Everyone, I hope this newsletter finds (2023)

Volume 18 Issue 10

Isleta Pueblo News

Governor’s Report

Maguwam,

Everyone, I hope this newsletter finds

everyone in good health. As we approach

into the fall season, we want to remind

everyone if you are feeling sick, please

stay home to prevent the spread of any

illness.

This month, my Administration worked

to strengthen our partnerships with other

governments, and facilitate discussions

to support Isleta’s interests. I have been

participating in NM Governor Lujan

Grisham’s Tribal Cross Commissioning

Task Force to strengthen criminal

enforcement with Isleta’s neighboring

law enforcement agencies. Additionally,

I’ve been continuing to promote Isleta’s

air quality concerns. Isleta has entered

an appearance in a case that would

require stricter air quality regulations

in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County,

which will make a big impact on cleaner

air in the Pueblo.

On August 23, a drainage pipe collapsed

underneath NM 147, on the Westside

of the dam. Please use caution and

avoid this area. The Natural Resources

Department is working closely with the

MRGCD and construction to replace the

pipe is anticipated to begin soon.

We are going to be hosting a Community

Meeting on Saturday, October 21, 2023

9:00am-12:00pm. This meeting will take

place at the Isleta Resort and Casino

Ballroom A.

The tribal hunts are coming up soon. Be

safe out there and remember that wood

hauling during the hunts is prohibited.

I would like to take this time to thank

all the mayordomos, their families

along with our departments and staff in

preparing for The St. Augustine Feast

on September 3rd and 4th.

Mayordomos

Nicholas Padilla and Rita Jojola

Please remember to vote in the upcoming

MRGCD election October 3rd!

Last, I want to send my condolences to

the families of those who have lost their

family members during the month of

September.

Ha-Wuh

Max A. Zuni

Governor

Pueblo of Isleta

Isleta Pueblo News

Editor:

Nathaniel Lujan

Asst. Editor:

Diane Abeita

Published By:

Valencia Express

Pueblo of Isleta website: www.isletapueblo.com

October 2023

Page 2

Isleta Pueblo News

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

DEADLINE for November Newsletter articles is set

for Wednesday, October 18, 2023, at 4:30 pm. Articles

may be dropped off at the Library or emailed to Nathaniel.

Lujan@isletapueblo.com. Should you email your article,

expect a confirmation email. If you do not receive a

confirmation email, odds are it never made it to me and

then it’s time to panic, so call Nate at 505.869.9808.

People who wish to submit an article or flyer are responsible

for generating their own article or flyer. Should you need

help, please call the Library at 505.869.9808 and set up a

date and time to sit down with a Library staff member who

will help you throughout the process. The Library will NOT

accept notes dropped off at the Library or information over

the phone to generate your article.

PROBATES need to be published in the Newsletter for

two consecutive months. Probates are considered court

documents, therefore, all submitters must provide: 1)

Name of Deceased, 2) Date of Deceased 3) Court Case #

and 4) Date of Court Date. A Probate form can be found on

the Newsletter Archive page at http://www.isletapueblo.

com/newsletters.html .

CLASSIFIED ADS: The new administration has requested

that the Newsletter start a Classified Ad section for Tribal

members selling land, houses, mobile homes, vehicles, and

farm equipment. Leasing of houses and mobile homes will

be accepted. Smaller items which can be sold at the local

flea markets or weekly yard sales will NOT be accepted.

Currently, this service is FREE to Tribal members. Land,

houses, and mobile homes must be within the reservation

boundaries. Ads must meet the 160 character limit. Ads

that exceed the 160 characters will NOT be submitted into

the Newsletter. A single picture may be submitted with

the ad. Submitters of classified ads are responsible for

generating their own ads as this is a FREE service.

As a reminder, Tribal business owners may submit a small

flyer at no charge. Like the classified ads, business owners

are responsible for generating their own flyers as this is a

FREE service.

Classified ads and business flyers will be posted no

more than two consecutive months. In the event where

the Newsletter may exceed the 24-page limit, classified

ads and business flyers will be “bumped” for newsletter

articles. Again, this is a FREE service for Tribal members.

The Isleta Newsletter is owned and operated by the Pueblo

of Isleta. Therefore, the Governor of the Pueblo of Isleta

has the final say of all articles and contents within the

Isleta Newsletter.

For additional questions, you may call the Library and

speak with Nate or Diane at 505.869.9808.

Thank you,

Nathaniel Lujan

Newsletters may be found at the fifteen distribution

locations listed below. Remember, Digital copies of the

Newsletter may be obtained from the Newsletter archive

at http://www.isletapueblo.com/newsletters.html

The fifteen Newsletter distribution locations are:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

TR 2 & TR 22 - Chical SE of Community Hall

TR 10 - Behind the old 47 Sales

TR 1 & TR 5 – Ranchitos / Bosque Farms

Reservations Line

Ranchitos Park

Post Office - Big Tree

TR 82 & TR 84 - Teller Road

TR 78 & TR 82 - Carlos Trujillo Sr.

TR 90 @ Y - CF Padilla

Mouse Town Park –

Health Center – South end of Health

Center Parking lot

Library Sunlight & Moonlight Intersection

TR 6 - 47 Intersection

TR 12 - 47 & 147 intersection (Old Smoke & Save)

TR 71 & TR 54 @ Y - Holiday Robot / Paved Road /

Railroad Tracks

TR 45 & TR 40 @ Y - Tata Mel (POI Signage)

October 2023

TRIBAL COURT

Isleta Tribal Court is pleased to announce that we have two new

probation officers. Chief Probation Officer Dennison Charley and

Officer Gwen Sena have come to Isleta Tribal Court with many

years of experience. Both officers are proud to be members of

the court and look forward to helping out the community and the

clients. Probationers are given the upmost respect and service while

on probation, to include assisting them in seeking tribal and state

program services that they might need. The goal of probation is to

reintegrate clients back into society with positive outcomes.

October 2023

ISLETA FIRE DEPARTMENT

Pueblo of Isleta Fire Department

participated in the New Mexico State Fair

for Firefighter/Smoky Bear Day Sept. 7th

and the 9/11 Memorial. We set up a water

tank and the participants are able to spray

water at a target. This year we had over

500 children participate spraying water.

Isleta Pueblo News

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Isleta Pueblo News

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Job Postings

Visit us online at

http://www.isleta.com/career-opportunities.aspx

Fax: 505-244-8232

October 2023

OUR LOCATION

Isleta Resort and Casino is located 7 minutes south of

downtown Albuquerque at Interstate 25 and Hwy 47, exit

215. The Human Resources office can be found on the east

side of the building through the Employee Entrance doors.

October 2023

COME JOIN THE TIWA AA MEETING

ON THURSDAYS

FROM 6:10 PM TO 7 PM

B’EEH K’OO-EE WELLNESS

TRAINING CENTER

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER COMPLEX

01 SAGEBRUSH ST. SW

ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87105

Isleta Pueblo News

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Isleta Pueblo News

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October 2023

Pueblo of Isleta Career Opportunities

Position Posting

Office Location

Closing Date

Position Posting

Office Location

Closing Date

October 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

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TRUANCY

Happy Fall,

The holiday season has begun. If you are an early riser

then the International Balloon Fiesta is for you! The

Balloon Fiesta has many fun events such as early morning

mass ascensions, special shapes rodeo and contests. Did

you know that the first Balloon Fiesta was held in 1972

with only 13 Balloons, and was held in the parking lot of

the Coronado Mall. Now there are more than 500 balloons

from all over the World! Wow, isn’t that amazing?

Right after the Balloon Fiesta is Halloween! We hope you

have a safe and fun Halloween while with friends and

family. There are so many fun things to do during this

time of year. There’s McCall’s Pumpkin Patch which has

so many things to do during the day and at night. There

is also the Rio Grande Arts and Crafts Festival, and many

Famers Markets though out the fall months.

ENVIRONMENT

Monthly surface water quality results

As we know, October is the month of All Hallows Eve.

Here are some facts about Halloween that you might find

interesting.

• Pumpkins are classified as a fruit and not a vegetable.

The reason for that is that anything that grows from the

likes of a flower it is considered a fruit.

• Trick or Treating has existed since medieval times.

Trick or treating was inspired by the medieval English

tradition of “souling” which involved children going

door to door, offering prayers in exchange for food. (Like

the traditional “sedemoo” that some of our families

participate in.)

• The delicious candy corn was originally called

“chicken feed”

• Halloween started from an ancient Celtic Festival.

The origin of Halloween dates back 2,000 years to the

ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, which was celebrated

on October 31 on the eve of their new year. The Celts

believe that the dead return to earth on the night of

October 31st, and they light bonfires and wear costumes

to ward off the spirts.

• There is a name if you have a fear of Halloween it is

called Samhainophobia which comes from the origin of

the Gaelic festival that began Halloween.

Always remember to be stay safe and know your

surroundings when out and about this Halloween season.

When the month of October comes to an end, the months of

November and December will bring many more celebrations

with family.

*Water quality samples are collected from the Rio Grande

except Indian Interior Drain at 240 Wasteway, Albuquerque

Riverside Drain, and the irrigation locations.

- Dash in data table indicates sample not collected.

“MPN” is a unit of measure that stands for most probable

number. MPN is equivalent to colony forming units (“CFU”).

The Pueblo of Isleta’s most stringent surface water quality

standard for E. coli bacteria is 88 MPN/100 ml at all times and

at all flow rates.

Following closure for safety reasons, fishing in the Rio Grande

is allowed. Please continue to watch signage at the NM 147

bridge.

Notes regarding surface water quality sampling:

On September 30, 2022 one sampling event was conducted

to measure the concentration of pesticides and herbicides

at 4 sample locations: the drain near NM 45 and Interstate

25, Atrisco Riverside Drain, NM 147 and the Albuquerque

Riverside Drain near the Northern Boundary. All results were

non-detect.

Irrigation waters on the west side were shut off around March

22, 2023 for flushing.

If you have questions about surface water quality, contact

Ramona Montoya, Water Quality Control Officer, at 505-8697565.

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Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS (APS)

Greetings from Indian Education at Albuquerque Public

Schools!

Enrollment in all APS schools is open to all students who reside

in Isleta with free busing available to the following schools:

Los Padillas Elementary School

Polk Middle School

Rio Grande High School

To register, the first step is for one parent to log in to ParentVue,

If you do not have a ParentVue account, you can create one

here:

https://www.aps.edu/students-parents/parentvue-studentvue/

create-your-parentvue-account

Registration for each of your children is completed through

your ParentVue account. There is currently a bug in the system

for many home addresses. If you have difficulty, please use

the school address for Los Padillas (2525 Los Padillas Rd SW,

Albuquerque, NM 87105) to complete registration and then

work with your child's school to fix the address when you visit

the school.

If you would like for your child to attend one of the other 145

APS schools, you can place a transfer request to the APS

school of your choosing. As a member of the Pueblo of Isleta,

who resides in Isleta, your transfer is given the highest priority.

The transfer request process can be found here:

https://www.aps.edu/schools/transfers/new-students-requeststudent-id-and-transfer

Please be sure to select the reason for your transfer as

"residing on non-taxable trust lands within a 50 mile radius of

Albuquerque" so as to ensure your transfer request receives

priority.

-Phil Farson

Senior Director

APS Indian Education Department

505.884.6392 ext 80039

October 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

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2023 ST. AUGUSTINITO FEAST DAYS

Nick Padilla and Rita Jojola want to thank our

families, friends, Administration, Tribal Departments

and the entire community for the tremendous support

provided to sponsoring the 2023 St. Augustinito Feast

on September 3rd and 4th. We want to give our

respect and thanks to Father Milton and members

of our Church, Ms. Carmel Lucero, and all those who

attended mass, processions and for the monetary

offerings to the St. Augustine Church.

It is not enough to give thanks to the Mayordomosour lifetime Fathers, wives and members of their

families for all their help. We want them to know that

we learned so much from them and their families,

we respect them for their knowledge and untiring

commitment to St. Augustine. They showed us and

the community that they are honoring and upholding

our traditional values and way of life for today and

into the future. May our creator bless our fathers,

community and give us strength and wisdom to pass

on our language, prayers and most importantly our

way of life to our children.

How-wuh, Kherde-Kem from the bottom of our hearts!

Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Association DD 214 Discharge Documents

A DD 214 is a document issued when a service member

performs active duty or at least 90 consecutive days of

active duty training. The document contains information

normally needed to verify military service benefits,

retirement, employment, and membership in veterans’

organizations. Application for US funeral flags and military

headstones, by next-of-kin.

A veteran, or next of kin, may apply for a DD 214

replacement. Requests to get a copy of DD 214 from

discharges less than 62 years ago must be signed and

dated by the veteran or next-of-kin by completing VA

Form 180. VA Form 180 can be downloaded by going

to va.gov. If you are next-of-kin of a deceased veteran,

you must provide proof of death of the veteran such as a

copy of a death certificate, letter from a funeral home, or

published obituary.

The request for a DD 214 must include, if available, the

veterans’ full name, social security number, place of

birth, branch of service, dates of military service, place of

discharge, place of entry into service, last unit assigned,

and any information that may be pertinent to veterans

time of military service. Approximate time to receive a

copy of a DD 214 upon request may be at least three

months.

In 1973, there was a fire at the National Personnel

Records Center in St. Louis where military records are

stored. If you were in the Army before 1960, there is a

20% chance that your records were destroyed. If you

were in the Air Force before 1964 and your name comes

after Hubbard, James E., there is a 75% chance that your

records were destroyed.

If you are a veteran, or next-of-kin, in search of a DD 214,

you may call POIVA veterans service officer at 505-2644110 for assistance.

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Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

Census/Tribal Enrollment Department

Greetings

from

the

Census/Tribal

Enrollment Department. We hope that

you are all doing well! The Census/Tribal

enrollment department has been busy with

updating addresses, along with making sure

that all files are complete with all required

documents. Our office works closely with

BIA the office of the special trustee for

minor IIM accounts, updating addresses,

making sure all court orders and POA’s are

on file. If you need to update an address for

Minor IIM accounts, that can be done here

at our office. Our office staff is still making

monthly visits to the State of New Mexico

Vital statistics to pick up Birth Certificates

and Death Certificates for tribal members.

If you have any questions please call our

office at 505-869-9766.

As of January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023 the

tribal enrollment committee enrolled 30

new tribal members. The current number

of enrolled tribal members is 4, 997.

Address Updates:

Please make sure to update your address

each time you move so our office has the

most current information on file. We have

noticed a lot of address issues within the

Census and Treasury department during

the past distributions. Our office is the

main source that other departments use to

verify information. You may also call our

office to verify your information regularly

to avoid any issues.

New Address update policy:

Address Change

a) Tribal members are responsible for

maintaining a current address with the

Tribal Census/Enrollment Department.

b) Acceptable documentation of a

change of address shall include at least

two (2) of the following:

1. A valid, state issued driver’s license or

government-issued identification card

listing the new address.

2. A current utility bill with the requester’s

name and address listed on the statement.

Eligible utilities bills shall include propane

bills.

3. Current insurance card or bill showing

the requestor’s name and address.

4. Current real property rental agreement

or purchase agreement showing the

requestor’s name and address.

5. State Medical or Public Assistance with

requestor’s name and address on card, letter

from issuing agency showing requestor’s

name and address, or profile print out from

issuing agency showing the same.

6. Bank or credit card statement not more

than 60 days old.

7. Employment pay stub containing

requestor’s name and address.

8. Documentation from an education

institution such as a transcript, report

card, or enrollment information.

9. A notarized change of address

authorization.

Tribal Identification Cards:

Tribal Identification cards will be issued

every Tuesdays and Thursdays by

appointment.

Reminder**

ALL TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION

CARDS HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE

OF FIVE (5) YEARS.

**ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

MUST BE ON FILE WITH THE

TRIBAL ENROLLMENT/CENSUS

OFFICE PRIOR TO RECEIVING A

TRIBAL IDENTIFICATION CARD. **

Birth Certificates:

State of NM Birth Certificates may be

obtained through the Census/Tribal

Enrollment Department. We will continue

to make monthly visits to New Mexico Vital

Statistics on behalf of tribal members. An

Authorization form must be signed and

notarized at the Census/Tribal Enrollment

Department giving Director or Enrollment

Clerk authorization to obtain Birth

Certificate on behalf of Tribal Member. The

cost for each certified certificate is $10.00

each with cash, check or money order

payable to: NM Vital Records Office. P.O.

Box 25767 Albuquerque, NM 87125

Death Certificates:

There have been many questions regarding

the death certificate process. As a

reminder, the Pueblo of Isleta, Census/

Tribal Enrollment Department will kindly

assist family members in the completion

of death certificates of all Tribal Members.

Paperwork needs to be completed by the

family before starting the process on the

state system. Paperwork can be picked up

at the Census office.

Once the death certificate has been

approved and registered with the NM State

Vital Office, An Authorization form must be

signed and notarized at the Census/Tribal

Enrollment Department giving Director or

Enrollment Clerk authorization to obtain

Death Certificate on behalf of the family.

All Certified Death Certificate copies are

$5.00 each with cash, check or money order

payable to: NM Vital Records Office. P.O.

Box 25767 Albuquerque, NM 87125

Residence Ordinance:

Any non-tribal member wishing to reside

on the reservation must have a residence

ordinance application on file. Applications

are available for pick up only at our

office. This ordinance is being enforced by

Governor’s and IPD, please make sure your

application is up-to-date. Due to delays in

background checks, this application can

take up to 6 weeks or longer to complete.

Note: only one non-tribal member can be

sponsored by enrolled tribal member (over

the age of 18) per household. Any minor nontribal members do not need an application.

Please verify with our office the status of

your application or any concerns you may

have.

Please contact the Pueblo of Isleta Census/

Tribal Enrollment Department at (505)

869-9766 if you have any questions.

Census/Tribal Enrollment Staff,

Nanette Mariano, Director

Ashlee Abeita, Enrollment Clerk

Linda Sue Dawn LeBeau, File Clerk

October 2023

Hello Everyone,

First, I am thrilled

to be joining you at

IRC and I cannot

wait to hit the

ground

running.

Throughout

the

interview process,

especially in-person,

I felt welcomed

by

everyone

I

encountered. I could

feel the pride in this

property from every team member I spoke to, and I

am excited to be a part of it.

I have been married to my wife Shelley for 28

years and we have two grown children and three

grandchildren. Our son Karl lives in upstate New

York and our daughter Morgan, her husband Jesse,

and their children Landon, Zaine, and Emma reside

in Michigan.

I am widely known to be unapologetically upbeat and

positive in my approach to everything. The world is a

mess, and no small amount of kindness is ever wasted.

Years ago, I learned that we are not all in the same

boat. We are all navigating the same storm, but our

boats are quite different. This is why it is important

to be kind and see each other as human beings, flaws

and all. The human condition is fragile at best. We

can all make or break someone else’s day by the way

we approach them.

On a personal note, I am a proud descendant of the

Little River Band of Ottawa Indians in Manistee

Michigan. My mother Connie is a past Tribal Council

Member of our tribe and a tribal elder. She instilled

in me an unwavering drive, passion, and pride in my

heritage. It is an honor to be a part of yours. I look

forward to meeting you all soon.

With Honor and Excitement,

Karl Waitner

CEO, Isleta Resort and Casino

Dental Tips

Hello to all!

IHC’s Dental Team has

a brief message

We are all anticipating a New

Year where we can begin

to feel that “new normal”

shaping up. We can all do

our part to make healthy

habits a permanent New

Year’s resolution. It is probably safe to say that

none of us has ever washed our hands as often

as we have learned to do in 2020! However, with

everyone home most of the time, there is also an

increase in snacking on sweets and other foods

that can cause tooth decay and toothaches.

Until more elective dental care and cleanings

are back on the table, it is more important than

ever to have good home care to maintain your

dental health in between cleanings, to prevent

having dental emergencies like toothaches. We

would like to recommend electric toothbrushes,

and regular flossing or water flossing.

If you have questions, we are here to help,

please call us at 869-4499. The dental clinic

staff is happy to answer questions on how to

get the most out of your oral health habits.

Sincerely, The Isleta Dental Clinic

Isleta Pueblo News

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Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

Pueblo of Isleta Department of Education

Academic Success Office

Michelle “Shelly” Valdez

(505)869-9790

October greetings to all,

I would like to start by informing you all that

Jolynn “Jo” Martinez is no longer with the

department of education. She has decided to

take another position within the Pueblo. We

wish her well on her new professional journey.

High School News:

Thank you to those high school families that

attended our back to school nights at the

Isleta Resort & Casino. We all hope you

enjoyed yourself while learning what services

are being offered within the community.

As the first grading periods are ending, it is

important that parents know their student’s

grades. Grades are readily available to

parents through the school app. If you do not

have access, it is important that you reach out

to your child’s school to be connected. Do

not wait until it is too late!

During the next few months, I will be going

to the high schools to meet with students. At

this time, I can only meet with those students

whom have a Release of Information (ROI)

on file. If you wish for me to meet with your

student and did not give permission for the

schools to release information, you may call

our office to update your ROI.

The department of education is offering Los

Lunas High School students with a teacher

for credit recovery on Mondays and Tuesdays

from 3:15pm – 5:15pm. Students, if you are in

credit recovery come take advantage of this

resource for you. Tutoring is being offered

after school until 6:00pm Monday – Thursday.

We can also set up virtual tutoring with Varsity

Tutors for you to receive sessions while at

home. You may use the following link to sign

up your student.

https://isletapueblo.formstack.com/forms/

doe_afterschool_tutoring_copy_1

Take advantage of all the resources and

you can to be successful in your high school

years.

First Year College News:

I hope that you all are off to a great start on

your new education adventure. Students

that have completed their higher education

file should have received an email from

your coordinator about your funding. Those

students that may still be missing supporting

documentation. You should have also

received an email informing you about which

documents you are still missing. Incomplete

files will not be funded. It is important that

you check your emails to ensure you did not

miss any important information from your

coordinator. Coordinators are assigned by

last name. Samantha Taylor works with those

last names A – J and Fran Mershon with those

last names K – Z.

Tutoring services are also available for college

students at the department of education or

online. If you want to sign up you may sign

up with the following link.

https://isletapueblo.formstack.com/forms/

doe_afterschool_tutoring_copy_1

At any time you have any question please do

not hesitate to contact our office.

Michelle “Shelly” Valdez

Dear Scholarship Recipients,

Interested in making a difference in our

community? We are reaching out to share

some exciting volunteer opportunities. We

are seeking volunteers to commit eight

hours for the upcoming National Indian

Education Association Conference, which

will be in Albuquerque, October 18-21 at the

Convention Center.

Volunteer Sign-up Sheet

Please fill this out with the type of volunteer

activity, day and time you are available. Once

NIEA staff has placed you in your slot, you

will receive a confirmation email with your

volunteer dates and times. Each individual

volunteer will be asked to check in with NIEA

staff every shift to track volunteer hours. You

are required to work for 8 hours over the

course of the week.

Volunteer jobs include bag stuffing,

registration, greeter, merchandise sales,

workshop monitor, support educator day

and student day. Please contact our office or

use the link below to share your interest in

volunteering.

Signing up to volunteer is easy! Register here

and select the volunteer opportunity.

POI DOE Intern/Volunteer Application Formstack

POI Higher Education

Scholarship Application

The Higher Education staff is at the final

stages of awarding scholarships for the fall

semester. If you are interested in attending

school in the Spring, please refer to the

deadlines below.

•

•

Spring Application Deadline:

November 1st

Supporting Documents Deadline:

January 15th

Please visit the POI Department of Education

webpage to submit the scholarship application

for the spring semester.

Thank you, The Higher Education Team

Charlene Lucero, Sam Taylor and Fran

Mershon

October 2023

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October 2023

Pueblo of Isleta Public Library

Since we missed out on promoting national Library card sign up month in

September, we would like to invite you all this month to visit our library! Come check

out what services we offer and upcoming programs. Some misconceptions we face

daily, are you open to just Isleta tribal members? We are a PUBLIC library therefore

our services and programs are open to anyone and everyone. Check out what we have

coming up for the month of October.

News

The library will be having a staff meeting

on Wednesday, October 4th from 12:30pm

to 2pm. The library will remain open during

this time so feel free to still come in. We will

be discussing upcoming programs and as

the holiday months are approaching keep

a look out for family programs, book clubs,

arts-n-crafts and much more!

The library staff will be participating in

this year’s Halloween Carnival at the Rec.

We have something special planned for this

event so make sure and stop by our booth

to say hi and join in on the fun. This year’s

Halloween Carnival will be on Friday,

October 20th from 5:30pm to 8:30pm at the

new rec.

Reminder to those looking to create spooky

Halloween treats from home, school or

office parties, the library has Cookie Cutter

and Cake Pans bags for check out. Bags

come with special shaped cookie cutters or

cake pans, piping bags and tips, baking and

decorating tips.

Looking for a job? The library is hiring for

a Library Aide l -Part Time position. You

can apply with a physical copy available at

the library or online at isletapueblo.com/

careers/. Perfect for college students that

like working with children, youth and the

community!

We will be closing at 4:30pm on Tuesday,

October 31st. We would like to wish

everyone a safe and Happy Halloween.

Please be aware of your surroundings while

driving and walking with your family.

Join the Library weekly for Family Story

Time every Wednesday at 10:00am

with Edith. Family Story Time is a fun

opportunity for parents, grandparents, and

caregivers to introduce their children to

reading and language. No sign ups required,

just come in! For more information on this

program, please call Edith at 505-869-9808

or email Edith.Perez.Bonilla@isletapueblo.

com.

Upcoming

Looking to learn how to play a new

instrument? Library staff is in the process

of putting together a Musical Instrument

Lending service here at the library. Where

patrons can check-out musical instruments

our current selection includes bass and

acoustic guitars. All levels are welcome to

try this service from beginners to advanced

and can also pair it with our wide selection

of guitar tabs available at the library.

We are still in the early stages of getting

everything together but keep a look out for

more information to come soon!

For the month of October come in and check

out any library movie and book from our

Halloween collection and receive a Spooky

Snack Pack filled with popcorn, candy and

drinks to enjoy over the weekend. There

will be a limit of 5 Snack Packs given

out every Friday and one Snack Pack per

family. But don’t worry, you have plenty

of time to come in and get a Spooky Snack

Pack. Dates include Friday, October 6th,

13th, 20th and 27th starting at 2:30pm to

4:30pm or until we run out!

Come in and learn how to do Reverse TieDye on Wednesday October 4th from 5pm

to 6:30pm. This fall library staff member

Cheyenne will be showing a different

method of tie-dye making. Instead of

traditional tie-dye making, participants

will be painting Halloween themed designs

using bleach on black T-shirts. Sign ups

begin September 18th and is open to the

first 8 people, 14 years old and up. There

are three ways to sign up. Come in, call, or

online using the library’s mobile app. For

more information, please contact Cheyenne

by phone at 505-869-9808 or by email at

Cheyenne.Castillo@isletapueblo.com.

Kick off the fall season with a night of

Painting with Bob Ross here at the library

on Saturday October 14th from 10:30am

to 12:30pm. Join in on the fun and paint

a happy little fall scene with the one and

only Bob Ross! Participants will also enjoy

delicious fall themed treats and beverages!

Sign-ups start on September 18th and is

open to the first 10 adults, 18 and over. For

more information, please contact Elena by

phone at 505-869-9808 or by email at Elena.

Lopez@isletapueblo.com.

Join the library for a fun filled night in

making Apple Pie Skulls on Wednesday

October 18th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. This

program will be open to the first 6 patrons,

ages 9 to 13 years old or until all spots are

filled. Sign-ups start on September 18th.

For more information, please contact Kyle

by phone at 505-869-9808 or by email at

Kyle.Lujan@isletapueblo.com.

The library wants to help students who

attend Los Lunas Schools make the most

of their “All Learners Day” by taking an

approach to learning outside the classroom.

Students will learn about the Indian

Pueblo Cultural Center in a guided tour.

This program will be open to 10 students

3rd grade and up that attend any Los

Lunas School. Lunch will be provided to all

students that attend. Sign-ups will start on

October 2nd; space is limited and spots will

be filled on a first-come first-serve basis.

October 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 19

For more information, please contact Diane

by phone at 505-869-9808 or by email at

Diane.Abeita@isletapueblo.com.

Recap

On Thursday, September 28th library

staff member Edith hosted a Family Pinch

Bowl and Story Time Program here at

the library. Families enjoyed an evening

together making a pinch bowl using air

dry modeling clay. The program started

with the reading of Boogie, Boogie Y’all for

families to enjoy a story time. We would

like to thank everyone who participated

and library staff member Edith for putting

together a family program.

On September 13th library staff attended

the Head Start open house from 5:30pm

to 7:30pm. It was a great turn out and

we were excited to meet all the incoming

students and families that will be attending

the Head Start. It was a great opportunity

for the library to promote our services. We

would like to thank everyone who stopped

by our booth to say hello and visit.

Library staff member Diane and Kyle

at the Head Start Open House!

The After School Program is doing great

with full attendance and students showing

up daily to complete homework and reading.

Library staff have been busy planning

the upcoming holiday seasons with crafts,

activities and incentive field trips. The

After School Program is currently full, but

we do have a waiting list available for any

students that are interested.

ASP Program students making a

craft after homework and reading!

Page 20

Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER

Know Your Numbers, You Are

Important, You Are Worth It

Weight, BMI, and Waist

Circumference

Andrea Wilson, Fitness Instructor

Phone: 505-869-4595

References: cdc.gov nhlbi.nih.gov

uofmhealth.org

Weight, waist measurement, and/or BMI are

different measurements used to measure the

health of an individual. Being overweight or obese

increases your risk for developing health diseases

such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high

blood cholesterol, and many others. If you are

overweight and/or obese, losing a small amount

of weight (between 5-10% of your current weight)

will help you lower your risk for developing these

health diseases. The best way to lose weight is

by eating a healthy and balanced diet, and by

exercising at least 150 minutes per week.

Weight

The ideal weight for males and females can differ.

It also depends on factors such as: age, height,

fat and muscle composition, frame size, etc. It is

important to know how much we weigh, that way

we know our risk for developing health diseases.

If you are overweight and/or obese, you are at a

higher risk for developing health diseases such

as diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types

of cancer. You can maintain a healthy weight by

exercising regularly, and eating a healthy and

balanced diet. One way to determine a healthy

weight is calculating your BMI.

BMI

BMI is known as Body Mass Index. BMI is a

measurement of body fat based on an individual's

height and weight. It is important to note that

BMI does not consider muscle mass, and for

this reason individuals with a high muscle mass

may have a high BMI. In this specific case, the

individual would have a high BMI, but have a

healthy-looking physique. There are different BMI

categories, which include: Underweight= <18.5,

Normal weight= 18.5-24.9, Overweight= 25-29.9,

and Obesity= BMI of 30 or greater. For example,

if you are 5'5" and you weigh 170 pounds, your

BMI would be 28. A BMI of 28 would place you in

the overweight category. In order to move into the

normal weight BMI category, you would have to

lose about 30 lbs. Let's say you lost 30 lbs. and you

now weigh 140 lbs. Your BMI would be 23, which

is considered a normal weight. You can calculate

your BMI through various websites, InBody,

handheld body fat analyzers, body fat scales, bod

pods, and skinfold calipers. You can decrease

your BMI by exercising and eating a healthy and

balanced diet in order to lose weight. A decrease in

weight results in a decreased BMI.

Waist Circumference

Your waist size is also another way in which

you can measure your health. A large waist

circumference is associated with an increased

risk for type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high

blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease. You

can measure your waist circumference by placing

a tape measure at the top of your hip bone, then

bringing the tape measure all the way around your

body, level with your belly button. A healthy waist

measurement for males is less than 40 inches, and

a healthy waist measurement for females is less

than 35 inches. You can decrease inches from your

waist measurement through calorie deficit and

exercising often.

Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

Page 21

ISLETA POLICE DEPARTMENT

NEWSLETTER

OCTOBER – 2023

HALLOWEEN is just

around the corner and the

fall weather will be upon

us, although we are still

experiencing some warm

temperatures. Everyone

is starting to enjoy the

slightly cooler temperatures and are out

and about. We ask everyone to be aware

of children playing and walking in the

neighborhoods. On Halloween night please

be vigilant of children hurrying from house

to house in their excitement of receiving

goodies.

Parents be sure to have your children

wearing costumes that fit properly and

they are able to see if wearing a mask or

face covering. Please escort your children

if they are walking and if driving through

neighborhoods, please be courteous and

vigilant of the little goblins on foot.

Though it may seem to be an inconvenience,

when traveling in a vehicle please make

sure EVERYONE is properly “buckled up”

with seatbelts and properly fitting child

restraints.

Please be aware there have been multiple

complaints of drivers speeding in the

village area and officers will be conducting

traffic enforcement

patrols. They will

also be looking for

seatbelt and child

restraint violations

as well. The speed

limits in the village

is, for the most part,

15 mph, so please be

aware and obey the

signs posted.

RESIDENCY

A reminder to all to be aware of the

residency ordinance for the Pueblo of Isleta

and anyone who is not an enrolled member

or non-Indian is not allowed to rent, lease

or lend buildings. Members of the Pueblo

who plan to reside with a non-member must

first request written permission from the

Governor before taking up residence within

the Pueblo of Isleta. Please refer to the

Residency Ordinance or contact Census.

As many will attest, checks have and are

being conducted on those believed to be

residing within the boundaries of the

Pueblo who should not be. We ask that all

be aware of the residency requirements,

take steps to get approval before allowing

someone who violates the requirements to

reside here.

Isleta Police Department is active

in community events and we will be

participants at the Halloween Carnival.

We are also preparing for the Reaching for

the Stars event in December and everyone

at the department will be busy preparing

for both these events.

We hope to see you at the Carnival and look

forward to interacting with the Community

at every opportunity.

The following is published by “Safe Kids

Worldwide”

HALLOWEEN SAFETY

TIPS

Walk Safely

1. Cross the street at corners, using

traffic signals and crosswalks. Look left,

right and left again when crossing and

keep looking as you cross.

2. Put electronic devices down, keep

heads up and walk, don’t run, across the

street.

3. Teach children to make eye contact

with drivers before crossing in front of

them.

4. Always walk on sidewalks or paths.

If there are no sidewalks, walk facing

traffic as far to the left as possible.

5. Children should walk on direct

routes with the fewest street crossings.

6. Watch for cars that are turning or

backing up. Teach children to never

dart out into the street or cross between

parked cars.

7. Join kids under age 12 for trick-ortreating. If kids are mature enough to

be out without supervision, tell them to

stick to familiar areas that are well lit

and trick-or-treat in groups.

Costumes for a Safe Halloween

1. Decorate costumes and bags with

reflective tape or stickers and, if possible,

choose light colors.

2. Choose face paint and makeup

whenever possible instead of masks,

which can obstruct a child’s vision.

3. Have kids carry glow sticks or

flashlights to help them see and be seen

by drivers.

4. When selecting a costume, make

sure it is the right size to prevent trips

and falls.

Drive Extra Safely on Halloween

1. Slow down and be especially alert in

residential neighborhoods. Children are

excited on Halloween and may move in

unpredictable ways.

2. Take extra time to look for kids at

intersections, on medians and on curbs.

3. Enter and exit driveways and alleys

slowly and carefully.

4. Get rid of any distractions - like your

phone - in your car so you can concentrate

on the road and your surroundings.

5. Turn your headlights on earlier in

the day to spot children from greater

distances.

6. Popular trick-or-treating hours are

5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Be especially alert

for kids during those hours.

Page 22

Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

What to do if you find a

used needle outdoors

People, especially children,

must never touch or pick

up needles found on the

ground. Discarded needles

can be harmful. Needles

or hypodermic needles are

also known as syringes or sharps.

Cleaning up discarded needles must be

done carefully to protect human health

and the environment.

If a used or discarded needle is found on

Isleta tribal land, please call Isleta Police

Dispatch at 869-3030 to report the location

so that a qualified tribal employee can

safely collect and dispose of the discarded

needle.

Individuals who use needles for

insulin shots or other medical uses are

expected to dispose of their used needles

appropriately in sharps containers that

individuals have to purchase themselves.

An exclamation mark within a triangular

border is the international symbol for

caution. Always exercise caution if you

see a discarded needle.

If you have any questions about this

article, please contact Environment

Department at 869-7565.

October 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 23

Isleta Health Center

Do you or someone you know have a

drinking problem?

Alcohol use is not a problem for everyone but it

can become a problem if you are not aware of the

signs. It helps if you know the signs so you can do

something about it before it becomes a problem.

If you are curious whether your alcohol use might

be a problem, take a moment to answer these

questions:

In the past 6 months to a year, did you

•

End up drinking more, or longer, than you

intended

•

Tried to cut down or stop drinking but

continued to use alcohol

•

Drive a car or operate heavy machinery

while drinking or “buzzed”

•

Have to drink more than you used to in

order to get the same effect

•

Continue to drink even if you felt

depressed, anxious, or guilty

•

Continue to drink even though you had

health problems because of the alcohol

•

Continue to drink even though it caused

problems with family, friends, and/or the job

•

Spend a lot of time figuring out how you

would get your next drink

•

Experience hangovers that got worse

each time you drank

•

Ever have a drink the following day just to

“steady your nerves” or to “take off the edge”

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions,

it may be time to seek help…

Isleta Health Center

Behavioral Health Clinic

505-869-5475

Page 24

Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

Isleta Health Center Optometry

Digital Eye Strain

We are using screens

now more than ever

before. Many of us use

our computer screens at

work and spend much of

our spare time on our TVs, phones or tablets.

This can be a wonderful thing, but there are

also potential side effects. One of the effects of

increased screen time is that it can bother our

eyes, a recent term has been coined for this:

“Digital Eye Strain”. Our eyes feel strained due

to the background light from the devices, and

due to small muscles inside our eyes that are

working hard to keep us focused on the devices

in front of us.

The Optometry Times and many eye-care

professionals have recently created a simple

rule to help combat this Digital Eye Strain. They

call it the 20-20-20 Rule; this means that for

every 20 minutes you spend on a digital screen,

you should take a 20-second break to look at

something at least 20 feet away. Oftentimes, our

eyes feel most relaxed when we let them rest for

a moment and just look into the distance. If you

can actively remember to take short breaks from

staring at screens throughout your day, your

eyes will thank you. Especially if you are feeling

eyestrain or fatigue at the end of the day, this is

something you should implement into your daily

routine. Vision is such an important part of our

lives, let’s remember to take care of our eyes so

they can take care of us for many more years to

come.

Isleta Health Center

Optometry Department

October 2023

Isleta Physical Therapy

Bernadette Valdez, PT, DPT

As the weather cools in the fall, it is tempting to

be less physically active. October is the perfect

time to focus on healthy self-care because

we are celebrating National Physical Therapy

Month! Surprise — physical therapy is not just

for injury recovery. Its benefits also include

injury and illness prevention.

WHY NATIONAL PHYSICAL

MONTH IS IMPORTANT

THERAPY

1. It gives us the opportunity to practice

self-awareness

The more we pay conscious attention to our

physical habits, the more likely we will take steps

to change the ones that may lead to chronic

aches and even injuries. For example, if you

notice you tend to slump while working at your

computer, you can start to correct your posture,

which can help prevent aching muscles.

2. It helps us to understand the impact of

physical therapy

Physical therapy can make it possible to recover

more quickly and completely from serious injury

or major surgery, while reducing the need for

pain medication and other drugs. Moreover,

with the additional effects of relaxation and

pain relief, emotional ease becomes part of the

equation as well.

3. It reminds us to focus on self-care

Whether or not you are currently recovering

from an accident or recent surgery, you can

benefit from spending this month really taking

care of yourself. You may be surprised to find

that indulging in a little “me time” is good for you

mentally and emotionally, as well as physically.

For more information on how to be scheduled,

please call the Isleta Physical Therapy Clinic

(505) 869-4398.

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 25

Page 26

Isleta Pueblo News

October 2023

Health Beat

Keeping our People Safe Suicide Prevention

This time of year brings many things including

seasonal change, the start of a new educational

year, and for many people it can be a major change

in our mental wellbeing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, suicide

is considered a death caused by injuring oneself

with the intent to die. While a suicide attempt is

when someone harms themselves with any intent

to end their life, but they do not die as a result of

their actions. Suicide can be the product of violence,

trauma, and even injury. This is a major public

health issue that severely impacts Native American

populations across the United States, especially

those who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual. CDC

data shows that 90% of individuals who attempt

suicide and survive will never go on to die by suicide.

Although suicide is a stigmatized and often taboo

subject, it is still preventable and we can all play a

role in saving someone’s life. It isn’t always obvious

if someone is in distress, but most individuals

who are suicidal will show some signs that they

are considering harming or killing themselves.

Unfortunately, adults are not the only populations

that are at risk of suicidal inclinations. Today we are

seeing younger generations experiencing hardships

that lead to suicidal behaviors.

Signs of suicide within older and younger

populations may differ in some instances depending

on the individual’s environment. Signs can include

speaking about death or suicide, seeking methods

of self-harm, and/or talking about being hopeless or

having no reason to live. Other potential signs could

also include an increase in alcohol or drug use,

increase in reckless behaviors, uncontrollable anger,

changes in sleep schedules, social withdrawal, and

obtaining lethal weapons (guns, sharp objects, etc.).

If one or more of those warning signs is observed,

especially if they are new behaviors, or seem to be

in relation to a painful event, loss, or change, please

step in or speak up.

Intervening in these types of situations isn’t easy,

and can be very concerning for all involved. But,

you are not alone! If you or someone you know is in

an emergency call 911 immediately. There are also

other free options for those who may find themselves

in crisis, and may include dialing 988 which is an

active suicide and crisis lifeline that provides 24/7,

free and confidential support for people in distress.

Sometimes it takes just one person to take action

and save a life. If you find yourself or someone

you know that is struggling with their mental

health please feel free to reach out to B’eeh-K’oo-ee

Wellness Center (AKA Isleta Behavioral Health) at

505-869-5475 and set up an appointment with one

of our counselors.

NM Poison Control

During the Pandemic, we should be

cleaning and disinfecting more often.

It is important that you do not inject

or ingest these chemicals into your

body. Please remember to keep ALL

chemicals out of children’s reach. If

any cleaning or disinfectant solution is

swallowed or injected, please contact

the NM Poison Control immediately.

1-800-222-1222

October 2023

Isleta Pueblo News

Page 27

Head Start

Students doing their First Bus Evacuation

Families meeting teachers , friends, peers,

and exploring the classrooms during the

Head Start Open House.

Families visiting the POI Public Library

booth during the Head Start Open House.

ISLETA HEALTH CENTER

Flu Vaccines

As we approach the cooler months, it's time

to gear up for a healthy and vibrant season

ahead. One crucial step in safeguarding your

well-being and that of your loved ones is

getting your annual flu shot.

Why should you get the flu shot?

Boost Your Immunity: The flu shot

strengthens your immune system, helping you

fend off the flu virus.

Protect Your Loved Ones: Getting

vaccinated not only shields you but also those

around you, especially the more vulnerable

members of our community.

Prevent

Overwhelming

Healthcare

Systems: By getting vaccinated, you

contribute to reducing the burden on our

healthcare facilities, ensuring they can focus

on other critical health needs.

Enjoy a Healthier Season: With the flu shot,

you can look forward to a worry-free and active

autumn and winter.

Convenient and Accessible: Flu shots

are readily available at local clinics and

pharmacies. Please call the Isleta Health

Center at 505-869-3200 for more information.

Let's unite as a community to prioritize our

health and well-being. Don't wait – schedule

your flu shot today and be a part of the

collective effort to stay well and stay strong.

Together, we can keep our community flu-free

and thriving!

-Nancy Jo Gonzales,

Public Health Director

Page 28

Isleta Pueblo News

Helping Your Adult

Family Member

Who Has an Addiction

Although you may be tempted to rescue, bribe, pamper, scold,

or threaten your adult family member who continues to use

and abuse alcohol and/or drugs, this is not a helpful approach.

Families share experience, strength, and hope at Al-non

meetings. These meetings teach you how to stop “enabling”.

The word enabling means “allowing, permitting, or aiding” the

alcoholic/addict to stay in their sickness and enabling keeps

you, the family, trapped in the problem. Enabling can make you

physically and emotionally sick and cause increased stress with

you and your home environment. Addiction is not something

that affects just the alcoholic/addict but has a negative impact

on the entire family and the community.

No one wants their adult family member to suffer with an

addiction and your intentions to help are out of love and

concern. When enabling turns into an intervention, things

begin to change. It is time to take your focus off the adult

family member’s addiction and place it onto yourself and your

family. You regain power to make meaningful choices about

what you will do and what you won’t do. Enabling does not

teach responsibility.

You can contact Al-non at (505) 262-2177 and find out the

nearest location from your community to attend, (IBHS does

not provide transportation).

Isleta Health Center - Behavioral Health

October 2023