News

• Zombie Apocalypse Visits the West End
• Norwood Funds Energy Upgrades
• Redundant Water Line in Norwood Sees Progress

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Zombie Apocalypse Visits the West End

There are many ways to fight back against zombies.

In fact, there are 10 ways to combat the undead. In the latest N Cubed theater production, 10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse, you can learn all about how to fight back. Methods may include running really fast, joining them, or romancing the zombies.

N Cubed is the brainchild of Brock Benson, one of the busiest community members in the West End. Benson owns Paradox Cycle in Naturita, manages youth mountain biking development groups, and is a passionate thespian. This production is his eighth on the West End.

Benson said, “N Cubed is the evolution of the theater program that I wanted to start at Nucla High School. I did that for a couple of years. It’s hard to teach full time and run a business, and so we evolved to agree I can do theater in the off-season when my Paradox bike shop isn’t so busy and then we can include the Nucla and the Norwood kids.”

Eight West End students, ages 11 to 18, are in this latest N Cubed production. Students wrapped up their rehearsal on Wednesday, March 12. Here’s what Benson had to say:

“I’m super impressed. You guys have done a fantastic job of getting ready. The lights and the vibe and all that is coming in pretty hot, so make sure your energy levels match that. We have a little bit of an audience tonight, so give them your best energy level. Tomorrow night is going to be even crazier, so think about getting through your scenes. You’re gonna have your lines, your cues. The important thing is too, speak slow enough that we hear every word and loud enough that we hear every word, but pick up those cues. When it stops, it’s like a school bus drives through the building. Anyway, any questions before we get started? Unless the wheels totally come off, let’s push through this and see what we got.”

The production, conceived by stage manager Liza Tanguay, explores the fantasy world of zombies, ways to combat them, and a comedic approach to the undead.

One participant said, “As I was saying, we’re here to present a public service to you—the audience—how to survive when civilization collapses and the animated corpses of your neighbors try and hunt you down and devour your sweet, warm, living flesh.”

Benson is passionate about theater. He received his MFA in Acting and Directing from Colorado Mesa University.

“For me, the theater is the most important because it gives the kids a voice, it gives them confidence in their voice, and it gives them confidence in their identity. Theater is a highly supportive family. It encourages empathy and teaches them to study other people. They want to come on stage and portray that, and they want to grow as a human. Theater is the human experience, and we need to make sure our kids are having the human experience, not just the academic experience,” Benson said.

Rehearsal went off without a hitch. Students donned zombie costumes, custom soundtracks played in the background, and there was even live music to accompany the show.

The show begins tonight, March 13, at the Livery in Norwood and runs through the weekend, with the final performance on Saturday. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and the show starts at 7. Tickets are $10, or $5 for those under 18.

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Norwood Funds Energy Upgrades

Norwood is joining county and local governments in sponsoring energy efficiency upgrades for local businesses and homeowners.

Just last week, San Miguel County commissioners agreed to contribute $100,000 to local climate and sustainability nonprofit Eco-Action Partners’ green grant program.

For several years, Eco-Action Partners has offered green grants through the Town of Telluride for qualified residents and businesses, ranging from $500 to $40,000 for energy efficiency upgrades.

Norwood Town Clerk Amanda Pierce shared her ideas during the Norwood Town Trustees meeting on Wednesday, March 12.

“We have this lightbulb of excitement. They have the same energy audits for businesses,” Pierce said. “What it would be is dependent on square footage. Almost all of our businesses are going to qualify under the 20,000 square footage. Once again, they come into your business, what kind of new stove, doors, heaters, air conditioners, all these different programs. They will then put in a recommendation and have a program to replace some of these things.”

The energy audits, conducted in partnership with Eco-Action Partners, identify appliances and efficiency upgrades for businesses and homeowners. Pierce says the audit can then help businesses connect to resources to fund those upgrades, such as the Green Grants program.

Pierce continued, “We felt that it was a really cool program for our businesses to encourage our businesses for the cost savings for the energy audit, but also for the facade program. Becky and I are on the facade team and putting it where you get extra points in the facade program. Where you’re in the core business area, you get extra points.”

Pierce refers to the facade program, a grant program through the West End Economic Development Corporation that funds investments in commercial buildings, aiming to visually improve storefronts and streetscapes.

While the energy audits cost money, Pierce says incentive programs help lower those costs.

“It is normally a $1,500 cost for businesses, but with their incentive through Energy Smart Colorado, it takes it down to $375 up front. Then there’s an SMPA rebate for $250, leaving the total to $125 for the business,” Pierce said. “However, staff was brainstorming ideas and looking forward into the future of the facade program. Originally, it was just windows, signage, etc. We opened it up to heaters and more things, the things that make a business run. Because when you can’t pay your utilities or your heaters don’t work, it’s not feasible. So, we would like to come to you guys about the possibility of doing a cost-share on more of a Town of Norwood rebate.”

Norwood Town Trustees agreed the energy audit program would help incentivize local businesses to make energy upgrades.

Norwood Mayor Candy Meehan said, “I think it has reciprocity with the community in many different ways. The rec district could audit the Livery or the Oliver House, and we could have Grover go in and audit our building. I think it’s necessary to identify that could lead business owners to engage with the fire district and show that we’re paying attention and resources are out there—how do we get them?”

Trustees agreed to contribute $1,000 to the effort, which will help defer costs for Town of Norwood businesses and homeowners. More information on energy audits can be found at ecoactionpartners.org.

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Redundant Water Line in Norwood Sees Progress

If there’s one sure thing in the world of water, it’s that everything takes time.

The Norwood Water Commission met for its regular meeting on Wednesday, March 12, to continue making progress toward building resiliency into its aging water infrastructure.

The commission is currently juggling three large state grants: a Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and administrative planning grant, a Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) administrative planning grant, and a Colorado Water Conservation Board technical assistance grant.

These grants are for planning, engineering, and eventually the construction of two major infrastructure projects: a redundant water line and a secondary water diversion from the San Miguel River. Both projects are designed to create resiliency and ensure water quality and delivery for Norwood water customers.

The commission heard from Catherina Carella, a project manager with SGM, a water consulting firm, about her recommendations for pursuing further funding.

“Applying for additional funding is what I’m recommending. Their tier two is a maximum of a $200,000 request, given that we’ve already started the wetlands, the cultural work, and the first phase,” Carella said. “I need to double-check the numbers, but I seem to recall that design is going to be somewhere in that $300,000 range for this pipeline.”

Carella works closely with the Water Commission to secure funding and ensure project management for the redundant water line project. As Carella mentioned, the environmental assessment phase of the project has already begun. Her recommendations include applying for additional DOLA grants to secure enough funding for the environmental assessment.

Norwood Town Clerk Amanda Pierce added that she recently secured additional funding for the project.

“Great news—we got a second phase for an administrative feasibility grant, $21,000. Part of that would be for the second phase, which includes wetland clean-up, water project management, easement research, landowner coordination, and preliminary water line alignment,” Pierce said.

Building a backup water line involves many steps, with one of the most crucial being securing easement access on private land. Commissioners have secured most of the necessary easements, but one landowner, Valentine Farm, is taking longer than expected.

Carella urged the commission to keep moving forward with the landowner.

“If you guys could keep making moves with the landowner at Valentine Farm, and try to let me know by the next meeting what the status is, the team would like to get out there as early as next month, and we’ve had such a mild winter,” Carella said.

Once easements are secured, fieldwork can begin to determine exactly how the new water line will be installed.

As for increasing water storage, SGM continues to assist with a $192,000 contract. SGM and the Water Commission hope to create a plan for funding and engineering to finalize outstanding water rights for storage capacity.

The conditional water rights were secured through a legal settlement with San Miguel County and the environmental nonprofit Sheep Mountain Alliance. These rights are for the main stem of the San Miguel River, and much of the project engineering will focus on how to get water from the river to Wright’s Mesa.

Finally, these projects are on the shortlist for San Miguel County’s congressional funding requests. These yearly requests, which Colorado Senators can include in congressional legislation, aim to secure federal dollars for local projects.

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Telluride Elks Lodge Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with Corned Beef, Cabbage, and Bingo

Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Telluride Elks Lodge with a delicious dinner of corned beef and cabbage. You might even get lucky and win a prize by playing bingo.

The event will take place Saturday, March 15. Doors open at 5 p.m., and adult bingo starts at 6:30 p.m.

Take-out dinners will be available for $15.

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Adult Craft Night with Rhinestone Wine Glass Decorating

The Wilkinson Public Library will host an adult craft night on Monday, March 17. This craft class will focus on decorating wine glasses with rhinestones.

Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or a first-timer, this event is perfect for all skill levels.

Adults only, please. Space is limited, and registration is required.

To register, visit the Wilkinson Public Library website under events.

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Water Researchers Brace for Drought

A dry autumn, followed by a dry start to the year, has water researchers worried about drought conditions this coming spring and summer.

Story begins at 13:40.

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Democrats Block Bill Aimed at Repealing Exemptions to Open Meetings Law

Democrats at the statehouse killed a bill this week that would have repealed exemptions to open meetings law. The failed bill sought to restore some public access to the legislature.

Story begins at 15:00.

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Remote Newspaper Faces Uncertain Future

A recent report finds 130 newspapers shut down across the U.S. last year. This includes 13 in Colorado. Research shows that losing local news sources weakens civic engagement and increases political polarization.

Hinsdale County in southwest Colorado is the most remote county in the lower 48. Grant Houston has run the Lake City Silver World there for nearly 50 years. Now as he turns 70, he’s looking to sell, but only to the right person.

Story begins at 16:01.

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