Block Captain Conference Encourages Participation in Community Policing

The annual Block Captain Conference takes place Saturday, May 5 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon at the Albuquerque Police Department Training Academy, 5412 2^nd St. NW. If you’re a current Block Captain or are interested in becoming one, this event is for you. Sessions on community-oriented policing, engaging with neighborhood associations, tackling neighborhood challenges, and success stories, will be part of the agenda. To learn more, contact Laura Kuehn at: lkuehn@cabq.gov.

Absentee and Early Voting for 2018 Primary Election Coming Up

The Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office reminds everyone that the 2018 Primary Election is June 5, and absentee voting starts Tuesday, May 8. Early voting starts Saturday, May 19 and continues through Saturday, June 2. You can learn more about early voting, absentee voting, and voting locations at: https://www.bernco.gov/clerk/elections.aspx

Summertime in Old Town Kicks Off Friday!

The annual Summertime in Old Town entertainment series kicks off its 2018 summer season this Friday, May 4! This much-anticipated series of outdoor concerts at the Gazebo features numerous local bands and entertainment ranging from mariachis to classic rock, jazz and blues to traditional New Mexican music! Visit: http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/historic-old-town/summertime-in-old-town to see a complete list of musical acts scheduled.

Recycling Drop-Off Sites Available Throughout the City

Don’t have a recycle bin where you live? Don’t let that keep you from recycling. There are over a dozen recycle drop-off sites around the city, and likely one close to where you live. Not all recycle drop-offs accept the same thing, so learn where these locations are and what recyclables they accept, by visiting: https://www.cabq.gov/solidwaste/recycling/recycling-dropoff

Ideas for Home Safety in the Summer

Keeping our homes safe and secure is very important to us all, and although the tips below are simple and most of us use them, it’s always good to be reminded. Here are some tips for home safety and security:

·        Keep your door locked at all times. It’s such a simple thing to do that often, we forget to do it. But most crimes are crimes of opportunity, so if your door is locked, it’s one less way for a thief to gain entrance.

·        In the spring and summer, remember to keep your garage doors closed and locked, and if possible, keeping windows closed too.

·        If you have a swamp air conditioner cooler that works with slightly opened windows, remember to close your windows and lock them when you leave your residence.

·        Get to know your neighbors, and keep an eye out for each other. Residential burglaries often happen during the day when many people are at work, so having a good relationship with at-home neighbors is a good idea.

·        If you live in a house with shrubbery and bushes around the exterior, keep them trimmed so that they don’t cover windows and make it easy for someone to break in.

·        If you’re going out of town for longer than a week, have your mail picked up by a trusted neighbor or have it held by the post office; and have your newspaper delivery temporarily stopped, if applicable. And don’t post photos of your vacation on social media until you get home. This is another indicator that your house is empty.

·        Keep an eye out for strange cars parked in your neighborhood, or if you see the same unknown people walking or driving by your home. Often, these are people “casing” your home to see if they can break in.

·        If possible, install a metal safety door. If you have a door with a peephole, use it each someone knocks on your door.

·        Inspect your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors every 6 months to ensure the batteries are charged. Most people do this in conjunction with the spring and autumn time changes.

Check The City’s Pollen Count Daily

As the weather transitions from spring to summer, allergies are still a problem for many residents, particularly with the recent heavy winds. You can check the daily pollen count at: http://www.cabq.gov/airquality and don’t forget to bookmark the page and check it often, as it is updated frequently.

Neighborhood Association Meetings Across Town

·        Holiday Park Neighborhood Association, Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00 p.m., Holiday Park Community Center. E-mail: holidayparkneighborhood@gmail.com for more information.

·        Southwest Alliance of Neighborhoods, Tuesday, May 1 at 6:00 p.m., Alamosa Community Center. E-mail: johnnyepena@comcast.net for more information.

·        Paradise Hills Civic Association, Tuesday, May 1 at 7:00 p.m., Paradise Hills Community Center. E-mail: phcassoc@gmail.com for more information.

·        West Old Town Neighborhood Association, Wednesday, May 2 at 6:00 p.m., Los Duranes Community Center. E-mail: bengpl150@comcast.net for more information.

·        Victory Hills Neighborhood Association, Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m., Loma Linda Community Center. E-mail: eebrecht@yahoo.com for more information.

·        District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods, Wednesday, May 2 at 6:30 p.m., Horn YMCA. E-mail: davidh.d7@comcast.net for more information.

·        Downtown Neighborhood Association, Wednesday, May 2 at 6:45 p.m., Lew Wallace Elementary. E-mail: holly.siebert@gmail.com for more information.

·        West Side Coalition of NAs, Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m., Don Newton Taylor Ranch Community Center. E-mail: jfworrall@comcast.net for more information.

·        Silver Platinum Downtown Neighborhood Association, Thursday, May 3 at 5:30 p.m., Imperial Building Community Room. E-mail: rc@silverplatinumdowntown.org for more information.

·        Raynolds Addition Neighborhood Association, Thursday, May 3 at 7:00 p.m., Washington Middle School Library. E-mail: silverlopez@aol.com for more information.

·        Eastridge Neighborhood Association, Saturday, May 5 at 2:00 p.m., Los Altos Christian Church. E-mail: rob@r2adc.com for more information.

·        Santa Fe Village Neighborhood Association, Sunday, May 6 at 2:00 p.m., Taylor Ranch Library. E-mail: judahjam@yahoo.com for more information.

Free Citizen and Consumer Trainings Available Through The Office of the Attorney General

Did you know that the Office of the Attorney General offers many free trainings and workshops to the public? These trainings range from Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying to Financial Literacy to Suicide Awareness and Prevention, and many more. For information on what trainings are coming up and how to register, visit: http://www.nmag.gov/community-outreach.aspx

Barelas Rail Yards Grand Opening This Sunday

The Rail Yards are opening up for the summer season this Sunday, May 6! It’s the fifth year of the Market, and there will be local art, fresh produce, great food, and entertainment! This event is free and open to the public. Visit: . http://www.cabq.gov/culturalservices/the-yards to learn more.

Volunteer Opportunity with Albuquerque Reads Literacy Program

The Albuquerque Reads Program is a terrific non-profit organization sponsored through the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce and Albuquerque Public Schools, and is seeking volunteers. The program empowers kindergarten students to improve literacy skills. Literacy tutoring is provided three times per week to underprivileged kindergarten students citywide. To learn more about volunteering for this program, visit: http://www.abqreads.com/Default.aspx

ONC Toolkit Offers Resources for Keeping Meetings Fun and Interesting

Having trouble keeping people at your meetings, or getting them to attend? The Office of Neighborhood Coordination (ONC) offers you some resources and suggestions for making meetings more fun and interesting, and keeping people coming back. Visit: www.cabq.gov/office-of-neighborhood-coordination/news/making-meetings-fun-and-interesting to see the complete article.

Vanessa Baca

Neighborhood Communication Liaison, Office of Neighborhood Coordination (ONC)

City Council Department

(505) 768-3331 Office

www.cabq.gov/neighborhoods

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