New Mexico
Heart of New Mexico: Empire Board Games celebrates a decade of business
He always wanted to build a place to build community.
“I love bringing people in,” said Rory Veronda, owner of Empire Board Game Library. “I also wanted to do a business that didn’t deal in alcohol or was a restaurant.”
Veronda has experience in both. He formerly owned and operated a nightclub.
“That was my jam in those years,” he said.
Now the 55-year-old is happy to have turned back to his interests that pre-dated the nightlife party scene.
“I definitely played Dungeons and Dragons to start out with, during the ‘Satanic Panic’ phase of that game,” said Veronda. “It was just a bunch of nerdy kids playing games.”
This year, Empire Board Game Library is celebrating 10 years in business. They’ve accomplished a decade in business by catering to a wide variety of complex board-game-seekers, to UNM students, date-nights, and a community of gamers that keep coming back. However, keeping his business open for the last decade has not been easy.
“The ART project was worse than the pandemic, in many ways,” said Veronda. “In the pandemic, there was a lot of grant money being passed around.”
The traits needed to run a business are similar to the traits his manager, Tres Williams, sees in a successful board game player.
“Patience, an analytical mind,” said Williams. “Keeping cool under pressure.”
Williams puts on events like the one promoting the 10-year anniversary with a three-day convention. He has memorized the rules to over 100 board games and said the winners are often, “Able to quickly recognize what you need to do. Seeing what goal, you’re trying to go for, and how to get there.”
Not so different from running a business in Nob Hill.
“I just don’t see Empire going anywhere,” said Veronda on his plans.
The corner store is now a cornerstone in a part of town that often seems different businesses come and go.
“Whether I’m here, or not, I think Empire will survive,” said Veronda.
New Mexico
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Seniors at Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center say broken air conditioning has left the gym above 80 degrees during peak summer heat.
Angi Gonzales Carver said she goes to the center almost every day and now worries the heat could cancel classes for seniors, adults and kids.
The city said three HVAC roof units at the center need replacement. The city said those units are 20 years old and crews have put in one portable cooler and two fans for now.
“I have a temperature measure, and it was 88 and that was without people,” said Angi Gonzales Carver.
Carver says the center recently posted a warning sign saying staff will cancel classes and activities if the gym gets hotter than 78 degrees.
“A lot of them have to sit down and they’re they’re fanning themselves,” said Carver.
The city considers all multigenerational centers cooling centers, including Manzano Mesa. The city says it plans to add two more portable units next week while it works to restore the air conditioning.
“I mean, we, as seniors, we deserve better,” said Carver.
The City’s statement
A city spokesperson gave the following statement regarding the HVAC situation:
“The City is carrying out a planned replacement of the three HVAC roof units at Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, which are 20 years old. Portable cooling units support the gym and two additional portable units will be installed next week. All other areas of the facility remain fully air-conditioned and operational.”
Acres: 7,769 acres
Start Date: June 9, 2026
Location: 18 miles southeast of Quemado, NM
Personnel: 169
Containment: 100%
Cause: Lightning
Summary: Containment lines are holding, and much of the repair work is completed on the Bear Fire. The Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team will transfer command of the fire back to the Gila National Forest and a Type 4 Incident Commander on Wednesday morning. Firefighters will continue to patrol and secure the perimeter while repair is completed.
Remarking on the success of firefighters on the Bear Fire, Incident Commander Marcus Cornwell said, “The support from the State of New Mexico Forestry Division, local landowners, and the Village of Quemado were instrumental in helping suppress the fire. Providing firefighters access to private land and use of Quemado High School proved pivotal.”
This will be the last daily update provided by the Gila Las Cruces Type 3 Incident Management Team. Any future updates for the Bear Fire will come from the Gila National Forest.
Weather: Today’s high temperature will be in the mid 80s. Moisture moving in from the south will improve relative humidity and drop temperatures slightly. The forecast shows daily chances of thunderstorms through Friday.
Safety: A Temporary Flight Restriction is in place through this evening. If you fly, we can’t! The Gila National Forest enacted an Area Closure Order for the Bear Fire.
Evacuations: Catron County Emergency Management lifted SET status for residences within zones 2, 3 and 4 on Thursday, June 18th. For more information about the change in evacuation status, visit Catron County Emergency Management.
Smoke: Smoke may be visible in and around surrounding communities. Air quality will vary based on fire activity, weather, and wind patterns. Residents should reduce prolonged outdoor activity when smoke is present and check the Air Quality Index before recreating or working outdoors. Sensitive groups should take extra precautions to limit smoke exposure. For real-time smoke conditions, visit https://fire.airnow.gov.
Fire Restrictions: The Gila National Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions due to long term severe drought in the Gila region, increased tree mortality across the forest, and forecasted hotter, drier weather conditions. Stage 1 Fire Restrictions limit campfires on forest land to designated recreation sites and campgrounds with constructed metal fire rings. Open burning is also prohibited in the unincorporated area of Catron County and in Catron County Fire District 30.
Public Information: 2026.bear@firenet.gov
Incident Information:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/GilaNForest
InciWeb: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/nmgnf-bear-fire
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