PNM Employees Helping to Weatherize Homes for Summer.

In a tough economy, it's nice to see the Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) pitching in to help. Tomorrow, more than 100 PNM employees will help 50 low-income seniors make their homes a little more energy efficient.

Each year for more than two decades, the PNM Community Crew has visited the homes of low-income seniors to help prepare them for winter heating months by weather stripping, installing plastic over windows, caulking and much more. This year, however, the Community Crew is helping weatherize before the hot summer months arrive.

PRC Commissioner Jason Marks will jump in and help between 1pm and 2pm. Join him at 2724 Solano Dr. NE (near Menaul and Carlisle).

“Now that we are an electric-only company, it makes sense that we help community members save on their summer cooling bills, when electric usage is highest,” said Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM President and CEO. PNM employees will add weather stripping, door sweeps, and other weatherization measures, as well as replace incandescent bulbs with energy- and money-wise CFL bulbs. PNM works with the City of Albuquerque’s Department of Senior Affairs to identify elderly community members who need assistance.

“This is by far the most popular volunteer activity among our employees,” said Vincent-Collawn. “It’s so rewarding for us to help reduce bills and improve efficiency for community members who need it the most.”

PNM remember it's name has the word Service in it. Now they're helping out the community's less fortunate.

Photo Courtesy: DFNM

Audio Post: Weh Announces Exploratory Committee

On a warm spring afternoon in Albuquerque the 2010 NM Gubernatorial campaign heated up.

Former GOP Party Chairman Allen Weh told reporters he's seriously thinking about running and has formed an exploratory committee.

On Tuesday, at his CSI Aviation company offices in the North Valley, Weh was joined by his wife and daughters, local business leaders and former elected officials including former Secretary of the Interior and 10-term Congressman Manual Lujan.

This will be Weh's first run for public office. Weh was elected to lead New Mexico Republicans in 2004 but chose not to seek another four-year term last fall.

Republican Greg Zanetti, a Brigadier General in the New Mexico National Guard, also has an exploratory committee, a campaign website and a You-Tube video channel, but has not declared officially that he's running. Former U.S. Representative Heather Wilson, who lost to Steve Pearce in the U.S. Senator Primary to former Rep. Steve Pearce, has also been considering a run for governor in 2010.

In 2006, former Republican Party Chairman John Dendahl ran against incumbent Governor Bill Richardson and lost handily.

Weh says he has the business experience necessary to become the state's next governor. He promised to run a non-partisan race and told us he'll even reach out to democrats, that he said are "fed up" with fiscal irresponsibility by politicians on both sides of the aisle.

A freshly printed campaign sign, mounted on Weh's podium, promoted the theme of his campaign "Think Different." Weh says he understands the republicans will have a lot of ground to make up after losing statewide in 2008.

The only republican to hold a state office is Land Commissioner Pat Lyons and he is term-limited out of office in 2010.

Listen to Weh's news conference remarks here.



Weh says he won't adopt political campaign contribution limits passed by lawmakers in Santa Fe this winter and signed by the governor. They do not take effect until 2011. Lt. Governor Diane Denish (who is running for governor) already has already collected more than $2-million dollars, but democrat Senator Michael Sanchez told me in April that if he jumps into the democratic primary he's considering adopting them for the 2010 race.

Weh says he's planning to tour the state and determine the level of support he'll have if he jumps into the race. Weh told the crowd he hopes to know in about two months.

Blogger NMFBIHop LP got Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon's reaction to Weh's entry. Read it here.

UPDATED 12:21AM

After our original blog post we received this news release from Weh's campaign which includes quotes from the news conference and some biographical background.

Photos: MG Bralley

Dennis Hopper Named Honorary Mayor of Taos

Actor Dennis Hopper received the key to the Town of Taos from Taos Mayor Darren Cordova. (Photo: Geraint Smith)

On Monday, Taos, New Mexico Mayor Darren Cordova proclaimed America’s favorite boomer Actor/Artist Dennis Hopper the Honorary Mayor of Taos. Hopper returned to Taos for the 2009 Taos Summer of Love (May 4 through September 30.) forty years after the release of his film Easy Rider to curate two art shows at the Harwood Museum of Art.

“Dennis Hopper has been a Taos fixture since the 1960s. He paved the way for independent filmmaking with the release of Easy Rider in 1969 – and has been an acclaimed visual artist pre-dating his film career. It’s an honor to recognize him for his contributions not only to our community, but the entire country, by having him as our honorary Taos ambassador this summer,” said Mayor Cordova.

Easy Rider marked a new direction for film -- and then, as now, mirrors not only the beauty of Taos, but its spirit. Taos has been a draw for travelers for over 1,000 years, and today sees nearly 2 million visitors annually ride away from their daily lives to explore the authentic in Taos.

Hopper at the Harwood:

To mark his years in Taos, his long-time friendships, and the 40^th anniversary of the release of Easy Rider, The Harwood Museum of Art, in conjunction with Taos’ “Summer of Love” celebrations, presents “Hopper at the Harwood,” opening May 9^th, featuring two exhibitions: one focusing on his work, “Selected Photographs and Paintings” and the other, “Forty Years of Friendship: LA to Taos,” a curatorial expression with the work of Larry Bell, Ron Cooper, Ronald Davis, Ken Price and Robert Dean Stockwell.

The SF Chronical ran this AP on Hopper's art shows on Monday..

Personal Note: I handle tourism PR for Taos.

Go to www.taossummeroflove.com for more information.

Follow Taos year round on Twitter at http://twitter.com/taostourism.