tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41479074702789490362024-03-28T04:01:59.906-07:00elpasonaturallyHelping to create a greener, more sustainable and resilient El Paso Southwest.Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.comBlogger1454125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-48180556773880465872018-01-30T14:13:00.000-08:002018-01-30T14:13:28.330-08:00Where to Find elpasonaturally Now<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From now on, just go to <a href="http://www.elpasonaturally.com/">www.elpasonaturally.com</a>. That is where you will find the blog. You will need to click on the title of the blog post that you want to read. The newest will be at the top.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The contact page is accurate but the other pages will change and metamorphosize over the next few days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to view older posts, just keep coming here: <a href="http://www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/">www.elpasonaturally.blogspot.com</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wordpress has so much more to offer and you will see that as the days and weeks go by. I than you for your loyalty.</span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-35785475809995154522018-01-08T14:26:00.000-08:002018-01-08T14:26:16.078-08:00We're Migrating!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">See you in a few days on Wordpress!</span></div>
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Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-39087041455526502612018-01-02T11:15:00.000-08:002018-01-06T09:57:29.750-08:003 Cheers Monday: Hooray for Gertrud Konings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Celebration of Our Mountains Field Trip.</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Each Monday (or the best that I can), I'll post about someone in the preservation/conservation/environmental community who has done something recently that deserves "3 Cheers".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">We begin with Dr. Gertrud Konings-Dudin. As you know the environmental community has met once to discuss <a href="http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2017/11/can-el-paso-environmentalists-cooperate.html" target="_blank">how the various groups can collaborate</a>. Gertrud seized the initiative. She has let everyone know that she will publish their events at the <a href="http://chihuahuandesert.org/events-2/" target="_blank">Chihuahuan Desert Education Coaliton</a> site. Gertrud is the Chair and the Board's contact info is <a href="http://chihuahuandesert.org/contact-us/" target="_blank">HERE</a>. It's a group you may want to keep your eye on and join their efforts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">You can read Dr. Konings-Dudin's extensive <a href="https://www.epcc.edu/faculty/gkonings/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">bio</a> as a biologist, publisher and translator. Be sure to check out her Vitae. She led two very successful field trips for <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/" target="_blank">Celebration of Our Mountains</a> in 2017.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Dr. Gertrud Konings-Dudin</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">3 Cheers for Gertrud!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-47986790662701696302017-12-29T10:09:00.000-08:002017-12-29T10:09:01.766-08:00The Friday Video: Meet Lauren Singer and Her Trash Free Lifestyle<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" gesture="media" height="211" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2BMWQZkBgsM" width="375"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meet Lauren Singer. Be sure to subscribe to her YouTube page. She has great ideas for reducing trash and living a trash free lifestyle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Unfortunately, you will have to go to YouTube to view this video if you receive these posts via your smart phone. Soon, elpasonaturally will be transported to WordPress and won't have this problem. This transfer was in the making before I was elected to City Council and things came to a halt. We will be back on track in 2018.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-9732400952852732292017-12-27T11:06:00.000-08:002017-12-27T11:06:36.068-08:00Introduction to Water Smart Landscapes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-51794469946841891042017-12-19T13:02:00.000-08:002017-12-20T07:06:09.877-08:00Nerd Nights<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Photo taken on a Paul Hyder night time field trip for <br />Celebration of Our Mountains.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've been <a href="http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2017/09/insights-should-give-dino-track-land-to.html" target="_blank">critical of Insights</a> mostly because they don't have the sponsorship base yet (which they could do with a good fundraiser for a commission). They also have not solved the problem of an open and vulnerable dino tracks and the need, because of their sponsorship base, to charge $15 per person for a dino tour ($60 for a family of four). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">However, they are now doing something really creative and it is drawing enthusiastic crowds. It's called "<a href="http://www.insightselpaso.org/nerd-nights/" target="_blank">Nerd Nights</a>". Check out the link and the fantastic program they are offering. The next event is "Sex, Drugs and Arachnids". If that doesn't catch your attention, nothing will. Check out the link above to learn more about the next Nerd Night on January 3, 2018 at G2's at 7 PM. You can find a map to G2's at this link also. Scroll down and you can book a reservation now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Insights is not the only organization promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), beginning Saturday, February 17, 2018 at 9 AM, Celebration of Our Mountains will begin its new program: <b>Celebrate STEAM</b>. For the next 10 or so Saturdays there will be tours and special programs and events. More information is coming soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-58453769464355811772017-11-30T08:35:00.000-08:002017-11-30T08:35:55.358-08:00Unscientific, but still concerning<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've written several times about the encroachment on state park land by GCC (previously Cemex). <a href="http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2017/11/survey-quarry-now.html" target="_blank">HERE</a> is the most recent blog post. After the last post, Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition member, Steve Tures, emailed the map above. He said: "I did a rough and unscientific (read, not official or maybe wrong) attempt to see how close they [the park and quarry] are, and seems like they're really close or maybe over their line." He said that he fudged an overlay on what's publicly available on GM.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tures seems to confirm what many others have also seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, whether the quarry has encroached state land or not, they are quickly destroying this portion of the Franklin Mountains and could mine all the way to the ridge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Why does the City of El Paso and others do business with them?</span></div>
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Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-68621456843364946452017-11-28T07:41:00.002-08:002017-11-28T07:41:49.670-08:00Can El Paso Environmentalists Cooperate?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bit over a week ago environmentalists from various El Paso groups came together to discuss collaboration. "Together we can do more" seemed to be the theme. The meeting aroused excitement and the group left planning to reconvene in January and, in the meantime, to develop a social media presence - one that can be shared by all the groups represented. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were representatives from the Audubon Society, Master Gardeners, Master Naturalists, CDEC, the Sierra Club, Celebration of Our Mountains, Insights, the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition, EPCC and even a representative from the City of El Paso. Janaé Reneaud Field, the Director of Frontera Land Alliance, chaired the meeting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One member suggested that coming together, sharing ideas, and building networks and resources might be the sole purpose along with a shared social media presence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's a great idea and a great start; but, will it last?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judy Ackerman of the Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition probably made the most sense when she said that FMWC had always acted as the place for all of El Paso's conservation and environmental groups. It makes the most sense until you realize that FMWC has not been a true coalition. A list of groups included in their dossier seems only to be useful as a tool for political advocacy. FMWC is governed by its own Board rather than a true gathering of the coalition although some members of the board are indeed members of other groups if not their representatives. The chairing of the FMWC does not rotate among the various groups who, at least on paper, make up that Coalition.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Please understand, I think the highest of FMWC and their work. The leaders of FMWC are among the best and greatest El Pasoans. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It would be simpler if this nascent Collaboration operated not just under the umbrella of FMWC but as the FMWC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whatever, I hope EP environmentalists can indeed be collaborative and be valuable resources one to the other.</span><br />
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<br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-84469613552334909212017-11-27T13:45:00.000-08:002017-11-27T13:45:05.692-08:00Plan to Go to Ardovino's Holiday Market Sunday, December 3rd<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One of the top holiday "must-do's" is Ardovino's Holiday Market. Because of all of the road work, follow these new directions to get to Ardovino's Desert Crossing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take Sunland Park Drive to Mc Nutt. Turn left onto McNutt and then right at the light at Anapra Road. The other option is to take Sunland Park to Futurity. Futurity ends at Racetrack and you will have to take a right. (Racetrack is only closed between Futurity and Doniphan.) <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Anapra+Rd+%26+Racetrack+Dr+%26+NM-273,+Sunland+Park,+NM+88063/@31.7995412,-106.5601474,17z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x86ddf7f39b3ca763:0xc0e6f56a794d674!8m2!3d31.7959303!4d-106.554901" target="_blank">MAP</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Be sure to visit the <a href="https://www.ardovinos.com/" target="_blank">ADC website</a>.</span><br />
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<br /><br /><br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-58898070860606821892017-11-15T15:01:00.000-08:002017-11-15T15:01:16.124-08:00Survey the Quarry Now!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently elpasonaturally posted about the <a href="http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-quarry.html" target="_blank">obscene destruction</a> of our mountain by GCC, the new owners of former Cemex properties. GCC doesn't even dynamite just at night or early morning. They are blasting even during the day. They have no shame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">elpasonaturally has also pointed out the <a href="http://elpasonaturally.blogspot.com/2015/11/tpwd-has-no-idea.html" target="_blank">failure of the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife</a> and the Franklin Mountains State Park to do a survey. They complain that it costs too much and do not respond to calls asking them to do so.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now another expert has said that undoubtedly GCC is encroaching on State Park land. Also, according to this expert, surveys are now done by drones for two or three thousand dollars. Hardly a big price tag.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Survey the quarry now. Stop buying from them. Shut them down forever. They are destroying our mountain.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-34872148143780189812017-11-14T07:10:00.000-08:002017-11-14T07:10:44.525-08:00Finally!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />Last Wednesday at the City's Open Space Advisory Board meeting, it was announced that the Hunt arroyo at Bear Ridge had finally been purchased using stormwater money. The purchase has been pending for seven years ever since Rick Bonart and Charlie Wakeem met with Justin Chapman of Hunt at the site. The Arroyo is very popular with hikers and mountain bikers and leads directly into the State Park.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to Bonart, John Balliew, CEO of El Paso Water, says that there are no immediate plans for stormwater improvement at the site. Keeping the land pristine is always good news.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past September $185K was made available for a trailhead at the Bear Ridge Arroyo. The hope and expectation is that millions will not have been spent on procuring the arroyo and then doing nothing to build an attractive trailhead. Such is the case with the Palisades where a mere $124 was spent on a sign that is now badly deteriorated. A better example of what can and should be done is the Lost Dog Trailhead built with private-public funding for much less than what the City would have spent to create a beautiful entrance to a prominent trail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Chair of the Open Space Advisory Board, Sherry Bonart, says: "</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's hope that the city will step up and use 2012 QOL money to build trailheads at both Bear Ridge and Franklin Hills [another Hunt property up for sale]. It's a travesty to purchase these parcels for millions of dollars and not follow through with the necessary improvements to make them fully available for the public to use."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not to mention, fully attractive to ecotourists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-69857689412259198492017-11-02T08:54:00.003-07:002017-11-02T08:54:43.880-07:00The Quarry<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's like the title of one of those horrendous slasher films: Scream, Halloween, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th: The Quarry. Of course I am speaking about the quarry at McKelligon Canyon, the GCC Quarry (formerly a Cemex operation). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">GCC continues to gouge the side of the mountain. Several persons have looked at maps and have suggested to me that the quarry has already intruded onto the State Park. Yet neither Texas Parks and Wildlife Department nor the Franklin Mountains State Park are willing to do a survey. It costs too much. Instead they take the word of the quarry owners.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What can be done to stop this obscene devastation of our mountain? There are many issues involved: mineral rights for the State of Texas, a private company operation, jobs and bidding laws (you can't just ask the City not to buy from the quarry). Perhaps the City can be persuaded to limit their buying from GCC. That may be a good start and would have the added benefit that the City find other means to do landscaping. (I still am incensed that the City's Parks Department paved natural desert paths at the Archaeology Museum with chat quarried and produced at the McKelligon Canyon Quarry.) Perhaps an ordinance banning certain landscaping products? Good luck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Protests? A PR campaign? What?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I struggle with this. Perhaps some of you have ideas. The GCC Quarry needs to shut down . . . permanently.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-54000119054202936972017-10-27T16:55:00.001-07:002017-10-27T16:55:37.310-07:00Spend the Day at Keystone Heritage Park<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8lZ9sqy7Tc/WfPHMWuayVI/AAAAAAAAQFY/o0USgBIfYp0-x7z9MG2a9Qr0JX7f9YbnQCLcBGAs/s1600/Keystone%2BFlyer%2B102817.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1433" height="253" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p8lZ9sqy7Tc/WfPHMWuayVI/AAAAAAAAQFY/o0USgBIfYp0-x7z9MG2a9Qr0JX7f9YbnQCLcBGAs/s400/Keystone%2BFlyer%2B102817.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-82864279180565512992017-10-19T15:34:00.000-07:002017-10-19T15:34:42.840-07:00Aquifer Recharge Field Trip, Saturday 10/21, 10AM<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyy_tXTsLP4/WekmshdJlVI/AAAAAAAAPzM/vbLRbxVbXuAD7_b0Zesa7_xSsjY02B2VACLcBGAs/s1600/Bolsons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="684" data-original-width="700" height="390" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lyy_tXTsLP4/WekmshdJlVI/AAAAAAAAPzM/vbLRbxVbXuAD7_b0Zesa7_xSsjY02B2VACLcBGAs/s400/Bolsons.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/" target="_blank">Celebration of Our Mountains</a> and <a href="http://www.epwu.org/" target="_blank">El Paso Water</a> have scheduled a very valuable field trip this Saturday at 10 AM. Recharging our aquifers is vital for our water supply and for our survival as a city in the Chihuahuan Desert. You will see a critical strategy that El Paso Water uses to recharge the aquifers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday, October 21, 2017, 10:00 AM</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aquifer Recharge Field Trip</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Learn more about El Paso Water’s pioneering efforts to clean wastewater to drinking-water quality standards. EP Water has been using reclaimed water to recharge the Hueco Bolson Aquifer for decades. Hear more about water reclamation from Scott Reinert, El Paso Water’s water resources engineer. Meet at Painted Dunes Golf Club, 12000 McCombs St., inside the restaurant for orientation. Participants will caravan for a short drive to the recharge basins. Expect minimal walking during this 1.5-hour field trip. Bring comfortable shoes, water and a hat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information, contact Scott Reinert, 915-253-2004, sreinert@epwu.org.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/aquifer-recharge-field-trip</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/celebmtns/" target="_blank">Celebration of Our Mountains on Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/EPWater/" target="_blank">El Paso Water on Facebook</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-73215752379228329402017-10-17T09:24:00.002-07:002017-10-17T09:24:38.283-07:00Liz Walsh begins the Kevin Von Finger Speakers Series 10/24/17 at 7PM<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liz Walsh's talk this coming Thursday inaugurates the 2017-2018 Kevin Von Finger Speakers Series sponsored by the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sierraclubelpaso/" target="_blank">El Paso Group Sierra Club</a>.</span><div>
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The series is named after the late Sierran and ecologist, Kevin von Finger.</div>
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October 24, 2017: "What's in a hueco?" - Liz Walsh</div>
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November 28, 2017: "Climate change and regional sustainability" - Deanna Pennington</div>
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January 23, 2018: "Trash and Recycling 101" - Ellen Smyth</div>
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February 27, 2018: "Creating Habitat for Burrowing Owls in El Paso" - Lois Balin</div>
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March 27, 2018: "Dude, come on, wolves need a decent life" - Rick LoBello</div>
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April 24, 2018: "The role of utilities in renewable energy and sustainability" - El Paso Electric</div>
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May 22, 2018: "The ecological and environmental consequences of the 'Wall'" - Paul Hyder</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All talks are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7PM at the Centennial Museum at UTEP.</span></div>
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Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-62153947554700770642017-10-11T13:23:00.001-07:002017-10-11T13:23:55.941-07:00Sustainable, Reliable Water<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FEPWater%2Fvideos%2F1696125410406826%2F&show_text=0&width=560" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I and my neighbors have been watching the construction of a "mammoth" water tower in our neighborhood. Those of us who live on the mountain side of Austin High School, now see the tower loom over that school. The cool video above was posted on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EPWater/" target="_blank">El Paso Water Facebook page</a> on October 2nd. It tells how these new towers will make water more sustainable and reliable. (How do the people working inside get out?)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">El Paso Water's Communications and Marketing, Christina Montoya, sent these factoids to me:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Additional water tanks in specific areas will allow EPWater to meet water demands when some parts of the system may be down in emergency situations.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o In 2011, frozen equipment and hundreds of broken water pipes caused water tanks to be emptied faster than they could be filled.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o These tanks will give us the flexibility to move water where it is needed most.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o These and other improvements will make EPWater more resilient in a power outage or a weather emergency.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Three new water tank projects will accommodate growth in key areas.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Memphis Tank will hold 2.5 million gallons of water in Central El Paso</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Airport Tank holds 4.4 million gallons in the Lower Valley – completed</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Ventanas Tank will hold 2 million gallons in the far east - completed</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>EPWater is highlighting these crucial projects to highlight investments needed in infrastructure</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Water infrastructure is often out of sight and out of mind so it is hard for customers to appreciate and understand it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Investment in water infrastructure is crucial to maintain essential services and ensure public safety.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">o Projects like this are a big part of our efforts to provide reliable water service.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The graphics below show you just how these new tanks work. Just click on them or the title to enlarge.</span><br />
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<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/361339978/How-Water-Works-Water-Storage#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View How Water Works – Water Storage on Scribd">How Water Works – Water Storage</a></div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.5392491467576792" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="300" id="doc_33200" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/361339978/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-5Jkfv3TetMSGOOPjCJKD&show_recommendations=true" title="How Water Works – Water Storage" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/361340136/How-Water-Works-Water-Distribution-Systems#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View How Water Works – Water Distribution Systems on Scribd">How Water Works – Water Distribution Systems</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/user/25016522/jimhtolbert434#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;" title="View jimhtolbert434's profile on Scribd">jimhtolbert434</a> on Scribd</div>
<iframe class="scribd_iframe_embed" data-aspect-ratio="1.5392491467576792" data-auto-height="false" frameborder="0" height="300" id="doc_86486" scrolling="no" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/361340136/content?start_page=1&view_mode=scroll&access_key=key-aTpyZMYDKgFKhFzeAGeR&show_recommendations=true" title="How Water Works – Water Distribution Systems" width="400"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you, El Paso Water!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-81556922577345001552017-10-09T19:24:00.000-07:002017-10-09T19:24:06.754-07:00Some FYIs<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hat tip to Judy Ackerman for sending me a link to an El Paso Times story,<a href="http://www.elpasotimes.com/story/opinion/2017/10/03/bats-overlooked-wonders-our-desert-column/704727001/" target="_blank"> Bats are the overlooked wonders of our desert</a>. Last June, Celebration of Our Mountains had a special bat watching event. Someone who follows the COM Facebook page just a day ago asked whether there would be another bat event. COM is ready. Hopefully Judy and Urban Biologist, Lois Balin, will repeat the bat watch next summer. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Check out <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/cape-town-zero-waste-store" target="_blank">the concept</a> being used in this store in Cape Town (a bit out of the way). It's a zero waste store called Nude Foods. Might be a good idea to start pushing that idea here. Read <a href="http://www.onegreenplanet.org/animalsandnature/10-ways-to-adopt-a-zero-waste-lifestyle/" target="_blank">10 Ways to Adopt a Zero Waste Lifestyle</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Finally, here is a <a href="https://nourishedessentials.com/" target="_blank">commercial site selling fermentation kits</a>. I saw it on Facebook and it looks interesting. Bon appetit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-30828858855132627472017-10-04T13:57:00.001-07:002017-10-04T13:57:15.338-07:002 Things to look at today<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2ujZcWeVaY/WdVKkGfqJrI/AAAAAAAAPsY/Mf2YHJc69Nwa9BvAvQWvHF-tZ9tdJyDMACLcBGAs/s1600/Painted%2BLady%2BButterfly%2B-%2BDeMoultrie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="478" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V2ujZcWeVaY/WdVKkGfqJrI/AAAAAAAAPsY/Mf2YHJc69Nwa9BvAvQWvHF-tZ9tdJyDMACLcBGAs/s400/Painted%2BLady%2BButterfly%2B-%2BDeMoultrie.jpg" width="353" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Painted Lady Butterfly by Liz DeMoultrie</i></span></td></tr>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of our environmental clubs produce some good newsletters. At the top of my list is The Areole, edited by Ad Konings. It's the newsletter for the El Paso Cactus and Rock Club. The letter is good science, good news and good fun. The photography is beautiful. Read the recent issue <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0F5uNQALQ35b3g4SHpoZ1prMEk/view" target="_blank">HERE</a>. Ask the editor to be put on the mailing list. EPCRC also has a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/epcrc/" target="_blank">Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next you have got to join, get notified and share the posts at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/shareelpaso/?ref=br_rs" target="_blank">Share El Paso-Plants and Animals</a>. Liz DeMoultrie's photos are priceless. I swiped one for use with this post above. Follow the posted videos to their original sites.</span><br />
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<br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-62292888617767652552017-10-03T15:41:00.000-07:002017-10-03T15:41:20.263-07:00Just the Science Please<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past week a friend of mine who is a Civil Engineer traveled with his wife to Washington D.C. for a climate change conference. He chose to go to this conference to fulfill a City of El Paso requirement for doing new urbanism projects. Fortunately for them, they enjoy visiting D.C. and Alexandria, VA.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The conference was supposed to be focused on climate change and new urbanism. Fine and dandy. The problem was that it became a pretext for pontificating about a number of what can be considered "left-wing" issues: diversity, racial justice, I-Hate-Trump and so forth. Agree or disagree with the political positions the panelists took, they strayed from the purpose of the meeting. There was no presentation of the science of climate change, the data, the measurements, the predictions, etc. Bottom line: it was a farce.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My friend is not anti-environmental. He cares but challenges whether political solutions can ever match market place economics when it comes to addressing environmental problems. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As an environmentalist (I'm not a scientist - I've just been an activist) I agree that we should stick to the facts, stick to the science. Certainly there are a number of social and political problems that ought to be addressed and there will always be a number of opinions on how we should deal with those problems. However, mixing our political opinions with science is just not scientific. It turns a pursuit for the truth into a tool for demagogues. It becomes opinion and not a theoretical position based on our observations and measurements. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Environmentalism would be better served by sticking to the science.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-86527937792868138342017-09-28T13:52:00.001-07:002017-09-28T13:52:47.682-07:00Take the Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This Saturday (September 30th) beginning at 9PM, you can tour two revolutionary plants here in El Paso. The first is the world's largest inland desalination plant, the <a href="http://www.epwu.org/water/desal_info.html" target="_blank">Kay Bailey Hutchison Desalination Plant</a> and the <a href="http://envirowaterminerals.com/" target="_blank">Enviro Water Minerals</a> Plant. At KBH, unusable brinish ground water is made drinkable. At the EWM facility, takes the brinish water a step further and removes the minerals that have commercial value. EWM sells the minerals and returns the water to us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tour is definitely an event for everyone, especially families. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For more information, go <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/a7o1kq1g925ibe7r7q8691h26yg8t5" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-11763786286183683182017-09-18T15:01:00.000-07:002018-01-12T12:34:54.973-08:00Insights Should Give Dino-Track Land to Experts<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Photo from www.geo.utep.edu</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time, Insights Science Museum was fairly successful. Since then, the Insights Museum has been torn down and most of its meager exhibits have gone to storage. In 2003, Stanley Jobe bought land in Sunland Park from American Eagle Brick Company and gave it to Insights because the land is a valuable paleontological asset. In 2002 a young geology student (now Ph.D.), Eric Kappus, discovered dinosaur tracks on it. Unfortunately, in spite of Eric's expertise and his building a hiking trail from one of the dino sites to Ardovino's Desert Crossing, Insights ended their relationship with him.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Insights board members are (we guess) volunteers. I'm sure that they are good and well-intentioned people who care about our community and have served it well. However, they are also amateurs who have little, if any, knowledge about managing land and, in particular, managing land with dinosaur tracks. Dino footprints at one site are slowly eroding because there is no protection from modern day footprints all over the site.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The President of Insights, Ellen Esposito, told me that they have had no success finding benefactors to help them provide free tours, for instance, with Celebration of Our Mountains. Apparently they have also reached out to 13 companies including Western Refinery. They have not had any success with sponsorships. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Esposito told me that "liability insurance, expense of tour guides and taxes must be covered by program fees." Insights recently advertised through the Trans-Pecos Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalists for people willing to be trained to be docents. Of course, there would be no expense for tour guides if they are volunteers. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An owner of commercial property in Sunland Park pays significantly less tax on his 24 acres than on his house in El Paso. The approximately 200 acres on which there are dino tracks is not commercial nor is it any longer a quarry operation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What exactly is Insights' business plan and their goals for this very valuable paleontolgocal treasure? If they truly cared about the preservation of this site, why not turn it over to the Bureau of Land Management and let the Las Cruces office of the BLM manage it? The BLM people are experts. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In fact, turning over the land to New Mexico to make it part of a 500-mile Rio Grande trail has been proposed by Esposito and renowned UTEP geology professor, Phil Goodell. "</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The State Parks Division of New Mexico’s Energy, Minerals and Natural Resource Department will facilitate discussions about the dinosaur tracks property," David Crowder of the El Paso Inc. <a href="http://www.elpasoinc.com/news/local_news/insights-offers-dino-tracks-to-nm/article_80cfee9e-e9f6-11e5-8193-9b3d1927b42b.html" target="_blank">recently reported</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Today one even wonders what the purpose of Insights is any longer. The City of El Paso will soon have a Children's Museum. Insights, more so then than now, will be a relic of the past. An indication that that is true is the fact that they cannot find any serious donors. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is time to admit what many have already realized: Insights has no business managing the Dino Tracks. They should turn it over to the BLM or another NM State agency that knows how to manage land and parks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">(I have reached out to Ellen Esposito for comment but have not heard back yet.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-80800669027210311732017-09-15T13:23:00.000-07:002017-09-15T13:23:03.042-07:00Bike Plan? What Bike Plan?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">According to a City of El Paso insider, there seems to be no intention of implementing the Bike Plan. Waivers submitted by contractors are 100% approved so that they do not have to add bike lanes in their developments. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, numerous people who ride bikes have expressed their frustration to me as they feel the bike plan is basically gathering the same dust as Plan El Paso going the way of the Tree City USA designation and the Resiliant City contract. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty much any plan that the City has ever put together, received awards and recognitions for has then been stuck on a shelf.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are several speculations as to why plans are in essence and fact scuttled: </span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City plans only seem to get used when it's to the City's benefit, or when someone reminds the City about the plan.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City staff does not need public meddling in issues where they "know best". Boards and commissions, like the plans, are just window dressing.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">City staff is lazy.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have not been able to get hold of Alfredo Austin, the person in charge of implementing the Bike Plan.</span><br />
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<br />Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-82674434394645124332017-09-13T16:04:00.000-07:002017-09-13T16:04:13.905-07:00Stop Sucking!<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Read, bookmark, share:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/seattle-ban-plastic-straws-2476937005.html" target="_blank">Seattle to Ban Plastic Straws, Utensils at Restaurants Next Year</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Be sure to watch the video.</span>Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-82012949679564699802017-09-13T15:58:00.000-07:002017-09-13T16:03:46.312-07:00Bobcats and Poppies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvBVwBNQxI8/WbmzRzbvKsI/AAAAAAAAPk0/m94kTnE6rgM2TfiVwRxoZhmUkNgJqEargCLcBGAs/s1600/Bobcats%2Bat%2BTecH20-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qvBVwBNQxI8/WbmzRzbvKsI/AAAAAAAAPk0/m94kTnE6rgM2TfiVwRxoZhmUkNgJqEargCLcBGAs/s400/Bobcats%2Bat%2BTecH20-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa0iiIF3-WE/WbmzR4EwT_I/AAAAAAAAPk8/TXGwl7l1M1UQYhBtpYnhEn-RRAPykYNOwCLcBGAs/s1600/Bobcats%2Bat%2BTecH20-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Aa0iiIF3-WE/WbmzR4EwT_I/AAAAAAAAPk8/TXGwl7l1M1UQYhBtpYnhEn-RRAPykYNOwCLcBGAs/s400/Bobcats%2Bat%2BTecH20-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">These pictures of bobcats at <a href="http://www.tech2o.org/" target="_blank">TecH20</a> show us just why it is so important to preserve our natural environment whether we build or not. They show just why organizations such as the <a href="https://franklinmountains.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Franklin Mountains Wilderness Coalition</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sierraclubelpaso/" target="_blank">El Paso Group Sierra Club</a>, the <a href="http://fronteralandalliance.org/" target="_blank">Frontera Land Alliance</a>, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FriendsOfTheRioBosqueWetlandsPark/" target="_blank">Friends of the Rio Bosque</a> and many other groups work hard to preserve our mountains and deserts and wetlands.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The pictures were taken at TecH20 by staff members after someone spotted the cats. Josh Moniz of <a href="http://www.epwu.org/" target="_blank">EPWU</a> posted the pictures on the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/celebmtns/" target="_blank">Celebration of Our Mountains Facebook page</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And while we are at it, take a look at these pictures of the poppies of Castner Range in 1995:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There is plenty to celebrate about our mountains.</span></div>
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Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4147907470278949036.post-65326683471312562682017-09-11T17:23:00.003-07:002017-10-02T10:13:04.544-07:00Inc. Gives Kudos to Celebration of Our Mountains<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Hikers enjoy the Hitt Canyon Loop Hike led by the Dean of El Paso Hiking, Carol Brown. Photo by Shu Y. Mayr</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Fellow creature on the Hitt Canyon Loop Hike. Photo by Shu Y. Mayr</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The El Paso Inc. recognized Celebration of Our Mountains in their most recent edition. Cindy Graff Cohen wrote a wonderful article about this yearly program of events: <a href="http://www.elpasoinc.com/columns/local_columnists/play-in-the-franklins/article_c4694914-9645-11e7-9b90-9fa88bb72167.html" target="_blank">Play in the Franklins</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">It is good to get the recognition. I have been the Director of COM since 2009.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDlDjpEzyb4/Wbclr-QeotI/AAAAAAAAPh4/4kXgGvM-rNokrnlIFryRScjAUnwgyVyRACLcBGAs/s1600/080917-3%2BHitt%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HDlDjpEzyb4/Wbclr-QeotI/AAAAAAAAPh4/4kXgGvM-rNokrnlIFryRScjAUnwgyVyRACLcBGAs/s400/080917-3%2BHitt%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>On the Hitt Canyon Loop Hike. Photo by Shu Y. Mayr</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7zDaZSd3LA/WbcmL-v1ncI/AAAAAAAAPiA/QzsgUi6WrDMkF4M6rPZ6Uggdga97A5qHgCLcBGAs/s1600/090917-4%2BHitt%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p7zDaZSd3LA/WbcmL-v1ncI/AAAAAAAAPiA/QzsgUi6WrDMkF4M6rPZ6Uggdga97A5qHgCLcBGAs/s400/090917-4%2BHitt%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>On the Hitt Canyon Loop Hike. Photo by Shu Y. Mayr</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">This year's program is already off to a great start. Just this weekend, folks enjoyed the Hitt Canyon Loop Hike, biking to Scenic Drive with a blessing of the bicycles and a field trip to Percha and Caballo Dams to see the migratory birds. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-poYsM3KTaNE/WbcoWzBDLfI/AAAAAAAAPiM/-Io5KijkFUU67no2a1NWgdXpdM-9TeeBwCLcBGAs/s1600/090417-1%2BBeginners%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-poYsM3KTaNE/WbcoWzBDLfI/AAAAAAAAPiM/-Io5KijkFUU67no2a1NWgdXpdM-9TeeBwCLcBGAs/s400/090417-1%2BBeginners%2BShu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Last week's Beginners Hike ensemble. Photo by Carol Brown</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Coming up tomorrow will be another <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/beginners-hike-2" target="_blank">Beginners Hike</a> led by environmentalist, Judy Ackerman.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj7R3WYLAe4/WbcoqPTqKwI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/HzqrQMCdqNUg7p8gey8-g7AYZNCwYVXzgCLcBGAs/s1600/090617-02%2BHyder%2BTalk-Shu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj7R3WYLAe4/WbcoqPTqKwI/AAAAAAAAPiQ/HzqrQMCdqNUg7p8gey8-g7AYZNCwYVXzgCLcBGAs/s400/090617-02%2BHyder%2BTalk-Shu%2BY.%2BMayr.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Dr. Paul Hyder talking about "The What, Why, Where and Who of Deserts" Photo by Shu Y. Mayr</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Saturday there is a <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/northern-pass-hike" target="_blank">Northern Pass Hike</a>, a field trip to the <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/prehistoric-trackways-discovery-site" target="_blank">Prehistoric Trackways</a> in the Robledos and a repeat of the always popular <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/whos-running-around-the-desert-at-night-2" target="_blank">"Who's Running Around the Desert at Night"</a> led by biologist and ecologist, Dr. Paul Hyder.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">On Sunday, the UTEP Geology Club will lead a hike to the El Paso <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/2017-events/2017/hike-to-the-tin-mines" target="_blank">Tin Mines</a>, the only tin mines ever operated in the United States.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Check out all of the upcoming Celebration of Our Mountains events at <a href="http://www.celebmtns.org/">www.celebmtns.org</a>. </span></div>
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Jim Tolberthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12703631083625071050noreply@blogger.com0