Beautiful Day!

Foraging for grass.

We got a lot of snow, but as is true with New Mexico weather, wait a minute and it will be gone! Well, the snow isn't gone, but it sure did go down today. Love that sun.

Museum Reminder:  (From the Museum website) Make history again by sharing your family photos, diaries, letters, and other historic memorabilia or family ephemera with Friends of the City of Las Vegas Museum. Just in time for New Mexico’s centennial, the Friends will be publishing a photographic history of the first century of Las Vegas entitled: Las Vegas, NM: Boomtown on the Southwestern Frontier, and would like your family to be a part of it. So, get into the attics and basements of Las Vegas! Call your tias and abuelas to see what’s in their shoeboxes and family Bibles!

In addition, historian and contributing editor, Elmo Baca is seeking to include brief essays and other literary expressions from the general public to help explore the major themes to be included in the book. Submissions will be accepted through Friday, April 1, 2011.

Nat God Players: If you have a yen for acting here's an opportunity for you. Nat Gold Players’ Auditions will be held Sunday, February 13, at 4 p.m. at the Las Vegas Arts Council office, 140 Bridge Street (the orange, gold, blue and purple bldg.) Auditions are for Box Seats—10 minute original plays by local playwrights. Rehearsals will be set up around participant schedules. More Info: Cyn Riley 454-6873.

TeatroJoven youth art classes: Caroline Rackley is seeking contributions in support of Teatrojoven's arts education and production fund. Tuition for an 8-week series of 2-hour classes is $80. All gifts of any size are welcome. Tax deductible contributions may be sent to: YoungTheatre c/o Goodwin, Inc., 1320 6th Street, Las Vegas, NM 87701. For more information call 505 425-6092.


Writing Contests: If you have a great idea for a story, poem or article, and don't mind stiff competition, Writer's Digest has launched its annual writing contest request for entries. For more information go to Writer's Digest. I entered all three of my books in the self-published books competition, and while I didn't win, I got valuable feedback from the judges. I'm planning on entering the contests for unpublished works (short fiction, articles, essays and poetry) this year.

If you want a blurb on my blog, please send your information to happenstance@happenstancelifehappens.com.

Have a happy!

Happenstance, April 2

From the editor…
Deepest apologies. In the CASA Fourth article in last week’s Happenstance, I left the name of Mack Crow off the list of board members. Mr. Crow has been involved in the community in various ways over the years. His valuable service to CASA contributes to its success.

In this issue of Happenstance, Randy Campbell’s wonderful memory of a ‘50s Easter with its finely drawn moments reminds us of how ‘out of the ordinary’ Easter is; page 3.

The Las Vegas Arts Council has been around for many years with a mission of providing resources and services to artists. The bigger picture is that it is an economic engine fueled by the energy of creativity and involvement. See LV Arts Council celebrates the arts and helps them shine; pages 4-5.

There is nothing like live theater. It is a surprise every performance, not because the performance is different, but because as an audience member you are seeing just that performance in that moment, unfettered by any experience but the one you are having as the players unfold the story on the stage. You won’t get that sense of participation at a movie theater, not even a 3-D movie, because once it’s on film, that’s it, finito, end of story. In live theater anything can happen and it’s up to the actors, in character, to make it work. I am delighted we have an active theater group in Las Vegas. The Nat Gold Players has been around in one form or another for years.

I played Abbey in Arsenic and Old Lace, in the ‘80s, my brother, Marc Conkle, was Teddy, Abby and Martha’s slightly daft nephew, who thought he was Teddy Roosevelt. We had a blast, even though it involved six weeks of intense rehearsals for a ‘run’ of four performances. In recent years the players have evolved into a loosely organized group that has a specific goal of fostering performance as a thought-provoking and entertaining art form. Theater is too often a stepchild to other art disciplines, partly because of time requirements needed to mount a production, and partly because of funding. The Nat Gold Players forge ahead. Read more of their story beginning on page 6.

Regular features include the Happenstance Kitchen with Easter Pea Salad and Mom’s Potato Salad recipes, and The Best of the Web featuring Heifer International.
Enjoy Happenstance, life happens.