Top 10 Albuquerque Free and Cheap Summer Activities

1. Click the refresh button on life by visiting these beautiful city pools. http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/recreation/swimming.

They normally cost 25 cents for kids between 0-5 y/o, $1.50 for kids 6-12 y/o, $2 for teen and $2.25 for adults.

2. This summer, the libraries have an all ages reading program, including for adults. It’s a free program where you could win prizes as well participate in various activities. Register in any public library in the city. http://abclibrary.org/summerreading

3. Visiting the Biopark is like arriving at an oasis in our high desert heat. This place borders the Rio Grande and spans the historic Barelas neighborhood from Central Ave. toward the South. Its a great place to explore all of New Mexico’s plants and animals, visit marine life through the inside of an aquarium and get to know more about the entire animal kingdom. Buy your tickets during the morning of June 20th, between 6-10AM for free entry the entire day. Normally single entry for these tickets cost $9 for adults and $4 for kids (3-12 y/o).

4. During the summer Old town is the perfect place for a family outing or a date with your partner. Here you can sit (or dance) next to the plaza’s gazebo listening to the best live regional music. Get to know the upcoming events this summer and don’t forget to visit all the small businesses, cafes and restaurants. Our media team recommends Old Town Pizza for a great food find, as well as Santísima to find the most creative, local-made gifts.

5. If you have children and want something to do that free and fun, there’s no better place than Silva Lanes, an air conditioned building where kids get to bowl for free all summer long. This summer register your kids at these lanes.

6. Summerfest, includes street parties on the most famous highway in the U.S., Route 66 (Central Ave.), as well as in the Heights, concerts in Downtown, and on the Westside. Concerts that are free, diverse food truck fare, carnival atmosphere, what more do you want? If you have come to this before you know you can’t miss it. This year the list of must see acts in nob hill, downtown, and other parts of the city include Sheila E, Mala Maña, Miguelito and many more. For more information visit  http://rt66central.com/rt66summerfest.html & Summerfest websites.

7. The Rail Yards Market project has finally re-awoken the historic heart of the city that  for many years was considered mostly abandoned. This place means a lot to the neighborhoods surrounding this area, especially to the descendants of the rail yard workers. The purpose of this project is for folks to experience the essence of our city, to build a strong community and robust local economy. Everything that’s sold here is local and the stages are filled with local talent from our region. It kicks off at 9AM every Sunday till November. For more info visit: railyardsmarket.org as well as barelas.net

8. The trees, the smoke of a good and secure fire, the sounds of creeks entering the Pecos River, pretty relaxing no? Camping is an excellent way to get away from this heat and the stress of the city. Get to know everything about the best camping sites in the state here. Our team recommends sites around Pecos, NM in the Santa Fe National Forest, especially Jacks Creek, for more info visit: http://www.forestcamping.com/dow/southwst/safecmp.htm#jacks creek

9. Not to far away from our city is the Sandia Crest park. At 10 K feet and almost 20 degrees cooler than downtown, this place is another oasis for the senses, while also a great place to learn about our ecosystem in which we live. These mountains are known as “Sky Islands”, and are important to the biodiversity of our region. We include a map to get there: http://bit.ly/1lDiDGQ

10. With longer days come more opportunities to watch the sunset at the edge of the river amidst the Bosque. Visit the Bosque’s refreshing microclimates and refresh yourself as you stroll and ponder the beauty of life. Visit this site to prepare your visit: http://www.cabq.gov/parksandrecreation/open-space/lands/paseo-del-bosque-trail

The post 10 Actividades Gratis o Baratas este Verano en Albuquerque appeared first on Encuentro Nuevo Mexico.

Flickr: “Incandescence” by selva

Por Javier Trejo

Como un navegador de Pathways, el invierno es una temporada en la que mis clientes y sus familias enfrentan problemas de alto costo de energía. A nadie le entusiasma abrir sus recibos de luz y gas en la época de frío. Por eso, a mis clientes les aviso que durante la temporada de frío hay que tomar en cuenta los gastos de la energía, considerar qué recursos existen y maneras de bajar el consumo de energía. Quisiera compartir en este blog algunas ideas simples para ahorrar energía y algunos recursos para ayudar con los cobros. Además quisiera invitarlos a participar en un taller sobre este tema en Diciembre.

Hay diferentes maneras de reducir el consumo de energía pero este blog se enfocará en las más asequibles y prácticas. Por ejemplo, Instalar un termostato programable y bajarlo un grado puede ahorrarte 3% en tu cobro mensual. Cuando no hay nadie  en casa, asegúrate de apagar el calentón o bajar la temperatura significativamente. Otra recomendación para mantener la casa caliente de manera eficiente, es cerrar las puertas de los cuartos que no se estén usando a menos de que haya alguna tubería en esos cuartos y exista el riesgo de que se congelen. Para aprovechar la luz y el calor natural del sol, abra las cortinas o persianas de las ventanas ubicadas hacia el sur.

Cuando los recibos de luz son mas altos de lo que podemos solventar, hay algunos recursos que nos pueden ayudar a cubrir esas cuentas:

• LIHEAP (Programa de Asistencia de energía Para Hogares de Bajos recursos) es un programa federal que ayuda con cobros de gas, luz, leña, propano y carbón. La solicitud y requisitos están disponibles en su oficina local de Servicios Humanos y en la internet.
• The PNM Good Neighbor Fund ayuda con un recibo de PNM, el programa es administrado por el Storehouse.
• Heat NM empieza el 1ro de enero y es un programa que ayuda con recibos de NM Gas y es administrado por el Salvation Army.

Todos estos programas son recursos que se pueden utilizar una vez al año, lo cual quiere decir que una vez que los hayas utilizado, no podrás solicitarlos hasta el año siguiente. PNM y NM Gas ofrecen recibos presupuestados (budget billing) con lo cual el monto mensual de tu recibo se mantiene en un monto fijo y no fluctua de mes a mes. Además, en Nuevo México hay una medida que se llama moratorio de invierno donde si uno está al corriente con sus pagos, no le pueden cortar el gas o la luz en el periodo del 15 de Noviembre al 15 de Marzo, aunque de cualquier modo uno tiene que pagar por esos meses.

Además de estos recursos, Encuentro y el Centro Legal Para Inmigrantes de Nuevo México van a ofrecer un taller sobre el uso eficiente de energía el miércoles, 12 de Diciembre de 5:45pm-7:00pm en Encuentro. En el taller abordaremos de manera más profunda las medidas que podemos tomar para reducir los recibos de energía, vamos a tratar con más detalle los recursos disponibles, y discutiremos las estrategias que la comunidad ya está utilizando para reducir su consumo de energía.

Turn off the Light, Your Bill Will Be Alright: Energy Efficiency

 By Javier Trejo

As a Pathways Navigator, winter marks a time when many of the cases I work on involve the strain of high energy costs put on individuals and families. No one looks forward to opening their gas or electric bill during winter. This blog will focus on simple ways we can reduce our energy bills, as well as offer resources for when our bills may be higher than we anticipated. Additionally, Encuentro and New Mexico Immigrant Law Center will be hosting a workshop on reducing energy expenses in December..

There are many ways to reduce our energy bills, but this blog will focus only on the most practical and affordable. Installing a programmable thermostat and lowering it by even one degree can save you 3% on your monthly bill.  When no one is home, make sure to turn off the heater or lower the thermostat significantly.  In order to heat your home more efficiently, be sure to close the doors to any rooms not being used unless there is a concern about any exposed pipes. Take advantage of natural heat and light by opening any south-/sun-facing drapes or curtains during the day.

When our bills are higher than we can afford, there are a few resources to help with bills we cannot pay:

• LIHEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program); is a federal program that helps with a gas, electric, wood, and petroleum costs. Applications are available at your local Human Services Department and online.
• The PNM Good Neighbor Fund helps people pay one PNM bill per year, administered through the Storehouse
• Heat NM starts in January and is a program provided by NM Gas Company and administered through the Salvation Army.

All of these programs are once-per-year resources, meaning once you have accessed them you won’t be able to receive any more until the next year. Also, PNM and NM Gas offer budget billing, where your payments don’t fluctuate from month to month, but stay at a steady rate and the ability to make a payment plans. New Mexico has a winter moratorium where if you are current on your NM Gas and PNM bills your gas and electricity cannot be shut-off between November 15 and March 15, but you will still have to pay for those months.

In addition to these resources, Encuentro and The New Mexico Immigrant Law Center are excited to offer an Energy Efficiency workshop on Wednesday, December 12, from 5:45-7:00pm. The workshop will cover more extensively ways to lower energy bills, go into more detail on the available resources, as well as feature a discussion on what strategies the community is already using to lower energy use.

The post Ahorre un Poco Apagando un Foco: Uso Eficiente de la Energía appeared first on Encuentro Nuevo Mexico.

¡Las fiestas navideñas están aquí! Las navidades pueden ser un tiempo de estrés para muchos de nosotros ya sea que celebremos las tradiciones en familia o solos por no estar con gente amada este año. Considera las sugerencias a continuación para ayudarte a manejar el estrés navideño y pasar más tiempo disfrutando de los momentos con la gente que amas.

1. Comienza nuevas tradiciones. La palabra tradición puede conllevar mucho peso y presión para las personas que tienen altas expectativas de cumplirla, especialmente cuando las personas que aman no están en su vida este año. Considera comenzar con tus propias tradiciones para que no incrementen tu estrés navideño. Por ejemplo, pide a tus invitados que traigan un platillo a la cena, en vez preparar todo tu solo.

2. ¡No te comprometas más de lo que puedes! Hay tentación de sentir que uno tiene que complacer a todos con compras, cocinando y asistiendo a cada evento, pero no te olvides de tomar tiempo para ti mismo, hacer menos, y disfrutar más de los momentos. ¡Tu puedes hacer esto creando una lista de los momentos o eventos específicos que son más especiales para ti- entonces enfócate en estar presente en esos momentos!

3. Mantente dentro de tu presupuesto y no te sientas presionado a realizar compras y regalos fuera de control. En vez de comprar regalos para cada miembro de la familia, trata de disfrutar un juego navideño como un intercambio de regalos sorpresa, o juega el famoso Elefante Blanco, haz click aqui para ver como jugarlo! Un regalo no tiene que ser algo comprado en una tienda. Puedes hacer algo tú mismo, tal vez como cocinar, tejer, cantar o quizás puedas re-emplazar lo material con una experiencia navideña especial con gente que amas y recordarlo para siempre.

4. Apaga tus aparatos electrónicos. Revisar constantemente tu correo electrónico o teléfono celular puede mantenerte estresada y ansiosa. Considera apagar todos tus aparatos y sintonízate en tener un buen tiempo con amigos y familiares.

5. Haz presión con el pulgar y el dedo largo para reducir estrés. Cuando aplicas presión firme a esa área puedes reducir la tensión y el estrés en la parte superior del cuerpo.

6. ¡No te olvides de hacer ejercicio! Quizás es lo último que deseas hacer cuando estás estresada, pero mantener tu ejercicio como algo rutinario o tal vez una caminata de 5 minutos al día, incrementa endorfinas y fortalece una buena actitud. ¡No te olvides del ejercicio!

Managing Holiday Stress

By Marisa Curley

The holiday season is upon us! Whether you are continuing family traditions or experiencing loneliness if you are not with a loved one this year, the holidays can be a stressful time of year for many of us. Consider these suggestions below to help manage your holiday stress and spend more time enjoying the moments and people you love.

1. Start new traditions. The word “tradition” can carry a lot of weight and pressure for people with lots of expectations to live up to, especially for people who may not be with their loved ones this year. Consider starting your own traditions that won’t increase your holiday stress. For example, ask guests to bring one dish to the meal rather than prepare everything yourself.

2. Don’t over schedule yourself! It’s tempting to feel like you must please everyone by shopping, baking, and attending every event, but don’t forget to take care of yourself by doing less and enjoying the moment more. You can do this by writing down ahead of time specific moments or events that are most special to you- then focus on staying present during those times.

3. Stay within your budget and don’t feel pressured to spend on out-of-control gift giving. Instead of buying gifts for every family member, try drawing names or doing a white elephant gift exchange, click here to watch how to play it!. A gift doesn’t have to be store-bought either; you can make something, sew something, bake something, sing something, or share something. Or perhaps you can replace material things with a special holiday experience with your loved ones that everyone will remember.

4. Turn off your gadgets. Constantly checking your emails or cell phone can maintain stress and anxiety.  Consider turning off your electronic devices and tune in to quality time when you’re with family or friends.

5. Squeeze the place between your index finger and thumb to reduce stress. When you apply firm pressure to this area tension and stress can be reduced in your upper body.

6. Don’t forget to exercise! You may not want to exercise when you’re feeling stressed out, but maintaining your workout routine or even taking a five-minute walk each day can increase endorphins and boost your mood!

The post Manejando el Estrés Navideño appeared first on Encuentro Nuevo Mexico.