking coffee and looking at the column, and that's how I found out what they were doing at the park.

"I couldn't see, I didn't know where it was yet, even though it was right across the street. I didn't know what they were talking about, and after we left the coffee shop, I asked, 'where is this park that they are talking about?' Of course, it is right across the street, and they hadn't started working on it yet."

A month later, construction began at the site.

Hayes said, "I saw the fence SEE

FLUTTER ON PAGE 14

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 | VISION MAGAZINE / 13

Looking forward to a great 2015

CULTURE

On the Horizon

2

By Sara Mitchell YPAC Board President

014 was a brilliant inaugural year for YPAC. Considering that our members are all busy people, we accomplished a lot. As one of the founders of YPAC and as the board president, I’m proud of what we’ve done and even more excited about what we’ll do in 2015.

During our first year, we kept things simple with quarterly meetings and mixers, and four big volunteer opportunities. This coming year, we will toss in more fun events, expand our volunteer efforts, and host a fundraiser.

In January. and February we have several big things happening. Our quarterly meeting will be on Jan. 17 at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art. Then on Jan.

30, a group of us will be attending Swan Lake at Spencer Theater. Shortly after that, we will be decorating bowls for the upcoming Soup and Bowl event that is raising money for Reischman Park.

We are also working on setting up a private tour of the Anderson Museum for our members.

One new thing we’re introducing this year is our Red Carpet & Cocktails events.

Building off of the mixers we threw last year for young professionals to meet and network, these social events will precede local theater productions, concerts, or symphony performances. So we’ll roll out the red carpet, have a drink, meet new faces and then head over to a show at Roswell Community Little Theatre, the Performing Arts Center at ENMU-Roswell,

FLUTTER

Continued from Page 13

with the caution tape, and it hit me as an idea. I proposed to cover it with the flutters, instead of having it look like a crime scene."

She was excited by the idea of using the facade that faces Main Street as a frame to create a piece of public art.

She continued, "I had done a couple of pieces recently on different construction site fences and another one on some bridges, and I had a lot of leftover material for it. It was effortless, almost.

There was good timing, because my friends were working on a project. If I were to do a project here in Roswell, I'd rather do something like this that brings attention to something good that is happening. Hopefully people will look at it, see the fence and wonder what is going on behind there.

"I got the idea for the flutters just by looking at a lot of different things like tibetian prayer flags. Everything from those to flags at a car parking lot. ...or even garland, or flamenco dresses... all the layering, and all the different

14 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

Pearson Auditorium, the Liberty or any of the other great venues in town. The first Red Carpet & Cocktails event will be in February for Way Way Off-Broadway’s performance of “I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change.”

Of course, we are ready to jump back in and volunteer again in 2015. We will be retur ning to Art Connect’s Celebrate the Arts Day in April, MainStreet Roswell’s Movies in the Park during the summer, and the annual Jazz Festival and RMAC Block Party in the fall.

This year we will also help out at the Soup and Bowl. Not only will we help the efforts of other community organizations, we are also planning on hosting some of our own events such as writing workshops for students in February. We are also in the plan-

colors. I have a whole series of photographs of them spinning, because I love the way that looks.

"It is up for as long as it lasts, because the material is temporary. It is ephemeral, and it is perfect for public art. It is more of an experience than something that is going to live on forever."

Funds are now being solicited for the ‘art’ part of the park, with a major Soup ‘n Bowl fundraiser being planned for next March. Hayes’ fence, however, will only be up as long as the construction fence is needed. As soon as the decorative railing being hand-crafted by Custom Wrought Iron & Welding is installed, Hayes will store the flutters until another opportunity presents itself.

The public can view other works by Rachel Hayes at the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art, 409 E. College, and additional parts of the Flutter Fence have been installed at Tinnie Mercantile & Deli, West Second & Lea Street.

See more at rachelbhayes.com.

Young Professionals for the Arts Collective

ning stages of creating a public art piece that would incorporate the work of local K-12 students.

Also in the planning stages is a big fundraiser in the fall.

Why do we want to raise money? Well, we would like to support the local art community with more than just our time and ticket sales. We would like to have money to be able to sponsor events, art projects and area artists. We are planning a big event in the fall that would showcase performing arts groups in the area and raise funds for us to put directly back into the arts.

One of the best ways we can support the vibrant local art scene is by showing up. So that’s what YPAC members will do. Show up.

We were out and about in 2014 and we will be out in full force in 2015. You will see us

at RAiR lectures and openings, concerts, plays, tastings, author readings, and opening nights. You will see us working art tables, stacking chairs, and staffing ticket tables. You will see us creating, performing, learning, teaching, giving, and building relationships.

In all we do we will be working toward our mission: fostering a community of young professionals who support the arts by volunteering, fundraising and attending events. I love the way Roswell has been supportive of this new group. I know this will continue in the new year. For membership info, you can contact me at sara@ypacroswell.org or attend any of our upcoming events.

Photo courtesy Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico Hinkel’s once stood in the current Reischman Park project location.

HISTORY

How Roswell writers helped birth the legend of Billy the Kid

From the Archive

Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico

By John LeMay Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico

B

etween the many towns that lay claim on Billy the Kid, notably Ft. Sumner and Lincoln, Roswell is sometimes forgotten in the mix. Even other New Mexico towns such as Las Vegas and Santa Fe are more associated with the Kid than Roswell.

True, Billy never had any daring escapes or notorious killings in Roswell itself, but what most folks don’t know is the early legends of Billy the Kid actually sprang from Roswell writers.

This is in large part due to the fact that the Kid’s killer, Sheriff Pat Garrett, lived in Roswell at the time of the killing in 1881. Living with Garrett and his wif e at the time was Marshall Ashmun Upson, or just Ash to his friends. Upson was no stranger to Roswell, and had been the hamlet’s second postmaster after the departure of town founder Van C. Smith. A former reporter after a stint in New York, Upson was also a writer. As such, Garrett asked Upson to help him write a book on Billy the Kid. The result was the breathlessly titled “An Authentic Life of Billy the Kid, the Noted Desperado of the Southwest, Whose Deeds of Daring and Blood Made His Name a Terror in New Mexico, Arizona and Northern Mexico by Pat F. Garrett, Sheriff of Lincoln County at Whose Hands He was Killed.”

As Upson was Garrett’s ghostwriter, many assumed Upson really wrote the whole

Photo courtesy Historical Society for Southeast New Mexico The Saga of Billy the Kid by Walter Noble Burns utilized many of the myths birthed by Roswell writers. book, but more likely Upson wrote the first eight chapters covering the Kid’s early life, while Garrett wrote all the following chapters which he took part in. Although nearly a dozen books on the Kid had already been written when “Authentic Lif e” was pub-

lished in March 1882, none were factual. Sadly, in many ways neither was Garrett and Upson’s book, despite the fact that Garrett could write firsthand of many of the events.

One of the bigger myths about the Kid was perpetrat-

ed by Upson, who said William Bonney was born in New York on November 23, 1859 (November 23, 1828 was Upson’s birthday). For many years thereafter scholars have wondered if the place of the Kid’s birth was accurate.

To Upson’s credit, he actually stayed in a boarding house ran by Billy the Kid’s mother, Kather ine Antrim, when mother and son lived in Silver City. So it’s entirely possible Upson wasn’t making up the claim about New York.

Surprisingly the book was a failure despite the popularity of Billy the Kid dime novels.

The Las Vegas Daily Optic even made the comment, “Pat Garrett is sick at Roswell.

Probably the ‘Life of Billy the Kid’ in print as executed by the New Mexican gave him gangrene of the bowels.”

Three years later came out “A Texas Cowboy” by Charles Siringo, the famous cowboy detective and Pinkerton man. Siringo, who visited the Roswell-Lincoln area semi-frequently, had a very small role in the tracking of Billy the Kid; yet his chapter on Billy the Kid in A Texas Cowboy made the book a huge bestseller of its time (Siringo claimed it sold 1 million copies). Siringo used all of the info from Upson and Garrett’s book and ended up making a killing on it. Among the myths and disinformation in Sir ingo’s book was the story that the Kid’s first kill was an African-American soldier from Ft. Union followed by a blacksmith in Silver City.

Neither story was even close to being true. But, it was from this book that most of mainstream America learned of Billy the Kid.

As for Siringo, during a stop in Roswell sometime well after the book was published, he stayed the night at the house of the Adams family the same night that their son was bor n. In tribute to the famous cowboy detective the boy was named Clarence Siringo Adams, and grew up to be one of Roswell’s first historians and a famous local personality.

Another famous Roswellian that had a hand in the Kid’s legend was Eugene Manlove Rhodes who served as editor of the Roswell Daily Record in 1905.

Rhodes’s most famous work was a novel, “Paso Por Aqui,” which features Pat Garrett as the hero and an outlaw inspired by Billy the Kid. “Paso Por Aqui” was adapted into a film, “Four Faces West,” in 1948.

Though Charles Bickford played Garrett, Roswell’s own Joel McCrea played the character based upon the Kid! McCrea was a famous Hollywood star of the 1940s who just happened to have a ranch outside of Roswell.

McCrea’s wife, Francis Dee also appeared in the film.

Quite a coincidence indeed, and it’s unknown if McCrea knew the film’s basis came from a Roswell writer.

So there you have it, from dime novels to motion pictures, Roswell writers contributed to the shaping of the legend of William H. Bonney!

John LeMay is author of several books on Roswell. Look for a new book of his on Billy the Kid from the History Press in September, 2015.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014 | VISION MAGAZINE / 15

UFOLOGY

F

ascinating, the things you can find in the Congressional Record. One would think that all such stuff must be boring beyond endurance, but don’t be too sure. Here and there, we find nuggets of valuable and revealing information, things that government agencies don’t go out of their way to advertise.

In particular, let’s consider a curious little item in the Code of Federal Regulations, namely Title 14, Section 1211 of the U.S. Federal Code, under the general heading of “Aeronautics and Space,” the section titled “Extra-terrestrial Exposure.”

This law, passed on July 16, 1969, had as its stated pur-

The government knows danger exists from alien contact Looking Up

pose an intention “to guard the Earth against any harmful contamination or adverse changes in its environment resulting from personnel, spacecraft or other property returning to the Earth after landing on or coming within the atmospheric envelope of a celestial body.”

The law goes on to explain the term “extra-terrestrially exposed,” giving the following as an example: “If person or thing A touches the surface of the Moon, and on A’s return to the Earth, B touches A and subsequently C touches B, all of these, A through C inclusive, would be extra-terrestrially exposed.” Clearly from this wording, the framers of the law were concerned about

16 | VISION MAGAZINE / THURSDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2014

the possible spreading of some unknown virus-like contagion.

Further, the law specifies that any returning astronauts must submit, whether they want to or not, to a specified period of quarantine, and that anyone violating the conditions of such quarantines would be subject to fines and/or imprisonment. This was a very no-nonsense law.

And it was enforced. The Apollo 11 astronauts were quarantined for 21 days, and similar procedures were enforced for the Apollo 12, 13, and 14 missions. (After that, NASA didn’t enforce the law, having observed that no alien organisms had ever been detected in connection with

lunar excursions).

This law applied to human astronauts returning from space missions, but it is obvious to some of us what really motivated the original passage of the law on the eve of the first manned lunar landing. By 1969 the government had known for over 20 years that technicians contacting the alien bodies from the Roswell UFO crash had encountered an exceedingly lethal virus, from which four of those technicians died.

While the moon had always been understood to be a lifeless slag-heap, officials in charge of the lunar missions were certainly right to take no chances. The only way to know whether micro-organ-

By Donald Burleson

isms existed there was to go there and find out.

Unquestionably, extreme caution was called for, when at least some government officials had already seen what could happen. It had become tragically well documented that non-terrestrial micropathogens can constitute a biological threat for which the human immune system has little or no defense. Such viruses, as evidenced by the Roswell case and later the Chihuahua, Mexico UFO crash (where as many as two dozen people died), could be frightfully fast-incubating and might well cause a runaway epidemic. As they say, better safe than sorry.