We have another local veteran who is celebrating a special birthday next week. Carlsbad resident Pat Mitchell will be turning 95 on Jan. 18. Pat is a World War II veteran who loves playing his fiddle and teaching others how to play, and his Sunday morning worship fiddling is enjoyed by many at Blodgett Street Baptist Church. Pat cherishes history, freedom, health, family, friends, church, community and the United States. Friend and family are putting together something special for his birthday. Many years ago, Pat and I worked together at the potash mines. He is a very hard working and dedicated person. Happy birthday Pat and thank you for your service!
Speaking of musicians, one of the biggest names at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant has announced his retirement. NWP Chief of Staff Kevin Donavan will officially retire after 36 years of supporting Department of Energy Projects at the end of this month. Donavan has also been a very highly involved member of the community, and has played in several local bands, including “Beardless Minds.” He has also dedicated himself to missionary work and helping those in need. We wish you the very best in your retirement Kevin.
We had a good visit with new Eddy County Commissioner Sarah Cordova earlier this week. Sarah is very excited about serving the citizens of her district, and we look forward to working with her. She has been busy this past few weeks touring around the county, including the Eddy County Detention Center. She’s gotten a firsthand tour of Eddy County’s roads and learned about the developing going on around town. She has called to our attention the fact that issues such as childcare are still a very high concern for working parents in our community. Sarah is also working closely with former Commissioner Susan Crockett, so we know she’s getting good advice.
On Friday, a proclamation was signed declaring Jan. 18, 2021 to be Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Carlsbad. While the Martin Luther King Jr. Scholarship committee is limited in its events and services this year, we sincerely appreciate their many years of providing scholarships to deserving students in our community. They are also still looking at possibly holding some events at a later date. Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, and please honor Dr. King’s legacy of promoting peace and harmony.
Carlsbad Public Library’s amateur photography contest has come to a close. We know there have been many wonderful pieces submitted and look forward to seeing the winning entries soon. Thank you again to our library for putting together this fun event.
Sincerely,
Carlsbad Mayor Dale Janway