Drayage Brokersin Albuquerque, NM

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Old Town hosts Día de los Muertos celebrations

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The popular Disney film “Coco” might have made you cry, but it also sheds light on an important holiday in Hispanic culture.

“You have an opportunity to see the movie, “Coco,” it’s better for understanding everything. The color for the flags and flowers and lights and everything,” said Laura Cano with Kyra’s Arts and Supplies in Old Town.

Cano is talking about Día de los Muertos, The Day of the Dead, which is celebrated every year on Nov. 1.

The colorful papel picado and marigold garlands may throw you off, but Cano says the holiday is a happy one.

“Many people don’t understand what the day is for. Many people think it’s bad but it’s not, it’s cultura, it’s a happy day for celebrating the dead,” she said.

Old Town always gets in the spirit to welcome spirits home every year. A community ofrenda sits in the center of the plaza decorated by San Felipe students.

Cano said the levels in ofrendas are very important.

“The altar de muertos have three levels – the first level is for the food. The second level is for their family when you make the ofrenda, and the [third] level is where you put the cross,” Cano said.

She said the foods are your loved one’s favorites, water is to refresh them, and salt cleanses them. Photos also sit on the ofrenda of loved ones you’ve lost.

She said candles are a must, they act as a light for your loved ones to know you haven’t forgotten them.

And of course, the marigolds. Hundreds of garlands lined Old Town guiding the spirits back to Earth.

Dia de Los Muertos events will be held all week leading to the annual marigold parade on Saturday.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Array Technologies CEO Kevin Hostetler announced today that Array Technologies (NASDAQ: ARRY) (“Array” or “the Company”) has finalized plans for a major expansion that will solidify the company’s New Mexico future with a new $50 million manufacturing campus in Bernalillo County that will keep hundreds of jobs secure for New Mexicans.

Array, one of New Mexico’s few publicly traded companies, got its start manufacturing solar tracker technology over 30 years ago in Albuquerque. Today, Array is a global leader in utility-scale solar tracking solutions that maximize the efficiency of solar panels by moving them to optimize the sun’s angle. In 2020, the company went public under the symbol ARRY.

“We are excited to assist this home-grown business through $2.5 million in Local Economic Development Act funding as it reinvests in New Mexico by building a skilled, high-paying workforce,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “New Mexico has a long history of being the home of innovation and cutting-edge technology, and companies like Array embody that legacy.”

The company chose a location on Albuquerque’s west side for a new 216,000-square-foot campus and Array and its partners plan to invest $50 million in the development. Construction is expected to begin in early 2024. The 22-acre expansion will allow Array to hire nearly 100 new employees over the next several years.

“Our foundation was laid in Albuquerque over 30 years ago and this expansion is a testament to our longstanding relationship with this vibrant community,” Kevin Hostetler, Array CEO, said. “This move signifies more than just growth; it reaffirms our commitment to New Mexico, its people, and the global renewable energy mission we’ve passionately pursued since we opened. We’re excited to continue lighting the way to a brighter, cleaner energy future from our home state.”

“Together with our partners at the State and Bernalillo County, we are working to safeguard jobs that support Albuquerque families,” Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller said. “Retaining companies and supporting expansion is an essential part of keeping good jobs local and protecting the future of our economy.”

The State has awarded Array $2.5 million in economic assistance from the Local Economic Development Act (LEDA) job-creation fund to assist the company with land, building, and infrastructure costs for the property at 701 Atrisco Vista Blvd. SW. The funds will be awarded as Array meets specific economic development benchmarks.

The City of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County are assisting with $250,000 each of additional LEDA funds, in addition to partial property-tax abatement through an Industrial Revenue Bond with Bernalillo County.

In addition to hundreds of existing jobs, the new campus will aid in job creation including production, assembly, design, engineering, and customer service with a salary range from $35,000 to $127,000. Array Technologies offers entry-level employees benefits and an opportunity for career advancement into higher paying positions.

With capital investments and job creation, the expansion is expected to have an economic impact of more than $300 million over 10 years and generate 75 construction jobs, according to a state analysis.

“We are pleased that Array, a global provider in renewable energy solutions, has selected Bernalillo County as the location to expand its operations. Together with the State of New Mexico Economic Development Department and the City of Albuquerque Economic Development Department, Bernalillo County recognizes that regional support of our local companies means more jobs, more growth, and more opportunities for Bernalillo County residents,” County Commission Chair Barbara Baca said.

“New Mexico is a leader in renewable and alternative energies and is building a robust ecosystem to support the manufacturers that supply that industry. Array’s continued investment in New Mexico is a welcome expansion of the renewable industries in our state,” said Melinda Allen of the New Mexico Partnership, the state’s nonprofit private economic development partner that helped broker the deal.

The Albuquerque Regional Economic Alliance (AREA), a nonprofit economic development organization, is assisting Array with site selection, labor force, tax analysis, and strategic planning on its expansion.

“Array has become a global manufacturer and supplier of solar tracking systems and renewable energy products. Headquartered here in greater Albuquerque, the long-term investments made by Array continue to build our region’s identity as a location of choice for high-quality production, technical, and engineering talent.” Danielle Casey, AREA President and CEO, said. “Continuing to build confidence amongst internal and external investors alike, this $50-million expansion will generate millions in new economic activity in the next 10 years and hundreds of other jobs from this economic expansion. It further advances the presence of high-quality job opportunities for the residents of the greater Albuquerque region.”

Economic Development Department Deputy Secretary Jon Clark said Array’s expansion is another indication of New Mexico’s strong appeal for companies looking to expand and build a clean energy workforce. “We not only have the skilled workforce that Array and other global manufacturers are looking for,” Clark said, “but we also have the tuition-free workforce training programs that will sustain these businesses as they grow and expand.”

In addition to New Mexico and Arizona, Array has operations around the globe in Australia, Brazil, England, South Africa, and Spain.

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Report: Albuquerque pandemic book wasted taxpayer money

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A new report from the Albuquerque Office of the Inspector General determined the city “wasted or misused taxpayer monies” producing a book on the city’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and other major events in 2020.

According to the report, the city spent $97,000 developing the book which has only sold 91 copies since it was published. While the report suggests it may be impossible to determine the value of documenting a historical event like the COVID-19 pandemic, it argues using taxpayer dollars to promote “administrative achievements” was a waste.

The book titled “City at the Crossroads” was written by Joline Guttierez Krueger and published in 2022. It chronicles how Albuquerque city leaders and everyday citizens responded to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the “Black Lives Matter” protests and outrage over Juan de Oñate throughout 2020. The book also includes essays from Mayor Tim Keller, his wife Dr. Elizabeth Keller, and other high-ranking city officials.

The OIG report relies on an interview with someone who worked closely on the project. They reportedly told inspectors, “The Mayor wanted to document the unprecedented time as City leaders were scrambling to adapt to the pandemic. The idea was to chronicle this event in case another pandemic happens again. People can go back and look at it as a resource, what was useful, and what wasn’t.”

The report did not find enough evidence supporting claims the city violated its purchasing ordinance or the state’s anti-donation clause producing the book; however, the report suggests there is evidence of possible favoritism and conflict of interest.

The City’s Department of Arts & Culture oversaw the book’s development and provided a scathing response to the Inspector General’s findings in the report.

Current department director Shelle Sanchez sent KOB 4 this statement about the report:

“The Department of Arts & Culture stands behind and supports this book project, the author, and the exceptional effort that went into the book’s creation. Books like this one are important and lasting resources. Arts & Culture regularly publishes or co-publishes books centered on arts, culture, and exceptional times in our city’s history, and we will continue to do so. We strongly object to the Office of Inspector General equating “misuse or waste” with “profit,” as it is inaccurate and misleading. The OIG does not provide clear or objective evidence to substantiate the allegation of misuse or waste of public funds.

The OIG has demonstrated biased behavior, overreach of authority, and failure to adhere to established auditing protocols, raising serious concerns about their impartiality. A recent change to the OIG ordinance has created a structural lack of independence, violates national standards, and has further politicized the office.“

Albuquerque City Council Dan Lewis was one of the first city leaders to raise concerns about the book’s development in 2022. He sent KOB 4 this statement regarding the report’s findings:

“The Office of the Inspector General substantiated serious allegations that the Mayor misused and wasted public funds. Among other findings of misuse and waste, the report specifies the City spent more than $97,000 to create a book and sold only 91 copies to the public. The administration does not appear to take the findings seriously when they dismiss this damaging report as “sharing their short book report.” Unfortunately, the Mayor ignored and ridiculed the investigation. The Inspector General should forward findings to the appropriate law enforcement partner such as the FBI and U.S. Attorneys office.”

With a goal of addressing New Mexico’s greatest challenges and creating meaningful change within our communities, The University of New Mexico leads the Grand Challenges Initiative, creating opportunities that allow researchers to work together across disciplinary boundaries to develop and implement solutions.

University leaders recently announced the three newest multidisciplinary teams to join the Grand Challenges program as Level 2 teams: Child Health, Just Transition to Green Energy, and Sustainable Space Research.

“The launch of our Grand Challenges initiative was a transformative moment for The University of New Mexico — and for our state,” UNM President Garnett S. Stokes said. “Addressing these big issues requires us to work together as one university, reaching across campuses and across disciplines to ask tough questions and develop and implement creative answers. Grand Challenges take on big problems that, once solved, have a significant positive impact on our citizens, our state, and our society.

The challenges are large in scale, ambitious in scope and multidisciplinary. Each has carefully developed goals that enable multiple paths toward solutions that are relevant across varied disciplines and communities.

UNM’s Grand Challenges program is a presidential initiative that was launched in 2019 with three original Level 2 teams: Substance Use Disorders, Successful Aging, and Sustainable Water Resources. Since its launch and $2.1 million initial investment, the program has generated more than $54 million in new funds, engaged more than 1,500 students, and included more than 350 faculty and staff researchers from across campuses.

A request for proposals (RFP) for the Level 2 competition opened last winter to all main campus, branch campus, and health sciences research teams interested in working collaboratively with researchers in different disciplines to address some of New Mexico’s most pressing challenges. The steering committee received 12 competitive proposals from research areas that spanned across all UNM campuses.

“In reviewing the 12 Level 2 proposals, we were incredibly delighted to see what the reimagined Grand Challenges program produced,” UNM Vice President for Research Ellen Fisher said. “UNM researchers are exceptionally innovative and creative; all the proposals spoke to the needs of New Mexicans and had a deep-rooted sense of place. Our Grand Challenges program truly embodies our institutional values, and I am very proud of everyone who participated in the process.”

Introducing the newest Level 2 Grand Challenges

Child Health: Rebecca Girardet, professor, pediatrics (School of Medicine); Sara Nozadi, assistant professor, pharmaceutical sciences; Xi Gong, assistant professor, geography and environmental sciences

The Child Health Grand Challenge Team was formed to address child maltreatment in New Mexico. The team’s mission is to develop and operationalize the systematic, data-driven approach needed to empower child maltreatment prevention across New Mexico.

The team encompasses UNM researchers representing the health sciences, public health, environmental sciences, communication and journalism, geography, neuroscience, and child development.

Just Transition to Green Energy: Gabriel Pacyniak, associate professor, School of Law; Shannon Sanchez-Youngman, assistant professor, College of Population Health; Gabriel Sanchez, professor, political science; Robert DelCampo, Rutledge Professor of Management, Anderson School of Management

The goal of the Just Transition to Green Energy Grand Challenge Team is to create economic opportunities and equitable pollution reduction for disadvantaged communities in the transition to clean energy and climate resilience. The convening team has a shared vision around conducting policy-relevant research that advances social justice goals aligned with a just transition.

A key focus of this team is to serve as a resource to community organizations and government entities. The team includes researchers from political science, population health, and UNM's law school.

Sustainable Space Research: Maryam Hojati, assistant professor, civil, construction, and environmental engineering; Charles Shearer, research professor, Earth and planetary sciences; Kristina Yu, professor, School of Architecture & Planning

The Sustainable Space Research Grand Challenge Team plans to support a broad university, commercial, and national laboratory collaborative effort to enable New Mexico the opportunity to participate in a scientific, explorative, and economic adventure. The team will contribute to the development of new technologies, materials, and approaches that can improve space exploration and research, while providing opportunities for student engagement and education.

This team has created interdisciplinary collaborations within the university to include architecture, biology, chemistry, Earth and planetary sciences, engineering, and physics and astronomy experts.

To learn more about UNM Grand Challenges and other research initiatives, listen to the the UNM podcast, "It's (Probably) Not Rocket Science.” The podcast demystifies complex topics through casual conversations with UNM experts. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

The University of New Mexico is a place where cutting-edge research and creative endeavors flourish. As the state’s only R1 institution, UNM research injects millions of dollars into New Mexico’s economy, funds new advancements in health care, and augments teaching—giving students valuable hands-on training in state-of-the art laboratories.

Upstart Crows of Santa Fe performs Wars of the Roses with two casts of actors, ages 8-18. November 30, December 1, 2, 3 at 6:30 p.m. at the Crows' Nest Performance Space (7 Caliente Road, Building 1 in Eldorado).

The production is a powerful cut of Shakespeare's King Henry VI, Parts 1, 2, and 3 created by Associate Director Alejandro Amundah, with directorial assistance from Fight Director, Rylie Philpot, Assistant Director Ian Gonzales, and Apprentice Directors Ayla Philpot and Max Rogers. Tickets $20 adults, $10 students at the door and online: Click Here

These rarely performed “history plays” dramatize the struggle between two families to rule England in the 14th and 15th centuries, telling the story of the Wars of the Roses, a series of civil wars fought from 1455 to 1485 between the houses (or families) of Lancaster and York for control of the English throne. Themes of loyalty, love, betrayal, and family tie the parts together.

King Henry VI was a member of the house of Lancaster. A sensitive, pious man who is better suited to a life of contemplation and peace, the young king becomes caught in the rivalry of his overprotective ministers, and as the English struggle among themselves, they lose land in their war with France (the Hundred Years' War. The earl of Suffolk has persuaded Henry VI to marry Margaret of Anjou. Suffolk plans to use the alliance to take power for himself: “Margaret shall now be Queen and rule the King; / But I will rule both her, the King, and realm.” Henry is overshadowed by his ruthless wife and becomes more and more peripheral to the action. The new queen and her lover, Suffolk, plot against Humphrey, duke of Gloucester, and his ambitious wife, Eleanor.

The power struggle swirls around the saintly, ineffectual Henry VI, until gradually the dynamic Richard Plantagenet, duke of York, emerges as the chief contender for the throne. York had pretended to support Queen Margaret while secretly hatching his own plot and encouraging a peasant rebellion led by Jack Cade. The Yorkists seize power and get the inept Henry VI to disinherit his son in favor of the Yorkist claim. Under this arrangement, Henry is supposed to reign until he dies. However, the Yorkists soon persuade themselves to violate that treaty and take the throne by force. Open war is the result. Queen Margaret focuses on gaining the throne for her disinherited son, Edward, prince of Wales. She obtains the aid of Lord Clifford and ultimately defeats York in battle and stabs him to death. As Henry VI drifts wistfully through the action, York's sons consolidate their power. The Lancastrians briefly regain the upper hand after York's eldest son, Edward IV (the eldest of these sons and now king), ignores a proposed marriage to the French princess. The marriage had been arranged by the earl of Warwick and King Louis XI of France. When Edward IV instead marries Elizabeth, Lady Grey, he loses the support of Warwick and Lewis. Margaret's triumph is short-lived, however, and the Lancastrians are defeated at the Battle of Tewkesbury. Near the end of the play, York's son Richard, duke of Gloucester, stabs Henry VI to death. Richard later becomes king (see King Richard III).

Upstart Crows of Santa Fe is a theater group for young people, ages 10-18, with a focus on understanding and performing the works of William Shakespeare. Actors experience the plays by exploring Shakespeare's language and meaning with the help of experienced directors. There are no auditions - all who wish to participate will receive substantial roles. No prior acting experience is necessary. The company believes that great performances evolve from understanding the material and collaborating on the productions. Actors are encouraged to participate in the direction of the play, offering their thoughts and input on scenes.

Click Here to Buy Tickets

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Upstart Crows of Santa Fe To Present WARS OF THE ROSES

Upstart Crows of Santa Fe presents a powerful production of Shakespeare's Wars of the Roses, featuring two casts of actors aged 8-18. Don't miss this captivating performance at the Crows' Nest Performance Space from November 30 to December 3. Tickets available online and at the door.

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Voting Opens for 2023 BroadwayWorld Albuquerque Awards

Voting is now open for the 2023 BroadwayWorld Albuquerque Awards! Nominations were reader-submitted and now our readers get to vote for their favorites.

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HADESTOWN National Tour is Coming to Popejoy Hall in December

Get the latest news about the Broadway show Hadestown in this press release from Popejoy Presents. Discover the details and updates about this highly anticipated production.

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Santa Fe Playhouse to Present WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME and More in 2024 Season

Santa Fe Playhouse has announced their 2024 season, featuring contemporary history plays, poignant works, a Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, and more. Check out the full season here!