Longtime Northern Arizona resident and dedicated community member Ray Newton, a career journalist and educator, is being honored by FBN with the Best of Business Ray Newton Excellence in Education Award. Ray has taught and mentored thousands of journalism students and mass communications professionals and has served as a tireless advocate for education in Arizona. See story on page 3.
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
With a passion to move the state forward with renewable energy while protecting open space, creating
jobs, boosting the Northern Arizona economy and planning for generations of Arizonans to come, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, SRP, Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona State Land Department have announced that
construction is underway for the Babbitt Ranch Energy Center. The 161-megawatt (MW) wind project, featuring 50 wind turbines across 669 acres on the CO Bar Ranch about 25 miles north of Flagstaff, is scheduled to begin delivering clean energy to SRP customers by early 2024.
“In our efforts to support the delivery of renewable energy, we acknowledge the terrific and wonderful
participation of so many businesses and government entities involved in the process to make this happen,” said Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco. “We appreciate the valuable input from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Arizona Department of Transportation, the Arizona State Land Department, Coconino County and
Continued on page 34
Wexford Developments (WD) and Wexford Real Estate Investors (WREI) are building Elk wood, Flagstaff’s next mixed-use, multi-family project, designed to bring 224 rental apartment units to Flagstaff. In a groundbreaking ceremony on March 28, builders and local leaders spoke about the need for housing.
April 2023 | Issue 4 Volume 16
“We are extremely thrilled that construction is now underway on what is a highly anticipated and much needed new multi-family project for the city of Flagstaff,” said Sam Gordon, co-founder and principal of Wexford Developments. “What we noticed a couple of years ago was that Flagstaff was experiencing so much population growth, and if new housing didn’t get built, there was going to be a housing problem. That’s what led up to us finding a nice property to help solve that problem.”
Gordon says Elkwood will have a lodge feel that fits with the mountain town and will include 6,000 square
Continued on page 35
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FBN honors Ray Newton for his commitment to truth, education and reporting America’s stories
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Long before Google, Alexa, Instagram and the internet, news was gathered through miles of legwork and worn-out shoes. A journalist was only as good as the relationships he cultivated and the sixth sense he developed. Reporting and uncovering stories required a tenacious and genuine interest in people, places and things that mattered, and a relentless hunger to know one more thing and to get it right before going to press.
Ray Newton, a savvy street kid in the San Francisco Bay area in the late 1940s, developed his knack for knowing where news was about to break. At age 12, he determined that place was Seals Stadium, where Joe DiMaggio’s younger brothers carried on the family’s baseball legacy, pitcher Larry Jansen won 30 games and local favorite Lefty O’Doul was not only a good pitcher and a great hitter, but the team’s manager for 17 seasons.
“I got to know all those guys. I was covering spring baseball in the Bay Area and writing for my junior high school newspaper,” he said.
Following his love for words, Newton graduated with a degree in English from Kansas State University Fort Hays and then worked as a reporter for Rush County News in La Crosse, Kansas. He followed up with a master’s degree in communication and journalism from South Dakota State in 1961. As a budding journalist, he was working as a special news correspondent for the Santa Fe New Mexican when one of the biggest stories in American history sent shockwaves across the country.
Newton was standing next to his hard-driving boss, Tony Hillerman [best-selling author of mystery novels featuring Navajo Nation Police officers], when the Associated Press filed an infa-
mous news bulletin on Nov. 22, 1963: “President Kennedy was shot today just as his motorcade left downtown Dallas.”
“‘Do you realize who that makes the next president?’ Tony said to me, noting the tension between President Kennedy and then-Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson.”
The next year, Newton was covering President Johnson when the U.S. and Mexico resolved a historic border dispute. The Rio Grande River had long marked the border between the two nations; however, it jumped its banks during a massive flood 100 years earlier, which caused it to take a different course further south. As a result, Texas acquired a square mile of land known as the Chamizal. On Sept. 25, 1964, Presidents Johnson and Adolfo López Mateos of Mexico met there, shook hands and ceremoniously signed the Chamizal Convention Act, which identified the land as belonging to Mexico. The two nations then shared the cost of forcing the river back to its original channel.
“That was a heck of a big deal,” said Newton, who was at the site, covering the story for the Santa Fe New Mexican, the oldest newspaper
Continued on page 28
For those anticipating a career in the restaurant world, perhaps nothing beats a dose of real-life experience to understand how to plan, prepare and present meals. Students at Northern Arizona University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management (HRM) received such an opportunity this semester as they hosted a group of residents from The Bluffs of Flagstaff Senior Living Center for a soup tasting. The event was designed to not only serve as a practical experience for students, but also supported NAU’s ongoing effort to build community relations.
In Mark Molinaro’s Kitchen Operations class, students are learning principles, procedures and techniques for
several tasting events for members of the NAU community. Several years ago, for example, it hosted nurses from the Health and Learning Center as a way of celebrating their critical work
to blur the lines of the classroom and point what the students are doing out into the community.”
Molinaro says this decision was in response to NAU President José Luis Cruz
For the class, students learn how to plan, prepare, present and work as a team. “But we’re doing it for the community,” he said. Part of the preparation involved working with the food
still have all four of my grandparents,” he said, “so I kind of gravitate toward elderly people. I know they like to get a flash from the past type of thing and interact with youth again.”
What if you could access the labs, equipment and expertise of a tier-one research university? Startups like Atomera, a company making faster and more efficient semiconductors, use ASU Core Research Facilities to research and test new products. Arizona State University opens its doors to startups and large companies alike because their innovations directly translate into a new economy — more high-wage, high-tech jobs that benefit our entire state and position Arizona as a global leader.
By Stacey Wittig, FBN
For those who know Flagstaff’s reputation as a friendly city, it is unsurprising that the mountain town’s Airbnb hosts rank No. 3 in the nation for the highest percentage of Superhosts. Superhosts are rated by Airbnb guests as extraordinarily welcoming and experienced at making visitors feel like they belong. According to recent Airbnb indicators, Flagstaff is the third most hospitable city in the United States. With 55% of total Airbnb hosts holding Superhost status, Flagstaff is in the top five destinations on Airbnb with the highest percentage of Superhosts. And that makes it one of the most hospitable cities in the nation.
Sevierville, TN: 60%
Asheville, NC: 59%
Flagstaff, AZ: 55%
Galveston, TX: 50%
Nashville, TN: 49%
Airbnb hosts with high satisfaction ratings and who meet other criteria earn the designation of Superhost. In addition, their listings on the online marketplace for vacation rentals include a special badge that indicates to potential guests that their short-term homestays have been reviewed and rated positively by previous lodgers.
Airbnb Superhost Beth Tucker is not surprised that Flagstaff ranks highly in friendliness and hospitality. “I have some thoughts – three things that might seem random,” said the 11-year Flagstaff Airbnb veteran. “First, we’re a physically active town. Studies show that physical activity increases our sense of well-being. We’re outdoors, we’re active and that helps us feel good.
“Second thing is, we’re a tourist town that gets exposed to international travelers. A good percentage of my guests are foreigners. You need to like interacting with people and turning them on to your town.
“Third is the size of our town. It’s not tiny, but it’s not massive. We have narrow sidewalks – you have to interact. They put you in eye-
line with people. Plus, we have a lot of sunny days, so who can frown?” said the Superhost who privatized the back area of her home in downtown Flagstaff for short-term vacation rental more than a decade ago.
“I enjoy meeting the guests,” Tucker said. “I meet them and help them have an experience. I want people to come back and dig the area. It gives me great pleasure to hear, ‘I didn’t know there was so much to do here.’ I have a lot of repeat guests,” she said.
Tucker worked and traveled in Third World countries for her job before retiring. “I feel I gained insight from those travel experiences and can provide comforts,” she said. “Everybody travels differently, but being able to anticipate the guest’s needs makes me successful.”
One way she makes guests feel at home is to turn the internet radio onto a station streaming from the guest’s home country. “I had people from the Netherlands come in, so I set the radio to an Amsterdam station. Turns out they were getting homesick, so the radio in their native language really helped. You need to think about what kind of situation your guest is in.”
Information Technology expert
Robert Moses says many of his customers are concerned about computer scams, and according to the Better Business Bureau, they have good reason to be on high alert. Scamming is a $10 billion industry, and the BBB reports online scams rose 87% from 2015 to 2022.
Moses, the owner of Idea Karma LLC in Chino Valley, wants to make computer users aware of scams so they recognize suspicious activity when they see it. He says a lot of online pop-up advertisements are designed to make computer users think their computer has a virus, when they do not. Another scam involves postcards that arrive in the mail claiming guarantees for software have expired.
There are also scams with callers posing as representatives from Microsoft, Amazon or similar companies. “They want you to give them access to your computer. You should not do that. They will not call you. It will be on you to call them if you have a problem,” he said.
One scam tells the victim that their house is going to be foreclosed on if they don’t pay them. “They prey on homeowners. They say they are going
to save you from foreclosure. They get your title and then they kick you out.”
Another popular scam involves online dating. Criminals create fake profiles, and once the person gains the other’s trust, they ask for large sums of money.
Scammers have devised “hundreds” of ways to get into people’s phones or computers in order to obtain information about their finances, he said. “They try to get you to pull out a money order.”
Moses estimates he helps six to eight customers a month deal with scams. “That doesn’t seem like a lot, but the numbers are starting to add up.”
And those who are less adept at technology are more at risk. “People who don’t understand what’s happening think they have a virus, so they call and get somebody in India, Pakistan or United Kingdom, so they give them access to their computer and they put in a virus.”
Once the scammers have access to the computers, they can browse through the person’s email and apps. “Don’t keep your password anywhere digitally,” he warned.
He also cautions about giving any personal information over the phone or computer, especially regarding bank “Scammers
Continued on page 33
goodat looking like somebody you trust,” says Idea Karma owner Robert Moses. Photo by Stan Bindell
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
When Lisa Dahl began opening restaurants 27 years ago, she never envisioned having a family of more than 350 employees and being one of Sedona’s largest employers. “I consider it an honor and am humbled by the responsibility that affects the lives of so many in our community,” she said to more than 200 people at the Sedona Chamber of Commerce’s International Women’s Day Luncheon, Wednesday, March 8, where she received the Women’s Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award.
Dahl is the executive chef and owner of six internationally acclaimed restaurants: Dahl & DiLuca Ristorante Italiano, Cucina Rustica Rustic Tuscan Grill, Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Butterfly Burger and Pisa Lisa Pizzeria Autentico, which has two locations. “You don’t get a lifetime achievement award unless a good number of people somehow know how you went through thick and thin and didn’t give up. I know I couldn’t have done much without the help of so many people and it
has really affected me deeply. I don’t want anyone, whether they’re here or passed, to ever think they weren’t a huge part of my journey.”
In the beginning, she says, she was a minority in Sedona’s culinary scene.
“There were absolutely no women in the kitchen until three months into our first year.”
That’s when she met Elena Jaimes at a catering event and asked her to work with her. “I began teaching her my recipes and we cooked together with love. To this day, she puts the love she has for me into every soup, sauce, meatball and so much more. Elena has raised eight children. I am proud to have helped her and her children become naturalized U.S. citizens.”
One of Jaimes’ daughters is named after Dahl. “I am her Godmother. She is now a sous chef at Butterfly Burger and is becoming an excellent chef in her own right. Everyone calls her ‘Little Lisa.’”
The Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award has caused Dahl to take a rare pause to absorb the recognition and reflect upon how a restaurant can be so much more than just a place to eat.
“As I stand here today on International Women’s Day, I am proud to see the contrast of women working in the restaurants compared to 1995, when it was only Elena and
myself,” she told the group. “When women come up to me and say, ‘Thank you for being a role model as a woman entrepreneur,’ or tell me they researched my restaurants
and say they want to support woman-owned businesses or introduce me to their daughters, I can’t begin to tell you how much that means.”
Theara founder offers brain-training exercises, coaching
By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBNMaintaining the vision that
“anything is possible with the right amount of education and determination,” Theara Founder and CEO Renee Rosales has set out to build a better way for the neurodiverse (ND).
“Neurodiversity is the belief that neurological disabilities and differences are not the result of faulty biology but rather the result of natural neurological variation,” Rosales said. “Conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), dyslexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), autism, Tourette’s, giftedness and dyscalculia fall under the ND umbrella.”
As co-founder of two of the first virtual schools in Arizona, Marana Distance Learning K12 and Northern Arizona Distance Learning, and with a 25-year career in public education, Rosales has developed Theara, providing online training and coaching programs using simple brain-training exercises.
According to Rosales, about 15% to 22% of the global population could be considered neurodiverse.
Her passion for the Neurodiversity
Movement is very personal, as she has ADHD. “I am determined to eradicate the negative stigma and wear my ADHD identity like a badge of honor.”
In addition, two of Rosales’ children are neuro-distinct, with ADHD and dyslexia. “My second son was diagnosed with a very complex ND profile. He had very few intelligible words until he was almost 4 years old. Our journey was very challenging and I decided to use my experience to light the way for others navigating the same journey.”
When contemplating the name for her business, Rosales said the word “Ara” kept coming to mind. “Turned out the name Ara meant ‘a table of offerings.’ I left a well-established career to bring all my best to the table to offer to others.”
Her support options for the neurodiverse include Cognitive Coaching, ND Advocacy, DEI Consulting and the Theara Academy. “Theara Academy provides online education options that provide individuals the roadmap I didn’t have: Know the Way at Home, which helps families just beginning their ND journey, Know the Way at School, for educators and parents, Know the Way at Work, for employers and employees and EMERGE ND for Neurodivergents seeking to better manage, embrace
and share their ND identity,” she said.
Acronyms, including JOY, BRIDGE, RESET, CONNECT and REACH, are used as brain training tools to help ND people build connections and improve personal development.
Avondale Registered Nurse, wife and mother Lisa Diggs, who is ADHD, bi-polar and OCD, has been coached by Rosales for more than two years on a bi-weekly routine. “Renee has been an amazing resource and her tools have helped me maintain and stabilize my mind on everything I have going on,” she said. “I learn very well with the Theara acronyms and especially like JOY. My husband noticed how this has helped me and he is now listening to our Zoom meetings as well.” Along with ND, Diggs is also battling cancer and going through chemotherapy.
Born in Akron, Ohio, Rosales met her husband, Flagstaff Foot Doctors owner, Dr. Anthony Rosales, D.P.M., in Cleveland, Ohio. “Anthony was placed for his residency in Tucson, so we moved out West. I started my master’s at University of Arizona (UA)
and completed it in Flagstaff in 2005. I also worked at Flagstaff High School and established the Mesa Distance Learning program there, as well as teaching English.”
Leaving her career in education and developing Theara was a personal process for Rosales. When contemplating the name for her business, Rosales said the word “Ara” kept coming to mind. She discovered “Ara” meant a table of offerings.
“I left a well-established career to bring all my best to the table to offer to others. I chose to leave the comfort of a secure career with the goal of helping people through the challenges of ND. Theara is the culmination of all I have learned along the way.”
Theara Chief Operating Officer Wanda Tompkins left a 30-plus year career in retail to join Rosales on the Theara team. “I’ve never worked with my best friend before and it’s been great. Learning the acronyms is not just for ND individuals. It really helps anyone with better communication, better awareness and helps to refocus on where we need to be. It’s a huge positive in my life. I like to think of it
as learning a new language.”
“Wanda and I have done collaborative work together and she has incredible skills in management and business operation. I wanted a team member who could bring those pieces into the operation,” said Rosales.
Theara’s Masterclass is a monthly live online coaching session where members can speak directly with Renee and other ND parents. “Our Masterclass is a group of families across the world who connect and can help each other navigate their journey. They build lasting relationships and find practical advice on strategies, situational management techniques, learning how to effectively communicate and other valuable support,” said Rosales.
Ronin Media Network Chief Revenue Officer Jason Rhude has been involved with the Masterclass for more than a year. “I’ve been taking her classes to better understand how to interact with people with ND in order to make a more cohesive work environment and understand how to identify and utilize these skills so people can thrive,” said Rhude. FBN
Molly Spangler beams with excitement about embracing and enhancing the Town of Camp Verde as the new economic development director.
“We have a competitive advantage here in Camp Verde,” said Spangler, who served as economic development director in Sedona for six-and-a-half years. “Camp Verde is one of the last communities that has agricultural rural character and a very cool historic downtown. There’s a lot of opportunity here and a great plan in place, alongside a coordinated effort and direction from the council, to move forward.”
Maintaining the persona of the Town of Camp Verde is one of Spangler’s top priorities. “Change is inevitable, like death and taxes, but I think our job is to make sure we’re balancing those community needs
and values. We want Camp Verde to stay the way it is, but we also want the good stuff, like jobs. My role is not to copy what Sedona or Cottonwood or any other municipality is doing, but to leverage what we want and define what our niche is.”
The Verde Valley encompasses Sedona, Camp Verde, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Prescott, Cornville, Jerome and Lake Montezuma. “When you work in one municipality here in the Verde Valley, you work regionally. It’s the only way to make changes happen, so I’ve been working with my counterpart, former Town of Camp Verde Economic Director Steve Ayers, for several years.” Ayers just recently retired.
“When it came time to start a succession plan, I knew my first choice would be Molly. She has the skill set Camp Verde will need over the coming years to move forward in a thoughtful and strategic way,” said Ayers. “I couldn’t be happier that she accepted the position, knowing she will be the person leading Camp Verde’s
economic development efforts for the foreseeable future.”
Small-town living is familiar to
Spangler, as she grew up in Bluffs, Illinois, where the population was about 800. After college, Spangler
joined the Peace Corps and spent a lot of time doing economic development
Continued on page 32
If you were to paint a picture of your health right now, would you put a fuzzy cloud of purple over your head or maybe a circle of red dots around your face? Would you see lines of magenta in your throat, splashes of yellow in your heart or blue squiggles in your abdomen? Katie Beecher might.
Katie is a licensed professional counselor and medical and emotional intuitive with more than 30 years’ experience as a healer. Strongly influenced by the work of psychologist and founder of analytical psychiatry Carl Jung, who believed the body expresses symptoms from our emotions, Katie promotes holistic health, the wellness of the mind, body and spirit.
Her new book, “Heal from Within: A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness,” is packed with ancient wisdom and acute awareness about connectedness and how the body works. More profoundly, she explains what our bodies may be saying to us when something is not quite right.
A big believer in finding the root cause of what is making us sick, Katie not only addresses physical symptoms, but explores “everything in our past and present that may be contributing to being unwell, whether that be physical-
ly, emotionally and/or spiritually.”
“A lot of times when you are having an issue, the tendency is to just look at one aspect of it,” she says. “It may be physical symptoms and looking at just the physical cause or emotionally, like whether it’s a relationship thing, or whether it’s neurological. What I’ve learned from my own experience as well as working with clients is that there are so many different factors that impact our lives, our happiness and
our wellness and they can go back to childhood trauma. But it’s also things like relationships now, nutrition, whether you’re happy in your career or not, spiritual things like how you are being treated and how you are expressing yourself. All these things impact how we feel about ourselves and that translates into how we treat our bodies and how those symptoms are expressed by our body.”
Also, Katie is a watercolor artist.
She uses paintings to investigate and communicate what is causing distress and illness in her clients. “In one painting, the guides told me to show blue squiggles in the gut. Blue is about being empathic and sensitive. When I get blue, it’s often from people who are very influenced by others. They almost care too much about what other people think. From a very young child, this individual had a lot of gut symptoms and stomach aches. He discovered he
was not being his authentic self and that was causing him pain.”
Katie works with chakras, or energy centers in the body that correspond to specific nerve bundles and internal organs. There are seven major ones. If a painting shows magenta lines in the throat, for example, that draws attention to the fifth chakra, which has to do with expression and may indicate a need to express oneself or speak up, she says. “Orange is often about being courageous. The more you trust your intuition and trust your true self, the more courage you will have to be able to do that.”
Color on top or above the head has to do with the seventh or the Crown Chakra, which she says is about connecting to the “supreme self” and the universal flow of energy. “Yellow in this area may indicate loving support surrounding this individual.”
Katie has recovered from an eating disorder, Lyme disease and depression and wrote “Heal from Within” partly to inspire others that they can also heal from very difficult conditions. In the book, she emphasizes bolstering and protecting our healing energy and “embracing an all-powerful loving
Flying ICU serves as emergency lifesaving resource
Providing decades of service throughout the state of Arizona, Air Methods, the leading air medical service provider in the United States, has announced a new Native Air emergency medical service located in Williams. Native Air 22 is designed to better serve residents and visitors of Coconino and Yavapai Counties and beyond.
The Native Air team is positioned to provide the highest quality critical care whenever called upon, according to a news release. “Native Air 22 expands lifesaving care in the region, joining the existing aircraft bases Native Air 4, 14 and 83, which respond to Yavapai and Coconino counties.”
Native Air offers critical care every day, around the clock, responding to emergency medical calls for trauma events, including heart attacks and strokes, pediatric emergencies, burns, auto accidents and other incidents. Additionally, the team provides critical interfacility transports when patients need to move between hospitals for specialized care.
“Known for its destination points and tourism drawing millions of visitors every year, Northern Arizona’s offerings of outdoor activities and adventures are limitless,” said Account Executive Jeannette Hovey. “In a heartbeat, however, an unexpected health event or accident can turn into someone’s worst day. No matter the day, with a 360-degree service area, Native Air stands ready to serve wherever or whenever we are needed.”
Native Air 22 is equipped with a Bell 407 helicopter. The aircraft and crew are skilled in high-altitude flight, positioned for mountainous terrain and rural scene calls. Additionally, the Native Air crew achieved the Commission
on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) and carries the critical tools, medications and supplies needed to provide intensive care unit-level care while in flight. The crew is ready to serve when called upon by emergency dispatch. That number is 800-6427828.
Equipped with industry-leading equipment and medical devices, Native Air 4 and 14 (established bases in Prescott and Prescott Valley) carry and have the ability to administer blood and blood products (i.e., plasma) to scene calls and in flight during every patient transport that may require the lifesaving procedure. Obtaining approval to carry and administer blood in flight is a rigorous and timely process. For perspective, four months into service, Native Air 83 in Cottonwood expects to obtain approval to carry and administer blood products by the end of this month. Now open, Native Air 22 plans to have blood in flight by late summer.
“Where seconds make all the difference in saving a life, the highly trained air medical team is capable of lifesaving interventions at the scene and in flight,” said Hovey. “We essentially serve as a flying ICU, with enhanced pre-hospital care, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.”
Air Methods, the nation’s leading air medical service, delivers lifesaving care to more than 100,000 people every year. Air Methods states that the air medical service is in-network with most health insurance companies, so a membership is never needed. The patient advocacy program also works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability. FBN
Stating that Flagstaff is seeing an influx of strong wellness brands, Danielle Withycombe, one of the owners of the new Hydrate IV Bar, says she is thrilled to be among like-minded companies.
“Now, more than ever, people are actively looking for ways to increase their health and wellness. Flagstaff attracts outdoor enthusiasts yearround, which makes it a perfect fit for our newest spa location,” she said.
The franchise provides vitamin injections, signature IV therapy cocktails and NAD+ add-ons, designed to support health, wellness, recovery and beauty. Therapy treatments are overseen by medical directors and services are administered by registered nurses.
Withycombe says the business caters to outdoor enthusiasts who want to stay hydrated in the elements and give their bodies the recovery they need after a day on the mountain or training for their next marathon.
“We hope to offer them a new
addition to their wellness routine up in the mountains,” she said. “Our team is very personable and knowledgeable about the brand and what we offer at Hydrate IV Bar and will advise each customer on the best options based on their lifestyle. Consistency is key to overall hydration, and our services help with that.”
The Flagstaff location is the
newest Hydrate IV Bar. It is owned and operated by Withycombe, Mary Butterfield and Stephen Butterfield, who first introduced the Hydrate IV Bar brand to Arizona in 2021. The team celebrated a grand opening in January with members of the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and other local business owners and clients.
“We are thrilled to expand in Arizona by franchisees who truly understand the importance of promoting wellness from within,” said Hydrate IV Bar founder Katie Wafer Gillberg. “People are more committed than ever to boosting their health and immunity and we’re happy that Danielle Withycombe and Mary and Stephen Butterfield are giving
residents and visitors of Flagstaff a health and wellness experience to optimize their well-being.” FBN
3.
4. The property is well landscaped and has ample parking.
5. The property will be available for lease on May 1st
6.
7. Potential purchase opportunity.
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
The 4th Annual Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards, sponsored by Quad Cities Business News, is expanding and increasing its impact with three award categories at this year’s High Tea celebration, 3-5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 24, at Starting Point in the Prescott Gateway Mall. “Our goal is to showcase excellence demonstrated by women leaders in the Quad Cities and to inspire all to achieve their potential,” said FBN Publisher Amy Bix.
The ATHENA Awards is an international program that honors outstanding leaders who shine in their professions, serve their communities and mentor women. For the first time in Northern Arizona, the 2023 Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards will recognize businesses and organizations that support, develop and honor women leaders with the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.
In addition, FBN will recognize an individual with the traditional ATHENA Leadership Award and also will present the ATHENA Young
Professional Leadership Award.
10,000 baby boomers are retiring each day and that 83% of businesses report the need to develop leaders at all levels, ATHENA International President and CEO Traci Costa says there has never been a better opportunity for women to develop their skills and step into lead-
in leadership voices – people with different perspectives and different experiences.”
Founder Martha Mertz started the international ATHENA Awards
program in 1982, thinking it would take 10 years to change attitudes about women as leaders. “We ordered 10 custom-made ATHENA sculptures and believed that the culture would change with the acknowledgement of all the incredible accomplishments women leaders have achieved individually and together. We thought ours
was a short-term aspiration, that once enough women had achieved success, all qualified women would be eligible for leadership consideration. We didn’t know how many barriers we’d encounter before any kind of power would be shared. We’ve learned a lot along the way and discovered there are barriers
Sometimes, life’s struggles can seem insurmountable. This is especially true when an individual is drowning in problems created by the ravages of addiction or mental illness.
Help might seem just out of reach as families struggle to afford effective treatment for loved ones who are suffering. However, a private non-profit, Onlife Foundation, was founded in Flagstaff about a year ago to help soften this dilemma by raising funds and creating a network of partnerships that can provide innovative and varied resources for those in need.
“The goal really is trying to meet an audience that’s stuck,” said Onlife President and co-founder Roy DuPrez. “There are so many treatment programs out there, including a lot of expensive programs with minimal results. Families don’t even know what they getting into. We often have scenarios where the potential family
may have good private insurance but not enough to cover their out-ofpocket or insurance policy deductions. We’re trying to help them bridge that, so they can participate in better quality programs.”
The motto of Onlife Foundation is “Placing the Impossible Within Reach.” Critical to the non-profit’s success are its partnerships with effective programs that have proven to be successful in helping individuals recover from addiction and other mental health conditions and go on to maintain sober and enriching lives.
DuPrez also started two programs in the Flagstaff area that are affiliated with and benefit from the efforts of Onlife Foundation – Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery and Beyond the Basics. The Back2Basics program is for young adult males, ages 18 to 35, who have substance abuse issues and are looking for a positive and meaningful life. Its success lies in a combination of concentrated direct care therapy and life-skill building. The program maintains four residential facilities for clients in Flagstaff and is a hybrid residential and outdoor adventure recovery program.
“Young adults truly benefit from various activities that are satisfying
and engaging,” DuPrez said. “There needs to be some sort of carrot, not just another relapse prevention lecture. That isn’t going to do it for most young people at that age. My vision is we need to broaden their experiences
and offer them an opportunity to see what life can look like while being sober.”
Adventures include trips to places like Moab, Utah, Grand Canyon, the Superstition Mountains and Sedona.
Activities may feature camping, backpacking, kayaking and river rafting, with cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter.
Beyond the Basics is an additional
Continued on page 31
Our wet winter is a welcomed sight for drought alleviation, but for those of us living in neighborhoods impacted by post-wildfire flooding, melting snow and the upcoming monsoon season, the precipitation has caused anxiety. City and county staff and elected officials continue to work diligently on flood mitigation planning and funding to implement plans.
The 2019 Museum Fire burned 1,961 acres of U.S. Forest Service (USFS) land plus a small amount of undeveloped private land. The Spruce Wash was impacted and the resulting flooding impacted the Elden Estates neighborhood in the county and residences along Grandview Blvd. and in Sunnyside.
The city has completed several flood mitigation projects to address
Stormwater rates will fund these critical projects: low water crossing on Soliere Ave.; multiple projects along the Fanning Wash channel; drainage conveyance at Columbia Circle; regional flood detention facility at Wildwood Hills; neighborhood master drainage improvements for the Mobile Haven, Shadow Mountain and Smokerise neighborhoods; local cash match for the Rio de Flag flood control project; and the Switzer Canyon regional flood detention basin.
the Spruce Wash flooding, with several left to implement using the $26 million bond recently approved by voters. Coconino County has also completed several projects and has a few scheduled to start soon.
The Pipeline Fire burned 26,532 acres of USFS land and about 180 acres of undeveloped private land. The western end of this fire significantly impacted the Schultz Creek watershed. To catch much of the downed trees, boulders and mud that comes off the mountain with floodwater, the city built two detention basins on city-owned property. The city has three connected projects in design, which are intended to convey water away from the Coconino Estates neighborhood.
Councilmember Miranda Sweet and I testified before the Arizona House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure in support of $8.9 million that Rep. David Cook successfully included in a larger flood control bill. The committee approved this much-needed financial support and Councilmembers Sweet and Lori Matthews and I headed back to the legislature to support the bill in the
Senate and with the Governor’s staff.
I’m happy to report that this bill has passed out of appropriations and we’re optimistic that it will make it into the legislative budget. This money will pay for projects connected to the Pipeline West flood mitigation projects. We’ve fast-tracked these projects and will use general fund monies if project approvals come before we receive state funding.
In addition to general fund monies from both the city and the county, we’ve received nearly $25 million from the federal government for flood mitigation efforts. The city increased stormwater rates to cover operations and maintenance in addition to several critical projects throughout the community. The rate increased to $4.19 per Equivalent Rate Unit (ERU) on April 1. Each ERU is equal to 1,500 square feet of impervious area, such as paved roads, parking lots and roofs. The average ERU for residential properties in Flagstaff is three. The rate will increase 12% each year through January 2028.
Stormwater rates will fund these critical projects:
low water crossing on Soliere Ave.; multiple projects along the Fanning Wash channel; drainage conveyance at Columbia Circle; regional flood detention facility at Wildwood Hills; neighborhood master drainage improvements for the Mobile Haven, Shadow Mountain and Smokerise neighborhoods; local cash match for the Rio de Flag flood control project; and the Switzer Canyon regional flood detention basin. While this flood mitigation work is underway, the city, county and USFS continue thinning projects and prescribed burns in and around Flagstaff. These are funded and expected to be completed within the next several years. Next month, I’ll address what residents and business owners can do to help protect homes and businesses from wildfire. FBN
By Lori Anna Harrison
What is staggering this spring and unique about Flagstaff is our housing market compared to the rest of the country. Forbes Advisor reported that “[national] home sales prices fell year-over-year in February – the first time in nearly 11 years.” However, locally, we did not see sales prices decrease, we have actually seen price per square foot increase in first quarter year-over-year.
In fact, our average sales price rose from $844,769 in March 2022 to $898,900 in March 2023, which is a 6.4% increase from last year, and price per square foot has increased from $388 to $392 respectively. “So, if you’re expecting a crash to make housing affordable again, you may be waiting a while,” according to The Wall Street Journal.
Yet our differences end there and the commonality both locally and nationally is the lack of home inventory available. Currently, there are 91 active single-family homes, which is approximately three months of supply. Traditionally, in a balanced market where there are equal numbers of buyers and sellers, there should be five to seven months of inventory available.
In addition, because of the severity of our winter snowstorms, we possibly
have pent up buyer demand simply because of challenges associated with showing or listing a home with four feet of powder piled up on walkways.
Would-be sellers had difficulty preparing their homes for sale with the massive amounts of precipitation; thus, this spring will likely be heating up prior to our summer peak selling season – most of us wish the weather would do so as well! While March 2023 experienced absorption of only 31 single-family homes versus 76 in March 2022, or 59.2% fewer homes sold yearover-year, April is primed and ready to yield much more. How much more is the (almost) million-dollar question.
Although inventory is low, buyers are more discerning with their preferences, which could be caused in part by the increased interest rates making buyers ponder purchases more deeply – seen in longer days on market. As is always the case, but more important now than ever, it is imperative to fully prepare a home for sale. There are a few items on the checklist that don’t cost much and one that can actually provide some cash back. The bottom line is these updates will increase the value of your home plus the enjoyment factor.
Not sure where to start? These five tips will give you the best bang for your buck.
1. Clean and declutter – make your space look bigger by removing the excess furniture and clutter that accumulates. Call The Barn Bros and they will come to your home and pay for items and even haul them away.
2. Freshen up with paint – this easy DIY project can instantly transform your interior from drab to fab. A modern white will not only look fresh on walls and ceilings but can brighten up rooms to give the illusion of a larger home.
3. Lightly update the kitchen –simply coordinating appliances (no mismatched white stove with stainless steel refrigerator), painting cabinets and installing modern hardware can provide makeover magic. Dated kitchens are reimagined with these updates.
4. Enhance curb appeal – little things like washing exterior windows, removing pine needles and updating planters make a big impact to the tune of a 7% increase in value, according to a University of Alabama study.
5. Stage your home – 73% of staged homes sold for over list price and moved off the market nine days faster than average, according to
the Real Estate Staging Association.
Want more ideas? Come to these local community events.
11 a.m. - 2 p.m., Saturday, April 15 Spring cleaning and decluttering event at The Barn Bros new location, 2160 E. Route 66, Flagstaff.
1-3 p.m., Saturday, April 29 DIY interior design class at
Continental Country Club (open to the public), 2380 N. Oakmont Dr., Flagstaff. FBN
Lori Anna Harrison is a Flagstaff native and 19-year real estate veteran commencing post graduate school with Shea Homes. Lori is a full-time licensed REALTOR® with Zion Realty, LLC. Call her today at 928.396.5851 or text 602.524.5674, email lori@AZdreamlifestyle.com and visit AZdreamlifestyle.com
The week of May 8 through May 12 is Economic Development
Week, and in the Flagstaff area, it is an open invitation to the entire community to meet economic development professionals throughout Flagstaff to learn more about the dynamic work known as economic development. This effort is important because everyone participates in the economy, whether they think about it or not, and because the collection of behaviors and actions of one person has far-reaching impacts, including a local, national and global economy.
You and your actions are economic development. Although that may strike you as an odd assertion and as an idea that you think is not accurate or doesn’t reflect who you are as a person, every time you spend your money, you are encouraging a collection of behaviors and ideals that support economic development. When you spend your money, you are supporting an idea of production and production quality. You are validating a means of delivery and a type of experience through the exchange of goods. All consumers have choices as to where they make their purchases, and often that choice
is determined by the quality of the interaction during the exchange. We are likely to be a return customer to a shop that greets us with a smile and may even offer 5 or 10% off just for being a repeat customer. And keep in mind that being a good customer grows the economy as much as being a good business.
All of those behaviors are considerations for the economic developer because those choices are enhancements of community through material prosperity as an expression of community ideals. Those in the profession consider such trends in the economy and trends in consumer behavior, while they watch the overall political landscape to gauge the direction and spirit of communities.
Economic development practitioners observe all of that and more to determine where to provide energy and resources that may result in a greater number of opportunities for people to be productive and for exchange to occur in a peaceful and fair manner. Doing so invites public and private sector solutions to create a network that ultimately delivers resilience to any given community; small business and entrepreneurship are the resilience and viability of a community. Small business and
entrepreneurship support large industry. In the mix of businesses of all varieties and the communities along with their policies is the place where the activities of Economic Development Week happen.
Business Attraction. Business Retention and Expansion. Economic Gardening. Workforce Development. Redevelopment. These are names of various disciplines within economic development that are practiced every day in Flagstaff, Coconino County, the State of Arizona and everywhere and any place people live and work.
As such, Economic Development Week will be sponsored by the City of Flagstaff Community Investment Division, the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona, known as ECoNA, and Moonshot@NACET. Throughout the week, Flagstaff will be invited to participate in a number of activities and opportunities to meet with economic development practitioners from the public and private sectors to learn what they do and how they do it. Look for a schedule of events on ChooseFlagstaff.com, the City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development website. Some things you may see include a job fair, lunch and learn opportunities and other types of entrepreneurship events, interview
skill workshops, or direct engagement events over coffee or a happy hour to discuss all elements of economic development. We look forward to seeing you at these events and hope you will learn how economic development has a huge role in determining the quality of life in your community. FBN
To learn more about economic development in Flagstaff, please contact Business Retention and Expansion Manager John Saltonstall at JSaltonstall@flagstaffaz.gov or Business Attraction Manager Jack Fitchett at jack.fitchett@flagstaffaz.gov.
John Saltonstall is the business retention and expansion manager for the City of Flagstaff.
The NACA Behavioral Health Center places a priority on improving mental health for all people in the community of Flagstaff and utilizes a wide variety of counseling techniques that honor Flagstaff’s unique population and its customs, culture and beliefs (including Traditional & Western orientations).
NACA’s Behavioral Health Center provides the following behavioral health care in our facilities:
Assessment and Evaluation
Individual and Group Psychotherapy
Substance Use (chemical dependency) Counseling
Mental Health Counseling
Traditional and Western Counseling Techniques
Medication Evaluation and Management
Outpatient Treatment
NACA offers strengths-based outpatient services for youth and adults in individual, family and group settings. Counseling is offered for domestic violence (DV), depression, grief, trau-
ma, self-esteem, coping skills, spiritual distress, managing one’s lifestyle and other issues. We also offer prevention programs, including Reach Ur Life Suicide Prevention, and Pathways – After School Program for Youth. NACA is in the process of credentialing with CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare), and soon all NACA’s independently licensed therapists will be credentialed through this organization.
The Native Connections Program works collaboratively with community youth, families and community leaders, alongside local youth serving agencies in the Flagstaff area. This program designs a youth-guided plan of action that focuses on improvements to the local mental health/behavioral health system in an effort to reduce suicidal behavior, substance use and some impacts of trauma, while promoting mental health well-being among youth through 24 years old.
NACA’s Substance Abuse Program (SAP) is currently facilitating all groups and classes strictly through Zoom. The SAP program’s goal, first and foremost, is to assist our community members in maintaining or achieving sobriety through supportive services, while simultaneously working to alleviate
legal issues by providing clients group and individual therapy. Our services include, but are not limited to:
Engaging in individual substance abuse counseling with clients who are self-referred and hoping to start/continue sobriety.
Providing SAP screenings required by the DM, ADOT, courts and parole/probation officers.
Facilitating revocations and working with clients to get licenses reinstated, when deemed appropriate.
Fulfilling court required 16-hour DUI education classes.
Providing Early Recovery (ER) and Relapse Prevention (RP) groups that provide a space for clients to gain education on substances, while learning life habits beneficial to their sobriety.
Giving clients the opportunity to gain traditional knowledge on mental health and substances with our Talking Circles.
New time slots are being offered for DV groups in order to provide more opportunities for group members who have work or other demands on their time. NACA’s Behavioral Health Extended Services include DUI Services,
Revocation Services, Intimate Partner Violence Services, Talking Circle, and Healing Circle – Bereavement Virtual Support Group.
NACA Behavioral Health also recently hired a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner. Cheryl Carstens is working with the coordinator of Phoenix Mental Health and Wellness to ensure that all the patients seen under NACA are transitioned to her care if they choose to do so. Jonathan Yellowhair hosts informal basketball and art groups to allow SAP and DV group members to meet each other in a different and relaxed setting.
Christopher David led a Winter Flute Family Workshop, which met every Tuesday in February, and the first Tuesday in March. The focus of the sessions was on emotional regulation through deep breathing and mindfulness. Each participant built their own flute.
Gary Davis has been involved with a new program in collaboration with Tuba City Regional Health Care Center (TCRHCC). The program is called “Commu-
nity Counseling Center” (CCC) with Joe Baca. Joe goes into schools in the Tuba City area and teaches Life Skills, Conflict Resolution, Problem-Solving and Coping with Loss to young people in that area.
To learn more about NACA Behavioral Health or schedule your screening session, call the Behavioral Health Center at 928-773-1245. FBN
Almalia Berrios-Payton is the marketing and public relations officer for Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) and a member of the Lenca and Pipil tribes from El Salvador. Berríos-Payton earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and strategic communications at Northern Arizona University and can be reached at almaliabp@nacainc.org.
NACA’s Family Health Center currently offers the seasonal flu vaccine, the COVID-19 Moderna and Pfizer primary vaccines, and the COVID-19 bivalent booster. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 928-773-1245.
Hip arthroscopy, sometimes called a hip scope, is a minimally-invasive surgical technique used to treat several different pathologies in and around the hip. While knee and shoulder arthroscopy techniques have been popular for a much longer period of time, hip arthroscopy as a field has experienced massive growth in the last 15 years. As a relatively novel technique, hip arthroscopy has evolved quickly, with many new technologies, concepts, innovations and efficiencies developed
in that short window of time. Typically, a hip arthroscopy surgery is performed through several small poke holes over the hip. An arthroscopic camera and specialized small instruments are inserted through these small incisions. This allows for excellent visualization inside the tissues of the hip but minimal soft tissue disruption during the surgery.
With these principles in mind, hip arthroscopy can be utilized to treat hip impingement, labral tears of the hip, cartilage injuries in the hip, abductor tendon tears, hip flexor tendon pathology, hip infections and more.
Most commonly, hip arthroscopy is used to treat hip impingement. Hip impingement, or femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), is a condition where the ball and socket of the hip joint do not fit together perfectly spherically in the front portion of the hip. This leads to the bones pinching together when the hip is brought into flexion, like in a deep squat or crouch. This can cause pain, and it can often lead to labral tearing or cartilage damage. FAI typically affects active people in their 20s, 30s and sometimes 40s. Athletes that are frequently required to have their hips
For patients in the second through fourth decades of life suffering from FAI, arthroscopic surgery can be utilized to repair any tearing of the labrum and to reshape the bones so that the joint is perfectly spherical. This surgery is extremely successful for resolving the symptoms of hip impingement. Additionally, the exact effect of hip impingement on the development of arthritis is not entirely known; however, some data suggests that untreated hip impingement may be associated with an increased risk of arthritis over time.
in a flexed position, such as catchers, hockey goalies, gymnasts and cyclists, are often impacted by the symptoms of FAI; however, the condition is not limited to athletes.
For patients in the second through fourth decades of life suffering from FAI, arthroscopic surgery can be utilized to repair any tearing of the labrum and to reshape the bones so that the joint is perfectly spherical. This surgery is extremely successful for resolving the symptoms of hip impingement. Additionally, the exact effect of hip impingement on the development of arthritis is not entirely known; however, some data suggests that untreated hip impingement may be associated with an increased risk of arthritis over time. Because of this, treating symptomatic impingement with hip arthroscopy may actually prevent hip arthritis in the future.
Once a hip joint has developed arthritic changes, it is not appropriate for hip arthroscopy surgery. This is because hip arthroscopy has not been shown to dramatically improve symptoms for patients with arthritis; in fact, in some cases (for reasons that are not entirely known), performing a hip arthroscopy on a hip with arthritis
can actually accelerate the arthritic degeneration of the hip. Frequently, arthritis is associated with labral tearing in the hip. However, unlike the labral tearing that occurs with hip impingement, it is not helpful to perform hip arthroscopy surgery for labral tears associated with arthritis. Instead, a more effective treatment once the hip has reached this stage of degeneration is to perform a hip replacement. A hip replacement removes the torn labrum and arthritic cartilage from the hip, and it is an excellent treatment for patients with hip arthritis. In general, hip arthroscopy is most suited for patients under the age of 50, while hip replacement surgery is most suited for those over the age of 50. FBN
Dr. Todd Ludwig is a fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeon at Flagstaff Bone & Joint located at 525 N. Switzer Canyon Drive. Dr. Ludwig offers nonoperative and operative sports medicine treatment options for the hip, knee and shoulder. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, visit www. flagstaffboneandjoint.com or call 928-773-2280.
By Roy DuPrez
While in recovery for drug or alcohol addiction, people must avoid activities that may lead them back to their old ways. Many recovery programs offer recreational activities as part of their treatment, but seeking out alternatives to help with the recovery process can help as well. Getting involved in volunteering and community service projects is a great way to boost a person’s recovery process.
Addiction recovery often involves therapy, medication and participating in group settings. Volunteer or community service activities allow the person to make a difference in the community. Doing so will make a difference in their own life by giving back and giving the person a new perspective on life. Through these activities, the person learns to care for others while also helping heal themselves.
Many volunteer activities include physical activity, like lifting, carrying and walking short distances. These activities over time help boost a person’s physical
health and are a great way to get back into exercising.
Participating in activities like this helps increase a person’s heart rate and blood circulation. It ensures an adequate supply of oxygen to the body, making an individual healthier while healing from addiction, which is often associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The exercise the person does while volunteering may not be the typical exercise one will get from going to a gym, but every kind of exercise helps.
Participating in volunteer programs and community service activities instills a sense of responsibility and well-being in a person’s life. They get to understand their worth in society and it gives them a purpose. Community service also helps build skills and connections with people in the community.
Being around other people with similar interests results in a positive support system during recovery. It encourages the person to remain sober by being active in rewarding activities in a safe environment away from substances or people using substances.
Community service also helps
reduce anxiety and stress resulting in improved health and an increased mood. Having an increased mood can help people lead a healthier lifestyle by eating better, getting better sleep and exercising regularly, which helps with the overall recovery process.
Through volunteer and community service work, the person gets to interact and meet people from different walks of life, which improves their social skills. Talking to others while working helps build confidence when in social situations. These situations give the person a chance to grow their skills in normal settings instead of in regulated environments like group sessions. When volunteering and interacting with others outside of a recovery program, the person gets to use the tools they have learned to create friendships and relationships founded in sobriety. Participating in these activities allows the person to enjoy activities without relying on drugs to boost their mood. Overall, volunteering and community service will help the person in recovery practice what they have learned, be more social and become active in their lives.
People in recovery often feel like they are getting a second chance on life. Once they quit drinking or taking drugs, their bodies begin the healing process. This is a time to commit to healthy habits that provide a meaningful lifestyle. Many recovery programs offer an environment that provides less stress and anxiety. They may get to experience nature or spend time helping others. When volunteering or working in the community, the person will experience what it feels like to be beneficial in society. This helps boost mood and provides a sense of selfworth. It also instills the act of responsibility and leadership. The person gets to show others they are living a healthy lifestyle while they are helping people overcome their own situations. Seeing the difference they can make in another person’s life or other groups can help lead to better choices in the future and a better way of living.
When a person in recovery actively participates in volunteer work and community service, they can see a life outside of their addiction. They get to interact with people in a sober environment that shows they can lead
productive lives without needing to be high. When looking for a rehabilitation or treatment center, always find one that puts an emphasis on giving back, because this is a great way to keep the healing process moving forward.
Roy DuPrez, M.Ed. is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol. DuPrez also is the president of Onlife Foundation, an organization helping to provide financial aid and program support to individuals on their path toward sobriety and recovery.
Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In the program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. For more information, visit back2basicsoutdooradventures.com, call 928-814-2220 or email rduprez@b2badventures.com.
In our world of sound and how it contributes to communication, it is important to have every child’s hearing tested at birth and then screened though elementary school age. We learn to communicate during the early years and if there is even the slightest interruption in the auditory signal going to the brain, the outcome can be significant. Research has shown that hearing loss occurs in 1.7 per 1,000 babies.
Our primary means of learning speech and language is passively. This
means as babies/children are exposed to language, they “eavesdrop” and naturally absorb how to pronounce words and the sentence structure of the language they hear.
How do we test the hearing of a baby? They are not able to tell us when they hear a sound. We can watch their behavior after we present a sound, but the reliability is not good. What we do is a screening test called an OAE (otoacoustic emissions) to determine how the hair cells inside the hearing organ react to sound. A small probe or sound-producing device is placed in the tiny ear
canal. This probe creates a clicking sound that varies in loudness and pitch or frequency. This way, we can understand what the hearing organ does with soft sound at different frequencies. Testing as many frequencies as possible is important to determine if the entire hearing organ is working well. Most hospitals offer this test prior to the baby going home. If a baby is born at home, a hearing test can be scheduled at an outpatient office. If a baby does not pass the test in both ears, a referral is made to an outpatient testing facility. It is important to have the follow-up test completed as quickly as possible. Once babies are three months old or so, they recognize strangers and will not sleep during the test. They want to know what is going on! So, we strongly encourage parents to have the follow-up test within a few weeks of leaving the hospital. One trick for helping the test to be as successful as possible is to play with your infant’s ears while feeding or other cuddle time. This way, the infant associates ear touching with comfort time. This is a good habit to continue through two years of age. Babies that are accustomed to people touching their ears will not react negatively when the doctor looks in the
ear canal during a well visit. Another recommendation for the newborn is to gently massage the ears and canal opening. This helps move the natural vernix that may be trapped in the canal. The excessive vernix may be plugging up the canal, causing the hearing to be reduced. Doing these two pre-appointment actions will help ensure the best possible follow-up test.
If the follow-up OAE screening indicates a hearing loss, the next step is to have a diagnostic hearing test. This is called an ABR (auditory brainstem response.) This test traces how sound goes into the brain and where any interruption might be. An audiologist does this test. Again, the younger the baby, the better. Babies need to sleep and be perfectly still during these procedures, so it is important to take advantage of how much a very young baby sleeps. There is absolutely zero pain in both tests and the sound is pleasant, so usually babies will sleep in the caregivers’ arms right through these tests. The audiologist will place a few electrodes on the head with tape and put soft ear tips in the canal opening. The ABR is the gold standard for diagnostic hearing evaluations. This test
will be able to differentiate between a hearing loss caused from something blocking the ear canal, a sound restriction from middle ear fluid or other middle ear issues as well as a permeant nerve hearing loss in the inner ear.
The earlier we know about hearing loss, the better the outcome for speech and language learning. Time is critical when it comes to stimulating the area of the brain that receives the speech signal. We want to put hearing aids on children as soon as we identify a hearing loss. As an audiologist with more than 25 years of experience diagnosing and working with newborns through teenagers, I can attest to the success of the students who sought hearing aids as infants. FBN
Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit TrinityHearing.net.
Karon Lynn, Au.D., is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. She may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.
It is important to have the follow-up test completed as quickly as possible. Once babies are three months old or so, they recognize strangers and will not sleep during the test. They want to know what is going on! So, we strongly encourage parents to have the follow-up test within a few weeks of leaving the hospital.
In a rare moment, and after waiting three years, mixed media painter Kellie Day is coming to Flagstaff to put on her first Mixed Media Painting Art Retreat since COVID began.
Day mentors women all over the U.S. and Canada and encourages them to move past their fears and barriers to express their unique creative voices through her online course.
“The beauty of painting in person with an artist that you love is that you get to experience the energy of being right there with all the materials and instant personal guidance to evolve your art in a deep way,” said Day. “Retreats are a sacred time that you set aside for yourself to focus on your own art, which can be so hard to do in everyday life when there’s so much to get done.”
Often times art gets pushed to side when we’re busy living life, raising kids and/or focusing on a career, but when we have a creative calling, it’s always whispering to us.
Day’s own art is inspired by the
Southwest Colorado mountains where she lives. She plans to introduce nature as a field of inspiration at the upcoming retreat. “I love to take different things that move me from the outdoors, like pine needles, or patterns in the rocks – or even entire
mountains, to create mixed media paintings. When you combine that with brilliant color palettes, amazing paintings come to fruition that are directly inspired from our experiences.”
Day says that all of these quiet observations of our lives are what
gives us meaning here on Earth. As a creative person, she says it’s our job to share that through the beauty we create.
“Many people are too busy to stop and really celebrate the beauty that we are surrounded by. As creatives
our senses are highly developed, which causes us to notice and feel things very deeply, so much so that we are called to express these feelings. This is our gift and what we’re here for.”
Continued on page 27
Fatigue is very common issue that I see in my practice on a daily basis. There are many causes of fatigue, but one of the most common causes is hormone imbalances caused by stress, poor nutrition or hormone shifts of aging – perimenopause, menopause and andropause. Stress triggered by lifestyle, work schedules, financial troubles or life challenges trigger the release of cortisol, a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. When chronic stress occurs, it can put your body in a fight or flight mode by releasing high levels of cortisol. It can become problematic, resulting in insomnia, anxiety and inability to deal with stress as it triggers the nervous system to be on edge. If high stress occurs for long periods of time, it may fatigue the adrenals, resulting in low energy levels or chronic fatigue. A basic blood test or salivary cortisol test can offer insight into how your adrenal function may be contributing to your fatigue. The adrenal glands are like the source of energy of all other endocrine glands and can affect the function of the thyroid, female or male hormones and pancreas. Stress affects all hormones in the body.
Here are some tips to help you reduce stress and improve your energy levels.
1. Check what you are eating. You are what you eat. If you are eating food that is lacking nutrients and vitality, it is no wonder why you may not be feeling well. Eat a clean Mediterranean diet. Eating protein every three to four hours helps balance blood sugars, reduce stress on the body systems and can improve energy levels.
2. Take time to breathe. In stressful situations, focusing on your breath can help reduce the stress response. Inhale for a count of eight, exhale for a count of 16. Repeat three to five times.
3. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sleep is your body’s time to regenerate. Most people require six to eight hours of uninterrupted sleep. If you have sleep issues, hormone imbalance or sleep apnea may be the culprit.
4. Drink enough water. Many people don’t drink enough water during the day. A good rule of
thumb is to drink your body weight in ounces of water daily, more if you are sweating a lot. Water helps the body get rid of toxins that build up in the body systems.
5. Add B vitamins once or twice daily with food. Many people are deficient in B vitamins. It is important to take methylated B complex, which are the most complete balanced B vitamins. B vitamins are needed for energy metabolism, neurotransmitters and stress response. B vitamin shots weekly to twice weekly can help improve energy levels and will get right into your system by bypassing the digestive system.
6. Move more often than not. Exercise daily, or, at minimum, walk 20 to 30 minutes per day. Movement helps the energy to move in the body systems, releases natural endorphins and makes you feel good.
7. Get your lab work done. There are many different things that can contribute to fatigue. A basic blood test for blood count, liver and kidney function, vitamin
B and D, full thyroid panel and male/female hormone panels can often check basic imbalances that may contribute to fatigue. The normal aging process often drives hormones to be low, causing fatigue, weight challenges, low sex drive, low mood and sleep issues. With hormone optimization, hormones are at levels where patients feel their best and it minimizes age-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia and osteoporosis. Seeing a hormone specialist who focuses on hormone optimization will give you the most benefit and chance at improving the root cause of fatigue.
8. Try regular acupuncture sessions. Acupuncture helps to move energy through the energy channels/meridians in the body and can bring anything out of balance back into flow. It releases natural endorphins that help balance hormones by the hypothalamus-pituitary axis. It helps reduce stress, regulates mood and helps reduce pain and
inflammation. Weekly treatments help boost energy and metabolism.
9. Seek adrenal support. There are many herbal supplements out there, but one of my favorite herbs is ashwagandha. It balances your cortisol, whether it is high or low. Testing the salivary adrenal stress index is the most accurate measure for cortisol. It will plot your cortisol curve through the day. A normal curve is high in the morning and slowly decreases by bedtime. Some people’s cortisol curves can be flipped, causing insomnia or anxiousness at night. Luckily, these imbalances can be corrected, which will optimize the function of all other endocrine glands. FBN
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.
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Spring is a great time for new beginnings, and for thousands of homeless animals across the country, it may be just the right time to find loving, responsible forever families. That’s because the national 2023 Tour for Life event runs through April in collaboration with shelters and rescue partners in 66 cities and towns across 39 states.
For example, four dogs are settling into a happy home life with families who have just adopted them. Lotus, a Basenji fox terrier mix; Poncho, a Bernese Mountain dog; Brody, a shepherd mix; and Milo, a whippet, had all just spent about nine long months in their kennels at the Coconino Humane Association (CHA) on East Butler Avenue in Flagstaff.
Three lucky cats, Victoria, 4; Moose, 3; and Tink, 4, were also among the 19 cats and 11 dogs who found nice homes during the Tour for Life event at CHA March 13 through March 19.
Starting in mid-March, annual Tour for Life events run for eight weeks and bring organizations that help homeless animals together to facilitate the adoption process for animals in need.
“All of our shelters are pushing for adoption in the spring to make space,” said CHA Executive Director Michelle Ryan. “Pre-COVID, we would typically run at about 30 to 40% capacity. Now we are at about 98 to 102% capacity. We are getting puppies and kittens 12 months of the year.”
The shelter has about 150 animals currently and the newly adopted pets, except the four longer-resident dogs, had come into CHA since January.
The Tour for Life adoptions represented a little more than twice as many adoptions as the previous month, she added. Those adopting during the tour receive a $50 discount.
“The fee includes spay/neuter
procedures, vaccines, including rabies, a microchip, including registration, and they are dewormed and receive preventative flea and tick medicines,” she said.
At CHA, the fees are $265 for puppies and $175 for kitties. For adult animals older than 6 months, dogs fees are $210, $135 for cats. Senior and special-needs animals are from $0 to $50.
“Adopting is a big bang for your buck. Typically, it can be $650 or more in Flagstaff if you bought a dog or found a dog, or your neighbor gave you a gift of a dog.”
Since its inception in 2001, the annual Tour for Life event has brought attention to the plight of homeless animals and has reached great success by finding homes for more than 28,000 animals.
Tour for Life was conceived by North Shore Animal League America, the world’s largest no-kill animal rescue and adoption organization. According to a league press release, the organization has saved more than 1.1 million animals during its 80 years of existence.
In addition, the league operates a nationwide referral network for affordable spay and neuter services.
The tour this year is in partnership with talk show host Rachael Ray and
her Nutrish pet food brand, which offers dog and cat food and snacks inspired by recipes created in Ray’s kitchen featuring “real ingredients” suitable for a “variety of pet diets,” according to a Nutrish press release.
Some factors creating overcrowded conditions in shelters since the pandemic began include a drop in staffing and a reduction in affordable locations for spay and neuter surgeries. “It’s been a huge struggle,” Ryan said. “We used to hire mobile clinics out of Tucson. But because of post-pandemic life, they didn’t have the staffing to do it. There have been no clinics up here for a year.”
A big garage at CHA that used to store pet food is being converted into a clinic and is expected to be ready for low-cost spay and neuter surgeries by the fall. “We are also hiring a volunteer coordinator to set up more adoption events than we have right now.”
Monthly adoption events are held at the Continental Country Club and at Bookmans Flagstaff Entertainment Exchange. CHA will also have a presence at the Celtic Festival and Doney Park Community Market this month through the summer. Cats and dogs are at Petco twice a month.
Staff at CHA will also take adoptable dogs and puppies (who tolerate heat
better than cats and kittens) to Sedona in October during the Wild Cat Carnival at West Sedona Elementary School.
In the Prescott area, the Yavapai Humane Society (YHS) on Sundog Ranch Road also has been highlighting spring pet adoption with its “Hello Spring, Opt to Adopt” motto.
“Better weather is always better for adoption meet and greets,” said Loree Walden, marketing manager at YHS. “No one wants to be out in a windy snowstorm or rainy day trying to get to know a dog. A nice, beautiful day is always best, but we are always available with our animals to do a meet and greet for anyone who would like to make an appointment to come meet these precious animals, as long as it is safe for the animal, our staff and customers.”
YHS, which celebrated its 50th anniversary last year, hosted a successful, three-day “Feeling Lucky” event on Saint Patrick’s Day weekend. The society had a “pick your price” special on adult dogs and cats, and 27 animals went home – 22 dogs and five cats.
Although spring brings an uptick in adoption, the pressing need to find reliable and safe homes for animals is an ongoing challenge. “It’s important year-round, every single day of the year, to find homes for our animals,”
Walden said. “In the spring, we see an increase in puppies and kittens, because it is their season and many of the older or bigger dogs get overlooked because, of course, everyone wants a puppy. Shelters nationwide are full and unfortunately will never run out of animals needing homes as more animals are surrendered or brought in as strays every day.”
YHS is scheduled to conduct a Community Pet Food Pantry Food Drive and National Adopt A Shelter Day Adoption Special from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Saturday, April 29. “We’ll have KKLD and KRVD here broadcasting live,” Walden said. “Gringo’s Street Tacos Food Truck will be here, a photo booth to take pictures with your pup, information booths and an adoption special, which will probably be ‘pick your price’ for dogs over 6 months old and over 15 pounds and cats over 6 months old. Our hope is that by providing the Community Pet Food Pantry, pet owners know they have a place to go to provide their pets with food, and they don’t have to surrender them because they cannot afford food.”
Our normal day-to-day lives are risk-filled adventures that sometimes get out of hand. While we live in a society that provides us protection from much that can harm us, we crafty humans find ways around the protections all the time. Let’s talk about a few examples and what could or should have been done that would have prevented the event.
I was cleaning my gun and it just went off! This is one of the most frequently occurring negligent discharges that often results in serious injuries or even death. As folks become more familiar with their firearms, there seems to be a natural tendency to relax compliance with the Four Fundamental Safety Rules. They are:
1. Treat every gun as if it’s loaded.
2. Never point the muzzle at something
you’re not willing to destroy.
3. Keep your finger off of the trigger until ready to shoot.
4. Know your target AND what’s beyond it. The first step in cleaning a gun should always be to verify that it is unloaded. Too many times, that first step is skipped because gun owners may think, “I know I unloaded it earlier.” We recommend that you unload and verify your gun is unloaded in a different room and leave the ammunition there. This assures you that you, and those around you, will be safe while you’re cleaning. It’s important to realize that a negligent discharge is a threat not just to yourself and those in the immediate vicinity but also those quite a distance away. Modern handgun ammunition can easily penetrate multiple
Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) officials say they plan to open a Flagstaff pulmonology clinic in July offering a full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures designed to treat and care for respiratory disorders, including obstructive pulmonary diseases.
The clinic will be located at 1215
N. Beaver Street, Suite 203. For patients transitioning their care from another provider, NAH recommends they contact their current practice or physician and request their patient medical records. For more information about services available at NAH, visit https://www.nahealth.com/. FBN
interior walls and common rifle ammunition can travel in excess of three miles at optimum trajectory.
Speaking of checking to make sure a firearm is unloaded, we have experienced situations where customers brought their firearm in for maintenance and state, “Don’t worry, it’s unloaded.” Sometimes customers return a rental firearm that should be unloaded and it isn’t. We ALWAYS personally check every firearm we touch to verify it’s unloaded. That includes those on display that we “know” should not be loaded. It’s especially impressive to us when, after we check it and hand it to a customer, that they, too, personally check it.
Many of us “learned” how to shoot under the direction of a friend or relative in the local
ART continued from page 24
Mixed media painting itself is the combination of various materials – not just paint. Materials such as acrylics, collage, pastel and even watercolor or spray paint can be combined to create paintings on canvas. Day will be introducing many playful materials into this retreat. Day became serious about her painting when she became a single mom and had to figure out how to find time for her own art and happiness. Now she sells her paintings all over the U.S. and other countries, and her work has been used by companies like Trader Joe’s, The North Face, Banks, magazines, healthcare companies and more.
I am thrilled to be hosting her upcoming Mixed Media Painting Art Retreat in beauti-
Arizona Snowbowl is set to make history this month with its longest operating season ever. With 390 inches of snowfall this winter and the third snowiest ski season since 1991-92, Snowbowl will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., through April, for the first time.
“This is an incredible milestone for skiers and snowboarders in Arizona,” said General Manager Rob Linde. “We’re extremely proud that we can provide our guests with the freedom to ski and offer 172 days of riding this season.”
For those looking to experience spring conditions, Snowbowl is offering lift tickets, rentals and group lessons starting at $19 each. Additionally, every adult ticket purchased online at snowbowl.ski and in advance will include a $10 resort credit.
Free Power Kids season passes also are available for children 12 years old and younger. For those looking to try skiing or riding for the first time, Snowbowl is offering a free first-time beginner lesson to ages 13 and older with any ticket
Arizona’s highest ski resort, offering skiing, boarding and Scenic Gondola rides, is promoting themed weeks, live music and contests through April.
Courtesy photos
purchase or season pass.
In addition to increased days on the slopes this April, Arizona Snowbowl is planning several events throughout the end of the season.
Guests can look forward to themed weeks like Prom Week, April 17-23 and Tropical Week, April 24-30, which will include live music, contests and giveaways. FBN
forest. While that can be a very rewarding and bonding experience, emphasis on the four safety rules is often neglected. Make sure that anyone teaching you follows those rules and that you yourself know how to check that the firearm is unloaded. You should never trust that someone else has verified if a gun is loaded or not, do it yourself, every time.
Failing to follow those four simple rules results in events we always thought could never happen to us. Don’t be that person! FBN
Rob Wilson is the owner, with his wife, Elise, of Timberline Firearms & Training in Flagstaff. They offer a full line of firearms, accessories, safes and ammunition along with Liberty Safes. For more information, visit timberlinefirearms.us.
ful Flagstaff, June 8 – 12. Together, we are creating a wholistic art-making experience at a peaceful location in the pines, designed to nurture creative souls.
For more information about the June 8-12 art retreat, visit KellieDayArt.com/workshops. FBN
Marian Armstrong is an associate broker for Best Flagstaff Homes Realty, bestflagstaffhomes.com. She is passionate about opening space for people to connect and create. Armstrong can be reached at 928-853-8991 or marian@bestflagstaffhomes.com
company in the West. “It was a major world news story, and it was celebratory watching LBJ formally proclaim the settlement.”
Newton has not only documented history in the making but has devoted decades to capturing moments of joy and sadness, shock and triumph in the American story. Through many pairs of shoes and reams of paper, his work has kept us informed and connected, including as a writer and photographer covering his beloved Flagstaff and Prescott for Flagstaff Business News and Quad Cities Business News
At age 87, Newton continues to drop into that newsman stance when speaking to someone, leaning in with focused, inquisitive brown eyes, searching for facts and hanging on every word to get the information right. Because, to him, that matters. The relationship, the facts, the truth.
“I had a couple of jobs where they [editors] tried to alter my story. We ought to be objective tellers of fact, as best we can report it – giving accurate, honest information and hoping we give readers enough that they can make wise decisions. I’ve had some editors who want to twist it. I quit a job because of that. I will not do that.”
In the late ‘60s and early ‘70s, Newton worked on special assignments for AP and as a news reporter/photographer for the CBS affiliate in Albuquerque, KGGM-TV.
Newton’s unwavering code of truth and integrity has been his calling card, principles he has instilled in generations of journalism students at Northern Arizona University.
Newton joined NAU in 1973, as an assistant professor in the Department of Journalism. By 1985, he was a full professor and the dean of the College of Creative and Communication Arts.
“I was so pleased to be a part of that team in Creative Arts and seeing that journalism program grow. At one time, that was the biggest journalism program in Arizona, and we were selecting good students. We had excellent faculty and gave them opportunities to do what they could do best. I trusted that and loved what we did.”
Under Newton’s leadership, the college established a chapter for the prestigious Sigma Delta Chi Society of Professional Journalists. It also began the practice of bringing student interns into working newsrooms.
“That made the program so visible, but also gave students the opportunity to find out in advance what the real world is like, not what a textbook tells you. To have Bill Close [legendary Arizona anchorman known for his high standards] say to you, ‘My God, you’re making some of the best students.’ That made us so pleased with what we were doing.”
During this time, Newton served on boards of many professional journalism and broadcasting associations and consulted for newspapers, government agencies and educational organizations. He wrote for Reader’s Digest and became the publication’s director of writers’ workshops across the West and on cruise ships. As such, he assembled editors from top national publications such as Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Field and Stream and others, to offer writers insight as to what they look for in stories. “Writers streamed in from all over the region,” he said.
Through his friendship with Bob Hope’s head writer, Gene Perret, Newton brought the global entertainer to Flagstaff to officially open the new NAU Skydome, which didn’t have a name yet, in September 1977. Capable of seating more than 15,000 people, the facility was the largest laminated wood beam structure of its kind in the world and the fourth-largest rigid domed structure ever built.
“President Gene Hughes asked me if I would introduce Bob Hope!” said Newton. “At the time, it was the biggest public performance for any entertainer who had ever come to Northern Arizona. Not only did he perform, he invited students to come on stage to talk with him. He then did an encore and gave far beyond what anybody expected. That’s why he was such a class act. He gives far more than is expected.”
Newton worked as an associate to President Hughes for six years and calls him his “best boss ever.”
“A good boss is not afraid to try new things. A good boss trusts people to make things happen. A good boss will tell you straight out when something you write is pretty bad. You have to appreciate that!”
President Hughes sent Newton to Oahu, Hawaii, to study the Polynesian Cultural Center there. His vision, says Newton, was to create a Native
American Cultural Center, which NAU has today.
In 1994, Newton became the director of research for the NAU School of Hotel and Restaurant Management. Throughout his career, he has been recognized with dozens of honors, awards and recognitions including “Outstanding Educators of America” and “Who’s Who Among Authors and Journalists.” Recently, he received the Prescott chapter Phi Kappa Phi honor society emeritus member award from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where he serves on the Board of Visitors. In addition, Flagstaff Business News and Quad Cities Business News are honoring Ray Newton and his commitment to teaching, advocacy for education and dedication to the truth with the Best of Business Ray Newton Excellence in Education Award.
“Ray is not only a critical part of the team and so well-respected and known throughout Northern Arizona, he is a stellar example of what it means to be a person of integrity in all he does. He has impacted thousands of lives and we feel so blessed to work with Ray and to have his journalistic talent grace our publications. But, more importantly, to have his friendship through the years,” said FBN and QCBN Founder Troy Bix. “Ray’s energy and dogged determination are unmatched. When he shows up, there is no denying the excitement he brings to a room or event.”
What makes Newton most proud, he says, are the many students he has taught, mentored, cheered on through their careers and known as lifelong friends. What matters to him most are people.
“Like so many of my professors at NAU, I looked up to Ray and was thrilled when I learned that he was following my career after graduation and when he shared his pride and ongoing support,” said NAU Associate Vice President for Communications Kimberly Ott. “My admiration for Ray continued to grow when I realized that he is also a tremendous leader. I watched him work with the Flagstaff City Council and city staff to enhance the hospitality industry for NAU and Flagstaff. He continues to support the university he loves and show his ongoing selfless devotion to all the students he mentors.”
“Ray Newton inspired me in several ways: first, as a young university student, and then later during his encore
career,” said NAU Teaching Professor of Management Theresa Bierer. “After retirement from academia, Ray continued to embrace all that life has to offer, with an energy and spirit that touches many of us.”
“I met Ray after he ‘retired,’ which meant that he was just as engaged in the community and seemingly 10 times as busy as he was before he retired! Yet, he always found a way to make time for people and listen to them intently,” said GoalBusters Consulting Partner Alice Ferris. “You felt like you were the only person in the room when you spoke with Ray. He was incredibly encouraging of me, and I will always remember that.”
Newton lists Dr. Gene Hughes as one of the five most influential people in his life. “He was a great example of solid, honest leadership.”
Ralph Carlisle “Smitty” Smith also makes the list. He was the Newtons’ neighbor in New Mexico, an MIT-educated nuclear engineer who worked alongside J. Robert Oppenheimer, the director of the Los Alamos Laboratory who was responsible for the research and design of the atomic bomb. “I’ll never forget Smitty telling us about the morning they set off the big bomb called “Trinity,” in the New Mexican desert near Socorro [5 a.m., July 16, 1945]. The sun was coming up and everything brightened beyond belief.”
Newton calls his adoptive father, Lou Newton, his hero and credits Lou and Evelyn, his stepmother, for getting him off the streets as a young teenager and being “very” forgiving. “They gave me an opportunity to make something of my life and I took advantage of it. They sent me to high school in La Crosse, Kansas, where I lettered in football, basketball and track.” Newton later coached high school students in those sports.
He also puts his family on the list. “They are so important to me: three children, Lynn, Sheri and Bill [Bill is deceased], four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They are so supportive, just nice, good people. I am just amazed at how close we are and how much we love and depend on each other.”
And above all, Patty, his wife of 66 years. “We’ve done so much traveling. We’ve enjoyed so much. We have had so many wonderful opportunities. Early on we didn’t have money. I worked in a donut shop and Patty was a dishwasher and accompanist making 60 cents an hour. Her patience and her pure sense of humanity are so admirable.”
With these words, Ray and Patty smile at each other with the kind of knowing that comes from deep love, appreciation and peace earned across nearly 70 years. As the two enjoy Culver’s cheeseburgers and fries in the quiet of this sunny Prescott afternoon, Ray accepts that he will not be wearing out any more soles chasing down stories. However, the legacy of this quintessential newsman will be carried on in other news fields of dreams by those he taught and those who strive to fill those well-respected and well-worn shoes. FBN
Earlier this year, Ray was diagnosed with inoperable bone cancer. He is receiving hospice care in his home. Cards and letters can be sent to Ray and Patty Newton, 941 Lupine Lane, Prescott, AZ 86305.
Emmy-award winning journalist and editor Bonnie Stevens credits Ray Newton and his Magazine Writing class for helping her land her first job out of NAU as a writer for news anchors Bill Close and Mary Jo West at the CBS affiliate KOOL-TV in Phoenix.
Darryl Brown, who rents out two rooms in his Flagstaff home, also earns the Superhost designation. “I made a separate entrance and closed [the rooms] off from the rest of my home. I had a blast creating the space, furnishing and decorating,” he told Flagstaff Business News. “I tried to make each space beautiful, fun and a different experience from what people have in their own homes.”
Brown says Airbnb success comes from “tangible” and “intangible” elements. “Photography catches people’s eye, but before long, people are booking on your reviews, so reviews have to be high. The feedback I get on my place is that people love the interior design and attention to detail. I have unique furniture, art, quality linens, a comfy bed and a beautiful bathroom. I have good coffee, tea and hot cocoa,” said Brown, who has been an Airbnb host for the past five years.
“I have seen short-term rentals done irresponsibly where large homes are rented out and the guests are loud and disrespectful to the neighborhood,” he added. “An aspect of being a good businessperson means respecting the community you are a part of.”
Wendy Chavis designed and built
her Prescott home to raise her teenage daughters. But the empty nest syndrome began to emerge when they left home after high school. “Airbnb took the empty nest right out of the house,” declared the Airbnb Superhost.
“It seems like a blessing for all who come, so it’s an honor to provide a welcoming space,” Chavis said. She believes her success comes from how she welcomes people and sees to their comfort. “I anticipate my guests’ needs, like bringing a cup of hot tea to a weary traveler arriving late.”
Airbnb guests can see the National Forest and the mountains from her four-bedroom home. “The online description of my Airbnb talks about plenty of peace and quiet, so it brings in the kind of guest that fits right in. I get many female solo travelers who are attracted to the description,” said Chavis, a residential sales realtor with Weichert, Realtors - CLA.
“I like the idea of maintaining my home and yard for people who are appreciative,” said the Superhost, who also consults with those considering becoming an Airbnb host.
Every quarter, Airbnb evaluates the hosting performance of the past 12
months for all listings on the host’s account. Hosting performance is measured on various criteria, including response rate, cancelation rate and overall rating. Hosts must maintain a 4.8 overall rating to earn the Superhost badge.
“The Superhost program was created in 2014 to celebrate and reward the top-rated and most experienced Airbnb hosts,” reports an Airbnb news
release. “Regardless of what kind of space they list on the platform – from a simple spare room to a sprawling estate – any host can become a Superhost by consistently offering exceptional hospitality. And it pays off.”
Indeed, the typical Superhost earned 64% more than a regular host, according to the Airbnb report.
“I think Airbnb is an amazing way to earn money,” said Brown. “It has
provided a convenient, simple, person-to-person digital framework to make connections. I have a space, and you need one – let’s make it happen! It is an example of the best of what the internet is capable of.” FBN
Stacey Wittig is a travel journalist based near Flagstaff. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to her website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.
Lowell Observatory, scientists and guests officially dedicated the Tombaugh Telescope during the fourth annual I Heart Pluto Festival, Feb. 18-20. Two pre-festival events – a Cheers to Pluto/Astronomy on Tap program at Mother Road Brewing Company and a Pluto Pub Crawl involving 10 bars and brewhouses – also received strong participation.
The keynote Night of Discovery event at the Orpheum Theater featured Astronaut Nicole Stott and a space art display by the International Association of Astronomical Artists. Mayor Becky Daggett, Coconino County Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez and members of Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh’s family were among the nearly 300 attendees. In addition to a presentation by Stott, poet Christopher Fox Graham read two poems that he wrote about Pluto and Clyde Tombaugh.
Throughout the Festival, Lowell Observatory hosted special Pluto-themed programming, refreshment trucks, axe throwing by FlagTag AZ, and more. Compared to the last year’s festival, 29% more people visited and gift shop sales were up 24%, according to Chief Marketing and Revenue Officer Dr. Danielle Adams.
“This year’s I Heart Pluto Festival surpassed last year’s in nearly every regard.”
Another signature event was the dedication of the Tombaugh Telescope at Lowell Observatory. The Tombaugh Telescope is a nine-inch instrument that Clyde Tombaugh hand-assembled in 1928 from scraps found around the family’s farm in Burdette, Kansas. The drawings that Tombaugh made with this telescope led to his being hired at Lowell Observatory; within a year, and using a larger instrument, Tombaugh discovered Pluto. Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, proclaimed Feb. 18, 2023, as Tombaugh Telescope Day.
In-person and virtual science presentations included New Horizons Mission Principal Investigator Dr. Alan Stern, New Horizons Mission Operations Manager Alice Bowman, New Horizons Mission Surface Composition Team Leader Dr. Will Grundy and planetary scientist and co-discoverer of Pluto’s atmosphere Dr. Amanda Bosh.
UniSource Energy Services Gas was the lead sponsor. “Not only are we committed to providing safe, reliable energy service to Flagstaff, but we are dedicated to being great partners to this community, where we work and live,” Unisource Direc-
tor Martin Anaya said, noting that Lowell Observatory is an important part of Flagstaff’s community and history.
Other sponsors included North
Country HealthCare, Creative Flagstaff, APS, Arizona Central Credit Union and Dark Sky Brewing Company. “North Country HealthCare is honored to support an event
that inspires the imagination and demonstrates the importance of perseverance,” said North Country HealthCare CEO Anne Newland. FBN
The Flagstaff Lady Sharks met the Prescott Blacksheep on Northern Arizona University’s outdoor fields, Saturday, March 25. Despite winter temperatures and the threat of new snow, the women rugby players showed their tenacity, skill, teamwork and determination on fields carved out by snow removal teams. The Sharks won the official game 33 to 20; however, the teams continued to play each other for fun. As is the custom in women’s rugby, both teams celebrated the day together in an after-game reception.
Bonnie Stevens' Communication Station is delivering a refreshing, engaging and inspirational vodcast (video podcast) that features Northern Arizona businesses, outdoor adventure and leadership tips twice a month. Zonie Living is sponsored in part by Flagstaff Business News Go to https://starworldwidenetworks.com/shows/bonnie-stevens
in restaurants for several years, one team of students put the finishing touches on a chef’s salad, three types of soup and two desserts.
“This experience was good for me because I had the chance to lead a team of people who didn’t really know from the beginning how it is all supposed to run,” said Anter. “Even with my experience, I learned a lot.”
Another team of students tidied up place settings, laid out menus and prepared for the guests’ arrival in the dining room. Sofia Sweiss (Class of 2024), of Phoenix, served as assistant front of house manager. “We were able to come up with a
pretty good plan for the event and I was happy to see it all come off so well,” she said.
The ultimate judges of the tasting were the guests. “I enjoyed the experience very much, and hope we can do it again,” said The Bluffs resident Eveline Eddy. “The interesting part was where my tablemates and I would discuss the different ingredients and what we thought was in the soup.”
“The food was good, and everybody was so nice,” said Judy Martin of The Bluffs. “This was a great experience for both the students and us.”
ONLIFE continued from page 16
six-month transition program that follows the Back2Basics program. It is focused on giving clients the groundwork to gradually transition from rehabilitation and recovery into living in the “real world” with long-term sobriety goals.
The roots of the Onlife Foundation story, as well as the Back2Basics and Beyond the Basics stories, are grounded in the longtime friendship of DuPrez and Sean Orlando that began in high school in Scottsdale and continued on to college in Flagstaff.
“We’ve been best friends since we were teens,” DuPrez said. “Sean’s always had an altruistic background; my family, too. We have a background of being of service that’s always bound us together. We both moved up here in 1993 for higher learning at NAU.”
The two were college roommates. “Coming of age together and facing the many social challenges as teens and young adults allowed us to connect around a shared perspective and common purpose regarding life in general,” Orlando said.
DuPrez majored in Latin American studies and Spanish, and earned his master’s degree in academic administration. Orlando majored in Spanish and earned master’s degrees in sustainable communities and oriental medicine.
Between 2000 and 2006, their first
collaboration in Flagstaff was the Indigo Movement, which met in the historic El Divino Redentor church on South San Francisco Street in downtown Flagstaff and sought to prevent youth violence and delinquency through self-empowerment initiatives.
After almost a decade of working together on projects, the two men took separate paths: DuPrez moving into the field of recovery and mental health, eventually starting Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in 2010; Orlando went on to establish his own clinical practice.
The Onlife Foundation is closely allied with the Back2Basics program with a direct line of financial aid and program support to those on the path to sobriety and recovery. “It’s composed of alumni families and community members who have their own professional backgrounds and want to do something to support those trying to get help and hopefully get into treatment,” said DuPrez.
A key member of the Onlife leadership team is co-founder Laura LeVee, who serves as treasurer on the board of directors. She says her son was greatly helped by the Back2Basics program. “Connor became an alcoholic while in college, and he didn’t get good treatment for many years,” she said. “He tried various inpatient and outpatient solutions, but all were
for 90 days or so, at which point, he would quickly relapse. In addition, the short-term centers did not specialize in mental health issues, which Connor desperately needed. Indeed, most addicts really need mental health support in order to sustain sobriety.”
Connor completed the Back2Basics program last summer and has returned to school to finish his undergraduate degree. He now works full-time for a gym in Flagstaff.
“I am enormously grateful to Roy and his program, and I hope that Onlife can send many addicts to Roy’s program, as well as others, that specialize in long-term solutions,” said LeVee.
Currently, Onlife is planning community-based fundraising events, as well as pursuing grant opportunities, in an effort to support more people suffering from addiction and help them maintain sober lives. FBN
COLOR continued from page 12 force.” She offers ways to do this. Here are three:
Ground yourself through meditation, being in nature or taking an Epsom salt bath;
Make a list of negative or fearful thoughts. “If they are out of your body, you can begin to address them and release them.”
Be aware. “Pay attention to how you feel when you are around certain people and places. Avoid the ones that are draining or negative.”
With a calling to help people connect with their intuition, Katie believes paying attention to our own symptoms and understanding where our pain is coming from in a deeper sense is key to holistic health.
What is your body telling you?
What colors are you putting out there?
See how Katie diagnoses her paintings and hear more about holistic healing on the video podcast Zonie Living at StarWorldwideNetworks. com/shows/bonnie-stevens. “Healing from Within: A Guidebook to Intuitive Wellness” is available on Amazon. For more information, visit KatieBeecher. com FBN
Bonnie Stevens is a public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@ gmail.com.
SPANGLER continued from page 11 work because she wanted to focus on environmental studies, which was not popular at the time.
“I was told that nobody cared about environmental work, so that’s when I started working in community and economic development and got my master’s in economics. I worked in Illinois for a few years before moving to Wyoming, where I stepped into the position of their state’s economic development agency, the Wyoming Business Council. I was there eight-and-a-half years and ran their Investment Ready Communities division.”
“Molly and I haven’t worked together long, but so far I’m really impressed with what she brings to the table,” said Camp Verde Interim Town Manager Gayle Mabery. “She has literally jumped in with both feet and has engaged the business community, working collaboratively with all the departments. I look forward to great things to happen in Camp Verde as a result of her efforts.”
Spangler joked that her primary goal is to find the bathrooms and conference rooms and learn everyone’s name. “The goals here are not my goals but the goals of the Town Council,” said Spangler. “Everyone I’ve been working with has been pretty wonderful. Our primary objective is to make sure we are moving along in our five-year community and economic
development strategic plan. Top on the list is Main Street development and revitalization. We just had our first meeting.”
Another primary objective is to construct a sewer line along Highway 260 to have adequate infrastructure for future development.
The team at Town of Camp Verde Economic Development consists of Economic Development Specialists Crisi Clark and Sean Brooks, as well as three ambassadors at the visitor’s center.
“I feel that Camp Verde is very fortunate to have Molly on board. With her experience in economic development and her love of the area, she will be a great leader for our team and community,” said Clark.
“I worked with Molly in Sedona for about a year when I was with AmeriCorps Vista, also serving as economic specialist,” said Brooks. “I couldn’t be happier that she’s my director again. The transition has been smooth and positive and she will do great things for this community. She’s a great boss and incredibly smart. She knows economic development inside and out and I’m looking forward to our accomplishments together. She will do great things for this community.”
Outside of work, Spangler spends time with her husband, Andy, an elementary school teacher, and their 9-year-old son.
From the economic development front, FrameTec, a manufacturer and framing services company, has announced its expansion to Camp Verde. The business plans to operate out of a 110,000-square-foot facility and is scheduled to be open by 2024. FrameTec expects to create more than 180 new jobs.
BEST
“Smart people ask questions,” was the advice I’ve been given, and I routinely give the same advice. In an effort to not make assumptions and to better understand the issues, we have to ask questions. I now say this regularly to my son, my team and myself, for the only way we can learn and help is to ask questions.
Nothing’s more inspiring than watching a professional live their values of creating change, being brave and doing what it takes to see their goals come true. It’s inspiring when people volunteer their time to serve on boards and run for elected office to make a positive impact on their community. Many of my role models balance motherhood, professional jobs and adversity and that’s what motivates me to keep doing the work I get to do!
I would tell her to spend more time enjoying the process and journey. Some of my fondest professional moments have been working with great partners on difficult projects. Those projects often felt insurmountable, but it was a true pleasure working alongside great people.
My ideal vacation involves spending
time with people I love and exploring beautiful scenery. I love seeing different parts of our country and the world, meeting new people, experiencing new things and culture, and partaking in their local foods and traditions.
I love to read, hike, cook new recipes, do art and painting with my son, volunteer, and help family and friends. FBN
SCAMS continued from page 8
accounts or credit card information. He offers five ways to avoid being scammed.
First, if someone calls you, ask for a phone number to call them back. Before you call them back, Google the company they say they are with. “If it does not show up, it is not valid,” he said.
Second, be careful about giving information over the phone. Scammers may already have obtained your name and address, but research them before trusting them.
Third, maintain a known software safety program. Norton is among the best, says Moses. Programs range in cost from free to $100. None of these software safety programs will ever contact you.
Fourth, don’t give out any information to people you don’t know.
And fifth, do not open emails or answer phone calls if you don’t know where they are coming from. He says if you open an email, but don’t respond, it will still be OK. “Don’t open an attachment or respond,” he emphasized.
If you are scammed, Moses says to let your bank know as soon as possible and visit the bank in person rather than calling. The banking institution may provide a legitimate phone number to call to report the scam. He says it’s a good idea to report scams to a local jurisdiction and the FBI. “The more information they have, the better.”
Whether anyone can recoup money lost through a scam depends on the situation. If someone gave out their personal information willingly, funds may not be recoverable. “The hard part is that scammers are getting really good at looking like somebody you trust,” he said.
If your computer has been compromised, Moses says to bring it to either a computer repair technician like himself or a major computer technical support program.
“If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is,” he said. “I want to educate the community so people don’t become victims.” FBN
ATHENA continued from page 15 today that we didn’t anticipate back then.”
In the past, Mertz said, those in leadership positions tended to hire and promote people like themselves. “What we are hearing from younger women now is that they aren’t seeing female role models and success isn’t happening fast enough. They are getting dispirited about it. However, we know how to build leadership skills and leaders. We know that we need to keep striving and we need to propel each other upward. Our leadership model has withstood the test of time. Leadership is not how you handle an army of people or necessarily how you motivate people. It’s not how to do, it’s how to be.”
The ATHENA Leadership Model includes eight principles: live authentically, learn constantly, build relationships, foster collaboration, act courageously, advocate fiercely, give back and celebrate. Costa says the principles have forever changed her life. “They have caused me to look at myself and ask if I’m living my truth and walking my path. They have caused me to
have a stronger, more authentic relationship with myself so that I can be stronger for others.”
Mertz believes we are experiencing a transformational time. “In a slow-motion shift, the culture has evolved to the point where women aren’t clumped together in a single category, but are perceived and judged as individuals, with strengths and faults alike. This is a huge leap forward and will impact every place where women step into positions of power and influence. As the numbers of women in these posts of importance increase, so does the understanding of how much that matters.”
Bix says this year’s High Tea program will feature powerful women leaders from the region and their inspirational stories. “The bonding, the encouragement and the celebration of women making incredible strides despite adversity is powerful at the Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards. Women often tell us they feel uplifted and have a renewed sense of purpose through the experience. We are so proud to offer such a positive event for everyone.” FBN
A subsidiary of NextEra Energy Resources will build, own and operate the project, expected to generate enough power to support nearly 40,000 average-sized homes annually during the next 30 years and bring about $9.5 million in tax revenue to the region. The construction phase will provide a significant economic boost to Coconino County and the state, creating up to 250 construction jobs and stimulating the purchase of regional goods and services from local vendors.
“This wind energy project will generate low-cost, homegrown energy
WIND continued from page 1 //
and provide millions of dollars in additional tax revenue to Coconino County over the life of the project,” said JD Rulien, director of development at NextEra Energy Resources.
“We are pleased to work with SRP, Babbitt Ranches and the Arizona State Land Department on Arizona’s newest wind energy center.”
“SRP is proud of the diversity of our resource mix, especially among our growing portfolio of zero-carbon, clean energy resources,” said SRP Resource Planning Director Grant Smedley. “Utility-scale wind power at Babbitt Ranch Energy Center will complement solar resources by providing energy during evening and
nighttime hours when solar energy is not available.”
Babbitt Ranches, one of the West’s longest running ranching operations, has been exploring renewable energy viability in Northern Arizona since 2005, measuring wind speeds and conducting solar power evaluations. In 2010, the land company signed agreements with NextEra, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage, to explore locations on the ranch. A decade of environmental
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studies followed. The project proved to be viable and operational in the timeframe needed to help meet SRP’s growing customer demand by 2024.
The Babbitt Ranch Energy Center will co-exist with current land uses, including conservation projects, ranching, scientific research and recreation.
“Our relatives believed in a land-use ethic from the beginning, a forged ethic that continues to be at the heart of the Babbitt family and the family business owners’ decisions regarding Babbitt Ranches operations,” said
Cordasco, a fourth generation Babbitt. “We are thrilled to be combining forces with others who share a strong commitment to the land, the environment and the future as we work together to generate renewable energy for generations to come.”
SRP was the first utility in Arizona to add wind power to its energy resource mix and continues to receive all energy output from the 127-MW Dry Lake Wind Power Project in Northeastern Arizona, the first large-scale wind power facility in the state. FBN
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ELKWOOD continued from page 1
feet of retail space. “This project will not only bring 224 new housing units to the area, but it will also offer some great retail opportunities, which will be a fantastic addition to this area of Flagstaff,” said WREI President Joseph Jacobs. “We are proud to partner with Wexford Developments and look forward to bringing this project to life.”
Wexford Developments envisions that a large portion of the retail space will be occupied by a restaurant or coffee shop. Other amenities will include a fitness center, amphitheater and clubhouse with pool. The site is situated on 13.6 acres of land at the northeast corner of 4th Street and Butler Ave., three miles from Northern Arizona University.
Four separate four-story apartment buildings will have 56 units each. In total, plans call for 36 studio apartment units, 124 one-bedroom units and 64 two-bedroom units.
“We think there will a complete mix of different types of people there, including young professionals and some retirees. We would love to see young families there because it’s close to Sinagua Middle School.”
“This mixed-use project will provide 22 affordable units available to Flagstaff residents at an average of 70% Average Median Income. Importantly, the developer has agreed not to discriminate based on a tenant’s
source of income, meaning that even more units can be available as affordable housing to Flagstaff veterans and families using housing vouchers,” said Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett.
“In addition, the developer has agreed not to limit the number of housing vouchers that will be accepted at this property.”
Gordon says the affordable units will be operated by Wexford Developments, with the City of Flagstaff regularly monitoring the rent and who is qualified to live there. “It’s a
long-term commitment, which is a very important part of the project for us.”
Wexford Developments has offices in West Palm Beach, Florida; New York; and Calgary, Canada. Scottsdale-based general contractor Decca Multi-Family Builders, Inc. is providing preconstruction services, construction administration and management services for the project. Stewart + Reindersma Architecture (SRA) of Scottsdale is the architectural firm. Balance Construct of Flagstaff
is managing the project, and Private Label International is the interior design firm.
Gordon says Wexford Development got involved in real estate in Arizona in 2016 and has acquired six properties in Tempe along the Mill Avenue Corridor. “We focused on Tempe originally, where there was tremendous population and job growth. We are breaking ground on our first residential development called First and Farmer.”
The Tempe project is being de-
signed with 200 apartments; 10% will be available for affordable housing, like Elkwood in Flagstaff. “We intend to own these developments forever and we really plan to get involved in the communities we build in,” said Gordon. “We just really fell in love with Flagstaff. It’s a beautiful place with amazing people and great leadership. We hope this is our first of several projects to continue to solve this housing need.”
Elkwood is expected to be completed in early 2025. FBN
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