June 2021 by Flagstaff Business News

INSIDE THE JUNE 2021 ISSUE: Assessing Broadband Needs p. 4 Story Cycle Captures COVID-19 Views p. 6 Dr. Nancy Talk Show Inspires p. 8

Babies to Kids Marks 25 Years p. 10 Community Profile: Soledaddy Builds Boards at the Grand Canyon p. 12 Evacuating Large Animals in Fire Season p. 24

Big Land Sale, Big Plans Large land purchase in Williams expected to bring opportunities to region

By Betsey Bruner, FBN

t is being billed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. One of the largest privately-owned parcels of land in Northern Arizona is currently in escrow and is scheduled to close this year. The sale, and the proposed ambitious, multi-use development of the 500-acre parcel of land, is big news for the Old West town of Williams, 30

minutes west of Flagstaff. The prime parcel is located downtown at Interstate 40 and Grand Canyon Blvd., and offers views of Bill Williams Mountain, the 35-acre Gonzales Lake and stands of pine trees. The land is owned by Phoenix entrepreneur Max Biegert and is listed for $20 million. The sale is nearing the completion of a two-year marketing campaign, represented by principals Brent Moser and Mike Sutton of Lee

& Associates Commercial Real Estate Services. “Max is the man who resurrected the railroad in the late 1980s,” Moser explained. “He spent around $85,000,000 of his own cash on the railroad, engines, personnel and infrastructure. He subsequently built the Grand Canyon Railway Hotel. Max had a vision to build Williams into a national tourism destination.” Biegert is continuing his vision for Williams with this sale to developers, who envision a new mini-masterplanned community of custom homes

and other housing options. Negotiations are also underway with an undisclosed theme park entertainment design company to develop 85 acres of the land into a possible Western-themed story park, as well as other hospitality uses. Williams is already a tourism destination, as evidenced by Bearizona, the drive-thru wildlife park that enticed 500,000 visitors in 2020 alone. “This new development will bring much-needed housing and diversity to our strong tourism offerings in NorthContinued on page 38

PLEASE Small BE FIRE Businesses AWARE Struggling with Labor Shortage 1. Check for campfire restrictions before you go.

Lack of workers is the latest blow delivered by COVID-19 as exhausted owners continue to do whatever it takes Busy Brix servers Francisca Alvarado and Haley Jacoby keep customers flowing into the casual fine dining restaurant on North San Francisco St. Photo courtesy of Ben Shanahan

June 2021 | Issue 6 Volume 14

2. Properly dispose of cigarettes.

3. Don’t let chains drag. 4. Leave no trace. WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU! DISCOVERFLAGSTAFF.COM

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

estaurateur Paul Moir may well have summed up how small business owners are feeling: “The labor shortage is the cherry on top of what has been a very difficult year.” The co-owner of Brix and Proper Meats and Provisions and many other small business owners are reporting a similar challenging timeline through the past 15 months. Businesses were closed in March 2020. Some were able to adjust and open throughout the summer and fall with curbside service and strict social distancing guidelines. Continued on page 36

CHECK OUT OUR NEW FBN PET NEWS SECTION, COVERING A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ABOUT OUR FAVORITE FURRY FRIENDS ON PAGE 24

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

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JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

Samantha Mason, Will Eberfeld, Shea Blackburn and Reagan Crockett continue to don masks as the Lumberyard Tap Room and Grille staff welcomes customers back with full service. Photo by Stan Bindell

Restaurants Feeling Financial Relief Area establishments credit SBA funds and loyal customers for easing the economic impact of the pandemic

By Stan Bindell, FBN

usiness is improving at restaurants in Prescott, Flagstaff and Sedona as we emerge from the pandemic, which has hit restaurants especially hard. In early May, Arizona Congressman Tom O’Halleran announced that the Small Business Administration’s $28.6 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund had begun accepting applications. Many restaurants in Central and Northern Arizona have either already received or applied for these funds. Priority for the first 21 days was given to restaurants owned by women, veterans or groups that are socially or economically disadvantaged. Rep. O’Halleran issued a statement acknowledging that independent restaurants are important to their communities, but many are at risk of closing their doors because of the pandemic. Restaurant owners can find information and apply to the Restaurant Revitalization program at sba.gov/funding-programs/loans/covid-19relief-options/restaurant-revitalization-fund. Lisa Dahl, CEO and chef at Dahl Restaurant Group, said it has been a challenging time for her five Sedona restaurants. “Because our core group is strong, we put our heads together to strategize each and every move. The large picture is complex and involves everything from forecasting, supply chain issues and seeking a qualified workforce,” she said. The Dahl Restaurant Group operates Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano, Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill, Pisa Lisa, Butterfly Burger and Cucina Rustica Tuscan Grill. Dahl said she’s never experienced anything like this, where one day they would be open and the next day they would be closed. “After 25 years in the restaurant business, I have to say it is very different. The new normal is being hyper-focused on the health of our employees and guests,” she said. “The past workflow of preparing to welcome guests has

changed. The emotions for everyone run deep. And we see guests crack and employees need a day off more than usual. Everyone has changed as a result of COVID. Normal is redefining itself before our eyes.” The Dahl Restaurant Group was able to obtain funds from the SBA for restaurant revitalization. During the pandemic, Dahl said, they had to spend more money on signage, sanitation stations and supplies like masks and gloves. “In a few instances, we’ve added additional guest relations [services] so we can communicate effectively and help set guest expectations,” she said. Her goals throughout the pandemic included keeping employees safe, well advised and realistic about expectations through changing circumstances. “Our guests during each stage were complimentary. And most appreciated our preventative measures which we took to safeguard their health and ours,” she said. The new normal that is likely to continue may include smaller numbers of guests. “I’ve always been vigilant about quality control, consistency and cleanliness. Our staff has focused on these standards and I am very proud of them. We always had a strong culinary presence, but it has been a challenge with a reduced workforce. We will continue to improve through this process. Part of our early strategy was to build back stronger and be more efficient with better training,” she said. Kelly Hanseth, owner of Lumberyard Tap Room and Grille, said it was a struggle during the pandemic because the establishment had to pivot every six months. “We’re almost getting back to normal. Social distancing and expanding our patio has really helped,” she said. “But we’re not at 100%. We have no bar seating and our country dancing is not back up to speed yet.” Lumberyard Tap Room and Grille did not apply for the most recent round of SBA funds, as Hanseth says they are not needed at this Continued on page 37

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Survey to Evaluate Broadband Capabilities for Rural Populations

By Ray Newton, FBN

direct consequence of the shutdowns and isolation resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic has been “front and center awareness of the criticality of broadband and its significance in issues such as emergency management, education, health care and work access – and many others,” according to Teri Drew, regional director for the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) in Prescott. “The intensity for creating broadband awareness has prompted us with NACOG to sponsor a major survey throughout Coconino, Yavapai, Apache and Navajo Counties. That survey will help us develop a strategic blueprint for improving connectivity and digital equity among our citizens,” she explained. Drew defined broadband infrastructure as the cabling and electrical systems that wire homes and businesses into local and regional telecommunication and cable companies. “Communications networks and the internet are linked together, making it possible to interconnect local users with internet, telephone, television and other similar services.” Bandwidth describes how much

information can be transmitted in a network. “The more bandwidth, the fewer bottlenecks to slow the flow of information,” she said. Drew and her NACOG colleagues with the Economic and Workforce Development program have partnered with Magellan Advisors, an industry-leading broadband company, to assess broadband availability in the four counties that comprise NACOG. “Our primary goal is to gather information from residents and organizations within our various communities – large and small – so we can better understand their unique needs. To do that, we’re asking residents and businesses in all the communities to participate by taking what we have called the ‘NACOG Broadband Survey,’” she said. “It takes about 10 to 15 minutes. It should be completed by the person in your residence or organization who chooses or uses and pays for services in that location.” Julia Sawyer, Drew’s executive assistant, emphasized that data collected during surveys will not be used for any purpose other than developing the strategic plan. “If a person feels uncomfortable with a question, that question can be skipped. All we want is to gather demographic and statistical data so that we can compare information with

census data and interpret the statistical relevance of responses. Privacy is absolutely assured.” Participating in the survey will continue until probably the end of June, Sawyer said. The survey is totally online, so only those with access to the internet can participate. Once survey data has been compiled, NACOG hopes to apply for state and federal grants, examine current and future infrastructure needs in the region, identify unserved and underserved areas, conduct a needs assessment, look for public-private partnership opportunities and design conceptional networks.

PART OF A BIGGER SCHEME

What is happening in NACOG and the other regions in Arizona is part of a national effort. A recent announcement from the Federal Communications Commission indicates the FCC plans to provide low-income households across the nation with assistance to help them cover internet costs. A $3.2 billion Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB) is available to households that participate in existing low income and pandemic relief programs offered by high-speed internet providers. The same is true of subscribers to the FCC Lifeline Program. That includes those

Teri Drew, regional director at NACOG, is spearheading a major survey to collect data to be used to develop a broadband strategic plan for the region. Photo by Ray Newton

who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, Medicaid and support from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). A Pew Research Center study found that 53% of Americans believe the internet has been an essential tool during the pandemic. However, as many as 42 million citizens may not have access to high-speed internet. NACOG is one of several organizations trying to help people by getting them connected, especially in rural areas. But the NACOG territory is diverse – from the northeastern borders

of the state to Central Arizona. Officials say with nearly 48,000 square miles and 561,000 people, the use of broadband has become critically important. “We are committed to the economic recovery and resilience of Northern Arizona. Please help us, through this survey, continue to be a vital resource to community resources, elder care, childcare, mobility and transportation planning and, certainly, economic and workforce development,” said Drew. FBN

For more information, call 928-778-1422 or visit nacog.org.

@flagstaffbusinessnews

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

Wildfire preparation protects you, the community and first responders. Together, we can be prepared for wildfire season. Providing safe, reliable energy is our top priority. That’s why we work year-round to prepare for wildfires. These extra precautions could result in longer than usual outage times. For example, our crews will visually inspect lines before restoring power, or power lines may be temporarily taken out of service to protect firefighters. Working together, we will be prepared. Here are some things you can do: • Clear vegetation around your home and throw trash away properly. • Sign up for local emergency alerts and visit wildlandfirersg.org to create a preparedness plan. • Visit aps.com/outagecenter or use the APS mobile app to view our outage map, sign up for text and e-mail alerts, plus find outage preparedness tips.

Downed Power Lines Stay at least 100 feet away and call 911 first, then APS at (602) 258-5483 (metro Phoenix) or (800) 253-9408 (other areas).

Please visit aps.com/wildfiresafety for more information.

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Did you know?

Housing Materials have increased by over 33% since the start of 2021.

Our 2021 home (4br 2ba) is under construction but under funded!

Michael Sean Comerford made a Route 66 stop outside the Harley E. Russell Shop in Erick, Oklahoma.

in partnership with

Courtesy photo

Cycling Miles to Capture Milestones

We need your help.

Chicago writer completes Route 66 journey on a bicycle, documenting COVID-19 accounts for The Story Cycle

Donating Over $190,000 since 2017

towards Flagstaff affordable home ownership and a new home building program at Coconino Community College. Local M3F contributors 108

Excavating,

Behmer

Roofing,

Buchanan

Construction, Cruise Mechanical, Demers Glass, Major League Painting, N.J. Shaum, National Bank of AZ, Speedie & Associates, Waste Management, Yavapai Mechanical

Other M3F contributors ABCO West Electrical, Adobe Drywall & Paint, AME Southwest, Alliance (Diageo), Architectural Component Services, Inc., Arizona Control Specialists, Aspen Construction, Inc., ATS Electric, Inc., Barrett-Homes Contractors, LLC., California Pools and Landscape, Caretaker Landscaping & Tree Removal, C2 (Holly Steel), Castaldi, Climatec LLC., Colt Builders Corp, Commercial Wallboard Systems, Coreslab Structures, LLC., Desert Ridge Glass, Inc., Desert Structures, Inc., Dickens Quality Demolition, DP Electric, Inc, Diversified Roofing, Fine Line, Gunsight, HACI Mechanical, Hilton Cabinets, Hilton Efune Hilty's Electrical, Immedia, Insurica, Integrated Lath & Plaster, Integrated Masonry, Integrity Electrical Services, J&M Glass, JBS Plumbing, JJ Sprague of Arizona, Inc., K2 Electric, Keystone Concrete, L&H Mechanical, Inc., LeBlanc Building Co, Maplewood Cabinetry, Metro Fire Equipment, Milam Glass Co., Mission Underground, MKB, NW Capital Management,

Norcon Industries, Paul Johnson Drywall Inc., Pena Acoustics, PNC Financial

Services Group, Inc., Procon Professional Concrete, Premier Demo, Quality Floor Covering, RCI Systems, Inc., ReSource, Rite Way Thermal, Roofing Southwest, Ronning Landscaping, Inc., Ryan Mechanical, Saguaro Steel, Spectrum Mechanical & Service Contractors, LLC, Star Roofing, Stehl Corp, Stone Cold Masonry, Suntec, Torrent Resources, Inc., Tuscano Building & Stone, Walters & Wolf Construction, Wholesale Floors, Wilson Electric Services Corporation

Learn how you can donate, volunteer, or support at

www.habitatflagstaff.org/ways-to-give

By Betsey Bruner, FBN

t was a winter of discontent, as the COVID pandemic began to peak in January, followed by the Polar Vortex storm that hovered over much of America in February, shutting down electrical grids from Texas to much of the Midwest. At this historic moment, journalist and author Michael Sean Comerford, 62, had a dream: to record this unprecedented year as it unfolded. “Bicycling along Route 66 is slow. Everywhere I stop, I interview people about COVID. By March, we were going to cross the milestone of a year since the CDC declared COVID a ‘pandemic.’ We were heading toward 500,000 reported COVID deaths. Milestones were going to be marked while I was on the project if I left immediately.” Leave immediately is what Comerford did, departing in the snowy last week of February from Chicago on a mission to gather stories about the pandemic as he rode his bicycle 2,500 miles along the U.S. Route 66 corridor. “I made a snap decision to go,” he said, equipping himself with a military-grade laptop, a Nikon Z50, a minus-15-below sleeping bag, a four-season tent and a lot of batteries. Last, he “bought a $200, 40- to 50-yearold Panasonic Sport LX [bike] from a Polish immigrant in the Northside of Chicago from a Craigslist ad,” he said. His plan was to interview people in the small towns and urban centers along the “Mother Road,” videotaping their widely divergent stories and opinions and dubbing his project, “The Story Cycle.” Interviews were shared on YouTube through a partnership with the University of Florida’s Samuel Proctor Oral History Program. The journey would take him through Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. It ended May 10, after 75 days and 100 interviews, under the “End of the Trail” sign on the

Santa Monica Pier. “Through Arizona, I rode through Lupton, Sanders, Chambers, Holbrook, Joseph City, Winslow, Winona, Flagstaff, Parks, Williams, Seligman, Kingman to Oatman,” he said. “In Arizona, I met hotel owners who were taking in long-term residents to make up for the lack of tourism. I saw lines in front of Walmart and home supply stores and upscale grocers.” He noted that many people said they were saving a lot of money during the pandemic. “As for the business side of The Story Cycle, business owners should know that some people are suffering a complete collapse of their finances, but many are saving money for more purchases as things open up. There are reasons for optimism, and people are proud to be survivors.” He also observed pent-up economic energy among most of those he interviewed and a desire to return to normal. “The whole project is about how people ‘adapt’ to COVID,” he said. “So, new and small businesses are doing the same. Zoom meetings were the norm. Some businesses invested in new air-flow systems. I found hundreds of variations in the signs I saw outside retail establishments, as people found creative and courteous ways to say, ‘Please wear a mask and socially distance.’” He also documented innovation. “Several people started businesses after losing their last job. I’m betting that many people want to return to work but to a job they can feel passionate about – more fulfilling.” Responses changed as the year progressed. “In February, the vaccines were rolling out, but COVID deaths were spiking,” he said. “In May, vaccinations were slowing down, COVID restrictions were lightening, and the CDC said vaccinated people don’t have to wear masks inside.” As the economy rebuilds, Comerford reports some businesses, like bicycle shops and home building stores, are doing much better. “There’s Continued on page 37

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

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Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Dr. Nancy Knows How to Heal, Inspire, Motivate New talk show features entrepreneurs, inventors, business owners

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

ix stories up, with a birds-eye view of Valley landmarks like Old Town Scottsdale, Papago Park and the Four Peaks on the eastern skyline, Dr. Nancy Gaines-Dillard, DNP, celebrates the launch of her latest endeavor with Arizona Hall of Fame Broadcaster Dave Pratt, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame Kicker Nick Lowery and a studio full of celebrities, innovators, entrepreneurs and patients. Looking and moving more like a high-fashion model than a medical doctor, Dr. Nancy, as she is affectionately known, has joined Pratt, CEO and founder of Star Worldwide Networks, to deliver the Dr. Nancy Knows talk show, a television program that broadcasts inspiration, motivation and hope. “I want to bring awareness to viewers and share what people are doing to improve their community,” she said. It is here that Bukola Somide has come to discuss her latest invention. Somide is a computer scientist dressed in a tutu and carrying a beautiful, smart doll she invented, named Somi. Somide

Dr. Nancy Gaines-Dillard, DNP

explains her “incessant desire to give back to the community” and her observation that women and women of color are vastly underrepresented in her field. She started a scholarship to help young women, but then realized she would have to reach girls long before they get to college. “I needed to work backwards to bring awareness of computer science and the benefits of it to the younger generation – the high schoolers, middle

Long-time Valley personality Dave Pratt, talk show host Dr. Nancy Gaines-Dillard and Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame Kicker Nick Lowery gather in Scottsdale to launch the Dr. Nancy Knows television program. At the event, Pratt was honored for his success with his Star Worldwide Networks. Photo by Bonnie Stevens

schoolers and elementary schoolers – if I’m to increase the number of young black girls who will be thriving in this field,” she told Dr. Nancy. The entertaining and educational

Somi doll teaches computer science concepts through her voice box. Somide also created “Somi the Computer Scientist: Princess can Code” storybook. “I want young girls who love

princess stuff to know it’s ok to like being a princess, but it’s also ok if you want to pursue computer science.” Continued on page 39

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JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Business Woman FBN

of the Month

Babies to Kids Celebrates 25 Years in Flagstaff Owner Amy Herrington’s business includes the Book Nest Toy Store and Pottery Painting Studio By V. Ronnie Tierney, FBN

wenty-five years goes fast when you’re having fun. Just ask Babies to Kids and Book Nest Toy Store owner Amy Herrington, who has been in her dream job in Flagstaff since 1996. “I love my business,” said Herrington, who is celebrating the 25th anniversary of Babies to Kids this month. “It’s not like work to me. It’s a joy and a privilege and I’ve made so many wonderful friends.” Babies to Kids has been at its current location in Flagstaff’s Kachina Square Shopping Center since it opened. Today, it includes Babies to Kids, Book Nest Toy Store and Pottery Painting Studio and Mercantile. “We try to sell open-ended toys – toys that encourage children to use their minds and imagination,” she said. Herrington added to her toy line when she purchased the Book Nest in 2000, then added a teachers’ supply store a few years later. “We had enough space here, so we thought we’d combine stores. The Book Nest Mercantile part of the store is for adult gifts such as home décor, Flagstaffimprinted gifts, cookbooks, kitchenware, shirts, jewelry, candles and more. We wanted to have something for everybody.” “I’ve been shopping at Babies to Kids for 15 years,” said Country Club Dental co-owner Sarah Whitney. “I’ve purchased both of my children’s cribs, who are now 12 and 14, along with other furniture. Their selection of quality and adorable gifts is expansive. For busy working moms, Babies to Kids and The Book Nest are the best in town and the staff is so friendly. I value their input for suggestions for the perfect gift.” To give families a fun experience, Herrington added a paint-your-ownpottery studio in the store in 2011, complete with a kiln. “We have tables and chairs on site for customers to come in and paint their own pottery, then we glaze and fire their master-

pieces. The pottery studio is also available to reserve for birthday parties, baby showers and other gatherings. Babies to Kids Manager Corina Chance has worked at the store for almost nine years. “I was visiting the store one day and Amy asked if I wanted a job. The crazy thing is that I had just left a job a week earlier. I never thought I’d be in a retail position, but I really like it. Amy has become like an aunt to me. She is a servant to everyone and always puts customers first. She is a huge example of what I want to be like.” During the last year, Herrington says that the store has been thriving. “We had our strongest year in 2020. During the pandemic, home-schooling supplies sold like crazy. People loved to come in because it was a comfort for them. I think people wanted to get something special for their children. Also, there was a resurgence of people wanting to shop locally.” “Babies to Kids is more than a toy store,” said JLB Project Founder and artist Anna LaBenz. “It’s a community. Amy cares deeply for those who visit her store and she is a wonderful resource to those of us who are navigating parenthood. She has taken a toy store and created something more – a place for kids to come and explore and a place for parents and grandparents to come and receive guidance. We are so lucky to have this store in Flagstaff.” Herrington attends trade shows and researches products, but claims the best product information comes from her customers. “We see what the community needs and bring it in. Every year we seem to expand.” “It’s been such a pleasure to be there,” said Babies to Kids Sales Associate Kerina Wachara. “One thing I really like about Amy is how involved the store is with the community. People come and enjoy the environment and the products.” “I have multi-generational customers,” said Herrington. “We are now seeing the children of mothers who came to shop 25 years ago. They’re shopping for their children, and

Top: Through her products, Amy Herrington encourages children to use their minds and imagination. Bottom: Babies to Kids Sales Associate Kerina Wachara says she admires how involved store owner Amy Herrington is in the community. Photos by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

grandmothers are shopping for their grandchildren.” Born in Orange County, California, Herrington married her childhood sweetheart, Sean, and moved to Flagstaff in 1994. “We try to invest back into the community by having a wonderful shop,” she said. “Sean is in construction, so he has built all the displays and makes sure everything is sailing smooth. He’s my biggest supporter and attends trade shows with me as well.” In her free time, Herrington enjoys spending time with family, cuddling with grandchildren, going to the lake, playing with her three dachshunds and the toys she sells. “Someone has to test them,” she said with a laugh. “I always shop The Book Nest Mercantile for Mother’s Day,” said retired Northern Arizona University administrator Lucy Hegg. “They carry a lot of products that big box stores don’t have. I like shopping Babies to Kids for my grandchildren, too, as their toys are unique educational toys and a great selection for kids.” FBN Babies to Kids and Book Nest Toy Store are located at 2632 North Steves Blvd.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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“Arizona MEP was very creative, looked at the individual opportunities and challenges, and supported what we needed to tackle the challenge and grow. They do it in a personal, creative, and helpful way.” Sherri Barry, Co-Founder, FABRIC

With decades of leadership, manufacturing and business expertise, the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership (Arizona MEP) helps small- and medium-sized manufacturers achieve their goals. This past year, Arizona MEP provided critical expertise to FABRIC in response to the impacts of COVID-19. The program enabled Tempe-based FABRIC to set up four socially distanced production lines, recruit more than 60 team members and pivot operations to produce more than 200,000 FDA-approved, reusable hospital gowns statewide.

Arizona’s manufacturers can leverage Arizona MEP’s programs to continue recovering. From responding to workforce and supply chain disruptions to making operational shifts to support the manufacturing of PPE and critical supplies, the Arizona MEP Emergency Assistance Program provides subsidized services to help manufacturers return stronger for the future. Applications for this one-time, CARES Act-supported program are open until late Spring 2021 and offered on a first come, first served basis.

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// COMMUNITY PROFILE // BY V. RONNIE TIERNEY, FBN

Enjoying the Ride Soledaddy Longboards owner handcrafts his unique skateboards at the Grand Canyon

hinking about surfing in Northern Arizona may sound a bit unusual, but according to outdoor recreationist Nicolas Sutherland, riding his Soledaddy Longboard here “is the closest you can get to riding the ocean waves.” “I heard about Soledaddy Longboards at Aspen Sports,” said Sutherland. “The board is handmade, beautiful and rides like a dream, and I love the retro look, so I knew I had to give them a try. It’s so much fun carving down hills with its flexible deck and extra-long shape. I’ll probably buy another one soon.” Crafted in his garage at the South Rim Grand Canyon Village, Soledaddy Longboards owner Scott Rommel, who works for Grand Canyon National Park in water utilities, has sold more than 50 boards since last August. His tagline is “Everybody wants one.” “Aspen Sports has been invaluable to my business,” said Rommel. “The response from customers has been in-

credible. Last August, they sold out in a couple weeks. I had to resupply the store to keep up with the demand.” “The Soledaddy Longboards are selling extremely well,” said Aspen Sports Skateboarding Manager Jorge Doniz, who has been skating for more than 15 years. “People like them because of their unique Southwest features and amazing ride. It’s hard to get a flex on a board but with Soledaddys, you can go high speeds and maintain control. It helps the rider enjoy the board more. I just bought a new board and I’m real excited about it.” Born and raised in San Diego, Rommel moved to the Grand Canyon 17 years ago. His dad was a surfer and carpenter and built Rommel a skateboard when he was 7 years old. “In the 1990s, I started constructing skateboards and sold them in a couple shops in San Diego as well as the swap meet for a few years. I believe I am the first skateboard designer to build skateboards with a what I call a

Scott Rommel builds his longboards in his backyard and sells them in downtown Flagstaff. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

‘double swallowtail.’” Rommel says his inspiration for the look and style of his boards come from his love for old cars. “I love classic cars from the 1950s and 1960s – it’s such a great American art form. The detail and quality they show through their work is inspiring. Classic car designs have subliminally seeped into my designs.”

The initial restart of Soledaddy Longboards began last year when Rommel went back home to San Diego to visit his parents. “I found a couple old planks in the garage and my son saw them and said I should start making them again. So, I picked up a hobby from 25 years ago,” said Rommel. Using birch laminate that he

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purchases from Spellman Hardwoods in Flagstaff, the Soledaddy Longboards are a half-inch thick and up to 60 inches long, inlaid with alder hardwood. “Birch laminate has more flex and gives great suspension, like a luxury car,” explained Rommel. A recent longboard features Monument Valley-themed artwork. Continued on page 35

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Pandemic Boosts Need for RV, Boat Storage Workshop identifies opportunities and resources for investors and developers in expanding industry

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

ndustry experts will be gathering for the Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop in San Francisco this summer to discuss the meteoric rise in boat and RV sales punctuated by the pandemic; the explosive and continued demand for large self-storage facilities; and how investors, developers and entrepreneurs can move forward wisely in this expanding industry. Workshop host Toy Storage Nation, a new start-up within the Hayworth Group of companies, is rapidly becoming the voice of the RV, boat and toy self-storage industry. Chief Operating Officer Darren Choate says the executive leadership team has more than 100 years of combined experience in the self-storage and media industries. “Our immediate call-to-action is to share our knowledge and inform others about the resources available to realize current opportunities and anticipate future demands as Americans in large numbers have embraced the outdoors and invested in boating and RV-ing,” said Choate. “The workshop is intended to introduce and guide potential RV and boat storage entrepreneurs to a panel of experts who have the most experience developing this brand new asset class in one place and at one time; not to mention, to give potential investors a chance to see the first and most successful RV and boat storage facility in this asset class built, with the opportunity to ask questions of those experts in a one-on-one setting,” said Toy Storage Nation CEO Robert “Bob” Hayworth, also the CEO, chairman and founder of Baja Construction Co., Inc. Industry leaders cite lifestyle changes for the current recreational vehicle boom, elevated by the need to find ways to social distance and get outdoors. According to the RV Industry Association’s March 2021 survey of manufacturers, more RVs made their way to RV dealerships across North America in March than in any prior single month. The 54,291 wholesale RV units shipped is a more than 5% increase over the previous record set in March 2018. Meanwhile, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports U.S. boat sales reached a 13-year high in 2020 and the trend is expected to continue through 2021. “2020 was an extraordinary year for new powerboat sales, as more Americans took to the water to escape pandemic stress and enjoy the outdoors safely,” said NMMA President Frank Hugelmeyer. Thus, the Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop is designed to provide insight, information and consumer expectations about storage needs and the development of this new complete asset class. Choate says speakers will discuss how to operate large self-storage oper-

ations efficiently and profitably with amenities such as: RV and boat storage, computerized access gates, 24-hour surveillance, covered or enclosed storage, asphalt paving, charging outlets, water and sanitation stations, and restrooms with showers. “A five-star facility would also include additional revenue-generating features such as ice, compressed air, propane sales, solar power, electricity, valet parking, vehicle cleaning and minor maintenance service,” said Choate. Development Services President Jo Beth White, who has conducted feasibility studies on all facets of storage businesses for more than 20 years, has witnessed the maturing of the large-storage industry and need for such facilities across the country. “In the past, RVs and boats were stored in ancillary space at small self-storage facilities. But, that has drastically changed. In 2007, a facility with 1,000 large stalls in Chino Hills, California, filled up so fast it was frightening. That trend will continue, because the sale of RVs and boats is off the charts. Dealerships can’t keep up with demand. But, even in an economic downturn, if people sell these assets, those who buy them will still need a place to keep them,” she said. “The industry will carry its own momentum.” White, a member of the Toy Storage Nation team, will be discussing the development feasibility of large storage businesses at the July workshop. “Additional speakers will provide details about the RV and boat storage market with strategic how-tos on every aspect of operating a business from inception to success,” said Choate. FBN The Toy Storage Nation Executive Workshop is scheduled for Friday, July 30, 2021. For more information, visit toystoragenation.com/product/executive-workshop/.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Hopi Artist Uses Art to Heal Other Veterans Former Army serviceman Fil Kewanyama strives to create peace on canvas and in life

By Sue Marceau, FBN

rescott artist and U.S. Army Veteran Filmer “Fil” Kewanyama draws on the ceremonies and symbolism of his Hopi heritage to portray the ancient spiritualism guiding his people. “The majority of my work depicts and chronicles the Hopi way of life,” Kewanyama said. “What I feel and know is very important and sacred to me. One meaning of the word Hopi is ‘peaceful.’ We are encouraged to live good lives by being at peace with ourselves and everything around us.” Through his paintings, digital art, oil-based clay sculpture, pencil sketches and other art forms, Kewanyama illustrates that journey of peace in growing up between two cultures: American and Hopi. Artistically expressing himself as Yoimasa – one of the many Hopi names given him by his father’s Water Clan – Kewanyama described how a child is born into the Hopi matriarchy. The name Yoimasa translates to “when the rains are coming, you look into the horizon and see rain clouds as they are

flying towards us.” A Hopi life consists of many ceremonies and initiations. “Everything that I create is about how we Hopi are living today,” Kewanyama explained. “All the ceremonies have been passed down by our ancestors and we are still living that today in the modern world of going to school, working a job and paying our bills.” The 2010 U.S. Census reports 15,000 Hopi live on and off the Hopi Reservation, encompassing 32 clans and 12 villages across 1.5 million acres in Navajo and Coconino counties. Tradition holds that the clans ascended from the Grand Canyon. Their kivas (ritual chambers) echo that origin, built below ground and accessed from above via ladders. “My artistic influences come from what I know of Hopi history and my own personal interpretations of that history, fueled by my own personal feelings,” Kewanyama said. “As a child growing up on Hopi Land, I learned through our initiations the ceremonies that our ancestors passed on to us.” Now working from a studio in the Sixth Street Business Park, he welcomes

private showings by appointment. His paintings and sketches colorfully and elegantly adorn the walls and delicate oil-based clay sculptures rest atop furnishings in the studio/apartment. A two-room gallery also highlights his work and that of his girlfriend, artist MaryHelen Ewing. Kewanyama says he came to Prescott in 2004 to be treated by the Veterans Administration (VA) for PostTraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). “The VA here is one of the best in the country. They really worked with me and healed me.” After 21 years of military service and retiring as a First Sergeant, Kewanyama earned an associate’s degree in graphic design with a fine art emphasis from Yavapai College in 2010. Fil Kewanyama finds that his art is therapeutic for himself and others. “I grow “My art is very therapeutic and it spiritually and professionally by sharing my Hopi lineage,” he says. helped me on my healing journey,” he Photo by Sue Marceau said. “It has given me a lot of healing – physically, spiritually and emotionally. Art Center and Gallery in Prescott, pieces in the “Under Native Skies” I share creative art healing with other exhibition through July 25 at The Phip- Kewanyama curates an annual show veterans at the VA. It helps us to heal featuring Native American artists. ourselves from whatever has affected us pen Museum. A four-time national “Journeys in Spirit 2021: Traditional award-winner in the VA’s annual arts with service.” and Contemporary Native Art” runs competition, he most recently was Kewanyama’s work is displayed through June 22. awarded first place for his painting around the globe in private homes, Often a katsina will be included in symbolically honoring Hopi Code galleries and museums. Two comKewanyama’s art. The katsinam (pluTalkers. That creation is on display at missioned murals brighten Prescott’s ral) are benevolent spirits who return The Phippen. Museum of Indigenous People. Continued on page 37 A 10-year board member of the ‘Tis He currently is showing several

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JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Giving the Gift of Massage: Because Dad has Enough Neckties

By Mark Love

ne of the best ways to quiet the mind and relax the body is through massage. Research shows that massage has numerous health benefits – and not just our physical health, but also our mental and emotional health as well. If we feel refreshed, we are able to function better in all of our roles. Help dad kick back and relax with a massage therapy session that targets focus areas of the body. For example, we know dads are flexible (it comes with the job), but total body stretch can make them even more bendy. These customizable stretch sessions, featuring the Streto Method, combine the latest stretch therapy research with relaxation techniques inspired by chiropractic practices and meditation. Massage is not one-size-fits-all; rather, it is a personalized experience that can be adapted to meet the needs of the individual. There are several different styles and massage techniques that can help dad relax. Here are just a few. Swedish or Relaxation: A gentle

technique that uses long strokes, kneading, deep circular movements, vibration and tapping to target the upper layers of the muscles to help relax and energize the body. Deep Massage: Targets the deep layers of the muscles by using deep, slow and smooth strokes to ease the tension that may be beyond the reach of a relaxation massage. Sports Massage: Designed specifically for the very physically active, it combines several techniques to concentrate on the body areas related to a specific sport; athletes often get sports massages to prepare for peak performance, prevent and treat an injury and reduce the buildup of lactic acid. Trigger-Point or Neuromuscular: Targets areas of tender muscle points and tight muscle fibers that can form in the muscles following an injury or muscle overuse. Myofascial Release: Gentle, sustained pressure into the connective tissue that covers the muscles and is present throughout the body (much like a spiderweb), eases painful restrictions and restores range of motion.

Craniosacral: Extremely light pressure stimulates the muscles and fluids within the cranium (head) and around the spinal cord to help relieve stress and headaches. Acupressure: Involves applying pressure to certain points on the body to relieve pain and promote health and well-being. Streto Method Stretch: “Where your mind goes, the body will follow.” That’s why Massage Envy’s Streto Method starts at the head and neck and works downward to stretch and lengthen tendons and fascia throughout your body.

ADD-ON THERAPIES:

In addition to the various types of massage, add-on therapies can be part of the massage session. Here are just a few of some of the more popular add-on therapies: Aromatherapy and Essential Oils: Essential oils are highly concentrated plant essences that have restorative properties; the oils can be applied to the skin or diffused into the room. Hot Stone: Use of hot stones applied to the body to bring warmth

and pressure to release tension, soothe and jumpstart the healing process. Enhanced Muscle Therapy: A great way to unlock tight muscles using a sequence of topical warming gel followed by topical cooling gel to flush the muscles of toxins. FBN Yeah, dad deserves a little extra love! Make this Father’s Day extra special with a massage or purchase one a month for him! Buy dad $80 in gift cards and get a free $20 Promo Card.

Mark Love is the Franchisee of Massage Envy Spa Flagstaff, located at 1235 S. Plaza Way in the University Plaza Shopping Center next to Safeway. For more information on the benefits of massage and to schedule an appointment with a massage therapist, visit MassageEnvy.com or call 928-526-ENVY (3689) and follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/ MEFlag. Schedule an appointment online – your time, your convenience, your massage.

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Summer Watering Tips for the New Normal By Misti Warner-Andersen

hen it comes to weather and climate in Northern Arizona in 2021, there’s good news and bad news. Let’s get the bad news out of the way first. The National Weather Service (NWS) recently announced that our region and much of the Southwest is experiencing a “new normal” that is hotter and dryer than it’s been in recent history. In the past decade, we’ve had higher temperatures, fewer inches of snowfall and less precipitation in general. Nothing seemed to symbolize this sad state of affairs as well as the “nonsoon” that we experienced in the past two years when our normal monsoon season didn’t materialize. But, help might be on the way, and that’s where the good news comes in, also courtesy of the NWS. Its Climate Prediction Center announced earlier this year that most of Arizona has an above-average chance of receiving more rain than normal during the upcoming summer months. The true monsoon season might be back! Keeping both this good and bad news in mind, it’s time to think about your summer watering strategy for your home garden.

First of all, with the prospect of a decent amount of rain this monsoon season, it might be time to invest in a rain barrel if you don’t already have one. There are two main reasons to use rainwater harvesting systems. The first is water conservation, of course, and being able to use the water that comes from nature instead of turning on your tap. But the other reason is to manage and store rainwater runoff and prevent flooding on your property. While there are several water reclamation methods available, using a rainwater barrel is probably the quickest and easiest water conservation method you can set up for your home garden. First, you need to choose your location on a level, elevated surface so you can get pressure out of the hose at the bottom of the barrel. The next step is to align the barrel with your downspout to capture the rain from your roof. Then, connect the hose and place it in your garden. It’s that simple. But you can’t just count on rain – even rain captured in barrels – to keep your garden green all summer long. This is particularly important for newly planted trees, shrubs, flow-

ers and veggies waiting for monsoon season. They need water now. You can try hand-watering, but this takes a lot of time and effort and will waste a great deal of water. Why? Because water rushes out at such a high rate from a hose (something like 400 gallons per hour) that you lose most of it to runoff. Most of the water will not get more than an inch or so down into the soil. Your garden needs moisture that’s delivered slowly and steadily so that it penetrates further and gets down to the roots. That encourages them to grow deep, which makes for healthier and stronger plants. That’s why we are big fans of drip irrigation at Warner’s Nursery. Drip irrigation systems fully soak your plants and have a higher efficiency rate than overhead sprinklers or hand-watering. Plus, using a drip system lets your plants “breathe.” In addition to water, roots need air. Sprinklers and hand watering produce puddles that can displace air in the soil, but because drip irrigation works slowly, drop by drop, it never displaces the air in the soil. Drip irrigation is not as expensive as many people think. For 100 feet of watering, it will cost you a few

hundred dollars to have a system professionally installed, or you could do it yourself for about $100. With the gallons of water saved and the plants gardeners don’t have to replace because they have dried out, the cost can be recouped very quickly. Please stop by or give us a call if you have any questions about rain barrels, drip irrigation or how you can better water

your plants to keep your garden lush this summer. Happy gardening! FBN Misti Warner-Andersen is the manager of Warner’s Nursery & Landscape Co., located at 1101 E. Butler Ave. in Flagstaff. To contact Warner’s Nursery, call 928-774-1983.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Positioning Your Business for Economic Recovery Investment Plans

By Chris Pasterz

t is extremely likely that another $2 trillion will be invested under the upcoming Infrastructure Plan, also known as the American Jobs Plan and the American Families Plan. In this article, we continue to look at where the federal money is going, so that our local businesses can be in position to benefit (directly and indirectly) from the economic stimulus spending that will significantly shape the U.S. economy for the next decade. Knowing where the money is flowing is the first step in positioning our local businesses for growth opportunities. This month’s article is about where the money is slated to go during the next decade.

AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN

Here is a high-level summary of the American Families Plan: N $109 billion will be committed to make two years of community college free in addition to $39 billion for students attending fouryear historically black colleges/ universities and minority- serving institutions. The enhancement of

Pell Grants to low-income students will create more higher education funding opportunities for those students eligible. N $225 billion is flowing to businesses to guarantee paid parental, family and personal illness/safe leave. This portion is commonly referred to as paid universal leave. N $200 billion is going toward universal preschool for families with three- and four-year-olds, with the rollout being focused on high-priority areas. Additionally, $2.8 billion in paid teacher residency programs, $1.3 billion in minority teacher training programs and $3.6 billion in teacher credential building, leadership programs and mentoring, with an emphasis on new teachers and teachers of color. N $25 billion will be spent on supporting children’s nutritional programs for low-income families reliant on free or reduced-price meals by making the Pandemic-EBT program permanent. N Child Care laws are contained in this plan, which will increase child care employee wages, subsidize

child care expenses for more families and will continue to integrate federal dollars for child care employers who are supporting employees with rent and personal protection equipment expenses. N Additionally, the American Families Plan would keep the expanded child tax credit through 2025; this will benefit families with children under 17 years of age by extending several child tax credit brackets. More generous Affordable Care Act subsidies would also be contained for lower-income policyholders. Finally, permanency for the child tax credit program is sought, along with a permanent earned income tax credit for workers without children, with worker eligibility expanded to those 19 years old with no upper age limit on workers without children.

AMERICAN JOBS PLAN

Here is the high-level summary for the American Jobs Plan: N Infrastructure projects to improve roads, bridges, airports, railways, ports, waterways and public transportation is estimated to be $621

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billion over the next 15 years. N Homecare providers for aging and disabled Americans are expected to receive increased pay totaling $400 billion. N A total of $300 billion is slated for manufacturing, with $80 billion going toward semiconductors and medical manufacturing. Additionally, $20 billion will go to innovation hubs, $46 billion to federal purchases of electric vehicles, charging port and electric heat pumps for residential and commercial purposes. N Housing projects are expected to receive $213 billion in order to build more than two million housing units. These programs will be funded through community block grants, commercial efficiency tax credits and federal weatherization programs. N Large scale investment valued at $180 billion will go to research and development programs in the STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and math. N Rebuilding of water infrastructure projects will see $111-billion as aging pipes and water treatment

systems are rebuilt in urban and rural areas. N Schools will be receiving $100 billion to upgrade existing buildings with HVAC, technology labs and school kitchen areas. Community colleges will receive an additional $12 billion for infrastructure improvements, along with $25 billion to upgrade child care facilities in select areas. N Access to the internet through digital infrastructure projects will be improved by $100 billion in federal spending. N Workforce investment will total $100 billion, with $40 billion going to dislocated workers (particularly in the areas of clean energy, manufacturing and caregiving), $12 billion to training for those previously incarcerated and $48 billion toward apprenticeships and job training programs administered by high schools and community colleges. N Finally, $18 billion will be invested in veterans’ hospitals and another $10 billion in modernizing federal buildings. Continued on page 35

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

The Humphreys office is open and here to help!

Habitat for Humanity: Generosity Fueled by Generosity

With all clients and employees, safety precautions in place.

Stay Healthy Work Smarter Return Stronger “Together, we are BETTER for YOU!” Freddi Paulsrud 928.853.3737 Freddi.Paulsrud@russlyon.com Valerie Core 928.607.4344 Valerie.core@russlyon.com Nina Bedatsky 928.607.8017 Nina.Bedatsky@russlyon.com

Habitat for Humanity is working to provide housing solutions. Courtesy photo

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

219 N. Humphreys Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001

By Eric Wolverton

hen public fundraising stopped , one promoter and its sponsors became heroes. With hundreds of non-profits in Flagstaff working together to provide services that enhance every part of our community, it is not always easy to ask community members to write a check to support all of our efforts. This is why there are many non-profit fundraising events. Sure, we love coming up with great ways for you and your neighbors to have fun, recreate, listen to live music and so much more – but we really host these parties to make it easier for everyone to contribute, making Flagstaff the amazing mountain town that it is. For the last 14 months, there have been no funruns, no concerts or plays, no galas or any of the social benefits we all took for granted. This also has meant a huge loss of donations for Flagstaff’s non-profits… except for one event that did not even happen. Wespac Construction’s M3F Fest (formally known as the McDowell Mountain Music Festival) has been a 100% for non-profit festival in Phoenix for the last 18 years. In just the last 4 years, M3F Fest has donated $190,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona – right here in Flagstaff. These funds helped build four Habitat homes, which were sold to income-qualified families in need. With 2021’s M3F Fest slated for early March, Habitat had many concerns. How can we make up for such a big revenue loss at a time when affordable housing is at its most critical moment in our history? As we entered 2021, America was barely emerging from COVID’s third wave of transmissions and vaccines were just getting to arms of our parents and grandparents. It became more and more evident that despite the passions of the M3F Fest team, canceling the festival would be in the best interest of all parties concerned. Here’s the miracle: Like all great production companies, M3F Fest was working hard throughout 2020 with expectations of hosting the event in 2021. Part of those efforts included the financial backing from their annual event sponsors. Businesses see

event sponsorships as a win-win because they are supporting non-profits in need while marketing their business to the audience attending the event. With the cancellation of the 2021 M3F Fest, some sponsors would normally respond by requesting their dollars back to be invested in other ways to market their businesses, but not M3F Fest sponsors! Nearly 100% of all M3F Fest sponsors responded to the news of the canceled festival with one voice, “Get our donations to work for our communities now!” This included a gift of $55,000 to Habitat in support of the new program at Coconino Community College, the Habitat for Humanity Home Construction Pathway. Starting this fall, CCC students will now construct Habitat homes as part of their Building Methods and related CTM courses. If you have ever watched an HGTV or DIY show and thought, I would like to know how to do that, then this CCC Pathway will provide hands-on learning opportunities that address the affordable housing crisis and embark students on the CTM Pathway leading to industry certificates. With trained, experienced faculty, Northern Arizonans now have the opportunity to learn the tricks and tools that go into home building from start to finish. Affordable housing in Flagstaff is a critical need. Although home price inflation might be good for current Flagstaff homeowners, it is leaving many Flagstaff residents out in the cold, sometimes literally. The Flagstaff City Council in January of this year voted that Flagstaff affordable housing is now an emergency situation. Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona is working to address this issue with support from thousands of Flagstaff individuals each year. If you are interested in joining our Habitat family with a contribution, you can do so at habitatflagstaff.org. We are very proud to invest 100% of your donation in our home building program. If you are interested in the new CCC/ Habitat Home Construction Pathway, we will be posting updated information on our website and on the CCC website at coconino.edu. FBN Eric Wolverton is the executive director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern ArizonaContact him at eric@ h4hnaz.org or 928-814-9368.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Flagstaff Library Planning Summer Activities

By Richard Tutwiler

ith a return of in-person services and open doors to the public still on the horizon, the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library has begun preparing for having the public back in the building in addition to its upcoming Summer Reading Challenge, which includes both online and outdoor options for a community still recovering from the global pandemic. During the past year, the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library has served its community through curbside and at-a-distance services, including online programming, hold pickup, phone reference, take-home activities, STEM and early literacy kits, remote printing and more. But with summer coming soon and the City of Flagstaff beginning to look toward re-opening city public facilities and taking measures to make outdoor venues more accessible, the library has begun to explore community programming that can be done outdoors. Keeping the safety of library staff and the Northern Arizona community in mind, the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library is developing a detailed, science-based approach to re-opening services to the public once more. Starting with limited computer reservations at both the downtown and East Flagstaff Community Library locations, services will gradually expand to include limited browsing for members of the public, self-checkout capabilities, research reservation slots and more. When the libraries begin to re-open and allow patrons back into the building, occupancy limits will be in place, including limited service hours and no available seating, and then eventually expanded and

// From taking pictures outdoors to scavenger hunts for online information to voting for the cutest animals, there will be fun challenges for everyone. Individuals will earn points as they attend library programs and activities, with a packet of prizes for those children who complete the challenge during the course of the summer. Additionally, adult participants will have the opportunity to earn raffle tickets, which can be used to enter participants into drawings for prizes generously provided by local businesses. //

relaxed as the infection rate and number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff continue to decrease. We’re also very excited to see the return of in-person storytime this summer, serving our youth and family communities in a new and engaging way. City officials are still running the numbers, keeping in mind both public attendance and individual spacing, to ensure we keep these activities socially distanced and with public health a primary focus. But in collaboration with City of Flagstaff Parks and Recreation, we’re very excited to offer outdoor Storytime this summer at a variety of city parks all around town. As these dates and locations are finalized, we’ll have more to share. Spaces will be limited as we work within occupancy limits as determined by the Flagstaff City Council. The Summer Reading Challenge this year will encompass the theme “Tales and Tails,” and will be a fun and engaging way for community members of all ages to take part in socially distanced communal activities and events. In addition to online events and programs, fun “missions” that encompass both virtual and outdoor activities will be accessible to community members who sign up for the challenge. From taking pictures outdoors to scavenger hunts for online information to voting for the cutest animals, there will be fun challenges for everyone. Individuals will earn points as they attend library programs and activities, with a packet of prizes for those children who complete the challenge during the course of the summer. Additionally, adult participants will have the opportunity to earn raffle tickets, which can be used to enter participants into drawings for prizes generously provided by local businesses. For those who would prefer to keep their noses buried in books, we also have you covered! Staff members are hard at work at curating detailed reading lists for Summer Reading Challenge participants of all ages, with a special focus on different age groups. From baby books to full-length novels, we’ll have different lists available for all members of our community to try to finish before the challenge comes to a close. Interested in signing up? The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library Summer Reading Challenge goes live the first week of June and runs through the end of July. We hope to see you soon! Are you interested in learning more about all the services and upcoming events the library is providing? Feel free to visit our library website at flagstaffpubliclibrary.org and see the wide variety of material and programs we have to offer. Also, please be sure to give us a “like” or “follow” on social media to stay up-to-date as we move into summer; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library can be found on Instagram (instagram.com/flagstafflibrary/), Facebook (facebook. com/flaglib), Pinterest (pinterest.com/flaglib/) and twitter (twitter.com/flaglib). Feel free to chat with us and engage with other members of our community! FBN Richard Tutwiler is the acting deputy director of city services at the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library.

alth’s r e H n i ea Darw of the Y ACO 2016 Award: on Regi n r e West inner W

Rated Number ONE in Arizona by CMS for Quality and Savings

ommonwealth Accountable Care Organization (ACO) is a partnership of Flagstaff Physicians working together to improve the health of people in Northern Arizona. Our goals: • enhancing communication between all medical providers and clinics • streamlining processes • providing quality cost-effective care • improving health outcomes. We understand that you have a choice when deciding where you receive medical care, which is why we have created the largest network of local primary care providers working together to benefit our patients through seamless coordination of care. Commonwealth is a federally approved ACO participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program.

Go to

MyHealthcareTeam.net and take that first step to select a Commonwealth Primary Care Provider.

Commonwealth ACO participating primary care providers: East Flagstaff Family Medicine, Ltd. 928-774-2788 Northeast Professional Plaza 1515 E. Cedar Ave., Suite A-3 Flagstaff, AZ 86004 www.eastflagfamilymed.com Bradford Croft, D.O. Sara Reeves, FNP Joshua Makela, PA-C Andrew Conboy, PA-C Ryan Internal Medicine 928-213-5881 1350 Rim Dr. Flagstaff, AZ 86001 www.ryanim.com Keith Ryan, MD Sherrill Weller, DO Cindy Martin, MD

Northern Arizona Radiology 928-773-2515 77 W Forest Ave Ste 101 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 www.northernarizonaradiology.com Northern Arizona Hospice 928.779.9795 928.774.1497 1501 S Yale Street Suite 201, Flagstaff AZ 86001 Northern Arizona Home Health 928-773-2238 1501 S. Yale Street, Suite 101 Flagstaff, AZ 86001

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

// BUSINESS CENTS // BY BONNIE STEVENS

We are Better When We Move

urns out the Sundance Kid had it right. “I’m better when I move,” he explained, during a job interview to be a payroll guard, when asked if could shoot. And the truth is, so are we. Except now there’s a whole lot of research backing Sundance up, much like Butch Cassidy’s Hole in the Wall Gang when they were robbing trains (which is a physical activity). Banner Health applauds physical activity. In an article published in 2020, the medical non-profit giant and largest employer in Arizona said exercising is a “natural mood booster” and one of the

best activities we can do for our minds and bodies. “Not only does it give you a feel-good sensation post-workout, but it is also the remedy for stress, depression and other negative emotions.” Banner Health quotes Dr. Yazhini Srivathsal, a psychiatrist with Banner Behavioral Health Hospital. “Exercise increases blood circulation to your brain, including areas like the hypothalamus, which in turn communicates to the other regions like the limbic system, amygdala and hippocampus. These regions are responsible for your mood, fear and anxiety response, motivation and memory and help decrease depres-

// The Sundance Kid was a man of few words, but we should pay attention to those words because now we know, we’re all better when we move. Movement is about performance, really – mental and physical performance. It improves our mood, gives us more confidence and sharpens our minds, and maybe even our aim. //

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sion, anxiety and improve memory. If you’re curious as to why you feel so good after you exercise, you can blame it on endorphins, which are the happy chemicals released during and after a workout. Exercise also helps in promoting growth of new circuits in your brain and reducing inflammation.” High Altitude Personal Training (HAPT) gym owner and personal trainer Rachael McDonald agrees and witnesses the positive effects of movement daily. “Everybody should know that exercising at some capacity is important for our fitness. But studies show that exercising regularly can help with conditions as serious as mental illness, and that’s one of the things COVID showed us. We need to exercise not only because it’s good for us physically, but mentally as well.” Many of McDonald’s clients (who are not train robbers) confirm that their workouts have helped them with depression and anxiety. “We’re all about people in the gym losing weight, gaining muscle and getting toned, but health is so much more than that.” Long-term benefits of an exercise routine, McDonald adds, include higher self-esteem and a better quality

of life that comes with the freedom of being able to physically do what you want to do. “It’s knowing you can go for a hike if a friend invites you, or keep up with your grandkids or play tennis. I care way more about good posture and good body mechanics than how much I can lift or how good I look, so I can avoid injury and other health problems.” An active lifestyle also helps us sleep, states Banner Health, because it makes us physically tired. And it improves creativity, “giving your brain that much needed ‘cognitive pause’ where it can help you change your perception and come up with new ideas.” Thinking back to the movie, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” you may recall the scene in which the distressed Sundance demonstrates this point: It’s hard to worry about problems, like expert trackers on your tail (Who are those guys?), when you’re running and jumping, especially off a cliff. The positive effects of a consistent workout routine affect us in every area of our lives, says McDonald. “I have clients tell me our gym has

saved their marriage because they are happier individuals. One of the most notable transformations was reported by a gentleman who came in and said he had never lifted weights or done any sports or anything athletic before. He started training consistently, three times a week. He expressed his level of confidence had dramatically increased. Basically, he had none, but he started working out. He built muscle. He felt stronger. He stood up taller. This made a huge difference in his overall personality. He says he became a completely different person because he felt confident.” The Sundance Kid was a man of few words, but we should pay attention to those words because now we know, we’re all better when we move. Movement is about performance, really – mental and physical performance. It improves our mood, gives us more confidence and sharpens our minds, and maybe even our aim. FBN Bonnie Stevens is a public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@ gmail.com.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

Answering Frequently Asked Questions About Hearing

By Jeff Lane, Au.D.

lthough hearing loss is a common disability, most people are taught very little about it. Thus, new patients always have a myriad of questions during the initial phases of diagnosis and management. Some questions are more unique or specific to the individual, but most are the same. And for good reason. Hearing loss has a steep learning curve and patients want to ensure they are making informed decisions. My goals are to always make sure patients feel comfortable and secure, and to answer their questions to the best of my ability. Here are some of the most common.

DOES MY HEARING LOSS LOOK NORMAL FOR MY AGE?

This is a more complicated question than it appears. Yes, it is true that hearing loss becomes more prevalent as we mature. One-third of adults 65 and older have hearing loss, while that number increases to 50% at age 75. However, there is no “average” degree of hearing loss for different age groups. A 90-year-old patient

may only have a mild hearing loss, while for a 67-year-old, it may be severe. The hearing loss depends on genetics and previous noise exposure. Hearing loss is hearing loss and should be addressed if it is negatively affecting your quality of life.

DOES MY LOSS REQUIRE HEARING AIDS?

The recommendation depends on two factors. First, what is the degree and configuration of the loss? If only one or two frequencies are affected, or the loss is very mild, the audiologist may choose to wait and simply monitor the loss. But it also depends on how the patient feels he or she is communicating. Two patients with the same hearing loss can have polar opposite responses. One may hardly notice having trouble, while the other feels the loss is impacting the ability to communicate properly. It makes sense for the first patient to wait. Because this individual lacks a strong motivating force, the aids won’t impact him as much and will either be returned or end up in a drawer. Waiting until the person feels ready will increase the chances of

success. The second patient should absolutely try hearing aids. Hearing aids will improve his access to sound and have a positive impact on his quality of life. This holds true, even if on paper, the loss is less severe than other people’s hearing loss.

CAN I WEAR JUST ONE AID?

Obviously, if only one ear has a loss or financial considerations are significant, one aid is a viable solution. Anything is going to be better than nothing. But, if possible, it is always best to fit a bilateral loss with a two hearing aids. First, there is a phenomenon called binaural summation whereby the combined amplification boosts the perceived loudness of the sound even further. As a comparison, imagine that you have vision loss in both eyes. A monocle will help improve your perception to a certain degree, but glasses will make the image sharper than it could have ever been with the monocle alone. This is equivalent to aiding both ears. Additionally, a person will be able to localize sounds better and have better speech understanding

in noise when both ears are aided. This is because our brains are wired to perform these tasks by comparing and contrasting the signals from each ear. In the case of localizing sounds, your brain knows that a sound came from your right because it reached your right ear first and was louder on that side. If a person has a bilateral hearing loss and a single hearing aid, those important signals will always be lopsided and impair your brain’s ability to compare the sound.

ability and memory function. And the aids will not become a crutch. People with hearing aids use them consistently because they enjoy not having to work as hard to communicate. But they can still function without the hearing aids if needed. No question is ever too silly to ask an audiologist. If you want to know, ask. Hearing health is a collaborative process and works best when all parties are on the same page. FBN

WILL THE AID WORSEN MY HEARING OR BECOME A CRUTCH?

No, hearing aids will not make your hearing worse, nor will they “fix” it. Hearing aids are just that. They help to increase your access to sound and filter out excess noise. But your hearing itself remains unaffected. It is true that hearing loss tends to worsen over time, but it is typically a slow and gradual process. And it will change, regardless of hearing aid use. Actually, wearing hearing aids has been shown to help maintain good word recognition

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Preparing Horses for Evacuation in Wildfire Season By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

ry, warm, windy conditions make this month prime time for Northern Arizona wildfires. As cities and forests call for fire restrictions and wildland firefighters are on high alert, Flagstaff Equine Emergency Response Network (FEERN) offers a Facebook-based communications hub for horse owners who might need help and volunteers who are able to help and temporarily house horses in the event of an emergency in Flagstaff and surrounding communities. Flagstaff accountant Kathy Oliver, CPA, founder of Sacred Peaks Equine Sanctuary, set up the network four years ago. “There was a fire out near Copeland [in Timberline]. That’s what instigated it,” she said. FEERN identified four sections of town for large animal evacuation. Oliver, who currently has 20 horses at her nonprofit horse rescue property, four dogs, donkeys and chickens, evacuated her animals during the July 2019

// Forest Service officials say the dry conditions have resulted in stressed trees and an elevated risk of fire. “With as little snowpack and precipitation we received this past winter, we are currently in very high fire danger and seeing very dry forest conditions,” said Coconino National Forest Public Affairs Officer Brady Smith. //

Museum Fire. “I did it out of extreme caution. I didn’t want to worry and had so many animals. It was a good drill. Each of my friends took a couple of horses.” Neighboring communities to the west and south of Flagstaff have the Equine Emergency Evacuation of Yavapai County (EEE). Founder Carol Fontana started the volunteer organization after riding the Arizona Trail with her Arabian champion horse, Tiki, from Mexico to Utah in 2016. “We worked our way around five fires and I got home and thought, ‘We’ve got to organize our neighborhood!’”

STRESSED FORESTS

The Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) considers most of the state to be in what it calls “Extreme Drought” and “Exceptional Drought,” the highest categories on the scale, especially across Northern Arizona and the southeastern part of the state. Forest Service officials say the dry conditions have resulted in stressed trees and an elevated risk of fire. “With as little snowpack and precipitation we received this past winter, we are currently in very high fire danger and seeing very dry forest conditions,” said Coconino National Forest Public Affairs Officer Brady Smith. Hardy species like manzanita are starting to die off, and bark beetles, which devastated the West in the early 2000s, have made a reappearance. “We have complex fuel conditions to deal with,” said Coconino and Kaibab National Forests Fire Management Officer Brian Steinhardt. “We are well deficit in our moisture, which leads to stress on our plants. Weakened trees are unable to make sap to push the bugs out. We are now seeing the effects of bark beetle attacks and dying juniper trees from Chino Valley to Ash Creek. That changes the fuel conditions from a fire perspective. The grasses have filled in between trees and we have continuous fuel from one dead juniper stem to another. The

Volunteer organizations urge horse owners to be ready to evacuate their animals in case of a forest fire. Courtesy photo

orange needles become volatile, almost like gasoline.”

AWARE OF THE RISK

The EEE website emphasizes the risk of wildfire by noting large fires in recent years. It reminds residents about the 2019 Sheridan and Cellar fires, which came close to developed areas. “We’ve been very, very lucky,” said Fontana, who emphasizes that luck is not a good strategy. “There were huge fires in every county except for ours [Yavapai County] last year. They are going to happen.” The organization started with a Facebook page calling for volunteers during the June 2017 Goodwin Fire near Dewey. “That became a very dangerous situation. We had several

rigs go to one address and got stuck. If the fire came through, we would have been cooked,” she said.

FIRE READY

Equestrian Elise Wilson of Flagstaff grew up in Malibu Canyon, California, an area prone to wildfires. She says it’s critical that horse owners have access to a truck and trailer. “If they don’t own their own, they need to have someone lined up who can help them if they need to get their horse out. And it’s really important that their horses will load, that they are trained to trailer.” She notes that some owners have let their horses loose as a last resort in the case of an approaching fire. “If you do, somehow attach your name and

phone number. Some people paint their phone number on the horse. I’ve seen Velcro ID bracelets on the animal’s leg and contact information on halters.” Wilson also recommends having an emergency to-go bag for the horse, like you would for yourself during fire season. “Have water buckets ready to go, food, medications, whatever the animal is going to need in the short term.” FBN FEERN can be reached at 928-853-4203. EEE’s hotline is 833-922-9333. Both organizations can be found on Facebook.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

Injured Burro, Aging Bull Find Sanctuary

ilagro, or Miracle, as he now is known, was rescued by volunteers after being struck in the head and shoulder by a vehicle and bleeding profusely from his ears. Animal Guardian Network (AGN) founder Carrie Singer jumped into action and rushed the Lake Pleasant-based burro to a veterinary hospital for a diagnosis. Radiographs revealed Milagro had been shot in the head, leaving behind the remainder of a high-caliber hollow-point bullet that was removed. Still wild and unhandled, the brave burro now is recovering from his two life-threatening traumas as he receives life-long care at AGN’s Healing River Ranch. However, the sanctuary, which is home to 100 domestic and farm animals, never stops saving lives. Take Salty, for example. Living in the wild for years, Prime Rib, as he was known, lived free and peacefully among the Salt River Wild horses. Captured in a random roundup of unclaimed cattle, he was loaded onto a transport truck headed to auction. A group of determined wild horse advocates created a fundraising effort to successfully outbid all buyers to save Prime Rib, now known

as Salty, in the hopes that an experienced and reputable sanctuary would offer him safe refuge. The story of Salty’s plight reached Singer. “I knew we could help, so AGN offered Salty a safe version of the only life he’s ever known,” she said. After almost two weeks in quarantine, Salty reached Healing River Ranch and was released onto a 10acre habitat where he now lives his life alongside wild and domestic horses that have been given the same life-saving refuge.

Milagro’s and Salty’s are two of many touching success stories that have happened at Healing River Ranch, says Singer. Animal Guardian Network is a one-of-a-kind animal sanctuary situated on 22 acres along the Verde River in Camp Verde. Healing River Ranch serves as a refuge for senior, special needs and hospice farm animals and dogs. For more information, call 602-568-5636 or visit animalguardiannetwork.org. FBN

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Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

How to Prevent, Treat HIV

By Vonda Chisholm

the following: N Blood N Semen N Pre-seminal fluid N Rectal fluids N Vaginal fluids N Breast milk

s HIV still a thing? Surprisingly and unfortunately, yes. What may be even more surprising is that more than 38 million people are still living with HIV today. And, before you skip this article because you think you or your loved ones are not at risk for HIV, please think again.

LET’S TALK FACTS

In 2018 alone, there were 37,968 new HIV diagnoses in the U.S. and dependent countries. Young people in the age group between 13 and 24 are particularly affected by HIV, and in 2018, this age group accounted for 21% of all new HIV diagnoses. Young gay and bisexual men accounted for 83% of these. People who inject drugs, 7%. You might say, “Well, I’m not a gay or bisexual man and have never injected drugs,” and you may not be in the highest percentage of at-risk persons, but many people who have HIV never saw it coming, either. There are certain ways HIV is spread, and no, you can’t get it from a toilet seat, sharing a drink, food or utensils, or even kissing someone who has HIV. How you can contract it is through

What this means, basically, is that anyone that has ever had unprotected sex (even once), has shared needles while injecting drugs, or has been exposed to anyone else’s bodily fluids (besides your own baby’s) should be tested for HIV, even if there are no symptoms present. Of course, the more exposures one has, the more at risk he or she is for contracting the virus. That being said, anyone who has unprotected sex is not only at a higher risk of contracting HIV, but also several sexually transmitted infections, or STIs. It needs to be said that if people are contracting STIs, the chance of contracting HIV grows significantly higher.

STIGMA KILLS

HIV tends to hide behind stigma and ignorance. This is one of the reasons that assuming you are not at risk and not knowing your status could be deadly. Thankfully, having HIV

isn’t the death sentence it was in the ‘80s and ‘90s; however, because it is a virus that can hide out until its host is very sick, getting tested for HIV is the No. 1 way for people to know their status in order to stop the spread. Many people are afraid or embarrassed to get tested for HIV for fear someone will make assumptions or judgments about their lifestyle, when really people need to take pride in getting tested. Getting tested for HIV is the one thing that can lead people who test positive to not only go on to lead healthy, long lives, but also it prevents them from unknowingly infecting others with HIV.

EXCITING NEWS

So, you get tested and are negative for HIV. Now what? If you have had a definite exposure or have participated in high risk behavior, it is suggested that you get tested again in two to three months, as the virus can be undetectable when someone first contracts it. The good news is, if a test is negative for certain, but people still believe they are at any sort of risk of contracting HIV, they can take one pill a day to prevent it! That’s right! PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, has a 99% rate of keeping a person from contracting HIV if the medica-

tion is taken correctly. In addition, if a person believes he or she has had a possible exposure to the virus, it is vital that the person contact a medical provider right away to get PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) prescribed to prevent the virus from taking control of the body’s cells. A person has a window of 72 hours to receive and start taking this medication to prevent contracting HIV.

POSITIVE HIV TEST?

HIV care has come a long way in the last four decades. In fact, new medications are coming out all the time and getting on the right medication regimen for you is vital for you to live a long and healthy life, as well as enable you to have a normal sex life without fear of spreading the virus. That’s right. We celebrate something called U=U, which means Undetectable = Untransmittable. When those who are HIV positive stay in care and adhere to their medication schedule, their “viral load” can become undetectable, which means they cannot transmit the virus to anyone. Now, that is great news! It was 40 years ago when what was called the “gay cancer” took many, many

lives. There is simply no reason in today’s day and age, particularly in the United States, that anyone should contract HIV. The only way we will be successful in eradicating HIV is if everyone follows this very simple protocol: N Get tested. N Get on PrEP and follow safe and healthy sex guidelines if you are negative and in a high-risk population for contracting HIV. N Get on an HIV medication and care regimen if you test positive so you can live a long and healthy life. Let’s all do our part to end the HIV epidemic once and for all! FBN Vonda Chisholm is the executive director of Northland Cares, a specialty HIV and Prevention Clinic that serves HIV positive clients in Yavapai County and provides education, prevention and testing services for all of Northern Arizona. Northland Cares is located at 3112 Clearwater Dr., Prescott, Arizona 86305. Call for information on free testing today, 928-776-4612.

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Treating Pain with an Epidural Steroid Injection By Dorian Lange

he epidural steroid injection allows anti-inflammatory medicine (steroid) to be injected into the epidural space to treat pain caused by irritation of the spinal nerves. A protective covering called the dural sac surrounds the spinal cord. This sac contains spinal fluid that bathes and nourishes the spinal cord. The space between the outer surface of the dural sac and the bones of the spinal column is the epidural space. Nerves that go from the spinal cord through the spinal column and to the body pass through the epidural space. Depending on the location of your pain, the epidural steroid injection can be given in the neck (cervical), middle back (thoracic) or lower back (lumbar).

ygen monitoring device). You will be positioned on your stomach and the doctor will inject some numbing medicine. After the numbing medicine takes effect, the doctor will insert a needle with the assistance of a special X-ray machine called a fluoroscope and inject a radiopaque dye (contrast solution) to confirm that the needle is in the correct place. With the needle in position, the doctor will inject a mixture of numbing medicine (anesthetic) and anti-inflammatory medicine (cortisone/ steroid). It is possible you will feel pain similar to your normal back pain as the medicine is injected. This is a good sign and means the medicine is going to the right place. The pain usually disappears quickly. After the procedure, we ask that you remain at the clinic until the doctor feels you are ready to leave.

PROCEDURE OVERVIEW

AFTER THE PROCEDURE

The epidural steroid injection is an outpatient procedure done in our facility’s ambulatory surgery center under strict sterile conditions. For your safety and comfort, the doctor may decide to connect you to monitoring equipment (EKG monitor, blood pressure cuff and a blood-ox-

You may experience some weakness and/or numbness in your legs (lumbar injection), arms (cervical injection), or chest wall (thoracic injection) for a few hours after the procedure. If so, do not engage in any activities that require lifting, balance or coordination. If the doctor prescribes

physical therapy, it is very important that you continue with the physical therapy program. Although you may feel much better immediately after the injection (because of the numbing medicine), there is a possibility your pain may return within a few hours. It sometimes takes a few days for the steroid medication to start working. You can watch the procedure ex-

plained here: nazspineandpain.com/ epidural-steroid-injections. FBN Dorian Lange, CEO, Northern Arizona Pain Institutes, is responsible for the management, administration and business development for multi-disciplinary specialty clinics throughout central Arizona that provide integrative

treatment protocols for pain management, physical and rehabilitative medicine. Lange developed the initial business plan and implemented the strategic planning from startup to a multi-million-dollar medical specialty organization. Learn more at https://northernarizonapaininstitutes.com/health-careteam/.

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Community Colleges Join Recovery Push for Arizona By Colleen Smith, Ph.D.

residents of our state timely, affordable tions, courses and talks as part of our education and training to help prepare Community Education mission. To help students afford their new them quickly for stable, well-paying can see the beautiful aspen trees educational goals, CCC is excited to jobs. quaking in the wind outside of my offer graduating high school seniors At CCC, our faculty and staff have office window. The signs of the in Coconino County, with the help of approaching summer are with us every- been busy creating and fine-tuning federal COVID relief funds, free tuition programs designed for that. Among where in Northern Arizona. for summer courses so they can get a our offerings are: Google IT Support Here at Coconino Community jump on their fall semesters. All other Professional, Commercial Driver’s College, we have celebrated our 512 qualifying students will receive reduced License (as of June 1); Certified Mainrecent graduates with a commencerates on their tuition this summer and tenance Technician; Medical Assisment ceremony held virtually in order fall with the help of these funds. tant; Emergency Medical Technician; to keep everybody healthy and safe Recently, Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey Caregiver; Heating, Ventilation, Air during the pandemic. It is our hope of announced more than $7 million hopes that vaccinations are doing their Conditioning, and Refrigeration; and job and we can all, once again, celebrate many more. CCC also offers affordable in funding for community college scholarships for currently unemployed general education paths for students our graduates’ achievements in person workers who are eligible for Returnwho plan to transfer to a university next year. to-Work funding. The governor is to attain four-year degrees. For the As the vaccination effort progressalso making an additional $6 million lifelong learner in our residents, CCC es and as numbers of COVID-19 available for workers who don’t have has a fascinating line-up of presentainfections decline, CCC has begun the process, with the health and safety // of our students, faculty and staff as priority, of scheduling more in-person CCC has joined community colleges throughout course offerings this summer. This fall, if all trends continue, CCC will increase the state in a reskill and recover push designed to in-person courses to help our students offer unemployed and underemployed residents find instructional delivery that fits their needs as they get busy recovering from of our state timely, affordable education and the effects of this global pandemic. training to help prepare them quickly for stable, To that end, CCC has joined community colleges throughout the state in well-paying jobs. a reskill and recover push designed to // offer unemployed and underemployed

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high school diplomas to prepare for and take General Education Development (GED) tests. The coming 2021-22 school year contains so much promise. On Aug. 26, CCC will be celebrating 30 years of service to the residents of Coconino County. We’re already in the process of planning events to celebrate our milestone all year long with the communities served by the college. This summer, look for CCC to participate in the Flagstaff, Williams and Page Fourth of July parades, and I have it on good authority that the CCC Ride Along band will be getting back together to entertain the crowds during the parades in Flagstaff and Williams. On top of our anniversary celebration, CCC is deep in the process of having its accreditation status continued with the Higher Learning Commission. HLC is the governing body in charge of ensuring that CCC offers quality education to our students. The accreditation also enables our students to apply for financial assistance with the federal government and it allows the credits they receive at CCC to transfer to other accredited institutions. We have received valuable input from the community, our staff

and faculty, and students in order to best ensure a successful process with the HLC committee. Finally, CCC now has a coach to head the cross-country running program, which was announced in February last year. The pandemic put the program on hold, but now we are moving forward with Coach Craig Hunt to field a team. The program, which is fully supported by outside donations, can always use help. Visit the Cross Country Comets page at coconino.edu/cross-country-comets to help support the team. As always, I wish everybody a safe and healthy summer, and if you’re looking to start that next chapter of your life as the pandemic starts to fade, I believe CCC can help. It’s not too late to register for summer classes, which begin June 7, and registration for fall classes has already begun as well. Give us a visit at coconino.edu to learn more. Onward! FBN Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D., is the president of Coconino Community College.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

How Recent Shifts Impacted the Local Real Estate Market

By Katie McGee

f you could wave a magic wand and live anywhere, where would that be? For me, that answer took the trip off the tongue every time to Flagstaff. My first time in Arizona was for the 1995 Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships in Flagstaff. Bozeman was getting a foot of snow as we skated off the runway bound for the meet. Two hours later, I hopped off

the plane in Phoenix with the rest of my over-dressed, vitamin D-deprived teammates, into a balmy 78 degrees. We took a pit stop on the way up the hill in Black Canyon City. I remember walking out into the desert, the saguaro, arms stretched in homage to the sun, the pungent smell of creosote stinging my nose that had encountered nothing in nature but frozen ground for months. I closed my eyes and listened to two doves cooing in the palo verde tree next to

// This past year, people with resources got clobbered over the head by the epiphany that life should not be squandered in a place, in a career, where they are not feeling fulfilled. Add giga fires and statewide rent control regulations in California to the mix, and Flagstaff is facing an enormous influx of people wanting to buy homes while very few people are wanting to sell them. //

me and thought, “This is paradise.” As the fleet van wound up the freeway, from desert to high plateau, through red rocks and finally to the base of the San Francisco Peaks, I knew I had arrived. This place was heaven on Earth. I vowed I would live here and did. I got a green card for two years; aka, graduate school at Northern Arizona University. Every morning, I would buy the Arizona Daily Sun, walk to Macy’s, do the crossword puzzle and obsess about how I could manage to stay. Of course, all my peers in the English department had the same obsession. Being a mom of two young children, I did the responsible thing and went back home to Minnesota to take my first teaching job, with a good salary, benefits, retirement. The rest is history. Over the next 20 years, I spent nearly every vacation and two sabbatical leaves in Arizona, and each time, I left my spirit by the pond near Aspen Corner meditating until I could return. You may be wondering what this has to do with the real estate market? Well, I got handed a magic wand a few years ago when I able to move all

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my courses online. Most of us know the reason it is so hard to put down roots in Flagstaff. The cost of living is high and there are a limited number of jobs where people can afford to stay. Ask yourself, how many people under the age of 40 do you know in town (not native Flagstaffians) who have lived here more than five years? How many have just one job? Enter a worldwide pandemic, lockdowns, people working remotely probably for good, and ABRACADABRA! The Universe is currently having a BLOWOUT SALE on magic wands. Out-of-state wages, meet Arizona sunshine. This past year, people with resources got clobbered over the head by the epiphany that life should not be squandered in a place, in a career, where they are not feeling fulfilled. Add giga fires and statewide rent control regulations in California to the mix, and Flagstaff is facing an enormous influx of people wanting to buy homes while very few people are wanting to sell them. Because, in Flagstaff, you’re not simply buying a house, you’re gaining

the lifestyle you’ve always wanted. You own a house and your roots take hold. Note all the smiling, fit people running, biking, hiking all over town. Get off the FUTS and 10 minutes later, one can be completely alone on a trail snaking its way through the vast ponderosa forest, that is for the most part, all public land. That means, “this land is your land, this land is my land…” You know the next verse. A friend who works in the biology department at NAU calls Flagstaff “a sky island.” He’s speaking from an ecological standpoint, but it is also a “sky island” metaphorically for those of us who have been blessed to call it home. Does it seem like a good time to put down our magic wands for a moment and ask a very realistic question? How do we collectively grow, change and still preserve our island, which might just be “the last best place?” FBN Katie McGee is a runner, writer and realtor with Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty in Flagstaff.

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Managing Summertime Injuries

By Amber Belt, ND

N EW

or many of us, warmer weather means more time outdoors playing. These activities sometimes will result in an acute injury. Let’s talk about how to successfully manage these injuries by harnessing your healing process so you can get back outdoors again! In this article, I’m going to be discussing ligament and tendon injuries. This covers ankle sprains, injured knees, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, shoulder issues, etc. Ligament and tendon injuries such as ankle sprains, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow and knee injuries are more difficult to heal than muscle tears. The conventional way to treat these injuries slows the healing process, which can lead to chronic pain, instability and reinjury. The “conventional wisdom” of treating acute injuries, RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation), is a recipe to deprive the injured area of blood flow and stop the inflammatory process. This process is a crucial step in healing. Add in anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, and injured tissue is doomed to heal incompletely. To heal an injury, our bodies must go through three phases of healing. The first phase of healing is the inflamma-

tory phase. This phase brings pain, swelling, redness and heat to the injured area. These signs of inflammation indicate healing and they are also good reminders to not overuse the injured area. The second and third phases are the proliferative and remodeling phases. These are the phases where new collagen is being laid down in an injured area and organizing that tissue to be strong and flexible. So, what course of action can be taken if one is trying to avoid RICE and NSAIDS? We can use MEAT (movement, exercise, analgesia and treatment) to work with our natural healing process to heal an injured area. Let’s break MEAT down. Movement. Gentle range of motion movements keep blood and lymph flowing into and out of the injured area, bringing in nutrients and washing out waste products of inflammation. Movement also helps direct collagen fibers in their organization and often results in decreased pain and swelling. Exercise. Once the initial pain has subsided, therapeutic exercise can be added into the mix. These are generally exercises that a physical therapist will recommend. Exercise allows the muscles around the tissue to get stronger, brings in blood flow and helps the collagen fibers get organized.

Analgesia is pain relief. There are many tools that I use to provide pain relief for patients. I had to pare down my list to get it to fit in the scope of this article, but there are tools to help pain outside of what I write about today. Here are a few tools I use to provide pain relief for my patients: N Arnica. Homeopathic arnica is excellent for addressing the pain of an acute injury and it is especially indicated for trauma and bruising. It can be used topically or internally. The homeopathic form must be used internally because this herb is toxic in tincture form. N Curcumin. Curcumin is immensely pain relieving and it’s one of my go-tos. Yes, I know it’s an anti-inflammatory, but I do not see that it negatively impacts tissue health in the same way that ibuprofen and naproxen do. N Corydalis. Corydalis is a Chinese herb that excels at pain relief. I love using corydalis in combination with other herbs in traditional Chinese medicine formulas. N Topical pain patches. Pain patches come in many forms. They can have lidocaine, menthol, Chinese herbs or CBD/THC. I have seen all of these forms to be effective. They are more effective on tissue that’s closer to the surface of the skin like ankles

and wrists. N Acupuncture. Acupuncture is amazing and I will often use cupping alongside the acupuncture needles for an enhanced pain relieving effect. N Neural prolotherapy. This is a therapeutic modality that can both relieve pain and treat the injury. It’s an injection therapy that, depending on what the patient needs, will involve lidocaine, 5% dextrose, and homeopathics. Treatment. There are too many treatment options to cover here, but I do have a few favorites that I’d like to share. N Prolotherapy/PRP. These regenerative injections need to wait until two to three weeks after the initial injury. With these treatments, we’re reinitiating the inflammatory process for a more thorough healing of the injured area. I do a lot of prolotherapy and PRP and can attest to their amazing healing power. N Manual therapies. Treatments such chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy can be immensely effective in treatment of an injury. N Contrast hydrotherapy. This treatment uses alternating hot and cold applications to the injured

area to bring fresh blood into the area with heat and then flushing that blood out of the area with cold. It’s great for treatment and analgesia. N Nutrients. There are many nutrients that promote tissue healing. My favorites are Vitamin C, collagen powder and specific amino acids. Nutrients are highly individualized, so it’s best to consult your doctor about what dosing will be ok for you. And finally, going into an injury with good general health will enable you to heal more quickly and thoroughly after an injury. People who smoke, who are overweight/obese, who have diabetes, or are otherwise unhealthy will have more trouble with the healing process. It’s important to maintain your general health with healthy diet/exercise/hydration/lifestyle and also have your annual labs run so that your baseline health is in order. FBN Amber Belt, N.D. is a naturopathic physician with sharp regenerative injection skills, a roller derby enthusiast, a business owner, an animal lover and a Flagstaff devotee. She has been performing regenerative injections for 12 years and can be contacted via aspenmedcenter.com or at 928-213-5828.

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JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Preventing Wrinkles Without injections By Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc

ging is inevitable, and many try to defy it using various methods of preventing and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and saggy skin. The skin is our largest organ and is most sensitive to the aging process. When you are young, the skin is plump, tight and springy like a new mattress. With aging, the skin becomes thinner, less springy and sunken in. What can you do? These days, there are so many things from which to choose, but radiofrequency (RF) technology is a non-surgical, non-invasive, relatively painless method with no downtime. The heating element of RF energy is similar to a hot rock massage set to reach and maintain a specific temperature to stimulate the body’s own collagen production. It lifts and tightens loose skin, minimizing the appearance of wrinkles and cellulite leaving you with younger, more supple looking skin. You will often see immediate results, which continue as collagen regenerates over six weeks. Often, the skin quality and brightness also improves, minimizing age spots and fine wrinkles. RF is a more preventative treatment for plumping up

the skin mattress versus dermal fillers that fill the space of aging, thinning skin. If you do not want aesthetic injections, or if you get Botox or filler injections and want to build your collagen naturally, then this is an ideal treatment for you.

AREAS TREATED:

N Crows feet, areas around the eyes and lids. N Forehead wrinkles and angry lines. N Marionette lines, saggy smile or saggy cheeks. N Chest wrinkles or neck sagginess. N Loose skin on the body – arms, thighs, back and belly. N Vaginal rejuvenation, tightening, vaginal dryness and incontinence. Radiofrequency treatments gently heat your skin, increasing your skin’s temperature for a defined, therapeutic time that triggers your body’s natural reaction to produce new collagen. The new collagen fibers are tight and dense, leaving you with beautiful, younger-looking skin.

HERE ARE SEVEN TIPS TO IMPROVE SKIN QUALITY: 1. 2. 3.

Drink lots of water. Get plenty of rest. Reduce stress.

4. Take good supplements that feed your skin, such as Vitamin C, Collagen powder, essential fatty acids – good quality fish oil, flax and chia, zinc and beta carotene. 5. Get your hormones checked. 6. Get on a good skin care regimen. 7. Eat a variety of colorful fruits, veggies and leafy greens and

avoid processed, fried or fast foods. We can’t defy aging, but we can at least slow the process down to our benefit. FBN   Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupunctur-

ist 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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Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Considering Marriage as a Business

By Michael Wozniak

o you know why the wedding band is placed on the fourth finger? The theory is that the fourth finger is the only finger with a vein connected to the heart. In a similar vein of sentiment, movies and television, particular religious dogmas and, frankly, just the general impression that we are given of marriage as we grow, suggest that there is an intrinsic and spiritual component to marriage that transcends mere laws. However, these grandiloquent notions hardly ever find their ways into a courtroom where a judge is deciding how to dissolve two peoples’ marriage. Recently, my law partner, Zachary Markham, wrote an article in Flagstaff Business News discussing the merits of entering a prenuptial agreement prior to marriage. Markham appropriately and aptly likened a prenuptial agreement to “marriage insurance.” However, in my practice I would roughly estimate that less than 5% of cases have a prenuptial agreement. I understand why, despite possibly knowing better, one does not even want to consider a prenuptial agreement. After all, my wife gently and lovingly advised me that she

would “kick my butt” if I asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement prior to our marriage nearly a decade ago. As such, this article focuses on looking at marriage generally as a business or a contract, because that is how Arizona law and the courts view it. Arizona is a community property state. In simple terms, this means once two people get married, they are viewed by the law as contractually bound to be one and the same for financial purposes (barring a few nuanced exceptions, which are likely to be litigated). In other words, the flowery promise of “for richer or for poorer” in reality translates to “we have started our own business where we are both equally going to be financially benefiting but also financially liable.” While the above paragraph may seem relatively obvious and simple, in practice, it is not. I regularly have discussions with my clients where I must advise them, they are on the proverbial hook for his or her spouse’s poor financial choices. Similarly, I routinely have conversations with my clients where I explain that their individual business ventures (and the hard-earned successes that come with it) fall into a bucket that, upon divorce, will be equitably (often

equally) shared with their soon-to-be ex-spouse. This can make an already stressful and emotional situation worse. In addition, lawyers are confined by applicable laws and ethical restrictions and therefore do not possess the magical, sweeping ability to produce a satisfactory result in every case despite their best efforts. Finally, Arizona is a “no-fault” state, which means that an Arizona Court will not consider why two parties are divorcing (e.g. infidelity) but instead start with the fact that they are and will preclude either party from explaining why in most circumstances. As such, dissolving a marriage often works the same as dividing a company’s business assets. I liken the division of my client’s community property (which may include liquid funds, investments, real estate, whole life insurances, pensions, 401Ks, and actual businesses) to dividing a pizza pie. Let us assume that there are eight slices to a community’s “pizza.” Now, given that Arizona law requires an equitable division of that pizza, it is a near certainty that neither party walks away with the entire pizza (and neither party can ever walk away with more than the eight slices). When two parties hire lawyers and litigate, often each party’s attorney gets a

slice – leaving the community with six slices to divide. It is difficult for a person going through divorce to walk away with just three slices; though, arguably, that is a “fair” outcome under the law. Further, the slices may be of unequal size or both parties may want the same slice (which I assume must be pepperoni, versus a slice with pineapple on it). As one can imagine, this complicates negotiations. The proactive way to head off possible issues upon dissolving a marriage – or, put differently, to pre-determine which party would get which pizza slice – is for the parties to enter into a postnuptial agreement, either prior to or upon obtaining an asset. These agreements are usually enforceable provided they are clearly drafted, and the terms are not grossly unfair at the time of signing. A lawyer should draft the agreement and both sides will need independent counsels upon signing. Such a document may very well head off far more expensive future litigation. In the event of a dissolution of marriage where there is no prenuptial or postnuptial agreement, think of that divorce as dividing up a business (I will often encourage my clients to put on

their “business hats” when going into settlement discussions). The court and lawyers will view it this way. It can be a cold, dry process that cannot be more different than the joyful process of actually getting married. Finally, a dissolution of marriage may require dividing a business that is owned by the “community,” which marries the two principles discussed in this article. In those situations, I will commonly bring on an attorney who handles “business divorces,” which, in my firm, is Jennifer Mott. I anticipate her writing an article on this very topic in this publication in the near future. FBN Michael Wozniak is a partner with the law firm Aspey, Watkins & Diesel where he practices family law and criminal defense. He moved to Flagstaff with his family in 2019. He is available for free consultations to discuss any family law issue and can be reached at 928-774-1478.

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JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

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Treating Bunion Deformities By Anthony Rosales, DPM, FACFA

of these types of deformities. A simple examination will assess the strucunions are a common deformi- tural integrity of the foot for excessive pronation and ligamentous laxity, ty that consist of an enlargewhich can be contributors to this type ment of the bone at the base of deformity. X-rays will be required of the big toe. Hallux Valgus is the to determine the extent of the bunion medical term for this, which means and any destructive changes that may a turning outward of the great toe. Bunions are one of the most common have occurred within the joint. After careful examination, a course of treatforefoot deformities. These usually begin when the big toe starts moving ment will be discussed. From a non-surgical approach, a toward the smaller toes because of the change in footwear that has a wide shoe gear or an inherited deformity. toe box may help. Other options may This shifting of the bones causes a include taping, steroid injections bony prominence on the side of the to reduce inflammation, over-thepatient’s foot. Over a period of time, the big toe causes an overcrowding of counter anti- inflammatory medithe surrounding toes and cause them cations, spacers to help separate the toes, and inserts that are placed in to become crooked. the shoes, which will help stabilize a Long-term sequella of a bunion structural biomechanical abnormality deformity ranges from an irritating that contributes to the progression of bump to a painful arthritic joint. It may lead to thickening of the skin on a bunion deformity. If a conservative approach does the bottom of the foot, overlapping of the first and second toe, callus forma- not alleviate your symptoms, then tion of the second toe, ingrown nails, surgical correction may be necessary. Close evaluation of the deformity by a limitation of motion of the great toe board-certified podiatrist is essential joint and pain on the ball of the foot. to the proper surgical approach. The Hallux Valgus require medical most important consideration is the evaluation if signs and symptoms angle between the first and second persist or worsen. An individual metatarsal. This is called the IM should seek the advice of a surgically (Intermetatarsal angle). Typically, trained, board-certified podiatrist the higher the IM angle the longer trained in the surgical management

the recovery. Following surgery, an individual may find it possible to walk on the foot almost immediately. Others will need to recover for six to eight weeks and, in many cases, even longer. Recovery is based on the individual, how well the body heals itself and the type of bunion procedure they have. If you or someone you know

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suffers from this common disorder, it is important to have this addressed in a timely fashion. Long-term effects of this deformity may lead to more deformation of the foot and adjacent toes. It may also lead to progressive arthritis in an otherwise good joint. Not addressing the deformity early causes abnormal wear of good cartilage and is irreplaceable. FBN

Anthony Rosales DPM, FACFAS, a foot surgeon with offices in Flagstaff and Page, is board certified in foot surgery by the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery. He is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

Taking a Comprehensive Approach to Living

By Roy J. DuPrez M.Ed.

eople who demonstrate a sense of well-being possess nine essential characteristics: balance, resilience, contentment, goal setting, flexibility, self-confidence, support, gratitude and connection. Back2Basics views addiction as a whole-person crisis, building those characteristics into every aspect of the experience to strengthen the well-being and enhance the overall sense of self of every resident. This whole-person approach of ad-

dressing the mind and body as one is purposefully embedded in the fibers and the fabric of each day, because we are acutely aware that the effects reach well beyond our front door. The daily residential schedule provides a holistic approach to recovery to rehabilitate the addicted brain. This schedule begins with an early rise, getting the body acclimated to waking consistently and efficiently every day, followed by time in the gym, supporting physical stimulation and strength, and nutritional recovery, building a healthy body

// This whole-person approach of addressing the mind and body as one is purposefully embedded in the fibers and the fabric of each day, because we are acutely aware that the effects reach well beyond our front door. //

and fueling the mind. This method provides a consistent pattern for both mind and body: work followed by nourishment. In fact, Back2Basics views food, its preparation and consumption, as an opportunity to teach independence, cooperation and interaction with others on the road to well-being. Back2Basics understands that nourishing the body is a powerful recovery tool and emphasizes this with culinary classes that teach these young men how to choose the right foods, understand their nutritional content and prepare meals on their own. All meals are followed by another essential part of the Back2Basic program: clean-up. This is a basic skill lost in addiction. The program sets high expectations when it comes to residents keeping their bodies and environment clean: learning to maintain an orderly and clean living space. In addition, residents are tasked with scheduling time for a job that benefits the living environment of the group as a whole and given instructions and support to ensure they are able to complete the task properly. This may seem insignificant to some, but I assure you, as a method of recovery, it is not. Through the success-

ful completion of everyday tasks that contribute to the greater good of the group, the residents reap the emotional and psychological rewards of building identity, connectedness and trust, as well as an overall confidence they can contribute successfully in the outside world. Beyond learning simple life skills, Back2Basics creates opportunities for higher education, apprenticeships or internships and service activities as volunteers – activities that create a renewed sense of self and accomplishment. A primary focus of the program is to help the residents develop a growth mindset, because learning, critical thinking and decision-making inspire a renewed sense of self. It is about strengthening the resilience of these young men so they can overcome setbacks and increase their competence in handling whatever may come their way without the need for substances. Back2Basics is able to accomplish this because it is a small, close-knit organization of professional staff members who know and understand one another. They are confident in each other’s skills, knowledge and experience and that level of connectedness among the staff lends itself to

a connectedness among our residents and their ability to provide meaningful guidance to these young men searching for effective treatment. Back2Basics is unique; it is the intangibles that make our residential treatment facilities feel like home. FBN Roy J. DuPrez M.Ed., is the founder of Back2Basics. Back2Basics is an Arizona state licensed and Joint Commission nationally accredited treatment center offering up to six months of daily programming. Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery combines residential therapeutic counseling with experiential outdoor adventures to treat individuals with substance and alcohol addiction and lead them through rehab and recovery into long-term sober living. The program is highlighted by spending time in the beautiful serene wilderness where individuals are physically challenged, their minds are cleared and they learn ways to defeat old addictive thinking patterns through various outdoor adventures. Now accepting insurance.

A Lifelong Relationship New Resident Highgate with OneAZ Brings Gift Boxes

By Ian Cribbs

ohanna Klomann knows Flagstaff. She has built a life in Northern Arizona ever since her family moved there when she was just two years old. Around that time is also when her parents established a personal savings account for her with OneAZ Credit Union. And for someone with a self-proclaimed aversion to change, Johanna has continued to bank with OneAZ ever since. Fast forward to graduation day at Northern Arizona University on a warm May day with a degree in accounting. Johanna had interned with accountants previously, but then met Tyler Higger, who owned a small accounting firm with a staff of only three people. In 2008, Tyler informed Johanna of his plans to retire and asked if she would be interested in taking over control of the business. “Tyler was such a great teacher and amazing mentor. I really felt like I learned so much from him. There’s so much that you learn in school, which is necessary, but real-life experience is something totally different, which I learned from him,” said Klomann. Klomann took on full

ownership of the business in 2009 and her staff continued to grow through the years, which has led to a current staff of 10 associates. They offer bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, tax planning, general consulting and notary services to clients throughout Northern Arizona and beyond. They also stay current on tax law updates to accurately prepare individual, corporate and non-profit tax returns. The convenience of the two OneAZ branches in Flagstaff have made it easy for Johanna to bank locally. Johanna has really appreciated the ability to make deposits remotely through the remote scanner, which has been a game-changer during the past year because of the complexities of the pandemic, and around tax season, when time is of the essence. While her business has recently changed with more Zoom appointments and electronic signatures, one thing remains the same: Klomann is firmly planted in Flagstaff for the foreseeable future and will continue to serve her clients in need. FBN

Ian Cribbs is the OneAZ Credit Union vice president of business banking and services.

epresentatives of the new Highgate Senior Living facility partnered with the Flagstaff Family Food Center to host a week-long food drive with the main drop-off point at Wheeler Park. “Because of the tremendous community support, we were able to surpass our goal of filling 10 donation boxes,” said Highgate Executive Director Leslie Blum, shown here with Healthcare Director Brittany Sandos, B.S.N., R.N., Life Enhancement Coordinator Abbigaile Urioste and Community Relations Coordinator Angela

Kaufmann, M.B.A., C.Ph.T. “Highgate of Flagstaff sends a heartfelt thank you to our partners, future residents and friends for coming together to help feed our Flagstaff neighbors in need. We look forward to sponsoring future events to support this wonderful city.” Highgate Senior Living, located at 1831 North Jasper Drive, is expected to open this summer with premiere, holistic assisted living and memory care. For more information, call 928-707-6361. FBN Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews

SOLDEDADDY continued from page 12

SPENDING continued from page 19

Owner of The Pizza Guy, Mike Williams, who collects skateboards, has a Soledaddy original that Rommel made for him. “It is a really cool board with red inlay with my logo.” Eventually, Rommel says he hopes to have a small workshop and a couple of employees. “That would be so cool, but right now it’s just me, my garage and backyard, and that’s fine because I’m having fun. I love what I to do and it’s very satisfying work.”

Now that the areas of investment are listed out for the next pending federal stimulus spending program, it is important to be aware that it will only take a few months for Congress and the executive branch to fine-tune the plan and sign it into law. As another $2 trillion is injected into the American economy, the questions that need to be examined are not whether you agree or disagree, but rather, where are your future business opportunities? What relationships do you need now to capitalize on this large-scale spending? Do your business plans position you directly or indirectly to benefit from the coming federal spending? When it comes to answering these questions for your business, resources and professionals are available to assist. If you want to know more about this topic and/or how to best position your business, please contact me directly. FBN

MY SUPERPOWER IS:

Focus. I can latch on to an idea or vision and go for it until I finish it. This helps a lot in board making. I’m also good at planning, taking into consideration many things and putting them all together to formulate a course of action.

BEST ADVICE I’VE EVER RECEIVED:

The best business advice I’ve gotten is from my multimedia consultant, graphic artist and somewhat of a silent partner, Elise Burnette, who tells me to “stay the course” and “stick to your guns.”

A SKILL I’D LIKE TO LEARN:

Computer graphic design. It would be great to create digital artwork that I could turn into decals for my boards. Right now, I use all of my time to actually produce the boards.

Aspen Sports Skateboarding Manager Jorge Doniz and Soledaddy Longboards owner Scott Rommel feature the handcrafted boards in the downtown Flagstaff outdoor outfitter shop. Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

MY ROLE MODEL IS:

I admire those people who stick to their beliefs no matter what. That takes a lot of courage. It could be Malala Yousafzai or Greta Thunberg, or it could be characters in films like those played by John Wayne or Clint Eastwood’s character in “Unforgiven.”

MY FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION IS:

The eastern Sierra Mountains, up in the high country, the John Muir Wilderness. It’s so beautiful – crystal clear creeks, streams and lakes full of wild trout. That always draws me back. That’s what I think heaven would look like to me. FBN

For more information about Soledaddy Longboards, visit soledaddylongboards. com or call 928-640-0607.

Chris Pasterz is the economic development manager for Coconino County. Pasterz can be reached at cpasterz@ coconino.az.gov or 928-679-7134.

Flagstaff Under Fire Restrictions

PLEASE BE FIRE

n a coordinated effort with local, county, state and federal fire management agencies, the City of Flagstaff has entered Stage One fire restrictions in an effort to reduce the potential for unintentional human-caused wildfires within 1 If campfires are permitted, the city limits. check for restrictions Restrictions include: N No permits issued for open 2 Have a shovel and water to burning within the city. properly put out your fire N Use of charcoal and pellet 3 Properly dispose of cigarettes barbecue grills are prohibited in all city parks, city open 4 Don’t let chains drag space N and natural areas, and all 5 Report suspicious activity or smoke private campgrounds in city 6 Leave no trace limits. N No smoking at Thorpe WE’RE COUNTING ON YOU! Park, McMillan Mesa Park, McPherson Park, Buffalo Park, Disc Pick up your FREE Visitor Guide N Golf Courses, Flagstaff and an "I'M FIRE AWARE" sticker at the Flagstaff Visitor Center, 1 E. Route 66 Urban Trail System (FUTS), Observatory Mesa or Picture Canyon To enforce the restrictions, city officials say N Natural Area. N Open fire pits and open flame devices (such the Flagstaff Police Department is expanding patrol efforts in and around the community. as chimeneas) are prohibited (even those N with a spark arrestor screen) within city For more information on all fire restriclimits. tion stages, visit the city website at flagstaff. N The sale or use of consumer-grade fireaz.gov/2981/Fire-Restriction-Stages. FBN works within the city is prohibited.

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LABOR continued from page 1

Winter’s cold brought people indoors in a limited capacity. “In December, everything went inside, business slowed dramatically. We made the decision to close Criollo for the winter,” he said. And then, the holidays hit Moir with another debilitating punch. “Brix had a COVID outbreak. We closed the restaurant on Christmas Eve because we had no staff. It freaked me out when everybody got sick.” Pre-pandemic, Paul and Laura Moir employed 45 people. During COVID-19, they were down to four, keeping the Proper Meats artisanal butcher shop and deli open for grocery take-out. Battle weary from the fight to have three Flagstaff restaurants staffed, supplied and running at various levels throughout the pandemic, the Moirs did not re-open Brix again until April 15, 2021. At the same time, they made the difficult decision to close Criollo Latin Kitchen permanently, after a decade in operation. Today, casual fine dining at Brix on San Francisco Street is bustling again five days a week – down from six before the pandemic, because finding workers is a daunting problem. “We’ve been incredibly busy since re-opening Brix. We’re trying to hire, train and serve on the fly. I’ve waited stations and worked behind the bar. We’re doing what we have to do to get it done and slowly but surely bringing people on one or two at a time.” He’s finding people aren’t showing up for job interviews and many don’t want to work full-time. “I don’t know if that’s the result of lying low during COVID or that attitudes and priorities have changed as people are trying to find that balance in their life. We

try to honor people’s desires to work three or four days a week, but that’s difficult when we are short-staffed and need to make sure the shifts are covered.” As a result, some of the Moirs’ plans have been postponed, such as offering brunch and expanding Brix. “You have to also look at how difficult it is for people to find housing in this town. We have a server who worked in our Tucson restaurant who wants to come to Flagstaff permanently and work for us again, but she can’t find a place to live. She’s been trying for months and coming up as often as she can, but she can’t find a room or a house to share. The service industry folks need some amount of affordable housing to get themselves here and get settled. Hiring is a huge challenge and a multi-fronted battle. Until it eases up, we’ll keep our hours in check and delay some of the things we want to do going forward.” Meanwhile, Nancy McCulla is turning business away. The owner of the Café Daily Fare on Route 66 and Simply Delicious catering currently has five employees, plus herself and her husband, Duffy, working more than full-time. Normally at this time of year, she would have a staff of 15, plus 15 to 20 part-time workers for catered events. But, with weddings back on the books and a popular take-out service that flourished during the last year, she says Sunday events are difficult for her to take on. “You have to give staff a day off and usually we work really late on Saturdays.” McCulla has turned to online hiring services for help, such as Indeed and Monster. “I scheduled two interviews last Monday. Neither one of them showed up. It’s very strange. And there are folks trying to work in

// “Even though we are located in the county, we’re matching our pay raises with what happens in Flagstaff. If the city wage goes up, we have to go up, but it hasn’t seemed to help us overcome a lack of interested workers,” Wilson said. As a result, both he and his wife, Elise, are working many more hours to serve their customers and train staff members. //

Flagstaff, but even if they are making good money, they can’t afford to live here. Housing prices and everything else has gone up.” For now, she’s not opening the restaurant for inside seating and is hesitant to book events much into the future with the yo-yo nature of the pandemic. “Four months ago, I talked with a bride and groom who scheduled their wedding for 2020, then 2021, and now are pushing it to 2022. I’m not ready to schedule that far out. We were on life support when we got the PPP money and we just received funding through the Restaurants Act. But we can’t make long-term decisions when things are so in flux right now.” She adds that restaurant owners are exhausted. “I work seven days a week and every single restaurant owner that I know is doing the work of three people.” Nearby, at Ogden’s Cleaners, owner Dan Ogden is feeling the labor shortage at his business as well. “We put an ad on Craigslist and in four weeks, I’ve had two responses. One person came into the store, the other interviewed over the phone. Neither one followed up after I said, ‘Yes, you’ve got the position.’ Still, we’ve had no promising leads. Pre-COVID, we would have had responses the same day and someone hired within a few days.” The impact from the pandemic has affected his dry cleaning business in other ways, too. After 19 years in operation, Ogden’s Cleaners closed its westside store in November. “When lockdowns started, business was down 80%. We were considered an essential business, so we could stay open. We reduced our hours for a while, but it cost more for us to keep the doors open than to close them.” Inside the shop, Ogden manages 13 employees, down from 25 preCOVID, and business is booming. “You’ll notice there’s a disproportionate number of pants here,” he said as he pointed to the clothing conveyer racks. “That’s definitely an interesting consequence of COVID in the dry cleaning business. People are on Zoom meetings and bringing us their shirts and blouses, but it’s clear to us, they’re not wearing slacks – and sweatpants don’t have to be dry cleaned!” At Timberline Firearms and Training, owners Rob and Elise Wilson have had to reduce the shooting

Bartenders Janice Talley and Stephen Strickland keep up with the crowds as Brix re-opened its doors on April 15. Photo courtesy of Ben Shanahan

range’s hours, despite the increased demand for their services throughout the pandemic. They’ve also relaxed their hiring standards regarding firearms knowledge. “Hiring has been a real challenge, especially because we need a specialized skillset. Now, we focus on integrity and personality,” said Rob. “We’ll train people about firearms.” In the past, Timberline has advertised on Indeed to fill jobs. “We’d have several quality applicants in the first day or two,” he said. But that is not the case today. So, they have tried incentives like upping the pay. “Even though we are located in the county, we’re matching our pay raises with what happens in Flagstaff. If the city wage goes up, we have to go up, but it hasn’t seemed to help us overcome a lack of interested workers,” he said. As a result, both he and his wife, Elise, are working many more hours to serve their customers and train staff members. “We need to find something to incentivize people to come back to work,” he said. “The unemployment numbers show a lot of people are still unemployed. We need to find out why they aren’t taking jobs. Working for small, owner-involved businesses with good compensation doesn’t seem to be enough.” In May, Governor Doug Ducey announced his plan to support Arizonans getting back to work and

help employers fill the thousands of jobs available across the state. He says Arizona will no longer be taking the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, beginning July 10, and instead will offer one-time bonuses to returning workers, along with child care support, educational opportunities and rental assistance. “In Arizona, we’re going to use federal money to encourage people to work, instead of paying people not to work,” he said. Through the Governor’s Back To Work program, Arizona will set aside $300 million of federal resources to offer a one-time bonus of $2,000 to eligible individuals who return to the workforce and get a full-time job, while those who return part-time will receive $1,000. The bonus will be awarded when the individual has left the unemployment insurance program and completed at least 10 weeks of work with an employer, and will be offered on a first-come, firstserved basis. “I think things are going to get better,” said McCulla, “I know they are, but as a small business owner, you’ve got to keep your own stress level down and you cannot make finite plans.” FBN

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews RESTAURANT continued from page 3

The team at Goods from the Garden joins others in the hospitality industry in welcoming customers back to a pre-COVID nearnormal. Photo by Stan Bindell

time. Although, she says the Lumberyard had to spend more during the pandemic because of the need for plexiglass partitions, masks and gloves. Small pivots have large impacts. For example, she says it costs more to buy ketchup packets rather than ketchup bottles. In the last year, the Lumberyard saw a lot of new customers as the regulars kept coming. The restaurant offered take-out through much of the pandemic. With the restaurant back to full service, customers were

lining up again outside on a recent Saturday, waiting to get in. “We’re really happy with how patient our customers have been,” she said. “We still wear masks, gloves and practice social distancing.” Goods from the Garden at the Gateway Mall in Prescott offers catering services, take out, dine-in service and a Sunday brunch. Co-owner Debbie Maranville said they lost most of their catering events during the pandemic. “We’re not normal yet, but we’re regrowing,” she said.

Goods from the Garden has received SBA grants to help the business through the pandemic, which, like other restaurants, required more spending for supplies and additional labor to serve fewer customers because of social distancing rules. “Amazing” is how she describes her customers during the pandemic. “Customers were very supportive. They would get weekly meals from us. Some used social media to get the word out.” FBN

HOPI continued from page 16

CYCLE continued from page 6

each year from January through July to guide the Hopi in spirituality and survival. It was the katsinam, he says, who taught Hopi people to harness the elements for dry farming in ancient times. “Katsinam dance in the plaza and the kiva, and we give them offerings and prayers,” Kewanyama said. “We depend on the earth to nourish our plants, and pray for water to fall on us and feed us, not just for the Hopi people, but for every living thing. A lot of what I paint has to do with that. Most of my paintings include rain clouds, the sun, the power of the universe, lightning, water, animals and people. It all comes together to symbolize the universe and everything that surrounds it.” Each of his creations tells a story. “People have a better connection to the painting when they know the story. I grow spiritually and professionally as an artist by sharing my Hopi lineage with others, so that they know who my people are.” FBN

a shift in the economy and it’s difficult to understand yet if it is permanent.” Comerford is a former international journalist who has worked in Chicago, New York, Budapest and Moscow. He also is the author of “American Oz,” which chronicles his adventures living a year with carnival workers. The idea for The Story Cycle came during a dinner in Chicago with two-time Pulitzer winner Paul Salopek, who is working on a project to trace the migration of humankind from the first known existence of humans in the Rift Valley of Ethiopia. The two men talked about “slow journalism,” a news subculture that places value on taking time to report the news with depth and detail. Comerford will take time now to analyze what he captured. “Most people lamented what COVID has done to small businesses, restaurants and the service industry. Several people saw the good in the year. People were taking up hobbies such as painting and gardening. Most parents were parenting more. Many people liked working from home.” This summer, Comerford plans to produce a documentary and book from the journey. FBN

Flagstaff Business News // JUNE 2021 flagstaffbusinessnews.com

LAND SALE continued from page 1

ern Arizona,” said Gail Jackson, CEO of Flagstaff-based ECoNA (Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona). “The property is unique because of its size and scope in a very high barrier-to-entry market,” Moser said, primarily because the federal government owns “at least 90% of the land adjacent to I-40 in Coconino County.” In fact, beginning in the 1800s, a large amount of land in Arizona has been owned by the federal government, with statistics showing that ownership hovering around 42%, primarily held for conservation and development of natural resources, grazing and recreation. “A project of five to 10 acres would typically be considered large in Williams, to give you an idea of how big a 500-acre project would be for the area,” Moser said. “The project will consist of entertainment, hospitality and housing options across all price ranges.” About 90 acres of the total parcel will be designated as Low Density Residential (LDR) and used for private custom lots that will be elevated about 100 feet over the lake and available for purchase by the general public. A project of this magnitude, with such substantial acreage, has never been master planned for mixed-use development in Williams, Moser noted. “Excited does not do justice for our feelings on this project,” he said. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to

Left: This aerial image shows the location of the proposed multi-use development and theme park. Right: Brent Moser (left) and Mike Sutton, principal consultants with Lee & Associates Commercial Real Estate Services, have been involved in a two-year marketing plan for the 500-acre land parcel. Courtesy photo

be involved with a project that is not only crucial for Williams and Coconino County but the entire state of Arizona. To keep the vast amounts of tourism dollars in our state and in the area is critical, in my opinion.” The Western-themed story park is a “game changer for Arizona,” Moser said, and will help keep more Arizona dollars in the state, instead of losing them to other states for their themed attractions. Details about the buyers and developers of the large parcel are not

available at present, Moser said, and he is their spokesman for now. “The team consists of a consortium, including businessmen from Wichita, Kansas and an Arizona-based investor/ developer who has been active in Coconino County for close to 30 years. The LLC purchasing the property is named Kansas Development.” The long-term goal of this project would be to help solidify and grow the tourism economy of Williams and the greater Flagstaff area. “It has the potential to be a catalyst

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for economic prosperity in Williams by galvanizing area hoteliers, merchants and restaurants,” Moser said. “We believe the entertainment component will help to grow the average Williams tourist stay from approximately 1.5 days to three days, which will be a boon for Coconino County.” The need for housing is really the driving force behind the project, Moser said, and the process has begun to get all the approvals and entitlements in place, with the goal of breaking ground in early 2022.

Moser is an Arizona native who lives in Phoenix. “As a teenager, I was actually on one of the initial voyages of the Grand Canyon Railroad,” he said. “Mike and I work all over the state of Arizona, including current activity in the Flagstaff area.” Additional details about the project are expected to be released in the coming months. FBN

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Website Content Director Darren Choate admin@flagstaffbusinessnews.com Photography V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography, Aspen ProMedia, Betsey Bruner, Sue Marceau Contributing Writers Betsey Bruner, Sue Marceau, Patty McCormac, Ray Newton, Kevin Schindler, Bonnie Stevens, Veronica Tierney, Stacey Wittig Flagstaff Business News is a publication of Flagstaff Business News, LLC and is distributed free each month to residents of Flagstaff, Sedona, Williams and Winslow. Reproduction of any portion of the publication is strictly prohibited without expressed permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements submitted to the newspaper and is not responsible for the claims of its advertisers.

JUNE 2021 // Flagstaff Business News

@flagstaffbusinessnews DR. NANCY continued from page 8

RAISED TO REACH

Dr. Nancy didn’t have a Somi doll growing up in Pennsylvania, but she did have parents who encouraged her and her four brothers to reach for the stars. She also credits her mother, “aunties” and other strong women role models for showing her that anything is possible. Thus, Dr. Nancy has four degrees and an Ivy League education. The first two years of her undergraduate program were in communications and public relations. However, stage fright sent her in another direction to study science and medicine. Now, after 25 years of emergency medicine and trauma care, two offices in Scottsdale and a practice that spans 15 states through telemedicine, she has shed any semblance of on-camera jitters. Dr. Nancy is as comfortable in her designer dresses on set as she is in her scrubs in the emergency room. “The more you step outside of your comfort zone, you discover gifts that you never knew you were blessed with,” she said. Pratt agrees. “Media comes so naturally to her. She’s smooth on camera, she has that great television look and the big smile, and a genuine interest in others.” Gaines-Dillard left the East Coast for Arizona in 2017. “It was a divine thing. I felt I had saturated the area and that there was something else I needed to do. I didn’t know exactly what it was – it was like looking through a lens that wasn’t clear. I packed up and left.”

TAPPED FOR GREATNESS

She transferred from one Level 1 trauma center back East to one in the Valley, Dignity Health. “I got a tap on my shoulder,” she explained to Pratt. “The voice said, ‘Listen, my dear child, I did not move you 3,000 miles away to be comfortable and do the same thing. You need to do more.’” Feeling an intense need to push herself, she opened Dr. Nancy’s Integrative Medicine, where she offers customized holistic care to treat the mind, body and spirit. She incorporates alternative plant-based products for health, wellness, focus and fitness, which she has developed and

// “I thank my Lord and Savior for being able to see another day and I’m super excited to be used as a positive force. I thank God for my profession, my love for others and that I get an opportunity to talk to people on their most intimate, vulnerable level. What a privilege it is to be present and listen. I love advocating for others and I take that very seriously.” //

sold under the brand NG CARES. “There are multiple ways to heal someone outside of writing a prescription for a man-made substance,” she explained. “We all should have choices in our medical care to be our best and live our best health now. We’re going to sit down and we are going to devise a treatment protocol plan. I want to know how your family is, what work is like, how’s your stress, what do you need help with to overcome what you’ve been battling for a while. The patient is the active ingredient. Without that active participation, the recipe does not develop.” Recently, she worked with a schoolteacher, who was struggling with obesity. “She loved fried chicken. She didn’t really come to me for health, but for weight loss and body contouring,” said Gaines-Dillard. “She had eight sessions with the Pro-Fit Laser and was getting very good results. In four weeks, she lost six inches. We gifted her more sessions until she reached her goal of losing 14 inches. In about 12 weeks, she lost 60 pounds. When she went back to school, they didn’t recognize her. She was able to be coached and make healthy life modifications. She gave up Coca-Cola and fried chicken. Sometimes, it’s the small things that can make a big difference.”

HABITS OF EXCELLENCE

A typical day for Dr. Nancy starts before her feet touch the ground. “I thank my Lord and Savior for being able to see another day and I’m super excited to be used as a positive force. I thank God for my profession, my love for others and that I get an opportunity to talk to people on their most intimate, vulnerable level. What a privilege it is to be present and listen. I love advocating for others and I take that very seriously.” She’s also an athlete, formerly a high school gymnast, track and basketball star. “I run to get mental clarity.” And, she serves as her own motivational coach and leaves notes for herself like, “You are beautiful. You are enough. Your journey is yours and nobody else’s. Dream until your dreams come true.” “We have to be our own cheerleaders,” she said. “If you cannot empower yourself and lift yourself up and be confident and secure in who you are, there aren’t a whole lot of people who will do that for you. You have to align yourself with like-minded individuals in all aspects of your life and you’ll never feel lonely and you’ll know people are pouring into you as much as you are pouring into them.”

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GIVING BACK

Dr. Nancy founded Family Matters Healthcare Foundation to provide holistic health care to families in need within the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. Her practice was the first to provide COVID-19 antibody tests to veterans. Last month, she began recording the Dr. Nancy Knows television talk show, following a successful radio program airing since October. “I get so much joy about the things people are doing and how they are impacting others. To be able to use my voice to create awareness and share healing and inspirational information is my way of helping others.” A new edition of Dr. Nancy Knows drops every Saturday at 9 a.m., and can be found at https://drnancyknows.com/ or https://drnancyknows.com/follow/ and also at https://starworldwidenetworks.com. For more information about Dr. Nancy’s Integrative Medicine and NG CARES, visit https:// drnancysintegrativemedicine.com. FBN

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Assessing Broadband Needs Story Cycle Captures COVID-19 Views