Mailbox

Many people stepped forward

to help our military personnel

Editor,

When the News-Bulletin printed the special section about men and women of Valencia County serving in the armed services, we thought we were the only ones who would be proud of our daughter, Angela Cano.

Angela, who was featured in the special section, is serving in the Air Force and was deployed to the Middle East in December.

To our surprise and joy, friends of ours, Bill and Josie Vallez of Los Chavez, called and unselfishly donated his collection of videotapes to our daughter’s squadron. A few days later, we heard of a second person, Mr. Lonnie Turner, who also donated puzzles, candy and videotapes to the troops.

Luckily, our other daughter, Emily, who serves in the Air National Guard out of Kirtland Air Force Base, was able to have all the donations sent to the soldiers serving in Operation Enduring Freedom.

Good things happen to people who do good things and we are very appreciative of these people who saw the article and who have wished our daughter well. To all, we say think you and God bless.

Aveleno and Angie Cano

Belen

Many made night a success

Editor,

This letter is to express our deep appreciation to the many people in our community who helped make Central Elementary School’s fourth annual Hearts, Arts, and Families dinner a success.

Our goals were the following: to celebrate families and foster family communications with a sit-down, candlelight dinner and to showcase student musical entertainment and student art. The several hundred families and students who attended were pleased with the evening’s activities, and our staff and Parent Teacher Organization are very proud of the event and its success.

Special thanks to the following people who made the even-ing memorable: Staff members Darlene Vizcarra and Marcella Lopez made beautiful publicity posters. Joann Flores and Jo Williams coordinated the art show and sale with the assistance of volunteer Alfred Flores. Special thanks to the teachers and students for painting, sculpting, designing and creating wonderful and imaginative art works for sales.

While our primary goal was not fund-raising, we are delighted that we made over $300 for our school activity fund from the sale of student art.

Special thanks go the talented sixth-graders and their teachers, Frances Gomez and Catherine Forde, for the entertainment. Mrs. Gomez wrote and directed her students in a drama adapted from “The Butterfly” by Patricia Polacco.

Students performed pa-triotic songs as a salute to Amer-ican freedom and the events of Sept. 11 and Mrs. Forde presented a computerized audiovisual show featuring Central students wearing red, white and blue, as well as photographic images about Sept. 11. Darlene Viscarra, Madlyn Juarez, Elizabeth Eli-zondo and Librarian Trina San-chez assisted with the sixth-grade production.

The delicious and beautiful candlelight dinner was the result of the work of many generous volunteers. Mary Gutierrez coordinated the food preperation and service along with Mercy Olguin.

Thanks to parents Nancy Blackney-Lopez and Pauline Purcella for cooking the beef brisquet along with teachers Mia Reed and Mary Gutierrez. Teofilo’s Restautante in Los Lunas donated the preparations of beans; Linda Griego made chile; and JoAnn Flores, Loretta Salas, Darlene Vizcarra, JoAnn Silva and Jean Chavez made potato salad.

Special thanks to Cindy Stewart and Wal-Mart for donating decorated cakes, IGA for white bags for luminarias and tortillas, Breck Stewart and John Brooks Supermarket for ground beef, and Eva’s Blue Ribbon Chile for chile.

Additional thanks to the following Central staff: Jean Chavez and Loretta Salas for reservations; Sondra Wade, decorations chairperson; Mia Reed, Toni Baldwin, Abel Romero, Margaret Abeyta, Loretta Lo-vato, Andrea Padilla, Annette Baca, LeAnne Fricke, and Rachael Candelaria for decorations and set up; feed and beverage servers Theresa Perea, Manuel Perea, Maxine Schmock, Rebecca Lewis, An-drew Sanchez, Elizabeth Cor-dova, Marcella Lopez, Michael Jaramillo, Jamie Hawkes, Jennie Zamora, Eileen Tobin, Therese Williams, and Guadalupe Tapia; and custodians Manuel Serna, Jose Thomas, and Marvin Perea.

And, finally, very special thanks to the Belen High School ROTC members who assisted with serving and clean up: Commander Christensen, Ra-quel Wolfe, Desiree Wright, Danielle Baca, Victoria Baca, Leo Gutierrez, Chris Turrietta, Jerome Daw, Liz Banen, Roxy Hancock and Andrea Padilla.

Many people working together make our school, and our community, the nuturing places they are for our children. Thank you, Belen.

John E. Padilla,

Principal

Marsha Sherry,

School Counselor

Central Elementary School

Belen