Another Beautiful Backyard Sighting!

Renee Lynn photographed this visitor this morning.

Thanks, Renee!

Suspicious Activity

Several neighbors reported being visited on Saturday by folks in a large dark GM SUV with dark tinted windows; occupants asked for anyone who knew American Sign Language or deaf speakers, or indicated they were from Jehovah's Witnesses but without identification. Another neighbor said he'd been visited about 2 weeks ago by same. Whether they are legitimate missionaries or strangers casing out the neighborhood, they are making residents very uneasy. If anyone else encounters this group, which includes 2 white men, an African-American man, an older woman and a younger, possibly teenaged woman, please take down a license plate number. We've received several emails with very specific identifiers of the vehicles and the appearance of the occupants, and residents are well within our rights to report suspicious activity to the sheriffs dept.

NM DOT

In a follow-up to a request from some neighbors to ask the NM DOT to move the 45 mph sign on OLVH up the hill in an attempt to slow traffic as it's coming from Canoncito, Commissioner Kathy Holian set up a meeting with Miguel Gabaldon and Mark Anaya from DOT, and Candelora Versace and Booth Gallett from ARPOA.

They were very receptive to our concerns and suggestions for improved safety for residents going in and out of Apache Ridge, and indicated they would be able to do a traffic survey, crash survey and a few other surveys within the next several weeks.

Primary requests were: move the speed limit sign that is currently below ARR farther back on OLVH (or add a new one); mend the eroded asphalt of OLVH adjacent to the mailboxes; restripe the asphalt of the ARR apron where it's worn off; evaluate the need for a culvert at the bottom of the road to improve drainage in the mailbox area.

Booth G. brought a map of the neighborhood, which gave them a graphic view of how much traffic our intersection deals with every day. They were also very sensitive to the difficult job a neighborhood organization has in maintaining a private road. And they suggested the possibility that once they get out onto OLVH and get a good look at things, they might consider pushing for a bigger project that could improve the highway from 285 to its end at Canoncito. That one waits to be seen, but hopefully we'll get some action out at the intersection sooner rather than later.

Note: NO changes in the orientation of the entry will be made; they will just look at the existing striping and maintenance issues of the part of the road that is their right-of-way and if it requires upkeep, they'll provide it, because that's their job. If they think a culvert would be useful to address the erosion and accumulation that happens at the mailboxes, that might be up to us to provide, but it depends on what they discover when they poke around at the stop sign.