Vision Magazine Dec. 17 2015

isio n V

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MAGAZINE

DECEMBER 17, 2015

Spotlight: do you want to become a spanish citizen?

ALSO INSIDE: TOYS FOR TOTS, BERRENDO MIDDLE SCHOOL HEART FOR THE ARTS, CHAVES COUNTY DEPUTIES FIRST “THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS,” “CHRISTMAS BEST,” BOOST FOR THE RAIR FOUNDATION, HOLIDAY TRADITIONS, HOPE FOR ROSWELL AND LOOKING UP

Content

Roswell Daily Record’s

Spotlight: Do you want to become a Spanish citizen?

12 Art Berrendo Middle School shows HeART for the Arts 4 Miniature Fun on Main Street Calendar

9 6-7,10-11

Culture Chaves County Deputies First “The Night Before Christmas”

8

“Christmas Best” at the Roswell Refuge

8

Holiday Traditions

13

The Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation gets a boost 9

Toys for Tots 3

UFOlogy Looking Up

Thursday, December 17, 2015 Volume 20, Issue 23 Publisher: Barbara Beck Editor: Christina Stock Ad Design: Sandra Martinez, Steve Stone Columnists: Donald Burleson, Ben Mattice Photographer: Eveline Schreiter Get in touch with us online Facebook: PecosVisionMagazine Twitter: twitter.com/PecosVision Pinterest: pinterest.com/VisionMagazine Email: vision@rdrnews.com www: rdrnews.com/wordpress/vision-magazin 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@rdrnews.com Submissions: Call 622-7710, ext. 309, for writers’ guidelines.

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

Vision Magazine is published twice a month at 2301 N. Main St., Roswell, N.M. The contents of the publication are Copyright 2015 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

Santa’s Workshop

by Elaine Howe and Nancy Fleming

16

Young Professionals for the Arts Collective Bring Hope back to Roswell Campaign

15

Christina Stock Photo

Christina Stock Photo Members and volunteers of the Moses D. Rocha Detachment of the Marine Corps League in December 2014.

Christina Stock Photo Every child will have time to choose several presents, depending on agegroup and interest during the Toys for Tots event at the Roswell Mall.

Culture

Chaves County Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots sets up distribution at the Roswell Mall.

By Christina Stock Vision Editor

T

o receive a new toy during the holidays means fulfilled dreams and hopes for children, who otherwise may not have anything to play with at Christmas. The Marines are here to make sure that all children feel special at Christmas. “First in Fight” during their service to this country and first in giving — with a heart as wide as can be — the volunteers and members of the Moses D. Rocha Detachment #1287 of the Marine Corps League are organizing and sponsoring the Toys for Tots campaign of the Marine Corps Reserve.

Boxes for collection have been set up throughout the town at local businesses.

Distribution of the toys will be on Dec. 19 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the Roswell Mall at 4501 N. Main St. Each child will be individually guided by a Marine or volunteer through the room to choose age-appropriate gifts.

Walk-ins (non pre-registered children) will begin at 2 p.m. and continue until 4 p.m. after the pre-registered children had their turn.

For a parent or legal guardian to register a child: parent or guardian must have a photo ID, must have proof of residence in Chaves County, have the child’s birth certificate, Social Security card and medical identification. Out of state or out of country birth certificates are acceptable.

Children must be present to pick out their own gifts. However, arrangements are available for sick or disabled children. This can be arranged prior to the distribution date as well as on the distribution day.

For information or to register a child go to roswell-nm.toysfortots.org or email the organizers Jim Bloodhart at jim-ecs@hotmail.com or Alan Hartwell at alan@ipsnm.com or call 575-291-5001.

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Just Cuts Beauty Shop

Plains Park Beauty Shop Roswell Community Little Theater

Bank of the Southwest

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Lopez Insurance Agency La Familia Care Center

Located on West Hobbs at Union and Washington.

Serving Roswell for over 40 years.

Your friendly neighborhood center

Vision Magazine |

Thursday, December 17, 2015

| 3

her pen and Sharpie drawing.

Christina Stock Photo Students, teacher, parents and guests were surprised about the wide range of art and talent at the first “HeART of the Winter” show of the Berrendo Middle School.

“We selected the overall and a people’s choice award,” Main said. “We also had two businesses who sponsored us, Cuts Unlimited and the Cattle Baron Corporation.

“The amount of the entries we had and the participation — and the help and support I have gotten is wonderful. It has been great,” said Main. “Pansy brought cookies, Mrs. Martin, our school principal, supplied cookies and pizza.”

“My language art department chose a famous painting,” said 7th grade teacher Sonya McKnight. “Some of the kids wrote critiques, others poems about the paintings.”

“HeART of Winter Art Show” included the

entire art department of Berrendo Middle School, all the art classes and the yearbook project.

The next event for the art class of Berrendo Middle School is the second semester district art school show in Spring 2016. “The ‘HeArt of Winter’ show will definitely return next year,” said Main.

“It is going to be an annual contest.”

Berrendo Middle School is located at 800 Marion Richards Road.

For more information call Jeannette Main at 575-627-2775, ext. 5635 or email jmain@risd. k12.nm.us.

RECYCLE THIS PAPER

Art

Berrendo shows HeArt for the Arts Art, pizza and cookies — all senses were covered at the first art show of Berrendo Middle School.

By Christina Stock Vision Editor

B

errendo Middle School’s first art show “HeART of Winter” on Dec. 3 shone with 193 student pieces for judging and 25 teacher pieces for display, including the language arts department’s essays regarding the work of several master artists.

“I was trying to find a catchy title for an art show rather than just ‘art show,’” said teacher and organizer Jeanette

Main. “So I was looking for a word that I could play with that had the word ‘art’ in it. I saw something that had the word heart and I put it together from that.”

Every child is an artist, the trick is to keep the art in one’s life growing up. Berrendo Middle School is laying the foundation for an artistic future for their students.

Judges were Pansy Moffitt, Southeast New

Mexico Economic Development District; Brandy Main, assistant teacher for Berrendo School Kindergarten and Sherry Armbruster, special education, reading intervention and skills development.

218 art pieces were judged. Students received ribbons for placing first, second and third. Overall winner is 8th-grader Kaitlyn Heywood. Harlena Johanson also won for

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Christina Stock Photo The kids of Berrendo Middle School displayed multi-media art including masks, miniatures, sculptures and paintings.

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Calendar Ongoing Events Roswell Every first Thursday of the month Meeting of the Sand Diver Scuba Club at 6:30 p.m.

The location changes.

For details call the Scuba Shop at 575-973-8773 or visit scubashoproswell. com.

Roswell Every first Friday of the month

Roswell

Roswell

Every third Tuesday of the month

Every second Wednesday of the month

Sgt. Moses D. Rocha Marine Corps League Detachment 1287 Meeting

Roswell Woman’s Club Meeting

Marine Corps League Meeting at 1506 E. 19th St. at 7 p.m. One of the Marine Corps League’s major events is Toys for Tots, providing toys for kids who would otherwise not have any presents on Christmas. For more information, call 575-578-4689.

Roswell

Pecos Valley Steam Society Social

Every Wednesday — all season

This is not only for Steampunk fans. Everybody is invited, Goth, Cyber, Emu etc. No dress code.

The meeting is usually at Stella Coffee Co., 315 N Main St. at 6 p.m. For more information follow them on Facebook.

Men’s Senior Golf tournament The tournament takes place in the morning for Spring River Men’s Senior Golf at the Spring River Golf Course.

Call the golf course at 575-622-9506 for additional information.

The Roswell Woman’s Club usually meets at Los Cerritos Restaurant, 2103 N. Main St. at noon.

The RWC support the community with scholarships and the arts. For more information about the club “like” their new Facebook page or call Rhonda Borque Johnson at 505-917-1292.

Roswell Every Week, Mon 8 Ball Pool League Attention all pool players! Roswell Ball Busters is Roswell’s own local BCA sanctioned 8 ball pool league. They are accepting new teams. They play every Monday night at 7. Venues are Farleys, Variety, Fraternal Order of Eagles and Center City bowling alley. Play there and get a chance to play BCA national in Las Vegas, Nevada all expenses paid. For more

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Roswell Every Week, Mon Meeting of chanters

the

En-

The Enchanters are inviting new members to their Monday night rehearsals at Peachtree Retirement Village from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. All ladies who like to sing are invited to join. The Enchanters are performing for free for special occasions. They are planning a special benefit concert of Christmas music this year — supporting the Roswell Refuge. For more information call Veloy Millett at 575-6230580.

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 347-2464 or visit wafbmuseum.org.

Roswell Every Week, Mon - Sat Peace Strength

Through

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 wafbmuseum.org.

Roswell Every Week, Tue, Wed, Thu Games at Pair-A-Dice Pair-A-Dice game shack, located at 309 N. Main St., holds weekly gaming events. For more information, call 575-

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Roswell Every Week, Wed Weekly Knockout The Roswell Fighting Game Community presents Weekly Knockout at The Unity Center located at 108 E. Bland St. every 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. Roswell Every Week, Thu T-Tones at El Toro Bravo The T-Tones play at El Toro Bravo at 102 S. Main St. from 6 - 8 p.m. For more information, call El Toro Bravo at 622-9280.

Roswell Every Week, Thu Bingo at the Elks Lodge Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner service. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Open for the public. 1720 N. Montana Ave. 575-6221560.

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Calendar Roswell Every Week, Fri Tina at El Toro Bravo

Roswell

Ongoing throughout December

Ongoing until February 1

Art classes at The Gallery at Main Street Arts

New Exhibit at the Roswell Museum and Art Center

Roswell

The Gallery at Main Street Arts, 223 N. Main St., is offering classes and a special selection of small gifts throughout the month of December.

For more information, call 575-625-5263 or 575-623-3213.

Every Week, Sat

Roswell

Open Jam at Dragon and Rose

Ongoing throughout December

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 575-840-5744.

December is First Responders Month

Tina Williams performs at El Toro Bravo at 102 S. Main St. from 6 - 8 p.m.

For more information, call El Toro Bravo at 6229280.

Roswell Every Week, Sat 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 575-840-5744.

Calendar

Roswell

Roswell Police and First Responders in uniform get free coffee at following locations: Dec. 1 - 10 at McDonald’s North and South locations. Dec. 11-15 at Stellar Coffee 1t 315 N. Main St. and at Hastings Hardback Cafe from Dec. 16-31. For more information contact the participating locations. The Snowberger family (owners of all the Roswell McDonald’s restaurants), Stellar Office and the Hardback Cafe are sponsoring this event, which they are calling “Operation Appreciation.”

In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion, the RMAC is opening a new exhibit on Nov. 6, “A Solid Green Mess: Howard Cook’s World War II Drawings.” Pulled from the Museum’s vaults, this show features drawings and paintings created by Taos artist Howard Cook during his time as an art correspondent in the South Pacific.

Paintings on loan from the New Mexico Military Institute will also be on view. The RMAC is located 100 W. 11th St. For more information visit roswellmuseum.org or call 575-624-6744.

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December 17 COPE Benefit Christmas Concert Christmas Variety show featuring the Flickinger House Band plus guest artists. perform at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts, 1110 New York Ave., at 7 p.m.

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

Lovington December 17 A Brief History of Christmas Music by Andy Mason Live performance by Andy Mason at the Lovington Public Library, 115 S. Main St. Who wrote the “12 days of Christmas?” Why is “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” so popular? Who sang “Rockin’ around the Christmas tree?” The answers to these questions and many more can be found at “A Brief Histo-

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ry of Christmas Music” at the Library at 5 p.m.

It’s an opportunity for the whoe family to sing along. For more information or if special assistance is required, contact LPL at 574-396-3144.

Roswell December 17 Christmas Open House at the Chamber of Commerce The roswell Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Christmas Open House at 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

The chamber is located at 131 W. Second St. Learn about the Chamber and their different organizations such as the Roswell Redcoats and Leadership Roswell while enjoying hot cocoa and festive treats.

For more information contact the Chamber at 575-623-5695.

Roswell December 17 Live Music at The Liberty Joe West & The Santa Fe Revue Holiday Shindig perform at the private club The Liberty, 312 N. Virginia Ave. The event is for club members and invited guests only. For more information and tickets ($20) call The Liberty at 575-627-2121.

Dexter December 19 Santa is coming to town and he needs help Santa is going to be at the Fire & Rescue station in Dexter at 200 E. Second St. from 6 - 9 p.m.

This year they are having a winter wonderland for the kids and their families. They are transforming the fire station into a fun filled evening full of cookies and hot chocolate, and a winter 10 >>

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Vision Magazine |

Thursday, December 17, 2015

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Culture

“Christmas Best” at the Roswell Refuge

By Christina Stock Vision Editor his season, be dashing, be different and be unique. Bring a unique tree to your home and support a good cause. Each of their “Christmas Best” trees is one-of-a-kind and will bring joy to your festivities.

This event is a fund raising and all proceeds benefit the Roswell Refuge. Bidding has started on their Facebook page and will close at midnight on Dec. 17. The bids start at $100 each.

The mission of the Roswell Refuge is to provide a safe environment and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and to educate the community about the effects of domestic violence on adults, children, and the community-at-large.

Domestic abuse victims may want to err on the side of caution and take extra safety precautions during the holidays. To minimize the possibility of violent confrontations, consider the following:

T

Courtesy Art of the Police Benevolent Organization

Culture

Chaves County Deputies First “The Night Before Christmas”

By Christina Stock Vision Editor his Holiday, the Chaves County Deputies are planning to make the Holidays for at least two families in Chaves County one to remember. The Communities

T

are Roswell, Dexter, Hagerman, Lake Arthur, Midway, Greenfield and Dunken.

They would like to provide for the chosen families a Christmas tree, dinner, gifts

and maybe even a cash donation.

The Chaves County Deputies are asking for help to make this come true. Any and all donations are welcome and appreciated. There is also an account set up at Pioneer Bank (all locations) under “The Night Before Christmas.” Donations can be dropped off at the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office. Pickup can be arranged by contacting Rena Vasquez at 575910-0498, Tina Ramirez at 575-495-1009 or Aida Villarreal at 626-2228878.

Families can be nominated by sending a letter detailing the family and why they should

8 / V i s i o n M a g a z i n e | Thursday, December 17, 2015

be chosen. Include the number and ages of any children. Letters can be mailed to Chaves County Sheriff’s Office at P.O. Box 1396, Roswell, NM 88202 or dropped off at the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office at #1 Saint Mary’s Place in Roswell. Deadline for nominations is Dec. 18.

• • • •

Identify easy exits, no matter where you are; Establish “code words” for kids to signal a potential problem; Avoid arguments in the kitchen; and Become familiar with how to obtain a restraining order.

Call the 24-hour hotline of the Roswell Refuge at 575-627-8361 for help and support.

The office of the Roswell Refuge is located at 1215 N. Garden. The shelter is located at 1306 W. College Blvd.

Courtesy Photo The Roswell Artist-in-Residence compound includes studios and housing.

Left: Submitted Photo - close-up right: Christina Stock Photo The Miniature display at the New Mexico Energy Library on Main Street.

Culture

The Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation gets a boost

By Christina Stock Vision Editor he National Endowment for the Arts awards more than $27.6 Million across the nation — $15,000 was awarded to the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation.

In its first 50 years, the National Endowment for the Arts awarded more than $5 billion in grants to recipients in every state and U.S. jurisdiction, the only arts funder in the nation to do so. On Dec. 8 the NEA announced awards totaling more than $27.6 million in its first funding round of fiscal year 2016, including an Art Works award of $15,000 to the RAiR Foundation to assist in funding six individual year-long residencies for artists to create new bodies of work.

The Art Works category supports the creation of art work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “The arts are part of our everyday lives – no matter who you are or where you live – they have the power to transform individuals, spark economic vibrancy in communities, and transcend the boundaries across diverse sectors of society. Supporting projects like the one from the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Foundation offers more opportunities to engage in the arts every day.”

For the last 25 years Stephen Flem-

T

ing, the Director of the Roswell Artist-in-Residence Program, has witnessed the benefit of RAiR’s past NEA awards and acknowledges the significance of the current Art Works grant.

“The National Endowment for the Arts funding for our program enables us to continue to bring visual artists of the highest caliber to southeastern New Mexico to experience the beauty of the land and it’s people and to add their unique voices to the diverse culture of our region,” Fleming said.

“Also importantly, these federal dollars will find their way back into the Roswell community through our local merchants and contribute to the region’s economy.”

For information on the RAiR Program and its rich cultural legacy visit rair.org and the website for the Anderson Museum of Contemporary Art – the permanent public collection of art work created by artists on the RAiR grant since 1967 – roswellamoca.org.

Art

Miniature Fun

Time to visit downtown Main Street to get a peak at Santa’s shop.

By Christina Stock Vision Editor oswell’s Main Street now includes Santa’s workshop and a holiday-themed saloon in miniature.

The New Mexico Energy Library at 318 N. Main St. is generously hosting a window display that can be viewed from the sidewalk 24/7 as both miniature displays have lighting elements.

The two miniatures were originally created some 20 years ago

by Joe and Anita Head (workshop) and Jack and Lannie Dunham (saloon).

They were recently “adopted” by local artists Elaine Howe and Nancy Fleming who repaired, refurbished, re-filled and repurposed the miniatures into the current display.

The two women are not quite done with their “miniature madness.” They are currently searching for other homeless or about to be homeless miniatures,

R

miniature or dollhouse fittings, collections of small things, as well as a place to store these tiny treasures.

Eventually Howe and Fleming would like to create more public displays and/or find a permanent place for an installation accessible

to the public. To contact them, leave a message at the Anderson Museum at 575-623-5600.

FARMERS COUNTRY MARKET Del Norte - Plains Park - 2nd & Garden

For Week of Dec. 21- Jan. 5

Winter Break!

Have a safe and happy holiday season.

See you next year!

Vision Magazine |

Thursday, December 17, 2015

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>>7

Roswell

Calendar

wonderland pathway.

There will be trees and decorations throughout the walkway. They will also have a mini workshop and presents being wrapped. At the end of the road, there will be Santa Claus. The kids will get to sit on his lap and parents can take pictures. Each kid will get a goodie bag. The firefighters are asking for donations to buy everything, or to bring cookies. In conjunction with the Dexter consolidated Schools they have chosen a few families and children to go shopping with Santa for needed items as clothing, groceries and toys. To help or for more information visit Dexter Fire & Rescue Facebook page or contact Justin at 575-3657655, dep_chiefpowell@ plateautelnet or James at 575-910-9701, chiefsalas@firehouse.mail. com.

December 19 Free Showing of “A Christmas Story” The Yucca Recreation Center hosts at 6 p.m. the free showing of “A Christmas Story.” The audience can bring their own chairs and blankets or sit on the bleachers. Concession will be open, but the audience can also bring their own food and drinks. This event is being brought to you by MainStreet Roswell and the City of Roswell Parks and Recreation Department.

Roswell December 19 Fundraising for the HOPE Amphitheater Young Professional for the Arts Council invites everybody to join Roswell restaurants’ for a day of HOPE. Eat at the following participating restaurants and 10% of food sales will be donated to the HOPE Amphi theatre fundraising campaign. Participating restaurants: Chef Toddzilla’s Moviel Cuisine (Noon-3 p.m.), Cowboy

Cafe (6 a.m.-2 p.m.), Eli’s Bistro (10:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.), Ruidoso December 19 Ski Apache 6th annual Dummy Gelunde Ski Jump and Torchlight Parade For $50 participation fee teams build their own snow-riding dummies, attached to a pair of skis, snowboard or anything sliding. They then launch the handmade contraptions over a giant onsnow jump. Dummies are judged on distance, air, creativity, takeoff, landing and crowd response.

There are several cash prizes. The Championship will be held on Easy Street at Ski Apache starting at noon until 6:30 p.m. Following is the torchlight parade down the Capitan trail ending with a fireworks show and entertainment. For more information visit skiapache.com or call 575-464-3600 or 1-800545-9011.

Ruidoso/Alto December 19-20 “The Nutcracker” This original adaptation of Tchaikovsky’s Christmas classic “The Nutcracker” features Ruidoso’s Dali Ballet Company. It is true eye-candy with outstanding dancers, lavish sets, special effects and gorgeous costumes. There will be three performances, on Saturday at 2 and 7 p.m. and on Sunday at 2 p.m.

For tickets or further information visit spen-

10 / V i s i o n M a g a z i n e | Thursday, December 17, 2015

certheater.com or call 575-336-4800.

Carlsbad December 20 “You Can’t Take it With You” at the Carlsbad Community Theatre

Roswell

Alamogordo

December 21-23 and 28-31

December 27

Christmas Vacation Fun Program “Snow and on the Go”

The romantic comedy is directed by LaWanda Scholl and begins at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, students $6.

The Carlsbad Community Theatre is located at 4713 National Parks Highway. For more information and tickets visit cctinfo.org or call 575887-3157.

Registration is taking place for the The Yucca Recreation Center’s Christmas Vacation Fun Program at their location at 500 S. Richardson Ave. The cost for the program is $12 per day. The events scheduled include field trips, sports, movies and holiday crafts. For more information call 575-6246719 or go to their Facebook page.

Roswell

Artesia

December 20

December 23

First Responder Turkey Dinner

Teen Christmas Movie Marathon

The Roswell Elks lodge is having a special smoked turkey dinner from 3 - 6 p.m. to honor First Responders from our community and their families. The Elks lodge is located at 1720 N. Montana Ave. For more information call John Besing at 575-420-8882 or the lodge secretary Jack Finlay in the morning at 575-622-1560.

The Artesia Public Library are the hosts for the Teen Christmas Movie Marathon, starting at noon until 6 p.m. This is a come and go event.

There is no fee to attend.

Cookies and hot chocolate will be provided.

The Artesia Public Library is located at 205 W. Quay Ave.

Roswell

December 25

December 20

Christmas Day lunch

“The Messiah” by F. F. Handel

First United Methodist Church is hosting a lunch at noon. All who attend are asked to bring a side dish to share. For reservation call the church at 575-622-1881 to let them know and what dish will be brought. The church is located at 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave.

First United Methodist Church presents “The Messiah” by G. F. Handel at 3 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

The church is located at 200 N. Pennsylvania Ave. For more information call 575-622-1881.

Roswell

Lake Lucero Tour Have you ever wondered how the White Sands formed? Take a tour at 10 a.m. 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. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1.50 for kids and America the Beautiful Senior and Access pass holders. Reservations are required and accepted in advance on their webpage at nps.gov/whsa/ or call 575-679-2599.

Roswell December 31 New Year’s Eve Dance The Roswell Adult Center is sponsoring a New Year’s Eve Dance at their center at 807 N. Missouri Ave. A variety of music will be provided by Cibolo Springs, cost is $10 per person and tickets need to be purchased in advance. The event will be held from 8 p.m - 1 a.m. There will be refreshments, party favors and sparkling cider for all in attendance. For more information, contact the Roswell Adult Center at 575-624-6718 or visit their Facebook page.

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Calendar

Roswell December 31 New Years Eve Party at Tequila D’s Hip Hop Extravaganza at Tequilas Nightclub at 6514 Old Dexter Hwy. Amazon DJ is playing all your favorite Norteño, Reggeaton and Cummmbias. Plus for the main event, Power 106’s own, DJ Diamond Tip are ready to Hip-Hop and R&B. Entry is $5. Fore more information call 575-347-9739.

Ruidoso December 31 New Year’s Eve Party at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Entertainment includes a performance by Art Deco and his Society Orchestra, DJ and Dinner. Tickets are $125 and seating is limited. The event starts at 7 p.m. The Inn of the Mountain Gods is located at 287 Carrizozo Canyon Rd. For tickets and more information visit innofthemountaingods.com or call 1-800545-9011.

Carlsbad

Roswell

January 2

January 8

Free Christmas Bird Count at Guadalupe Mountains National Park

Live Music at Pecos Flavors Winery

The Christmas Bird Count is a nation-wide event that involves citizens in monitoring and documenting bird populations. The event is over 100 years old and has created a large amount of data to better understand the health of bird populations. Join rangers in the field to help with this effort at Guadalupe Mountains National Park.

The park has a tremendous amount of biological diversity, reflected in different habitats and bird species. Hikes to birding areas range from easy to steep and strenuous. The count starts at 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m. For more information call the Visitor Center at 915828-3251, ext. 2314.

Carlsbad January 7 Carlsbad Concerts Live! presents The Lincoln Trio The young classical artists deliver an engaging program of classical and contemporary works.

The performance starts at 7:30 p.m. at the PR Leyva School Auditorium, 800 W. Church St. Tickets are $20. For reservation or further information visit carlsbadconcerts. com or call Wayne Roberts at 575-200-0120.

Russel James Pyle performs at 6 p.m. at the Pecos Flavors Winery, 305, N. Main St. For more information and tickets call Pecos Flavors Winery at 575-627-6265 or 1-866-509-9463 or visit pecosflavorswinery. com.

Roswell January 8,9, 10 and 15, 16, 17

Performances are on January 8, 9 and 15, 16 at 7:30 p.m. and on Jan. 10 and 17 at 2 p.m.

The Roswell community Little Theatre is located at 1717 S. Union Ave. For tickets or further information call 575-6221982 or visit their webpage at roswelltheater. com.

If you would like your event listed on the entertainment calendar, please email vision@ rdrnews.com or call 6227710 ext. 309.

Roswell Community Little Theatre presents “The Mystery of Irma Vep” Michael Sweeney directs the newest production of the Roswell Community Little Theatre “The Mystery of Irma Vep.” This is a full-blown, no holding back slapstick comedy that will keep the audience laughing until they fall of their chairs. It is a spoof on mysteries as Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rebecca” or any werewolf, vampire mystery in existence. The play is by Charles Ludlam.

Who is who and are there ghosts, werewolfes or loonatics in the woods of England — or do they all drink to much hot toddy?

The play brings you from England to Egypt and will have the audiences heads spinning. Main actors are Robin Hayes and Peter Powell. Tickets can be purchased in advance as Christmas gifts for friends and family.

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Christina Stock Photo Conquistador armor on display at the Roswell Museum and Art Center as part of the “West of Beyond: The Rogers and Mary Ellen Aston Collection” of the American West Aston Galleries.

Spotlight

Do you want to become a Spanish Citizen?

Best kept secret - a hidden history of New Mexico. Spain welcomes back Jews who fled the country to New Mexico during Inquisition, but you got to prove it first.

By Christina Stock Vision Editor hen Alex Urquides of Roswell brought to my attention that Spain was inviting back the Jewish community I was only a little surprised. It was not news to me that New Mexico had a strong history with Sephardic Jews.

A couple of years ago, I was researching holiday traditions and influences in New Mexico when I found a lead that brought me to a small blogging webpage out of Albuquerque that was called “Tracing the Tribe.”

It talked about the Sephardic Jewish community, DNA research and the heritage of New Mexico Crypto Jewish refugees by Professor Stanley Hordes at the University of New Mexico. One quote caught my attention: “Research shows Sephardic Jews held on to their religion in secret after leaving Spain and Portugal during the Spanish Inquisition

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in the late 15th century, which eventually followed them into the New World.”

Jewish Spaniards came to New Mexico with the conquistadors. What a dangerous and smart way to escape the brutal clutches of the Inquisition in Europe.

The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment of heresy, which was marked by the severity of questioning and punishment and lack of rights afforded to the accused. It started in 1198 and spread like wildfire throughout Europe.

Fear of Jewish influence led Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to write a petition to the Pope asking permission to start an Inquisition in Spain. In 1483, Tomas de Torquemada became the inquisitor-general for most of Spain, he set tribunals in

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many cities. Also heading the Inquisition in Spain were two Dominican monks, Miguel de Morillo and Juan de San Martin.

Any heretic (those who did not follow the Catholic church) had three choices. Repent and become Catholic — a “converso,” confess after found out and burn at the stake with strangulation or not confessing and burn at the stake without strangulation.

Many would confess but secretly continue to follow the Talmud.

Gaspar Castaño de Sosa was the first documented “converso” to travel into New Mexico in the late 1570s. He accompanied Alberto del Canto in the founding of Saltillo. He became lieutenant governor of Nuevo León. Castaño was mentioned in historical documents as a Portuguese, a term that at that time was synonymous with “Jew.” Moving so far away from Spain gave many conversos the chance —while openly being Catholic — to secretly keep their Jewish traditions.

The New Mexico Jews are called Crypto-Jews and with few exceptions, their life and families were left alone in the high desert of New Mexico.

Some families forgot their roots, but traditions remained from their jewish past, such as lighting candles on Friday, not eating pork products, observing Sabbath on Saturday and circumcising their children prior to the 1930’s. In the 1930’s the U.S. Health Department started advising pediatricians to encourage circumcising and to promote hygienic care.

Today Spain reaches out for a new connection. A connection that most Jews with Spanish origins are rather skeptical about.

The Spanish Parliament has approved a law that allows descendants of Jews expelled from the country in 1492 to seek Spanish citizenship.

The June 11 vote — 292 in favor, 0 against, 16 abstentions, 42 no-shows — in the Congress of Deputies (the lower house of Parliament) marked the final legal hurdle for a much-hyped initiative that was originally proposed in November 2012, and approved by the Spanish Cabinet in February 2014.

Also known as the “Right of Return” for Sephardic Jews (Sepharad means Spain in Hebrew), the new law purports to grant Spanish citizenship to anyone who can meet two seemingly straightforward requirements: prove Sephardic heritage, and demonstrate a “special connection” to Spain.

This may sound straight forward, but isn’t. There are several steps to follow, including speak Ladino or Haketia (a dying language). Other documents necessary: 1) a copy of the articles of incorporation of the religious entity; 2) a certificate that includes the names of the entity’s legal representatives; and 3) a document that shows that the religious entity is legally recognized in the country of origin. see

Spain

on page

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Those early settlers kept their traditions and mixed them into a unique celebration of cultures. Here are some of the origins of wellknown traditions, that might inspire to incorporate into your family.

Christina Stock Photo

Culture

Holiday Traditions

By Christina Stock Vision Editor oswell and Southeast New Mexico is influe n c e d b y m an y c u l tures throughout the last centuries — this shows especially during

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the holidays — you just need to check the names of the pioneers who built this community. The first were the native Americans, then came the Spanish and

Mexican, followed with the early pioneers and entrepreneurs coming from the north of the U.S. — these had mostly British, Irish and German roots.

mas markets, carols and crafting tree decorations. In Germany children would decorate their tree with hand-

made paper and straw ornaments, in the booming ‘50s chocolate stars would be added. Chilsee Culture on page 14

Apache – Original Americans Everybody knows that the Spanish Conquistadors influenced our native tribes. It is good to know, that their culture, original dances and songs could be saved by the elders.

On Christmas Eve, after Holy Mass the old dances are performed: Buffalo, Deer and Antelope Dances (for protection, food and rain).

How about teaching your children about the vibrant history and culture from our Native American Tribes. Did you know, Disney’s “Bambi” was based on Navajo art and history?

Germany Many traditions origin in Germany: The Advent Calendar, counting the days until Christmas, is one. Then there is the Christmas tree, Christ-

Eveline Schreiter Photo Booth display at the Christmas market in Wiesbaden/Germany.

Spain

Continued from Page 12 After an applicant has obtained validation of his or her Sephardic identity, he or she will need to complete the vetting process by proving a “special connection” to Spain. This involves passing two exams: A test to demonstrate basic Spanish language proficiency, and another test to show an understanding of the Spanish Constitution, and of Spanish culture and society.

Adding to that is a time limit. Prospective applicants have only until Oct. 1, 2018, to complete the entire process.

The New Mexico Jewish Historical Society out of Albuquerque supports the recent Spanish law to offer dual citizenship to New Mexico applicants having Sephardic traditions, genealogy, DNA, and Jewish roots. According to Judy Weinstein at NMJHS, New Mexico Converso descendants will choose individually to pursue or reject this pathway. While some descendants embrace the application process by taking tests on the Spanish language and history while also submitting Sephardic required documentation, other persons may decline to initiate the application because Spain expelled their ancestors in 1492.

Some descendants may fear safety issues in Spain with the recent terrorist actions against Jews in Europe. Other descendants are surveying the situation.

For descendants of Conversos having a desire to learn more about their Jewish

identity via genetic testing, Bennett Greenspan, president of Family Tree DNA, will hold a workshop sponsored by the NMJHS on February 28 at the Jewish Community Center in Albuquerque. The office of NMJHS is located at the Jewish Community Center, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE. For further information call 505-348-4471 or email admin@nmjhs.org.

On Nov. 30, King Filipe VI thanked representatives of Sephardim from various countries for saving their language and customs. 4,302 people who identified themselves as descendants of Sephardim were already granted citizenship.

There was no New Mexican Sephardim represented, which is no surprise.

Living in the United States and especially in the “Land of Enchantment” has many benefits including green chile, why would you give that up to become a Spanish citizen?

For more information contact the Spanish consulate near you or cryptojew. org.

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Culture

Continued from Page 13

Irish Christmas The placing of a ring of Holly on doors originated in Ireland as Holly was one of the main plants that flourished at Christmas time and which gave the poor to decorate their humble homes.

All decorations are traditionally taken down on Little Christmas (Jan. 6) and it is considered to be bad luck to take them down beforehand.

Traditional Gaelic salutation: The Gaelic greeting for Merry Christmas is: Nollaig Shona Duit, which is pronounced as null-ig hun-a dit.

Spanish Christmas Christmas dinner is never eaten until after midnight. It is a family feast, and often highlighted with “Pavo Trufado de Navidad” (Christmas turkey with truffles; yes, in this the United States introduced the Turkey to Spain). The rejoicing continues through the wee hours of the morning. An old Spanish verse says, “Esta noche es Noche-Buena, Y no es noche de dormir” (This is the goodnight, therefore it is not meant for sleep).

It is not Santa who comes to Spain bearing gifts, but the Three Wise Men. The Spanish Christmas continues for a few weeks after Dec. 25. On the Eve of Epiphany, Jan. 5, children place their shoes on the doorstep, and in the secret of the night, the Three Wise Men pass leaving gifts. January 6, Epiphany is heralded with parades in various cities where candy and cakes are distributed to throngs of children.

Courtesy Photo by the Irish Chamber of Tourism Traditional Irish ring of Holly. dren were permitted one chocolate per evening before Christmas. On Christmas eve, when the Christ child would bring the presents, it would also decorate the tree with tinsels and add the candles.

Great Britain In England Boxing Day celebrated on December 26th, is traditionally a time to give gifts to tradesmen, servants, and friends.

It originated in medieval times, when every priest was supposed to empty the alms box of his church and distribute gifts to the poor. Wealthy people indulged in huge Christmas feasts, and when they were finished, packed up the remains of feasts in boxes and gave them out to their servants. It didn’t become widely celebrated until Victorian England.

Courtesy Photo by Yavidaxiu “Rompiendo la piñata” — traditional Mexican Posada.

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Mexico Posada: Originating in Spain, now celebrated in Mexico and New Mexico, beginning Dec. 15 and ending Dec. 23, on evenings (about 8 or 10 p.m.). Two children or adults dress up as Mary and Joseph. Certain houses are designated to be an “inn.” The head of the process with a lamp, knocks at the door and Mary and Joseph enter to pray at the “innkeepers” Nativity scene. There are big traditional star-shaped Piñatas with goodies for children to break. Depending on the region this procession can get very opulent with a donkey, angels and musicians. In smaller communities a feast ends the procession.

New Mexico Favorite traditions in New Mexico is the baking of the State cookie: Biscochito’s, enjoying sweet or savory tamales, having posole at midnight and on New Year’s eve at midnight eating grapes and black-eyed peas for good luck and money.

No matter how you celebrate your holidays, from our family to yours, We wish you a wonderful season, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and a Happy New Year!

See you in 2016!

Archive Photo Once upon a time in Germany.

Culture

Bring Hope Back to Roswell Campaign

On the Horizon

Young Professionals for the Arts Collective

By Ben Mattice

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hey have spent weeks on the campaign, spreading the word, handing out posters, running benefit events, saturating social media, asking for donations, rubbing shoulders with the influential and the powerful, negotiating deals, and making everybody they meet a believer. They’re exhausted and it is only halfway through the campaign.

Now, at this point, you may have pictured an army of smartly dressed young people riding around the United States behind the bus of some bigwig politician. But what I just described is the Bring Hope Back to Roswell Campaign, in which a handful of people have gotten together to raise the funds to refurbish the Hope Amphitheater and bring it back up to working and profitable condition.

Several events have already taken place across Roswell thanks to the efforts of Stellar Coffee Company, Kana Yoga, Tom Bennet, Secret Circus and

Toddzilla. These events, along with the generous donations at the Bring Hope Back to Roswell Generosity.com crowd funding campaign, have raised over $3,000 of the $40,000 needed to fix up Hope Amphitheater and run it as a venue. They have already planned a soon to be announced enchilada dinner at Third Street Station, and there is a rumor going around that a jazz ensemble might be willing to put on a show to benefit the cause. The community of Roswell has already done amazing things for Bring Hope Back to Roswell.

But as stated earlier, this campaign is only halfway through. These campaigners, along with the businesses in Roswell, are not quite done with Hope Amphitheater. A long road is ahead for those who want to save what Art Aiello, Timothy Jennings, and Robert Corn built in 1978. But the next step on that road comes to Roswell on Dec. 19.

All across Roswell restaurants will participate in a “dine to donate” fundraiser called Hope Across

Archive Photo Hope Amphitheater Roswell. On this day, six local Roswell restaurants have pledged to donate 10 percent of their food sales on Dec. 19 to Bring Hope Back to Roswell. These restaurants are Toddzilla’s Mobile Cuisine, Cowboy Cafe, Eli’s Bistro, Los Cerritos Mexican Food, Pepper’s Grill and Bar, and Terry’s Sale Barn Cafe. By the time this article is published there could possibly be even more restaurants participating. Stay updated by liking the Young Professionals for the Arts Collective on Facebook. And if you want to donate directly go to bringhopeback.com.

Many times the words “There is nothing to do in Roswell” spill out of

someone’s lips. The pervading perception in Roswell is that we live in a boring town where nothing ever happens.

We’re three hours from everything and if you ever want to go to a “real” concert, or a “real” play, you have to go to Albuquerque.

This, of course is not particularly true as we have two amazing venues in The Liberty and the Pearson that bring in excellent talent. But we don’t have a venue that is not as large as the Pearson, but bigger than The Liberty. When we bring Hope back to Roswell, gone will be the days when someone could say, “There is nothing to do in Roswell.”

How then can you

participate in this campaign? First, eat out at one of those six restaurants on Dec. 19. You will not only get a great local meal, but you will also help bring something back, something to do in Roswell. Second, tell your friends to donate. If half of Roswell gave two dollars there would be more than enough money to Bring Back Hope to Roswell. If we save The Hope Amphitheater, we will be one step closer to Roswell being known not only for its aliens, but also for its brave people and their incredible arts and culture.

You are our only hope for Hope.

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Roswell: still the classic UFO event

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n the field of UFO studies as in other areas of human endeavor, you can’t believe everything you hear. True, we investigators listen to all the accounts brought to us and try to keep an open mind. Nothing can change the fact, though, that some things one is told are accurate while some are not. Even sincere individual witnesses can be mistaken.

Often of course we don’t have photographic evidence, but only the verbal accounts given by sighting witnesses, and it may be difficult to evaluate such

UFOlogy

Looking Up

By Donald Burleson

evidence. When a lone witness in a desolate spot sees something strange in the sky that nobody else has reported seeing, how do we know that this was an anomalous object and not something more conventional? It may end up taking all our ingenuity to try to find out, and indeed we may never know for sure.

So, what kind of witness evidence turns out to be the most convincing? One desirable scenario is having authoritative and well informed people as witnesses, as in the Socorro, New Mexico

UFO landing episode of April 1964, where the primary experiencers were state and local police officers. Or we get reports where the witnesses were pilots, who are knowledgeable about airborne objects and trained to do things like estimating the distance, altitude, size, and air speed of things seen in the sky.

But another possibility is having multiple witnesses who (optimally) don’t know each other, or at least don’t have a chance to compare notes about their descriptions but still largely agree about the

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details of what they saw.

This is one of the things most strongly tending to make the case of the Roswell UFO crash of July 1947 a highly credible and well attested case, one that deserves the fame it has garnered over the years, and one that stands as perhaps the best supported UFO event of all time.

The fortunate thing is that UFO investigators have interviewed literally hundreds of witnesses to the Roswell incident, and the memories these people have shared do weave together into a reason-

ably cohesive account of what happened. To be sure, there are some pieces of the puzzle missing; the exact location of the crash site is still a matter of controversy, for example. But overall, the information provided by those many witnesses is pretty consistent, and the story it tells puts Roswell, New Mexico squarely at the center of one of the most important events in human history.

Of course in this field we all know that there are other well supported UFO cases, for instance the Stephenville, Texas sighting flap

of January 2008, when there were a great many witnesses scattered over a wide geographic area. Or the Lubbock Lights (August 1951), for which some years ago I found new witnesses all over West Texas, and for which there exist first-rate photographs.

But all things considered, what happened in July 1947 has many distinctive features, and there is still no UFO story quite like Roswell.