Letters to the Editor (01/14/2012)

Thanks for help with food drive
Editor:
From Toby and Ernie Jaramillo and family, I want to thank everyone who helped with the 42nd Annual Christmas Food Drive. We had a very joyful and happy drive.
Happy New Year to all of you and your families. May God bless you, and happy New Year.
Toby Jaramillo, Socorro

North end feels unwanted, too
Editor:
Unwanted? So Alamo doesn’t feel wanted and wants their own seat on the Socorro County Commission.
In El Defensor Chieftain’s extended coverage of the most recent county commission meeting, I most enjoyed the following: “(Commissioner) Gutierrez said (Commissioner) Griego never goes to Alamo to meet with his constituents there and accused him of discrimination.”
I’ve lived in the Veguita area for “only” 19 years and the last commissioner to visit my residence is no longer living, and bless his heart, he did care about his people. Not only has Commissioner Griego never made an effort to meet me, he was absent from the county commission meeting on Tuesday, June 8, 2010, when “Discuss Vacation of Roads in Rio Grande Estates and Tierra Grande Estates” was on the agenda. The least Commissioner Griego should have done is to alert residents within those subdivisions that he wouldn’t be present.
Attorney Adren Nance tried the same procedure in Valencia County and got away with it when no one showed up to object to the vacation of roads in RGE & TGE in Valencia County.
Tis time to face facts. The children of the north are either home schooled, or go to branches of the Belen School system. Except for the small percentage of our retail expenses that are made at the Veguita Trading Post, we shop in Belen. With no care and concern shown us by our sitting Commissioner, Mr. Griego, and the lack of respect shown us by the county manager, county attorney and the other four commissioners, perhaps it is time to bid farewell and request admission to Valencia County.
Tom Kimball, Veguita
Giving Tree made holidays brighter
Editor:
San Miguel Parish would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2011 Christmas Giving Tree. We received over 580 gifts that were distributed to agencies that include Birthright, Children, Youth and Families (Foster Care), Puerto Seguro (Homeless Assistance), El Puente (Shelter for Domestic Violence), La Vida Felicidad (Home Assistance for the Elderly), Maternal Child Healthcare, Good Sam Nursing Home and the Literacy Program. We would also like to thank Curves for participating.
Socorro is such a giving community and the needy in our community appreciate your kindness and generosity that helped make the holidays a little brighter for them.
Thank you also to Joyce Aguilar, Margaret Middleton, Nelly Chavez, Annie Anaya and Rowena Romero for helping to organize and distribute the gifts. God bless you all and best wishes for a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.
Valerie Moore, Polvadera