Vanessa Maciel

Las Vegas

Community Reporter at Las Vegas Optic

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Articles

Rodriquez remembered for her dedication to local students

1 week ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Known for her dedication to mentoring and advocating for others, Elaine Rodriquez spent the last few weeks of her life looking out for the wellbeing of her students. Rodriquez, the head of the history and political science department at New Mexico Highlands University and former city of Las Vegas councilwoman, passed away April 27. Rodriquez’s loss leaves many in both the Las Vegas and NMHU communities missing a leader who strove for the betterment of all.
Senior companions honored for making a difference

1 week ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

For local Lorraine Romero, helping a senior citizen avoid living in an assisted care facility and remain in her Los Montoyas home helps them both see their value and worthiness to society. Romero is involved in a senior companion program organized by Help New Mexico and Chicanos por la Causa. Senior companions, care companions and foster grandparents in the region were recognized for their service during a ceremony April 30 at the George Salazar Center.
Local comedian looks for his big break

1 week ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Local Jose Maestas II has a one-in-six chance of meeting with NBC executives and pitching his dream job of performing on Saturday Night Live. Maestas is competing in the Ya Tu Sabes Monologue Slam!, a Los Angeles-based competition that allows writers to submit a short monologue. A panel of judges then choose the best monologues, which then go on to be performed by actors.
NMHU mariachi band springs back to action

3 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Don’t call it a comeback – it’s been around for years – it was just dormant. After more than a decade, the Vaqueros de la Sierra – the mariachi band at New Mexico Highlands University – is once again performing songs in the traditional, sonorous Mexican style. In an effort to introduce themselves to the community and raise funds for the program, the small yet growing mariachi band will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday, May 3 at Café Colibrí.
Three Years Later: Lengthy claims process continues to frustrate fire victims, elected leaders

3 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Three years after the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire ravaged the site of a mountain community and resort, those charged with managing the land are still awaiting compensation from FEMA. Debbie Simpson, accepted the position of executive director of the Pendaries Village Community Association in Rociada in June 2023. Simpson said that, at that time, the association’s board members believed FEMA funds were going to become available sooner than later.
Local composers to express themselves ‘here and now’

3 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Las Vegas’ songwriting talent will take center stage this weekend as the work of five local, living composers is featured during a concert on the New Mexico Highlands University campus. The concert, titled “Here and Now,” will be performed by Highlands’ Madrigal Choir at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 27, at Ilfeld Auditorium. Admission is free. “I know every one of the composers, personally, except for (Bob) Chilcott,” said André García-Nuthmann, the choir’s director and music professor at Highlands.
‘Palabras Pintorescas’ - Editha Bartley remembered for her love of community, family

4 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

In a column dated May 23, 2014, Editha Bartley wrote that she was recently asked by fellow Optic columnist Art Trujillo, if she ever ran out of story ideas. “Obviously, the answer is ‘no’ because things just pop up in my life and that reminds me of yet another tall tale or story,” Bartley wrote. The column, which was given the headline, “Never run out of stories,” was one of nearly 600 columns Bartley wrote for the Las Vegas Optic from 2010-2018.
‘We need to hear ourselves first’ - Fire victims highlight importance of open dialogue

4 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

One quote seemed to sum up the takeaways from a community-led event where nearly 75 people impacted by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire gathered and shared their experiences: ‘We need to hear ourselves first.’The quote appears repeatedly in an emailed communication from Rich Strittmatter, chairman of the A Community to be Heard event that took place March 29 at the Luna Community College auditorium.
Community health leaders express concerns to NM Attorney General

4 weeks ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

Finding ways to recruit physicians and minimizing the number of patients that are flown out of Las Vegas for care were two of the main concerns expressed to Attorney General of New Mexico Raúl Torrez Tuesday by local health administrators. Organized by the Las Vegas New Mexico Community Foundation, the roundtable discussion brought Torrez and those in the health field under the same roof – the foundation’s new offices at 606 Douglas Ave.
Fire victims share their stories at community event

1 month ago | lasvegasoptic.com | Vanessa Maciel

This is part one of a two-part series about ‘A Community to be Heard,’ a grassroots movement that was created with the goal of helping individuals affected by the Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon Fire share their stories. This story focuses on a meeting ‘A Community to be Heard’ held March 29, at Luna Community College. Part two will include in-depth commentary from organizers and attendees about their takeaways of the event.