lincoln county new mexico health and wellness guide

12014 Lincoln County Health & Wellness Guide

HOSPITAL SERVICES:

· 24-hour Emergency Department

· Hospital Units: Intensive Care,

Medical and Surgical

· Labor and Delivery

· Surgical Services (general surgery,

orthopedics and podiatry)

· Pharmacy

· Pulmonary

· Private Wound Care

· Radiology

· Laboratory

CLINICAL SERVICES:

· Dietary Counseling

· Emergency Medical Services throughout Lincoln County

· Heritage Program – Outpatient Behavioral Health

program for senior adults

· Lincoln County Community Assistance Program

· Primary Care and Specialists

· Therapy Center/Rehabilitation Services

· Laboratory

From care for minor illnesses and injuries to comprehensive hospital services, we offer a wide range of medical capabilities. Whether you need primary care, specialty medical services, our same-dayaccess clinic or hospital care, we’re right where you need us. Your story is our story.

211 Sudderth Drive, Ruidoso, NM 88345(575) 257-8200

www.phs.org/ruidoso


The Lincoln County Community Health Council meets monthly regarding issues and events in

the health industry and is made up of a volunteer board and membership. This “behind the scenes” group includes in-dividuals and agencies collaborating to support a mission of improving com-munity health in Lincoln County and is a part of the following programs:

Lincoln County Community Health Council Mobile Food Pantry – First Thursday of every month at 2 p.m. located at the Horton Complex, 237 Service Road, volunteers and donations accepted.

Health & Wellness Guide – June. Provides updated resource directory and health related articles.

Stepping into a Better YOU! Health Fair – October. Held at the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort & Casino, this annual health fair is free to the public.

MAZE of Life – End of April/beginning of May. An interactive day for 8th graders from throughout the county & Mescalero to play games of chance, experience real life situations and choices they will face.

Light the Fire Youth Summit – Fall & Spring. Light the Fire is a leadership summit for 40-45 middle and high school students county-wide, chosen to lead the school in a positive direction.

Freshman Toolkits – August. Prevention information and promotional items in a toolkit appropriate for incoming freshman throughout the county. The intent is to “spark” conversations among parent and teen on issues like, DWI, texting while driving, responsible gaming, school-based health center services, tobacco and other substances, etc.

It is with great pleasure that the Lincoln County Community Health Council (LC-CHC) and MTD Media welcome readers to the “2014 Lincoln County Health and Wellness Guide.” It is through com-munity partner-ships that true collaboration can be accomplished. The LCCHC would like to extend our sincere gratitude to MTD Media for their openness to this partnership. The 2014 Health and Wellness Guide is a valuable resource to our community and we hope community readers will use it as such. This guide would not be possible without the local writers who filled these pages with their knowledge, the LCCHC membership, community advertisers, and MTD Media staff. We thank them for their time and efforts. Enjoy!

Shannon Dictson, Chair, Lincoln County Community Health Council

INDEXDIRECTORY LISTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 - 8

Articles:Lincoln County Medical Center improves access to care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

LCMC, clinics have fully integrated electronic health record. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Effective ways to improve quality of life at work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Balancing our life pie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Who drives your life?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Benefits of massage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The new trend in destination events . . 13

Inspired cooking in the mountains . . . . . 13

The captivating and inspiring practice of gentle yoga . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Presence in daily life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Injury prevention through yoga . . . . . . . 15

Energy medicine: A new frontier. . . . . . . 16

The all-around healer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

‘I’m so tired’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

What is palliative care? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Inspirational art at Mescalero Dialysis Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

The importance of a great smile . . . . . . . 21

Therapeutic friendship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

How to keep your veggies fresh . . . . . . . 23

Should I worry about gambling?. . . . . . . 24

Sexual health and aging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Views from a park bench. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Hiking for health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Region IX school-based health center . . 29

Tularosa Creek Discovery Trail . . . . . . . . 30

Light the Fire youth respond . . . . . . . . . . 30

2014 Lincoln County Health & Wellness Guide4

ALTERNATIvE MEDICINEAcupunctureAlpha and Omega chiropractic/ Dr. Fraley . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-5999Dr. Janet La rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-3739

BiOfeeDBAck & enerGY MeDicineLiving energies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-5855tim Seay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-770-0136

certifieD refLeXOLOGYMorgan Marr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831-521-4465

chirOprActicAdobe Day Spa & chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0515Alpha and Omega chiropractic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-5999chiropractic Associates of ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3725Dr. Jon Ogden . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3725Dr. Vickie peebles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0499White Mountain chiropractic & neurology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7970

heALinG centerShigh Mesa healing center . . . . . 575-336-7777parish health Ministries, 9a - 1p . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4170rejuvenation through natural healthcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-3739Village Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-2258Sanctuary on the river. . . . . . . . . 575-630-1111

heALth fOODS /SuppLeMentS /herBS/VitAMinS

rosemary’s ruidoso herb Shop 575-257-0333 the Wild herb Market . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0138

hOMeOpAthichard candy/DaVinci teeth Whitening . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0027 Living energies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-5855rosemary’s ruidoso herb Shop 575-257-0333the Wild herb Market . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0138

AGING & LONG TERM CARE SERvICES

nM Aging & Long term Services Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-432-2080

ALZheiMer LiVinG fAciLitieScasa Arena Blanca nursing center (Secured Alzheimer’s Living . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-4510 ASSiSteD LiVinG fAciLitieScasita de cura . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-1312Mescalero care center . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4802

DiALYSiSfresenius Medical care (renal care Group) . . . . . . . . . 575-437-9731

or 1-866-434-2597Mescalero Dialysis center. . . . . . 575-464-4802

hOMe-heALth AGencieSencompass home health & hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-0028community home care . . . . . . . . 575-258-1986

hOSpice encompass home health & hospice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-0028

LOnG terM nurSinGcasa Arena Blanca nursing center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-4510 LOnG terM cAre pLAnninGGenworth financial - Long term care planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-0596 SeniOr citiZen centerS & reSOurceSAdult protective Services . . . . .1-866-654-3219Alzheimer’s Association nM chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-777-8155 help Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-272-3900

Senior CenterS:capitan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-2640carrizozo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2121corona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-5111hondo/San patricio . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-653-4405ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4565ruidoso Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4659heritage program for Senior Adults. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6283Meals on Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4659Sacramento Mountain Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-2120 or 575-491-8091Senior coffee time . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4170

BASIC NEEDS ASSISTANCEcLOthinG/hOuSehOLD ASSiStAnce

christian Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4381first Baptist church of ruidoso Downs thrift Shop . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4611

or 575-378-1941“Joseph’s Workshop” episcopal church of the holy Mount. . 575-257-2356 Provides household items at no cost to people in need.Lincoln county humane Society resale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-8540Lincoln county Medical center Auxilliary thrift Store . . . . . . 575-257-7051Salvation Army thrift . . . . . . . . . . 575-443-0845 or 575-622-7126Sweet charity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-0041

eYeGLASS ASSiStAnceruidoso noon’s Lions club eye exams Lion Bill Allen . . . . 575-257-2776 or Lion Curt Dimberg . . . . . . . . 575-630-1947

finAnciAL ASSiStAncechavez county community Action program inc. . . . . . . . . 575-623-0014Good neighbor fund (pnM) . . . . . 575-378-4611 or 575-378-1941LiheAp energy Assistance program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-1762Lincoln county indigent fund . 575-258-1232Salvation Army. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4611

or 575-378-1941

fOOD ASSiStAnceCounty Food PantrieSLincoln county food BankRuidoso Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-8939 Open MWF 12 p.m. – 4 p.m.commodity Supplemental food program . . . . . 575-624-2271 / 575-625-2030 Every 1st Thursday on odd months Ruidoso Downs Food Bank 9 a.m. - 11 p.m. San Patricio Senior Citizen 2 - 3 p.m.Angus church of the nazarene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-8032 2nd & 4th Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. Free meal to the public every Wed. at 5 p.m.christian Services of Lincoln county inc. . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4381

County Mobile Food PantrieSLincoln county community health council Mobile food pantry ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3252 ext. 6720 First Thursday of every month, Horton Complex Center 2 p.m. capitan Mobile food pantry . . . 575-439-6731 1st Thursday of the month at the Lincoln County fairgroundscarrizozo Mobile food pantry . 575-443-4689 2nd Tuesday of every month for 55 and older;

12-2 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church; 4th Tuesday of every month, 54 and younger;

12-2 p.m. at the Assembly of God Church

Free MealSAngus church of the nazarene, Bonita park on hwy 48 . . . . . 575-336-8032 Provides a free meal on Wed. nights during the school year at 5:15 p.m. Open to anyone but geared toward teens and children.community united Methodist church (community Warehouse) 220 Junction rd. . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4170 Provides a free meal on the 3rd Tuesday of every month, from 5:30 - 7 p.m.Gateway church of christ, 451 Sudderth Dr. . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4381 Provides a free meal on Wednesday nights 5:15 - 6 p.m.

2014 Lincoln County Health & Wellness DIRECTORY LISTING


episcopal church of the holy Mount, 121 Mescalero trail. . . . . . . . . 575-257-2356 Provides a free meal on the 2nd Monday of every month, from 5:30 - 7 p.m.St. eleanor’s roman catholic church, 120 Junction rd. . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2330 Provides a free meal on the 4th Monday of every month, from 5:30 - 7 p.m.

SChool baCkPaCk PrograMfood 4 kids Backpack program capitan, hondo & ruidoso Carol Magill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-3495 or Elizabeth Potter. . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-4732 Food items sent home weekly in children’s

backpacks. Senior Food PrograMSAll Senior Center Sites offer Meals on Wheelscapitan - Zia Senior citizens . . . 575-354-2640 Lunch served M-F from 12 - 1 p.m. $2 donation for those over 60, $12.35 for

those under the age of 60. carrizozo Senior center . . . . . . . . 575-648-2121 Lunch served M-F from 12 - 1 p.m. $2 donation for those over 60, $12.35 for

those under the age of 60. corona Senior center . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-5111 Lunch served M-F from 12 - 12:30 p.m. $2 donation for those over 60, $12.35 for

those under the age of 60. hondo Senior center. . . . . . . . . . . 575-653-4405 Lunch served M-F from 12 - 1 p.m. $2 donation for those over 60, $12.35 for

those under the age of 60. ruidoso Downs Senior center . 575-378-4659 Lunch served M-F from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. $2 donation for those over 60, $12.35 for

those under the age of 60. Senior helpings Boxes community united Methodist church Maury St. John . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4575 or 575-257-4170 Home delivery once a month for ages 60 or above. Income eligibility required/limited

quantity

non-PeriShable Food boxeSAngel Ministries (J Bar J church) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6899

Food reiMburSeMent For dayCare ProviderS

children in need of Service (chinS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-9588

hOuSinG ASSiStAncecamelot place Apartment/Low income housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5897 Citizenship/Residency – Financial Guidelineseastern regional housing Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-622-0881 HUD Financial assistance for rentinspiration heights/Low income housing. . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4236 Citizenship/Residency – Financial GuidelinesLadera Apt homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-5262

MeDicAL ASSiStAncechildren’s Medical Services . . . . 575-258-3252Lincoln county indigent fund . 575-258-1232prescriptions - episcopal church. . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2356Shriners hospitals Crippled Children & Burn Institute . . . . . . . . . .1-800-237-5055 or Bobby Johnson . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-2541

ViSuAL ASSiStAncenational federation of the Blind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-8391 or 575-434-2076State of nM commission for the Blind . . Alamogordo 888-513-7967 Ruidoso 888-513-7961

BEHAvIORAL HEALTH SERvICEScOunSeLinGcOpe . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4946 / 1-866-350-2673crisis Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-634-3666Dr. kenneth c. kenney . . . . . . . . . 575-363-8293Dr. paula Land, Psychologist . . . . 575-257-2100 Dr. tonna pate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-8018 Gerald champion Sleep center Mental health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8092La frontera . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0571 Life transitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-446-5300Lincoln county community Assistance program 24/7 hotline . . . . .1-800-888-3689Lincoln county Medical center heritage program (Senior program) . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6283Mark Ovrick, LiSW, LSSW. . . . . . . 575-808-8380Merriken Bryant, MS Lpcc . . . . . 575-937-4349Mirasol counseling and consulting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4708Diane harmon, LiSW, rn . . . . . . . 575-937-6183Gary harmon, phD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-2507region iX School-Based health center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368Substance Abuse & Mental health Services of Lincoln county . 575-257-8942

SuBStAnce ABuSe SerViceSAl-Anon of ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-430-9502Alcoholics Anonymous. . . . . . . . . 575-430-9502Alianza of new Mexico . . . . . . . . . 575-623-1995the counseling center . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5038region iX School Based health center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368Substance Abuse and Mental health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-8942

SuppOrt GrOupSAl-Anon of ruidoso & Alateen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-430-9502 or 1-888-425-2666 Alcoholics Anonymous. . . . . . . . . 575-430-9502Alianza of new Mexico (hiV Support & harm reduction) . . . . . . . . . 575-623-1995Alzheimer’s Monthly Support Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-777-8155Bereavement/Grief Support . . . 575-258-0028

Gamblers Anonymous ABQ Hotline. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 505-260-7272 www.gamblersanonymous.orghigh Mesa healing center . . . . . 575-336-7777 Mescalero responsible Gaming. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-7106

or 1-800-572-1142Overeating Anonymous . . . . . . . 575-437-3761Senior coffee time . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4170Weight Watchers . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-651-6000 Woman to Woman W2W . . . . . . . 575-378-6378 Support group for victims and survivors of domestic violence

CHURCHESAngus church of the nazarene. 575-336-8032Apostolics of Lincoln county. . . 575-258-4571calvary chapel of ruidoso . . . . . 575-257-5915canaan trail Baptist church. . . . 575-336-1979capitan church of christ . . . . . . . 575-354-9015capitan Methodist church . . . . . 575-354-2288christ church in the Downs . . . . 575-378-8464church of Jesus christ of Latter Day Saints. . . . . . 575-258-1253 or 575-258-1254church Out of church . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1388community united Methodist church . . . . . . . . . . .575-257-4170episcopal church of holy Mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2356first Assembly of God church. . .575-257-2324first Baptist church of carrizozo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2968first Baptist church of ruidoso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2081first Baptist church of ruidoso Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4611first christian church . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4250the fellowship of help & hope 575-257-6899first presbyterian church . . . . . . 575-257-2220foot of the cross church . . . . . . . 575-630-8060ft Lone tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-3322Gateway church of christ . . . . . . 575-257-4381Grace harvest church . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-4213J Bar J country church . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6899Lighthouse christian fellowship. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-2539Mescalero reformed church . . . 575-464-4471peace chapel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-7075ruidoso Baptist church . . . . . . . . 575-378-4174ruidoso Branch church . . . . . . . . 575-336-1068Sacred heart catholic church . . 575-648-2853Saint eleanor catholic church . 575-257-2330Santa rita catholic church. . . . . 575-648-2853Shepherd of the hills Lutheran church . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4191trinity Southern Baptist church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-2044 trinity united Methodist church . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2893

CHILDREN, YOUTH & FAMILIES DEPARTMENT

Adult protective Services . . . . . . 575-257-92171-866-654-3219


child care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-9770child protective Services. . . . . . . 575-257-9217

1-855-333-7233

CRISIS INTERvENTIONAgora crisis center. . . . . . . . . . . .1-866-435-7166cope (Domestic Violence) . . . . . . 575-258-4946

1-866-350-2673crisis Assistance Listening Line. . . . . . . . . 1-866-314-6841/575-646-2255heal / the nest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-6378La fronterra 24/7 hotline . . . . .1-855-334-2400Lincoln county community Assistance program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-888-3689national center for Missing and exploited children . . . . . . . .1-800-843-5678national hotline for human trafficking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-373-7888new Mexico council on problem Gambling. . . . .1-800-572-1142 1-800-GAMBLERnew Mexico crisis Line . . . . . . . .1-855-662-7474nurse Advice Line . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-877-725-2552Suicide prevention Lifeline . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-800-373-TALK (8255)pregnancy crisis center. . . . . . . . 575-258-1800 Counseling and ReferralsVeterans crisis Line . . 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) Text to 838255; Online chat: veteranscrisisline.net

DENTISTRYcarrizozo Dental clinic . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2839children’s Dental clinic of ruidoso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0246Dr. patrick J. coyne. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-9053Dr. John t Bennett . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5179Dr. Dylan Midkiff . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-1136Dr. Sally Waters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3388

DentiStrY / OrthODOnticSchildren’s Dental clinic of ruidoso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0246

OrthODOntiStSDr. Michael taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5653

DEvELOPMENT DISABILITIES SERvICES

casa Alegre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4672new horizons Developmental center . . . . . . 575-648-2379 / 575-648-2120region iX early childhood Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368 (0-3 yrs. Intervention)Special Olympics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-0001

DOMESTIC vIOLENCE Police Department Non-Emergency #s ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7365 ruidoso Downs . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4001 capitan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-2152 carrizozo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2351 1-800-799-7233

Adult protective Services . . . . .1-866-654-3219American red cross nM . . . . . . . . . 1-800-560-2302/505-265-8514cOpe . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4946/1-866-350-2673heAL/Domestic Violence Shelter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-866-378-6378national Domestic Violence hotline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-799-7233 the nest. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-6378

EMERGENCY SERvICES poison control center. . . . . . . . .1-800-222-1222Support Group Victims of Domestic Violence . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4708

FUNERAL SERvICESLaGrone’s funeral home . . . . . . . 575-257-7303pcS - professional cremation Services LLc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0161

GAMINGnew Mexico council on problem Gaming . . . . . . . . . 1-800-572-1142

1-800-GAMBLERMescalero Gaming commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-7101Mescalero responsible Gaming. . . . . . 575-464-7106/575-258-9205

HEALTH CLUBSMaxtime fitness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-8282Southwest personal fitness . . . . 575-257-5902ruidoso Athletic club (rAc) . . . 575-257-4900

HUMAN TRAFFICkING SERvICESnational hotline for human trafficking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-373-7888new Mexico Organized Against trafficking humans . . . . . . . . 575-630-0015

INSURANCEAffordable care Act insurance coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-855-996-6449 www.bewellnm.com; www.healthcare.govBlue cross Blue Shield centennial care . . . . . . . . . . .1-866-689-1523Blue cross Blue Shield health plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-432-0750centennial care (formerly Salud) www.yes.state.nm.us Apply by phone . . . . . . . . . . . .1-855-637-6574 General Information . . . . . . . .1-888-997-2583Genworth financial - Long term care planning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-0596Lovelace health plan . . . . . . . . . .1-800-808-7363Lovelace centennial care . . . . .1-800-473-2757Molina healthcare . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-580-2811Molina centennial care . . . . . . .1-800-580-2811new Mexico Medical insurance pool . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-432-0750presbyterian health plan . . . . .1-866-388-7737presbyterian centennial care . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-977-2333

State farm insurance Greg carey Agent . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5366

LABS tricore reference Laboratories (Outpatient draw site) . . . . . . . 575-257-0496

LEGAL RESOURCESLaw Access nM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-340-9771Legal Aide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-541-4800

prOBAtiOn & pArOLeAdult probation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-8118 or 575-647-9934

LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPISTS & SPAS

A Body Balanced . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-0370A Body Beautiful Day Spa . . . . . . 575-630-0515A touch of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6435Bare essentials Day Spa . . . . . . . . 575-257-5966Bella Vita Day Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-9493Blue Lotus healing Arts center & Day Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4325cheryl A cook LMt . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-0935Dr. Janet La rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-3739healing Art of Massage . . . . . . . . 575-937-8576healing essence Spa & therapeutic Bodywork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-973-2092healing touch Journey. . . . . . . . . 575-354-3424Jennifer Lewicki LMt. . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-0099Jessica Sherman LMt . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-5110Libby corry LMt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1315 Linda Schreiber LMt . . . . . . . . . . . 410-353-5286Mountain Massage & healing Arts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-2304Mountain Meadows Massage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4325pamela Jamison LMt. . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6435patti Gray LMt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-2304rebecca forester LMt. . . . . . . . . . 575-937-2075rendez Vous reflexology . . . . . . 575-257-8000tim Stripto LMt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-973-8697tresa Moore-Jamison LMt . . . . . 575-937-0518Village Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-2258White Mountain Massage & Bodywork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-0935

MeDicAL SpAfusion Medical Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4772Dr. Janet La rosa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-3739

SpA A Body Beautiful Day Spa . . . . . . 575-630-0515A touch of Magic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-6435Bare essentials Day Spa . . . . . . . . 575-257-5966Bella Vita Day Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-9493Blue Lotus healing Arts center & Day Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575- 257-4325fusion Medical Spa . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4772hair We Are . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1315


healing essence Spa & therapeutic Body Work . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-973-2092Mountain Massage & healing Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-2304Sevilla’s Day Spa & Salon. . . . . . . 575-257-8982Spa Botanica . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-1111

LIFE COACHING Debbie haines-nix . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-1111

PHYSICIANS/HOSPITALS/ CLINICS/ PHYSICAL THERAPY/MEDICAL EqUIPMENT/ PHARMACIES

cArDiOLOGYnew Mexico heart institute . . .1-800-715-6644

DerMAtOLOGY tall pines Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4061

eAr, nOSe AnD thrOAtDr. timothy frost. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-437-4533

GAStrOenterOLOGY/DiGeStiVe Digestive Disease institute / Dr. frederick french. . . . . . .1-888-353-4175

575-623-1442

hOSpitALS AnD cLinicSAtrinea health . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7712capitan Medical clinic . . . . . . . . . 575-354-0057carrizozo Dental clinic . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2839carrizozo health center. . . . . . . . 575- 648-2317carrizozo Medical clinic . . . . . . . 575-648-2317corona health clinic . . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-1561Gerald champion Medical . . . . . 575-439-6100Gerald champion Sleep center and Medical complex. . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8092indian health Services . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4441La casa - family health center . 575-653-4830Lincoln county Medical center 575-257-8200region iX School-Based health center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368ruidoso public health Office. . . 575-258-3252

LABS tricore reference Laboratories (Outpatient draw site) . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0496

MeDicAL equipMent & OXYGenfrontier Medical equipment . . . 575-257-2536Linco Medical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7174

neurOLOGY nM Brain institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-434-0901

OBGYn Dr. Deborah hewitt . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7505Dr. keri rath. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-4200

OncOLOGY n.M. cancer center. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-8068

OptOMetriStS/ OphthALMOLOGiSt (eYe cAre)

family Vision center . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5029Dr. fillmore eye clinic . . . . . . . . .1-800-323-4764Dr. paul Gulbas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-915-542-0279Walmart Vision center . . . . . . . . . 575-378-5287Dr. Michelle Yang. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-437-9900

OrthOpeDicS

Dr. Douglas Dodson. . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632Dr. eric freeh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632Dr. John Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632Dr. John hughes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632Dr. Loren Spencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632

phArMAcieS/DiScOunt preScriptiOnS

pharmacy Outreach . . . . . . www.rxoutreach.orgLawrence Brothers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8020rX Outreach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-900-769-3880Sierra Blanca pharmacy . . . . . . . 575-258-2456 Walgreen Drug Stores. . . . . . . . . . 575-257-0054Walmart pharmacy. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-5400

phYSicAL therApY

Lincoln county Medical center 575-257-8239ruidoso physical therapy . . . . . . 575-257-1800therapy Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5820

pODiAtrYDr. John Anderson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632Dr. Loren Spencer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7632

priMArY cAre phYSiciAnS/fAMiLY prActice

Dr. Arlene M. Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-7712 Suzanne carden, cnS . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-0057Dr. Michael clements . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3811Suzanne Dennehy, cnp . . . . . . . . 575-630-8350Dr. frank J. DiMotta . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-1214Dr. Mary Martinez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8350Dr. Stephen Otero . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8350Dr. chris robinson . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-8350Dr. Walter Seidel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-3681

rADiOLOGiStS

Dr. Donald Wolfel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-8292

SchOOL BASeD heALth centerS

Mescalero School Based health center . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4431 ext. 1143region iX School-Based health center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368

Speech & LAnGuAGe pAthOLOGiSt

Lincoln county Medical center, Alison Barton MS, ccc/SLp . 575-257-8239therapy Associates, elissa cruz ccc/SLp . . . . . . . . 575-257-5820

SurGeOnS

Dr. tom Lindsey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-4200

MESCALERO APACHE TRIBE (Contact Numbers)carrizo Boys & Girls club . . . . . . . 575-464-6814carrizo headstart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-3492community health representatives (chr) . . . . . 575-464-9258Diabetes/Wellness center Leoma Baca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-6383Dialysis center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4827education Department . . . . . . . . 575-464-4500elderly center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-1614environmental health . . . . . . . . . 575-464-8785families’ first. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-0081fire & rescue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-3473Gaming commission . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-7103health education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-430-2790

575-464-4368MAti. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4039/575-464-1611Mescalero Boys & Girls club . . . 575-464-9212Mescalero care center . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4802Mescalero headstart . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-9183Mescalero hospital. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4441Mescalero Wic Office. . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-0932parks & recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-646-4494responsible Gaming program . 575-464-7106Systems of care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-9274 Youth Development . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-0648

qUIT SMOkINGSmoking cessation. . . . . . . . . . 1-800-QUIT-NOW Quitnownm.com

RECREATIONAL SPORTS / PARkSBasketball (Adult) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5030Disc Golf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5030hiking/Mountain Biking . . . . . . . 575-257-5030Lincoln county 4-h. . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2311Lincoln county Youth Soccer League, Manuel Medrano . . . 575-937-0881Lincoln county Adult Soccer League, Manuel Medrano . . . 575-937-0881Martial Arts, SW Personal Fitness 575-257-5902pickle Ball, Andy Carter . . . . . . . . . 575-937-3991rocks Boxing club . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-9081ruidoso Dance Academy. . . . . . . 575-257-3753ruidoso Gymnastics . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-4468ruidoso high Altitude Aquatics Swim team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4900 or Sarah Crewe . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-336-7030ruidoso Little League Baseball Nick Lawrence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-3302 ruidoso Little League Basketball . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-7141ruidoso Little League football, Boys & Girls Club of Sierra Blanca . . . . . . . . 575-808-8338Softball (Adult) page promotions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-9810Swim Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877-248-1872Village of ruidoso parks and recreation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-5030


Youth track Development program Sam Lee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-219-9502

SCHOOLS/EDUCATIONeastern new Mexico university 575-257-2120

or 1-800-934-3668english as a Second Language/ citizenship . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1730enMu continuing education . . 575-257-3012GeD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1730 GrADS program Pregnant and parenting teens . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4910Lincoln county cooperative extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2311Lincoln county head Start . . . . . 575-257-5025Lincoln county parents as teachers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-3157Mountain Meadows Massage School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4325parents reaching Out . . . . . . . . .1-800-524-5176 Statewide support Network or parents of

children with special needs and educationprepared childbirth classes/Lincoln County

Medical Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-8275 575-257-6275region iX education cooperative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368Work force Solutions . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1730

SchOOLScapitan elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-354-8520capitan Middle/high School . . . 575-354-8500carrizo headstart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-9456carrizozo Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2348cloudcroft Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-682-2361corona elementary . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-1711corona high School . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-1911corona Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-849-1911hondo Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-653-4411Mescalero headstart . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-9183Mescalero k-12. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-464-4431nob hill (ruidoso). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-9041region iX education cooperative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2368ruidoso high School . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-7901ruidoso Middle School . . . . . . . . 575-630-7800ruidoso public Schools central Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4051Sierra Blanca christian Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-630-0144Sierra Vista primary (ruidoso) . 575-258-4943tularosa elementary . . . . . . . . . . . 575-585-8801tularosa high School . . . . . . . . . . 575-585-8866tularosa Middle School . . . . . . . . 575-585-8803White Mountain elementary (ruidoso) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4220

SOCIAL SECURITY ASSISTANCEDivision of Vocational rehabilitation . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-901-7866Social Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-772-1213

SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCES FOR MALES & FEMALES

Lincoln county cOpe. . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-4946 1-800-350-2673

Lincoln county DA’s Office . . . . . 575-648-2383Lincoln county Sheriff’s Department . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-648-2341

1-800-687-2419 If you are hearing impaired please call 911ruidoso counseling center . . . . 575-257-5038ruidoso police Department. . . . 575-257-7365ruidoso rape crisis 24 hr . . . . .1-800-634-3666

STATE OF NEW MEXICO OFFICES

new Mexico Department of health www.health.state.nm.uschildren Medical Services . . . . . 575-258-3252children, Youth and family . . . . 575-257-9217environmental Dept . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3272income Support Division . . . . . . 575-378-1762Motor Vehicle Division (ruidoso) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-8550 ruidoso public health Office. . . 575-258-3252State Agency on Aging. . . . . . . .1-800-432-2080Women, infants, and children (Wic) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-3252

DepArtMent Of LABOrWorkforce connection (nM) www.jobs.state.nm.usDepartment of Workforce Solutions www.dws.state.nm.us Division of Vocational rehabilitation www.dvrgetsjobs.comJob Listings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-258-1730Labor relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-524-6195unemployment Benefits . . . . . .1-877-664-6984

huMAn SerViceS DepArtMenthuman Services Department www.hsd.state.nm.us child Support program . . . . . . .1-800-288-7207income Support Division . . . . . . 575-378-1762

TRANSPORTATIONAlamo Shuttle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-437-1472Dollar cab . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-937-6803enterprise rent-A-car . . . . . . . . . 575-257-1154Lincoln county emergency Medical Services . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-8290 Substations: Capitan, Hondo, Carrizozo and CoronaLincoln county transit . . . . . . . . . 575-378-5410Motor Vehicle Division (Ruidoso). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-378-8550 ruidoso Bus Station . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-2660SAferiDe (provided by presbyterian). . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-797-7433Shuttle ruidoso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-257-1815 (Call for Medicaid) 1-877-903-7483

Superior transport . . . . . . . . . . .1-877-735-0111 (Lovelace Salud Transportation)Z-trans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-439-4979

v.A. INFORMATIONDepartment of Veteran Services www.dvs.state.nm.us V.A. Alamogordo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-437-9195V.A. Albuquerque . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-465-8262V.A. care Line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-888-260-3274 V.A. el paso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-672-3782V.A. regional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1-800-827-1000Veterans crisis Line . . 1-800-273-8255 (Press 1) Text to 838255; Online Chat: veteranscrisisline.net

vETERINARY & PET SERvICES Becky Washburn, DVM . . . . . . . . . 575-354-2311 Mobile 575-430-8614carrizozo Animal clinic . . . . . . . . 575-648-2247cloudcroft Animal hospital . . . . 575-682-2645franklin Veterinary clinic . . . . . . 575-378-4708 Mobile 575-430-8614Mountain View Animal clinic . . 575-258-5800ruidoso Animal clinic. . . . . . . . . . 575-257-4027

SerVice DOGSLaughing eyes kennels . . . . . . . . 575-354-4342

YOGA INSTRUCTIONBlue Lotus Yoga Studio. . . . . . . . . 575-257-4325BuddhaYogaclass.com . . . . . . . . 575-802-3013high Mesa healing center . . . . . 575-336-7777Sanctuary on the river. . . . . . . . . 575-630-1111

YOUTH PROGRAMSBig Brothers & Big Sisters of Lincoln county . . . . . . . . . . . .1-855-382-2227 Boys & Girls club of Sierra Blanca . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 575-808-8338carrizo Boys & Girls club . . . . . . . 575-464-6814Mescalero Boys & Girls club . . . 575-464-9212

VIEW thE 2014lIncoln county hEAlth

& WEllnESS GuIDE onlInE At

thE FolloWInG SItES:region iX education cooperative

Rec9nm.orgruidoso Municipal Schools

www.ruidoso.k12.nm.usVillage of ruidoso

www.ruidoso-nm.govruidoso chamber of commerce

www.ruidosonow.com


Lincoln County Medical Center improvesaccess to careResidents can seek primary and specialty care from new providers

L incoln County Medical Center has suc-cessfully recruited six providers serving the county-wide delivery

system since September 2013.

“Healthy lifestyles are a result of having a regular, consist-ent relationship with a medi-cal provider,” said Al Santos, LCMC Administrator. “LCMC is committed to improving access that residents have to primary and specialty care providers so everyone can lead a longer, healthier life,” Santos added.

Dr. Benavidez, Amber Watts and Toni Hays practice at the new Lincoln County Medical Complex which opened in No-vember 2013. The new facility offers more exam rooms with a centralized, convenient location designed in an efficient, lean manner. Dr. Renteria and Chris-tina Bardsley practice in the Emergency Department inside the hospital. Rebecca Meu-nier practices at the Carrizozo Health Center in Carrizozo.

Santos said more providers are paramount in ensuring resi-dents and patients can be seen in a timely manner.

“LCMC is dedicated to increas-ing the medical staff at LCMC. We are actively and assertively recruiting additional provid-ers for General Surgery, Family Medicine with Pediatric em-phasis and medical specialties including Cardiology, Neurolo-gy, Urology and Dermatology,” said Santos.

Provider name Credentials SpecialtyJohn Michael Benavidez Doctor of Medicine Internal MedicineAbhinav Singh Doctor of Medicine HospitalistHomer Renteria Doctor of Medicine Emergency MedicineRebecca Meunier Nurse Practitioner Family MedicineAmber Watts Nurse Practitioner Family MedicineChristina Bardsley Nurse Practitioner Family Medicine/Emergency MedicineToni Hays Physician’s Assistant General Surgery

L incoln County Medical Center (LCMC) deployed an electronic health record system throughout every department

at the 25-bed hospital on May 3. This sys-tem integrates the existing electronic health record system at the hospital-based and rural health clinics.

This fully integrated electronic health record system will improve patient safety and com-munication throughout a patient’s Presby-terian Healthcare Services’ care team with an emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Electronic records enhance privacy and se-curity protection which also provide quicker access to test results for care team members.

“The electronic health record system deployment represents a significant invest-ment on behalf of Presbyterian to improve the health of the patients, members and communities we serve,” said Al Santos, LCMC Administrator. “More than 100 new devices have been installed throughout LCMC as well as 30 medication scanners and even an aquatic workstation for our

therapy pool,” added Santos.

According to the LCMC deployment site leader, the electronic health record system will complement the existing electronic health record system in the primary and specialty care clinics associated with LCMC.

“Patients treated at LCMC in the Emergency Department or admitted to the hospital will have the opportunity for all of their hospital records to be easily available to clinic staff during follow up visits,” said Gracie Rhein-gans, LCMC Site Deployment Leader.

Rheingans added that this fully integrated electronic health record system will enhance communication between the patient and caregivers and reduce duplication of tests with an emphasis on evidence-based proto-cols and safety checks.

“The creation of the system took thousands of hours by several dozen employees to ensure it will be as efficient as possible for patients,” said Rheingans.

See HEALTH RECORD, continued on pg. 14

LCMC, clinics have fullyintegrated electronic health record


Effective ways to improve quality of life at work

Whether a person is settled into a desirable career with their employer or faced with a new

and potentially fantastic job opportu-nity, 75 percent of their waking hours are spent at work. The work environ-ment can play an integral part of a person’s overall quality of life.

Quality of life at work can be devel-oped by applying small but significant changes into the daily routine, espe-cially when working indoors. Artificial light, staring at computer screens and sitting for most of the day can take a toll on a person’s mental and physi-ological well being.

TimeQuality of life at work is heavily corre-lated to time management. Americans have a tendency to wear the number of hours worked in a week like an award on the wall or badge of honor.

Conversations outside the office typically contain phrases like “I worked 60 hours last week and 70 hours the week before;” “I’m so tired, and I haven’t taken a ‘real’ vacation in years;” or “I worked all day Sunday and part of Saturday just to catch up.” The statistics on this subject show that even though people work more hours, the overall quality and ef-ficiency of the work diminishes.

Focus on quality work time. When spending that 40 hours, it should be the best quality 40 hours moving businesses forward. That is accomplished by taking inventory of time management, delivering the best work possible during busi-ness hours and finally, leaving work at work. Many large com-panies have been restricting server- and company-issued phone and computer access after business hours.

This simple practice can be enough to spark the innovation and creativity to get better work done. People are fre-quently interrupted or pulled in different directions at work. While it is impossible to eliminate these diversions, one can control on how much time is spent on them, versus how much time is spent on thoughts, conversations and actions, leading to successful time management. Working smarter, not harder can relieve stress, allow more time to take breaks or simply get more accomplished by the end of the day.

Measuring time as a ratio between busy hours versus quality work hours is the first step in quality time management with tasks a worker needs to or would like to do, versus things that don’t make the best use of professional skills and exper-tise.

Improving comfort at the workplaceImprovements in seating, lighting, temperature, music choice, workspace and desk arrangements help workers feel better while under stress to complete projects. Employers offering benefits that can help ease employee worries such as flexible time for doctor’s appointments and working with school schedules enhances quality of work life. Daycare, flex-ible hours, work-from-home options and monetary bonuses help solve problems for many employees and improve their ability to concentrate and produce while at work.

Simple practices of bathroom and kitchen cleanliness can make working in the office more comfortable. Live trees and plants also improve aesthetics. Discomfort at the workplace can be a distraction that takes away from productivity and overall job satisfaction. A workplace atmosphere that is se-cure, clean and comfortable demonstrates basic respect for the people and the company.

Encouraging healthy habitsEmployers who support nutrition, fitness and stress relief of employees reap the rewards of a higher-quality workplace environment. Studies suggest that employers who keep people moving around by getting them to walk to different floors for meetings or hiring health coaches to teach about healthier living improve employee retention and productiv-ity. Offering healthier fresh foods in the break and confer-ence rooms are things employers can do to support better nutrition.

Allowing employees to take breaks before meetings to organize their presentations and review agendas contribute to more productive time spent during meetings. Employ-

Continued on next page


ers who offer facilities for employees to change clothes so they may take walks on their breaks or lunch hours allow employees to enjoy time during the workday to relive stress, get some exercise and return to work feeling invigorated and ready to make the most of the remaining workday.

Many companies are embracing a rising trend of schedul-ing occasional wellness days for employees by bringing in a massage therapist, chiropractor or yoga instructor to the workplace for a wellness experience. Supervisors now schedule group walks outdoors, gym breaks or spa days for interested employees. Activity and healthy diets have proven to improve employee creativity and productivity.

AdaptabilityA large cruise ship, with all its technology and luxury, is still hard to turn.

From a small business perspective, the ability to move faster than the competition is often a company’s sole method of survival. Streamlining contractual issues, de-veloping fewer approval processes, can be rather exciting and addictive because people find the ability to move at speed within an industry is critical to digital intelligence.

Resilience, adaptability and flexibility are traits employers are looking for in staff, those who can walk into a chang-ing work arena and adapt to the changes. Small-business owners face a constantly and rapidly changing workplace environment. How adaptable people are in the workplace reflects key personality traits, as well as key competencies for success. Having the necessary intellectual, creative and behavioral flexibility to handle what each workday brings will evolve into a greater overall quality of life experience in the workplace.

Submitted by Eugene Heathman

QUALITY OF LIFE, continued from page 10

Balancing our life pie In our fast-paced, multitasking world the importance of

keeping our life balanced often goes unnoticed until we begin to feel “stressed out,” “on edge,” “irritable,” “tense”

– often experiencing concentration problems or forgetful-ness, increased sick days, sleep and/or eating problems, excessive worry, physical tension, headaches, relationship issues and/or work related problems, etc…

Maintaining balance in our lives is crucial for a healthy quality of life. Let’s think of our lives like a pie with multiple pieces and each piece represents a different area of our life needed for overall balance. These pieces include physical, emotional, spiritual, psychological, relationship, work, etc. All pieces of our pie are equally important to our general well-being and when we put too much attention on one area the other areas tend to be neglected which can lead to an imbalance result-ing in stress related health problems.

To balance our lives we can begin right now doing things that are beneficial for each piece of our life pie such as:

Emotional health: Positive self-talk, inspirational reading, gratitude journaling, have fun daily, meditation, relaxation, exercise, day trips, etc.Physical health: Physical activity, self-care, massages, regular medical checkups, etc.

Psychological health: Enjoy the outdoors, journal, learn something new, hobbies, travel, enjoy non-material things, etc.

Relationship health: Have fun, spend time with people you enjoy, keep in touch with friends and family, etc.

Spiritual health: Time in nature, con-nect to a higher power, partici-pate in a spiritual and/or religious group, listen to uplifting music, read something inspirational, etc.

Work: Organize work space, visit with co-workers, decorate with personal items, say no to extra responsibilities, etc.

Doing things daily from each piece can help us maintain balance. With a balanced life, we can have our pie and eat it too!!!

Contributed by: Misty G. McArthur, MSW, LISW, is a behavioral health therapist for the Lincoln County Community Assistance Program (LCCAP) offered by the Lincoln County Medical Center. LC-CAP provides professional and confidential counseling for Lincoln County residents of all ages. To schedule an appointment and/or for immediate assistance call the LCCAP 24-Hour Hotline at 1-800-888-3689.


A re you in the driver’s seat of your life or is life driving you? Life coaches ask this pointed question of clients every day in our fast paced world. It is an important

question to KNOW your right answer. You ask, “So who wants to know? And what the heck is a life coach anyway?” A life coach and coaching in general is a bit tricky to describe. Often it’s easier to describe what life coaching is not. So let’s have a quick look at how it compares to counseling, therapy, and a few other disciplines you might be more familiar with.

Imagine you’re learning to drive a car, in fact a shiny red Ferrari. That’s how I would like my life to be described.

You can hire a counselor, a coach, and a few other similar pro-fessionals. How generally do they compare to each other?• atherapistexploresyourpastexperiencesofdrivinga

sports car• acounselorlistenstoyouranxietiesaboutdrivingareally

fast sports car• amentorshareshisownexperiencesofdrivingahighend

sports car• aconsultanttellsyouwhattodonomatterwhatkindofcar

you drive• alifecoachasksyouquestionsthatleadyoutodiscoverhow

Who drives your life?

See LIFE COACH, continued on page 14

Benefits of massageMassage therapy is a medium to channel mind, body,

spirit balance. When getting a massage your thera-pist will take the time assess your body and use spe-

cific protocols addressing areas of tension and discomfort. When integrating specialized, relaxing massage techniques, along with using 100 percent pure therapeutic grade es-sential oils, the client will experience deep relaxation, stress relief, balanced energy, increased blood flow, lymph stimula-tion and a restoration of peaceful calm throughout the body.

Experience a pain- and stress-free life with new found aware-ness of renewed transformation into a more balanced life.

Therapeutic Healing Massage


According to The Knot.com, traditional weddings cost couples on an average of $27,000. With the ever increas-ing cost of planning a traditional wedding, 10 percent of

the 2.2 million couples who marry each year plan “destination weddings” – a 200 percent increase over the past decade. This trend, formerly thought of as the exclusive domain of celebrities and the ultra-rich, has become a popular choice for couples.

If you are considering a destination wedding it may sound more expensive, but actually it isn’t. Especially, if you use the professional services of a wedding planner or an event venue that specializes in destination weddings.

You can spend as little or as much as you want. The idea is to cre-ate a memorable occasion that will carry you into a happy mar-riage. “If a guest can go to your wedding and feel as if they have stepped into something very personal and learned a story about two people, that’s what makes a wedding much more unique.” Says David Tutera, celebrity wedding and party planner.

Tutera goes on to say that the same hold true for corporate events, meetings and training opportunities. Destination pro-fessional events have proven to be fertile ground for learning,

The trend in vacationing today is about learning and doing something worthwhile while you are away. Granted, we all like to relax, read a good book and soak up some rays but

ultimately we like to feel like our time is well spent too. Experi-ential vacationing is the new benchmark for time well spent and absorbing the local color in a new country; state or even a new community can be very restorative.

New Mexico has one of the richest palettes when it comes to food diversity and ingredients native to the area. Just think of blue corn tortillas from northern New Mexico, hot green chile from the vast fields of the Hatch Valley and traditional flat red cheese enchiladas with a fried egg on top from Las Cruces.

Now that your taste buds are awake, enter the first of its kind in Lincoln County, a culinary learning experience in the cool pines of Ruidoso. Drive into the rustic coyote fencing entrance sur-rounding the serene garden setting and enter the blue double doors into a professionally appointed commercial teaching kitchen. Be tutored by a Culinary Institute of America trained chef and experience an intimate evening of culinary instruction spent with ten of your new best friends. Enjoy the sounds, the aromas and the flavors of inspired mountain cooking in Chef JR Contway’s Culinary Kitchen at Sanctuary on the River.

The new trendin destination events

Inspired cookingin the mountains

See DESTINATION EVENTS, continued on page 14


bonding and building company loyalty. Even in times of corporate budget cutbacks, some of the best value for the training dollar can be found at small corporate retreat centers rather than the larger hotel operations of the past. The days of conventions of 500 to 1000 company em-ployees still happens but the trend is now toward smaller focused groups with a definite goal in mind to be accom-plished or at least determined at the end of their destina-tion event experience. Small to mid-sized communities that offer a diverse menu of activities and recreation are prime candidates for destination events.

to drive by yourself if it’s a VW or a shiny red Ferrari

From this description, you might think that coaching sounds pretty lame, and for learning how to drive a sports car it would be a poor choice. Just as using a coach for mental health issues or substance abuse is not appropriate nor is it ever encouraged.

Each of these disciplines is very useful in different circum-stances. Driving a Ferrari requires a specific skill set with defined rules for the fast lane, so you would probably be best served hiring a consultant or a mentor, or better yet, someone familiar with the European autobahn to teach you how to maneuver at high speeds.

On the other hand, your life has no set rule book. You are different from the person sitting next to you. You have your own unique needs, desires and goals. Also, you have far more knowledge about your life than anyone else would.

That’s why coaching works. You provide your own right answers during the life coaching relationship along with confirmation and direction from your coach. Given this, you are much more likely to act on your own suggestions than on someone else’s vision of your life anyway. Ulti-mately, taking personal action is the only long lasting way to truly change your life. So, start your engine.

LIFE COACH, continued from page 12

DESTINATION EVENTS, continued from page 13

Rheingans acknowledged that there will be about 40 peo-ple on LCMC’s campus prior to and after May 3, to assist staff with the transition.

“I think it is important to note that the care LCMC employ-ees and contractors provide is the same as it was prior to the May 3 deployment. The collection of all patient information will now be readily available to all medical providers and caregivers in order to improve the quality of care, efficiency and reduce healthcare costs in the long run,” said Rheingans.

HEALTH RECORD, continued from page 9

The captivating and inspiring practice of gentle yoga

For the curious or new person to yoga, some of the ad-vanced disciplines require greater core body strength and sometimes years of learning. Gentle yoga, taught by

Andrea Reed, provides a less intense yet invigorating yet re-laxing journey to self-discovery driven by one’s own ability.

Like a refreshing fresh cup of herbal tea, gentle yoga takes place in a peaceful natural setting which provides partici-pants the tools for inner peace and well-being on a journey to overall health and quality of life with very simple tech-niques in a healing environment. Gentle yoga classes are

designed for those who want a softer, nurturing, slow-paced, well-supported and relaxing practice including carefully orchestrated movements, controlled pressure and range of motion exercises.

Gentle-style yoga classes serve a variety of distinct needs such as those with movement limitations, or stiffness due to lack of activity. Those seeking stress-reduction or weight management benefit from a gentle yoga approach.

White MountainChiropractic, Inc.

New and larger o� ce location(Same building next door to previous offi ce)

Dr. Bruce Klinekole, DC, DACNB

500 Mechem Drive, Suite BRuidoso, NM 88345(575) 257-7970

O� ce Hours:Mon, Tue, Wed:8:30 - 12:00 · 2:00 - 5:30� ur:9:00 - 11:00Fri:8:30 - 12:00 · 2:00 - 5:00


Presence in daily life

My main philosophy is that Presence or Aware-ness Heals. In my yoga classes I teach this in every breath. We start with a meditation checking in

with the body and all the sensations there. Next we move on to the mind, watching our thoughts and noticing what is happening there. And finally noticing our emotions and mood, just assessing what is true for you in that moment. This practice helps to bring the attention fully into the pre-sent moment. We continue this practice throughout the class, mostly focusing on noticing what is happening in the body as we move it in different ways, as well as noticing what thoughts come up to distract us and what emotions bubble up in each pose.

This is one practice that is really training the mind to be present in every single moment of the day. If you are practicing presence when you leave the house, you will be right there when you lock the door – not thinking about what’s coming next, or worrying about that phone call you just fininshed – but right there, turning the key in the lock. So later when you get where you’re going you won’t fret over “Did I lock the door?!”

One of the most important times we can use presence is with our friends and loved ones. Think back to the last time some-one really and truly listened to you – eager to hear what you were going to say next. When that happens we feel really cared for, and very safe. This is the gift you can give to your loved ones. By being truly present with what they are saying

– not rushing to tell them about the time that happened to you, or thinking about something else while they’re talking.

Try it next time a friend is telling you a story. Look at them talking. Breathe deeply. Listen to the words they’re saying and hear the emotions that come through the story. Feel the care in your heart for your friend. You are doing Love-asana, my favorite yoga pose.

Submitted by Shiva Reinhart

Injury prevention through yogaA s an adjunct to your physical practice of running,

walking, biking, hiking, or other sport of choice, yoga excels at working out the kinks that accumulate over

time from making the same motions over and over again.

When we use the same muscles, in the same way repeatedly it can lead to overuse injuries or strain.

I stretch after my workout. Isn’t that enough?Usually a quick stretch is not enough to release tight muscles and bring breath and energy to them. Taking five minutes to stretch after a workout is better than nothing, so please keep doing it! What makes yoga different from your basic stretch-ing is the focus and the breath awareness.

As athletes, you are asking your body time and again to ignore the aches and pains and keep going. In yoga, we do the opposite. We attend in exquisite detail to each little ache

and pain, send our breath to those areas, consciously relax the tight spots and let go of the control we’ve been holding over our bodies for so long. Over time your body can lose sensitivity and awareness, from pushing through the pain for so long, that finally when the moment of injury comes, we push through even that and end up in a bad place.

Through yoga awareness of breathing into our bodies, we breathe life back into those places we ignored during that long run. And awareness is one element that allows our body’s own healing mechanisms to come forth. When you can actually feel the tight places that threaten to become in-jured, the nervous system and brain can take that knowledge of those painful places and adjust your movements or call for rest when needed which can keep you from becoming injured in the first place.

Submitted by Shiva Reinhart

Photo courtesy of Daisy Yokley


Throughout history, many cultures have believed in the existence of some sort of energy that permeates all living organisms, including human

beings. This is universal life energy that circulates throughout the body and in an energy field surround-ing the body. Health, according to this model, is the harmonious flow of life energy, While imbalances in this flow (due to unhealthy habits or emotions, for ex-ample) may result in disease. Healers in many cultures have used their hands to transmit energy to the sick in order to balance the flow of life energy.

While these ideas may sound foreign to our ears, con-ventional medicine has long used machines that emit or record various forms of energy to

diagnose or treat disease. For example, x-ray and laser de-vices give off different kinds of energy, while ECG’s and EEG’s record the electrical activity of the heart and brain.

Now, therapies such as Reiki, Healing Touch/Therapeutic Touch in which the practitioners use their hands to transmit subtler forms of energy, not easily measured by current

scientific methods, are being shown to induce relaxation, reduce pain, speed wound healing and even boost immune function.

Energy medicine is available at High Mesa Healing Center in Alto. Speak with Barbara Mader, RN, HTP, RM to learn more about this modernistic program that clears, aligns and bal-ances the human energy system through touch. 575-336 7777, www.highmesahealing.com.

Submitted by Barbara Mader, RN, HTP, RM, High Mesa Healing Center, 133 Mader Lane, PO Box 834, Alto, NM 88312.

Energy medicine: A new frontier

Creating an inclusive community for conscious evolution of Being through the integration of body, mind and spirit.

PO Box 834 133 Mader Lane Alto, NM 88312

575-336-7777 Barbara Mader Owner Proprietor

Monthly Full Moon Gatherings Equinox and Solstice Celebrations Massage and Healing Touch Tai Chi Pilates Bookstore Supplements and Souvenirs Enjoy walking the labyrinth.

Available at any time. [email protected] www.highmesahealing.com


The Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic, Inc.

575.257.1800439 Mechem Drive • Ruidoso, NM 88345

www.RuidosoPT.comLydia C. Radosevich, P.T.

Zeke Morales, MSPTTanya Barlow, PT, MS

Call for yourFREE CONSULTATION

(Most Insurances Accepted)

The ONE & ONLY Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic• Backorneckpain• Shoulder,wristorhandproblems(CarpalTunnel)• Jointreplacement(knee-hip-other)• Sportsinjury• Work-relatedinjury• Automobileaccident• Fibromyalgia• Lymphedema(swelling/fluidretention)• Neurologicaldisorders(i.e.stroke,Parkinson’s,MS,etc.)• Post-mastectomyorre-construction• Limitationsinmobility• Problemswithbalanceorfalling• Incontinence• Headachesormigrainesthatlimityourdailyroutine• TMJ(jawlockingorpain)• Knee,ankleorfootproblems(flatfeetorPlantarFasciitis)• Arthritis• Cardiacrehabilitation• Chronicrespiratoryproblems

If you experience any of the above, you need physical therapy.

Pain Relief Without DrugsPlease come by to tour our clinic and meet our staff.

FREE TRIAL on the Turbosonic J

The all-around healerMany people don’t realize that physical therapy is

capable of treating more than just sprains and strains. Did you know that physical therapy can also help with

incontinence, lymphedema and fibromyalgia? Here are a few quick facts about how physical therapy can treat these various problems and so many more.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, more than 13 million US citizens have incontinence (women and men), but this is not a condition that anyone should have to permanently endure. A physical thera-pist can help you by teaching you exercises that will target the pelvic floor muscles and strengthen them back to their normal state to support proper bladder function.

Lymphedema, which can cause significant swelling of the upper and lower extremities due to the buildup of excess lymph fluid, is caused by damage to the body’s lymphatic system (such as during cancer treatment). A physical therapist can start off by providing manual lymphatic stimulation and then if necessary fit these patients with compression sleeves that keep the swelling down. They will also teach the patient exercises and motions that will stimulate lymph flow so build up is prevented. The HIVA-MAT, a machine which produces electromagnetic pulsed energy, available at the Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic, does an amazing job at pushing fluid and inflammation out of the tissue and joints.

Fibromyalgia affects almost 5 million people in the United States; 80 to 90 percent are women. This condition doesn’t usu-ally consist of only one problem; it is often a series of things such as widespread pain throughout the body, headaches, memory problems, fatigue, depression, and anxiety just to name a few. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, exten-sive research supports the use of education, aerobic exercise, and strengthening exercise to help improve fibromyalgia. Un-fortunately, fear of pain often keeps people from beginning an exercise program. Your physical therapist will teach you how to interpret pain signals – and how to manage and decrease your symptoms – through a customized exercise program. Exercise does not have to be harsh! There are many gentle stretches and light exercises that will greatly benefit a fibromyalgia patient.

From headaches to cardiac rehabilitation, physical therapy is an important treatment option to consider for any condition you may be facing. If you are unsure about whether or not physical therapy can help, call your local physical therapist and set up a consultation with them to see what they can do for you.

Lydia C. Radosevich, PT, owner of The Ruidoso Physical Therapy Clinic, has been a physical therapist for more than 30 years and believes that pain is not a lifestyle. Call 575-257-1800 to set up a free 15-minute consultation with one of our therapists. Or email [email protected] or visit our website at www.ruidosopt.com.


‘I’m so tired!’My oldest daughter has one of the toughest jobs in the

world – a stay at home Mom! They have five children ranging in age from six months to 13 years of age.

Needless to say one characteristic of a busy parent involves sleeplessness! The problem with counting sheep, as a guarantee against insomnia, is that babies can’t count!

In the United States, approximately 30 - 33 percent of the population has difficulty sleeping on occasion, while 10 - 12 percent identify chronic sleep problems (Hauri 2000). Both older adults and women are more likely to report symptoms of insomnia, as are those who are less educated or unemployed, separated or divorced individuals, and people with a medical or behavioral health illness (Sateia & Nowell, 2004).

These statistics are significant because of the severe conse-quences for those who have it. Sleeplessness is associated with daytime fatigue; greater use of medical services; use of over-the-counter medication and alcohol; functional impair-ment; work absenteeism; impaired concentration and memory; decreased enjoyment of relationships; and increased risk of medical illness, traffic and work accidents. Although studies indicate little impairment by insomniacs on tasks that rely on automatic or habitual processing, major impairments were seen on tasks requiring attention and mental effort. Thus, insomnia is

a debilitating disorder for a large number of people, affecting both social and occupational roles.

There are two main approaches to physical treatment of insomnia: pharmacotherapy and bright light therapy. I would suggest you discuss the pros and cons of these methods with your physician.

Numerous studies have demonstrated the usefulness of CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) in treating insomnia. It is not only useful, it is also quite cost-effective for the client and can be accomplished with ease and in a timely manner. It usually involves certain components: sleep education, sleep hygiene, sleep restriction, stimulus control, and cognitive therapy. Cogni-tive interventions are based on cognitive therapy used with depression and anxiety. Studies have also confirmed that CBT delivered in different modalities (i.e., face-to-face, individual sessions, group sessions) were all very effective when delivered by specially trained professionals.

James D. Martin is a licensed professional clinical counselor and the program manager of the Heritage Program for Senior Adults at the Lincoln County Medical Center. Heritage is a program designed to improve the quality of life for the older adult. Confidential screenings are available by appointment. If interested please call 575-257-6283.

“Insomnia is what you have when you lie awake all night for ten minutes!” — Milton Berle


What is palliative care?A s they say, “Nothing is certain but death and taxes.” Yet

Americans seem to somehow understand and accept the complicated issues mandated by the IRS more than they

do the natural processes of palliative care and dying.

As technology and medicine have progressed over the centuries, humans have made a goal of avoiding death and prolonging life. However, it is becoming more evident that oftentimes, pro-longed life comes at a high cost to the patient – quality of life.

Palliative care is a powerful remedy, offering specialized medi-cal care that focuses on relief from symptoms, pain, emotional insecurities, illness and/or treatment side effects. Palliative care is different from hospice; palliative patients can be anyone with a serious, complex illness, whether they are expected to recover fully, to live with chronic illness for an extended time, or to ex-perience disease progression. Hospice patients are required to have a prognosis of six months or less and are no longer receiv-ing curative care. This means palliative care patients do not have to be dying, rather merely seeking relief from pain and suffering.

Traditional medical treatments are centered on curative care and on fixing a specific medical problem or disease. Palliative care is patient-focused, providing care wherever the patient is most comfortable. This can be in a private home, assisted living facility, hospital or clinic. A team of specialists, including pallia-

tive care doctors, nurses, therapists and social workers, provide a variety of treatments and constantly monitor pain levels, stress, fatigue, nausea and more. The focus is on the patient as a whole.

Americans today are often in the position of being under-treat-ed for their pain while being over-treated in curative interven-tions. Because palliative care is so closely associated with dying, many patients feel that accepting this type of care is equivalent to accepting death. And while death should be accepted as a natural process, palliative care in no way hastens death.

It is critical that patients are able to understand the options available to them. Research has proven that for the elderly, aged 75 years and older, focusing on palliative care and avoiding aggressive treatments for cancer, improves quality of life, and in fact, usually prolongs life an average of 30 days. This shows that aggressive, curative treatments are not always the best choice for patients, yet in our society, they seem to be the most common.

Take a few minutes and talk with family members and friends about final wishes, advanced directives and palliative care. There are resources available in southeastern New Mexico to assist residents with medical and palliative care options.

Submitted by Lyn Shuler, MSW, Volunteer and Bereavement Coordina-tor, Ruidoso Home Care & Hospice


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Inspirational art at Mescalero Dialysis Center

Mescalero Dialysis Center is the proud owner of an original quilt that was

produced by Vickie Conley.

Vickie Conley a local artist made the quilt when she was inspired by a story she heard about a neigh-bor donating a kidney to another neighbor. Conley won numerous ribbons for the quilt and then wanted to donate it to a group that would appreciate it as much as she does.

Conley and Mickie Reynolds RN Man-ager of the unit got together for Vickie to exchange the gift.

This beautiful quilt, depicting two people sharing one kidney, is on display at the Mescalero Dialysis Center. The staff of the center purchased a plaque with the story about Conley’s inspiration written on it.

Mescalero Dialysis Center plans to enjoy the quilt and then pass it around to other units to let them enjoy the work that went into the quilt.

Conley has an education in physiology and made the quilt with an anatomical kidney. She had dyed the fabric, showing the sunrise and a new day. The quilt is fabulous and should be viewed by all.

‘A Gift of Life’

After hearing a story on the radio about someone who donated a kidney to a neighbor in need, I was inspired to make this quilt to honor the courage and generosity of all living tissue donors. My past

as a scientist inspired me to craft an anatomically realist kidney, overlaid with translucent images of donor and recipient – each with one good kidney. I hand-dyed the fabric in the background to make a sunrise-inspired land-scape, one of the many benefits of being given the gift of life.

— Vicki Conley

TTTTTT HHH EEE KKK III DDD KKK

WWW.MTDRADIO.COM1086 MECHEM • RUIDOSO,NM 88345 • (575) 258-9922 • FAX: (575) 258-2363

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings

to the mind, � ight to the imagination and

life to everything. — Plato

Listening to music produces proven bene� ts, including:Increased happiness; healthier brain functions; lower pulse rate and blood pressure; improved sleep quality; stronger

immune system; reduced pain, anxiety and depressionIT’S JUST GOOD FOR YOU!


D id you know that the first thing most people notice is your teeth and smile? A beautiful smile improves appear-ance and promotes dental health. Additionally, correctly-

positioned and shaped teeth can make us look younger and accents our best facial features.

A smile you can be proud of is an obvious benefit of orthodon-tic treatment. People who are happy with their smile are more confident with themselves and with the people around them. It is no wonder that parents want to provide their children with the best chances of success and that adults seek treatment for personal and business reasons.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child’s first visit to an orthodontist take place at age seven. This allows for early identification and treatment of significant dental and skeletal imbalances of the teeth and developing jaw structures. Why age 7? This is when the first molars and incisors usually erupt, establishing the bite. During this time beginning treatment of orthodontic problems between the ages of 7 and 10 can bring about the best result and the least amount of time and expense. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but an evaluation gives an orthodontist an opportunity to monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.

Benefits of OrthodonticsBeyond the cosmetic advantages of straight teeth, there are important medical and psychological benefits as well. Properly aligned teeth and jaws may alleviate or prevent physical health problems. • Straightteethareeasiertoclean,andlesslikelytodecay• Orthodonticallycorrectedteetharelesspronetochipping

and wear• Ideallypositionedteethlessenthechanceofgingivitis,

recession, and gum disease• Agoodbiteresultsinlessstrainonjawmuscles/joints.In

extreme cases, misalignment of the jaw joints can some-times lead to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck.

• Earlypreventionmaybelesscostlythanthedentalcarerequired to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.

Psychological Benefits• Increasedconfidence• Improvedself-acceptanceandwellbeing• Enhancedattractiveness

The importance of a great smile

See SMILE, continued on page 23


Therapeutic friendship“I never try to get even with my enemies. I just treat my friends a little better!” — Milton Berle

U sually when I think of getting ‘therapy,’ my thoughts immedi-ately turn to my need for a ‘safe

friend.’ The characteristics of friendship

are nearly identical to the qualities found in a good clinical therapist.

Here are three qualities in friendship that mirror those of a good therapist:

1. A good therapist is a mentor: Being a mentor involves care, concern, constructive criticism, and compassion. A good mentor is someone who has the good intui-tion to nudge us toward healing with an ‘edge’ that says, “I care.”

2. A good therapist has a healthy stubborn streak: At times when you want to give up, it’s a thera-pist’s job to refute that notion with encouragement that says, “Oh, no you don’t!” A truly dysfunctional situation is like the movie ‘Antz’ where the main ant character be-moans to his therapist, “I feel so in-significant!” His ant therapist then responds, “Congratulations! You’ve got it! You are insignificant!!” A good therapist (as opposed to an ‘ant’ therapist) has the education and understanding that can help us make sense of our emotions, thoughts and life experiences.

3. A good therapist helps you reframe your perspectives: Usually when you’re depressed you will have a tendency to see the ‘underside’ of the tapestry of life (like looking at the knots and threads underneath a knitted garment). When you’re depressed you need someone to help you see the ‘upside’ of life. It’s like Shel Silverstein’s prose entitled, “Falling Up”:

I tripped on my shoe lace – and fell up

Up to the rooftops – up over the town –

Up past the treetops – up over the mountainsUp where the colors blend into

the soundsBut it got me so dizzy – when I

looked aroundI got sick to my stomachAnd I threw down!”

Aren’t there times when you need someone in your life who can help you ‘fall up and throw down!?’

Life is about companionship. We are created to walk alongside others in this life. Even though there are ‘down’ times when we are convinced it is best to make life a ‘solo run,’ the truth is there’s more value in a kind word and a kick in the rump from a friend than with only a kind word. There is absolutely nothing in this world that can replace loving, accepting human contact. Don’t get me wrong, there is no antidote that will ever completely free us from the pain of loss or the ‘bumps and bruises’ that accompany life’s journey. However, the broken road of life is also populated by fellow travelers willing to lend a listening ear and lift a heavy heart.

Why not give someone a chance to lend a helping hand to you? Don’t you need a ‘safe’ objective friend who’s willing to walk in when it seems every-body else is walking out?

James D. Martin is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor and program manager of the Lincoln County Community Assis-tance Program and the Heritage Program for Senior Adults at the Lincoln County Medical Center. Heritage is a program designed to improve the quality of life for the older adult. Confidential screenings are available by appointment. If interested please call 575-257-6283.

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Ruidosop.575.258.0028f.575.258.2648


How to keep your veggies freshThe peak growing season is just around the corner and

soon we will be visiting farmers markets, local grocers, our own gardens or maybe even a neighbors’ garden to enjoy

the wonderful produce so many of us like to consume. But once we bring home this wonderful produce, how do we keep it to maintain its peak freshness and healthy nutrients?

Most fruits and veggies are easily bruised when not handled carefully. If you are harvesting, treat the produce carefully. Toss-ing fruits and vegetables into baskets or boxes may not leave visible bruises and damage, but decay can soon begin under the skin. Some produce will not store well if it is bruised.

Understanding how to properly store produce is important to keeping your taste buds happy. The Produce for Better Health Foundation recommends the following:• Keeptomatoes,unripemelons,pears,peachesandnectar-

ines at room temperature to ensure better flavor. They will ripen and become sweeter. Once they have ripened you may store these products in the refrigerator, if you slice them they must be refrigerated after two hours. Sometimes as fruit ripens it releases gas, which may impact other fruit near it. It is a good idea to keep different fruit separate from one another to maintain freshness, as long as possible and avoid the ripening process taking place too quickly.

• Berrieswilllastlongerifkeptinarefrigeratoratorbelow40 degrees Fahrenheit, they will also have better flavor if they are consumed within three days of purchase. They should be washed in cold, running water just before eating. Cherries can be handled in this same manner. Grapes will taste best within the first few days of purchasing, but can be kept in the refrigerator up to two weeks. Citrus fruits, oranges, grape fruits, lemons and limes can be stored for a few weeks at room temperature, but last longer if stored in the refrigerator.

• Vegetablesofferdifferentstoragemethods.Cornwilltastebest when eaten right away. Storing corn in the refrigera-tor for any length of time turns the naturally occurring sugar into starch. Leafy greens should be refrigerated and eaten within two days. Green and yellow beans should be refrigerated and used within three to four days. Lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower and cucumbers need to be refriger-ated and consumed within one week. Celery, cabbage and bell peppers can be kept one to two weeks. Onions, garlic, potatoes and winter squash will last several weeks in a cool, dry place. Keep potatoes away from light to prevent greening on the skin.

Keep storage areas clean and well ventilated to help increase quality and food safety. All produce should be stored un-washed, unless it appears very dirty from the field. Washing too soon removes nature’s protective coating and the produce will begin to break down faster and become mushy. Potatoes store

better if they have a fine layer of soil left on the skin to reduce moisture loss and prevent the infestation of water-borne bacte-ria or fungi (this is why it is important to wash potatoes before peeling them). Lettuce and leafy greens should be washed right away and refrigerated, because they will remain crisper.

A study conducted through the USDA found that 96.4 billion pounds of edible food is wasted by retailers, food service busi-nesses and consumers annually, equating to about 122 pounds of food thrown out monthly by a family of four. Of those 122 pounds, 24 pounds are fruits and vegetables. By following these simple guidelines, you will not only extend the life of your produce and save money, you will enjoy the summer’s bounty even more with its fresh tastes.

Rainbow Wrap Recipe* • 1teaspoonofchoppedchives• 1wedgeoflaughingcowcheese• Combinechivesandcheeseand

spread this over a whole wheat tortilla.

Filling the tortilla with crunch and colorful veggies:• Redtomatoesandredbellpeppers,slicedthinly• OrangeCarrotsandorangebellpeppers,slicedthinly• Greenavocadosandgreenlettuce,slicedthinly• Purplecabbage,slicedthinly• Rollupthetortillaandenjoy

*Adapted from Super Healthy Kids

Submitted by Marsha Palmer, County Director, Lincoln County Exten-sion Service. The Lincoln County Extension Service is a field office of NMSU and is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer and educator. NMSU and USDA cooperating. If you have any questions call 648-2311 or email [email protected].

Here’s how to get started:You don’t need a referral from your family dentist to make an appointment. We encourage you to take the initiative to schedule an examination if you think your child can poten-tially benefit from orthodontic treatment

So, orthodontic treatment can mean more than just a great smile. And that’s something you can smile about!

Submitted by Kenneth W. Childress, DDS, The Children’s Dental Clinic Of Ruidoso, 721 Mechem Drive, Ruidoso, 575-257-0246.

SMILE, continued from page 21


Should I worry about gambling?In general, gambling is seen as a social activity and not rec-

ognized as a potential addiction. Often, gambling does not pose a problem in a person’s daily life. However, for approx-

imately 125,000 adults and approximately 6 percent of youth in New Mexico, gambling disrupts their personal and work lives, affects their finances and leads to a need for treatment.

Problem gamblers dedicate more time, thoughts and money toward gambling. Problem gambling affects all aspects of a gambler’s life – family, job, hobbies, finances, etc. According to the National Council on Problem Gambling, one in five gamblers have attempted suicide. Problem gamblers have the highest rate of suicide among addictions. Approximately three quarters of all problem gamblers have symptoms of depression. Many problem gamblers resort to crime to repay their debts. These crimes are usually non-violent, including tax evasion, forgery and burglary. Additionally, approximately 50 percent of spouses of problem gamblers have been a victim of domestic violence.

Problem gambling doesn’t only affect the gambler. It affects their families, peers, coworkers and communities.

There is help!

The Mescalero Responsible Gaming Program is dedicated to providing education and awareness to all citizens.

• Advocateforproblemgamblersandtheirfamilies

• Providinginformationandreferralstocertifiedtherapyand case management counselors

• Providinggamblingsupportgroupmeetingsavailablefor individuals and their families

• Educateandprovidecommunityoutreachprogramsforthe general public, businesses and local school systems

• ProvidecontactstoGamblersAnonymousand GamAnon

Guidelines for responsible gambling• Neverborrowmoneytogamble

• Alwaysgamblewithothers

• Neverbetmorethanyoucanaffordtolose

• Donotgambleasawaytocopewithemotionalorphysical pain

• Learnaboutthepotentialforaddiction

• Learnthewarningsignsofproblemgambling

• Includeavarietyofrecreationalactivitiesinyourlife

• Setlimitsonhowmuchtimeandmoneyyouspendongambling

• Donotskipmealsormedicationwhilegambling

Problem gambling warning signs• Preoccupationwithgambling

• Needtogambleincreasingamountsofmoneytoachieve the desired excitement

• Repeatedunsuccessfuleffortstocontrolgambling

• Restlessorirritablewhentryingtocutdownorstopgambling

• Gamblingasadistractionfromproblems

• Afterlosingmoney,returnsthenextdaytotrytorecouplosses

• Liestofamilymembersandothersregardingtheextentof gambling

Mescalero Office: IMGR&C, 287 Carrizo Canyon Rd.Mescalero, NM 88340, 575-464-7106

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While most physicians are willing to treat the effects of physical aging, other than my wife, I haven’t run into many that are willing to deal with the sexual effects of

aging. “He just doesn’t seem to be that interested anymore” is a common statement that I hear on a regular basis. Mind you, most women also admit that they aren’t very interested in sex either.

Why? They have succumbed to society’s theory that as you grow older sex isn’t that important anymore. Even if you haven’t read about the physical and mental benefits of an orgasm; you have to admit that the orgasm isn’t something that most people willingly give up. The orgasm has benefits that include better mental well-being, anti-depressant properties, and increased ability to handle the daily stressors that everyone experiences.

Why give up the orgasm? It takes too much work and “to be honest, sex is pretty much a chore that I feel I have to try to accomplish on a monthly or semi-monthly basis to keep him happy.” Orgasms become increasingly difficult as we age.

From the guy’s standpoint- “I’m still very much in love with her, but sex isn’t as stimulating as it was when she was younger. I have to try harder to help her reach orgasm and that isn’t easy as my stamina isn’t like it was when I was younger.”

From the gal’s viewpoint- “Sex is something that doesn’t come easy anymore. He doesn’t give me the foreplay I need to achieve an orgasm on a regular basis.”

Gals- give the guys a break. We know that stamina decreases along with the decrease in testosterone (T) production. If he has issues, have him get his T checked! Most docs just check to-tal testosterone, while free T is the number that matters. Show me a guy that has problems with his libido, decreased energy levels, loss of muscle mass, and high cholesterol and I’ll show you a guy that has low or borderline low free testosterone.

What about the ladies? As women age and hormone levels decrease they lose erectile tissue. What does this mean? Breast mass is lost, the clitoris isn’t as pronounced during sex, and the G spot loses volume. Sounds like the perfect storm for less pleasure during sex, right?

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has a bet-ter than 75 year safety history; so I am very comfortable recom-mending it to my patients. Will that fix all issues? BHRT may re-vitalize vaginal mucosa and may bring new life to erectile tissue but it won’t fix some of the issues that occur during the aging process that are exacerbated by the trauma of childbirth. While vaginal deliveries are the method of choice (if it is an option) for bringing a new life into the world, they don’t do wonderful things for the vagina in terms of insuring that everything snaps back into place. Many women have told me that sex is never the same after the first kid boldly blazes a trail into a new world through the same organ that is used for sexual pleasure.

Sexual health and aging

Continued on next page


views from a park bench… The first unmistakable signs of our summer season are

the warm weather. Passersby strolling in short sleeves, sounds of squealing kids coming in through open

windows – are greeted with an exuberance reserved for Super Bowl victories in other communities. A gentle delirium overtakes us at the end of a long winter and unreliable spring season. Appointments are cancelled and offices grow empty throughout the afternoon as everyone conspires to spend as much time as possible outdoors in the sunlight and visit one of your local parks.

Sooner or later we all wind up at one of the local village parks. Impromptu games take root. Walkers & health enthusiasts are packed on Grindstone Trails/Pathways and The Links walking trail as if it was 5:00 p.m. on a southern California freeway. At the local delis, there’s a run on potato salad, coleslaw, chicken, watermelon, lemonade and bratwurst as thousands of picnics in the park are planned for the summer season.

Summertime marks the opening stanza of exercise outdoors, an eruption of high spirits that goes on until frigid winds blow in with equal suddenness some day in November. Through the warmer months, parks become the local version of a town square or marketplace. They’re the places to which we naturally gravitate, certain that we’ll run into neighbors and friends.

For almost everyone in our country summer makes up a dis-proportionate share of our best memories – many unfold on the playgrounds, ball fields, swimming pools, flower gardens and benches of Village of Ruidoso parks. One might say that memories are a key product of public parks and recreation agencies – just as much as the number of tulip builds planted or Little Leaguers suited up. It’s a point worth raising at the next public hearing of your park budget, even if quantifiable data is hard to come by. The whole room will nod in agreement, with smiles breaking out and happy sighs filling the room.

The Village of Ruidoso invites each and every one to take a

moment, and build a memory from the view of a park bench.

The unmistakable link between village parks and human memory first hit me when visiting the Millennium Park in Chicago. I was overwhelmed by the place, given the wave of publicity on the internet that came with its grand opening. It felt overdesigned in many areas and had a lot of “look at me” features and items and too few comfortable sites to just sit and enjoy from a park bench. However, this location was an-other memorable moment taking place in a park for me. I will never forget my view from a park bench in my most favorite season of the year (summer time).

Submitted by Walt Bratton, former director of Ruidoso Parks & Recrea-tion Department

That’s right. Things get stretched! If you have issues with in-continence or urine leak, surgery may be the right choice for you. Is there a less invasive option that will also help make sex more pleasurable? It’s called the O-Shot or Orgasm Shot.

The short procedure involves taking a small amount of your blood, activating your body’s natural healing processes, and injecting it into several places in and around the vagina. The G-spot becomes more prominent and the vagina is a little bit tighter. Sex is more pleasurable for you again and he doesn’t have to work near as hard to achieve the “impos-sible dream”. Need some help in the bedroom? Look up www.oshot.info and then schedule an appointment!

Disclaimer: Dr Stephen Rath, MD, DABA is a board certified anesthesiologist, Air Force flight surgeon, FAA AME, paramedic, ski patroller and pilot as well as the owner and medical direc-tor of Fusion Medical Spa located in Ruidoso. He is committed to making great changes before he is committed. Comments or questions? His email address is: [email protected].

SEXUAL HEALTH, continued from page 26


Hiking for healthH iking in and around Ruidoso remains

a best-kept secret. While fitness trails at Cedar Creek, Mescalero and The

Links are popular, the area is also rife with longer and more strenuous hikes in the Smokey Bear District of the Lincoln Nation Forest and the BLM-managed Fort Stanton Recreation Area and even around Grind-stone Lake. Hiking is inexpensive, family-friendly with benefits for the body and the soul. Gazing out from the Crest Trail for miles in any direction is a sublime experience and one that is easily accessible to anyone.

In addition to the emotional impact, hiking also has important physical perks. It exercises every major muscle group of the body, leads to improved cardio-respiratory fitness, may lower the risk of certain cancers, high cholesterol and high blood pres-sure and, as an activity that burns up to 370 calories an hour (for a person weighing 154 pounds), is a fun addition to a cross-train-ing regimen. The benefits for children are similar and include sleeping better at night and awakening a curiosity for nature.

Several websites offer the first-time hiker advice. The National Park Service’s “Hiking Tips” lists several crucial tips, among them not to hike alone, bring plenty of water, remember the sun-screen and a basic first-aid kit, check the weather forecast, know your route and do not overestimate your capabilities. Visitors to the area are often taken aback (literally and figuratively) at the effects of high altitude on even the slightest amount of physical effort. Sudden thunderstorms are also a factor in the mountains, so it is important to be prepared for rain and sudden drops in temperature. Use a map, but recognize that distances on paper can be deceptive. It is best to stop in at the Smokey Bear Ranger Station for advice on trails and conditions before going on even a short hike.

Other sources for information on hiking are ENMU-Ruidoso, the Ruidoso Valley Chamber of Commerce and the internet. ENMU-Ruidoso typically offers classes in hiking. This summer’s class is an all-day Saturday class that lasts eight weeks beginning June 2. The college’s community education department offers Kids’ College that also incorporates physical activity during the month of June. More information on either program may be found by going to www.ruidoso.enmu.edu.

Whether as part of a long-term exercise program or a short af-ternoon respite, a hike is firstly an opportunity to be immersed in the outdoors and, if only for a moment, to gain a grander per-spective from an insular life. By hiking with friends and family, the connectedness to nature, in turn, extends out to others. Visi-tors and residents of Lincoln County are indeed fortunate to be able to walk outside and be surrounded by the grandeur of the mountains, forests and open plains, but this gift comes with re-sponsibility. It is easy to take advantage of our unique landscape by hiking, but remember to do it in a responsible, informed and respectful way for your sake and those who follow you.

Submitted by Lisa Maue, ENMU-Ruidoso

Photo courtesy of Lisa Maue


Region IX Education CooperativeSchool Based Health CenterRegion IX (REC IX) School Based Health Centers (SB-

HCs) provide physical and behavioral health care and health promotion for students in the REC IX member

schools. The Region IX SBHC, which is located on the campus of Ruidoso High School, offers students medical attention when they need it most. The fact that the SBHC is located on the school campus where students can access care easily is a real plus. SBHCs strive to keep students healthy and in class.. The SBHC is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of providers including nurse practitioners, Certified Prevention Special-ists, social workers, counselors, psychiatrists and other health professionals. These integrated, accessible and high-quality

services add measurable value to the health of students.

The SBHC coordinates the use of Medicaid reimbursement funds and various grant awards to provide a broad range of health services for all school aged children in the seven mem-ber school districts that include Capitan, Carrizozo, Cloudcroft, Corona, Hondo, Ruidoso and Tularosa. The SBHC is located on the Ruidoso High School campus between the gym and the football field and staff based at this site provide services including sports physicals, health education, substance abuse prevention and counseling at all of the Ruidoso schools, as well as in the other member school districts. The SBHC brings the

doctor/counselor to the school, improving access to critically needed care right where children learn and grow. Students may ac-cess physical, behavioral or substance abuse services at the SBHC either on their own or by referral from their school nurse, counse-lor, a teacher or a parent/guardian. Although the SBHC asks parents to sign written con-sents for their children to enroll in the SBHC, according to New Mexico State Law, children over 14 years old can access some services with their own informed consent.

Some of the benefits of the SBHC are:• Decreasedabsenteeismandtardiness.

Fewer classes are missed in order to seek medical care. Parents miss work less often to take their children for appointments

• Declineindisciplineissueswhenstu-dents have access to behavioral health services.

• Samedayornextdayappointmentsavailable

• Studentsmorelikelytoseekbehavioralhealth services

• Supportforstudentswithchronichealth problems

Students perform better when they show up for class, healthy and ready to learn. SBHCs help students avoid health-related ab-sences and support them to succeed in the classroom. It is well accepted that healthier children make better students. The REC IX SBHC is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. For more information, call 575-630-7974.

Region IX Education Cooperative is a service agency committed to supporting students to be Successful in the real world.

Because Healthy Students Learn Better!

Call 575 630-7974 for information or an

appointment—Same Day appointment available

Region IX School Based Health Center

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We provide the following services for students: Sports Physicals Acute care for illnesses Well-child Check-ups Medication Management Behavioral Health Services Prevention, Education and Youth Engagement Intervention and Substance Abuse Counseling Support for Parenting and Pregnant Teens

Staffed by Caring Professionals!

www.rec9nm.org

We see all children, regardless of Medicaid

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Increasing physical activity among adults, teens and children at the Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation is the principal goal of

the Tribe’s Community Transformation Grant. A number of initiatives are underway including healthy eating campaigns and improving walk-ability within the dispersed residential neigh-borhoods and the Mescalero Village area.

One of the most important projects is ex-panding on a trail idea that was created by the Sovereign Nations Service Corps (Ameri-Corps and tribal members), managed by the Mescalero Fish Hatchery. The initial Headstart Trail provided a safe way for Headstart School students to take fieldtrips to the Fish Hatch-ery. The success of that project has inspired other tribal members to extend the trail to the skatepark, tribal store and the Mescalero Community Center.

In preparing the stakeholder working group to consider community health in trail design, RTCA introduced the Parks, Trails & Health Workbook pilot project. This workbook guid-ed the partners through a process whereby they better understood the critical health issues facing Mescalero Apache people, and learned about trail design that could address physical, social and psychological well-being.

In addition, the Sovereign Nations Service Corps, along with community members

completed Rural Active Living Assessments (RALA) and Physical Activity Resource As-sessments (PARA) to determine the condition of sidewalks, paths, parks and playgrounds in and near Mescalero Village.

In addition to extensive resource assessment work, the Sovereign Nations Service Corps has reached out to the community through focus groups, surveys and interviews to get local perspectives on the trail idea. Tori Marden, Community Transformation Grant Coordinator and a Mescalero native, considers it a success that elderly tribal members and young people have given her ideas and positive comments about the proposed trail. One idea is to have natural play areas along the trail such as rocks for climbing, logs children can crawl through and teepee frames. “People really bought into the idea because of our culture and how as young kids those were things we played with when there were no playgrounds,” she said.

Using local talent and materials to construct the Tularosa Creek Discovery Trail, the Mescalero Apache envisions multiple gen-erations using the trail, where there will be designated fishing areas, natural playscapes for children and shady oases for adults, con-necting people to nature and to each other.

Submitted by Attila Bality, National Park Service

Light the Fire youth respond

This fall, 35 high school students and 10 adults from around Lincoln County participated in the seventh

annual Light the Fire Youth Summit. Stu-dents from high schools in Ruidoso, Capi-tan, Carrizozo, Mescalero and Hondo at-tended. The mission of the Summit was to engage youth, build leadership, develop existing assets, and increase community awareness among the youth of Lincoln County. The summit was a collaborative effort of the Lincoln County Community Health Council, Region IX Education Cooperative, the Lincoln County DWI Prevention Program, the Department of Health, Mescalero Responsible Gaming, and the Mescalero Prevention Program.

The summit consisted of the morning spent on the Bonita Park Challenge Course. After lunch, several breakout

sessions were developed to address this year’s theme - Per-severance. One group was chal-lenged to develop visual media that could be printed as posters to hang in schools throughout the County. Possible topics were texting and driving, substance abuse, unity, bullying, and judging others. Some great posters were created from this activity. Each high school was given two to share with all of their students. Participants are encouraged to “give back to their communities” and this activity is a wonderful example of their leadership skills and philanthropic natures.

Many of the students worked with school counselors during Red Ribbon Week at their schools to bring awareness to alcohol and drug abuse awareness.

Others are very active in student council, SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and various extracurricular activities. A middle school summit was also held in the fall with 40 participants.

Participants, students and adults, welcome the opportunity to share information about the summit and its ongoing pres-ence in our community. This is a group that is making a difference for all of us.

Submitted by Linda Hand

Tularosa Creek

Discovery Trail

Rivers, trails and conservation

assistance program


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