Dave Cathey
Nibz and Nubz are leaving the building, but they will forever be a part of the NFR family.
Thanks to all who sent letters and emails welcoming me to town. I’ve got coffee dates lined up now through the end of the year plus some sage advice about coping without local shortcuts and a lesson on the fine line between snark and hate. (Shout out to Joan!)
A few things I didn’t have room to share in my last letter, starting with one question I got a lot: what’s up with The Morning Word? Happy to report The Morning Word, after a period of hibernation followed by reimaging, will return after New Year’s Day. Welding sparks are still flying between hammer blows behind the scenes to rebuild infrastructure, but expect its return next month.
Speaking of behind the scenes, our SFR offices will soon be on the move. We’ve greatly enjoyed our time at Pacheco Park and recommend it to anyone seeking commercial space, but we found an opportunity to move closer to the Capitol we couldn’t pass up. More details on that when the ink is dry on the deal.
Finally, opportunity has come calling for some of our longtime staffers. Folks who’ve been tremendous stewards to the legacy of this middle-aged publication. Changes to the staff box will appear gradually starting next week. Starting this week, I’m gonna use some of our print and digital space to thank each of them.
Robyn Desjardins has been SFR’s Advertising Director the past three years, but everyone here knows she’s been juggling jobs at least three-at-a-time for the duration. She is relentlessly cheerful, colorful, and organized. We will miss her positivity and constructive approach, but losing her maternal spirit will hurt the most. Plus, she’s a bad-ass in sales.
Next week’s cover featuring 25 Things We Love About Santa Fe Right Now will be the last created by Anson Steven-Bollen. Not forever, we hope, but the last as Art Director. Like Robyn, Anson has been a genius job-juggler over his 11 years with SFR. When he isn’t designing award-winning covers around here, he’s probably out taking photos as de facto staff photographer or kicking a wonky computer in the head in his other matter of de facto, IT manager.
We love these people and will miss them dearly but wish them only the best in embracing change and the growth it offers. We thank them for their innumerable contributions to SFR, which will always be in their debt. They also take with them our office mascots, Nubz and Nibz. We will miss their intermittent leaps and bounds through the newsroom, and their consistent reminders to chill. All four of you are lifelong members of the SFR family. (Which reminds me, check out the SFR Back Page for a sneaky-cool lesson in proposing the start of a new one.)
Dave Cathey, Editor
News, December 3: “Meow Wolf: More Layoffs for Christmas”
Our coverage of the layoffs announced at Meow Wolf got plenty of response online. Here are some of the comments from our Facebook page. (DC)
Wow, thanks Meow Wolf. $1 million dollars of taxpayers money to support them when they started, with the promise of jobs for locals, down the drain. What a shame.
Cat Fran, Facebook
Are they going to have counselors and therapy dogs there for the laid off employees before MW rainbow uniformed jackboots escort them off of the premises like in Denver?
Matthew Fooks, Facebook
My heart goes out to the impacted workers
Stephanie Sloman, Facebook
Surprise surprise. They’ll hire a whole new crew next month, like they’ve done with every layoff…
Amy Cierra, Facebook
The firings will continue until morale improves.
Charles Scott Geary, Facebook
