MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 09, 2009
Contact: Joe Abeyta, City of Santa Fe Multimedia Manager, 955-6037

Students Work with City and Community Television to Webcast Basketball Game

This Saturday’s basketball game between the Santa Fe High School Demons and the St. Michael’s High School Horsemen will be webcast LIVE beginning at 7 p.m. The City of Santa Fe’s Multimedia Office, Santa Fe Community Television Channel 16 and students from Capital High School’s Television and Film class are producing the game for webcast. The webcast will be hosted on the Capital High School website at http://www.sfps.info/chs, click on “Live Here.”

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 09, 2009
Contact: Laura Banish, City of Santa Fe Public Information Officer, (505) 955-6046

City Encourages Residents to Report Potholes

Potholes are a common nuisance during the winter season when the freeze/thaw cycle weakens the pavement. The City of Santa Fe encourages residents to report major pot holes to the City’s Streets Division Customer Service Line (505) 955-2411 or the Constituent Services Hotline (505) 955-6949 so that the potholes can be repaired as effectively as weather conditions allow. Potholes can also be reported online by visiting www.santafenm.gov and selecting the “One Click to City Hall” icon on the home page.

Please drive safely while navigating around potholes.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 09, 2009

Santa Fe Wins Top NM Water & Wastewater Association Awards

The City of Santa Fe won top honors from the New Mexico Water & Wastewater Association for improvements to the Canyon Road Water Treatment Plant and the work of its outstanding staff. The City will officially receive the awards during a conference on Jan. 28, 2009.

The Canyon Road Water Treatment Plant won the Association’s 2008 Presidential Award for Most Improved Surface Water Treatment Facility. This award is presented to a facility that best demonstrates a significant achievement or accomplishment during the year. The Canyon Road Water Treatment Plan has completed three of four phases of a nearly $20 million renovation project. The improvements have increased the plant’s capacity to clean water, and allows for water to be treated in a more efficient, economical and reliable way. This project was funded with help from the New Mexico State Legislature.

Three City of Santa Fe Water and Wastewater staff members were recognized for their individual achievements. The Caroline Martinez Achievement Award – among the most prestigious of the statewide awards – was given to Water Division Director Gary Martinez. Dan Martinez was honored with the 2008 Surface Water Production Operator of the Year and Brian Mascarenas was the winner of the state’s 2008 Lab Analysis Facility Operator of the Year.

“We are pleased all of the hard work by our Water Division staff has been recognized by the industry, and appreciative for the support shown the City by the Legislature in helping to fund such a worthwhile project,” City Manager Galen Buller said.

The New Mexico Water & Wastewater Association is organized and operates exclusively for scientific and educational purposes on a nonprofit basis. The Association endeavors to assist in protecting the public health and the environment and preserving the investment of public funds in New Mexico by promoting proper design, construction, operation, performance evaluation, and management of water and wastewater utilities. The Association is active in representing the views of New Mexico Utility Operations personnel on legislative matters affecting the water utilities field.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Monday, January 05, 2009
Contact: Carol Horwitz, City of Santa Fe’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Liaison, (505) 955-5018

TOWN HALL MEETING ON STALKING, JANURAY 13, 2009, 7-9 PM
Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center
Santa Fe Coordinated Community Response Council Launches Community Stalking Awareness Campaign

During January 2009, communities across the country will observe National Stalking Awareness Month, a time to focus on a crime that affects 1.4 million victims a year. This year’s theme, “Stalking: Know It. Name It. Stop It.” challenges the nation to combat this dangerous crime by learning more about it.
Stalking is a crime in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. One in 12 women and one in 45 men will be stalked in their lifetime, for an average duration of almost two years, and most victims are ordinary Americans. The statistic becomes more shocking for New Mexico residents. One in 4 New Mexico women will be stalked sometime in their lifetime. Victims may experience psychological trauma, financial hardship, and even death. Eighty-one percent of victims stalked by an intimate partner were also physically assaulted by that partner, and 76 percent of female homicide victims were stalked prior to their death.

On Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2009, from 7 to 9 p.m. the Santa Fe Coordinated Community Response Council, in collaboration with the Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center and Esperanza Shelter for Battered Families will offer a Town Hall Meeting to promote awareness and public education about stalking during the annual observance. The Town Hall Meeting, which will be held at the Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center, 6601 Valentine Way (across from the new South Side Public Library) will host a discussion with SFPD, advocates, victims and Santa Fe Rape Crisis and Trauma Treatment Center representatives. The event will offer a general education on stalking for the general public. For more information, please contact Carol A. Horwitz at (505) 955-5018 or cahorwitz@santafenm.gov.

Many victims underestimate the seriousness and impact of the crime. At first, they may view stalking as “creepy” but not dangerous. They may think that ignoring or confronting stalkers will stop them. Severity of the stalking may increase and decrease throughout time, but stalkers almost never stop, and confronting a stalker may escalate the violence.

Even when victims see the danger and report the crime, stalking may be hard for law enforcement to recognize, investigate, and prosecute. Unlike other crimes, stalking is not a single, easily identifiable crime but a series of acts, a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause that person fear. Stalking may take many forms—such as assaults, threats, vandalism, burglary, or animal abuse—as well as unwanted cards, calls, gifts, or visits. Cyber Stalkers may use a range of devices—such as computers, Global Position System devices, or hidden cameras—to track their victims’ daily activities. Stalkers fit no standard psychological profile, and many have been known to follow their victims from one jurisdiction to another, making apprehension by the authorities even more difficult.

By learning more about stalking, communities can support victims and combat the crime. “If more people can recognize stalking we have a better chance to hold offenders accountable. Knowledge can help communities support victims and prevent tragedies,” said Carol A. Horwitz, the City of Santa Fe’s Domestic and Sexual Violence Liaison.

For additional resources to help promote National Stalking Awareness Month, please visit http://stalkingawarenessmonth.org and www.ovw.usdoj.gov.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 02, 2009
Contact: See the phone numbers for each library’s Children’s Room below

PreSchool Story Time Winter Session

Santa Fe Public Library encourages parents to bring their children to the PreSchool Story Time winter session. This program is free and will give children the opportunity to enjoy stories, songs, finger games, puppets, and crafts.

The schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays, at the La Farge Library, 1730 Llano Street, (505) 955-4863
Jan. 13 - May 5
2 & 3-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
4 & 5-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Wednesdays, at the Southside Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive 955-2828
Jan. 14 - May 6
2-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
3 to 5-year-olds: 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

Fridays, at the Main Library, 145 Washington Ave. (505) 955-6783
Jan. 16 - May 8
2 to 5-year-olds, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Friday, January 02, 2009
Contact: Rod Lambert, Community Gallery Manager, (505) 955-6705

New Exhibit Coming to the Community Gallery

A new exhibit is coming to the Community Gallery at Jan. 9 through March 6, 2009. GENERATIONS is an exhibition celebrating the artistry, work and tradition of New Mexico’s families. Join the artists at the grand opening Friday, Jan. 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The gallery is located in the Santa Fe Community Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy (at the intersection of Sheridan and Marcy). For more information, call (505) 955-6705.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Contact:
Rachel Friedman, City of Santa Fe River & Watershed Coordinator, (505) 955-2103
rifriedman@santafenm.gov

or

Pamela Dupzyk, Santa Fe Watershed Association Program Manager, (505) 820-1696
pamelad@santafewatershed.org

Learn about the Newest Section of the Santa Fe River Trail Jan. 13

Residents are invited to learn about the newest section of the River Trail, from Camino Alire to Frenchy’s Field, at an information meeting Tuesday, Jan. 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center Community Room. Construction of the Trail began in 2008 and will continue in 2009 and 2010.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Contact: See Numbers Below

The Santa Fe Public Library Celebrates Appreciate a Dragon Day

The Santa Fe Public Library invites children ages 5 to 12 years old to make Chinese Dragon kites as part of the fun of “Appreciate a Dragon Day.”

The kite program will be held at the following locations and dates:
La Farge Branch Library, 1730 Llano Street, on Thursday, Jan. 15 from 4 to 5 p.m., Friday, Jan. 16 at the Main Library, 145 Washington Ave., from 2 to 3 p.m., and at the Southside Branch Library, 6599 Jaguar Drive, from 4 to 5 p.m.

Please call to register: La Farge: (505) 955-4863; Main: (505) 955-6783; Southside: (505) 955-2828. This program is sponsored by the Friends of the Santa Fe Public Library. The program is free, but space is limited and registration is requested.

NEWS RELEASE
DATE: December 23, 2008
CONTACT: Streets Division: 955-3000

Property owners reminded to keep sidewalks shoveled

SANTA FE, NM—With winter officially here, and the foot or so of snow that has fallen recently, property owners, home and commercial, are reminded to please keep their sidewalks shoveled. Shovel them in the winter, rake the leaves in the fall and trim trees, shrubs and bushes in spring and summer.

City crews are sanding and plowing streets in order of priority and a map of the streets can be found on the city’s website at www.santafenm.gov . Snow closure information can be found on the city’s cable channel 28 or on the website.

Also, homeowners should take care to prevent their pipes from freezing by turning on the faucet furthest away from the water meter, just a trickle. Undo all hoses from outside faucets. If pipes do freeze the safest way to thaw them out is to wave a hair blow dryer across the pipe for a few minutes. Never use an open flame to thaw pipes.

For snow removal emergencies, call 955-2411. For frozen pipes contact 955-4333 during working hours, after hours and holidays call 955-4300, or call a plumber.

Joyce Bond, Marketing

Public Works Department

120 S. Federal, #308

505/955-6852

NEWS RELEASE
DATE: December 30, 2008
CONTACT: Fabian Chavez, Parks Division Director, 955-2102

City Crews picking up Christmas trees; mulch is free

Santa Fe, NM—Beginning Monday January 5th through Friday January 9th, the city’s Solid Waste Division and Parks Division crews will team up to pick up Christmas trees left at the curbside. Tree pick up will run daily throughout the week. Trees will be taken to the west parking lot of Franklin Miles Park on Camino Carlos Rey and the Frank Ortiz Park where crews will chip the trees into mulch. This mulch will be available for free to the public.

We ask that residents carefully inspect the trees to ensure that all ornaments and metal attachments are completely removed from the trees which will ensure a safe chipping operation. Trees may also be dropped off at Payne's Nurseries at 715 St. Michaels or 304 Camino Alire during the month of January. For more information call the Solid Waste Division at 955-2200 or the Parks Division at 955-2102.

During peak evening hours there will be some times when all three courts of the basketball gymnasium at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center (GCCC) will be occupied by league play and not available to drop-in users and members.

The City of Santa Fe Leagues held at the GCCC include: Fort Marcy Basketball, Fort Marcy Volleyball, GCCC Indoor Soccer, GCCC Racquetball, GCCC Girls & Boys Jr. High / High School Basketball, GCCC Men’s 35 and Over Basketball, and GCCC Spring Coed Volleyball. The GCCC is proud to offer a premier multi-use facility which can play host to the best of the City’s leagues and tournaments.

Please visit our website, www.gccommunitycenter.com or call 955-4000 for specific closure dates and times.

The City of Santa Fe Community Services Department apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The GCCC encourages everyone to continue to use our facility by participating in the league of your choice.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Thursday, December 18, 2008
Contact: Greg Fernandez
(505) 955-4075 or grfernandez@santafenm.gov

REGISTER NOW FOR TOURNAMENTS AT THE GCCC
Registration is open for two holiday basketball tournaments at the GCCC

The City of Santa Fe Community Services Department and the Genoveva Chavez Community Center (GCCC) are proud to present two winter basketball tournaments for athletes of all ages.

The Annual GCCC Elementary Basketball Tournament will take place Dec. 29-31, 2008 in the GCCC Gymnasium. The tournament features six divisions: boys and girls A, B, and C squads. There will be awards for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in all six divisions. The entry fee is $120 per team.

The 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament “Holiday Hoops” will take place Jan. 2-3, 2009 in the GCCC Gymnasium. The divisions are: PeeWee, Elementary School (boys and girls), Jr. High School (boys and girls), Jr. High/High School (boys and girls), High School (boys and girls), and Adult (men and women). All divisions are male or female, there are no co-ed divisions. The entry fee is $50 per 4-person team.

Registration for both of these fun and popular events is now open at the GCCC front desk. The GCCC is located at 3221 Rodeo Rd. Santa Fe, NM

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, December 03, 2008
Contact:
Joyce Purley, City of Santa Fe Emergency Preparedness Coordinator
(505) 955-6537 or jwpurley@santafenm.gov

Ham Radio Class

City of Santa Fe Emergency Management is partnering with the Santa Fe Amateur Radio Club and Los Alamos Amateur Radio Club to host a Ham Radio class Jan. 31 and Feb. 1. Amateur radio operators are key to successful communication during a disaster. You can join their ranks by going through the class and taking the licensing exam. Early registration is required and seating is limited. See the City’s website www.santafenm.gov for more information.

MEDIA RELEASE
Date: Monday, November 24, 2008
Contact:
Kate Noble, City of Santa Fe Economic Development, (505) 955-6915
Laura Banish, City of Santa Fe Public Public Information Officer, (505) 955-6046

Santa Fe Living Wage Cost of Living Increase Announcement

The law states that “Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, and each year thereafter, the minimum wage shall be adjusted upward by an amount corresponding to the previous year's increase, if any, in the consumer price index for the western region for urban wage earners and clerical workers.” October 2008 numbers announced by the Department of Labor show an annual change of 4.457 percent, an increase of $0.423. The City of Santa Fe used the 12-month average from October to October as the figure for the previous year in order to give businesses and employees the most stable, up-to-date number while also providing enough time to plan for the upcoming year.

Today’s announcement was made by Mayor David Coss who was joined by Councilor Rosemary Romero, Tomas Rivera of the Living Wage Network and Santa Fe Alliance Executive Director Vicki Pozzebon.

The City of Santa Fe's Living Wage Ordinance was adopted to establish minimum hourly wage rates. Santa Fe, a national leader in the Living Wage movement, has the highest broad-reaching Living Wage in the country. Minimum wage laws promote the general welfare, health, safety and prosperity of Santa Fe by ensuring that workers can better support and care for their families through their own efforts and without financial governmental assistance. All profit and non-profit businesses with a business license or business registration issued by the City of Santa Fe, including part time and temporary employees as well as city contractors, are required to pay their workers according to the minimum hourly wage set by the city.