Monthly Archives: February 2011

Winter fun for tots to teenagers

Posted on February 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Originally published in The Taos News

Taos children, who seem to have an endless supply of energy during all seasons, never lack local opportunities to have fun. Summertime calls for hiking, rafting and hot air ballooning, but winter also beguiles kids with a variety of activities, both indoors and outdoors.

Ski aqui!

Taos is world-renowned as a preferred ski destination for adults. It also offers the charms of its snowy slopes to the little ones.

The Kids Center at Taos Ski Valley has developed a selection of programs for kids of all ages. It all starts with Bebekare (from 6 weeks to 1 year old). The Bebekare quarters are brightly lit rooms where children do art projects, which are displayed right there. “We do a lot of sledding,” said Bebekare supervisor Karrie Gallegos. “The kids also play with blocks, balls and cars.” Parents are welcomed to come by, nurse the kids or just peek in. They can ski right off the mountain and walk into the Kids Center. Kinderkare (from one to three years old) also offers indoor and outdoor activities. Nature walks are a favorite, said Gallegos.

Kristi Vine supervises Junior Elite I (from three to seven years old, potty trained). Here children learn the basics of skiing and snowboarding, though snowboard instruction isn’t started until age four. “I have great a staff that makes it all work,” said Vine.

Paco Highans, a Junior Elite I instructor, enjoys what he does for a living. “I am an eight-year old in a thirty-six-year-old body,” he said. “My biggest reward is when I see a kid who was terrified of snow the first day making turns and getting really excited about the sport.” They have a ceremony to introduce their students to Junior Elite II (from eight to fifteen years old) where the learning pace is much faster.

“We also have a program oriented toward the community, the local children,” said Jenny Cooper, the Children’s Snowsports School Manager. “Shredders” is a 5 week program for local kids from three to fifteen years old. The program includes a morning and afternoon lesson, lunch, a free lift ticket and free rental equipment. The instructors work with school children in Taos and outside, including Pojoaque and west Las Vegas. “We work with almost every school in Taos,” said Cooper. “We have been doing that for thirteen years now with great success.”

Twirl and swirl

More than just a store, better than a playground, this is an enchanted space where one can find pirate treasures, music boxes, a wishing well, an ever-changing diorama… and plenty of giggles.

“For the winter months, we will be hosting a different-themed play day every day in our free upstairs playroom, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” said Nikki Ross, Twirl’s Marketing Director.  In addition to the usual library of toys available for drop-in play, the following activities will be on offer:

Monday: Active Play (with tumbling mats and inflatable toys)

Tuesday: Imaginative Play (with sand and playstations)

Wednesday: Make Music (with musical instruments)

Thursday: Make Stuff (arts and craft supplies)

Friday: Dress up (costumes and more)

Saturday: Make More Stuff (arts and craft supplies)

There are also guided classes, all of which are free. Ballet for Preschoolers is a real favorite.

Angela Abbate-Shriver is Twirl’s Playspace Coordinator. For the Crafty Kids classes, she usually offers a craft that is in some way seasonal. “Kids will probably be making lots of snowflakes out of beads,” said Ross. “All the materials are free, and children only need to come with their imagination and a parent. Everyone gets to take their masterpiece home with them.”

As for the musical activities, Twirl provides a wide range of musical instruments that include rhythm sticks, drums, cymbals, shakers, spoons, and bells, all available for free play. For the Family Music Classes, Abbate-Shriver leads singing and instrument playing and invites children and parents to join in. She also includes scarves, ribbons and puppets in the class to encourage movement and imaginative dance.

“All our classes are free of charge,” said Ross, “and parents don’t have to sign up in advance”

Meet the Museums

The Harwood Museum of Art caters to the artists of the future. Its Saturday Arts for Families program presents Art & Movement Classes for Kids in February 5th, 19th and 26th , from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Classes are free and include a yoga session for kids, with mats provided. The yoga sessions, combined with art activities, will be led by artist and Jivamukti yoga teacher Jayne Schell at the Agnes Martin Gallery.

“The children will also create their own art pieces, inspired by this beautiful environment, in the Fern Hogue Mitchell Education Center,” said Lucy Perera, Curator of Education. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to stimulate the children’s imagination and we recommend it for kids six years old and up.”

Art in Museums, another free program sponsored by the Museum Association of Taos, is designed for preschoolers and younger children. Every Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. children, as well as parents and care-givers, can meet to enjoy a short story and age-appropriate art activities. It rotates monthly to different Taos Museums. In February it will be hosted at the Millicent Rogers Museum.

So there are plenty of choices…from skiing and snowboarding to staying indoors with a Twirl toy and a stuffed puppy, to museum hopping. One thing is for sure—Taos kids will not get bored this winter.

The Harwood Museum of Art of the University of New Mexico is located at 238 Ledoux Street, Taos, NM  87571

For a complete listing of all Harwood Museum Educational programs and activities visit www.harwoodmuseums.org / email education@harwoodmuseum.org /

Or call Lucy Perera, Curator of Education: 575-758-9826 x 105

Twirl is located at 225 Camino de la Placita, opposite Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and next to the John Dunn parking lot.

To find out more about the special activities, call 575-751-1402 or visit their website http://www.twirlhouse.com

To learn more about the Kids Center at Taos Ski Valley visit their website

http://www.skitaos.org/content/kids-center

or call 575 776 2291

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Cultural Diversity

Posted on February 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Big Books

A survey
Fill in the blanks with what you consider to be the correct information about a Latina woman in her thirties.
Height:
Eye color:
Hair color:
Skin color:
Weight:
Possible occupation:

Do you think that there is a “right” answer for any of these questions? I will get back to them later.
Several weeks ago I attended a writers’ conference in which I had been announced as a “Latina author.” When I got to the room where I should read my paper, I asked the coordinator if he minded that I started arranging the materials on the podium.

“Sorry, but it isn’t your turn yet,” he said. “A Latina author comes next, Teresa Dovalpage.”
“That’s me!” I replied.
The coordinator looked at me. He seemed curious, surprised and… somewhat doubtful. Luckily, I was wearing my name tag.

“Well, excuse me. But … you don’t look Latina at all,” he said at last. “The truth is that I didn’t imagine you like that.”

How he had imagined me could be another story. I didn’t have the time to find out and went on to make sure that my Power Point presentation didn’t decide to misbehave at the last minute.

This incident is ironic considering the topic of the paper that I was about to read. On it, I dealt with the distressing tendency to paint all Latinas (and all Latinos) of the same color. Or as we say in Cuba, to place all of us inside the same bag—of beans.

On my paper I referred specifically to the portrayal of Latino characters in contemporary American literature, but literature, as I found out that afternoon, is a reflection of reality.

Is there such thing as a “Latino race”? Is there a typical Latino guy, an emblematic Latina woman, or a Latino family as those portrayed in the movies?

Let’s go back to the initial survey.

If you wrote “dark” or “coffee” or “brown” in more than one space, consider yourself a member of the Stereotype Club—an old and annoying institution that should go out of style… and pronto. A good way to relinquish your membership is to remember that there is no “right” answer to any of those questions.

Latinos come in all sizes, colors and shapes! We are represented in all known occupations, from teachers to astronauts. There are blue-eyed, red-haired Latinas and blond-haired, brown-eyed Latinos as well.

Since I have white skin and light brown hair, I guess that the coordinator (a member of this not very exclusive club) automatically classified me as “non Latina.” It was a pity that he didn’t stay for our panel because it would have helped him broaden his horizons. A stereotype is a wonderful thing to get rid of! Please, don’t judge a book by its cover or a Latina by her (more or less tanned) looks.

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The light at the end of the foreclosure tunnel

Posted on February 10, 2011 | Leave a comment

Foreclosure : Foreclosure Home For Sale Sign and House with dramatic sky background.

Written for Enchanted Home, the Taos News

The present conditions of the housing market favor prospective buyers. Among a plethora of negativity brought up by the economic downturn, there is still light at the end of the foreclosure tunnel.

One positive note, here in Taos, is that around 75 % of the people buying repossessed homes are locals, said Kathy L. Hall, of Century 21. “When a house in Llano Mesa that was a second home for a couple from another state went into foreclosure, Mike Laughlin, a taoseño who had wanted to buy a house for years, was able to get it,” said Hall. His payments now are less than what he had paid for rent and he is thrilled to finally have his own home.

If you are planning to buy a foreclosed home as a permanent residency, this is definitely the time to do it. Certain lending companies are giving preference to future homeowners over investors who would fix a house and sell it again. “Even if the investor offers more money, they’d rather loan to buyers who are going to live in the house,” said Hall.

As a result, people who haven’t been able to afford a house can now get financing for as little as 3 % down, plus a few perks. “Because houses are often left in poor conditions by the previous owners, the new ones may even get a renovation mortgage,” said Hall.

Linda Valaika, Broker/Owner of Remax of Taos, along with her husband Phil Valaika, highlights some positive aspects of selling foreclosed houses. “When a foreclosure property sells, no matter how low the sales price is, the whole neighborhood benefits,” she said.

It is true that a low sales price brings the value of comparable properties down, but once the new owner makes capital improvements to the property, its value will increase. It is beneficial for the neighborhood to have an occupied property rather than an abandoned one where illegal activity can occur. Employing local contractors to make the capital improvements also benefits the community.
A foreclosed house is a liability for the bank that owns it. Once a bank has a foreclosed property on its list, its value is subtracted from what the bank can loan out. When it is sold, the bank has a cash infusion and more money to lend, so everybody wins—the bank, the community and the new house owner.

Public foreclosure sales are advertised every Thursday in the Mercado section of The Taos News. When a bidder is successful at a courthouse sale, he must have a cashiers check and be ready to close in approximately 10 days. These properties are sold “as is” so buyers need to do their homework prior to bidding on a property either at a courthouse sale or for an online auction. “The homework should include researching the physical and legal condition of the property,” said Valaika. “Knowing the condition of the septic system or the roof is as important as finding out if there are liens and judgments on the property.” Sophisticated investors usually have a higher risk tolerance than most buyers for these types of sales.
Buyers are better off waiting until a foreclosure property is listed with a Realtor.  Realtors provide buyers with all the information and inspections they need to make an informed decision about purchasing a foreclosure property.  Buying a foreclosure through a Realtor is the same process as buying a regular property, although there if often less room to negotiate on price and terms. “But it is definitely safer than buying at an auction,” said Valaika.

The foreclosure inventory for the Taos area is approximately 10% of the MLS listings. If Angel Fire, Red River, and Eagle Nest are included, the inventory level is closer to 15%. “Still, we are faring much better than large metropolitan markets where as much as 50% of the listings are foreclosed homes,” said Valaika. And for aspiring owners interested in foreclosed properties, there may be a few good deals waiting for them… provided they shop diligently.

 

Kathy Hall is a Texas native who moved to Taos in 1985. She can be reached at Century 21 Real Estate, Taos, N.M. 829 Paseo Del Pueblo Sur Taos, New Mexico 87571. Tel: 575-758-0080 and 800-336-4826. http://www.c21success.com

Linda and Phil Valaika opened Remax of Taos in 1992. Linda has worked in all facets of real estate over the last 37 years and is a Certified Distressed Property Expert. They can be reached at RE/MAX of Taos, 723 Paseo del Pueblo Sur, Taos, New Mexico 87571. Tel: (575) 758-5400, (866) 737-540, http://www.remax-taos-nm.com/

 

 

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