Monday, April 16, 2012

San Augustin Water Grab: A Battle Won But Not the War

A Battle Won But Not the War
Cathie R. Eisen
Walking Water Consulting
PO Box 133
Nogal, New Mexico
April 8, 2012

Across the southern states a battle is raging for our most precious resource. The value of water has reached a premium, and it will only increase with time. As the cities and counties of the west continue to grow, so does the need for new water sources to support their ever increasing demands. While the quest for oil is on the forefront of everyone's mind, dollar for dollar, water is by far more valuable. We can live without oil if necessary, but we must have water to survive. During the past few years, several applications have been submitted to the State Engineers Office in New Mexico for the purpose of tapping into the deeper aquifers, waters which were previously deemed unusable and were until now unprotected from such requests. One by one, they have been protested and denied. This is not the end of the effort. Future legislation will support these requests as our cities continue to grow along with the residential demand for additional supplies; water for sanitary and domestic water use is and always will be a priority to developers and communities. The health and welfare of the masses could easily trump the livelihood of the rural ranchers. They are few, rural residents are many.   More at Glenwood Gazette... 

Monday, April 9, 2012

April 28 Writer’s Workshop "Earning Money From Writing" Springerville AZ

Author Steven F. Havill will conduct a six hour writer’s workshop, Earning Money from Your Writing, in Springerville AZ on Saturday, April 28.  Limited to 16 seats (two are already taken!)

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Book Review: Led Zeppelin: Feather In The Wind

Led Zeppelin: Feather In The Wind - Over Europe 1980
compiled by Dave Lewis
Tight But Loose Publishing, Bedford England 2012

Dave Lewis’ Led Zeppelin: Feather In the Wind Over Europe 1980 is the most awesome and comprehensive compilation of rock music tour data I’ve ever seen. In seven chapters and five Appendices, Lewis covers the 14 day final tour of the most seminal and accomplished rock band of all time as they work their way through Europe. Lewis doesn’t just provide the results of second-hand research, he gives the reader the up close and personal, first-hand reports of his own experiences as he lived with the band and listened to the performances from the stage. He provides transcripts of Page, Plant and others’ comments between songs at each performance, summaries of each day’s performance and reviews from the media as well as excerpts from Lewis’ own diaries. The photos alone are worth this 270 page tome, many of them rarely, if ever, seen before, of casual views of the band or shots of the performance from the stage itself.

Keeping with the personal nature of this book, a chapter includes Dave Lewis interviews of people who were backstage with the band – from Led Zeppelin manager Peter Grant, to road crew and techies, to groupies, plus a chapter of “front of stage” recollections of the lucky fans who got to hear the performances. Finally, the Appendices take on the subjects of the bootlegs, memorabilia, tour statistics (yes, finally a list of all Jimmy Page’s guitars and amplifiers in one place!), discography of the final album Coda, and a listing of notes and sources. 

An added bonus: The limited hardback first edition is individually numbered, certified and signed by the author.

This extraordinary book is a must-have for Led Zeppelin fans, be they born well past the last year of Led Zeppelin’s final performance or of an age with the band members today. If you were there, this will bring back fond memories. If you weren’t, this is the next best thing. If you don’t already have your copy, get one immediately!


Sunday, February 5, 2012

SAN AUGUSTIN PLAINS WATER GRAB MOTIONS TO BE HEARD 02/07/12

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, February 03, 2012


SAN AUGUSTIN PLAINS WATER GRAB MOTIONS TO BE HEARD

SANTA FE, N.M.— After four years of delays and false starts, the State Engineer is finally hearing motions to dismiss an  application to take 54,000 acre-feet of groundwater annually from Catron County. The application, filed by a New York based corporation, is being protested by over 200 residents who live in and around Datil, NM – an area known as the San Augustin Plains. The residents fear that the San Augustin basin that supplies their wells with water and contributes flow to the Rio Grande and Gila River stream systems will be decimated if the application is granted. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center (NMELC) represents over 80 Protestants.

NMELC filed a motion to dismiss the application one year ago. “The application must be thrown out because it does not comply with basic New Mexico law,” said Bruce Frederick, NMELC Staff Attorney. “The corporation’s application seeks a permit to use or sell a vast amount of water for any purpose within seven New Mexico counties.  Under New Mexico law, however, the corporation was required to identify exactly how and where it intends to use the water, and its failure to do so means that the State Engineer cannot consider or approve its application.”

WHO:  New Mexico Environmental Law Center

WHAT:  Hearing before State Engineer addressing motions to dismiss the water rights application

WHERE: Socorro County Courthouse
                200 Church Street
                Socorro, New Mexico, 87801
                575-835-0050

WHEN:   Tuesday, February 7th, 10:00 a.m.

INTERVIEWS AND IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

www.nmelc.org

CONTACT:
Juana Colón
Wk: 505-989-9022, ext. 21

The mission of the New Mexico Environmental Law Center is to protect New Mexico's natural environment and achieve environmental justice for New Mexico's communities through legal representation, policy advocacy and public education. The New Mexico Environmental Law Center’s attorneys have handled over 100 critical cases in low-income and minority communities fighting pollution and environmental degradation. The NMELC charges few, if any, fees to its clients, most of who are from Hispanic and Native American communities. The NMELC celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2008. Membership and gifts help New Mexico communities protect their natural environment and their health from toxic pollution, the degrading effects of growth and liabilities created by irresponsible mining. Call Sebia Hawkins, Director of Development 505-989-9022, ext. 27 for more information.

###

Friday, December 23, 2011

Suzanna Gratia-Hupp: What the Second Amendment is REALLY For

Texas state representative, Suzanna Gratia-Hupp, whose parents were killed by an insane gunman while her gun was out in the car, gives very moving and bold testimony about the REAL reason that the second amendment was designed to protect our God-given right to keep and bear arms.

This is an incredibly awesome video. Please share it!



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4069761537893819675

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

San Augustin Water Grab Hearing Date Set - Feb 7

The State Engineer has scheduled a hearing on the San Augustin Water Grab for Tuesday, February 7, 2012.   PLEASE put this on your calendar and plan to be there. Our numbers are making a difference. It's hard to ignore a crowd!

Date of the hearing: February 7, 2012
Place: Socorro District Courthouse,
  200 Church Street, Socorro
  Courtroom 1, second floor
Time: 10AM

The hearing is on the motions to dismiss the application.