When Dominic talked to me on a Tuesday, one of the two days when he doesn’t work in the restaurant, he had just returned from taking his son to physical therapy in Espanola.

“He had a bad slip and fall about two years ago, and he hurt his right leg pretty badly,” Dominic explained, “but with the physical therapy he's slowly but surely regaining the ability to walk.”
Dominic drives to Espanola every week, to help his son. Once again, I’m so moved by what I learn when I interview a person. Dominic has an immense workload and lots of responsibility for his business as well as for his family, and yet, he is cheerful and retains a sense of humor. An intelligent man;  who knows what career options he might have had when he was younger. But he is dedicated to the restaurant and my guess is that his cooking has turned into some sort of art, his personal creations.
 
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me, Dominic, and may your son get completely well soon!

Understanding and Handling Encounters

By Carol Bondy
generated with the assistance of Microsoft Copilot
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Yesterday a reader in El Rito had a Mountain Lion encounter at her home.   

"On Wednesday evening I opened our front door to a very large mountain lion.  We had heard a small noise and I was heading out to investigate.  The lion was about 3 feet right in front of me with one of our cats in its mouth.  Since he was a great deal larger than our 160 lb. male Great Dane, I was no match for him.  I would guess him to be 200 lbs.  There was no way to try to save our cat.  I backed inside the door and closed it behind me.  To my right were large floor to ceiling windows.  As I stood there screaming, the lion remained in place and stared at me through those windows for maybe a full minute, then casually walked off - still carrying the poor cat.  He had no fear of me at all.  The Sheriff's office sent a deputy, and Game and Fish sent a Game Warden.  The consensus is that the big cat, with no fear of people and brazenly taking a pet, is of serious concern to the community.  A trap and camera have been set up in hopes of capturing him as soon as possible.  If you live in El Rito, please be careful.  We live approximately 2 miles down State Road 110 in El Rito." 

We live among the wild things, and although mountain lion sightings are rare, they are here.  Following is some information and guidelines.

Introduction
Mountain lions, also known as cougars, pumas, or panthers, are majestic yet elusive predators that inhabit many regions across North America, including Rio Arriba, New Mexico. These powerful creatures are essential to the ecosystem, helping control the population of deer and other wildlife.

Mountain Lion Habits and Habitat
Mountain lions are solitary and primarily nocturnal animals, although they can be active during the day. They prefer rugged terrain and dense underbrush, which provides cover for hunting. In Rio Arriba, they are commonly found in forested areas, canyons, and mountains. Mountain lions have a large home range and are seldom seen by humans.

Signs of Mountain Lion Presence
Though sightings are rare, there are signs that indicate the presence of a mountain lion in the area:

• Tracks: Look for large paw prints with no claw marks as mountain lions have retractable claws.
• Scrapes: Mountain lions create scrapes on the ground with their hind feet to mark their territory.
• Scat: Mountain lion scat is typically segmented, which helps differentiate it from other animals.
• Deer Kills: Mountain lions often cover their kills with dirt, leaves, or snow to hide them from scavengers.

What to Do If You Encounter a Mountain Lion
​Encountering a mountain lion can be a daunting experience, but knowing how to react can help ensure your safety. Here are some guidelines to follow if you come across a mountain lion in Rio Arriba:
Stay Calm
Do not run. Running can trigger the mountain lion's instinct to chase. Instead, remain calm and stand your ground.

Make Yourself Look Larger
Raise your arms, open your jacket, and try to appear as large as possible. This can help deter the mountain lion from approaching you.

Speak Firmly
Use a loud, firm voice to assert your presence. Shout, wave your arms, and throw stones or sticks if necessary, but avoid crouching down or turning your back.

Maintain Eye Contact
Staring directly at the mountain lion can help you appear more dominant. Avoid bending down or crouching, as this can make you look smaller and more vulnerable.

Back Away Slowly
If the mountain lion does not retreat, slowly back away while maintaining eye contact. Do not run, as this can provoke a chase.

Protect Yourself If Attacked
In the rare event of an attack, fight back with everything you have. Use rocks, sticks, or any nearby objects to defend yourself. Aim for the eyes and face as these areas are most sensitive.

Preventing Mountain Lion Encounters
While encounters with mountain lions are rare, taking precautions can reduce the likelihood of an encounter:

• Hike in groups and make noise to avoid surprising a mountain lion.
• Keep children and pets close by and under supervision.
• Avoid hiking or jogging at dawn, dusk, and night when mountain lions are most active.
• Be aware of your surroundings and watch for signs of mountain lion activity.
• Carry a whistle or an air horn to scare off mountain lions if necessary.
• Bear Spray can also be a deterrent

Conclusion
Mountain lions are an integral part of the natural landscape in Rio Arriba, New Mexico. By understanding their behavior and knowing how to react during an encounter, you can safely enjoy the beauty of this region while respecting its wildlife. Remember to stay calm, make yourself appear larger, and avoid running if you come face-to-face with a mountain lion. Taking preventive measures can further reduce the risk of an encounter, ensuring a safe and enjoyable outdoor experience.

In the 2024 legislative session, Cadena and another group of lawmakers pushed for eliminating the existing wholesale taxes and levying retailers 3% of alcohol’s sales price. This change would effectively raise taxes on higher-priced drinks, particularly those sold at restaurants, while reducing rates on cheaper drinks.

The New Mexico Alcohol Alliance, an industry group that has expressed openness to a “reasonable” increase in alcohol taxes, opposes shifting them to retailers as “an undue burden” on businesses.

Debated in lengthy hearings, neither of the competing bills advanced to a floor vote. But in interim hearings throughout the fall, the legislators made efforts to find common ground.

Lawmakers who sponsored the 25¢-per-drink tax hike last year have been circulating what they call a “hybrid” bill. It would raise wholesale taxes by 4¢ to 8¢ per drink as well as introduce a new tax on retailers, like that proposed by Cadena, but at a higher 12% rate, the same percentage that cannabis is taxed.

By retaining the wholesale tax, the hybrid bill would not allow rates on the cheapest drinks to fall, a distinction the sponsors have previously called “a moral issue.”

“The reason I’m co-sponsoring is that if I can add another day, another month, another year to any of my constituents’ lives, that is probably the most important thing I can do,” said Sen. Shannon Pinto, D-Tohatchi, as she presented the bill during the December hearing.

The bill would direct a quarter of the $200 to $260 million the sponsors estimate it would raise to the state’s tribes and Pueblos for prevention programs, “including culturally relevant practices.” Native people in New Mexico are less likely to drink than Anglos, but die from alcohol-related causes at much higher rates. Both the Indian Affairs Committee and the Legislative Health & Human Services Committee have endorsed the bill.

In a nod to Cadena’s concerns that raising the price of alcohol could inadvertently harm people who are deeply dependent on it, supporters of the bill also suggested funding go to “managed alcohol programs,” which provide clients doses of alcohol in addition to housing and medical services as a form of “harm reduction.”

Dozens of such programs have been established, mainly in Canada, and research suggests they are a “promising” intervention for homeless people with severe alcohol use disorder.

During the December hearing, Cadena said she was working on her own alcohol tax bill for the 2025 session, but praised Pinto and her co-sponsors for making some compromises, including incorporating a retail tax. She expressed determination to find agreement. “We need to send a bill to the fourth floor,” she said repeatedly.

Points of contention remain, including what rate to tax retailers, whether to retain a wholesale tax, and whether to adjust it for inflation.

For his part, Lente signaled that both approaches would be debated and voted on as standalone bills, rather than buried in an omnibus tax package crafted behind closed doors. “That’s the commitment that we are making, to ensure that this issue that plagues New Mexico is one that we are taking seriously,” he said during the hearing. “We will send a message to the alcohol industry that we will be taking action in one way or another.”

Speaker Martinez also pressured the vying camps of lawmakers to come to an agreement, convening them for a four-hour meeting in early January in hopes of hammering out a single bill, according to multiple legislators in attendance.

Alcohol kills more New Mexicans than all illegal drugs combined, and such deaths rose significantly during the COVID pandemic, as they did elsewhere in the country. Now, that pandemic surge seems to be moderating. Between 2022 and 2023, alcohol-related deaths in New Mexico fell 9%, according to the latest data from the health department, but they remained higher than any year before 2020.​

In other states that have reported comparable data such as Oregon and North Carolina, increases in alcohol-related deaths also accelerated in 2020 and 2021 before slowing or reversing in 2022.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has not prioritized tackling the state’s epidemic of alcohol-related deaths. In 2021, as many states relaxed long standing restrictions on alcohol deliveries and “to go” sales, New Mexico’s hospitality industry pressed her to sign a bill loosening alcohol sales. She did so over the objections of the state’s alcohol epidemiologist, who said that by promoting drinking the bill “would likely increase harms” including violent crime and child abuse.

In 2023, when she vetoed a  penny-per-drink increase in alcohol taxes, it disappointed lawmakers and her own former health officials.
​
She instead directed her health department to fund a $2 million Office of Alcohol Prevention. Nearly two years later, of the 11 positions allocated to the department, six remain unfilled.

By Mikayla Ortega 
Questa del Rio News

Wildfires have been ravaging Southern California since Jan. 7, burning thousands of structures and homes and displacing thousands of people. 24 people have died as of Jan. 15, and the death toll is expected to rise. Due to climate change and increased fire risk, insurance agencies across the country have dropped homeowners’ insurance for people living in ‘high risk’ areas leaving many residents to start at ground zero without so much as the shirt on their backs.

Here is our own backyard, the 2022 Calf Canyon fire and Hermits Peak Fire will go down as the largest, most destructive fire in New Mexico history, burning 341,471 acres across San Miguel, Mora and Taos counties. 899 structures were destroyed and an additional 84 were damaged. Fortunately, no lives were lost, however, many families and residents navigated this stark new reality with their homes being destroyed, being left to rebuild from nothing.

In our January 2025 issue, we reported that many home-owners received cancellation of insurance policies, while others experienced a steep premium increase due to living in “high fire danger” areas. Insurance agencies are working to respond to the increasingly frequent catastrophic weather events stemming from climate change, unfortunately leaving many uncovered and uninsured when disaster strikes.

In our immediate community, as we work to adapt to climate change, Kit Carson Electric is leading the charge in being a socially responsible steward of electricity as it works to advance the Green Hydrogen Project which will effectively make the power distribution and resiliency green. The Cooperative received $231 million in funding to kick off the project from the U.S. Rural Utilities Service under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This project is the first of its kind in the country, showcasing how the Cooperative will reduce its carbon emissions to minimize the effects of climate change.

In response to this funding announcement, Questa local and Kit Carson Cooperative Board Member Bobby Ortega said in a press release on Monday (Jan. 13), “This USDA RUS announcement awarding KCEC $231 million in funding is among the most significant milestones in the coop’s history. This financial award will bring to fruition the first green hydrogen project of this type done by an electric cooperative in the nation,” he said. “The KCEC Board and CEO have an innovative vision for the coop’s future while delivering affordable, reliable clean energy to our members today and well into the future. This New ERA funded project not only allows us to achieve this but also will bring the economic opportunities needed in the Village of Questa, NM and surrounding communities.”

While some Questa residents were opposed to the project’s development in the Questa area due to unknown potential dangers and concerns of explosion of hydrogen production, Kit Carson CEO Luis Reyes provided an example of the potential risk and danger in an interview with our publication in our November issue. “Hydrogen is gas. When you drive a car, you’re sitting on a tank of gas which is much closer to you and by the same logic, poses the same danger for explosion– which as we’ve seen is very low,” Reyes said. In addition, Reyes says his team has been working to ensure the project will be in established buildings and facilities left from the former Questa Molycorp Mine to minimize the footprint the project will have on the forested environment in the Questa area.

“We are thrilled and extend our gratitude to the USDA for granting this opportunity to our rural electric cooperative in northern New Mexico,” Kit Carson CEO Luis Reyes said. “This will be a game-changer for KCEC, ensuring a reliable power supply even during challenging conditions, and allowing first responders and the community to access life-saving power during emergencies such as wildfires or extreme natural disasters.”

The project is expected to produce 350 local jobs during the construction phase and the total tax revenue impact is expected to exceed $44 million over the next five years.Mikayla Ortega
Editor, Questa del Rio News

‘We can respect civil rights and protect the right of every family to live safely’
By: Julia Goldberg 
​Source NM

“Everyone in this room knows that crime is out of control in New Mexico,” Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham told attendees to her State of the State address at the Roundhouse on Tuesday. “Even our public safety professionals agree, we’re in a state of crisis…the violent crime rate in New Mexico is twice the national average. Addiction is rampant. And we’re clearly struggling to protect New Mexicans from this madness.”
​
Following a nearly year-long tour of New Mexico to build support for her public safety agenda, the governor on Tuesday laid out several of the proposals she will push lawmakers to adopt during the legislative session that began at noon.

Those include toughening penalties for people with felony convictions who illegally possess firearms; sentencing for criminals who traffic deadly drugs like fentanyl; and “civil commitment for those who need treatment the most.” The governor also wants to “reform criminal competency laws that let too many dangerous people remain on our streets.” She will also be pushing for a tax rebate for businesses “to help businesses foot the cost of security personnel and equipment until we can get our crime epidemic under control.”

The governor made no mention of yesterday’s inauguration of Donald Trump as president, but ended her speech with a call to action for lawmakers to address crime.

“I recognize that the issues that plague us are rooted in poverty, inequality and generational challenges long neglected,” she said in prepared remarks. “But our crime problem destabilizes the very communities we seek to empower; it threatens the very prosperity of our state, in which we have invested so much. We cannot and we must not let this continue. We need the tools to overcome this challenge. We can respect civil rights and protect the right of every family to live safely, the right of small businesses to conduct commerce securely and the right of our children to grow up in communities free from danger.”
​
Following the governor’s speech, Republican leaders in a news conference said they appreciated her new tough-on-crime agenda, which they said they’ve touted for years without any purchase in the Legislature. But they said her speech focused too much on behavioral health spending, which they described as throwing more money at solutions that will be slow to arrive.

In a statement provided to Source, Lena Weber, interim policy director at the ACLU of New Mexico, said the organization was “encouraged” to hear the governor’s “commitment to taking bold steps to reduce homelessness and improve access to behavioral health care, describing them as “the real solutions we need to build lasting community safety for all New Mexicans – not more of the same ‘tough on crime’ approach that has failed our state for years.”

However, she said, “we were disappointed to hear the governor yet again propose policies that will fuel mass incarceration in our state and harm our communities. Longer sentences and coerced treatment aren’t the solutions our state deserves. We urge the governor and the Legislature to reject harmful proposals and instead double down on the real solutions that the governor and lawmakers have already proposed that will offer stability and safety by investing in housing, healthcare, education and jobs.”

While the governor made public safety and the beleaguered Children, Youth and Families Department centerpieces of her speech, she also touted her administration for its work on the economy and education, reviewed her proposals for schools, housing, climate, jobs and healthcare.

CYFD
While the governor claimed the state has made progress in CYFD, particularly in the last year, she proposed a partnership with “an independent, outside expert in child welfare and foster care—such as the Urban Institute—to evaluate CYFD alongside the state auditor and make reports to her office and the Legislature every six months.” At the same time, she said she supports an “Independent Child Protection Authority” that will be jointly appointed by her office and the Legislature. 

The Legislative Finance Committee’s budget recommendations note that New Mexico “consistently ranks among the worst six states for repeat maltreatment occurring within 12 months of the initial allegation, and in FY24 the state’s reported rate of repeat maltreatment worsened.”

At the same time, the governor said, the health department is assuming responsibility for the federal Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act because “public health experts are best equipped to support families with drug-addicted babies.” Too many families, the governor added, garnering applause, “do not adhere to the spirit of the program. That’s why it’s time to make these interventions on behalf of children mandatory.”

She also will back exempting foster families and grandparents raising grandchildren from personal income tax and push to double their stipends up to $900 more dollars monthly. “I say, if you are stepping up for kids in need, we’re going to make it easier for you to support them,” she said.

She also urged the Legislature to fully fund CYFD “so it has the resources and personnel it needs to do this important work.” The governor’s budget recommends $286.4 million for the department; the LFC recommendation is $389.4 million. 

Education

The governor said she will propose incentives for schools that ban cellphone use during school hours, “along with funding for enhanced safety measures so that parents don’t have to worry about getting ahold of their kids in an emergency.” She also said lawmakers need to pass a bill to make the state’s Office of Special Education permanent. Another big-ticket item: a $50 million annual investment in the Indian Education Fund.

She will also push for $205 million to solidify the state’s free childcare program; a “comprehensive math and STEM program”; and to fully fund 180-day school years.

Economy

Citing the addition of 134,000 jobs in the past four-and-a-half years, the governor noted that the state has cut its unemployment gap in half over the last two years. The most recent employment gap data available does show gap decreasing, but that appears to be because the number of openings has decreased. The number of unemployed people has stayed largely the same over the last two years.
​
The governor also announced that quantum computing company Quantinuum “is establishing a major research and development presence here in New Mexico.”

Climate change

Noting the “devastating coverage of wildfires ravaging Los Angeles,” the governor also acknowledged the fires that have “ravaged communities in our state, testing our patience and resilience as we struggle under the weight of natural disasters in our backyards.” Moreover, she said, “getting insurance protection is becoming impossible, either because it’s simply no longer available or exorbitantly expensive.” To that end, the governor said she’ll propose a state-sponsored fire insurance program “outside the private market…to help make people whole when tragedy strikes.”
​
The state does currently offer insurance as a last resort to those who have been denied in the private market, through its so-called FAIR plan. The state’s insurance regulator is seeking $50 million to expand that program during this year’s session.

The governor also re-upped her proposal for a Strategic Water Supply.

“Our state, like so many others, is facing a severe water shortage, and climate change is only making the problem worse. Yet we have enormous reserves of brackish water lying beneath our feet. And we have massive amounts of industrial water that is being injected right back into the ground. Let’s build the technology to clean up that industrial water rather than pollute our aquifers.”

The proposal has garnered opposition from environmentalists.

DEPT. OF JUSTICE NEWS RELEASE
​Los Alamos Reporter
 
In response to President Trump’s executive order rescinding longstanding federal protections for sensitive locations such as schools, churches, hospitals, and courthouses, the New Mexico Department of Justice (NMDOJ) has issued guidance to leaders of these critical spaces. This change in policy, reversing safeguards recognized by both Republican and Democratic administrations, underscores the urgent need for local leaders to understand their rights and responsibilities at the intersection of state and federal law. 
 
The removal of sensitive location protections overlooks the vital role spaces like schools and hospitals play in supporting families and children. Disruptions in these places can jeopardize access to education, healthcare, and essential services, leaving families in crisis without the stability and support they need. The NMDOJ’s guidance is a vital resource to ensure these spaces remain accessible and welcoming for families and children while maintaining compliance with the law. 
 
“Our priority is to protect New Mexico’s families, especially children, from policies that create fear and destabilize communities,” said Attorney General Raúl Torrez. “We are committed to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety, but we must also safeguard the ability of families and children to access education, healthcare, and justice without fear of persecution.”
 
“I support enhanced border security and targeted enforcement operations focused on cartel members, violent criminals and anyone who represents a national security risk to our nation,” Attorney General Torrez added. “But rounding up children, crime victims and sick people is beneath the dignity of a great nation.” 
 
The publications released today also provide critical guidance in the wake of the Trump Administration’s unlawful threat of federal prosecution to force state and local officials to use their limited resources for immigration enforcement. “Threatening state and local officials with federal prosecution not only distorts the law but stains the reputation of a once proud institution,” said Attorney General Torrez. “As a former federal prosecutor who handled hundreds of immigration related cases, I know that this not only a distortion of our laws but a shameful departure from the proud traditions of an agency that is supposed to be dedicated to the advancement of justice.”
 
The guidance is designed to mitigate the chilling effects of immigration enforcement actions on individuals seeking essential services. The documents offer practical strategies for minimizing disruptions while adhering to state and federal laws. Key components of the publications include:
 
Judicial Protections: Outlining the Fourth Amendment rights of individuals, emphasizing the distinction between administrative and judicial warrants, and clarifying protocols for managing immigration enforcement activities in public and nonpublic areas of court facilities.
Community Safety: Addressing the impact of enforcement actions on victims of crime, including domestic violence survivors, and highlighting protections under the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).

Collaboration with Leaders: Encouraging schools, healthcare providers, and places of worship to develop policies that balance legal compliance with the need to maintain safe and welcoming environments.
​
For more information or to access the full list of guidance publications, please visit:  Guidance on Immigration Enforcement – New Mexico Department of Justice

A Santa Fe artist’s studio is hosting a “pottery throw down” on Feb. 7 to support Española Humane’s work and invite the public to celebrate.
 
Hosted by Paseo Pottery and Española Humane, the Pottery Throw Down fundraiser features live pottery demonstrations, wheel-throwing and hand-building activities, music and tasty libations. It’s from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, at Paseo Pottery, 1273 Calle de Comercio in the Rufina neighborhood.
 
Española Humane will have a dog ambassador to greet the public, along with information about its lifesaving programs, including free spay/neuter surgeries, vaccinations, adoptions, transports, Paws in the Prison and care for animals in need. Cost is $25, with proceeds benefiting the shelter. All ages are welcome. Space is limited. To register, visit https://paseopottery.as.me/THROWDOWN

What an impressive legacy. I’m sure that everybody who was able to attend a concert or a whole season has fond and priceless memories. My warm gratitude to Birgitte for opening her house to us, and for letting us look behind the scenes of the Abiquiú Chamber Music Festival. For a taste of the music, please play the YouTube video below.​

So, what is it and how do you know if you have it? Well, neck pain for one. But it also can affect your upper back and your shoulder girdle aka the rotator cuff.
​
Let’s start first with the head which weighs, on average, 10 lbs. Your 10lb. head is being balanced on a narrow stack of bones and is supported by many muscles and tendons. Picture a bowling ball resting on a fat marker (just to simplify) attached to a bunch of rubber bands of various thicknesses, lengths and strengths. For every inch that that bowling ball drops in any direction, that is an additional 10 lbs. that those rubber bands must support. If you are looking down at your phone and your head is leaning forward 3 inches, that’s 30 lbs. your neck muscles are holding. If you hold it steady for any significant amount of time (like a YouTube rabbit hole) those muscles will begin to tire and get sore. The fun thing about the neck, though, is that there are itty bitty muscles that will remember that position and will begin to like it, so they will stick in that position. Eventually, their little muscle friends will follow, and you will feel discomfort when you decide to move in a different position.

​Finally, the shoulder girdle. By now, I think you have it. Staying in one position causes forward rotation. Muscles get tight and cause discomfort. If it’s left to its own devices, it can eventually lead to dowager’s hump (humpback) when those muscles lock up and there is nothing that can be done to help.

​So, what can be done? Before you go and schedule surgery, a lot of this pain can be resolved with massage therapy. Why not a chiropractor? Chiropractors specialize in the displacement of bones. Why are the bones displaced? Because of tight muscles. Chiropractors often employ massage therapists for this reason. When used in conjunction, this is a best case scenario.

My business model is to help people feel better in the comfort of their own homes. My price is reasonable. I have been a massage therapist for over 25 years and have worked on thousands of people. Massage therapy is one of those gifts that doesn’t collect dust and makes people feel better. Interested? Give me a call or text at (505) 209-0152 or shoot me an email at rightathomemt@gmail.com. I’m looking forward to meeting you (or seeing you again)!