Voting is open for BEST OF BUSINESS p. 28
INSIDE THE JANUARY 2021 ISSUE:
Home to Flagstaff p. 10
Findlay Honda and CCC Training Auto Techs p. 3
What to Know Before Moving Out of Your Home Office p. 11
How About a Home with Your Hot Sauce? p. 4 Flagstaff Family Care Joins Health Provider Network p. 6 Highgate Welcomes Seniors
Community Profile: Ex-Wrangler Mary Lois Brown Features Grand Life on Canvas p. 19
Real Estate Market Maintaining Momentum in the New Year S
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
taying strong since last June, the housing market on the local, state and national level has risen to a 14-year high, despite the pandemic, economic uncertainty and a difficult presidential election. Even during historically slow periods, like the holiday season, homebuyers are quickly purchasing the few homes
listed for sale. The shortage of housing inventory and extremely low interest rates have driven the hyperactive real estate market, says long-time realtor Gary Nelson, who heads the Gary Nelson Group and is the associate broker at Realty Executives of Flagstaff. That trend, he says, is expected to continue through 2021. “The market in general is extremely hot, almost throughout all price
ranges,” said Nelson, who is starting the year as president-elect of the Arizona Association of Realtors (AAR), also known as Arizona REALTORS. “There are some remote rural areas that aren’t seeing the same activity, but in urban and suburban real estate markets, there remains very low inventory. We’re seeing multiple offers on most properties if they are priced to sell and, sometimes, even if they are overpriced.”
REAL ESTATE CHALLENGES
In the current sellers’ market, bidding wars on properties have become commonplace. To be successful, Nelson says buyers need experienced professionals working on their behalf. “The biggest challenge has been keeping up with market activity,” he explained. “Even more important is ensuring client safety and personal safety to make sure we Continued on page 31
The Shot Felt Round the World Weary healthcare officials rejoice with the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines By Bonnie Stevens and Brent Ruffner, FBN
D Flagstaff Medical Center Critical Care Nurse Stacey Payne, R.N., gives a thumbs-up upon receiving her first dose of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 22. Administering the shot is Emilie Bowers, N.P., of the Northern Arizona Healthcare Infectious Disease Department. Courtesy photo by Nico Barraza
January 2021 | Issue 1 Volume 14
espite reporting its highest number of COVID-19 patients ever in the first week of the New Year, Northern Arizona Healthcare officials remain optimistic about battling the virus with the rollout of vaccines. At the same time, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed that Arizona is the No. 1 hotspot in the country, with a seven-day average of 121.8 new cases per 100,000 people. In early January, 80 COVID-positive patients were admitted at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC); 30 were hospitalized at Verde Valley Medical Center (VVMC).
“As of this afternoon, Northern Arizona Healthcare has vaccinated 1,389 employees at Flagstaff Medical Center and 300 employees at Verde Valley Medical Center,” said Northern Arizona Healthcare Chief Quality Officer Dr. John Mougin on Tuesday, Jan. 5. “We are doing particularly well at FMC and looking to increase vaccination numbers at VVMC. Our goal is to get most of our employees that want the vaccination initiated with their first dose this week.” On Tuesday, Dec. 15, medical staff members at Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) began receiving the first round of the Pfizer vaccine. NACA Family Health Center
Medical Director Dr. George Hershey, D.O., smiled under his facemask as Verity Quiroz, R.N., administered the shot. He received the second dose on Jan. 5. “Doing my part, as everyone should, to eliminate this dastardly disease!” he said. Other early injections were felt on Tuesday, Dec. 22, in Flagstaff and Cottonwood. Recipients across the Northland high-fived, cheered, elbow-bumped and even shed tears of gratitude as doses of the Moderna vaccine were administered. “I am so excited,” said Flagstaff Medical Center Critical Care Nurse Stacey Payne, R.N. “I feel like our whole planet is coming together to give us hope to get out of this. I just really hope this will turn things around for us.” Continued on page 29