Round Rio Rancho

People who do not live in New Mexico often have expectations of an environment replete with cacti, sand dunes, camels and extreme heat. The fact is, although there is a wide variety of terrain and conditions in the state, Rio Rancho is located at around a mile in altitude, and the weather is pretty moderate. We do get snow, usually a couple to three times a year, but it most often disappears within hours to a day or so.

The storm that we filmed just a week before Christmas left about 8 inches of the white stuff on the ground. Because schools do not always have plows and other snow removal equipment, this little bit shut down schools for the day. Since there was no school, local kids did what kids do in snow – made snowmen, forts, and threw snowballs at each other. The next day the sun was out, the roads were dry, and there was still snow in the shadows, but very little elsewhere.

Right after the Rio Rancho Christmas Parade the Parks and Recreation Department sponsored a Luminaria Tour at Haynes Park. Over 12,000 real luminarias (a candle burning inside a paper bag with sand at the bottom) formed pathways throughout the darkened park, leading from one park shelter or band stand to the other. Snacks, drinks and music were everywhere, as were lighted holiday characters of all kinds. Santa and Mrs. Claus paid a short visit to the event, and chatted with a number of small children. At 7:00 pm, there was a wonderful fireworks display. I’ve visited Haynes park several times in past years for this event, and never get tired of the sight of the thousands of glowing luminarias lining the pathways and the curving hills of the park. Kudos to the city staff for continuing this great tradition.

Another successful Rio Rancho Christmas Parade (officially the Winterfest Parade) has come and gone… The weather was great – not too cold and very little wind. Thousands of children and adults lined Southern Blvd. to watch bands, floats, and miscellaneous decorated vehicles go by. It was tough to decide who made more noise – the parade participants or the onlookers lining the streets. “Merry Christmas!” was the phrase of the night.

Bringing up the rear of the parade was a Rio Rancho Fire Department ladder truck, with Santa and Mrs. Claus waiving to the crowds from the top of the truck 

5 Bedrooms, 3 Baths, Approximately 2976 Sq Ft, 3 Car Garage

3 Bedrooms, Office, 3 Baths, Approximately 1850 Sq Ft, 2 Car Garage
A full remodel has already been completed! Included were New Stainless Steel Appliances, New Countertops, Sinks and Plumbing Fixtures, Brushed Nickel Light Fixtures, New Carpet and Tile, New Decorator Stair Banister and more! You will enjoy the Private Office adjoining the master bedroom. The back yard is set up for entertaining, with a Huge Covered Deck. Easy care landscaping front and back. Great west side location near Paseo del Norte, for an easy commute to work or play.

How could shark’s teeth be just lying around on the ground just a few miles west of Rio Rancho, NM? Well it seems that many, many years ago this area was covered by ocean. If you know where to look, and what you are looking for, it’s relatively easy to find ancient shark’s teeth, the remnants of shellfish and petrified wood on or near the surface.

Last week, members of the League of Exceptional Gentlemen and their families went on a hunt for “Teeth and Bones” in the Rio Puerco Valley. The Rio Puerco Valley is primarily known for the nearly 50 volcanic necks in the area and for its rugged beauty.

In areas where hills have been pushed up from the plains, we easily found ancient clam shells, and the remains of other, larger shellfish. Wherever there were clam shells, chances were good that you would also find shark’s teeth – sometimes small, pointed or serrated teeth, sometime larger teeth, and sometimes more blunt molar-like grinding teeth for crushing shells. Often the teeth were encased in stone.  Also lying on the surface were various types of volcanic rock and lots of gypsum crystals. The crystals looked like pieces of flat 1/4 inch thick, clear glass. The sand dunes of White Sands, NM are made of gypsum crystals. In the space of a couple hours, the group located at least a dozen shark teeth and many more artifacts.

For those outside of New Mexico that think the whole state is a vast sand dune filled desert, here’s another shocker – a mountain forest filled with gold, red and yellow autumn colors only 45 minutes from Albuquerque in the Manzano Mountains.  Fourth of July Canyon contains an unusual concentration of big tooth maple trees, which for a few weeks in September or October turn parts of the green forest to crimson.  Starting with a trailhead in Fourth of July Campground, several well marked trails head up the canyon . Near the top, (about 1000 ft up) a crest trail to the left gives a one way  view from the ridge. Go to the right, and after a relatively steep and narrow half mile hike, you will be rewarded with a stunning view of both the Estancia and Rio Grande Valleys. The hike is rated a 5 on a 10 scale, except for the crest trail, which is more challenging.

Surprisingly, the canyon is not named for the brilliant annual fall display of color, but for the date it was recorded as being found by an explorer in 1906.

Fourth of July Canyon is just west of the town of Tajique. Take the Hwy 337 exit (Tijeras/Cedar Crest) off I-40. Go south on 337 to Hwy 55 west and then turn right on to Forest Rd 55. Follow the signs to the campground.

Almost 50% of our national military force is comprised of members of the National Guard and Reserve. Most of them also have jobs outside of the military.

Did you know that there is a federal law requiring that all employers, regardless of size, must do the following 6 things –

1. Allow employees to participate in Military Service;
2. Provide prompt reinstatement back into their former job following military service;
3. Continue accumulation of seniority, including pension plan benefits during service;
4. Reinstate health insurance on return;
5. Train or retrain job skills, including accomodation for the disabled;
6. Protect against discrimination based upon Guard or Reserve status.

To educate employers about USERRA (Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act), a DOD agency called ESGR (Employer Support of Guard and Reserve – Don’t you just love all the military acronyms?), regularly invites employers to participate in a “Boss Lift”.

This past week myself and a couple dozen other employers from the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho NM area were invited to the New Mexico National Guard Headquarters and Training Center in Santa Fe. We received some hands-on experience, training, and exposure to a number of military training scenarios. We got up close and personal with a Blackhawk Helicopter; several Military Humvees with weapons in place; explored a FOB (Forward Operating Base) set up to acclimate outbound soldiers with their living environments in the field; experienced the inside of a Humvee Roll-Over Trainer; and a VCOT (Virtual Convoy Operations Trainer). The group probably split as to the most interesting activity of the day, between rappelling down a 50 ft vertical tower, and firing laser-equiped weapons on the Virtual Firing Range.

Frankly, I was extremely impressed with the quality and technology of the equipment the New Mexico facility utilizes to train our local citizen-soldiers. I had no idea that their “classrooms” had progressed to this degree….

Getting back to the reason for our visit on base: What I took away from the day is that we can all do our part and more, for our friends, family members and employees in the Reserve and National Guard. If you have an opening to fill, consider hiring a Reservist or a Guardsman if possible. If they get called to duty, make sure they know that their job is one less thing they’ll need to worry about when they get back from protecting all of us while deployed. I’d also like to thank Lt. Colonel Shuert, Major General Kenny Montoya, and Gary Kaiser from ESGR for their time and the hospitality they showed our group.

The City of Rio Rancho is big on parades – including a Christmas Season Parade and a 4th of July Parade, but none of them approach the significance of the annual Memorial Day Parade. With the country slowly withdrawing from one war, and expanding another one, we all had good reason to take some to celebrate the contributions made by our men and women in uniform.

Following the parade there was a ceremony at the Rio Rancho Veteran’s Memorial.

With a high percentage of the active military contingent from New Mexico coming from the state’s National Guard and Reserve forces, we all need to support these organizations, their members and families. We’ll have more about the Guard and Reserves in an upcoming post.

Fenton Lake State Park is located at 7900 feet elevation in the Jemez Mountains, about 65 miles Northwest of Rio Rancho,  and about 10 miles off NM Route 4. The park consists of 700 acres of Ponderosa Pine forest and high mountain meadow land, plus about 35 acres of lake. The fishing’s good, and the lake’s stocked regularly with rainbow and brown trout. Supposedly, the fishing’s even better during the winter, (through 2 feet of ice) but I doubt I’ll ever verify that… Small boats are allowed on the lake, but only paddle-powered ones.

There’s a great campground in the park, with 40 developed sites – some with hookups, a playground, a group shelter and restrooms.

Although Cochiti Lake is a shorter distance from Rio Rancho (and a much larger lake), if you want more of a mountain-with-pine-trees environment in which to do some fishing and paddling, Fenton Lake’s the closest.

Watch as the foliage changes with elevation…It’s pretty interesting… Keep your eye out for the hummingbird too!

Located about half way between Jemez Springs and Battleship Rock, Soda Dam is an unusual geologic structure located alongside Route 4 in the Jemez Mountains. The dam was formed over thousands of years by depositing of minerals – primarily calcium carbonate, in minute layers to eventually build this magnificent structure. The dam partially blocks the Jemez River, sometimes creating a pool upstream. The materials were deposited on the dam by groundwater which seeped into the natural fault located nearby, was heated by volcanic rock deep in the earth, and which carried the dissolved minerals and gases back to the surface.

A number of active springs within the dam structure continue to carve small caves and streak the surface with color from various trace minerals.

On June 12, 2010 around 1000 participants converged on Balloon Fiesta Park in Albuquerque for the 1st Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Walk, dubbed the “Walk For Your Man”. Although 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes, a lot of  men avoid going to the doctor for a simple test for the disease. The event name refers to the fact that often wives and partners are the ones that get educated and push their men to go have a PSA test or other screening.  

The Prostate Cancer Support Association of New Mexico is a local non-profit that provides education, support, and encouragement to men and their families throughout the state in making informed decisions for the detection and management of prostate cancer. With state funding for their activities drying up, the organizers are hoping that this annual event will provide funding for their continued operations.

Chief Meteorologist Joe Diaz on KOAT TV was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2009 — a disease that killed his father years ago. Joe, KOAT, and a number of other corporate sponsors pledged and delivered funds, supplies and marketing for this worthwhile event.  Joe has shared publicly how he dealt with the news, went through surgery, and how it all changed his – and his family’s – lives. Joe emceed the day and the station gave lots of air time to cover the event.

Joe’s wife Diane Diaz, who is a Senior Buyer Representative with the Mark & Sheila Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker Legacy, raised hundreds of dollars in donations from Coldwell Banker Associates, staff and affiliates, including Legacy Mortgage. However, perhaps more importantly, the combined effort of all involved raised the awareness of the disease (and the need to get screened) of tens of thousands in the Albuquerque Metro area.

Mortgage interest rates have been at historic lows for years now…. Well, prepare for them to climb for a while. Most consumers are not aware of it, but as part of the economic recovery in the financial market, the Federal Reserve has been purchasing mortgage-backed securities for about a year.  The sub 5% rates we have enjoyed for the past year have been artificially held down by this $1.25 Trillion investment. If market forces had been at work, rates would have been much higher. That program by the Fed has now ended, and every indication points to a steady, protracted rise in mortgage rates.

30 year fixed rates have climbed almost a half point in just over 4 months, and are currently about 5.3%. Projections for the next couple years by the Mortgage Bankers Association predict rates at 5.8% by the end of 2010, 6.3% by the end of 2011, and 6.6% by late 2012.  Other financial authorities are proffering slightly different estimates, but pretty much all of them see significant increases coming.

The moderate recovery in the real estate market may stall or possibly even reverse somewhat as rates increase. By one estimate, for every 1 point increase in  mortgage rates, 1 Million potential Buyers are priced out of the market. This could mean higher inventories, longer time on market, and additional downward pressure on prices.  For those thinking that they should wait to buy until prices decline further (unless they are paying cash), the increase in interest rates will more than offset any savings in purchase price.  If you’re thinking about a home purchase in the Albuquerque / Rio Rancho Metro area and want to know the specific numbers, give us a call and we’ll do the math for you.

For parties interested in the outcome of “tax lightning” litigation, your day may be coming. The New Mexico Court of Appeals has put two tax lightning cases onto their calendar for hearing.

If you are unfamiliar with the term, “tax lightning” occurs when someone buys a home, (often thinking that the property tax rate in effect when they purchased will continue) and at the next property tax assessment their home’s taxes are adjusted to a new and often much higher rate based upon their purchase price. On top of their shock when the taxes double or sometimes triple, imagine their indignation when they discover that their neighbors across the street (in the same model of home) are still paying one half or one third of what the new home buyer is now being billed!

Last year there were two rulings in the 2nd Judicial Court in Bernalillo County stating that parts of the property tax laws were unconstitutional. In response to these rulings, the Bernalillo County Assessor put into motion a rollback of some of the skyrocketed assessments – but only in Bernalillo County. The Sandoval County Assessor basically ignored the ruling, as the courts were not in Sandoval County. If the Court of Appeals basically affirms the lower court’s rulings, or made similar rulings of their own, the effect would be statewide.

Over 2000 lawsuits over property tax assessments are pending in Bernalillo County. State legislators are considering whether to attempt a constitutional amendment in the near future to craft a better system. The state legislature has taken up and dropped the ball on tax lightening reforms during the last two sessions. State Senator Mark Boitano has pushed workable plans in both sessions but has been blindsided by the leadership consistently.
 
There is a need for us all to pay taxes to fund public services and infrastructure, but the current property tax assessment system is broken, probably unconstitutional, and is in serious need of reform. Regardless of the outcome of cases before the Court of Appeals, if you agree that the system is broken, share your thoughts with your state representatives now, and when they go back into session.