Saturday, October 25, 2008
Citizen of the year, Unsung Heroes, a review
More than a decade ago, in 1995, the News-Bulletin began choosing a Citizen of the Year and honoring Unsung Heroes.
They're all people who do things out of the goodness of their hearts, folks who are volunteers and are not paid for their activism.
Each year, we like to review the names of the people we've honored as sort of a continuing tribute.
Here's an update on those who have been honored:
2008: Citizens of the Year: James and Rosie Garley. Unsung Heroes: Mary Andersen, Laura Avila, the Branch Coffee Shop Gang, Lisa Chavez, David Gabaldon, Therese Hidalgo, Maria Marez, Joe Marquez, Richard Tafoya, Doris Vesel
Sunday, November 9, 2008
coffee gang
Branch Gang: Cooking up a heaping helping of hope
Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com
Los Lunas To find groups of unsung heroes, contacting civic or religious organizations might work. Most people wouldn't think such a group could be found hanging out at a nearby coffee shop.
Yet that's precisely who can be found at The Branch Books, Gifts and Espresso shop in Los Lunas. Nearly every morning, year round, a group meets at around the time the shop opens. It's not a formal club or organization; there are no dues or fees for membership, and its leaders do not govern nor are there any bylaws.Still, the batch known as "The Branch Coffee Shop Gang" has managed to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity causes. Inspired when one of its own, Chuck Peeples, had a fierce battle with cancer a few years ago, the Gang has embarked on countless projects, fundraisers and drives to help support everything from Toys for Tots from Cops to local high school sports programs.Peeples was welcomed back from a series of chemotherapy treatments with a breakfast held for him in the spring of 2005. That seemed to ignite the goodwill of the group, which had already done some charity work together."We had cookouts and things before to help people out, but that's when it really took off," said Peeples, 74. "People ask us, 'Why do you guys do all this stuff?' Well, it's who we are. It's about giving back, and it's about gratitude."One of the major events of late involving the Branch Gang was a Sept. 28 fundraising motorcycle ride call the "Run for Cover" that benefitted S.A.F.E. House, a domestic violence shelter in Albuquerque. While many of the group's charity events don't involve motorcycle rides, some do, and many in the group have the same pride in their bikes that other riders have."Some have bought bikes since they started hanging around this group — expensive ones," said Pete Argo, a member of the group along with his wife, Charlene."You'll never see this combination of ages, lifestyles and personalities together anywhere else," said Sam Houston, another member.That's also why motorcycle topics are so commonly brought up when the group meets at 7 a.m. (or shortly before) each morning. But they're by no means a biker group — in fact, the members actually have little in common personally except a desire to help people and the same destination most mornings."The coffee shop is the glue that binds this group together," said Steve Otero, one of the more vocal members of the gang. "To see people come together like this, sometimes just to help one person or a couple of people, is incredible."One of the group's bigger events this year was a fundraiser for Kirk Graham, a motorcycle accident victim and friend of Argo's. Graham was paralyzed in a 2007 bike wreck, and his wife was flown down from Colorado for the event, a charity ride from east Albuquerque to Los Lunas."There were 235 people at that ride we organized, and most had never even met (Graham)," said Otero. "We've never denied anyone who requests our help."Otero said the Coffee Gang, which has gotten help from local businesses, such as RAKS Building Supply, Pete's Carpet and Valencia County Choppers, has raised more than $200,000 for the Los Lunas Middle School Gear Up program, Route 66 Society for the Arts, the troops in Iraq, El Ranchito De los Niños and several area sports teams as well as domestic violence shelters.Otero said one supporter will donate to the cause, then show up and donate at the door (for example, at a fajita dinner) and still drop one or two 20-dollar bills in the tip jar."The word is out that we do a lot of work in Valencia County," said Peeples. "We're not rich, but I'm rich in knowing people like Steve."Otero and Peeples disagree on who the leader of the group is, each saying the other is the motivator, the organizer, the inspirational one."Chuck's our leader as far as enthusiasm and motivation," said Otero. "He's our motivation.""Steve is our 'hidalgo' (noble) person," said Peeples. "Whenever there are extra expenses on a trip or at a fundraiser, he not only pays for those out of his own pocket, he'll do the footwork to get supplies or whatever needs doing."Otero has become known as something of a maestro of the matanza. He's cooked for everything from a fundraiser for a local police officer battling cancer to the recent New Mexico Archeology Fair at Daniel Fernandez Park in Los Lunas.Peeples describes his cancer situation as a battle he can never completely win. While his ongoing treatment allows him to function for the most part, he can't take any of the more powerful treatments anymore, so his current regimen is meant to contain or mitigate his illness at best, not remove it.The group commissioned local artist Jim Pearson to create a color image of Peeples and his wife, Ethel May; the work has even appeared on their business cards. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May."The treatments are bad, but this group lifts me up," Chuck Peeples said.One member of the group, Ron Heer, is known as "Santa Ron." Though his long white beard makes him an obvious choice to wear a Santa Claus suit in December and to participate in toy drives, he's involved with all types of fundraisers. He wore a shirt for the S.A.F.E. house bike rally that had a list of thanked groups on the back, including "The Branch Coffee House Gang."The owners of The Branch, Barry Wood and his wife, Lori, welcome the gang at a sort of group rate for coffee and endure the large, sometimes boisterous group coffee shop customers might not be used to seeing."It's unusual for a group to meet in a business like this, and I'm sure people walking in can see the seats are sometimes all full," said Peeples. "But this is where we got started."Wood said the camaraderie, good times and important planning for work in the community make it an easy choice to host the group and participate in its events when he can."The scene right here says it all," said Wood, motioning toward the laughing batch of about 12 members on a recent Saturday morning. "Everyone starts their day here."Wood collects donations from the group in chunks, but allowing the group to meet there without charging for meeting space, or even full price for coffee, is how he contributes to the group.Toys for Tots from Cops is just one of many charity opportunities the gang will encounter in the months to come.The group still takes care of its own ranks as well."If they can help, they will," said Peeples. "If someone needed to borrow something, like money, they wouldn't even have to tell the group why they needed it."
Jason W. Brooks News-Bulletin Staff Writer; jbrooks@news-bulletin.com
Los Lunas To find groups of unsung heroes, contacting civic or religious organizations might work. Most people wouldn't think such a group could be found hanging out at a nearby coffee shop.
Yet that's precisely who can be found at The Branch Books, Gifts and Espresso shop in Los Lunas. Nearly every morning, year round, a group meets at around the time the shop opens. It's not a formal club or organization; there are no dues or fees for membership, and its leaders do not govern nor are there any bylaws.Still, the batch known as "The Branch Coffee Shop Gang" has managed to raise tens of thousands of dollars for charity causes. Inspired when one of its own, Chuck Peeples, had a fierce battle with cancer a few years ago, the Gang has embarked on countless projects, fundraisers and drives to help support everything from Toys for Tots from Cops to local high school sports programs.Peeples was welcomed back from a series of chemotherapy treatments with a breakfast held for him in the spring of 2005. That seemed to ignite the goodwill of the group, which had already done some charity work together."We had cookouts and things before to help people out, but that's when it really took off," said Peeples, 74. "People ask us, 'Why do you guys do all this stuff?' Well, it's who we are. It's about giving back, and it's about gratitude."One of the major events of late involving the Branch Gang was a Sept. 28 fundraising motorcycle ride call the "Run for Cover" that benefitted S.A.F.E. House, a domestic violence shelter in Albuquerque. While many of the group's charity events don't involve motorcycle rides, some do, and many in the group have the same pride in their bikes that other riders have."Some have bought bikes since they started hanging around this group — expensive ones," said Pete Argo, a member of the group along with his wife, Charlene."You'll never see this combination of ages, lifestyles and personalities together anywhere else," said Sam Houston, another member.That's also why motorcycle topics are so commonly brought up when the group meets at 7 a.m. (or shortly before) each morning. But they're by no means a biker group — in fact, the members actually have little in common personally except a desire to help people and the same destination most mornings."The coffee shop is the glue that binds this group together," said Steve Otero, one of the more vocal members of the gang. "To see people come together like this, sometimes just to help one person or a couple of people, is incredible."One of the group's bigger events this year was a fundraiser for Kirk Graham, a motorcycle accident victim and friend of Argo's. Graham was paralyzed in a 2007 bike wreck, and his wife was flown down from Colorado for the event, a charity ride from east Albuquerque to Los Lunas."There were 235 people at that ride we organized, and most had never even met (Graham)," said Otero. "We've never denied anyone who requests our help."Otero said the Coffee Gang, which has gotten help from local businesses, such as RAKS Building Supply, Pete's Carpet and Valencia County Choppers, has raised more than $200,000 for the Los Lunas Middle School Gear Up program, Route 66 Society for the Arts, the troops in Iraq, El Ranchito De los Niños and several area sports teams as well as domestic violence shelters.Otero said one supporter will donate to the cause, then show up and donate at the door (for example, at a fajita dinner) and still drop one or two 20-dollar bills in the tip jar."The word is out that we do a lot of work in Valencia County," said Peeples. "We're not rich, but I'm rich in knowing people like Steve."Otero and Peeples disagree on who the leader of the group is, each saying the other is the motivator, the organizer, the inspirational one."Chuck's our leader as far as enthusiasm and motivation," said Otero. "He's our motivation.""Steve is our 'hidalgo' (noble) person," said Peeples. "Whenever there are extra expenses on a trip or at a fundraiser, he not only pays for those out of his own pocket, he'll do the footwork to get supplies or whatever needs doing."Otero has become known as something of a maestro of the matanza. He's cooked for everything from a fundraiser for a local police officer battling cancer to the recent New Mexico Archeology Fair at Daniel Fernandez Park in Los Lunas.Peeples describes his cancer situation as a battle he can never completely win. While his ongoing treatment allows him to function for the most part, he can't take any of the more powerful treatments anymore, so his current regimen is meant to contain or mitigate his illness at best, not remove it.The group commissioned local artist Jim Pearson to create a color image of Peeples and his wife, Ethel May; the work has even appeared on their business cards. The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in May."The treatments are bad, but this group lifts me up," Chuck Peeples said.One member of the group, Ron Heer, is known as "Santa Ron." Though his long white beard makes him an obvious choice to wear a Santa Claus suit in December and to participate in toy drives, he's involved with all types of fundraisers. He wore a shirt for the S.A.F.E. house bike rally that had a list of thanked groups on the back, including "The Branch Coffee House Gang."The owners of The Branch, Barry Wood and his wife, Lori, welcome the gang at a sort of group rate for coffee and endure the large, sometimes boisterous group coffee shop customers might not be used to seeing."It's unusual for a group to meet in a business like this, and I'm sure people walking in can see the seats are sometimes all full," said Peeples. "But this is where we got started."Wood said the camaraderie, good times and important planning for work in the community make it an easy choice to host the group and participate in its events when he can."The scene right here says it all," said Wood, motioning toward the laughing batch of about 12 members on a recent Saturday morning. "Everyone starts their day here."Wood collects donations from the group in chunks, but allowing the group to meet there without charging for meeting space, or even full price for coffee, is how he contributes to the group.Toys for Tots from Cops is just one of many charity opportunities the gang will encounter in the months to come.The group still takes care of its own ranks as well."If they can help, they will," said Peeples. "If someone needed to borrow something, like money, they wouldn't even have to tell the group why they needed it."
Change
As we enter the new era of this presdent. He offers change so in that vain. We are changing the name of this blog.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Kirk Graham Benefit
The event was organized to benefit Kirk Graham, an Albuquerque motorcycle enthusiast who sustained permanent spinal injuries last September while on a motorcycle trip to Ruidoso. Graham is currently at a rehabilitation clinic in Denver. The money will help the Grahams convert their house to a handicapped-accessible home.
The rally was a total success with several hundred participants showing up and enjoyed a Fajita meal and games. The rally was put together by several people; Steve Otero, Pete and Charlene Argo, Rick Johnston, Lavone Jones and Rick de la Rosa, is one of the event organizers. Business Donations were from a variety of companies; Yearout Mechanical, Raks, Petes Carpet, Valencia County Choppers, K Love Radio, Pepsi, Wallmart on Coors and I-40, Crystal Ranch, Los Lunas Schools, Branch Coffee Shop, Village of Los Lunas, Jam Session, Sew n What, Cross Country Propane, Albertsons, Ribs, Car Quest Los Lunas, Fencing Unlimited, Band Full Moon, Volvo Rents, Dale Grant and Family, Paradise Donuts, Big O, Support and Hard Work, Christian Motorcycle Group, Bosque Roasters, Sandia Labs Employees Local 412 and all the fantastic Volunteers. This event could not have happened with out you the people who showed up and shared!
The rally was a total success with several hundred participants showing up and enjoyed a Fajita meal and games. The rally was put together by several people; Steve Otero, Pete and Charlene Argo, Rick Johnston, Lavone Jones and Rick de la Rosa, is one of the event organizers. Business Donations were from a variety of companies; Yearout Mechanical, Raks, Petes Carpet, Valencia County Choppers, K Love Radio, Pepsi, Wallmart on Coors and I-40, Crystal Ranch, Los Lunas Schools, Branch Coffee Shop, Village of Los Lunas, Jam Session, Sew n What, Cross Country Propane, Albertsons, Ribs, Car Quest Los Lunas, Fencing Unlimited, Band Full Moon, Volvo Rents, Dale Grant and Family, Paradise Donuts, Big O, Support and Hard Work, Christian Motorcycle Group, Bosque Roasters, Sandia Labs Employees Local 412 and all the fantastic Volunteers. This event could not have happened with out you the people who showed up and shared!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
What Spring Weather???
Just when we thought it was warm enough to ride the weather changes and we have to hold onto each other to conserve the heat!!!
The "GANG" from the coffee shop!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
New You?
I think every person at some point has made New Years resolutions. Mostly I have seen resolutions that are based on improving ones self. To lose weight, quit smoking etc. Well remember the saying that it takes 30 days to make a habit. So do your resolutions for 30 days and they should be in place for you. Take time to sit at the Branch and savor the coffee a little longer to improve your disposition. Enjoy visiting with other voyagers, as well as telling of your expeditions! Volunteer to help at a cookout or donate some money to various things that come our way. I would also encourage you to seek Gods help in your plans it seems to work better if you have help. Yep, God is here for you in small things not just emergency’s. If you don’t have a close walk with God this is a good time to start. Today is the first days of the rest of your life – include Jesus and make it an eternal life!
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
John 3:3
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
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