enchantment The Voice of New Mexico’s Rural Electric Cooperatives
SOCORRO ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
FEBRUARY 2021
First-Class Art The mural "First Mail Crossing Raton Pass" by Joseph Fleck in 1936 is one of many paintings commissioned by the U.S. Treasury Section of Fine Arts near the end of the Depression. Read about New Mexico's historical paintings on page 14.
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Hale to the Stars Youth Art Winners
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FEBRUARY 2021 CONTENTS We Are enchantment View From enchantment Hale to the Stars
Generator Safety Energy Sense Book Chat First-Class Art Your Electric Co-op Electricity Brings Everyday Value
On the Menu NMSU Sparks Career Power Line Anatomy The Market Place Youth Art
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How to contact enchantment
Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month
Heating your living space uses more energy than any other system in your home—about % of your utility bill. Combine maintenance and upgrades with recommended insulation, air sealing and thermostat settings to save about % on energy costs.
Phone 505-982-4671
Email enchantment@nmelectric.coop Facebook facebook.com/enchantmentnmreca Mail 614 Don Gaspar Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87505 Community Events events@nmelectric.coop Display Ads enchantmentads@nmelectric.coop Book Chat Inquiries enchantment@nmelectric.coop
enchantment monthly photo winner
Take a photo of you holding YOUR MAGAZINE AND WIN!
Congratulations to… Kristian Fazio, who photographed friends Luke and Olivia reading the July 2020 enchantment. Olivia and Luke enjoy a relaxing day at Elephant Butte State Park while reading about our solar system in enchantment. Kristian is a member of Sierra Electric Cooperative.
Kristian wins $20! 4
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Take a photo of you or someone with the magazine and email it with a few words about the photo. Include your name, mailing address and co-op name. One lucky member will win $20. Submitting your photo(s) gives us permission to publish the photo(s) in enchantment, Facebook and other media outlets. Email to: enchantment@nmelectric.coop
enchantment
February 1, 2021 • Vol. 73, No. 02 USPS 175-880 • ISSN 0046-1946 Circulation 88,000
enchantment (ISSN -) is published monthly by the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, NM . enchantment provides reliable, helpful information on rural living and energy use to electric cooperative members and customers. More than , families and businesses receive enchantment magazine as electric cooperative members. Nonmember subscriptions are available at $ per year or $ for two years, payable to NMRECA. Allow four to eight weeks for delivery. PERIODICAL POSTAGE paid at Santa Fe, NM - and additional mailing offices. CHANGE OF ADDRESS: Postmaster please send address changes to Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, NM -. Readers who receive the publication through their electric cooperative membership should report address changes to their local electric cooperative office. THE NEW MEXICO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION provides legislative and educational services
to the cooperatives who are members of the association that deliver electric power to New Mexico’s rural areas and small communities. The mission of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association is to strengthen, support, unify and represent cooperative member interests at the local, state and national levels. Each cooperative has a representative on the association’s board of directors, which controls the editorial content and advertising policy of enchantment through its Publications Committee. OFFICERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Charles Pinson, president, Central Valley Electric Co-op, Artesia; Tim Morrow, vice president, Springer Electric Co-op, Springer; Duane Frost, secretary-treasurer, Central NM Electric Co-op, Mountainair BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Martinez, Columbus Electric Co-op, Deming; Keith Gottlieb, Continental Divide Electric Co-op, Grants; Lance R. Adkins, Farmers’ Electric Co-op, Clovis; Robert Caudle, Lea County Electric Co-op, Lovington; James Ortiz, alternate, Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative; Thomas G. Rivas, Northern Río Arriba Electric Co-op, Chama; Preston Stone, Otero County Electric Co-op, Cloudcroft; Antonio Sanchez, Jr., Roosevelt County Electric Co-op, Portales; George Biel, Sierra Electric Co-op, Elephant Butte; Donald L. Wolberg, Socorro Electric Co-op, Socorro; Travis Sullivan, Southwestern Electric Co-op, Clayton; Wayne Connell, Tri-State G&T Association, Westminster, Colorado; Charles G. Wagner, Western Farmers Electric Co-op, Oklahoma NEW MEXICO RURAL ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION
Don Gaspar Ave. Phone: -- Santa Fe, NM Fax: -- nmelectric.coop enchantment.coop Keven J. Groenewold, CEO, kgroenewold@nmelectric.coop Tom Condit, director of communications, tcondit@nmelectric.coop DISPLAY ADVERTISING: Rates available upon request. Co-op members and New Mexico display advertisers, email Shaylyn
at enchantmentads@nmelectric.coop or call --. National representative: American MainStreet Publications, --. Advertisements in enchantment are paid solicitations and are not endorsed by the publisher or the electric cooperatives that are members of the New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association. PRODUCT SATISFACTION AND DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY LIE SOLELY WITH THE ADVERTISER. © New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association Inc. in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources. Reproduction prohibited without written permission of the publisher.
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view from enchantment I By Keven J. Groenewold, CEO New Mexico Rural Electric Cooperative Association
Making the Most of Our Valuable Water Resources T
he new year started with little or no moisture around New Mexico. For most of the state, 2021 follows many years of poor rainfall. Some parts fared a little better than others, but the drought eventually hit with a vengeance throughout the entire state. There were brief reprieves last year, but once again, anemic mountain snowpacks are damaging everything from recreation to the fortunes of farmers who rely on empty reservoirs to irrigate their crops. Forests are again under siege just as they recover from the beetle blight and droughts of the last decade. Even the hardier desert plants such as the cholla cactus and the yucca are falling victim to the drought. We must begin to realize our water shortage is real and sustained. The National Climate Data Center says the most intense period of drought occurred during the month of December 2020, where D4 affected 53% of New Mexico land. Drought severity categories range from D0 to D4, with D4 being the most extreme drought. It forecasts the loss of crop and pasture lands. The escalation of devastating wildfires prompts many New Mexico cooperatives and others across the West to consider establishing wildfire mitigation plans. These plans are considered on a co-op by co-op basis, depending on each cooperative’s circumstances. Where cooperatives serve state and national forest lands, we are working closely with the state forester and the National Forest Service. New Mexico’s fire-adapted forests need comprehensive changes in forest structure and fuel loading. To significantly alter wildfire behavior, reduce wildfire losses, ensure firefighter and public safety and improve landscape resiliency, the rights-of-way enchantment.coop
of our electric power lines need to be thinned and widened. We will begin by accessing the areas that are most vulnerable. Consideration will be given to areas where a wildfire can threaten property destruction in our communities. The state has developed a map that is referred to as the WildlandUrban Interface map. A Wildland-Urban Interface is a zone of transition between wildland—unoccupied land—and human development. Communities in the WUI are at risk of catastrophic wildfire. Other areas will be considered. In some places, our rights-of-way are a natural place to establish a firebreak. These are corridors with access for firefighters and places where we already ingress and egress with our maintenance equipment. The desert Southwest is a dry place in the best of years, which we apparently enjoyed in the ’80s and early ’90s. In bad years, we rely on stored reserves in underground lakes and above-ground reservoirs to carry us into a new season with, hopefully, renewed rainfall. For centuries, variations on this approach have helped humans survive difficult times when the skies didn’t bring water to their lands. We all have a vested interest in figuring out how to live with less water. Our shared dependence on this vital and scarce resource can serve as the basis for a long-term solution to its scarcity. The Southwest and most of the western U.S. will remain in drought conditions, and it may intensify. The current conditions rival the extensive drought area of the worst 20th century droughts. In short, we can adapt to changing conditions. We can develop new and more efficient technologies to protect our scarce water resources. We can strategize on the most effective wildfire response. We can
work together to build a solid base for our future. In the meantime, we can scan the skies for those moisture clouds that will eventually return.
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hale to the stars I By Alan Hale
February’s Fading Views
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The “Great Conjunction” of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020. The three visible moons of Jupiter are, from upper left to lower right, Europa, Io and Callisto.
BY VAS RATION
Cassiopeia in the northwest, through the constellations of Auriga and Gemini, and on toward and eventually below our southern horizon. We are now looking “out” in the direction opposite the center of our galaxy, and thus the wintertime Milky Way is not as prominent as is its summertime counterpart. From dark rural sites, however, it can still be easily detected with the unaided eye. Binoculars and small backyard telescopes will reveal quite a few clusters of stars as well as various clouds of interstellar dust and glowing gas all along this section of the Milky Way.
ILEVA
PHOTO COURTESY OF TONY GONDOLA, NEW MEXICO MUSEUM OF SPACE HISTORY IN ALAMOGORDO
ILLUST
From the standpoint of viewing Earth’s fellow worlds in the solar system, this February is one of the quietest we have had in quite some time. The only easily visible planet is Mars, which is high in our western sky during the early evening hours and then sets around midnight. Mars is not as bright as it was when it was closest to Earth a few months ago, but is still a relatively prominent sight. In the coming weeks, it will continue to fade as it and Earth pull away from each other. Meanwhile, it gradually sinks lower in the western sky before disappearing into the dusk around midyear. The only other planet visible in the evening sky this month is Mercury, which is very low in twilight at the beginning of February and disappears into the dusk within the next few days. After passing between Earth and the sun a week later, it emerges into the morning sky around mid-month. While it remains accessible for almost another month, it also remains fairly low in the dawn. Toward the latter part of February, Mercury is joined in the dawn sky by the two large worlds of our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn. Following their “Great Conjunction” in late December, this duo disappeared into evening twilight last month. After passing behind the sun—as seen from Earth—they are now making new appearances in the morning sky. For the time being, they are still relatively close to each other in the sky— as well as being close to Mercury during the latter days of this month—but they will grow apart as they continue on their separate orbits around the sun, not to be close together again until 2040. The hazy band of light we call the Milky Way, which is in actuality the combined light of multitudes of distant stars in the plane of our galaxy, is well visible in our western sky during the evening hours this month, stretching from the W-shaped constellation of
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12/22/20 11:40 AM
Be Cautious Around Generators By Pam Blair
During a power outage, the only options used to be lighting a candle or finding a flashlight and patiently waiting by the fireplace. Today, homeowners unwilling to wait out an outage are installing backup power generators. A generator converts energy from fuel—usually gasoline—into electricity. Provided the generator is large enough, it can run a few appliances and lights. While a generator certainly makes it easier to endure an outage, improper use can be deadly. If you are planning to use a generator, hire a licensed electrician to hard-wire a transfer switch adjacent to your existing circuit breaker box. Using a transfer switch eliminates the risk of electrical “backfeed” into power lines, which can kill utility workers repairing downed lines, and damage the generator and any equipment connected to it. During an outage, you simply shut off the main breaker, isolating your home from power lines, and connect your generator to the transfer switch. Once the generator is running, you can choose which appliances and circuits you want to use by flipping the switches. Because the transfer switch often is wired into more circuits than the generator can handle all at once, keep track of what is being powered. Running too many appliances at once can overload your generator. As a rule, the total running (rated) and starting watts of all the appliances used at one time should not exceed the generator’s wattage.
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F E B R UA RY 2 021
Other tips: • Place the generator on a level surface. If the generator is not level, fuel may leak from the fuel cap. • Use an appropriately sized extension cord—usually 10, 12 or 14 gauge. A long or undersized cord could damage the generator and appliances. The lower the number, the thicker the cord and the more electricity it can carry. Don’t run it under a rug. Heat can build up and spark a fire. • Don’t run a generator indoors or in an enclosed space like a garage or basement. Internal combustion engines produce deadly carbon monoxide gas. • Fill the generator with clean, fresh, unleaded gasoline in a well-ventilated area while it is turned off. Keep the fuel level two inches below the top of the fuel tank to allow expansion in hot weather and prevent overflow. • Use the correct amount and type of oil. Refer to the engine manual included with your generator. Always check the oil level prior to starting. • Allow the generator to run approximately two minutes before plugging in extension cords, appliances or equipment. This allows it to reach a proper operating temperature and a constant voltage. Don’t start a generator with items already plugged in. • Start items from the largest power usage to the smallest. Keep in mind many items—especially ones with electric motors, such as sump pumps, furnace fans and air conditioners—require a surge of power to get them started. • To avoid the possibility of a voltage surge, unplug all cords in the reverse order in which they were plugged in (smallest to largest power user), then wait about two minutes before you shut down the generator.
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Technology revolutionizes the most important piece of furniture in your house!
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The only adjustable bed that helps you “Get Up and Go” by yourself! position, perfect for reading a book or watching TV. Another touch and it moves to a full sitting position, enabling you to eat, knit, play cards... all in a comfortable position. Time to get out of bed? It’s never been easier or safer. The bed elevates slowly, and the bottom of the mattress curls in, enabling you to put your feet firmly on the floor while the bed lifts you gently towards the “nose over toes” position where you simply stand and walk away. It’s easy, safe and no other bed can do it. Nothing is worse than spending the night worrying about how you are going to get out of bed. Call now, and a helpful, knowledgeable product expert can tell you how you can try out the UpBed™ for yourself, in your own home. Delivery of the bed is most convenient as we offer to-your-door delivery or we can provide White Glove delivery and we will completely set up the bed where you would like. Call today!
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For millions of Americans, “Rise & Shine” has become a thing of the past. Mobility and balance issues have forced many people to struggle getting in and out of bed. Not being able to get out of bed by yourself can be inconvenient, undignified and downright dangerous. To solve this problem, this product has been introduced in continuing care and other health care facilities. Now, thanks to firstSTREET, the leading marketer of innovative products for seniors in the United States, that same bed can enable people to get up, get going and live independently in their home. It’s called the UpBed™, and there is nothing else like it. The secret to the UpBed™ is its revolutionary system for raising the mattress to any position for a variety of activities. It features a state-of-the-art mattress with memory foam for a great night’s sleep… like sleeping on a cloud. With the touch of a button, it gently raises your upper body to a “sitting up”
This bedding product cannot be returned, but if it arrives damaged or defective, at our option we will repair it or replace it. ©2021 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.
energy sense I By Patrick Keegan and Brad Thiessen
Which Appliance Should I Upgrade First? Q: I can only afford to replace one appliance. Which is best to increase efficiency and save on our power bill? A: You are smart to consider energy use as you look at replacing appliances because most new appliances use much less energy than they did in the past. Manufacturers have found innovative ways to reduce appliance energy use without sacrificing performance. The federal government began tightening appliance standards in the 1980s and has continued as technological innovations became more cost-effective. It may seem like the oldest appliance should go first. That makes sense if you want the looks and features of a newer oven or dishwasher. But with most appliances, the energy savings you get from a new one will take several years to pay for itself with the energy saved. The appliance replacement most likely to produce the greatest energy savings is your refrigerator. An older fridge can cost about $20 a month to run. Replacing an old fridge with a new Energy Star-rated model can cut that down to less than $5 a month. The Energy Star label certifies that the appliance saves energy. New refrigerators will include an additional label—the Energy Guide label, which shows how much energy it uses annually and compares that to the most- and least-efficient models available. It’s also possible to measure how much energy your fridge uses with a kilowatthour meter. Energy auditors use these meters to measure energy use for common household appliances. The energy use of an older fridge can sometimes be reduced by replacing the seal around the door. When looking to replace an old fridge, style counts. A top-freezer setup is the most efficient. A lower-freezer unit offers medium savings, and a side-by-side style is the least energy efficient. If your goal is to save money on your energy bill, resist the urge to keep the old fridge in the basement or garage—that
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F E B R UA RY 2 021
ABOVE: Replacing an old fridge with an Energy Star-rated model can cut the monthly cost to operate from $20 to less than $5 a month. PHOTO BY SCOTT VAN OSDOL RIGHT: The Energy Guide label helps consumers estimate their annual energy costs for appliances.
won’t help you reduce your energy use. An old fridge in an uninsulated garage on a hot summer day can use a lot of energy. Maybe you just need more freezer space. If so, we recommend the most efficient freezer you can find. Get recommendations at www.energystar.gov. If your current fridge is in good condition, another appliance you may want to consider upgrading is the dishwasher. With most of us spending more time at home these days, chances are you’re using your dishwasher more than you used to. As with any major purchase, be sure to read customer reviews for any brands and models you’re considering, and look for additional opportunities to save money, like an upcoming Presidents’ Day appliance sale.
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You can’t always lie down in bed and sleep. Heartburn, cardiac problems, hip or back aches – and dozens of other ailments and worries. Those are the nights you’d give anything for a comfortable chair to sleep in: one that reclines to exactly the right degree, raises your feet and legs just where you want them, supports your head and shoulders properly, and operates at the touch of a button. Our Perfect Sleep Chair® does all that and more. More than a chair or recliner, it’s designed to provide total comfort. Choose your preferred heat and massage settings, for hours of soothing relaxation. Reading or watching TV? Our chair’s recline technology allows you to pause the chair in an infinite number of settings. And best of all, it features a powerful lift mechanism that tilts the entire chair forward, making it easy to stand. You’ll love the other benefits, too. It helps with correct spinal alignmentand promotes back pressure relief, to prevent back and muscle pain. The
overstuffed, oversized biscuit style back and unique seat design will cradle you in comfort. Generously filled, wide armrests provide enhanced arm support when sitting or reclining. It even has a battery backup in case of a power outage. White glove delivery included in shipping charge. Professionals will deliver the chair to the exact spot in your home where you want it, unpack it, inspect it, test it, position it, and even carry the packaging away! You get your choice of Genuine Italian leather, stain and water repellent custom-manufactured DuraLux™ with the classic leather look or plush MicroLux™ microfiber in a variety of colors to fit any decor. New Chestnut color only available in Genuine Italian Leather and long lasting DuraLux™. Call now!
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Because each Perfect Sleep Chair is a made-to-order bedding product it cannot be returned, but if it arrives damaged or defective, at our option we will repair it or replace it. © 2021 firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc.
46556
Footrest may vary by model
book chat I By Michele Potter Visit your local bookstores to buy books. Send your book for review to: Book Chat, 614 Don Gaspar Ave., Santa Fe, NM 87505 Hydroglyphics: Reflections on the Sacred Abstract photographs shimmer alongside the words that “explain” water. Paired alongside Phaedra Greenwood’s photographs on opposing pages, “Words match, motion for motion, and share stillness with photographs,” writes poet Shawn Nevin in the prelude. The gestalt of this is lovely—something more than the sum of its parts. Sometimes the image is decipherable: tree, duck, ice, branch and so, too, is its accompanying Zen poem. But sometimes, all is not what it appears to be on first read or first look. That is the deliciousness of this book: the way it invites the reader/viewer to go deeper. What might the surface of water or the dazzle of light reflect back to me? Greenwood writes, “So I honor the sacred flow on this planet, these brief glimpses of mystery and grace, and reflect them back to the still pool of collective mind. I hope Shawn’s poems will inspire us to leave our egos and fears behind and claim what we really are. Consciousness.” This slim book is gorgeous and graceful. Dive in and learn lessons about how to pay attention. By Phaedra Greenwood and Shawn Nevins • TAT Foundation Press www.TATfoundation.org
Chasing Fenn's Treasure You’re a day late and a dollar short. Forrest Fenn’s nearmythical treasure has recently been found, thanks to an intrepid adventurer and literary decoder in Wyoming who discovered it last year before Fenn passed on. Fenn loaded up a chest with gold coins and jewelry, hid it and wrote a book that included a literary map in the form of a poem. The treasure was somewhere in the Rocky Mountains. Cynthia A. Meachum was one of perhaps 35,000 who fell for the “thrill of the chase.” She says her five years spent searching was not about money, but about understanding the poem and matching wits with Fenn. She later wrote: “I know 101 places where the chest isn’t.” The book works as journal, map and photo scrapbook of her time with him and other friends. Fenn as a gifted storyteller and grand life adventurer who wanted others to get off the couch and go outside, too. Fenn thought big and invited others to do the same. Meachum understood that. By Cynthia A. Meachum Bookbaby.com
Under the Eagle: Samuel Holiday, Navajo Code Talker This meaningful Sam grew up—very traditionally—in book about one man’s the shadow of Monument Valley, raised life illustrates just by his mother. He never saw a white man how ordinary and until age 8. As he learned English in Indian superhuman any school, he was forbidden to speak Navajo, of us might be. It’s or Dine. Ironically, the U.S. needed him in extraordinary because World War II for a top-secret project that Utah history professor required speaking Navajo, the basis for a Robert McPherson is grounded in Navajo code the Japanese could not break. culture and language, and that context Sam saw action in places like Iwo allows amplification of Sam Holiday’s Jima. Comparing my father’s own letters authentic life and voice. from Iwo Jima with Sam’s oral history is
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Explorer's Guide to New Mexico I wish I’d written this. I’ve written a lot about traveling in my home state, but this book’s got all sorts of stuff I didn’t know. What if I’m heading southeast and want to know where Billy the Kid’s gravestone was last seen (a story in itself)? Or perhaps I’m headed northwest and need to know if Georgia O’Keeffe really does own the Pedernal? Where do I go when I’m dying for a good gordita in Santa Fe? Award-winning travel writer Sharon Niederman covers a lot of bases with this fun and stylish Explorer’s Guide to New Mexico. Plan right now to do fun stuff in the future, such as visit the repertory theater under the stars in a natural golden sandstone arena. Or stop at Four Corners Monument, where you can be in four states at once. Niederman offers cultural and historical highlights and helpful suggestions. For example, she’ll remind you to take hiking boots and fishing gear while cruising the High Road to Texas. Y’all need this book! By Sharon Niederman The Countryman Press www.wwnorton.com/countryman-press
deeply sobering. They were just two men who truly changed history, because that particular battle changed the course of the war. This book brilliantly reveals how Sam’s spiritual and cultural life enabled him to heal through ceremony and prayers from PTSD and live a long and meaningful life. By Samuel Holiday and Robert S. McPherson • University of Oklahoma Press • www.oupress.com
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February - Back Porch Ad - NM.indd 1
1/12/21 4:40 PM
In Raton, the post office mural celebrates the first mail delivery by stagecoach over the Raton Pass. PHOTOS BY JIMMY EMMERSON
First-Class Art By Jim Winnerman
The Raton Post Office mural is one of several throughout New Mexico’s post offices that date to the late 1930s. All are historically and artistically important to United States history. “Some people come into the post office just to see our mural,” says Judy Horner, an employee at the Raton Post Office for 30 years. She is referring to a painting “First Mail Crossing Raton Pass,” painted by Joseph Fleck in 1936. “It used to be in the old post office, which is now the library, but was moved here in 1966 when this post office opened,” Judy says. “The New Mexico murals are part of the over 1,200 commissioned by the U. S. Treasury’s Section of Fine Arts near the end of the Depression,” says United States 14
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Post Office historian Jenny Lynch. “The objective was to make people feel uplifted and positive during a difficult time in our history, while also creating something of lasting beauty and significance to American citizens. Moreover, they also provided work for unemployed artists.” In the late 1930s and early 1940s, artists competed to be awarded a mural location. Acceptable mural subjects were local or historical places or events, people of local fame, scenes of daily life or postal history. David W. Gates Jr., an avid fan of anything post office-related and author of two books on the murals, says postal lobbies were selected to display the art because they were some of the mostfrequented businesses in each community at the time. Once an artist was selected to paint a mural for a specific post office, they were encouraged to visit or at least write to the
postmaster and important local citizens for suggestions on a mural topic. The murals have been displayed long enough that many have been restored. Horner says the Raton mural was cleaned about 20 years ago. While the funds were primarily applied toward a painted mural, the money could also be used for other art mediums. Included in other states are wood and limestone carvings that decorate the exterior of larger post offices of the era. Several New Mexico murals remain in their original lobby location, such as “Mountains and Yucca,” the mural in the Deming Post Office, painted by Kenneth M. Adams in 1937. It portrays yucca and other local vegetation in the foreground. Cook’s Peak, a local landmark just north of the town, dominates the background. Elsewhere in the state, “Buffalo Range” by Theodore Van Soelen has been on the enchantment.coop
Deming Mural Receives National Recognition CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: “Buffalo Range” has decorated the wall in the Portales Post Office since 1938. 8. The Deming mural “Mountains Yucca,” by Kenneth M. Adams, has graced the lobby wall of the Deming Post Office since 1937. The original Clovis Post Office is now privately held, but the New Deal mural “New Mexican Town” is displayed in its original location.
wall in the Portales Post Office since 1938, where the scene is of buffalo on the plains. “Indian Bear Dance” in the Truth or Consequences Post Office was painted by Boris Deutsch. It depicts a group of Native Americans of no specific tribe observing a ceremonial Bear Dance. The mural displayed in the Raton Post Office is actually one of two painted by Fleck intended for the lobby. The companion mural, “Unloading the Mail at Raton,” was long thought to have vanished. “It was found in the post office basement and has been moved about a block away to the Raton Museum,” Horner says. In Clovis, the original post office building is now privately held, but the New Deal mural “New Mexican Town” by Paul Lantz remains in its original location. Several artists enjoyed distinguished careers and recognition that remains strong today. For example, 20-inch-by-24-inch enchantment.coop
paintings by Fleck or Deutsch sell for $10,000 or greater. Many murals were painted with 1% of any excess funds allocated for art, and could also be used for artistic embellishments in other federal buildings as well. For example, federal buildings in Santa Fe, Alamogordo and Albuquerque contain art commissioned during the same period and are still on display. The murals remain a source of local pride nationwide, but because they have been on display for so long, they are frequently overlooked. The background of the painters is often forgotten, as is the reason why they were commissioned and installed. To see New Mexico murals, visit the interactive map at www.newdealartregistry.org/map/NM. To learn about David Gates’ quest to document murals in every state, sign up for his newsletter at postofficefans.com
To commemorate the historic and artistic significance of the post office art nationwide, the U.S. Postal Service issued a pane of commemorative stamps in April 2019 that replicate five murals. The Deming mural by Kenneth M. Adams was one of five selected out of the more than 1,200 murals. "We are very proud of our mural, and now it has its own commemorative postage stamp,” says Debra French, who works at the Deming Historical Society. “There are not many rural communities that can claim to have received the same recognition." In addition to the mural in Deming, the stamps showcase these four other works: “Kiowas Moving Camp,” “Antelope," “Sugarloaf Mountain,” and “Air Mail." Each mural is featured twice on the pane of 10 stamps, and the name of the city where is mural is located is prominently displayed below the artwork. “Everyone in Deming interested in the town history knows about the mural and has purchased some Deming stamps,” says Sylvia Ligocky, also at the Deming Historical Society. F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 1
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Socorro Socorro Electric Electric Cooperative Cooperative
General Manager Joseph Herrera
Address
E. Manzanares Ave. P.O. Box H Socorro, NM
Telephone
--
Outages
-- or --
service@socorroelectric.com
Website
www.socorroelectric.com
Office Hours
a.m. to p.m. (M-F)
Board of Trustees President Anne L. Dorough, District --
Vice President
Luis Aguilar, District aguilar.district@socorroelectric.com
Secretary-Treasurer
Paul Bustamante, District pbustamante.district@socorroelectric.com
Leroy Anaya
District anaya.district@socorroelectric.com
Michael Hawkes
District mhawkes.district@socorroelectric.com
James Nelson
District nelson.district@socorroelectric.com
Donald Wolberg District --
Board Meeting The Board of Trustees meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at the cooperative.
Reminder: Socorro Electric Cooperative's offices will be closed Monday, February 15, in observance of Presidents Day. Have a happy holiday!
This Thisinstitution institutionisisan anequal equalopportunity opportunityprovider providerand andemployer. employer. 16
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enchantment.coop
Socorro Electric Cooperative
Our Vegetation Plan Helps Us Keep the Lights On and Your Trees Happy! At Your Socorro Electric Cooperative, Inc., we love trees, but our power lines do not. To keep safe, reliable power flowing to your home or business, SEC follows a written vegetation management plan as required by the Rural Utilities Service. During 2020, we removed more than 750 trees and trimmed another 1,100, following the prescribed guidelines of this plan. When trees are planted near or under power lines, this creates a safety hazard not only for our crews but also for the members who live near those trees. Trees that grow and make contact with the power lines can become conductive and shock children or adults playing in or near the tree. These trees can also cause major outages. SEC crews perform routine tree trimming and clearing activities to maintain clear rights-of-way. When a tree grows into, or is planted within, the right-of-way, SEC must trim or remove the tree to reduce hazards. This means we have to cut beautiful trees, and that breaks our hearts. SEC crews must keep themselves and the public safe. By allowing SEC access to trees in the right-of-way, you are helping us keep our lines safe for all crews and members. You can also help by not planting trees within the right-of-way or by having a NO TREE ZONE. Below is a chart with the required clearances for newly planted trees. Together we can proactively reduce our maintenance expenses and increase safety for everyone by managing tree growth within the power line right-of-way.
Newly Planted Tree Chart
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ADOBE STOCK ILLUSTRATION BY PROSTOCK-STUDIO
Electricity
Brings Everyday Value By Anne Prince Even though I work in the energy industry, like most people, I still don’t think much about the electricity I use. I expect the lights to turn on when I flip the switch and the coffee maker to work each morning. Because electricity is so abundant, we don’t think much about it. Many of us have been spending more time at home during the past few months—likely using more energy. And yet, we still expect an endless supply of power with uninterrupted service 24/7. The only time we think about electricity is when the power goes out or perhaps when the monthly bill arrives. 18
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Given how electricity powers our modern lifestyle every day, it’s a great value, especially when compared to other common services and expenses. For example, think back to the cost of a gallon of gasoline 20 years ago. Consider the cost of groceries or a cup of your favorite specialty coffee from a few years back. In comparison, the cost of electricity has remained mostly flat, unlike most other consumer goods. Like many of you, I have a cellphone to stay connected, and I subscribe to cable channels so I can enjoy more viewing options. Many of us consider these necessities for modern-day life. We can see what we’re
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getting for our money, and we pay the price for those services. In contrast, when we use electricity, we don’t necessarily see all we’re getting for our money. Considering what electricity does for us, it’s a tremendous value for our quality of life and our budgets. For comparison, the average rent increase was nearly 4% from 2014 to 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. The cost of medical care increased by 3% during this time, and education was not too far behind at 2.6%. So, where did electricity rank? According to the index, electricity
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increased by less than half a percentage point, 0.4%. The bottom line: Electricity brings everyday value. When electric cooperative members experience interruptions, they are usually minimal. Considering that electricity is something that we all use around the clock, co-ops are proud of their track record. At the same time, we are striving to increase our service reliability, reduce those brief interruptions and reduce costs. Co-ops continually work to improve our operations to ensure a smarter grid and explore more
renewable energy options where possible. Your cooperative provides the reliable service you expect and deserve as valued members. And as your trusted energy adviser, we want to help you save energy and money. We recognize the past few months have been challenging for many of us, and yoru electric cooperative is there to help. If you have questions about your account or are looking for ways to save energy, please give them a call. Your cooperative’s sole purpose is to serve you and the needs of your community. That’s everyday value.
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on the menu I By Sue Hutchison
Make This February Fantastic
D
uring the waning months of winter, flu and other pesky illnesses tend to creep through the door for one final stand before the promise of spring. Chicken noodle soup has long been touted as a perfect homemade remedy for what ails, and medical science lends credibility to the lore. Dietitians say the ingredients may help clear congestion. Chicken is also high in tryptophan, helping produce needed serotonin, which can enhance the feeling of comfort. Along with vitamins C and K from carrots, celery and onions in the recipe below, Hearty, Healthy Chicken Noodle Soup may help fight off winter’s longering viruses. Using a grocery store rotisserie chicken saves time and trouble. In response to a reader’s request, the March issue of enchantment will feature a recipe harvested from a writer who spent a great deal of time with indigenous New Mexicans along the Rio Grande in the early 1900s. He described his friends as having an ingrained, gentle culture springing from the land. Until next month, here’s to your health!
Hearty, Healthy Chicken Noodle Soup 1 rotisserie chicken (or whole chicken, cooked in slow cooker, reserving juices) 2 32-ounce cartons chicken stock 3 garlic cloves, minced 2 cups carrots, sliced ½-inch thick 3 celery ribs, sliced ½-inch thick 1 medium-sized onion, diced
1 teaspoon ground thyme 3 bay leaves 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon pepper 2 cups dry egg noodles
Remove meat from whole chicken. Place in slow cooker, adding either 32 ounces of chicken stock or reserved juices. Add garlic, carrots, celery, onion, thyme, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Cover and set slow cooker on high. Cook for 4 to 6 hours until carrots are soft. Add remaining 32 ounces of chicken stock in the center of the soup mixture and dry egg noodles. Stir. Replace lid on slow cooker and continue to cook until noodles are just softened. Serve warm with crackers or toast. 20
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Oven-Roasted Dijon Brocolli 2 12-ounce bags frozen broccoli spears or 2 pounds fresh broccoli 2 teaspoons olive oil ¼ cup chopped green onions ½ teaspoon dried tarragon 1 teaspoon dry mustard
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoons Dijon mustard 4 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese Salt and pepper to taste
Heat oven to 375 F. Thaw broccoli if needed. Trim and discard tough ends of spears. Place broccoli in a large mixing bowl. In a small bowl, mix onions, tarragon, dry mustard, balsamic vinegar and Dijon mustard. Prepare a rimmed baking sheet by coating with olive oil. Drizzle vinegar mixture on broccoli. Stir to coat. Spread on baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle garlic, Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper on top. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until broccoli and garlic are lightly browned. Remove from oven, place broccoli on serving platter and serve warm.
Blueberry Crumble 3 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
1 lemon, rind zested, cut in half
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons butter, cold
4 tablespoons flour Topping
¼ cup butter, softened ½ teaspoon cinnamon ½ cup brown sugar
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
½ cup flour
½ cup pecans
½ cup quick oats
Heat oven to 375 F. Spray a 10-inch-deep dish pie plate with cooking spray. Set aside. In a mixing bowl, mix blueberries, sugar, ¼ teaspoon lemon zest, the juice from ½ lemon and flour. Place in prepared pie plate and cut cold butter into five or six thin slices. Scatter butter slices on top. To prepare topping, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour, oats, cinnamon and nutmeg with a fork until crumbly. Stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over blueberry mixture and bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until top is golden and blueberries are bubbly. Cool 5 to 10 minutes. Serve warm. enchantment.coop
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NMSU Mentors Spark One Man’s Career By Amanda Adame Born in Columbus, Ohio, Gary Seipel joined the U.S. Air Force shortly after high school.
Gary took night classes at Wittenberg University while stationed in Ohio for three years, but it wasn’t until he joined students at New Mexico State University’s Alamogordo campus that his future began to take shape. “I came in with way too many interests and I wasn’t focused on any single one,” Gary says. “Thanks to NMSU, before long I had a purpose to try to qualify to go to school full time with the Air Force Institute of Technology Scholarship, where I would get a degree and come out an Air Force officer.” Gary’s transfer to Holloman Air Force Base changed his life in other ways. He fell in love with New Mexico and Sue, his wife of 53 years. “By going to New Mexico, it was like going to a candy store for a kid that has never been out of the Midwest,” he says. “It was great food. I loved the people. I loved the pace of life. I loved that I didn’t have to shovel 18 inches of snow off my driveway.” With the support of NMSU professors and staff, Gary completed his preliminary subjects and raised his GPA to receive the Air Force Institute Technology Scholarship. He went on to pursue his bachelor’s degree in geodesy at The Ohio State University and later received his master of science degree in systems management from the 22
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Gary and Sue Seipel celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family. COURTESY PHOTO
University of Southern California. Gary retired after 20 years in the Air Force. His work included weapons maintenance, weapons development and geodetic science. For the next 24 years, Gary joined was an engineer and manager inside the intercontinental ballistic missile test and defense department for TRW and Northrop Grumman. While there, he led development teams for the ICBM hardware and software, upgrades and satellite systems testing. Gary recently joined Apogean Group LLC as the subject matter expert supporting systems engineering design for a new solid booster launch vehicle, while mentoring young engineers via tutorials and task peer reviews. Although Gary didn’t graduate from NMSU, he still considers himself an Aggie at heart. He has supported students and programs in the Department of Mathematics and Engineering, as well as the Tortugas Mountain Observatory renovation fund. In addition, he established the Gary Seipel current use fund in 2017 to support and enable the Department of Astronomy’s efforts to expose students to astronomy techniques and research. “Even though I’m not an alumnus, NMSU solidified my life’s compass because of the foundation they laid for me,” Gary says. “I’m happy to give back to them.” He also supports the Aggie Jump Start program, which is a summer program
to help students polish their skills in preliminary subjects and get a head start on college life. In addition to his financial support, he has visited the campus many times to tell students about his career path. “There’s no reason I should have this information in my head and not share it with other people so they can live a better life,” Gary says. “By mentoring students and going to the university, you get what you learn and you pass it on. You hope it is of a sufficient amount of detail to at least help someone figure out what is the new direction that the little pointer on my compass is going to point to for my future.” Gary says he failed at retiring three times so far. Despite recent open-heart surgery, he doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. “I have a year and half rehab and then prepare to compete at the Huntsman World Senior Games again; climb three mountains that are over 14,000 feet; race my bicycle again; get back to playing tennis; and finish handwriting a book for my sons about our family history,” he says. Gary also plans to take some astronomy classes at NMSU and continue mentoring NMSU students. “I felt an obligation,” he says. “NMSU helped prepare me mentally and goalwise. NMSU put me in the position to be where I am today.” This article and image originally found at newscenter.nmsu.edu/Articles/view/14561/ mentors-at-nmsu-sparked-one-man-ssuccessful-career-now-he-gives-back
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www.nightskylamb.com 575-749-7626
Groundhog Day
is February
We Are Your Rural Property Specialists. Farms • Ranches Homes • Auctions
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O: 505-832-7008 • C: 505-410-9951 myra@UCFarmHomeRealty.com Myra Oden, Owner / Broker www.UCFarmHomeRealty.com
THE TRUSTED CHOICE SINCE 1976!
We stock the area’s largest supply of all things pertaining to water! • Solar well systems • Plumbing fittings • Water storage tanks • Pressure tanks
• Full septic systems • Poly pipe • PVC pipe • Fencing supplies
We are proud to serve our local community and provide cost-effective solutions for any water or well project. On behalf of everyone at Williams Windmill, we want to thank all our customers for their patronage and look forward to serving the Southwest for many more years to come! Exit 156 • Frontage Rd • Lemitar NM (575) 835-1630 williamswindmill.com
All Natural Grass-fed Lamb from our farm to your table. Raised locally in New Mexico.
Power Line Anatomy 101 What do you see when you look at a power line? What are all those attachments, and why are they important? The power lines that carry electricity from the substation to your home or business are called distribution lines. They are part of a system of poles, wires, transformers and other equipment used to deliver electricity. Sometimes, the power lines are buried underground. However, often they are run overhead. Below is a description of the main components of an electrical distribution system. 1. Utility pole: The half-ton wooden pole is the backbone of the electrical line. It is partially buried to support all of the equipment. It usually is about 40 feet in length, and typically is made from logs made of cedar, pine or fir trees. 2. Transformer: The cylindrical metal tank-shaped device steps down the voltage to a level safe for delivery to the customer, either 120 or 240 volts. Many transformers have a lightning arrestor, which protects them from a strike. 3. Fused cutout: This provides overload protection. A link inside a fiberglass barrel operates the cutout, which isolates the tap from the main line. When a loud blast is heard from a utility pole, it is the fused cutout operating. 4. Wire and clamp: This wire is secured by a clamp, and connects the main line to the transformer. 5. Primary conductor: This is the main series of wires that carries electricity from the supplier to the consumer through the distribution system. A three-phase line—typically used to serve large power users, such as commercial and industrial accounts— has three separate current-carrying conductors. A single-phase line—which serves most homes—has just one current-carrying conductor. 6. Secondary tap (hot and neutral): This conductor carries electricity between the transformer and the consumer’s electric meter. 7. Strain insulators: These ceramic objects hold the conductors in place and insulate them from the pole. 8. Pole ground wire: This wire is connected to a metal rod driven eight feet into the ground. Its job is to ground the system. 9. Guy wire: This stranded wire helps stabilize the pole. Hardware connects it to the pole and an anchor in the ground. 10. Insulators: These porcelain or rubber objects support the electric wires and prevent an undesired flow of electricity. 11. Pole-top pins: These support the insulators on the pole. 12. Crossarm and braces: This is the horizontal piece on the pole that makes the structure look like a cross. It holds the insulators, and keeps the lines on a three-phase line from touching one another. It usually is made of the same wood as the pole. 13. Main line neutral conductor: This wire is the neutral conductor in a distribution circuit. 14. Insulator pins: These support insulators on the crossarm. 15. Security light: Although not on all power poles, a dusk-todawn light is visible on many power poles.
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*Services provided by TransWorld Network, Corp. Not available in all areas.With approved credit. Restrictions, terms, and conditions apply.Taxes, regulatory, installation/activation, surcharges and other charges not included. Call for details or visit www.twncomm.com or for additional information and for terms and conditions of services. Customers on qualifying Internet plans may receive maximum download speeds ranging from 1.5 Mbps to 15.0 Mbps. Actual download speeds will vary. 2. TWN Phone not available with satellite internet. Minimum 512 Kbps Internet connection speed required. International call rates apply. Unlimited calling applies to local and long distance calls within the contiguous United States. Digital Phone 911 Service operates differently than traditional 911. See www.twncomm.com/911.html for information. Unlimited usage subject to “fair and normal” usage limitations as described in terms and conditions. **Offer expires December 31, 2021. Free installation available on a one-year term Internet plan. Certain terms and conditions apply. Offer available for new customers. With approved credit.
THE MARKET PLACE
Animals NOT ALL WATER TANKS are created equal! Are quality, value and longevity important to you? Buy high specific gravity, heavyweight, long warranty, superior black NRCS tanks. Lowest prices only provide minimum standards, lower weights and shorter warranties. Find out more! 575-430-1010. NEW MEXICO DRINKING WATER storage tanks, heavy-duty
black poly. Fittings customized to your needs. NRCS and EQUIP approved. High specific gravity, heavyweight, long warranty, algae resistant, black NRCS water tanks. Call 800-603-8272 or 575-682-2308.
YOUNG EWE LAMBS FOR SALE.
7 months old. Good progeny, twinners. White face-Rambouilett. Quality sheep for starter herd, to upgrade your existing herd or good replacement ewes. $200/head. Taos County. Call 575-770-2881 or 575-770-7315.
RABBITS, ALL AGES AND SIZES.
For pets, show, meat, fur. Polish, New Z’Land, Californians. Cages, feeders, door latches, urine and wire guards. Call Gene at 505-906-1291 in Jamestown, New Mexico, at The Bunny Farm. All calls will be answered.
SADDLES AND TACK. Everything for the horse. Western & English tack bought and sold. Rancho Elisa Stables LLC, 500 Route 66 East, Moriarty, NM 87035. Call 505-832-5113 or email ranchoelisastablesfr@swcp.com
26 F E B R UA RY 2 021 26 F E B R UA RY 2021
LET US MARKET YOUR livestock. Live auction every Wednesday at 11 a.m. View online at dvauction.com, country bid or live auction. If you’ve got ’em, we’ll sell ’em. Call 575-374-2505. fivestateslivestockauction.com
Business SANTA FE LATH & PLASTER.
Interior and exterior. Specializing in diamond finish, synthetic stucco, coyote fences, roofing, window and tile replacement. Licensed, bonded and insured. Now serving the East Mountains. For free estimates, call 505-577-2272.
WANTED: Elderly Couple on a ranch needs live-in health care worker/ housekeeper. Call 505-419-6541 for more details. LOW STEP TILE SHOWERS built especially for you! Mountainair and surrounding areas. Call 931-201-2791 for free estimate. Ask for Ed. Great prices, beautiful showers. Any tile, any pattern! Old School or Schluter System. In business since the late 1900s. 931-201-2791. SUNSET SADDLES OFFERS CUSTOM leatherwork; ie, saddles,
chaps, chinks, holsters, belts, etc. Also saddle & tack repair. Located in La Luz, New Mexico. Call 575-257-8874. Email sunsetsaddles@yahoo.com
Equipment FISHING TACKLE WANTED:
Antique lures, reels, rods, tackle boxes. Pre-1950, please. Collector paying highest prices for Grandpaw’s tackle box. Lures $50 to $5,000 each. Reels $100 to $7,500 each. Send photos to tacklechaser@aol.com or call Rick at is 575-354-0365.
GREAT OFFER ON SOLAR
Submersible shallow/deep well pumps! NRCS approved with two-year warranty on selected pumps with affordable, easy installation! For a custom quote, call 505-429-3093 or email us at sales@solarsubmersiblewellpumps. com, 24/7 service. Order online at our website: www.solarsubmersiblewellpumps.com
DRINKING WATER STORAGE TANKS, heavy-duty black poly,
proven algae resistant. 125 to 11,000 gallons, NRCS and EQUIP approved. Please give us a chance to serve you! MasterCard or Visa accepted. Call 575682-2308 or 1-800-603-8272.
OVERHEAD FEED BINS. 1 to 4 compartment, 12 to 48 tons. Any size free-standing cattle guards, no footing needed. Emery Welding, Clayton, New Mexico. Call 575-374-2320 or 575-2077402. Email eweld98@yahoo.com
Great Finds BUYING OLD STUFF: Gas pumps and parts 1960s or earlier, advertising signs, neon clocks, old car parts in original boxes, motor oil cans, license plate collections, Route 66 items, old metal road signs, odd and weird stuff. Fair prices paid. Have pickup, will travel. Gas Guy in Embudo, 505-852-2995. RAILROAD ITEMS WANTED:
Kerosene lanterns, brass locks, keys, badges, uniforms, bells, whistles, and pre-1950 employee timetables. Always seeking items from any early New Mexico railroad, especially D&RG, C&S, EP&NE, EP&SW, AT&SF, SP or Rock Island. Call Randy Dunson at 575-760-3341 or 575-356-6919.
WHIRLPOOL WATER SOFTENER,
Model no. WHES 33 LE33. New, never installed. $300. LG gas range double oven five burners, model no. LDG 3036 ST, Excellent Condition. $550. Call 575-770-0140, Taos.
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FISHING TACKLE WANTED: ANTIQUE lures, reels, rods, tackle
boxes. Pre-1950, please. Collector paying highest prices for grandpaw’s tackle box. Lures $50 to $5,000 each. Reels $100 to $7,500 each. Send photos to: tacklechaser@aol.com or call Rick at is 575-354-0365.
AWARD-WINNING BOOK,
“Timelines of the East Mountains.” More than 700 pages of historical stories, maps and photos covering 400 square miles east of the Sandia/Manzano mountains: towns, villages, stage stops, saloons, mining, railroads, outlaws, and more. Visit eastmountainhistory.org
FREE MANURE, Moriarty area. Call
505-553-3983.
WOOD EX-ELECTRIC HIGH-LINE POLES, 35 foot +/-. Make great corrals
or corner post. Email aosteen47@gmail.com
WANTED: NEW MEXICO MOTORCYCLE LICENSE PLATES
1912-1970. Paying $100-$500 each. Also buying NM car plates 1900-1923. Visit NMplates.com for history and 4,500 photographs of NM plates. Bill Johnston, Box 1, Organ, NM 880520001. Email: Bill@NMplates.com or call 575-382-7804.
Real Estate CONCHAS, 0 AND 00 RIDGE DRIVE. Two tracts with two lots per
each property (lots are 100x100 or .23 acre). Each tract has a permitted septic that has never been used. Electricity and co-op water nearby. $50,000 per tract. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
2 MOUNTAIN CABINS, 25+
acres at 8,000 feet, Wildhorse Ranch Subdivision, Pie Town, NM. Well on stream with 5,000 storage tank and fire hydrant. New Mexico hunting unit 13. To view this property, go to https://fsbo. com/listings/listings/show/id/520104 enchantment.coop enchantment.coop
CONCHAS, BOAT DOCK DRIVE.
3 lots just over 1/2 acre per property. Two lots starting at $32,000 each. One lot at $35,000. Close to shoreline. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
CUERVO, 0 MESITA PASS ROAD. 148.13 acres in Mesita Ranch
Subdivision. Beautiful mesa views, perfect for homesite and or livestock. $85,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
LOGAN, TBD STATE ROAD 39. Sale pending! Located at mile marker 17 westbound. 121 acres of rangeland. $54,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com NOGAL, TBD BARBER AVENUE.
2.89 acres in townsite of Nogal. Co-op water and electricity nearby. $50,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
SAN ANTONIO, NM. 0 ZANJA ROAD. 4.66 acres irrigated farmland
in Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District with water rights. Produces alfalfa and grass hay crops. Utilities nearby. $69,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
SUMNER LAKE, 0 AND 00 RIVER RANCHES ROAD. At intersection
with State Road 203. Price reduced! Two lots just over 20 acres each. Scenic views just west of lake. $18,000 per lot. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
DATIL, TBD WEST OF HERRINGTON CANYON ROAD.
44.5160 acres vacant land. $32,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
RIBERA, 340 CR B41E. 32.674 acres with 3-bedroom, 2-bath home with custom accents, hay barn, two detached garages. Just over 20 of those acres are in alfalfa and grass hay production. Pecos River frontage. Scenic views and close to I-25. $695,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com MAGDALENA, 47 ANGUS LOOP.
Magdalena Ranch Estates. Price further reduced! 11.04 acres with 3-bedroom, 2-bath home, horse barn and corrals. Beautiful mountain views. Abundant ATV and hunting opportunities nearby. $175,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-4562000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
SOCORRO. HOME WITH 1-2
organic farm acres. New cement ditch, direct access to Rio Grande, water rights, views, dark skies with city utilities. New $30 million levy with miles of trails and parks, hospital and golf. $79,000. Call owner at 505-550-3123.
ROCIADA, ACROSS FROM PENDARIES GOLF RESORT.
Freshly renovated Air Lock Log Home on 10+/- gently sloping acres. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths. 3,200+/- square feet. 3car garage/workshop with 110V, 220V. Barn. Good power, water and county road access. Great views of Hermits Peak from wrap around decks. Contact NM#360 Real Estate, 505-454-0332.
DATIL, 464 SOUTHERN TRAIL.
Sugarloaf Mountain Subdivision, 5.5 acres vacant land. $8,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
DATIL, 31 OLD HIGHWAY 60.
2-bedroom, 1-bath home with bonus room that could be used for bedroom on three lots. Well, stone fence. Great for hunting property or rental opportunity. $57,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 1 27 F E B R UA RY 2021 27
PIE TOWN, SOUTH OF WILD HORSE SUBDIVISION. Two tracts
CURRY, ROOSEVELT AND QUAY COUNTIES. In Clovis, Portales and
with closest access from Goat Ranch Road. One is 20 acres for $16,000 and one is 40 acres at $32,000. Vacant land. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
Tucumcari, or in the country. We want your properties to list and sell. Broker is life resident of Curry County and Clovis native. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
PIE TOWN, TBD STATE ROAD 603. 48.4 acres vacant land, fenced
RUIDOSO, APPROXIMATELY 5 ACRES. Creek runs through it,
with cleared land in corner for homesite. Great views, close to US 60 and Pie Town. $147,000. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
WANTED! WORKING FAMILY FARMS AND RANCHES to list and
3-bedroom, 2-bath approximately 1,200-square-foot home. 28x30 garage plus storage building, walking distance to forest, secluded and quiet. Fenced, room for animals. More land available, possibly. Approximately 5 miles from Ruidoso and airport. $165,000. Call 575-937-3586.
SOCORRO. 11 ORGANIC, IRRIGATED ACRES. Water rights,
sell. Broker has over 45 years of experience working on a family farm in New Mexico and has been an owner and operator since 1988. Big Mesa Realty, 575-456-2000. Paul Stout, broker, NMREL 17843, 575-760-5461. www.bigmesarealty.com
next to Rio Grande, views, miles of open space and parks. Two homes, city utilities, dark skies, hospital and golf. Can split property. Take all for $350,000. Call owner at 505-550-3123.
To Place a Classified Ad
Deadline
1. Visit www.enchantment.coop/classifieds and complete form. You will be contacted by email with price and to pay by credit card (5% processing fee). 2. Or, complete form and select category. 3. Write ad on another sheet of paper. 4. Price: $20 up to first 40 words per ad, per category, per month. After 40 words, each word is 50 cents. Add $5 for small graphics such as cattle brands. Phone numbers, emails and websites count as one word.
To Send and Pay Your Classified Ad 1. Mail ad and payment (Payable to NMRECA) NMRECA • enchantment 614 Don Gaspar Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87505 28 F E B R UA RY 2021
1. Due the 9th, one month prior. Ex: Ads due February 9 for the March issue.
Good to Know 1. Only members of New Mexico electric cooperatives may place ads. 2. We reserve the right to reject any ad. 4. Advertisements in enchantment are paid solicitations and are not endorsed by the publisher or the electric cooperatives of New Mexico. 5. PRODUCT SATISFACTION AND DELIVERY RESPONSIBILITY LIE SOLELY WITH THE ADVERTISER.
Questions
1. Call: 505-982-4671 or 2. Email: enchantment@nmelectric.coop
HOME IN THE MOUNTAINS at Wild Horse Ranch. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, washer, dryer, dishwasher, natural stone fireplace. On 20 acres, backing up to national forest. Excellent private well. Three-horse stable with room to expand, fenced pasture. Attached 8x12 tool shed. two fenced dog yards. Hundreds of beautiful Ponderosa and other pines. $134,500. Call 520-458-2800 or 520-3665463 for photos, etc.
Vehicles 1993 MERCEDES 400E. High miles,
has some issues including no brake lights or power steering. Runs fantastic. $1,200. Call 505-553-3983.
TEAR DROP TRAILER. 2006 TAB trailer, white. Stove, fridge, sink, heater, porta-toilet located in Caballo, NM. Great for light travel during COVID/quarantine. $4,200. Call 920-257-7601.
Name: _______________________ ___________________________ Address: ______________________ ___________________________ City: ________________________ State: ________ ZIP: ____________ Phone: _______________________ Cooperative:____________________ Select Category Below
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Great Finds
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enchantment Give the Gift of
Send a gift subscription of enchantment magazine. Mail a check or money order payable to NMRECA in the amount of $12 for a one-year or $18 for a two-year subscription. Include name and mailing address of recipient. Mail payment and details to: enchantment magazine 614 Don Gaspar Ave. Santa Fe, NM 87505
You’re at the heart of everything we do.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY FROM OUR CO-OP FAMILY TO YOURS!
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F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 1 29 F E B R UA RY 2021 29
youth art
Who's Your Valentine? Congratulations to the Winners! Thalia Acosta • Age 7 Central New Mexico Electric Cooperative
Charlotte Conklin • Age 5 Central Valley Electric Cooperative
Kinley Gleaton • Age 11 Farmers' Electric Cooperative
Reyes Perea-Duran • Age 9 Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative
Adryen Romero • Age 6 Mora-San Miguel Electric Cooperative
Aviana Roybal • Age 5 Springer Electric Cooperative
March’s Topic: Your Favorite Music. Draw yourself or family rocking out to your favorite tunes! April's Topic: Rainbows and a Pot of Gold Show us your most colorful rainbow with a shining pot of gold at the end. Send Your Drawing By mail: Youth Editor 614 Don Gaspar Avenue Santa Fe, NM 87505 By email: enchantment@nmelectric.coop Deadline: Submit by the 9th, one month prior to publication. Hooray! You Get Paid: $15 Have a Youth Art Topic? Email or mail to the addresses above, or call 505-982-4671.
5 items to include on the
back of your drawing, otherwise YOU ARE DISQUALIFIED: 1. Name 2. Age 3. Mailing Address 4. Phone 5. Electric Co-op
*Accepted artwork up to age 13. DON'T FORGET THE 5 ITEMS!
30
F E B R UA RY 2 021
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