Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 31

E5 The Sunday Journal TRAVEL Albuquerque, July 11 2010 By Sue Manning The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Part of the oldest museum in Los Angeles County has been turned into a home for the aged and the ages. With specimens that date back 4 billion years, the Age of Mammals exhibit opens today in the north wing of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. the first permanent museum exhibition in the world to trace 65 million years of evolution based on geology and climate, said curator John Harris. are trying to figure out why the change took place, not just describe how the change took he said. mammals evolve to adapt to their surroundings.

If that were the simplest part of it, after the dust cleared, after the asteroid exploded and the dinosaurs had been wiped out, then mammals would have filled the habitats left vacant by the demise of the dinosaurs and that would have been the end of the story. But it because a restless Earth allow it. seen that humans themselves are a product of climate change. Now we are at the point where we are causing and contributing to climate Harris said. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a old mastodon found in Simi Valley, just 40 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

A relative of the elephant, it is also the largest complete specimen, standing 8 feet, 9 inches tall. There is a paleoparadoxiid an extinct rela- tive of elephants and sea cows, that lived on the California coast about 11 million years ago. And there is an ancient species of sperm whale whose fossilized bones have been assembled for the first time by any museum and seems to float above the exhibit. history is full of remarkable creatures on land and in the sea and it is terrific that the museum chose to emphasize the role of climate change and shifting continents in the history of said Blaire Van Valkenburgh, a professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at the University of California, Los Angeles and a member of the steering committee. should help people understand the connections between the rocks beneath their feet and the history of life on the The Age of Mammals uses a mounted saber- toothed cat, a giant jaguar, a thunder beast that resembles a dinosaur more than a mammal to help tell its evolution story.

The largest animal represented in the collection is a Columbian mammoth. A jaw from the 14-foot-tall mammal will be on display and stands 2.5 feet high. The first ever display of a bone-crushing complete skeleton is part of the show. The 8 million-year-old species represents the largest dog family ever evolved. With its powerful jaws and teeth, the bone-crushing dog could crack the bones of its prey, like a modern hyena.

The smallest mammals represented are an extinct mouse and the shell of a fossil land snail. The museum, with its trademark rotunda and three wings, opened on Nov. 6, 1913, as the Los Angeles Museum of History, Science and Art. Through the years, it has collected more than 35 million objects, some as old as 4.5 billion years. Renovation of the 1913 building is part of a $107 million project that will include two more exhibitions (including Dinosaur Mysteries), a demonstration center, a nature lab, pedestrian bridge, a park and nature space, more gallery space, new stores and a cafe.

For information, go to nhm.org. Joe and Stella Gonzales are celebrating 50 years of marriage. Joe Gonzales and the former Stella Aguilar were joined in marriage Oct. 29, 1960, in Las Vegas, N.M. Joe served in the U.S.

Marine Corps and has been a barber for the past 50 years. Stella was a supervisor for Honeywell and retired in 1991. She has also been a baby sitter for the past 19 years. Their children are Billy Gonzales, and Kenny and his wife, Kathy Gonzales. They have four grandchildren, Ashley and her husband, Jake Wilson; Kassidy Gonzales; Kaeden Gonzales; and step-grandson Kevin Martinez.

Joe and Stella are celebrating their anniversary in July with family and friends. pioneers migrating on foot, in wagons or on horseback toward the promise of land, gold or just a better life. Most of the emigration occurred between 1843 and 1869, tapering off quickly when the transcontinental railroad was completed. But emigration on the trails continued into the 20th century. Following one of those trails, or just a section, makes for a memorable family trip.

Kids love climbing landmarks like Independence Rock a Wyoming site that many pioneers aimed to reach by July 4. just a scramble and then standing up there like children did 150 years said Julie Fanselow, an Idaho writer whose the Oregon (Falcon Guide) is recommended by National Park Service historians for families that want to follow the trail. The details of the crossing are dramatic. An estimated one in 10 pioneers perished en route from cholera or dysentery or from mishaps like accidental gunshots or falling under a wagon wheel. Their tribulations are explained in great detail at museums like the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, which uses a full-size diorama, complete with oxen and freshly dug graves, to illustrate the life of the pioneers.

The sites of forts, massacres and dangerous river crossings, such as Three Island Crossing in Glenns Ferry, Idaho, are marked by signs, parks and sometimes with annual celebrations. are fascinated with the whole adventure side of said Sarah LeCompte, director of the Interpretive Center. adults, I think comparing it with their own experience, and I have been brave enough to do We hear a lot of that philosophizing And then there are the chores. Anne Richey Allen, a Boise Girl Scout leader, has long taught kids about pioneer chores. She recalled seeing her scouts demonstrate pioneer clothes-washing techniques at an Idaho Historical Museum event.

had wringers, they had washtubs, and the girls would wash tea towels and aprons and then run them through the said Allen. and their brother wanted to do it. It cracked me up. If you were at home, would you want to do that? Heck no. But in the setting of the historical museum, they were just fighting over who got to do Kids also love learning about how families chose what to bring, said Jock Summers, a fourth-grade teacher at Paramount Elementary School in Meridian, Idaho.

Summers has his students pack a theoretical wagon. really drives it home for them is that they purchase something when they get to the Willamette Valley or wherever it is they are he said. any grocery stores on the way from PAGE E6 JOHN AND WASHINGTON BUREAU OF LAND The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center near Baker City, describes the dramatic journey in detail. DAVID AND WASHINGTON BUREAU OF LAND A sign marks an Oregon Trail trail- head. More than 400,000 people are estimated to have made the crossing.

Oregon Trail drives home pioneer life hardships The Montanos Bowman, Park The Karaians The Arnolds Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gonzales, 50th anniversary Trujillo, Romero Favian and Tresa Trujillo and Valerio, all of Taos, announce the engagement of their daughter, Melissa Ursula Trujillo, to Eric Timothy Romero, both of Albuquerque. Eric is the son of Mr. and Mrs.

Nelson Felix Romero of Los Lunas. The wedding will take place Aug. 7 in Ranchos de Taos. Anderson, Fullbright Johanna Anderson of Commerce City, announces the engagement of her daughter, Lacy J. Anderson, to Zachary N.

Fullbright, both of Albuquerque. He is the son of Stephan and Colleen Fullbright of Rio Rancho. The couple will wed Sept. 25 at Sandia Resort in Albuquerque. Madsen, Koester Alissa Marie Madsen and Christopher Robert Koester are making plans for a Sept.

25 wedding. The engagement was announced by her parents, Fred and Jane Madsen of Rio Rancho. Christopher is the son of Larry and Diana Koester of Albuquerque. The wedding will be celebrated at Chamisa Hills Country Club in Rio Rancho. Cooley, Vreeland Gail and Jerry Cooley of Albuquerque announce the engagement of their daughter, Erika Jane Cooley, to David Eric Vreeland.

He is the son of Leta Vreeland of Albuquerque. The wedding will take place Sept. 5 in Albuquerque. ENGAGEMENTS ANNIVERSARY Lawlis, Montano Lorie Lawlis and Michael Montano, both of Albuquerque, were united in matrimony the afternoon of May 1 at Hacienda Vargas in Algodones. Lorie is the daughter of Jeff and Mindy Lawlis of Albuquerque.

Michael is the son of Robert Montano of Albuquerque. The bride was attended by Lindsey Lawlis of Phoenix and Tara Rivera. Nick Levesque was best man. The newlyweds will make their home in Albuquerque. Rincones, Karaian Daianna Rincones and Jason Barlow Karaian, both of London, were united in matrimony the afternoon of June 18 in Evanston, Ill.

The bride is the daughter of Jesus Rincones of Caracas, Venezuela, and Josefina Alvarez of Raleigh, N.C. Parents of the bridegroom are Charles and Sherri Karaian of Albuquerque. Lori Allen Karaian served as maid of honor. Ryan Charles Karaian was best man. Daianna received an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Jason is employed by The Economist Group. The newlyweds will reside in London. WEDDINGS Park, Bowman Christine Soon Park became the bride of Daniel Charles Bowman in a double- ring ceremony celebrated June 5 at La Posada Resort in Santa Fe. Christine is the daughter of Dr. G.

Park of Florida and Sylvia Park of Baltimore. Daniel is the son of Karen Bailey-Bowman of Lemitar, N.M., and the late Dr. Robert S. Bowman. Christine is a graduate student at Tufts University.

Daniel is employed by GZA Geoenviromental Inc. After a wedding trip to Maui, the newlyweds will make their home in Boston. Gutierrez, Arnold Hotel Albuquerque provided the setting the evening of June 20 for the wedding ceremony uniting Danielle Valene Gutierrez and Kevin Joseph Arnold. Jaclyn Gutierrez, sister of the bride, served as maid of honor. Adam Arnold, brother of the groom, was the best man.

Danielle is employed by the City of Albuquerque Aquatic Division. Kevin is assistant manager at Discount Tire. The newlyweds honeymooned in Ruidoso and will make their home in Albuquerque. Gonzales ANNOUNCEMENTS POLICY Wedding, engagement and anniversary forms may be picked up at the Journal editorial offices, 7777 Jefferson NE, from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

They are also available online at www.ABQjournal.com For information, call Joann Angel at 823-3895. DAMIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS A mastodon is the centerpiece of the Age of Mammals exhibit opening today at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Age of Mammals exhibit opens in California SundayTravelSection WhattodoinNewMexico! Largerdisplayadsareavailableatgreatsavings! CallDonnaat505-823-3323or SpaceDeadlinesforPublicationSundayTravel May3rd May16th June7th June20th July1stEXTENDED July18th August2nd August15th.