Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team February 15th, 2013
3 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 1416 Square Feet, 2 Car Garage
Cute, Cute, Cute! That is what we hear every time we show this house. New Carpet was just installed, Feb ’13, New Pella Impervia Windows were installed just a few years ago. Large Spanish Porcelain Tile was added in the entry and around the fireplace hearth. Enjoy the large back yard from the shade of the covered patio. Both baths have been updated, with tile tub surrounds. This home has character to spare, plus updates for comfort and elegance. You will love the Southwestern touches throughout!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team December 18th, 2012
It’s Christmas time in Rio Rancho. In recent years it’s also been a challenging time for many of our residents because of the economy. Some people are working two or more jobs to make ends meet. Others are still looking for work. As we’ve visited different neighborhoods in Rio Rancho, we’ve noticed that fewer households have decorated the outside of their homes for the holidays. Streets where every other home used to put up lights or displays now have maybe 1 in 10. Our point in mentioning this fact is not to focus on a negative aspect of our times, but to celebrate those families who could and did take the time, effort, and expense to light up the night where they live. In this video we will share with you 20 some Rio Rancho homes where the owners went above and beyond a simple string of lights. It makes no difference whether the home is large or small, it’s the heart that went into the decorating that matters. There are many more homes that probably deserve to be shown, but we hope you enjoy these. Happy holidays from the Mark and Sheila Real Estate Team.
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team December 17th, 2012
5 Bedrooms, 2.5 Baths, 3108 Sq Feet, 3 Car Garage
Former Tiffany model home with all the bells and whistles! 2×6 Framing, Pella Windows and Doors, GE Monogram Stainless Steel Appliances, Beautiful Slate Tile, Vigas and Latillas, Custom Cabinetry, Granite Counters and Window Sills throughtout! The back yard is fully landscaped with an Extended Patio and Outdoor Fireplace. The garage is finished with an epoxied floor. The utility room is equiped for 2 pairs washers and dryers. This home is truly a showplace and a warm haven for your family.
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team October 31st, 2012
The VLA or Very Large Array (recently renamed the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array) is a radio astronomy observatory comprised of 27 dish shaped antennas arranged in a Y configuration which can be as small as 3000 feet across or as large as 13 miles depending upon the resolution of the imaging desired and the wavelengths of radio waves to be studied. The observatory is located at just under 7,000 ft altitude on the Plains of San Agustin, near the town of Magdalena, about 50 miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. The configuration of the array can be changed using a special rail car to move each antenna to one of many pre determined mounting sites along the Y shaped tracks. Once all the dishes are bolted down on their concrete mounts, the fiber optic connections are hooked up, and the array is back in business.
The observatory is a part of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO), and not only acts as a standalone facility, but also as a part of the Very Long Baseline Array, which is a group of ten 25 meter dishes located between Hawaii and the US Virgin Islands. Working together they act as a single huge radio telescope. Since running thousands of miles of fiber optic cable to hardwire them all to a central processor is impractical, each dish in the VLBA records its data to a hard disk drive. The data is time stamped using an atomic clock to allow for synchronization back at the NRAO Operations Center in Socorro, NM.
The staff was eager to share their passion for science during a recent open house tour of their facility. Things have changed there since the movie “Contact” was filmed. Astronomers need not visit the observatory in person. Their observations are scheduled, run and stored semi automatically by staff, and can be downloaded via the internet.
One question we asked was whether the signal would degrade if snow collected in the dishes, kind of like what happens with my Dish Network Satellite TV receiver. The answer was yes, it would. Their fix is to tilt the dishes vertically, and kind of shake them to knock off the snow. There are also heating elements present to help melt the snow. You never know unless you ask….
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team October 26th, 2012
Sometimes “wittle wascally wabbits” sneak into our backyard, and as much as we like them, we can’t share our garden, lawn etc. with them. Rather than get violent, we entice them to enter a galvanized condo, using fruit cut in half. We then take them for a mile or two long ride and release them into a more suitable environment. This is the fifth one this summer. (No animals were hurt in the making of this movie 🙂 )
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team October 24th, 2012
Twice a year the Trinity Site, the place where the first atomic bomb was detonated, opens its gates to the public. Although other videos we have seen made it appear to be rather boring, we were pleasantly surprised and intrigued! This location is a magnificent representation of iconic and revolutionary history in the United States. The Manhattan project was created in June of 1942 with the ultimate goal of creating an atomic bomb. Led by Dr. J. Robert Oppenheimer, a group of scientists and engineers designed and built this device in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Their device was tested at the Trinity Site, located about 30 minutes from Socorro, NM which is now part of the White Sands Missile Range. The monument offers a great educational experience with information on both the historical context and the technical and scientific aspects of the testing. Not to mention that you can pick up some quirky merchandise in the process. This area has radiation levels higher than the typical background exposure that we all experience, but safety is always a primary concern. The brief exposure that one will receive in one hour at the site is approximately equal to 1/4th the dose received in a coast to coast commercial flight. While the atomic bomb may not be on your list of favorite things, the Trinity Site is a worthwhile trip that we would highly recommend to anybody who has the opportunity.
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team September 19th, 2012
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2671 Square Feet, 2 Car Garage and RV Space
Large and light, this home can accommodate a big household, plus an artist, craftsperson, woodworker or anyone that needs a large heated workshop or studio! Located adjacent to open space and within 200ft of the Rio Grande bosque, this home shines with fresh paint inside and out, new carpet, and tile in baths and the kitchen. There are 2 living areas, plus a large 18×14 den, office or home theater. The 3 car garage has one RV height door and is deep enough to handle an RV up to 24.5 ft long.
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team September 10th, 2012
3 Bedrooms plus a Den, 2 Bathrooms, 2187 Square Feet, 2 Car Garage
With 3 bedrooms, a den and large living spaces, this home has lots of space for your household. Features like hot water recirculation for instant hot water, double ovens for holiday cooking, 2 kitchen pantries and solid surface kitchen counters set this home apart. The double door refrigerator has water and ice at the door. There are recessed lights, upgraded fixtures, a kiva style gas log fireplace, a covered patio and a fully landscaped back yard. Visit this one before it is gone!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team August 9th, 2012
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2270 Square Feet 2 Car Garage
This custom home by Firebird is some of their best work! The Master Suite includes a Large Triangular Jacuzzi Tub Surrounded by Cultured Granite, and a Tiled Walk in Shower. The other bedrooms are in a separate wing, with a Guest Suite plus 2 additional bedrooms for a total of 4. The spacious kitchen has all Stainless Steel Appliances, Thick Granite Counters , an Island and a Huge Walk in Pantry. The entire half acre lot is landscaped, and has beautiful views of the Sandias. You will love it!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team August 7th, 2012
4 Bedrooms, 2 Bathrooms, 2191 Square Feet
One of the nicest homes we have seen in this neighborhood! The spacious kitchen has a Kitchen Aid pro-style stove, Corian solid surface counters, and a huge island. Inside, the upgraded light and plumbing fixtures, fans and decorator paint will wow you. Plug into the surround sound speakers in the living room. Step outside to enjoy the pergolas in front and back, extra high block walls, a producing vegetable garden, a huge dog run and a clear view of the Sandias. Dont miss this one!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team July 17th, 2012
The Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC) held a grand opening and ribbon cutting celebration for the public the weekend of July 8 and 9, 2012. On Saturday, a dozen dignitaries spoke to the assembled crowd including Senator Jeff Bingaman, facility President and CEO Kevin Rogols, other hospital administrators, county officials, and representatives of local pueblos. Tom Swisstack, the Mayor of Rio Rancho also spoke, but what was interesting was the number of speakers who lauded the Mayor for his leadership about ten years ago (when he was a State Representative) which resulted in the new facility eventually being built in Rio Rancho.
The new hospital comprises about 200,000 square feet, with 72 beds for inpatient care, 48 beds for medical and surgical care, a 12 bed ICU, 12 beds for senior behavioral health and a 13 bed emergency room. The hospital is part of University of New Mexico Hospital, and will be the only teaching hospital in the county. The equipment is state of the art, including a surgical robot, imaging equipment capable of producing very fine detail, talking beds (which speak a couple dozen languages) and so much more.
When the project was begun, Sandoval County was the largest county in the western United States without a hospital. Presbyterian Rust Medical Center opened just a few months earlier a few miles south (and also in Rio Rancho), so now there are two hospitals where not long ago there were none.
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team June 19th, 2012
3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 2000 Square Ft
The owner of this home put $10s of Thousand$ into upgrades. Now it is YOUR turn to enjoy them! The kitchen remodel is to die for, with all stainless steel, top of the line LG appliances, solid surface counter tops and shiny decorative metal backsplash. Out back, the covered patio is just the beginning of the entertainment space, which includes a hot tub, gardens of flowers and pathways. There are vegetable gardens, a storage shed, back yard access and Mountain and City Light VIEWS!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team June 7th, 2012
3 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 1596 Square Ft
This one of a kind townhome is tucked away in a cul de sac near the Petroglyph Monument. With stainless steel appliances, granite tile counters, custom maple cabinetry, unusual architechtural features and hand carved vigas inside and out, you won’t find anything like it elsewhere! The spacious 3 car garage can be a great workshop, complete with radiant heat and its own half bath. The home is energy efficient, with heating and cooling costs well below average. Come take a look!
Written by Mark T Fiedler - The Mark and Sheila Team May 24th, 2012
4 Bedrooms, 3 Bathrooms, 3465 Square Ft
Do you have a big household? Then this may be the house for you! This custom home sits on a half acre lot that backs up to Chamisa Hills Golf Course. The owners have invested in this home, so you will not need to. You will love the long granite counters in the huge kitchen, the stainless steel appliances, the pellet stove in the spacious family room and the tiled wet bar. New windows and sliding doors were recently installed, significantly upgrading the homes energy efficiency and beauty.
