Editor:
For quite sometime my thoughts have lingered on our problems in Española, the heart of New Mexico. Such things as why our community has a big percentage in drug abuse.
I have attended schools in Espanola and have been employed at Los Alamos National Laboratory for 22 years and live in Espanola with husband and two daughters. I am a very active parent with my daughters and try to keep them occupied with school and activities.
In the past month I sent numerous donation letters to all local banks and city Casinos in our Valley and none responded with contributions. I wonder if any of these businesses support our Valley, the way our community contributes to them.
George Morse’s column (Rio Grande SUN, June 25, 2009 page B1) really brought out a lot of my feelings about school sports and how we contribute more to boys sports than we support girls activities.
The Northern Extreme Basketball Team (Espanola Valley Sundevils Girls Basketball team) had there first Northern Extreme Car Show June 28 in Espanola as a fund-raiser to attend a tournament in Chapel Hill, N.C. Even though we thought the weather was going to be bad, it turned out to be a great day for a car show. I have to say we could have done better, but we did good.
More than 60 percent of entrants came from Nambé, Santa Fe, Pecos and Los Alamos. Forty percent came from Española, Hernandez, Chimayó and Alcalde. All entrants were there, not for themselves, but to support our Espanola Valley Girls.
Todd Berkebile, an entrant from Los Alamos, expressed how much he cared to help the Espanola girls basketball team and how he wants to make a difference in our kids. He also said he would come back if we have another car show.
Española needs more entrants that are not just there for trophies, but at the same time to contribute to our kids and community. At the end of the car show we were commended for a job well done compared to most recent car shows in the Valley.
Neomi Salazar
Española
(Editor’s note: All of the banks, casinos and grocery stores are bombarded with donation requests almost daily. They all give a lot of money and product. They simply can’t give to everyone.)