Loose Ties, the bluegrass group that appeared here a couple of years ago for the Performing Arts Series (PAS), is returning by popular demand for the Festival of the Cranes. This time the sponsor is the Socorro Chamber of Commerce; the concert is not part of the PAS subscription series.
From Jackson Hole, Wyoming, Loose Ties has a fresh and imaginative approach to bluegrass. Since its inception in 1985, the band has built a solid reputation for innovative arrangements and quality original material. Their striking versions of Janis Joplin's "Little Piece of my Heart" and Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" first brought them to national attention in 1986. Loose Ties' repertoire now reflects the influence of many musical genres -- bluegrass, swing, pop, jazz, gospel, and folk -- while retaining their own characteristic sound.
Loose Ties has five critically acclaimed recordings on Snake River Records. Among them are "Loose Ties: Live in Jackson Hole," and "Planet Bluegrass," which features many acts from the 1992 Telluride Bluegrass Festival, including Loose Ties, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Hot Rize, Emmy Lou Harris, Ralph Stanley, and Shawn Colvin. The band's latest release, "Tangled Roots," was produced by Tim O'Brien for the Blue Planet label.
Loose Ties takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 15, in Macey Center. Tickets are $7 and $4, available at the door or in advance at the Socorro Chamber of Commerce and Brownbilt s. Admission is free for New Mexico Tech students with ID.
Burnt out on The Nutcracker? Natividad Flamenca is a new and exciting Christmas program as fresh as posole simmering on the stove. Imagine a Spanish misa flamenca, or flamenco-style mass, combined with Native American storytelling and spiced with brilliant costumes and spectacular dancing. A Christmas pageant unlike any other, the show tells the human drama of the first Christmas as it might have been seen by the participants.
Natividad Flamenca is the brainchild of flamenco artist Pablo Rodarté, director of the company Dance Espna, which will perform the show. The dance-drama draws from a mixture of cultures, including Spanish, Gypsy, Middle Eastern, Native American, and Sephardic Jewish sources. The company of 17 includes dancers, musicians, singers, and actors (some taking more than one role). Rodarté is artistic director and choreographer of the production, and well-known Albuquerque flamenco artist Eva Encinias is assistant director.
The two lead roles will be performed by two young members of Dance Espana, both of whom have been dancing since the age of 5. The role of José, or Joseph, will be played by Joaquin AlejandroEncinias, the son of Eva Encinias. Born into New Mexico's premier flamenco family, Joaquin Encinias has appeared as a lead male dancer nationally and internationally. In addition to Dance Espana, he has appeared with the companies Ritmo Flamenco, the Bill Evans Dance Company, and Festival Flamenco Internacional. He recently shared the stage with José Greco.
The role of Maria, or Mary, is played by Estefanita Ramirez, an outstanding dancer currently attending UNM on a dance scholarship. She has studied with many leading flamenco artists, including Pablo Rodarté and Eva Encinias. She has performed in Mexico with the UNM Dance Company and the Universal Dance Association in London.
Natividad Flamenca is set for 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2., immediately after Socorro's annual Candy Cane Parade.
The audience is advised to arrive early, as the show may sell out. Tickets are $7 for general admission and $4 for those 17 and under and 65 and over. Admission is free for New Mexico Tech students and PAS members.
Sponsors of Natividad Flamenca are First State Bank of Socorro and McDonald's of Socorro. The show is part of the New Mexico Tech Performing Arts Series, which is funded in part by the New Mexico Arts Division.
Mary Archuleta, Technology Transfer
Thomas M. Clemo, Senior Scientist, EEG
Ponziano M. Ferraraccio, Senior Tech Specialist
Andrea Gleicher, Econ. Development
Robin E. Keeney, Information Specialist
Stephanie R. McFadden, Staff Secretary, Minority Programs
Robbie M. Morgan, Information Specialist
Melissa R. Ortiz, Admin. Secretary
Pat Rodriguez, Technology Transfer
Yolanda C. Sachs, Economic Development Rep II
Li Zhaohui, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Hydrology
These new employees are part of Phillips Lab's Technology Transfer group, which now reports to Tech.
Annette Carroll, transferred to Secretary/Staff Assistant, R&ED
Donald Gray, promoted to Environmental Specialist, President's Office
Kudos to the following Tech people who ran in the marathon in St. George, UT, on Oct. 7:
Cathy Glessner, Juan Alvarado, and Cathy Pearce (a Tech alumna who came within 2 minutes of qualifying for Olympic trials!)
Lillian Armijo sends kudos to Jeff Whitey and the Resident Assistant staff for all their hard work during the 49ers Celebration!
Thanks to all the sponsors, participants, and supporters who made the first President's Student Assistance Fund Golf Tournament a success, raising more than $12,000.
By Herb Howell, Physical Recreation
The setting was perfect; the weather was great; and the ten teams arrived in Socorro with brightly colored uniforms that rivaled the autumn colors of the Rio Grande valley.
The New Mexico Highlands University Vatos won their third straight Rio Grande Collegiate Championship by narrowly edging the drastically improved University of New Mexico Lobos, 16 to 14. The match was marred by penalties and player ejections, but it was hard-hitting rugby at its best, with neither team willing to concede an inch or give up until the final whistle. At the end, there was no elation, only exhaustion.
Highlands Coach Dick Greene expressed surprise that his team won: "You mean we actually won that battle? It doesn't feel like it."
Highlands now advances to the Western Territorial Finals in Houston in April. Joe Brooks and Cody Mills led the Vatos' attack as well as the scoring. Jean-Pierre Campbell led UNM's scoring.
Highlands beat host New Mexico Tech 32 to 8 to advance to the finals while the Lobos upset number-one seed New Mexico State University 19 to 12 to gain the final berth.
The Santa Fe Santos won the men's club final with a convincing 18 to 3 victory over the reigning champions El Paso Scorpions. The play of the Smith brothers Greg and Darren together with that of Captain Brett Derwin brought the title back to Santa Fe after a 3 to 3 tie at the half. Santa Fe advances to the Western Club Championships in Dallas next April.
Our lads deserve a lot of credit, offered Derwin. Santa Fe beat Los Brujos in Saturday's semi-final, while the Scorpions bested the Las Cruces Blackhogs.
During a time like this, we realize how much our friends really
mean to us . . .Your expression of sympathy will always be
remembered.
We would like to thank New Mexico Tech faculty and staff for the beautiful plant.
Thanks to all of you for the beautiful flowers and especially for
the concern and prayers. It means a lot to me and to my
family.
God bless you always,
Natti Gonzales
Dear Faculty and Staff,
Thank you for the lovely flowers. They have brightened my
recovery.
Dorothy Martin
Congratulations to all these people who won various 49ers events, and thanks to the many people who participated!
(Many categories list two winners because there were two divisions.)
10K Run, Men
First: Matthew Napier, Bill Rison
Second: Juan Alvarado, John Garrigues
Third: Damon Turney, Reid Grigg
10K Run, Women
First: Cathy Pearce
Second: Jan Thomas
Third: Roseanna Neupauer
5K Walk, Men
First: James Weems, Paul Krehbiel
Second: George Zamora, Ron Lopez
Third: Sean Rivera, Raymond Tobin
5K Walk, Women
First: Marica Martinic, Eva Marie Osmer-Blodgett, Valerie Kimball
Second: Ginger Weems, Adina Raviv
Third: Kathy Berger, Rita Sarate
Best Tech entry
First: Armored Vehicle with Candy Mortar, EMRTC
Second: Back to the 1360s SCA
Third: NMT Bordello
Commercial Floats
First: Norwest Bank
Second: Stop Dragon Your Tail, Socorro Recycling
Third: First State Bank
Non-Commercial Floats
First: Socorro Cooperative Nursery School
Second: Good Samaritan Village
Third: Socorro High School Class of '98
Horse Unit
First: Wagon pulled by burros, Wild Bill Willis
Second: Travelin' Trader, Donald Boyer
Third tie: Valencia County Sheriff's Posse;
Lana Palmer, County Fair & Rodeo Queen
Band
First: Socorro High School Marching Band
Classic Cars
First: Tin Lizzies of Albuquerque
Second: '65 Mustang Convertible, Miss Deaf New Mexico
Third: '63 Chevy Impala, Eddie Bernal
Specialty Vehicles
First: The Socorro UFO Incident of '64, TERRA, with Ty Anderson
Second: 63 Chevy Impala Lowrider, David Lopez
Third: '78 Montecarlo, Anthony Silva
Walking Group
First: Torres Flutophones
Second: Jugglers, Jongleurs, and Juggheads
Ore Cart Mucking
First: Rob Corbin
Second: Roger Duncan
Hand Steel Drilling
First: Rob Corbin
Second: David Rees
Jack Leg Drilling
First: David Rees
Second: Don McPheeters
Gold Panning
First: Arthur Sittler
Second: Rob Corbin
Timber sawing
First: Rob Corbin
Second: Arthur Sittler
Ultimate Miner
First: Rob Corbin
Second: David Rees
Red Chile
First: Raymond Chavez
Second: Victor Chavez
Third: Stephanie Rawlings
Green Chile
First: Raymond Chavez
Second: Victor Chavez
Third: Steve Steinbach
Best Faculty Beard Brad Baker
Best Student Beard David Buczala
Poorest Excuse for a Beard Kyle Wiens
Flight 2
First: Louis Baca and Manny Pina
Second: Jack Gordon, Sr., and Jack Gordon, Jr.
Third: Terry Freeze and Leonard Freeze
Flight 3
First: Reyes Rosas and Steven Rosas
Second: Phil McLain and Patti McLain
Third: Sefie Anaya and Joey Anaya
UNM Concert Choir and Chamber Orchestra: 7:30 p.m., Macey. Music from the Renaissance and 20th century. $4 and $2. Free to Tech students and PAS members.
Loose Ties: 7:30 p.m, Macey. Bluegrass band back by popular demand. Sponsored by Festival of the Cranes/ Socorro Chamber of Commerce. Tickets $7 and $4; FREE to Tech students, but not part of PAS subscription series.
Festival of the Cranes Speaker: 7:30 p.m., Macey. Nature photographer Karen Hollingsworth will speak on Taking Refuge--Discovering the National Wildlife Refuge System. Free to Tech students. $6 general admission.
Festival of the Cranes Speaker: 7:30 p.m., Macey. Nature photographer Arthur Morris will speak on Birds, Bucks, and Beauty. Free to Tech students. $6 general admission.
Festival of the Cranes Speaker: 7:30 p.m., Macey. Ornithologist Victor Emanuel will speak on The Joys of Tropical Birding. Free to Tech students. $6 general admission.
UNM Jazz Band: 7:30 p.m. Macey. $4 and $2; FREE to Tech students and PAS members
Natividad Flamenca: 7:30 p.m., Macey. Dance troupe of 17 presents this exciting spectacle, which combines Spanish, Gypsy, Arabic, Native American, and Sephardic Jewish cultural influences with brilliant costumes and spectacular dancing into a Christmas pageant unlike any other. Free to Tech students and PAS members. $7 and $4 others.
Children's Christmas Party: tentatively 2-5 p.m., SAC. Sponsored by the President's Office.
Tech Christmas Party: tentatively 7 p.m. to midnight, Macey. Sponsored by the President's Office.
by Kathleen Hedges
If you're new to the Socorro area, you might not know that the Rio Grande is a major migration route for birds and that thousands of waterfowl winter at Bosque del Apache, the National Wildlife Refuge 16 miles south of Socorro.
The thousands of waterfowl attract large numbers of binocular-toting people who refer to themselves as birders and who think that standing in a swamp at dawn in the middle of winter constitutes fun.
And maybe they're right! If you do manage to drag yourself out to the Bosque at that unheard-of hour, you are greeted with the impressive spectacle of thousands of waterbirds, tuned to the rising of the sun, all lifting off from the water's surface together, their wings rumbling like a distant train.
Even if you can only get to the Bosque later in the day, you ll see thousands of roosting, wading, feeding, or flapping avians. Bald eagles, herons, hawks, and many smaller birds join the snow geese, sandhill cranes, Canada geese, and ducks in a picturesque natural setting. At sunset, v-shaped flocks sail into the refuge from the north, heading for their evening resting grounds. Non-avian species also prowl the Bosque, including mule deer, coyotes, beaver, turtles, and even bobcats.
While a car is handy, the Bosque can also be accessible to dedicated bicyclists. Any season brings fascinating wildlife, but the best time for migratory birds is from November through February.
At the start of that season, the Socorro Chamber of Commerce welcomes both the birds and birders with its Festival of the Cranes, a four-day feast of tours, tips, and talks on birds and nature. Several of the talks are in Macey Center and are free to Tech students. (See Coming Events.)
For a full schedule of events, contact the Chamber of Commerce at 835-0424.
TechTopics is published monthly by New Mexico Tech's Public Information Office. We can be reached at: pio@nmt.edu, or (505) 835-5616, or (fax) (505) 835-5825.
New Mexico Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action institution.