Quick 'n' Dirty
A harmonious partnership
Two local music education nonprofits, Stillwater Music and the Be Frank Foundation, will now be making music together. The two organizations announced this week they have joined forces to expand their reach and impact, with the goal of bringing music education to even more students across Southwest Colorado.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, Stillwater has grown from a rented office space with “12 kids, some instruments and a vision” to the area’s go-to music school with its own dedicated performance venue, The Lightbox, at 1316 Man Ave. Today, Stillwater has 30-plus staff and serves more than 1,000 students of all ages and abilities through classes, lessons and school programs.
The Be Frank Foundation, founded in Bayfield by Lech Usinowicz, has provided orchestra programs and instrument rentals to schools in La Plata County since 2013, helping to make music more accessible to kids who might not otherwise have the opportunity.
Under the consolidation, Be Frank will be absorbed into Stillwater Music. Its orchestra programs will continue, backed by Stillwater’s team, and Usinowicz will serve as Stillwater’s new Orchestra Department Chair.
“We are thrilled to bring these two incredible organizations together under one mission: to make music education accessible, inspiring and community-driven,” Jana Leslie, executive director of Stillwater, said in a press release.
Usinowicz, former executive director of Be Frank, looks forward to the next chapter. “Joining forces with Stillwater Music allows us to build on everything Be Frank has accomplished over the past decade,” he said. “Our orchestra students will continue to thrive, and now they’ll have even greater resources, opportunities and support behind them. This partnership ensures that orchestral music remains a vibrant part of our schools and community for years to come.”
Farmington, LPEA pool efforts
And speaking of pooling resources, LPEA and the Farmington Electric Utility System (FEUS) announced they will be teaming up when it comes to responding to major outages or emergencies on the region’s power grid.
The two utilities, which together serve about 83,000 customers throughout northwest New Mexico and Southwest Colorado, recently entered into a formal “mutual aid agreement.” The deal will enhance cross-border cooperation by sharing crews, equipment and expertise when severe events, such as wildfires, storms or system failures, exceed one utility’s capacity to respond. It is hoped the partnership will allow for faster power restoration and reduced service disruptions.
“This is about neighbors helping neighbors,” Chris Hansen, CEO of LPEA, said. “Whether it’s responding to a wildfire in Pagosa Springs or restoring power after a storm near Farmington, this agreement ensures we can act quickly, safely and together.”
Though LPEA is a member-owned electric cooperative and FEUS is municipally owned, the agreement creates a foundation for more agile responses in emergencies, particularly as the Four Corners faces increasing wildfire risks and extreme weather conditions.
the Four Corners is also a critical transmission hub for the Western grid and a growing center for energy transition efforts. The new pact will help ensure service continuity, especially in times of crisis.
“Mutual aid is about answering the call when our fellow utilities are in need,” FEUS Utility Director Hank Adair said. “FEUS and LPEA are long-standing neighbors in an interconnected energy landscape, and this agreement is a natural fit for both utilities’ shared commitment to safe, reliable service.”
In addition to sharing field crews and equipment, the agreement outlines expectations for communication, safety standards and cost accountability during joint response efforts. The agreement also leaves room for collaboration on large-scale projects, and LPEA and FEUS hope the agreement can serve as a template for expanded cooperation with other regional utilities.
“Utilities today must be flexible, coordinated and prepared,” Hansen added. “This agreement reflects those priorities and demonstrates the real-world value of partnership.” ■
– Missy Votel