Friends of Bandelier Announce

Limited Edition Pendleton Blanket for Bandelier's 90^th Anniversary

November 2005

February 11, 2006, is the 90^th birthday of Bandelier National Monument. Bandelier wanted to commission a 90^th Anniversary Commemorative Blanket from Pendleton Mills. They asked us to partner in the venture. After a summer and fall of anguish over the design and colors, we've put in an order to Pendleton for a limited edition of 250 blankets. Blankets are 64 x 80 inches at $225 until January 1, $250 thereafter. Pendleton estimates delivery in mid-January 2006; it will take us a while to distribute. Hopefully by February 11, the anniversary date.

To order, contact us by e-mail or at PO Box 1282 Los Alamos NM 87544. Note (September 2006): The blankets are SOLD OUT!

As part of the 90^th celebration, the Bandelier rangers held contests for a slogan and logo. The winning slogan: Experience a timeless landscape and legacy. Logo winner is Joani Cannon of White Rock. Joani has a distinguished 30-year record of creating logos for patrons like the Los Alamos Concert Association, Los Alamos Arts Council, and Family Strengths Network. Actually, the contest was a little sad. Chief of Interpretation Lynne Dominy showed me the almost 100 logo entries. Some were beautifully designed and presented, with pots as part of the design. Unfortunately, they were not OUR pots (most had Mimbres-type decorations). The contest rules clearly stated that designs must represent Bandelier, so the judges had to turn thumbs down. Here is the logo that will appear on all tangible items associated with the anniversary.

Chief of Interpretation Lynne Dominy has developed a lengthy list of events for the anniversary year. She's engaged the Los Alamos County Art Center, Historical Society, and County Parks Division as partners, and is searching for more sponsors. She asked the Friends to consider sponsoring a Recycled Art Show, butterfly count, and Fall Fiesta with Pueblo food and demonstrations. Los Alamos National Bank has generously agreed to sponsor two editions of the Bandelier Newspaper, the Tuff Times. LANB is by far the most generous donor to worthy causes in Los Alamos (probably in all northern New Mexico). They've helped us help Bandelier for all our 18 years.

The exhibit area in the Visitor Center is almost 40 years old. The Bandelier rangers want to update it to current standards. Lynne devoted much of her time on designs for remodeling the exhibits at the Visitor Center. Her team held several focus group meetings, including one where they just invited visitors off the interpretive paths. Construction was supposed to start in Fall of 2006. Unfortunately, because of hurricane disasters and other strains on government funds, the administration ordered federal agencies, including the National Park Service, to reexamine their budgets. Bandelier's plans are now uncertain until the park gets its revised budget.

In September, the rangers opened all the Cerro Unit for non-mechanized day use. The unit is along State Road 4 up by the cross-country ski track. Most was closed to the public since the park acquired it in 1977. Before they could open the area, the rangers had to complete an environmental assessment and hold public meetings; the public expressed a strong desire for trails. Unfortunately, Bandelier does not have the resources to install or maintain any new trails. Instead, they installed a route up Cerro Grande that they just marked with plastic diamonds. Within two months, hikers formed a nice trail just by walking along the route. The views are great from Cerro Grande! The route concept seems to work well; hikers hope Bandelier will consider more.

The rangers planned a controlled burn in the Cerro Unit. The area needs it so badly, but recent weather made it too wet. I certainly never expected to complain about rain!! Time window for the burn extends into early December, otherwise it has to be postponed until 2006.

These two projects don't sound like much, but each took several years to plan and carry out. Park Service paperwork is truly awful.