Focus on Carlsbad Spring 2012

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Getting Ready for Retirement | Staying Active & Adventurous | Committed to the Community & More

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There was a heaTed debaTeover what to call this edition of Focus. My original pick was “Si! to Seniors!” as a way of celebrating New Mexico’s diversity while introducing the direction of our edition. Wiser heads prevailed, however, and we elected to go with a name that focuses

on Carlsbad’s recruitment of the soon-to-be legions of retiring baby boomers.

As you’ll learn from our cover article, trying to get baby boomers to retire to your community is a very good idea, especially if you happen to live somewhere warm and with little traffic. As a member of Generation X, I’ll probably forever associate baby boomers with me being told to clean my room, but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate all my parents’ generation has to offer. This edition of the magazine loosely attempted to show, in turn, some of what Carlsbad has to offer.

I should clarify that many of the men and women I interviewed in this edition are not yet retired – but they are involved in activities I felt may be interesting to a potential retiree.

In fact, there may have been a little bit of wishful thinking to some of my story selections. If I ever get to retire – and that’s a pretty big if – I’d probably like to spend some time fishing, taking classes, conducting historical research and supporting my local roller babe derby league.

It was probably a bit of a stretch to include an article about the 575 Roller Babes in an edition about

retirement, but the point I was trying to make is that you are never too old to do almost anything. That, or I just thought it would be a fun story to write. The oldest member of the 575 Roller Babes, by the way, is 48.

One of the new things the retirement council of Carlsbad’s Chamber of Commerce is doing for potential retirees is putting together a special “Retire 2012” week from May 4 through May 12. It’s tagged right between the centennial trail ride celebration and the annual Mescal Roast, so the hope is potential retirees will come to Carlsbad, participate in both activities, and tour the town in between.

“We’re putting together a VIP coupon book, with opportunities like the Caverns, golf packages, the Living Desert and everything they can do around town,” said Marsha Drapala, retirement chairperson for the chamber and marketing executive of Landsun Homes Inc. We’re going to hold a Monday morning breakfast and an event Wednesday evening.”

The chamber’s retirement council has invited a total of 4,500 people to attend the event, so be on your best behavior.

Finally, if you haven’t been to FocusOnCarlsbad.com lately, what’s taking you so long? We have rousing discussions about remote control sharks, New Year’s resolutions and potlucks. Pay us a visit.

abouT The ediTor:Marksteiner is Editorial Director of Focus Magazine.Email him at [email protected].

from the editor

Kyle MarksteinerEditorial DirectorFocus on Carlsbad

4 Focus on Carlsbad | SPRING 2012

From the Editor

FoCuS oN REtIREMENtReady, Set, Retire!

FoCuS oN thE FutuRERetirees: the Next Generation

FoCuS oN hEAlthCARESnowbirds Bring Sunshine to locals

FoCuS oN MAINStREEtNew Projects in 2012

FoCuS oN thE ARtSBringing the Past to life

FoCuS oN EduCAtIoNBack to School

FoCuS oN CARlSBAd ChARACtERSWarming up in Carlsbad

FoCuS oN RECREAtIoNFisherman’s Paradise

FoCuS oN lAW ENFoRCEMENtRetired Cop took Program to New level

FoCuS oN thE RoAdWest of the Pecos Museum

FoCuS oN FuNthe Roller Babes have Arrived

FoCuS oN thE CItythe More the Merrier

Focus on the Chamber

Focus Business directory

Focus on Carlsbad is published quarterly by Ad Venture Marketing.Ad Venture Marketing, Ltd. Co. - 866.207.0821 - www.ad-venturemarketing.com

All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without permission of the publisher is prohibited.Every effort was made to ensure accuracy of the information provided.

The publisher assumes no responsibility or liability for errors, changes or omissions.

Kyle Marksteiner, Editorial Director - Alyx Duncan, Advertising DirectorPhotography by Kyle Marksteiner - along with submitted photos

Special Contributors: John Safin, Margaret Sage Bemis & Amy M. Barnhart

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SPRING 2012

ABout thE CovER: Carlsbad is full of opportunities to explore and stay active. Outdoor recreation is just one of the many benefits thatretiring in Carlsbad can offer. This issue is full of stories and informa-tion about the Baby Boomer Generation and their future in Carlsbad!

There are a lot of options when deciding what to do with a 401(k). Whether you’re changing jobs or looking to consolidate multiple accounts, we can help you decide what’s best for you.

Rolling over your IRAor 401(k) is as easyas pulling up a chair.

Alton “Boz” GreenInvestment Adviser Representative

212 W. StevensCarlsbad, NM [email protected]

The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s retirement initiative is starting to take off, and things are expected to really start soaring as members of the baby boomer generation begin retiring.

So WhAt IS A BABy BooMER?According to the United States Census Bureau, a baby boomer is anyone born between 1946 and 1964. The term was originally coined by Landon Jones in his book “Great Expectations: America and the Baby Boom Generation,” to describe all of the kids born after World War II ended.

Oh, and there are about 76 million of them in the country and they are starting to retire in droves.

Janell Whitlock, retirement director for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, said most of Carlsbad’s retirees are slightly older than the baby boomer generation. For several years now, the

chamber has worked to recruit new retirees to town and find ways to accommodate current retirees.

“But they are the next thing coming up,” Whitlock said about the baby boomer generation.

Why all the fuss? Because baby boomers control more than 80 percent of the nation’s personal financial assets and more than 50 percent of the country’s discretionary spending power. They are also responsible for more than 80 percent of the nation’s luxury travel. They are considered to be the wealthiest and healthiest group to ever retire in America.

Boomers are retiring at the rate of 8,000 per day or more than 300 per hour. And many of them are looking for somewhere warm to live. See why it’s a big deal? Hint: Carlsbad is somewhere warm. They also defy stereotypes – not just baby boomers but retirees in general.

According to Whitlock, the retirees who have moved to Carlsbad remain active, spend money and support the community. In other words, they go out to eat and watch movies and circulate money.

“I know people fear that retirees won’t, for example, support a school bond issue, but most of them really want the community to do well,” she said. “They also volunteer at a lot of organizations, like the Living Desert.”

Whitlock has a data base of about 50,000 names of people the chamber has accumulated.

“They are from all over the United States and even other countries,” she said. “I kept seeing hits from Denmark.”

She thought something was rotten. “And one day a man walked in and said, ‘I’m from Denmark and I’ve been online looking at your page,’” she noted. Whitlock said she’s documented 198 people who have retired to Carlsbad during the chamber’s retirement

on retirement

Retire!Ready,Set,


initiative, but she notes that she has no failsafe way to make sure every retiree is accounted for. She has traced a few retirees down, however.

Why do PEoPlEREtIRE to CARlSBAd?“Quality of life,” Whitlock said. “People can still drive their automobile without the traffic. An easy lifestyle. Friendly people. The weather. A lot of people want to get out of the snow.”Although it has been cold recently, Whitlock noted that it’s all relative. “I remember when it snowed I called a couple from Nebraska (who moved to Carlsbad because of the warmth) to apologize,” Whitlock said. “He said, ‘What do you mean cold? I just finished a round of golf and don’t find this cold.’” Statistics show that retirees visit an area a minimum of three times before they

make a decision. Whitlock didn’t have the numbers, but a good percentage of Carlsbad’s retirees are snowbirds who head north during the summer months. Many snowbirds ultimately settle down in the more southern of their two homes. One concern Whitlock receives from potential retirees is the community’s distance from Veterans Affairs medical care. There are VA hospitals in Albuquerque and El Paso, and a clinic in Artesia, but she’d like to see a clinic in town.

Whitlock said a goal of the chamber and the organization’s retirement council is to organize more social events for retirees, such as the one held on January 12.

“One of the things we really want to stress is how friendly Carlsbad is,” she concluded.

Main Photo Above: Janell Whitlock, at right, is the retirement director for the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce. Whitlock is also a member of Carlsbad’s city council, and has previously served as a municipal judge and county commissioner.Inset Photo left: Line Dancing at the North Mesa Senior Rec Center is a popular activity for retirees.Inset Photo Right: The pool hall at the North Mesa Senior Recreation Center is the busiest one in town.

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7SPRING 2012 | A Community Magazine

on the future

It’S AN INEvItABlE FACt that each of us is getting older. Sorry to break that news to you if it wasn’t obvious. The full retirement age, according to the Social Security Administration website (www.ssa.gov), is 66 for anyone born between 1943 and 1954. Anyone born 1960 and later, retirement is at 67 years. There is a formula for calculating benefits for birthdays from 1956 to 1959, but it’s waaay too much like a math problem and there’s no need to scare our wonderful readers. So…moving along… The first wave of the Baby Boomer generation, anyone born in 1946, could start drawing social security back in 2009.

There is an 18-year difference between the first and last of the Boomer years. How different? The first Boomers graduated high school the year I was born. I was in kindergarten when the counter culture of the 1960s was at its peak. On a downside, I had to survive the Disco Era of the 1970s during my formative years. Oh, the humanity! (NOTE: This writer is in fringe of the ‘Boomer’ years, but considers himself a Gen-Xer). Those who were later-Boomers have a different view of the retirement world than our older Boomer brothers and sisters.

“Never thought I’d be old enough to retire. When I was younger, I thought retirees played dominos or cards, and sat around all day,” said Tommy Stevens, owner of TJ’s Trucking. “To me, retiring is having enough income for a comfortable lifestyle--to do the things I want to do. Nothing extravagant, maybe a couple vacations during the year.”

With a 12-year background of hauling crude oil, Tommy (54) began thinking

about retirement several years ago. “My target is to retire when I’m 62 or 63. It’s about being healthy enough to work if you want and do the things you want to do. Retirement is a more active lifestyle today. I might still want to work even when I’m seventy.”

A similar point of view is shared by KCCC News Director Phil Tozier. “I can’t imagine retiring. Even with a million dollars in my account, the idea of not working or even volunteering is just not imaginable.” With a passion for community involvement, Phil is the past Chairman of the Eddy County Democrat Party, a graduate of Leadership Carlsbad (class of 2004), anda local celebrity with Carlsbad Community Theatre. “When I was younger, retirement seemed like an opportunity to travel, doing hobbies, and taking time for personal exploration. It was a vague concept. It’s a little scarier now that I can see it up close and personal.”

Let’s put financials in perspective: what

would you do with an extra $6,354? That is the total interest paid last year by the average U.S. consumer with $5,500 credit card debt and 15% interest rate. So, would you rather have more debt or more in your pocket ten years from now? Six grand times ten years equals a LOT of money! Fortunately, Tommy and Phil have the answer for any generation: start saving early for retirement. “Simplifying life is a good way to start,” added Phil. “It’s not always about the price tag. Is a new, expensive car worth more to you than your passion? Theatre is a passion for me. What’s the thing that enhances your life?”

Both Phil and Tommy shared comments about retirement that mirrored in an informal, unscientific survey (I asked a bunch of people) of Carlsbad residents

by John Safin

Main Photo: Phil Tozier, news director of KCCC radio, celebrates with a cup of coffee.

Inset Photo: Tommy Stevens, owner of TJ Trucking, stands with his truck. Stevens, 54, is starting to think about his retirement in a decade or so.

Retirees:

The Next Generation


under the age of 50. It seemed the younger the person the less they thought about any type of retirement plan. A few had some sort of plan for retirement savings. Everyone had some level of concern about the future and what it will take to retire. From a more professional perspective, a recent workers’ survey from the Employee Benefits Research Institute (EBRI), showed 27% of respondents “not at all confident” about retirement. Reasons for this downward trend included retiring at an older age, lack of faith in Social Security, and having enough money for medical expenses.

Let’s give your spirit a boost. According to several sources on the Internet 40 is the new 30. And, we know the Internet is wiser than the Oracle at Delphi

(sarcasm). Good thing, too. Getting older is like drinking too much at a party. Vision becomes blurry, concentration slips, sounds aren’t as loud, sleeping becomes optional, naps are longer and necessary, and you say strange things (such as referencing the Oracle at Delphi).

A couple places you can fit right in would be Carlsbad’s North Mesa and San Jose Senior Centers. Our senior population is “offered a variety of

activities in an atmosphere of friendship, happiness and companionship.” Pool, aerobics, ceramics, crafts, dancing, lunches, cards, wood carving, potlucks, bingo (of course) and more entertainment throughout the month. Members can get blood pressure and blood glucose monitoring, assistance with social security and tax forms, driver safety classes, and other “responsible” chores. Let’s talk more fun! The San Jose (2814 San Jose Blvd) and North Mesa (1112 N. Mesa St) centers, operated by the City of Carlsbad, are both open Monday through Friday, and the best part (other than ping pong and fresh coffee): you can become a member starting at age 40.

Discounts and recognition are other things the younger Boomers will enjoy. Denny’s and IHOP restaurants have special menus for the 55 and over gang. Movie watching is cheaper for seniors at Allen Theater at the Carlsbad Mall and other area businesses give similar cost saving perks.

Along with discounts, age brings wisdom

useful for the past, present, and current generations. “Keep family and friends close,” recommended Tommy. “Enjoy your life and continue to be part of society.”

Phil added, “There are too many people with so much to give who don’t reach out. Passing along experience will enhance and upgrade your life. It’s a chance to create your own legacy.”

Whether Baby Boomer, Gen-X, or Millennial Baby, get the most from each phase of your life with planning, adaptability, and commitment.

One life...and I’m gonna live it up.

abouT The auThor:John Safin has a background in business operations, marketing, event planning, and public relations. Originally from Upstate New York, John moved from Glendale, AZ to Carlsbad, NM, which he now calls “home.” www.johnsafin.com

“You know you’re getting old when the candles cost more than the cake.”

- lEGENdARy CoMEdIAN BoB hoPE


on healthcare

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hI, would you like to see a dog for a minute?” Kay Zollner pops her head into a resident’s room at Lakeview Christian Home.

“Agnes, Agnes, c’mon in,” is the excited response, directed not at Kay but at the small multi-colored dog trotting along beside her. “We call her an American Arky, because she came from Arkansas. She’s mostly some kind of terrier.”

While petting the eager little dog, Kay and the resident chat about the pets they’ve owned. Kay explains that they adopted Agnes from a shelter in Magnolia, Arkansas, ten years ago. “I was grieving over my other dog, and I

saw her and thought, ‘I’ve gotta have that dog.’ So I applied and got her. The description said she was playful and loving.” Kay and her husband, Don, traveled over 1000 miles round trip to pick up the pup, a trip they’ve never regretted.

Snowbirds for over a decade, the Zollners spend their summers in Oregon and their winters in Carlsbad, Kay’s hometown. Before Kay retired in 1999, they would spend a couple of weeks each summer helping Kay’s mother and uncle fix up their adobe home in La Huerta.

“My family lived here forever,” Kay explained. “This was my grandparents’

place to start with. There was another house here—stucco, federal style—that burned in 1970. Mother decided she would never have a house burn again. They made those adobes from the cow pasture out back.”

Kay grew up in Carlsbad, graduating from Carlsbad High in 1952. Her mother, Leila Cornell, taught at Eisenhower Jr. High School, now Jefferson Montessori School. Her uncle, Lynn Dillard, salvaged unique architectural pieces for the new adobe house. The arched windows are from

Snowbirds Bring Sunshinet o l o C A l R E S I d E N t S left Photo: Kay and Don Zollner have been wintering

in Carlsbad for over a decade. When the weather warms up, they’ll return to their summer home in Oregon.

Right Photo: Marie Wilburn with Katy, Kay Zollner with Agnes, and Judi Jones with Micah take time to “meet and greet” before entering Lakeview Christian Home to visit with the residents.

by Margaret Sage Bemis

“


the old La Caverna Hotel, and the floor is from the old First Methodist Church.

“They laid the floor, and then ran out of steam, so they carpeted over it. It’s on my list to get rid of the carpet. As a child of the Depression, my uncle didn’t throw away a board, and now I’m restoring rotten boards.”

Because her mother and uncle didn’t finish the house, Kay and Don try to make an improvement every winter. Last winter they put in a new patio in the backyard. This winter will bring a

remodeled tool shed, although Don’s nickel Coke machine will stay there to provide cold drinks to the family at Christmas.

“Hi, baby. Hi Agnes. You gonna give a high 5?” asks the smiling woman in the wheelchair. She has a foam cup filled with Fruit Loops which she doles out to Agnes a few at a time. Agnes tries to wave her front paw at the woman but can’t get traction on the waxed floor.

“Too slippery for a high 5, Isabelle,” laughs Kay.

Isabelle continues to feed Agnes treats while she pets her. “Whatcha’ doin’, girl?”

“Oh, she’s having a good time,” Kay answers for her. “She knew this morning it’s Tuesday.”

Tuesday is Kay and Agnes’ usual

visiting day. While the Lakeview residents pet Agnes, Kay carries on an effortless conversation that puts everyone at ease. One woman slowly emerges from her room to trail after the pair as they go room to room. She tells everyone what a special dog Agnes is.

Kay was a teacher for 39 years, all but four of them in Oregon. “I started in Roswell,” she explained, “and then one of my daughters kept getting pneumonia from the dust. I saw a picture of Cannon Beach, Oregon, so I applied. I taught school first in Seaside, Oregon, and then down in Cloverdale.”

Kay retired from teaching in 1999, a move she took only because it was financially advantageous to do so. “I miss the classroom,” she said, “but the retirement was such a good deal. I couldn’t pass it up.”

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left Photo: Isabelle Cummings feeds Agnes a treat in exchange for a “high five” while Kay Zollner observes.

Right Photo: The Zollners in front of their home in La Huerta. Kay’s mother and uncle built the house in the 1970s, digging the clay for the adobe bricks from their land. The arched windows were salvaged from the old La Caverna Hotel in Carlsbad.

Snowbirds Bring Sunshinet o l o C A l R E S I d E N t S


“SNoWBIRdS” StoRy CoNtINuEd FRoM PAGE 11

At 86, Don is ten years Kay’s senior. He’s been retired since he was 62 after an interesting and varied career. As a deep sea fisherman, he supplied restaurants with fresh salmon before moving to the U. S. Forest Service.

“First two years we fought fires,” he said. “I was all over the west coast, up and down, into California, and back to Oregon.” After he quit fighting fires, Don transferred to road maintenance, putting in thirteen years there.

Kay and Agnes have been visiting as a Delta Society Pet Pal team for six years. As members of Carlsbad Pet Therapy Association and Oregon Coast Therapy Animals, they stay busy year round. To register as a Pet Pal team, both had to pass a vigorous evaluation and must be re-evaluated every two years. Along with visiting in hospitals and nursing homes, they also give presentations to

school groups about dog safety. Kay told about a fundraiser for Delta Society that Agnes held. “She did a kissing booth. One guy gave her $20 and then upped it to $50.”

Between them, the Zollners have two sons, four daughters, five living grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One granddaughter was killed by a drunk driver. When the snow starts melting in Oregon, they’ll pack up and head north for the summer, but will return when the cold chases them south again, bringing with them their smiling little dog and positive attitudes. The residents and staff continue to crowd around Kay and Agnes, even as they’re leaving the facility. Kay rubs the dog’s ears as she says, “I was lucky to find her.”

“Both of you were lucky,” the elderly woman responds.

Kay takes the woman’s hand as she says good-bye and promises to return soon.

“The woman pets Agnes and says, “I love her, and I love you too.”

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by Amy M. Barnhart

When looking back at the accomplishments of the past year, it is hard to believe we fit so many projects and events into one calendar year. With events such as the Carlsbad Downtown Farmers’ Market, Fall Festival, Holiday Stroll, and Electric Light Parade, and projects such as new street signs, benches and an information kiosk in downtown, Carlsbad MainStreet has been busy.

Each year MainStreet looks for ways to expand the accomplishments of the organization, and 2012 will be no different. On the agenda for MainStreet is the reinstatement of the Façade Squad initiative from the past, but this time we will be partnering with a Leadership Carlsbad group and hope to accomplish the building exterior improvements by utilizing volunteers from the community.

Additionally, MainStreet intends to continue to expand the new website, carlsbadmainstreetnm.com, by adding a downtown business directory. Our hope is that the site can be a useful tool to Carlsbad residents and visitors alike.

MainStreet will be ordering new banners that will go up on light poles on Greene and Canal Streets upon completion of the Canal Street construction project. These new banners will announce to visitors and residents alike that they have entered the historic downtown district in Carlsbad. There will also be directional signage installed on Canal Street in that same time period that will help direct visitors off the highway and into the downtown shopping district.

Keeping Carlsbad’s historic downtown vibrant and bustling is important to not only the businesses in the downtown area but to other businesses and supporters within the community as well. The health of the downtown district reflects the health of the business community as a whole, and with its many shops, service-based businesses and financial institutions, the downtown district plays an important role in the business community.

Like any non-profit, funding and support is important to the continuance of the MainStreet organization and it many projects. Sponsors of the organization, or of projects such as the farmers’ market or the new downtown banners, are always appreciated.

For information on becoming a sponsor, or to get involved as a volunteer, contact Executive Director Amy M. Barnhart at (575)628-3768 or [email protected]. “Like” Carlsbad MainStreet on Facebook at facebook.com/CarlsbadMainStreet.Amy M. Barnhart

Carlsbad MainStreetExecutive Director

www.carlsbadmainstreetnm.comPh: (575) 628-3768 • E-mail: [email protected]

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on mainstreet

e x p a n d i n g t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n



While scientists are still a long way from time travel, members of the arts community have already got it in the bag.

Part acting gig and part history project, the New Mexico Humanities Council’s Chautauqua roam the state like the bards of medieval times, bringing history to life with each performance.

In January, Carlsbad resident and Chautauqua performer Randy Milligan helped kick off the centennial celebration in town with a lively performance as President Theodore Roosevelt. Two Carlsbad retirees and Chautauqua performers, Hal and Margaret Waters, watched from the front row.

“We did a lot of volunteering in national parks as living historians before we moved here,” said Hal Waters, who sometimes becomes famed cowboy John Chisum. “When we got here, we were invited to try out.”

“Particularly if you are new to New Mexico, it’s a good way to learn the local history,” noted Margaret Waters, who turns into New Mexico pioneer Ma’am Jones from time to time.

Another Carlsbad retiree, Ron Grimes, has two Chautauqua performances – one as Sheriff Pat Garrett and one as Grimes’ own father, a New Mexico National Guard Horse Trooper.

Milligan, a theater instructor at New Mexico State University - Carlsbad, has the sanctioned maximum of three Chautauqua roles – Roosevelt, author Samuel Clemens, and Judge Roy Bean.

Milligan said he’d been involved in a similar program in Wyoming before he moved to Carlsbad. In Carlsbad, he was soon invited to appear during a Heritage Days celebration.“It’s time travel,” he said. “It really is the only chance you get to time travel.”

Chautauqua itself goes back to 1884.

“It was a camp at Lake Chautauqua up in northern New York,” Milligan said. “The Methodist Church ran it, and people went up there to learn.”

It was basically a summer camp that mixed swimming and tennis with poetry and literature.

During the 1930s, Chautauqua was a road show that brought information and current events to rural communities.

“People would attend classes in the daytime and attend performances at night,” Milligan said. “It brought the newest thoughts to rural areas.”

The mission changed during 1984’s Chautauqua centennial celebration.

“With the centennial they started to look backward,” Milligan said. “They decided to bring history to life.”

Milligan and Carlsbad’s other Chautauqua performers receive some funding for presentations through the New Mexico Humanities Council, though that’s been tested during recent economic woes. Performers sometimes

receive funding from the event or group hosting them as well. Milligan said he has been busy as Teddy Roosevelt recently because many national parks have had centennial celebrations and enjoy having the president who was so committed to preserving the nation’s resources make a guest appearance.

When a performer selects a historical figure, he or she will spent a lot of time conducting research on the figure.

Some of Milligan’s characters, like Roosevelt, have a ton of written material. “Hangin’” Judge Roy Bean, however, has less material.

“When I first proposed him, the humanities council didn’t think he was historically relevant enough,” Milligan said. “You have to get what you can.”

With the better-known characters, there’s always a chance of getting an audience member trying to upstage

on the arts

left Photo: Carlsbad resident Randy Milligan introduces President Theodore Roosevelt to the community during a Chautauqua performance.

Right Photo: Local retirees Hal and Margaret Waters enjoy Milligan’s performance. Hal and Margaret are also official Chautauqua performers.

15 SPRING 2012 | A Community Magazine

on the arts

your depiction of Roosevelt.“You’ll get someone in the audience who has read an autobiography you haven’t,” Milligan noted.Milligan said he looks a lot like Roosevelt, so his costume is fairly simple. When he plays Sam Clemens, also known as Mark Twain, he’ll don a wig and lighten his eyebrows. He’ll grow a beard for Judge Roy Bean, if he has advance notice. When a Chautauqua performer takes to the stage, he or she will basically introduce themselves as the historical figure and talk to the audience. They might comment on modern times or even mention their own death, but they might elect to be “appearing” during a certain moment in their history and have no knowledge about their death. “When I first started to do Teddy Roosevelt it was when he first went out west,” Milligan said. “So when they asked about the Rough-riders, I didn’t know.”Milligan has also been James Madison,

Ben Franklin, Washington Irving and adventurer Joe Meek. Milligan also performs in local theater and said what is essentially an a cappella acting performance has its benefits and drawbacks.“It’s tougher because you don’t have anyone else to count on if you blank, but it’s also easier because you don’t have someone tripping you up. If you get off track, you can talk your way back to where you need to be,” he noted. He said he enjoys seeing how his characters are played by other performers and in movies. Another Mark Twain, for example, paid Carlsbad a visit this fall. Local schools sometimes assign Chautauqua events as a sort of living book report for students as well, and Milligan says he loves the opportunity to help at such events. In addition to providing research, Chautauqua performers have to perform in front of the state’s humanities council to become officially sanctioned. Hal and Margaret Waters were able to send in a tape. Milligan

said the council, depending on its makeup at the time, varies in its focus between the historical and artistic side of things.

“There’s a big schism sometimes,” he said. “You have those who want it all to be as historically accurate as possible, but I think they’ve gotten to the point where they understand it needs to be a lively performance.”

Hal and Margaret Waters try to land gigs at an event together, though their characters do not interact with each other. One of their favorite trips each year is to a cultural event at Eastern New Mexico State University in Portales.

“We think it’s interesting because you have to do research for your part,” Margaret Waters said. “And every time you make a presentation, you have to make sure all your ‘retirement cells’, as I say, are working.”

“It’s just a great way to support the community,” Waters said.



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1: Children line up to participate in a cake walk during the Carlsbad Relay for Life’s campaign kickoff. 2: Larry Henderson leads the pledge of alliegance at Carlsbad’s centennial kickoff. 3: Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway reads a proclamation celebrating the state’s centennial celebration and presents an honor to Governor William McDonald, played by Phil Tozier. 4: Lights outside of this year’s Christmas Village, celebrating another Christmas on the Pecos season. 5: Another view of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce’s downtown village. 6: Team roping during October’s Shannon J. Shaw Memorial fundraising event.7: Residents line up to receive wreaths to place on graves of soldiers during the annual Wreaths Across America event. 8: Veterans receive wreaths during Carlsbad’s participation in the Wreaths Across America event. 9: Members of the choir hold hands in prayer during Martin Luther King Jr. church services at First Christian Church.

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on education

Every night, Jim Estes helps his nine-year-old daughter with her homework, puts her to bed, and then starts on his own.“When she wakes up, I’ll be doing my homework again,” he said. “I think she sometimes thinks I’m up studying all night long.”

Estes and Kevin Phillips, both 54, are two of a growing number of nontraditional students now seeking degrees through New Mexico State University-Carlsbad and the university’s main campus in Las Cruces, among other locations. The two men hope a college degree will provide them with some cushioning against downturns in the economy.

Estes spent the first 20 years of his working life in the service industry,

where he built and repaired recreational vehicles

and eventually owned his own company.

“I got burned out on service work,” he said. “You don’t have much in the way of a

family life.”

He also taught industrial arts for eight years and worked with the New Mexico Commission for the Blind for some time. The family moved to Carlsbad partially because of the dry air, he said.

“In Carlsbad, the best money to be made was in heavy-equipment operating,” Estes said. “So that’s what I did, and I enjoyed doing it for several years until the economy went south and jobs dried up.”

Estes, a single parent at the time, stated that he had a lot of trouble finding and keeping employment. Some people just were not willing to hire a single parent. He’d always wanted to expand on his education, and he enrolled at NMSU-C in the fall of 2010 in pursuit of an associate’s degree in pre-business and then a business degree.

“The toughest part for me was just simply deciding this was what I was going to do,” he said. “I had a feeling I was caught in a cycle where every time the economy struggled, I was going to lose my job. When you are near the bottom of the working class educationally, it really hits you. Once I decided I was going to school, it was all or nothing.”

There are, he noted, no “do-overs” at age 50.

Phillips is a sociology major with an associate’s degree in social services. He was a salesman in the oilfields prior to 2009. “I was laid off when everything was tanking,” he said. “I went to a New Mexico workforce event, and the last guy to talk to us gave me a card for the university and said money was available for laid off people to go back to school. That program paid for my first year in school.”

Phillips said he drew unemployment until April 2010 and has worked odd jobs since then. Going back to school took some getting used to, he admitted.

“I had some classes where I felt like I was ‘Daddy Daycare,’ when I walked in there,” he said. “There were kids younger than my youngest child, and I was pretty intimidated when I first came back.”

That feeling of nervousness stopped when grades started rolling in.

“Those kids around me didn’t listen any better than I did when I was 17,” Phillips said. “I care about my GPA. My

Photo: Jim Estes (left) and Kevin Phillips, both 54, are students at New Mexico State University. The two men are part of a growing trend of nontraditional students.


priorities are different now. It’s not about hitting the frat houses.”

Estes agreed that students who return to college later in life tend to take academics more seriously. “We’re not afraid to ask and say that we don’t understand,” he said. “The toughest thing is deciding you are going to do it, but once you do, you’ll find you excel because you have better work habits.”

“We sit in the front row, but it isn’t because we’re trying to be a kiss up,” Phillips said. “It’s because we can’t see or hear very well!”

Because of distance education and online programs, much of the

coursework that would have been impossible to complete in Carlsbad is now obtainable, he said. In many instances, it’s possible to enroll as a main campus student, but still take classes in Carlsbad.

“The majority of the classes are face to face,” Estes said. “I’m probably the oldest person in the class, but I’m not the only returning student. A lot of students here are in their late 20s or early 30s and are trying to come back and get their education, so I really don’t stand out that much.”

The two men have also both taken quite a few online classes through NMSU-C.

“The nice thing about online classes is they are not held at one campus location,” Estes said. “So, if I need to, I can take a class out of Alamogordo.”

Online classes also offer a little more versatility in terms of schedule for nontraditional students with children, Estes said, but there is a tradeoff.

“In my opinion, you have to do a lot more studying (in online classes),” Phillips noted. “You can’t just take good notes in class. You have to make sure you read all of the material.”

Estes and Phillips also have learned to utilize all of the college resources available, including the math tutor.

“We wore out the math tutor,” Estes noted. “When we started, he was a young man with a full head of hair. Now, he’s bald and older than we are.”

The two men have had several classes together. They are also both heavily involved in an organization called Active Minds, which advocates for mental health issues on campus.

Active Minds activities include discussions on eating disorders, suicide prevention and depression, and round table talks on drug and alcohol abuse. The group has held balloon releases and candlelight vigils and brought in speakers.

Branch campuses such as NMSU-C often struggle to get students involved. While Estes and Phillips are often busy with families and jobs, they are supporters of campus involvement.

“Being older and nontraditional, the kids kind of look up to you,” Phillips said. “We try to be involved to

encourage them to be involved.”

Both men said that the younger students have come to ask them for help, even in other classes and outside of college.

“You want other people to respect you, but you don’t know how it is going to work,” Estes said. “I’ve received nothing but the highest respect from the younger college students here.”

“They know who is getting the A’s,” Phillips smiled. “I just wanted to pass and get decent grades. I didn’t think I’d be able to do so well in school.”

Both men have received ALL USA Scholarships. Their advice for returning to college later in life is full commitment.

“If you want to go back to school, do it,” Phillips summarized.

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on carlsbad characters

MovING to CARlSBAd MAy BE CoNtAGIouS, juSt ASk FREd ANd judy joNES.

Fred and Judy moved to Carlsbad on Oct. 1 from Eagle Nest, a mountain community about 30 miles east of Taos, New Mexico, where they owned a vacation apartment and antique mall for the past 14 years.

“The elevation there was 8,500 feet,” Fred said. “In the summer it’s a resort with a beautiful lake, and in the winter there was access to three ski areas.”

Fred, 74, previously retired from the phone company in Albuquerque. He also worked for the University of New Mexico and Sandia labs. The couple helped seven foster children and spent a lot of their free time volunteering on behalf of New Mexico’s children.

“Everybody said the bed and breakfast trade would be so glamorous, but it isn’t,” Judy, 71, noted. “It was beautiful, but it was a 45-minute drive for groceries on a good day. At some point, we knew we couldn’t continue to live at that altitude, so we started looking for communities.”

They sold the business once, but went back.“We thought we’d live there forever. It’s so beautiful,” Judy said. “But that altitude was getting to us. We both felt we didn’t want to have a doctor tell us we had to move. We wanted to leave on our own terms.”

Judy’s brother and sister-in-law, Ken and Judith Nelson, had retired to Carlsbad by way of Missouri two years earlier. The Nelsons retired to Carlsbad because a close friend retired there. Fred and Judy soon also caught Carlsbad fever.

Photo: Fred and Judy Jones and their dog, Buddy, pose at their residence at Carlsbad’s Lakeview Village. The couple has lived in Carlsbad since October.


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“My brother and his wife really kept plugging the community, and Carlsbad kept coming to the top of the list,” Judy said. “They broke the ice for us, so we started looking at houses last summer. We were pleasantly surprised when we came down to visit.”

Judy said the quality of the Carlsbad Youth Sports Complex and other facilities stood out to her.

“I was born and raised in New Mexico and wanted to stay in the area,” Fred said. “Carlsbad just kept coming up. It’s friendly, is welcoming to retirees and has everything we wanted.”

Fred and Judy (along with their dog, Buddy) ultimately moved into an opening in Carlsbad’s Lakeview Village several months ago. Lakeview Village is one of several retirement communities offered by Lakeview Christian Home of the Southwest Inc. Carlsbad’s Landsun Homes also offers a similar array of retirement communities.

Judy Jones is already working one day a week at CARC Inc’s thrift shop.

“I think what has surprised and pleased me the most are some of the educational and cultural opportunities here,” she said. “You have the theater, the art museum and its wonderful programs and a concert series.”

Fred is busy going through his large collection of tools and deciding what to keep.

“I’ve got to downsize the collection, and that’s hard for me to do,” he admitted.

“It’s hard for me to slow down, but I’m not a youngster anymore.”

Once the tools are sorted, Fred plans to dust off his model airplane collection, which he’s neglected for years.

“A lot of them still need to be built,” he said. “I also want to go back into

making jewelry.”

The couple also seems to have quite a bit of an adventurous spirit.

“We got hold of a country map with all of the rounds on it, and some of them have the funniest names,” Judy said.

“So, on a nice day we’ll take off down the road for a couple hours and try to find those roads.”

For example, they recently tried to reach a “Bumpy Road.” They never found it, but they did spend about three hours on a bumpy road trying to get to Bumpy Road.

They haven’t faced their first Carlsbad summertime yet, but Fred was optimistic that the experience would be okay.

“When you get my age, you don’t have any circulation anyway, so you need some heat,” he noted.


on recreation

Anyone looking for tips on fishing the Pecos River could do worse than starting with John

Hernandez. He’s not a retiree, but he’s certainly a good resource.

By day Hernandez is the coordinator of New Mexico State University-Carlsbad’s building trades program. By late afternoon, or as soon as he can get out of work, Hernandez can almost always be found somewhere along the five miles of fishing available along the Pecos in Carlsbad.

“I’m a fishernerd,” Hernandez said. “I ride my bike around and talk to other fishermen about where the bites are. On a good day you’ll have 150 people along the river.”

Carlsbad’s town fishing area stretches approximately from the Flume (note- singular) down to Lower Tansill Dam. Hernandez has favorite fishing holes along both sides of the river.

“There’s a good spot over there called Old Man’s Loop, because that’s where all the old men go to fish,” Hernandez said. “Over there, that’s called the Wall.”

Initially hesitant to give out one trick, Hernandez finally opted to share a secret with Focus readers.

“I use Google Earth,” he said. “You can look in and see where the trenches are.”

Most of the fishermen along the Pecos River are trying to catch trout, and with

a fishing license you are allowed to keep five. Top catches are in the 3-pound range.

“Game and Fish will determine if it is safe enough to restock,” Hernandez said. “I’ll check the Internet or call to see if they’ve stocked.”

Fishing is a family affair for Hernandez. His father even perfected a way of preparing carp by draining the blood to make the less-than-desirable fish edible.

“My grandfather started coming out here,” Hernandez said. “That’s how we got started. He was here all the time and made his own weights. Everybody called him ‘Grandpa Fishing.’”

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On a pretty day, as many as 18 members of the Hernandez family will line up by around 4 p.m. along a particular spot along the river. It’s not just for the boys, either.

“The women join us because it’s a party,” Hernandez said. “We can fry right there. We have a catch and eat program.”

While mostly a local fishermen, Hernandez is also interested in trying more fly fishing at other spots around the state. He says he does miss the days when the Pecos River was more thoroughly stocked with a wider variety of fish.

“We had the best fishing spot in the

state,” he said.

A fishing license only costs $50, but the hobby can get expensive due to the different varieties of bait.

“They love salmon. They love garlic. Then they came out with garlic-salmon,” he said.

On a warm January afternoon, Hernandez casts his line from near a pier across the river from the city’s Riverwalk Recreational Center. The fish weren’t biting, and Hernandez speculated that it may have been due to a busy holiday crowd a few days earlier.

He also didn’t seem to mind terribly much.

Photo: Carlsbad resident John Hernandez relaxes at one of his favorite fishing holes along the Pecos River.

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on law enforcement

thE CARlSBAd PolICE dEPARtMENt’S Officer of the Year for 2011 has joined the ranks of the retired, but Cpl. Carl Guillermo doesn’t plan on going very far. The popular officer plans to continue doing what he does best–encouraging area youth to live active, drug-free lives.

Cpl. Tony Baca, a close friend, said Carlsbad treats Guillermo like a celebrity.

“You can’t go anywhere without everybody coming up and shaking his hand and giving him a hug,” Baca said. “It’s just incredible the relationship he’s built with kids. I don’t think there’s anybody in this community that has anything bad to say about him. Everybody loves Carl Guillermo.”

Guillermo’s last day of his 20-year stint with the force was December 21, 2011.

“I’ve got some things lined out with the mayor’s drug task force,” Guillermo said. “I’m also still coaching wrestling at the high school and doing Little Cavemen Wrestling with Cpl. Baca.”

Guillermo was born in Waialua Oahu, Hawaii. He met his wife, Koreen, in Colorado, and they moved to Carlsbad when she was hired at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant. He spent two years as a reserve officer with the police

department and joined the force in

1991.

Things came full circle for Guillermo, as he started and concluded his career with the CPD while the department was operating as a community-based program. Early on, he served as a D.A.R.E. officer under the mentorship of Dwayne Mounce.

Community-based police departments generally focus a significant amount of resources on pre-emptive measures, such as public outreach. Carlsbad’s community-based program currently includes school resource officers at both middle schools and the high school. Guillermo and Baca also co-wrote the school-based “Too Good for Drugs and Violence” program, a Mendez Foundation program that serves as a successor to D.A.R.E.

Community-based operations are certainly a style of policing the personable Guillermo can relate to.

“It’s more interaction with the public,” Guillermo said. “I’m very happy they came back to that. I was excited to come back and work with Cpl. Baca on things like the Wise Eyes program and drug prevention.” Guillermo believes such programs work well.

“We want the public to be our extra eyes and ears too,” Guillermo said. “We can’t be everywhere at once. You gain the respect of the public by treating them the way you want to be treated. When you are out there in the field, if you need them (the public) to come to your rescue, they will help you out.”

The officer said he loves getting to see students he worked with graduate from high school while fulfilling their promises of being drug free. He helped mentor his own two children through D.A.R.E.

“For kids it just boils down to the choices they make,” he said. “We’re just one avenue. There are other resources out there, especially the parent.”

Guillermo also has his share of stories

Main Photo: Cpl Carl Guillermo stands with D.A.R.E. kids from Riverside Elementary School.

Inset Photo: Carlsbad Police Department Cpl. Carl Guillermo poses with Cpl. E.J. Mendoza and Cpl. Tony Baca at the Carlsbad Police Department prior to Guillermo’s Dec. 21 retirement

REtIREd CoPtookCoMMuNIty BASEdPRoGRAMto NEWlEvEl


about experiences while on patrol. One such memorable tale was a police chase that followed a robbery of a Domino’s Pizza. “We chased them all the way to Hobbs and brought them back to our jurisdiction,” he said.The hardest part, he said, was dealing with all of the paperwork, as there’s always another accident or information report to fill out.Guillermo said he plans to stay in Carlsbad after his retirement. He enjoys the warmth, both from the community and the sun. “I’m also going to enjoy spending a little more time with family,” he said.His son, Nathan, is a junior at Carlsbad High School. His daughter, Brianne, attends Oklahoma City University with a double major in music and photography.

Guillermo, Baca said, received the 2011’s officer of the year award because of his community involvement and his efforts to get anti-drug programs into the schools.

“He’s one of my best friends here and outside of the department,” Baca noted. “I’m still going to see him on a regular basis, but it just won’t be here at work.”

“That’s the main thing,” Guillermo concluded. “I’m really going to miss working with all of the people I’ve worked with over the past 20 years.”

Many of the young men and women he’s inspired over the years attended Guillermo’s retirement celebration, which took place Jan. 18 at the Pecos River Village Conference Center Carousel House.

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Decades ago, well-intentioned

volunteers working to restore a building in downtown Pecos, Texas, mistakenly skipped patching just a couple of one room’s many bullet holes, and for that Dorinda Millan is eternally grateful.

“The room was originally covered with bullet holes, but volunteers accidently covered them up without realizing that’s what people wanted to see,” she said. “We’ve still got two bullet holes that we point out to people.”

Wishing the bullet holes had been left alone might seem a little odd, but Millan is the curator of the West of the Pecos Museum, located at the corner of First Street and Highway 285 in downtown Pecos, Texas. There, genuinely-fired-on-location bullet holes are somewhat of a hot commodity.

The West of the Pecos Museum features 50 different unique rooms, not a bad display for a town with a population of about 9,000.

hIStoRy In 1896, R. S. Johnson, a former

Texas Ranger, built the two story red sandstone building using materials from a quarry located to the east of town. The first floor was a saloon and bedrooms were upstairs. Now and then, or possibly more frequently, the saloon attracted some of the rougher elements of the Wild West crowd.

“The same year it was built, two outlaws were killed there by a local man,” Millan said. “The gunfighters had threatened to kill him at a certain date, and he killed them in self defense when they walked in.”

A third story was added to the building in 1904 as it became the Orient Hotel.

“It was the biggest hotel between Fort Worth and El Paso,” Millan said.

During World War II, an airfield training base in the area meant thousands of soldiers were looking for a place to sleep.

“The community was not ready for that. We didn’t have the housing for it,” Millan said. “There were barracks for the soldiers, but nothing for their families. People were renting their barns and extra rooms.”

To help, the entire building was turned into an apartment for family members of servicemen.

“I think one thing that is interesting is that the building has never been just sitting empty by itself,” Millan said. “There’s always been something going on inside.”

When the museum opened in 1963,

on the road

Main Photo: The West of the Pecos Museum, located in Pecos, Texas, features 50 different rooms celebrating the area’s heritage and culture. The most famous room of the museum is the bar. Authentic bullet holes are available.

Inset Photo: “Hanging” Judge Roy Bean was famous for being “The Law West of the Pecos.”


plenty of history was already in place before any new items were moved inside. The saloon, with its two remaining visible bullet holes, is currently the signature exhibit of the ground floor of the West of the Pecos Museum.

“It’s western history from the period when Pecos was started,” Millan said about the museum’s contents. “Each hotel room represents a different part of history, so there’s an old school room, a doctor’s room, a pioneer’s dining room and kitchen.”

There’s also, of course, a rodeo room, which celebrates Pecos’ role as the birthplace of the popular sport.

About 15 years ago, a restoration project allowed the museum to expand into the building’s third floor.

“We already had things in storage and people waiting in line to put out more items,” Millan said. “On the third floor, we also have lots of rooms dedicated to little area towns who contributed.”

loCAtIoNPecos is located about 90 miles southeast of Carlsbad and is situated about 10 miles west of the Pecos River. It is the largest city of Reeves County; Pecos County, meanwhile, is located to the southeast. Incidentally, Texas’ Loving County, located roughly between Carlsbad and the town of Pecos, has 82 residents and the honor of being the least populous county in the United States.

Millan said the fathers who began planning the museum in the 1960s made an extra effort to keep everything authentic.

“They tracked down the original bar of the saloon,” she said. “They were able to replicate what wasn’t an original.”

The museum retains a strong local volunteer base to keep the three floors and outdoor exhibits attractive. Millan herself has been with the museum for 35 years now.

“I started working here when I was in high school,” she said. “When I went off to college at UTEP, I continued working here on weekends, holidays and during the summer. I’ve just always been interested in history, and the older I get the more I get into it.”

Millan said she often finds herself quoting members of Pecos’ older generation she has interviewed over the years, almost as if their shared wisdom has become a part of her own experience. It’s that kind of rich, local tradition that manifests itself during a visit to the West of the Pecos Museum–bullet holes and all.

Summer hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. School year hours are9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information on the West of the Pecos Museum, visitwww.westofthepecosmuseum.com or call 432-445-5076.

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on fun

Carlsbad and Hobbs have been looking for ways to partner together for years, and a group of women may have finally skated into the solution. Women from the two cities have taken on names like Heidi Hemlock and Maully Baddison and formed the 575 Roller Babes, an amateur roller derby team that competes in the Tall City Roller Betties league out of Midland, Texas.

“When I told them what I was doing, my friends all said, ‘No way, you are too nice!’” noted team co-captain and Hobbs resident Adrienne Marchello, who goes by the name Maully Baddison when she’s competing. “But you tend to get a different personality when you are on the track.”

Marchello, by the way, is an accountant.

“I’d seen some older clips of derbies and thought they were cool,” she said. “When a team started, I just went full on board.”

Carlsbad resident Janet Hodgson, aka 2canslam, is the oldest member of the

team at 48. Hodgson, who works in the operating room of the Carlsbad Medical Center, became interested in the sport after watching the 2009 Drew Berrymore film “Whip It,” which focuses on the Austin, Texas, Hurl Scouts derby team.

“I saw that and said, ‘We need to see if we could do that here,’” she said, noting that family and friends are still a little stunned by her decision to join the team.

“They said, ‘At 48, you are going to knock down chicks?’ Sure I am.”

Hodgson said having a bad day at work helps a lot with her performance.

“It’s a lot of fun. I’ve never been part of a team sport. I love the camaraderie and everything,” she said. “Last year we were just starting out. We have a lot more planned.”

Alaina Bartlett, who goes by the derby name Alayna Bobbitt, is the team’s

youngest member at 23. Bartlett, a Carlsbad resident who works as a secretary for a welding company, had participated in gymnastics and dance before a friend recruited her into derby.

“Yeah, you get to hit a little more here,” she laughed. “I’d watched it on TV, but I was really scared because I’d never been on skates before.”

Six months later, and roller derby is up there with family and work. Bartlett said she tries to get some skating practice in every day.

Many of the 575 Roller Babes had skated together in a less competitive league prior to this year. Their current league means they have more bout time and action than before.

They practice twice a week–once in Carlsbad and once


Main Photo: 575 Roller Babe members, from left, Adrienne Marchello, Samantha Rogers, Janet Hodgson, Lacy Frazier, Alaina Bartlett, Rebecca Criswell, JoDee Costilla-Gonzales, and Brandy Bryan, discuss their strategy during a practice session.Inset Photo: Mc Vick (Vicky Lee) and QT Pi (Jennifer Mitchell) skate during a practice session at Carlsbad’s National Guard Armory.

in Hobbs. They typically use Carlsbad’s skating rink, but practice in the National Guard Armory during the cold weather.

“We first established in July and had a bout in September at the Permian Basin Fair in Odessa,” Marchello said. “Our last bout of the year was the ‘Seasons Beatings’ bout. All our proceeds from that one went to Toys for Tots. We’re not in this to make money, just to keep the league going.”

In January, ten members of the 575 Roller Babes attended a boot camp near Dallas that was put on by two members of Team USA.

A roller derby bout features players called blockers and players called jammers. Jammers score points by lapping other members of the team. Blockers form a pack to try to stop the other team’s jammer and help their own. There are also a number of rules to follow and a penalty box for violators of those rules.

“It’s crazy in that you are always playing offense and defense,” Marchello said. “There’s always a lot going on.”

While a coach, Marchello also competes.

“I’m a really heavy hitter. I can sneak back in and hit hard,” the accountant noted.

The cool derby names are a part of the tradition too. Marchello said competitors actually have to register their name online to make sure it isn’t taken.

“That’s the name you are living with for the

rest of your life,” she said. “When I’m old and grey, I’ll still be Maully Baddison.”

The 575 Roller Babes had their first bout of 2012 in January and another one is scheduled for the second week of February.

“We’re in the midst of trying to put together a bout for March 31,” Marchello said. “We’re so excited. We really want to let the community know we’re here. These girls are all working their butts off.”

www.realestate21.com 575-885-9722 • 1205 W Pierce • Carlsbad, NM 88220

BOB YEAGER, BROKER/OWNER


Carlsbad Has More. Join Us!P R O U D T O B E - T H E C I T Y O F C A R L S B A D , N E W M E X I C O

More to See • More to Do • More to Beall In a cIty you wIll Be prouD to call hoMe!

Carlsbad Has More. Join Us!P R O U D T O B E - T H E C I T Y O F C A R L S B A D , N E W M E X I C O

More to See • More to Do • More to Beall In a cIty you wIll Be prouD to call hoMe!

on the city

New to Carlsbad? Considering Carlsbad? Been here forever but just need a reminder of some of the local facilities

offered? The City of Carlsbad has two senior centers and a wide plethora of facilities and activities aimed at retirees. Here are just a few:

North MesaSenior Recreation CenterLast year alone, Carlsbad’s North Mesa Senior Recreation Center served 64,646 seniors. While that number obviously includes quite a few repeat customers, it’s hard to deny that the center, located at 1112 North Mesa, is one of the busiest spots in town.

The center strives to ensure that participants are provided with a variety of activities within an atmosphere of friendship, happiness and companionship. The center also promotes the health and well-being of the seniors in our community. Both city-run senior recreation centers are open to anyone over 40.

“I come here to laugh,” noted one woman on a busy Thursday afternoon. The center’s pool hall and bridge room were packed, and the library, quilting area and gym were all in use as well.

“They come to have fun,” said center director Pat Beason. “Line dancing is one of our big things.”

In fact, there are ten different line dancing classes offered each week. Zumba classes, wood carving and ping pong also dot the center’s calendar.

For more information, call 885-6487.

San joseSenior Recreation Center San Jose Senior Center, located at 2814 San Jose Boulevard, is dedicated to provide services for the senior population in the City of Carlsbad and ensuring that the participants are offered a variety of activities in an atmosphere of friendship, happiness and companionship.

The 14,921 square foot center even offers assistance of form completion for items such as tax preparation and social security.

“We’re getting ready to do tax season in February,” said Cecilia Franco, the facility’s director. “It’s free for everybody. You don’t have to be a senior, just low income.”

More relaxing activities include bingo, pool, fitness, aerobics, ceramics, Spanish

classes and crafts. There are also designated meeting spaces on location for birthday, anniversary and potluck parties.

“We also love to have people volunteer and share their talents with us,” said Franco.

San Jose Senior Center serves as a meal site for the Southeast New Mexico Community Action Corporation (SNMCAC), which feeds about 90 people a day. Everyone 60 and over pays $1.75 to eat, or eats for free if they can’t afford it. SNMCAC also provides rides to those who need them.

Franco did want to stress that the Center is not just for low income residents. Everyone over 40 is encouraged to attend.

“It’s for everybody,” she said. For more information, call 885-1402.

lake CarlsbadGolf Course The senior rates at the Lake Carlsbad Golf Course tend to draw some notice.

Photo: A group of ladies playing cards at the North Mesa Senior Recreation Center.

The More The MerrierA t l o C A l S E N I o R C E N t E R S


on the city

Unlimited play for an annual rate of $330 means plenty of golfers move Carlsbad up to the top of the retirement list.

The course, located at 901 North Muscatel, hosts a par three course and a full eighteen. There’s a senior scramble every Monday morning (time varies with the season) and a Par 3 tournament on Friday morning.

At 6,512 yards, the par 72 regulation course offers a variety of challenges for everyone. The par 3 course is 1,300 yards long, par 27 and presents holes varying from 80 to 230 yards. The course is easily played in under an hour and is ideal for beginning golfers, seniors and junior golfers.


Beach Park The Lake Carlsbad Recreation Area is 125.6 acres located along the Pecos River from the railroad bridge south to the upper Tansil Dam. This area is used for picnics, water sports, playgrounds and fishing and boating. A swim area is open to the public from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.

The beach area’s Carlsbad Bandshell is often the hub of local outdoor events, including Relay for Life, Art-A-Fair, Hawgfest, Chili Cook-off and the popular Independence Day celebration. A six-mile sidewalk around the entire area is also used for several area walkathons and an annual triathlon race. Nine tennis courts, a tennis pro shop and three racquetball courts are located nearby.

Carlsbad Museum& Art CenterThe Carlsbad Museum and Art Center, located at 418 W. Fox Street, fulfills its mission as a cultural and educational institution through the collection, preservation, exhibition and interpretation of artifacts, documents and works of art relating to prehistory, history and aesthetic environment of the City of Carlsbad and the surrounding communities.

The Carlsbad Area Art Association’s show will be featured through the month of March. The museum, and adjacent public library, both welcome volunteers.


Retired Seniorand volunteer ProgramThe mission of the Retired Senior and Volunteer Program (RSVP) is to assess community needs and recruit Carlsbad adults 55 years and over to fill these needs and provide an outlet for the retired worker to maintain active productive lives through volunteer work.


Shooting RangeThe City of Carlsbad Shooting Range and Action Sports Recreation Area is a six hundred forty- five acre facility which also hosts go-kart and radio-controlled model airplanes racing competitions.

The shooting range itself offers four skeet ranges, along with pistol, small/large bore rifle, silhouette, muzzleloader, and archery ranges. The Yucca Flats Raceway, a competition go-kart track, includes cross-wind runways for the RC airplanes.

Learn more about the City of Carlsbad and our programs and services at CityOfCarlsbadNM.com.

Photos: Playing a round of pool or getting a Zumba workout are just some of the activities available at the San Jose Senior Recreation Center


#1 Can you place six X’s on a Tic Tac Toe board without making three-in-a-row in any direction? Try it out!

#2 You have three boxes of fruit. One contains just apples, one contains just oranges, and one contains a mixture of both. Each box is labeled -- one says “apples,” one says “oranges,” and one says “apples and oranges.” However, it is known that none of the boxes are labeled correctly. How can you label the boxes correctly if you are only allowed to take and look at just one piece of fruit from just one of the boxes?

#3 You want to send a valuable object to a friend securely. You have a box which can be fitted with multiple locks, and you have several locks and their corresponding keys. However, your friend does not have any keys to your locks, and if you send a key in an unlocked box, the key could be copied en route. How can you send the object securely?

Source: rinkworks.com

Solutions

To celebrate President’s Day, here’s some presidential trivia!

• Do you know about recent presidents Leslie King and William Blythe? When their mothers remarried and they were adopted by stepfathers, King became Gerald R. Ford and Blythe became William J. Clinton.• Abraham Lincoln was the tallest president; James Madison the shortest. William Taft was heaviest; James Madison, lightest.• James Garfield could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other.• Woodrow Wilson is the only president buried in Washington, D.C.• John Tyler died in his native Virginia as a citizen of the Southern Confederacy.• Eight presidents died in office, William Harrison (pneumonia), Zachary Taylor (food poisoning or cholera), Warren Harding (heart attack or stroke), Franklin Roosevelt (cerebral hemorrhage) and John Kennedy, Abraham Lincoln, William McKinley and James Garfield by assassination.• It is claimed William Harrison and Abigail Adams are ghosts haunting the White House.• Franklin Roosevelt was first to fly in an airplane while in office (1943); Teddy Roosevelt was first former president to fly (1910).• Dwight Eisenhower was first to get a pilot’s license (1939).• Franklin Roosevelt was first to appear on television in 1939 at the World’s Fair opening, but Harry Truman was first to give an address from the White House (1947).• Jimmy Carter was the first president born in a hospital.• Andrew Jackson, wounded in an 1806 duel with Charles Dickenson, lived the next 31 years with a bullet in his chest.• Presidents Garfield, Hoover, Truman, Ford, Reagan, Bush (the elder) and Clinton were left-handed.

Source: American History@Suite101

#1 Put X’s in the two left-most columns of the top row, the outer columns of the middle row and the two right-most columns of the bottom row.

#2 Take a piece of fruit from the box marked “apples and oranges.” Suppose the fruit you take is an apple. Then that box must be the box containing just apples. Therefore, the box marked “oranges” can’t be the box containing just apples, and it can’t be the box containing just oranges either -- so it must be the box containing apples and oranges. The remaining box is therefore the box containing just oranges. If the fruit you take out is an orange, the solution is derived in a similar fashion: the box marked “apples and oranges” is the box containing just oranges; the box marked “apples” is the box containing both apples and oranges; and the box marked “oranges” is the one containing just apples.

#3 Put the valuable object into the box, secure it with one of your locks, and send the box to your friend. Your friend should then attach one of his own locks and return it. When you receive it again, remove your lock and send it back. Now your friend can unlock his own lock and retrieve the object.


on the chamber

Lisa Boeke started off the new year representing Carlsbad in San Antonio at two military base shows the first part of January.

Over 3,500 military personnel attended the two day Let’s Travel Expo. This marks the 2nd year for Carlsbad as a show participant and has proven to be a great travel market for Carlsbad and southern New Mexico.

The Chamber then headed to the 8th annual Winter Texan show in McAllen, Texas. McAllen is home to over 150,000 snowbirds from Canada and the Midwest; and with over 20 RV parks within a 20 mile radius it’s the perfect venue to share information on all Carlsbad has to offer the potential snowbird visitor. This is the 8th year that Carlsbad has partnered with the State of NM Tourism Department to represent Carlsbad and the state of New Mexico at the show. Next stop will be the snowbird show in South Padre Texas.

Retire in Carlsbad

You’re invitedCARlSBAd, NEW MExICo: Where friendly people and the perfect lifestyle are waiting for you!

MAy 4-12, 2012 is “Centennial Celebration Week”.

Make plans to visit Carlsbadand enjoy:

• 26th Annual Mescal Roast• Centennial Cattle Drive• Golf• Pecos River Activities• Carlsbad Caverns National Park• Historic Downtown District• Living Desert Zoo & Gardens State Park

...and more special events planned just for you!

tourism corner

Carlsbad Chamber of CommerCe kiCks off 2012 with a bang

save the date: maY 4-121-866-865-6575 • RetireInCarlsbad.com/retire2012


Letter from the chairman

welCome!new members

Déjà vu Vintage Boutique

Design’s by Gayle

Elephant Ears, LLC

Lowe’s HomeImprovement Center

PAGE/Eco Location

Quiet Haven Massage

Robert’s Painting

Young Living Essential Oils

...............................................................Contact the Chamber at (575) 887-6516

www.carlsbadchamber.com

Robert Defer, Chief Executive Officer [email protected]

Brenda Whiteaker, Director of Operations [email protected]

Lisa Boeke, Director of Marketing & Tourism [email protected]

Janell Whitlock, Director of Retirement [email protected]

Donna Cass, Senior Administrative Assistant [email protected]

Brandy Aguilar, Administrative [email protected]

Randy Baker, Facilities Maintenance

Albert Perez, Facilities Maintenance

Jesus Torres, Facilities Maintenance

Your Chamber Staff

Happy New Year from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Board of Director’s!I would like to thank our wonderful community of Carlsbad for embracing our First Annual Winter Wine Festival. We had 9 wineries from all over the State and numerous vendors selling everything from olive oil

and pasta to goat cheese. The event was a HUGE success, so mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual Winter Wine Festival to be held November 30th and December 1st, 2012.Christmas on the Pecos had another successful year. I would like to thank the home owners, home adopters, boat pilots, URS and the blanket brigade, vendors in the village and the gift shop, the Christmas on the Pecos Committee chaired by Mike Calvani and the dedicated Chamber staff. Without each of these people, Christmas on the Pecos would not be possible.Our next event will be the St. Paddy’s themed “Taste of Carlsbad” on March 15th. Tickets will go on sale the first of March, get them early as this event sells out year after year!I look forward to a prosperous new year for Carlsbad! Lots of great things on the horizon!

Sincerely, Susan Crockett“Uniting Business…..Advancing Carlsbad”

Grand OpeninGs ribbOn cuttinGs GrOund breakinGs

Representatives of Lowe’s Home Improvement Store,the City of Carlsbad, Chamber of Commerce, and Carlsbad

residents celebrate the grand opening of the new storelocated at 2519 W Pierce St.

United Way of Carlsbad and South Eddy Countycelebrated their new facilities at 116 S Canyon with a ribbon cutting

and open house on November 17, 2011.


business directory

www.dentonwood.com

407 S. Main StCarlsbad, NM

AUTO • COMMERCIAL • RESIDENTIAL

(575) 885-1262

OPEN 10-5 MON-FRI & 10-4 SATURDAY

OPEN FOR BREAkFASt & luNChMONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY!

Hours: Monday-Friday 6:30am - 2pmAll Items Available for Take-Out

409 S. Canal • Carlsbad • 575.887.8882

575-725-5644575-302-7068 cell

[email protected]

BARBARA FLORESINSURANCE AGENCY

AUTO • HOME • LIFE • BUSINESS • WORKERS COMP

121 S. Canal, Ste. BCarlsbad, NM 88220

MAIlING & PACkING SERvICES

[email protected]

320 W Mermod | 575.885.9199 | Toll Free 866.545.0371

Home Care from the Heart





Contact Alyx duncanfor more information

[email protected]

575.628.093338 Focus on Carlsbad | SPRING 2012

We started Focus On Carlsbad Magazine several years ago as a way to share positive stories about our community. We now bring that same commitment to you online.

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Full SERvICE AdvERtISING • PRINt & WEB dESIGNSPECIAlty PuBlICAtIoNS • PRoMotIoNAl PRoduCtS

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Documents

Focus on Carlsbad Spring 2012