Santa Fe New Mexican, May 10, 2013

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Politics aside: Art of Patrick Oliphant at Gerald Peters Gallery Pasatiempo, inside zine an’s Weekly Maga e The New Mexic tainment & Cultur of Arts, Enter May 10, 2013

Locally owned and independent

Friday, May 10, 2013

www.santafenewmexican.com $1.25

Businesses gather to ‘celebrate tourism’ By Chris Quintana The New Mexican

After suffering through the Great Recession, tourism is on the rebound — or at least that’s the case made by local businesses at Thursday’s Celebrate Santa Fe Tourism Expo at the Santa Fe Community Convention Center. More than 70 businesses and organizations gathered for the daylong event spon-

sored by the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce, Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau, and The Santa Fe New Mexican. The event featured booths and representatives from hotels, restaurants, performance venues and city service providers. Cynthia Delgado, marketing director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said early indicators, such as hotel occupancy

Please see toUrISM, Page A-4

Kate Noble of the city Economic Development Division interviews Mauricio Ibarra Ponce de León, consul of Mexico, during the Celebrate Santa Fe Tourism Expo. CLYDE MUELLER/THE NEW MEXICAN

‘BiTTerSweeT’ enDing

Cause found in bar death OMI finds Tiny’s patron died from asphyxiation By Nico Roesler The New Mexican

Five months after James Rochford died following a fight at Tiny’s Restaurant and Lounge, the state Office of the Medical Investigator released an autopsy report stating that his cause of death was “traumatic asphyxia,” or suffocation due to pressure on his chest cavity. State police Sgt. Emmanuel Gutierrez said this week that police haven’t charged anyone involved in the Jan. 18 melee at the bar south of downtown Santa Fe, which ended with patrons pinning Rochford to the floor until an officer arrived. Investigators turned over their findings to the District Attorney’s Office for a decision on any possible prosecution. District Attorney Angela “Spence” Pacheco said Thursday that her office is still reviewing the case and that she couldn’t comment on potential charges. Rochford, 42, a father of two who had recently moved from Corrales to Santa Fe after taking a job with the state Taxation and Revenue Department, may have died the evening of Jan. 18 before police arrived at the scene. The autopsy report listed his manner of death as “undetermined”

Crushed on the court In an emotional loss to a friend and longtime rival, St. Michael’s senior Paloma Gomez drops the fourth straight state title match of her high school career. SportS, B-1

Please see DeAtH, Page A-4 Customer Steve Flance of Santa Fe loads up his car Thursday with Bobcat Bite takeout, which he planned to ship overnight to friends in Boston. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN

Bobcat Bite to close when operators leave iconic roadside diner Mom knows best Local teens give thanks for the care and support their mothers have given them. GenerAtIon next, D-1

By Phaedra Haywood The New Mexican

T

he Bobcat Bite on Old Las Vegas Highway was bustling long past the lunch hour Thursday afternoon. The smell of grilled beef wafted through the 28-seat dining room as customers tucked into the eatery’s trademark 10-ounce green chile cheeseburgers.

Longtime proprietor and waitress Bonnie Eckre readied a to-go order while her husband, John Eckre, cleaned tables and son James Eckre, 19, manned the grill in the tiny kitchen. Outside, a couple from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., took each other’s pictures in front of the iconic roadside diner, which has been in operation since 1953. “People have said walking into our dining room is like walking into my kitchen at home,” Bonnie Eckre said. “That means so much to me. The whole restaurant has been centered on family.” But as of June 9, the Eckres will leave the Bobcat Bite. The couple said in a written statement that they

are vacating the Old Las Vegas Vegas Highway location “at the demand of the building’s owners, the Panzer family,” and hope to open a restaurant somewhere else in Santa Fe soon. The eatery will close for a period, and likely be reopened under new management. “This ending is bittersweet,” Bonnie Eckre said in the statement. “We’re sorry to inconvenience all of our loyal customers, the people we’ve come to know like family over the years.” Bonnie Eckre, 55, began working at the Bobcat Bite as a waitress 24 years ago. The business was opened by Mitzi Panzer and has been operated as

Please see BoBCAt, Page A-4

Social media fights Disney trademark request Some showers and a t-storm. High 65, low 41.

Company withdraws petition for rights to ‘Dia de los Muertos’ phrase amid uproar

pAGe A-8

By Russell Contreras

today

The Associated Press

obituaries Moses Attrep Jr., 74, May 8 Bruce M. Gallaher, 62, Santa Fe, May 2 Stuart Smith Williams, 90, April 27 pAGe C-2

Index

Calendar A-2

ALBUQUERQUE — When Lalo Alcaraz learned this week that Disney was seeking to trademark Dia de los Muertos, the name of the traditional Day of the Dead celebrated by millions in Mexico and the U.S., the cartoonist had an idea. The trademark was for an animated movie by Disney and Pixar Animation Studios Inc. that is inspired by the holiday.

Classifieds D-2

Comics B-8

The Los Angeles-based humorist created a movie poster that quickly went viral of a skeletal Godzillasized Mickey Mouse, with the words: “It’s coming to trademark your cultura [culture].” Anger and ridicule expressed on social media, largely by Latinos, began circulating. On Tuesday, Disney said it was no longer seeking a Dia de los Muertos trademark request because the film’s name will change before its release. “Disney’s trademark filing was intended to protect any potential title for our film and related activities,” a company statement said. “It has since been determined that the title of the film will change.” Disney has not said social media

Please see DISneY, Page A-5

Lotteries A-2

Opinions A-7

Day of the Dead figurines are sold year-round at Masks y Mas in Albuquerque. Disney announced Tuesday it was a withdrawing a request to trademark the Dia de los Muertos phrase amid uproar on social media from Latino activists, writers and artists. RUSSELL CONTRERAS/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Police notes C-2

Editor: Rob Dean, 986-3033, rdean@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Kristina Dunham, kdunham@sfnewmexican.com

Sports B-1

Time Out B-7

Generation Next D-1

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010

Bushee enters mayoral contest Five-term city councilor lists safety, social issues, water among priorities The New Mexican

City Councilor Patti Bushee said Thursday morning that she is running for mayor of Santa Fe. Mayor David Coss’ announcement last week that he would not seek re-election to a third term in March 2014 caused several people to say they might run, including former Española Patti Bushee Mayor Joseph Maestas, former state Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales, lifelong Santa Fe resident Josina Campos and City Councilors Bill Dimas, Rebecca Wurzburger and Chris Rivera. Bushee, 53, was re-elected last year to her fifth term on the Santa Fe City Council, making her the longest-serving councilor. She ran for mayor once before, narrowly losing the 2002 race to Larry Delgado from a field of four. “I’m in it to win it this time,” she said Thursday morning at the Santa

Please see MAYorAL, Page A-5

Four sections, 32 pages Pasatiempo, 72 pages 164th year, No. 130 Publication No. 596-440


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