Conversations with Kasandra (Spring Update 2017)

Welcome!

This is our first quarterly report to help the residents of Las Cruces City District 1 get involved in important issues affecting our neighborhoods. We hope to educate, inform, and advise of the latest happenings with the City as a whole and our own District 1 in particular. We hope you find this post to be helpful and we welcome your feedback. 

Alameda Depot News

The groundwork was completed to improve the outer edges of Pioneer Women’s Park on W. Las Cruces Ave. The grass is being replaced by crusher fine to mitigate water needs, damages to the street surface, and reduce water waste. The grass will remain at the center of the park. Existing trees will remain and additional plantings of trees more appropriate for our climate.

Suicide Prevention Task Force

The Mayor’s Task-Force on Suicide Prevention will resume monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of every month. The Taskforce ended 2016 with the formalization of a monthly meeting schedule, participation in a work session with the Mayor and City Council, submission of a budget and creation of public service announcements. Goals for 2017 include raising awareness, supporting surviving individuals and families, and defining strategies for reducing suicides in our communities. Committee members are planning to host a conference on suicide prevention in Las Cruces during National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month (September).

Las Cruces City Councilor and social worker Kasandra Gandara and New Mexico State University Professor of Public Health Sciences Dr. Satyapriya have each dealt both personally and professionally with suicide and related mental health issues. With the support of Mayor Ken Miyagishima and other council members, they have formed the Las Cruces Mayor’s Task-Force on Suicide Prevention. The TaskForce includes representatives from City Council, Memorial Medical Center, Mountain View Regional Medical Center, New Mexico State University and Las Cruces Public Schools.

Community Suicide Prevention Resources Include:

• For any life-threatening emergency: 9-1-1
• Mobile Crisis Response Team: 575-650-7729
• Las Cruces Suicide Survivors Support Group: 575-635-6265
• Mesilla Valley Hospital: 575-382-3500
•  Memorial Medical Center: 575-522-8641
• Mountain View Hospital: 575-556-7600
• Peak Hospital: 575-589-3000
• Crisis Line for Suicide: 575-647-3800
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

Downtown Streets Update

The City met with downtown business in an Open House at Branigan Museum to discuss upcoming plans for the two way conversion of the downtown street pattern, discuss a communication plan and the plans to distribute a survival guide.

Please call Andy Hume; Downtown Coordinator.575-528- ahume@las-cruces.org or your City Councilor with any questions.

Abandoned Buildings

We had two meetings to discuss the fire in an abandoned dwelling with the residents of the Mesquite Historic District. As a result of the concerned citizens attending the meeting, the Neighborhood Action Team was formed. There is a working document on abandon dwellings to include commercial buildings and status of each of those dwellings with Codes. This is the link to the Neighborhood Action Team!

Kudos to the Mesilla Valley Animal Services Center

My son’s dog, Marley jumped out an open window and ran away. The customer service was great. When I checked at the shelter, I waited no more than 10 minutes after giving my information to be taken thru the reclaim area. The pens were clean and tidy. The lady was pleasant, friendly and most of all companionate. I was impressed with the folks there and the service. I’m sure your thinking people knew me and honestly, they didn’t know me from anybody else there. I noticed because there were at least 10 folks there, the same kind of amazing treatment! Fortunately, Marley was back at home in the yard when I returned home. Thank goodness.

The Animal Services Center Board, Dr. Beth and her staff are working hard creating a campaign on responsible pet ownership. The board is also approving approximately 1 million dollars for renovations to the shelter.

Las Cruces Survey

Las Cruces residents have a chance to participate in the third survey the City of Las Cruces has commissioned to receive opinions on community characteristics, the government of the city and your ability to participate in local city government decision making. Survey questions include how respondents would rate Las Cruces as a place to live, raise children, work and retire. Other topics include public safety, employment, and housing opportunities. The survey closes on March 10, so take it soon!

Kasandra’s Standing Meeting Schedule

• Unity Coalition Against Bullying.
  • 1st Tuesday 3:30pm -City Hall
• Historic Preservation Ad Hoc Committee
  • – 2nd Monday 6:00pm, City Hall
• Animal Services Center Board
  • – 2nd Thursday – 9:00am, City Hall

• South Central Solid Waste Authority
  
  • – 4th Tuesday – 9am, @2865 W. Amador
• Suicide Prevention Task Force
  
  • – 4th Tuesday – 4pm, City Hall

Downtown Events from March 6 to March 19, 2017

Main St. Downtown:

Farmers and Crafts Market

• Wednesday, March 8, 8:30 am – 1 pm.
• Saturday, March 11, 8:30 am – 1 pm

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• Wednesday, March 15, 8:30 am – 1 pm.
• Saturday, March 18, 8:30 am-1 pm

Las Cruces Museum System:

Branigan Cultural Center, the Las Cruces Museum of Art, the Las Cruces Museum of Nature & Science and the Las Cruces Railroad Museum Free Admission!

• Railroad Museum

  • Coloring Club for Adults – 2nd and 4th Friday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon.

  • Family Game Day – 2nd Saturday of each month 10 am to noon

  • Harvey Girl Costume Mini Exhibit – Saturday, March 4-April 1

  • Mrs. Prickett’s Story Time – Thursday, March 9, 11 to 11:30 am

  • National Model Railroad Meeting – Saturday, March 11, 1:30-2:30pm

  • Brown Bag Lecture Series – Tuesday, March 14, noon-1pm

  • Rail Readers Book Club – Wednesday, March 15, 11-noon

  • “For the Love of Railroad Architecture” exhibit opening – Friday, March 15, 5-7 pm

• Branigan Cultural Center

  • History Notes Lectures – Thursday, March 9, 1 pm

  • Lecture: Untold Stories and History of New Mexico’s National Parks – Saturday, March 11, 10 am

  • Culture Club: Pi Related Activities – Saturday, March 11, 10 am

  • Culture Club: Japanese Lanterns – Saturday, March 18, 10 am

  • On Display: Issei and Beyond: The Nakayama Family’s Journey in the Mesilla Valley

  • On Display: Hillsboro Faces: A Collection of Portraits

• Museum of Art

  • Reading Art Book Club – Wednesday, March 8, 2:30 pm

  • Film Screening: Art of the Heist – The Search for the Scream – Wednesday, March 8, 1:30 pm

  • Artrageous – Paper Flowers: Saturday, March 11, 10 am

  • Art Tales – “Uncle Andy’s” by James Warhola, Tuesday, March 14, 10 am

  • Open registration for session 2 Studio Art Classes through March 18

  • Artrageous – Flower Pencil Topper: Saturday, March 18, 10 am

• Museum of Nature & Science

  • Pre-K Thursdays: Planeteers, Constellations – Thursday, March 9, 9 am

  • Animal Encounters: Amphibians – Saturday, March 11, 10:30 am

  • Today in Space – Saturday, March 11, 1pm

  • Pre-K Thursdays: Dinosaur Train, Allosaurus – Thursday, March 17, 9 am

Thomas Branigan Memorial Library:

Thomas Branigan Library Services; 575-528-4005; 575-528-4010

• Read to Me*—Tuesdays 10:30 am; story time for ages 3-7

• Intro to Computers: The Basics – Tuesday, March 7, 2 pm

• Intro to Computers: Windows 10 – Tuesday, March 14, 2 pm

• Teen Game Night—Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4 pm; games for teens

• Toddler Time*—Wednesdays & Thursdays, 10 am; story time for ages 1—3

• Mother Goose Time*—Wednesdays, 11 am; activities for infants and their adults

• Design and Create: Wine Bottle Windchimes —Wednesday, March 8, 2 pm

• Doña Ana County Genealogical Society: “Planning a Family Reunion”—Wednesday, March 8, 2 pm

• Munson BookClub: The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene —Wednesday, March 15, 10 am

Munson Center:

975 S. Mesquite St. 575-528-3406

• Rhythm Roundup*—Fridays 10:30 am; Music/Motion for ages 2-5

• Library Lab**—Fridays 3:30 pm; Activities/Stories for ages 6-1

• Play SCRABBLE! Promote Literacy!—Sunday, March 12, 1:30 pm. $3 suggested donation all goes to Literacy Volunteers of Doña Ana County.

  • Children must be accompanied by their well-behaved adult caregiver

  • Caregivers welcome

Live Theater:

• Black Box Theatre

  • The Conference of the Birds by Peter Brook and Jea-Claude Carriere March 17-April 2, 2017

  • Don’t miss out – local restaurants provide discounts to patrons who present a ticket stub from any NSTC, LCCT or ASTC production.

    • Prices have changed for the 2016-2017 season, call 523-1223 for information

• Las Cruces Community Theatre

  • No Sex Please, We’re British – March 3-19

• Rio Grande Theatre

  • Dr. Dolittle – Friday, March 10, 7 pm & Saturday, March 11, 10 am

  • Comedy Workshop – Saturday, March 11, 2:30 pm followed by Awards Ceremony at 6pm

  • Las Cruces Arts Fair – Friday, March 17, 6 pm & Saturday, March 18, 10 am

  • !Yjastros en Vivo! – Saturday, March 18,