Gringo Signs Book at Brodsky and other news in Greater Taos
On Friday April 17 from five to seven, author Bill Whaley will sign books and read from “Gringo Lessons: Twenty Years of Terror in Taos” at Rick Smith’s Brodsky Books, 226 Paseo del Pueblo Norte. Published by Nighthawk Press, Rebecca Lenzini’s helpful local imprint, author John Nichols has said about the book: “This wonderful autobiography is as honest as the day is long, no holds barred, no punches pulled. It’s beautifully written, highly entertaining, truly wild and wonderful even as it also may make you cringe on every other page.”
Whaley’s book captures the twenty-year period from 1966 to 1987 wherein the Muse of the Sacred Mountain first tempted this representative newcomer with a vision of an adventurous and interesting life. Subsequently the Gringo investigated his own and the eccentric ways of Taosenos in this bittersweet comic tale of survival, a tale that continues to this day. With death and beauty for helpmates Whaley promises to reveal all that he has learned about the people of the valley in his next book, “Taos Redux: the Horse Fly Years.”
Whaley came to Taos neither to make his fortune nor to be stimulated by the arts but for the artful experience of living a philosophically challenging life. Long ago he committed himself to vows uttered beneath the brow of the mythic Mountain under the arch of the Double Rainbow. His reward? From the smiling Taosenos he says he learned despite the tragic ways of eccentric El Norte “how to laugh.”
Town of Taos Lights Up
According to social networking sites and leaks to admirers, Manager Rick Bellis has hired a planning director, marketing director, and committed a million bucks to fix potholes and repave the historic district in downtown Taos. Official announcements and introductions are expected at a series of daylong meetings, beginning at 9 am on Tuesday, April 14 at town hall. Longtime observers are “shocked, shocked” that Dan Barrone, the Mayor of Potholes and his colleague, Mr. Social Justice, Fritz Hahn are, in fact, “getting off the dime.” Taos Friction applauds their good intentions, regardless of the proposed implementation and execution. The executions will take place at the next election.
Note from County Commissioner Blankenhorn re: water issues.
“Hey JR, great article, lots of good research and perspective. My answer to Peggy on the question of why there is so much drama about the move [Top of the World Water Rights] does not concern the hydrology, which is as clear as hydrology ever gets, but it does concern the future prospects for Taos County.
“Unless we keep some of the water rights that were created in Taos County available for use in Taos County we can not grow. There are some who are inclined against growth, but future generations may appreciate the ability to choose for themselves, and without water rights, it is not an option.”
(Editorial Comment: What neither Commissioner Blankenhorn nor The Taos News has revealed is how the good old boys, signatories to Abeyta, from the Taos Valley Acequia Association (TVAA) and Taos Pueblo have reserved, according to testimony taken down by activists at the meeting last week, concerning water rights transfers, saleable San-Juan Chama water for themselves.)
Call the above movida a way of creating not a water bank but the equivalent of “money in the bank.” The signatories mentioned, according to Santa Fe/Aamodt attorney John Utton, skipped out on protecting Top of the World water rights in favor of the San Juan water, which can be sold to thirsty munis south of the Otowi gauge.
Like John Painter of EPWSD, the shadow knows: it’s worse than we thought.
A Birthday
Happy Birthday on April 14 to our own and most famous Octogenarian at TSV. He’s the host who keeps on giving and the ski champion who led the charge and uttered the anthem of the mountain: “Allez a l’attaque.” Despite all odds, the Hotel still stands and his longtime ski bum, bartender, and cook, the indefatigable Whitey, breathes comfortably now in Salem, Oregon.
Remind me to tell you how the Gallic hero survived “the night of the nickoloshkas” as well as skiing with famed French racer, Bernard Orcel! Mon dieu, mon frère, felicitation.