When a town experiences a tragedy, it’s hard to choose just the right way to express grief, loss, hope and healing. Some organize concerts, some curate art shows, some write songs—and, in the wake of last summer’s tragic drunken driving accident that killed four teens (Rose Simmons, 15, Julian Martinez, 16, Alyssa Trouw, 16, and Kate Klein, 16) and left one injured, Santa Fe has tried just about every method it can to help the hurt.

The latest in a string of memorials, in the company of The Heart of Santa Fe music compilation, is a sculpture by local artist Bates Wilson. The piece was commissioned by John Simmons and Gwyn Madeen, parents of victim Rose Simmons after the grieving parents saw Wilson’s artwork at the Recycle Santa Fe art festival in November. The outer rim of the heart has been left blank, and at a ceremony this Saturday, family and friends of the teens are invited to engrave their thoughts and messages on the metal. (Click the image above for a larger version.)

The permanent home of the sculpture, according to Warehouse 21 Executive Director Ana Gallegos y Reinhart, is to be determined. “At some point in the near future,” she writes via email, “the winged sculpture will be installed at Cathedral Park at the current yet temporary memorial site.”

SCULPTURE DISPLAY AND ENGRAVING

Noon-5 pm
Saturday, March 13

Warehouse 21
1614 Paseo de Peralta
989-4423

This week, City Finance Director David Millican announced his resignation. Since Millican says an article in the New Mexican on his resignation “didn’t quite get the quote right,” we thought we’d let him offer some parting thoughts in his own words (edited a little, for clarity).

Without further ado, here’s David Millican on Santa Fe, the economy and the city’s plans to restructure itself:

When I got here in 2008, the real important issues then were getting oriented to the city, installing a new financial system and starting to work on finance department strategic planning, teamwork and customer service issues.

That shortly gave way to three big projects: dealing with the downturn and trying to come up with budget solutions that would minimize the impact on services, the community and on employees. The second one was the preservation of the College of Santa Fe, and the third one was getting a set of water rates passed that resulted in the city getting its first-ever AAA bond rating. Those all took a lot of time. Continue reading »

Over at the Santa Fe Review, science writer George Johnson has no kind words for the Santa Fe New Mexican’s continued (mis)handling of a story that’s gotten national attention: That is, the claims of this city’s vocal and surprisingly influential anti-wi-fi lobby.

In two stories today, Tom Sharpe, in his usual style, digs up some good detail. For instance, that wi-fi foe Bill Bruno—last seen ranting and waving a copy of GQ at a City Council meeting—”sometimes wears a silver-coating nylon veil to protect his brain from wireless signals.”

But, as Johnson writes, Sharpe and his editors have completely ignored their responsibility to the truth.

Continue reading »

David Millican

Farewell: David Millican, whom SFR interviewed just last month, is reportedly stepping down from his post as Finance Director for the city of Santa Fe. From today’s New Mexican*:

[Millican] said his decision to leave is partly based on results of a peer review by top administrators preparing to restructure the city organization.

Not sure what that means, exactly, but SFR put a call in to Millican this morning.

Free Stuff: Santa Fe County reported last night that it has received “336 recycle bins from the Aluminum Company of America Recycle bin grant through the New Mexico Recycling Coalition.” Complicated syntax aside, YOU, yes you, can get a free bin! More after the jump. Continue reading »

By Chloe Davis, SFR Intern

With drippy old-school punk sounds, Low On High brings a breath of fresh air to punk rock fans in Santa Fe. While the band’s sound doesn’t fall far from the tree of the prettier of Velvet Underground’s songs, one could say that Low On High is more active and energetic; it induces wild dancing and head bobbing, rather than shoe-gazing.

With LOH, Santa Fe filmmaker Jon Moritsugu and his wife Amy Davis have formed a band that tests its audience but is simultaneously totally listenable. Now this mixture of old-school and nu-wave plays at Corazón on Sunday along with Venus Bogardus, Rainbow Arabia and Broken Water as part of Corazón’s SXSF Transit Music Fest (Rainbow Arabia and Broken Water are on their way to Austin for SXSW).

Learn more about LOH and get the details on the performance below the jump.

Continue reading »