Survival Expert Creates Variety Show p. 3
Cocodona Calls to the Ultra Elite p. 4
PR Strategist Offers Tips to Get Noticed p. 6
Tracing Route 66 to Flagstaff’s Flamingo p. 8
Calli Salcido Takes Business to Great Heights p. 10
Verde Valley Growers Adding Life to the Northland p. 12
The concept of detecting a wildfire from space and extinguishing it with a squad of firefighting drones is gaining support. Snuffed, a 22-member team including engineers, astronomers and firefighters, successfully pitched its plan to representatives of the City of Flagstaff’s Economic Development
and Sustainability department on Saturday, May 4. The idea calls for launching 90 satellites to watch the West for ignitions.
Flagstaff Fire Captain Mike Felts, a member of Snuffed, shared his first-hand experience with Flagstaff’s Pipeline Fire that burned on the San Francisco Peaks in 2022 to highlight the need to catch wildfires early. The team won first place and $15,000 toward the development of its concepts
in the city’s competition, Innovate Waste: The Carbon Neutrality and Water Conservation Challenge. This follows success in the global XPRIZE Wildfire competition earlier this year that has advanced Snuffed to the semifinals.
“I am both excited and inspired by the overwhelming interest and support our community has shown for our initiative to autonomously detect and suppress wildfires,” said Cody
June 2024 | Issue 6
Hartman, a local aerospace engineer who assembled the team. “The old saying goes, ‘It takes a village to raise a child.’ In our journey, it will certainly take the entire community to help our team cross the finish line in the four-year global XPRIZE Wildfire competition.”
Second place in the Innovate Waste Challenge went to Ariel Strong for her FireFlight concept. Al Shenkin with SmartFan took third place.
Continued on page 39
Once again, cows and astronauts shared the high desert landscape of Babbitt Ranches as NASA, assisted by geologists from USGS, tested equipment, conducted moonwalking drills and practiced geology in preparation for Artemis 3, a crewed mission to the dark lunar south pole region, anticipated for 2026.
The cattle seemed untroubled by the slow-moving visitors in spacesuits, a recurring event throughout the last half century. “I smile when I think about my grandad, John Babbitt, a quiet, understated, hardworking man who opened up the cattle gates for NASA in the 1960s for the Apollo missions,” said Babbitt Ranches President Billy Cordasco, during a media briefing at the USGS Astrogeology Science Center in Flagstaff last month. “He had just one request: ‘Don’t let the cattle out – be sure to close the gates behind you.’ Like my granddad, on behalf of the Babbitt Ranches Community, I only have one request or hope, really, and that is: that we, as humans, carry the land-use ethic that we – along with the USGS,
Coconino County, NASA and JETT – promote on Babbitt Ranches, to other worlds.”
The event was a reunion of sorts for Babbitt Ranches, USGS and NASA’s Joint EVA and Human Surface Mobility Test Team (JETT), as they share a land stewardship philosophy. The group last connected in Northern Arizona in October 2022.
“We acknowledge a personal and professional commitment to helping maintain the integrity of the land on which we are testing as we take this next step off our world and onto another,” said NASA Project Manager Barbara Janoiko, in a statement created in honor of NASA, JETT, USGS and Babbitt Ranches. “Flagstaff is so supportive as a community. We love testing out in the terrain, working with the Babbitts, being out on their land and the property, and preparing for Artemis.”
Astronauts Kate Rubins, Ph.D., and Andre Douglas, Ph.D., donned the latest 95-pound ExCon spacesuit prototype for some of their field exercises, which included hi-fi cameras that beam a video signal back to Mission Control and a
Continued on page 35
program designed for fun and staying alive
By Bonnie Stevens, FBNWith summer heating up in Arizona, survival instructor Cody Lundin is well aware of how quickly a day hike can turn into an emergency situation. Having taught survival skills to thousands of people – ages 7 to 80 – for more than 30 years from his Prescottbased Aboriginal Living Skills School, Lundin is “deadly serious” about survival. Along with his many courses, he now offers a playful, yet informative, variety show. Like a good daypack, “The Survival Show with Cody Lundin” is neatly packed, with life-saving tools and tips for all ages.
“I’ve wanted to create a survival show that gives viewers accurate information for years,” said Lundin, “while still holding a viewer’s attention. As teachers, that’s a challenge that we all face.”
Part caveman, part businessman, Lundin hosts the program authentically as himself – in braids and a bandana – and has one goal: “To teach you how to stay alive. Self-reliance training will never go out of style,” he says.
Set in the 1970s inside a Streamline travel trailer with green shag carpet, The Survival Show has groovy visuals, eccentric co-hosts and occasional Elvis appearances. Lundin balances the silliness with segments like Bushwhacking with Cody for survival lessons, interviews with scientists and outdoor experts, practical advice about dealing with inconveniences such as poison ivy and even what to do with a dead body.
AN AWESOME PLACE TO EXPLORE, AN EASY PLACE TO GET INTO TROUBLE Lundin calls Arizona an awesome place to recreate, where outdoor enthusiasts can go from what looks like Canada to what looks like Mexico, but much of it is arid landscape. He says one must drink water and know where it is “because you’re dead without it.”
He adds that there are a lot of myths about drinking your urine or putting a spicket into a barrel cactus to get water. “Of course, that’s not
true and it could cost you your life.”
The classic way to die in the Arizona desert is hyperthermia, he says. “It’s a rise in core body temperature from 98.6 to a dangerous temperature, and dehydration is the ugly brother that goes with hyperthermia.”
What we can do in a desert survival situation with urine or water that’s not drinkable, he says, is wet elements of clothing, like a bandana, to cool down our head and neck. “The head area especially because you have a lot of blood vessels up here. The neck, you have the carotid artery and the jugular veins, highly susceptible to heat loss and gain. So, if you had to pee, pee on a bandana and wrap it around your neck and you’ll get a vital cooling effect from that. I know it sounds nasty, but we’re dealing with people’s safety.”
With years of on-air experience, Lundin is an outdoor survival celebrity. He has been called “The World’s Foremost Primitive Expert” and has appeared on a great number of national television programs and in publications. The extensive list includes The Today Show, Good Morning America, NBC Dateline, CNN, the BBC, The Donny and Marie Show and The New York Times. In addition, he co-hosted and co-produced the hit TV show, “Dual Survival,” for four seasons.
Lundin also is the author of two best-selling books, “98.6 Degrees: The Art of Keeping Your Ass Alive” and “When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes.” Through the COVID-19 pandemic, his book sales spiked.
In them, Lundin gives straightforward scientific information about how the brain works when the body perceives a threat and what happens physiologically: blood vessels constrict, breathing becomes shallow, judgment is impaired. He also discusses how hypothermia and hyperthermia impact motor skills. And, he teaches how to
Punishing race pushes athletes from the desert to the Peaks
By Peter Corbett, FBNAsliver of moon hid on the predawn horizon as hundreds of runners lined up in Black Canyon City for the start of the Cocodona 250 footrace to Flagstaff. It was windy and 40 degrees at 5 a.m. on Monday, May 6.
Watches set, the pack burst out of the starting chute down a dusty trail, headlamps bobbing as they took the first turn. The well-trained runners then climbed the first of many hills on the way to Crown King, Prescott, Jerome, Clarkdale, Cottonwood, Sedona, Munds Park, Walnut Canyon, Mount Elden and finally to the finish line at Flagstaff’s Heritage Square.
We watched as the ultramarathon runners spread out along the trail. “We” being my wife, Taffy, and daughter, Kelly. We were support crew and pacers for our son, Austin, who was running 150 miles longer than he’d ever run before in an ultramara-
thon. He started Cocodona on his 30th birthday and hoped to complete the 250-mile trek in about 90 hours, or just under four days.
Austin took to trail running five years ago as an extension of hiking. He said he could cover more ground and see more of Arizona’s beautiful scenery.
“You can stop and take it all in and say, ‘Wow! This is incredible. Look where I am!’”
That happened on the first day of Cocodona at sunset in the Prescott National Forest after 14 hours on the trail over the Bradshaw Mountains.
Still, for much of Cocodona’s 250mile trek, it’s heads down in order for runners to pick a safe path on rocky trails.
Nevertheless, the elite runners covered the distance in roughly two-and-ahalf to three days. Cooler than normal weather was a plus this year, especially on Monday’s climb from the desert to Crown King.
Harry Subertas of Haines, Arkansas won Cocodona 250 with a new course record of 59 hours, 50 minutes, 55 seconds, shaving 10 minutes off the previous record set by Michael McKnight.
Jeff Browning of Flagstaff was runner-up, with a time of 60:19:57. Arlen Glick of Massillon, Ohio, came in third, about 90 seconds behind Browning.
Rachel Entrekin of Los Angeles was the first woman to cross the finish
line, in 73:31:25. Manuela Vilaseca, a Brazilian living in Spain, was second, at 78:04:35, followed by Kylie Drugan-Eppich of Lafayette, Colorado, at 80:04:55.
Those exceptional athletes are among the highlights of Cocodona,
covering the distance in what seem like super-human times. But there is so much else going on in this event. Hundreds of runners challenged themselves to reach the finish line before the Continued on page 38
• USPS The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Coconino County partners will launch the inaugural ARIZONA@WORK Coconino County Jobs and Community Resource Event in Flagstaff, which is intended to provide employment and wraparound services to residents in need.
• Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ
• Little America
• Mountain Line NAIPTA
• The Peaks of Flagstaff
• Grand Canyon Trust
• North Mountain Home Care
• Delaware North
• Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH)
• Restoration Forest Products
• UACJ Whitehall Industries
• Navajo Nation Emergency Medical Services
• Coconino County HR
• The Peaks Senior Living and Aspire Transitional Care
• Joy Cone Company
• Twilight Janitorial
• The Guidance Center
Two-time best-selling author
Christina Daves teaches entrepreneurs and business owners how to get their products and services noticed. Through her business, PR for Anyone, and together with her clients, she has received more than a billion views and more than $100 million in sales from free publicity –often appearing with celebrity hosts such as Hoda Kotb and Steve Harvey.
However, public relations was not something she went to school for and she didn’t have experience in marketing, promotions or broadcasting, either. But she was an entrepreneur and this new journey in public relations began when she was getting ready to step into New York City with a broken foot and an ugly medical boot.
“My husband and I were on the train [from Washington D.C.], headed to New York City, the Fashion Capital of the World, and I was on the internet looking for ‘medical boot fashions’ and ‘medical boot accesso-
ries.’ There was nothing there. And he literally saw the lightbulb turn on over my head and thought, ‘Here we go again on another entrepreneurial journey.’”
From here, she created Cast Medic Designs and invented fashionable accessories for casts and medical boots. Her first television interview to promote her products was on The Steve Harvey Show in Chicago. This is where she learned a valuable lesson about branding.
“Everyone thought, ‘Cast Medic Designs, CMD. Oh, how cute!’ – be-
cause that’s also my initials, ‘Christina Moldenhauer Daves.’ I thought so, too, until I was on The Steve Harvey Show. It was my first television appearance ever and he fumbled through the name of my company. I eventually rebranded to Heal in Style, which is easier to say.”
Daves and her husband mortgaged the house to start the business. She
went to her local library, became a quick study in public relations and developed a strategy to gain visibility. Sales took off. And her accessories have been worn by celebrities, including Diana Ross when she sang for then President Barack Obama.
“It was a great way to make people feel better when they were recovering from a broken foot or a surgery. And
there are so many people who are in medical boots for life, like people with diabetes. Now they could finally be fashionable,” she said.
Daves appeared on television programs all over the country and attended numerous conferences and conventions to promote her products. But she found what people really
on page 37 Flagstaff Storage is Northern Arizona’s premiere storage brand:
• Locally owned family managed for more than 25 years
• 2200 units representing 350,000 sq ft on 19 acres
• 4 Additional acres of Storage on Dry Lake road.
• 200 outdoor RV and boat spaces coming soon
• 4.9 Star Google Reviews
We are under construction at our Flagstaff Ranch location with over 100,000 ft. and five new buildings. We will offer 500 new units of ground level climate controlled, drive up units and Indoor boat and RV units.
The Sunshine Award is a quarterly recognition for our non-nursing staff on Team NAH. It recognizes the impacts of our colleagues who work behind the scenes to help ensure high quality care for our patients. Recipients exemplify NAH's mission and values.
Nominations can come from patients, families and colleagues.
Nearly 42 million Americans provide unpaid care to an adult age 50 or older.
Bill Isbell had a front-row seat to the founding of what became the Ramada Inn chain 70 years ago with development of a hotel at the crossroads of Route 66 and Highway 89 in Flagstaff.
Isbell, now 88 and living in Phoenix, was a teenager when he made a small investment with his father, Marion, and other investors to develop roadside motels. That included the Bagdad Inn in Las Vegas, along with Flamingo, Sahara and Hiway House motels. But it was the Ramada name and concept that became a business bonanza for the investment group.
In 1954, the investors built the 60-room Flamingo Motor Hotel just west of today’s Y-intersection at Milton Road and Route 66. It was remodeled and rebranded as a Ramada Inn around 1959, making it one of the first Ramadas, Isbell said.
The Ramada at that location is now a Super 8 Motel. Wyndham Hotels and Resorts is now the parent company of Ramada. Wyndham has 850 hotels under the Ramada brand.
Bill Isbell’s father, Marion, was a rags-toriches entrepreneur who became a leader in America’s hospitality industry. He transformed himself from a cotton-picking orphan in Tennessee to a top Chicago restaurateur and ultimately a founder and chief executive of Phoenix-based Ramada Inns Inc., one of America’s largest motel chains, by the early 1970s.
Ramada had 500 motels in 45 states. Only Holiday Inn was larger.
“We were bigger than Marriott. Bigger than Hilton,” Bill Isbell said.
He made his first investment in what became Ramada Inn in the summer of 1954 before his freshman year at the University of Notre Dame.
Some of the other investors included:
Del Webb, then owner of the New York Yankees, a major government construction contractor during World War II who developed Sun City.
Max Sherman, a Texas produce supplier known as the “Tomato King.”
Michael Robinson, an experienced hotelier who served as managing partner.
During college, Bill Isbell worked summers at the investment group’s hotels. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1958 with a degree in economics, then served four years in the U.S. Navy as a naval air intelligence officer.
By then, Ramada was becoming a major player in the U.S. hotel industry after establishing a franchise system in 1959.
Ramada’s timing was fortunate as the company expanded to meet the growing demand of middle-class families in station wagons vacationing at Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, Disneyland and other attractions.
Bill Isbell started working full time at Ramada in 1962. Months later, Ramada Inns Inc. became a public company with 19 Ramadas and seven other hotels.
As the boss’s son, he spent six years learning the business with a number of assignments.
“I took over in February 1969 as executive vice president,” Isbell said in a recent interview.
Marion Isbell stayed on a few more years as CEO but was not active in running the business, said Bill, who took the reins officially as chief executive by 1974. Marion stayed on as chairman until 1978. He died in Scottsdale a decade later at age 83.
“He started Ramada Inns, but I initiated key elements that allowed Ramada to reach its zenith,” Bill Isbell said.
That included development of a Ramada reservation system, forming an in-house contracting company to build motels and scouting Continued
Wildfire preparation protects you, the community and first responders.
Providing you safe, reliable energy is our top priority. That’s why we work year-round to prepare for wildfires. During elevated fire conditions, power outages may be extended until crews can perform visual inspections of lines and remove any potential hazards that could pose a fire risk. In the event of a wildfire or extreme wildfire risk, power lines may be temporarily taken out of service to protect your community and firefighters. Working together, we can be prepared. Here are some things you can do to be ready for wildfire season.
• Keep grass, weeds, trees and shrubs trimmed. Dispose of trimmings and trash properly.
• Get emergency alerts through local resources and visit ein.az.gov to create an emergency preparedness plan. Visit your county’s website to get important information for your area.
• We care about your safety and want to keep you informed with alerts if there’s an outage in your area. You can help us by making sure your contact information is up to date. Learn more about managing your alert preferences at aps.com/alerts
• Have flashlights, batteries, a portable cell phone charger and water handy.
Please visit aps.com/wildfiresafety for more information.
Working in a predominantly man’s world didn’t keep third-generation roofer
Calli Salcido from climbing to the top.
“I’ve been around roofing since I was a young girl,” said Salcido, owner of Flagstaff Roofing. “When my dad took over the business from my grandfather, he taught my three siblings and me the art of roofing, but I never thought it would be my career. My focus after high school was softball. I was an athlete and earned a full scholarship to Oklahoma State.”
Salcido’s hometown of Lake Havasu City is where her grandfather, Jerry Behmer, established Havasu Roofing in 1967. Down the line, Salcido’s father, Gary Behmer, took over the business.
“My dad operated the business for 20 years, then retired and moved
to Flagstaff. He then came out of retirement and together we opened Havasu Roofing in Flagstaff. We kept the name, but do business as Flagstaff Roofing,” she said.
Three years ago, Salcido became the sole owner.
“Calli knows what she’s talking about and it’s very empowering,” said Flagstaff Roofing supplier Julie Vazquez. “Her bubbly personality is amazing. She is easy to relate to and fun to be around. I really like the way she puts the effort out to connect with our customers. She makes them feel comfortable and she takes the time to get to know them. Calli is also very physically fit and that motivates me to work out, too.”
Running the business out of her office, Salcido is insistent that every call is attended to. “I don’t physically roof, but I know the ins and outs of roofing. If a customer calls with a question, the knowledge I’ve gained
from my father has helped me to explain in detail. Since my mom ran the office all those years, she taught me everything about office work from when I was a young girl.”
Currently, Flagstaff Roofing has 15 employees. “All the guys that work for us give me full credit and treat me with respect,” she said.
“Calli is one of those people who is integral to the Flagstaff way of life and why we all enjoy living here,” said Marlene Larson, owner of Peaks HOA Management Company. “She is a great communicator and provides excellent customer service in a timely manner. Flagstaff Roofing is a great company and Calli is just the best to work with. They are involved with the community as well, supporting local charities.” FBN
With 45 years of experience, Flagstaff Roofing does commercial and residential roofing, repairs and insurance claims. For more information, call 928-774-1212.
MON. JULY 1
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 1 SPONSORED BY THE DAILY COURIER RODEO GROUNDS
TUES. JULY 2
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 2
SPONSORED BY WRANGLER BUCKING CANCER RODEO GROUNDS
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 4 FIRST RESPONDERS TRIBUTE RODEO GROUNDS
8:00 PM12:00 AM RODEO DANCE (FAMILY NIGHT ) DEPOT MARKETPLACE
FRI. JULY 5
8:30 AM KIWANIS KIDDIE PARADE SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF PRESCOTT DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT
SAT. JULY 6
9:00 AM PRE SCOT T FRONTIER DAYS RODEO PARADE SPONSORED BY BARRETT PROPANE DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT
12:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
1:30 PM PERFORMANCE 6
MILITARY TRIBUTE RODEO GROUNDS
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 7
SPONSORED BY COORS RODEO GROUNDS
8:00 PM1:00 AM RODEO DANCE (2 1 AND OLDER) DEPOT MARKETPLACE
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 3
SPONSORED BY YORK DODGE CHRYSLER JEEP RAM RODEO GROUNDS WED. JULY 3
6:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
7:30 PM PERFORMANCE 5 SPONSORED BY JACK DANIELS RODEO GROUNDS
8:00 PM1:00 AM RODEO DANCE (2 1 AND OLDER) DEPOT MARKETPLACE
SUN. JULY 7
9:00 AM COWBOY CHURCH RODEO GROUNDS
12:00 PM MUT TON BUSTIN’ RODEO GROUNDS
1:30 PM PERFORMANCE 8
9-5 SUN 9-4
RODEO DAYS FINE ARTS & CRAF TS SHOW SPONSORED BY THE PRESCOTT DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP FRI &
ALL WEEKEND IN DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT
SPONSORED BY NACKARD PEPSI RODEO GROUNDS
Spanning 15 acres, Verde River Growers (VRG) in Cottonwood is spreading its roots throughout Northern Arizona. “I’ve been here since 2013, and we have really grown,” said Manager Lindsey Curé.
Synchronous with the expansion of Verde River Growers is Curé’s growth within the company. “I started part time watering plants here. I showed up every day and they kept giving me more to do. Then they let me get creative and I started implementing changes and growing the nursery. I love the challenges and creativity that this job requires.”
With a degree in horticulture from the University of Arizona, Curé says she put in her “sweat equity,” to get where she is today. “I built my resume working at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden for one summer and I did a lot of volunteer work in the Tucson area. I learned the most from volunteering at Tohono Chul Gardens, also with the food bank’s Las Milpitas Community Farm, and with the Watershed Management Group’s urban beautifica-
tion. I also taught residents how to redo their yards.”
Her hard work paid off, and Curé could not be happier where she is.
Growing the majority of their plants, Verde River Growers is a forest of trees, shrubs, perennials, vines, fruit trees, cactus, vegetables, herbs and houseplants. Around this rich bounty of vegetation is the clapping sound of Radio Flyer red wagons rolling over gravel. “It evokes a touch of nostalgia and the simple pleasure of gardening,” she said. “Our beautiful setting makes VRG a destination experience.”
“I like shopping at Verde River Growers because they have the best variety of herbs, they are all clean looking and healthy,” said retired Camp Verde cosmetologist Mary Radtke. “I also like the fact that everything you buy from there grows.”
Curé says she’s always amazed when she drives around town and recognizes trees from VRG years later. “I think, ‘Hey that’s our tree.’ It’s so fun to see your work all around you. People are happy to be here and you can see that in their gardens, too.”
With a seasonal staff of 50, Curé is
excited about their upcoming expansion. “We’re improving the growing areas and our retail area. We started with a counter under a yellow tent and then a metal roof with an open-air entryway. Our new retail store will be
3,600 square feet with a large register area and checkout space, along with house plants, fertilizers and other items for sale.”
“I’m thrilled to see Verde River Growers expanding,” said City of
Cottonwood Tourism and Economic Development Director Trisha Lewis. “This not only signifies their success but also contributes to the vitality of our local economy by creating more
No hern Arizona Healthcare’s 3rd annual Scholarships & Awards Banquet, "A Night of Inspiration," was held on May 9, 2024. We celebrated our colleagues dedicated to advancing their careers and the health of our region.
The scholarships and awards are for both clinical and non-clinical colleagues who are pursuing education, professional development or paying student loans already incurred.
Dese Financial Credit Union Health Care Scholarship
Jennifer Goldenstein, Guardian Medical Transpo , Communication Specialist Tech
Shonnte Morgan, VVMC, RN Telemetry
Morgan Onorato, FMC, RN, CVICU
Catherine Slade, Guardian Medical Transpo , Paramedic
Swire Coca-Cola USA, Flagstaff, AZ Health Care Scholarship
Kristin Mendes, FMC, Health Coach
Dawn Carmel Tebelak Memorial Scholarship
Jenna Fields, VVMC, Patient Care Technician, ICU
Cecie Hack, VVMC, Pharmacy Technician 2
Justin Miller, VVMC, Patient Care Technician, Telemetry
Blanca O ega, VVMC, RN, ICU
Findlay Toyota Health Care Award
Ashlyn Duval, FMC, Medical Office Receptionist, Cardio
Abigail Jensen, FMC, Electroneurodiagnostic Technician
Roger and Mary Hostetler Health Care Scholarship
Tiffany Burka , FMC, RN, Medical ICU
Tyler Sergeant, FMC, Telemetry Technician, Centralized Monitoring
Zach Stamile Memorial Award
Amanda Berman, FMC, Program Counselor, BH Adult Psychiatric
Adal Lopez, Guardian Air, Clinical Manager
Dean Taylor Health Care Award
Kristen Bamberg, FMC, Lead Pharmacist Critical Care
Embracing Health Equity Scholarship
Andrea Newsom, FMC, Physical Therapy Assistant
Kody Smith, FMC, OR Core Technician 2
Mary M. Byrd Integrative Health Nursing Award
Donna Engleson, FMC, RN, Kendrick
R & D Venture Health Care Award
Penny Meeks, VVMC, RN Educator
The Terrie Frankel & Fred Shinn Nursing Award
Nicole e Dragony-Goff, VVMC, RN, Wound Care
Robe and Alice Gagnaire Nursing Award
Lauren McDade, FMC, RN, PreOp PACU
The Kushner Family Health Care Award
Nicole Rupe, EntireCare West, Physical Therapist
Dorothy and Ken Lamm Healthcare Award
Nicole e Currie, CHC, Physical Therapist
The Loven Family Health Care Scholarship
Hayley Walch, FMC, Manager, Informatics
Sally Day “Bunny” Hanson Memorial Award
Catherine Deck, FMC, Physical Therapist
Marr Family Scholarship
Carley Astraus, FMC, Transpo er
Marjorie and Samuel McClanahan Nursing Scholarship
Angeline Burkha , FMC, Patient Care Technician
Meyer Family Nursing Scholarship
Destiny Chamberlain, VVMC, Patient Care Technician, PreOp PACU
Simon Memorial Scholarship
Sarah Pena, FMC, Nutrition Assistant
United Medical Resources (UMR) Award
Joycelyn Chan, FMC, RN, CVICU
Participating in a demanding extracurricular FIRST robotics competition this year, 22 students at Coconino High School in Flagstaff labored to produce a unique product, “Euclid,” a sophisticated, high-tech robot that weighs just under 100 pounds.
Beyond just the robot, all their efforts paid off this spring when the high school’s CocoNuts robotics team won the prestigious FIRST Championship Impact Award during the 2024 FIRST Robotics Competition Championship event, from April 17-20 in Houston, Texas.
The CocoNuts stood out in a field of more than 1,000 teams from 58 counties that competed in front of 50,000 attendees during the challenging, fastpaced robotics competition.
For Kate Garrison, 16, who was the main robot driver and a build team member, being on the robotics team at school and taking their robot into
competition has been a memorable and rewarding experience.
“The most exciting part of being on the team and creating the robot is getting to work with the other members of the team,” Garrison said. “I get to work with people who think the same way I do but may approach a problem differently than I do. All of our ideas combine to create a great robot. As the lead robot driver, I get to work side by side with people I would never get to meet otherwise, from countries all over the world.”
In general, Arizona did well at the competition. Representing less than 1% of competitors, Arizona students from FIRST Lego League (grades 4-8), FIRST Tech Challenge (grades 7-12) and FIRST Robotics Competition (grades 9-12) earned the FIRST Impact Award, Engineering Inspiration Award, Judge’s Choice Award, Engineering Excellence Award, Rising Stars Award, Dean’s List Award and were a part of the Winning Alliance.
Organizers say the FIRST Impact Award is not about the robot but celebrates a team’s positive contributions to their community. It is the highest honor given during the competition championship and recognizes the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and excels at embody-
ing the purpose and goals of FIRST.
Christine Sapio has been teaching science, physics and AP physics at Coconino High School for 19 years. In 2007, she founded the CocoNuts ro-
This was the 17th season that Sapio and Thompson had coached the team.
CocoNuts is open to all Coconino High School students and no application or tryouts are needed.
“We work to find a place on the
Award-winning photographer, filmmaker and author Pete McBride served as the keynote speaker for the Grand Canyon Conservancy’s (GCC) Grand Gathering 2024.
Held at the Shrine of the Ages on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, the event attracted members from around the country. They were treated to an informative and entertaining slide show by McBride, followed by a book-signing of his latest book, “The Colorado River: Chasing Water.”
“It was an inspiring kick-off to the 2024 Grand Gathering with Pete McBride’s talk, pictures and storytelling about the effect of climate change in the Grand Canyon and the importance of the Colorado River to our fragile ecosystem,” said GCC Interim CEO Susie Huhn.
Along with South Rim walks, GCC members were treated to a tour of the historic boat collection, night sky viewing, educational discussions and slideshows, and an informative question and answer talk with Grand Canyon National Park Superintendent Ed Keable.
The list of McBride’s accomplishments seems endless. As a self-taught photographer and filmmaker, he has
traveled to more than 75 countries for the National Geographic Society, Smithsonian, Google and The Nature Conservancy and has spoken at the World Economic Forum. He has hiked the length of the Grand Canyon and documented it in his book, “Grand Canyon Between River and Rim,” and in a feature-length documentary, “Into the Canyon,” for the National Geographic Channel.
“Pete talked about how his book, ‘The Colorado River: Chasing the
Waters,’
which has been 20 years in the making, with photos and observations about the path of the Colorado River from source to final destination,” said GCC Member Kung Chong Quah. “I’m astonished to learn each year about how many ways the organization touches the Grand Canyon. Some examples include tangible and visible things like trail improvements and so much more.”
“It’s just an honor to be here,” said
McBride. It’s a great organization and it’s great that there are people who are engaged and care about our National Parks because they need all the support they can get.”
“I look at what Pete McBride has shown us and I think, we have an earth that is alive. Humans are only here a smidgen, why can’t we not be part of this world and behave peacefully,” said, GCC Member and Golightly Tire Owner Susan Golightly.
“This year’s Grand Gathering was
attended by GCC members of every level, which is what makes this event so amazing,” said Mindy Riesenberg, GCC’s Chief Communications Officer. “It’s open to anyone who supports GCC, no matter if you give $35 a year or $1,000, you will have access to hearing directly from the park superintendent, other park employees and special guests, like Pete McBride.” FBN
Calling all adventurers, community supporters and Subaru enthusiasts: Findlay Subaru Prescott is raffling off a new 2025 Subaru Forester. Tickets are $100 and money raised in this fundraising event will support programs and services through the Jerome S. Cranke Prescott Valley American Legion Post #140. From assisting veterans and military families to supporting community initiatives and disaster relief efforts, Findlay Subaru Prescott representatives say raffle participants will make a tangible impact where it’s needed most. Tickets can be found via the QR code. The deadline to participate in the raffle is 11:59 p.m., PDT, July 31, 2024. FBN
More than two dozen community members gathered at Pulliam Airport on May 24 to dedicate the Coconino Scroll, a decorative steel fence near the airport’s economy parking lot. This whimsical display consists of decorative steel designs embedded with colorful stained-glass elements that celebrate the history, environment and culture of Flagstaff and its surroundings.
The Coconino Scroll is the latest addition to the community’s 40 public art pieces that highlight Flagstaff’s rich cultural and historic heritage. Coordinated by the City of Flagstaff’s Beautification and Public Arts Commission, they consist of murals, sculptures, mosaics, photographs and interactive displays.
The artist team of Pete Goldlust and Melania Germond designed the ornamental piece, which consists of 28 sections of fence that each measure 9½ feet by 7 feet. Complementing the fence are 25 bronze medallions in the ground that further tell stories of the area’s unique heritage.
Jana Weldon, the City of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences Program manager, says, “Public art
stimulates learning and thought about culture, past and present, about our individual connection to it. And most importantly, it activates the imagination.”
The Three Sisters (the indigenous diet of corn, beans and squash), Route 66, Northern Arizona University, the moon and Pluto, local plants and animals, the San Francisco Peaks and more make appearances along the fence
and on the plaques.
In addition to serving as a place to spur the imagination and inspire people to learn about the local area, the Coconino Scroll is also expected to benefit local business. “This connection to a specific place attracts community and visitors alike,” said Weldon.
The Coconino Scroll is easily accessible and free to view at any time. FBN
Daily flights to Phoenix and Dallas/ Fort Worth on American Airlines
So many of us walk around with a mean girl or guy or disembodied voice in our heads that is so quick to judge us harshly or agree with or at least strongly consider any negative words that come our way. And while it’s probably a healthy trait to have a constant monitor looking over our shoulder to see if what we are doing is actually helpful, noble, caring or our best, it can be crippling, too, if we don’t keep that noise in check.
That’s why I’ve started to notice how to live with that inner critic and even thank her for making me try a little harder, do better than I promised or squelch any amped up impulses with a let’s-sleep-on-it attitude before making a difficult decision or having a tough conversation.
Here are five ways to make your life louder than your inner critic:
1. FIND A REASON TO THANK YOUR YOUNGER SELF
more. The answer can be simple: “I am thankful to my younger self because she put gas in my car last week, which saved me time when I really needed it this week; I am thankful to my younger self for making exercise a priority – it set me on a path of physical activity that helps me engage socially and play with my grandchildren; I’m thankful to my younger self because she fed my 401K even through the lean times.”
If you think about what makes heroes loveable, it’s often because they have a compelling reason for why they do what they do. Often, it’s out of love or caring for someone they were close to. I know doctors who have dedicated themselves to a life of health care because they wanted to help or cure their mom or dad or sister or grandma – someone they loved. That powerful motivation can push us to study harder, work longer and help more people. It can turn average folks
There are times at the end of the day when my nasty inner critic wants to say, “So, what exactly did you accomplish today?” If you have ever felt like you were following an endless maze of phone calls or failed repeatedly on a project, you know how exhausting and discouraging it can be to put out so much energy and yet seemingly get nowhere. That’s why I now believe in starting the day with an easy win. An easy win can be: making your bed; sending a thoughtful text to someone who could use a kind word; or making an appointment for your colonoscopy that’s three years overdue. It’s pretty incredible how good you can feel about yourself by finally attacking something that has been nagging at you, like cleaning the garage, office or closet. Sometimes I will make a To-Do List after I did some things, just for the simple satisfaction of checking them off. And if that doesn’t quiet my critic, I’ll
a person, or character (real or not), who they believe sets the gold standard for how to be the person they aspire to be. When faced with a complicated choice or stressful situation, they will channel that mentor or superhero and respond from their higher ground. It’s funny how the outcome doesn’t really matter when we’re up there. The result shifts to what we can control, which of course is only our own positive behavior and the calm reasoning from our best selves. And, while we’re taking the high road, have you ever noticed the joy in volunteers? These people feel really good about themselves for helping others and they should – whether its reading for the blind or bringing their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel to visit sick children. Can’t you just feel your inner critic’s heart melting?
Relationship expert and best-selling
but for what they are going to give you tomorrow. You are building a life today that will exist tomorrow that will be more full, more rich, full of anecdotes, experiences, pride in your health if you are getting healthier, or pride in the new stories you can tell because you went to that social function. Not everything will be pleasurable in the moment that you do it and it won’t always feel like it’s working.” In fact, Hussey keeps this on his white board: “Every little bit of effort counts,” reminding himself to stay encouraged when he does even a little bit of work toward his goals, like going to the gym. “You may not feel it right now, but those things are moving you forward and that’s why it’s so important to do them, whether it feels good or not.”
If Rihanna can “get along with the voices inside of [her] head,” we can too, or at least hush them with a life that’s blaring with goodness. FBN
Bonnie Stevens is the editor of FBN. She is a
Hard work, determination and innovation have paid off for four Grand Canyon School students as they competed in the Odyssey of the Mind World competition in Iowa.
With tornado warnings and a morning of taking shelter, Hunter Campbell, Everette Hartman, Eli Talley and Noah Talley placed 31st, beating the other team from Arizona that previously beat them at the state level.
“It’s been really great to help coach and watch the kids come out of their shells and overcome fears of stage fright, “said National Park Service Recreation Branch Chief and Odyssey of the Mind Coach Raukisha Talley. “Part of this means
“We have had teams almost every year place in the top two to earn an invitation to the world championship,” said Grand Canyon School District Superintendent Matt Yost. “Our small school competes incredibly well against so many bigger schools.”
that they perform their skit the way that they solve the problem in front of a live audience of other students and parents. It’s been great to watch them use innovative thought and out-ofbox thinking and come out of their shells and do a great job.”
Odyssey of the Mind takes months to complete a predefined problem that involves writing, design, construction and theatrical performance.
“We are very proud to have a team representing such an interesting part of the country in our competition,” said New Jersey Odyssey of the Mind Director of Program Development Jennifer Veale. “With teams from all around the world attending, a national park such as the Grand Canyon adds to the global landscape of our event.”
Calling themselves, “The Dudes,” this year’s Grand Canyon School project played out as a world-famous rock band on tour. “We perform and then we have a detour and go to heaven and meet Michael Jackson and perform for him. Then we get sent back,” said Odyssey of the Mind participant Everett Hartman.
“We have had teams almost every year place in the top two to earn an invitation to the world championship,” said Grand Canyon School District Superintendent Matt Yost. “Our small school competes incredibly well against so many bigger schools.”
Getting to perform is the most exciting aspect of Odyssey of the Mind, said Noah Talley, who has been a participant for two years. “It has been so much fun.” FBN
To learn more about Odyssey of the Mind, visit www. odysseyofthemind.com.
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Family philanthropy is the collective effort of family members uniting around shared values to engage in charitable giving and volunteer work. It’s more than just giving back, it’s about creating a lasting legacy of compassion and service that echoes the values shared by loved ones.
The importance of family philanthropy lies in its ability to instill a culture of
giving and service, promoting empathy, social responsibility and a commitment to making a positive impact in the community. It can foster a sense of unity, purpose and shared priorities within a family, while supporting causes that are meaningful to them.
Some examples of successful family philanthropy initiatives include funding scholarships for students who might not otherwise continue their education, supporting local food banks or shelters, sponsoring community development projects such as affordable housing or infrastructure improve-
While the core values of family philanthropy remain constant, the methods and approaches to educating future generations about giving have evolved to reflect changing societal norms, values and priorities. In earlier generations, philanthropic efforts were often driven by traditional values and personal connections to causes. The next generation of donors cares deeply about outcomes, accountability and equity.
ments and investing in social entrepreneurship or sustainable development initiatives.
Families can start their philanthropic journey by discussing their values, interests and goals together, and identifying causes or organizations they are passionate about supporting. Community foundations can play a crucial role in facilitating this process by providing expertise on local needs and charitable organizations, handling administrative tasks, creating networking and learning opportunities, pooling resources with other donors and assisting with legacy planning. By leveraging the knowledge, resources and networks of community foundations, families engaged in philanthropy can enhance the effectiveness and impact of their charitable efforts, ultimately contributing to positive change for their communities.
Donor advised funds (DAFs) are one way that community foundations support family philanthropies. Families can establish DAFs with a community foundation to invest their charitable assets, facilitate grantmaking and leverage the foundation’s insights into local needs. DAFs simplify giving, offer tax advantages and can serve as a vehicle for involving multiple generations, as
families can pass down the fund’s stewardship to children and grandchildren, ensuring a lasting legacy of giving.
While the core values of family philanthropy remain constant, the methods and approaches to educating future generations about giving have evolved to reflect changing societal norms, values and priorities. In earlier generations, philanthropic efforts were often driven by traditional values and personal connections to causes. The next generation of donors cares deeply about outcomes, accountability and equity. This has already begun to create a new energy around addressing core issues, strengthening communities and reaffirming the importance of philanthropy.
Some best practices for involving multiple generations in decision-making and governance include creating opportunities for open and inclusive dialogue; respecting diverse perspectives and experiences; providing education and training on philanthropy; and establishing clear roles, responsibilities and decision-making processes. It’s also
important to understand that giving can include more than just monetary donations. Families may want to give back in other ways, by volunteering their time or skills, organizing campaigns, fundraising, donating goods and advocating for causes.
Overall, family philanthropy provides opportunities for experiential learning, strengthens family bonds and empowers younger generations to become active contributors to positive social change. By investing in the education and development of younger generations as philanthropists, families can ensure that their legacy of giving continues to make a lasting impact on their community for generations to come. FBN
For more information on charitable giving, including family philanthropy, visit azfoundation.org/legacygiving or call one of the Arizona Community Foundation’s offices serving northern Arizona: ACF of Yavapai County at 928-583-7815, ACF of Sedona at 928-399-7218 or ACF of Flagstaff at 928-526-1956.
Lisa Sahady is the regional director for the Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County. She can be reached at 928-5837815.
The most common concern of those with hearing loss is not being able to understand others. “I can hear them,” a patient will say, “I just don’t know what they said.” Considering the fact that verbal communication is how most people interact with others, being able to do so is essential. However, people can often conflate hearing and understanding. While undoubtedly interconnected, they are two distinct functions. Understanding the difference can help to improve outcomes and satisfaction with hearing instruments.
Audibility refers to the ability to detect that a sound is present. The
brain simply does or does not acknowledge that an auditory stimulus is present. A person with normal hearing would be able to hear a certain sound at a volume that would be imperceptible to one with hearing loss. Clarity refers to the ability to assign meaning to a sound. Even if a sound is audible to a person, their brain may not be able to understand what that sound is supposed to convey. Take a car radio, for instance. Driving through the city, the songs can easily be heard and understood. In a remote location, though, the transmission could still be heard, but the clarity would be fuzzy and distorted enough as to make it incomprehensible.
Audibility and clarity are determined by two different mechanisms in the human auditory system
//
Clarity refers to the ability to assign meaning to a sound. Even if a sound is audible to a person, their brain may not be able to understand what that sound is supposed to convey. //
When a soundwave reaches the ear, it is funneled down the ear canal to the eardrum. This sets off a chain reaction wherein the eardrum, middle ear bones and fluid inside the cochlea (organ of hearing) vibrate in a specific pattern based on the stimulus. These vibrations are coded as electrical signals that are sent to the brain. With hearing loss, the signal that reaches the nerve is weakened. A weaker signal means that the stimulus has to have a much higher intensity (louder) for the brain to notice.
Clarity is determined by filters within the auditory system. Imagine trying to create a personal budget for the year. The total sum of the prior year’s expenses is known, but that in itself is not too helpful. Budgeting requires knowing how that money was spent, meaning it needs to be categorized. Speech is categorized in the same way. Incoming soundwaves are filtered so that “s” is a separate category from “m,” and so on. When the cochlea sustains enough damage, those filters become broader and less specific, so that “m” and “s” could end up overlapping. Thus, the brain can hear the person talking, but cannot understand what is said, as it is receiving the equivalent of a fuzzy
radio signal.
Hearing aids are recommended for hearing losses that have become significant enough to affect communication. Hearing aids increase audibility by magnifying frequencies the ears have trouble hearing on their own. How does this help communication? Many consonant sounds, which give words their meaning, are rather soft and high-pitched (e.g., “f,” “s”). Incidentally, the majority of people suffer the most hearing loss in the high-pitch range. This means that, given the context of the situation, many consonant sounds are not audible to that person, making it difficult to understand others. The increased audibility provided by the hearing aids improves their access to these sounds.
The above scenario works well for an individual with good clarity. Unfortunately, other individuals may only have 50% clarity. In this situation, hearing aids are still a valuable resource in aiding communication. But they may not be enough in and of themselves. This is because while the hearing aids can be programmed to
provide as clear and audible a signal as possible, the brain is still required to interpret that signal correctly. If the auditory system can only provide 50% clarity, a person may still struggle to understand at times, even if they are doing better overall with the hearing aids. In these cases, assistive accessories that work in conjunction with the hearing aids and use of good communication strategies can greatly improve an individual’s outcomes. For more severe cases, the literature shows that a cochlear implant is a safe and effective solution for significantly increasing clarity and improving communication. There are many forms of managing hearing loss. A hearing care professional can help guide you to the best solution. Understanding the issue can help to properly address it. FBN
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.
In late April, I joined nearly 50 other mayors and descended on Washington, D.C., on a mission to fight for solutions to address the housing and homelessness crisis affecting U.S. cities. We advocated for changes to voucher income qualifications for veterans, additional funding for housing choice vouchers and increasing or eliminating the cap on the number of project-based vouchers (vouchers that are attached to a rental development rather than an individual or family).
On the first day of our trip, we met with Xavier Becerra, Secretary of Health and Human Services; Adrianne Todman, Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Denis McDonough, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Tom Perez, Senior Advisor to the President and Director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs; Neera Tanden, Domestic Policy Advisor to the President; Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget; and Jeff
Other projects we discussed and urged ongoing support for include Rio de Flag flood control project, wildfire risk reduction and forest health, continuing seven-day service on Amtrak, Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act, HUD Fair Market Rent that is specific to the Flagstaff area, and renewal of transportation funding in the Infrastructure, Investment, and Jobs Act.
Zients, White House Chief of Staff. On day two, we divided into four groups and met with approximately a dozen members of Congress each, including Majority Leader Steve Scalise, Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, and Senator Ron Wyden, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
After my two days with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, I was joined in D.C. by Vice Mayor Austin Aslan, Councilmember Jim McCarthy, City Manager Greg Clifton, Deputy CM Joanne Keene and Senior Project Manager Christine Cameron. We were there to lobby for Flagstaff’s FY25 appropriations requests and to keep city projects front and center with various agencies.
Our appropriations requests are for projects for which we have local matches, are past the design phase, and/ or are part of a larger project already underway. These projects are: improve-
ments to the Amtrak station platform, enhancing ADA accessibility, drainage mitigation, and improved safety – this is part of our already funded Downtown Mile; design work for airport terminal expansion and accessibility and design and construction of drainage improvements; La Plaza Vieja phase 2 infrastructure improvements, including traffic calming, safer pedestrian crossings, and improved storm drain locations; Fanning Wash flood mitigations, including improved culverts, flood wall, and/or a new diversion pipe; and a biochar facility at the wastewater treatment plant to use converted forest biomass as usable biochar.
Other projects we discussed and urged ongoing support for include Rio de Flag flood control project, wildfire risk reduction and forest health, continuing seven-day service on Amtrak, Workforce Housing Tax Credit Act, HUD Fair Market Rent that is specific to the Flagstaff area, and renewal of transportation funding in the Infrastructure,
Investment, and Jobs Act.
In our two days in D.C., we met with Senator Kyrsten Sinema, Senator Mark Kelly’s staff, Congressman Eli Crane, Congressman Ruben Gallego, Congressman Greg Stanton, staff with the Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Transportation.
To read our lobbying packet, which includes much more detail, see the City Council’s April 23 meeting agenda packet: https://public.destinyhosted. com/agenda_publish.cfm?dsp=agm&seq=7940&rev=0&id=35247&form_type=AG_MEMO&beg_meetmth=1&beg_meetyr=2024&end_ meetmth=4&end_ meetyr=2024&mt=ALL&sstr=lobbying+packet&dept=ALL&hartkeywords=&sortby=f.form_num,%20f. rev_num&fp=ADVSRCH&StartRow=1#. FBN
Prospective Flagstaff homebuyers often find themselves pondering a crucial question: Is now a good time to buy a home? As the local real estate market continues to evolve, the decision to purchase a home requires careful consideration. From assessing market conditions to understanding financial factors, making an informed decision is essential. As a mortgage loan officer in Flagstaff, here’s what you need to know to navigate this decision.
Market Analysis: Flagstaff’s real
estate market is unique, influenced by factors such as location, seasonal fluctuations and economic trends. Currently, the market is characterized by a balance of supply and demand. While housing inventory remains relatively low, demand for homes in Flagstaff continues to be strong. This situation has led to steady appreciation in home values over the past few years.
Federal Reserve Policy: One of the most significant factors influencing the decision to buy a home is the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and its impact on interest rates. The Fed is
The decision to buy a home in Flagstaff is influenced by a variety of factors, including market conditions, interest rates and personal financial considerations. With the Federal Reserve aiming to maintain steady interest rates to manage inflation, this provides an opportune time for prospective homebuyers.
striving to maintain a balance between economic growth and inflation. To achieve this, they have indicated their intention to keep interest rates steady in the near term. This commitment should provide stability for prospective homebuyers considering purchasing a home.
Affordability: Despite rising home prices, Flagstaff remains an attractive destination for homebuyers because of its high quality of life and natural beauty. However, affordability remains a concern for many buyers, particularly first-time buyers and those with limited budgets. Working with a knowledgeable mortgage loan officer can help buyers explore financing options and determine their purchasing power.
Market Trends: Analyzing market trends can provide valuable insights for prospective homebuyers. In Flagstaff, trends such as increasing demand for single-family homes and a preference for suburban living are evident. Additionally, factors such as job growth, population expansion and infrastructure development contribute to the overall stability of the real estate market.
Pros and Cons of Buying Now:
Gathers information from all parties involved in the
Gives recommendations to the judge regarding the best interests of the
While there are compelling reasons to buy a home in Flagstaff now, it’s essential to consider both the advantages and potential drawbacks. Buying now allows buyers to take advantage of steady interest rates, build equity and enjoy the benefits of homeownership. However, buyers should also be aware of factors such as competition for homes, potential bidding wars and the possibility of future market fluctuations.
Tips for Buyers: For those considering buying a home in Flagstaff, there are several tips to keep in mind: Get Pre-Approved: Before starting your home search, obtain a mortgage pre-approval to understand your budget and streamline the buying process. Shop for the lowest interest rate and see if you qualify for down payment assistance up to $15,000.
Work with a Local Agent: Partnering with a knowledgeable local real estate agent can provide valuable guidance and insight into the Flagstaff market.
Consider Long-Term Goals: When purchasing a home, consider your long-term goals, such as future
appreciation potential and lifestyle preferences.
Factor in Additional Costs: In addition to the purchase price, consider other costs such as property taxes, homeowners insurance and maintenance expenses.
The decision to buy a home in Flagstaff is influenced by a variety of factors, including market conditions, interest rates and personal financial considerations. With the Federal Reserve aiming to maintain steady interest rates to manage inflation, this provides an opportune time for prospective homebuyers. By carefully weighing the pros and cons and understanding the local market dynamics, buyers can make informed decisions and achieve their homeownership goals in Flagstaff. FBN
With more than 30 years in the mortgage industry, Jer Cox is also a longtime Flagstaff resident with a finance degree from Northern Arizona University. For additional information, Jer and the staff of Mountain Country Mortgage can be reached at 928-226-6908 or Mountaincountrymtg.com NMLS #149561 MB-1008082
In the nicest, most respectful and patiently persistent way, Lowell Observatory Executive Director
Jeff Hall has been a “bullfighter” for dark skies on many different levels, say those in the astronomer world.
“There’s a saying: ‘It’s not what you do, but how you do it that counts,’” said Lowell Historian Kevin Schindler. “And Jeff has mastered the skill of working through sometimes contentious issues with people who may see things differently and finding a solution that’s good for everybody.”
Retired astronomer and Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition member Chris Luginbuhl recalls how an unfortunate mistake at the local level resulted in switching to bright white LED lights near the Flagstaff Mall.
“In 2012, the street lighting
folks at the City of Flagstaff were switching from our world-leading night-sky friendly low pressure sodium lights to newer LEDs,” said Luginbuhl. “Despite our long history of working together, they had not consulted with the astronomers or dark skies folks, choosing what they thought were dark-sky friendly LEDs. They weren’t, and there was a behind-the-scenes uproar from the astronomers.”
As Luginbuhl explains, discussions ensued. “Jeff worked behind the scenes with city staff to identify a constructive way forward. He made the absolutely brilliant strategic suggestion of calling the investigation into what LED street lighting is appropriate for Flagstaff ‘SLEDS,’ which stands for Street Lighting to Enhance Dark Skies. The choice
of this name alone helped ensure that we ended up making the best possible Flagstaff-worthy choice of the LED type we now have as a standard.”
Hall also has worked with those in the lighting industry and with elected officials to support dark-sky friendly options and has worked with SpaceX in regard to Starlink –a satellite internet constellation that provides coverage to more than 70 countries but that could also have significant impacts on the night sky.
As a researcher, Hall has made important discoveries about the sun and played a significant role in a long-running study of the sun and sun-like stars. “This information is critical to better understand our sun, which has climate change
525 North Switzer Canyon Drive Flagstaff, AZ 86001
In the field of hand surgery, the Wide-Awake Local Anesthesia No Tourniquet (WALANT) technique represents a significant advancement in how we approach and perform surgeries. This method, which utilizes an injection of local anesthesia without sedation or a tourniquet, is enhancing surgical procedures by offering a safer, patient-centered alternative that enhances recovery and satisfaction.
WHAT IS WALANT?
The WALANT technique involves the use of a local anesthetic solution, typically lidocaine with epinephrine, which numbs the surgical area and minimizes bleeding without the need for a tourniquet. This approach allows patients to remain awake and comfortable throughout the procedure, eliminating the risks and side effects associated with general anesthesia.
PATIENT COMFORT AND SAFETY
Patients appreciate the comfort of
The WALANT technique involves the use of a local anesthetic solution, typically lidocaine with epinephrine, which numbs the surgical area and minimizes bleeding without the need for a tourniquet. This approach allows patients to remain awake and comfortable throughout the procedure, eliminating the risks and side effects associated with general anesthesia. //
avoiding general anesthesia, as they do not experience the common side effects such as nausea or prolonged drowsiness. This comfort level makes the recovery process smoother and faster, enabling most patients to return home shortly after their procedure. Fasting and altering medication use on the day of surgery are often unnecessary, pre-operative screenings can often be minimized and post-operative instructions can be reviewed in detail with your surgeon while your operation is performed.
Because patients can move their fingers and provide feedback during the surgery, WALANT allows for precise adjustments in real time. This is particularly crucial in surgeries that involve intricate details like tendon repairs, where the outcome directly affects functional recovery.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS
Hand surgeons are now using WALANT for a wide range of procedures, highlighting its versatility and effectiveness. Common surgeries include:
Carpal Tunnel Release: This procedure alleviates pressure on the median nerve to relieve pain and numbness in the hand.
Trigger Finger Release: WALANT is used to treat the locking or catching of a finger by releasing the affected tendon.
De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis Surgery: This involves the release of the sheath that encases the tendons, easing wrist pain.
Dupuytren’s Contracture Release: The technique is employed to remove or release the thickened tissue causing finger contraction.
patient satisfaction. For patients contemplating hand surgery, WALANT offers a promising alternative that ensures minimal discomfort and a rapid return to daily activities. At Flagstaff Bone and Joint, we are committed to providing stateof-the-art care that places patient well-being at the forefront of what we do. FBN
Derek B. Smith, M.D., a fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeon with a focus on hand, wrist and elbow surgery. He is welcoming patients to his Flagstaff and Cottonwood locations. He is renowned for his expertise in cutting-edge surgical techniques that promise superior patient outcomes.
For more details about Dr. Smith and the comprehensive services available at Flagstaff Bone and Joint, visit our website at www.flagstaffboneandjoint.com, call 928-773-2280 or text 928- 628-6391. Our committed team is here to assist you in achieving a swift recovery and a return to an active, pain-free lifestyle. //
WALANT procedures are more economical, as they reduce the need for expensive anesthesia and shorten hospital stays. The technique also leads to a decrease in overall healthcare costs, benefiting both patients and facilities.
tgcaz.org (928)527-1899
Tendon Repairs: WALANT allows for direct patient involvement, ensuring that the function is restored with precision. The WALANT technique has transformed hand surgery, making it safer, more efficient, and patient-friendly. As we continue to refine and expand the use of this innovative approach, we are setting new standards in surgical care and
Historically speaking, 2012 was likely it – the best year to buy a home in maybe the last 50 years. It was the rare time of stars aligning where post-crash demand was still low, the foreclosure inventory market was still working through so supply was high and you had the effects of a final round of Quantitative Easing from the Federal Reserve leading to sub-4% interest rates. Truly an uncommon, “stars aligned” type moment, given the uncommon and painful conditions preceding it.
In most markets, you must pick, as usually one condition sours the other. Take the 2020-2022 housing market, for example, as you can see in the chart below. A massive government stimulus package led to 70-year low interest rates and we saw prices rapidly rise and a market where buyers had to compete in bidding wars and assume they were going to pay more than the asking price. Other conditions accompanied that type of extremely hot market, like accepting the condition of the home “as-is,” waiving appraisal contingencies and also competing with a higher than usual percentage of cash buyers. While a sub-3% rate was certainly
a massive value to those buyers, we have to remember: It wasn’t all a walk in the park.
Not surprisingly, the last 18 or so months of high inflation and high interest rates have brought a calming effect to home prices. Demand is still significant, given years of diminishing inventory, so we haven’t seen any crash in prices. But as the chart below shows, we are seeing more price negotiation in the last few months than we have in years. This plays hand-inhand with interest rates and their ups
and downs as we work through this high inflation wind down. The higher the rate, the less demand and the more room for negotiation. This can play out in a variety of benefits to the buyer ranging from price reductions, repairs getting completed, seller concessions toward closing costs and buyer rate buy-downs, willingness to accept contingencies for move-up sales, etc.
Anecdotally I’ve seen some of the best negotiations in the last 30 days than I’ve seen in the last five years
with real estate returning to the good old days when one party’s motivations lead to another party’s opportunity. In many of these cases, a seller simply needed to sell and time was of the essence. So, five-figure price reductions or concessions or both were readily agreed to. Now, don’t take this as a universal expectation as each transaction is unique, but it does give some hope to those buyers wanting to make lemonade out of the perceived sour conditions of this market. (The chart below is a visual
of what we’ve seen with rates and measured demand nationally.)
There are undoubtedly many would-be buyers and even potential move-up sellers who are convinced that waiting for rates to come down is the best strategy. That will be a correct assumption if we can also make the assumption that this isn’t a broad populace belief. If this is, in fact, a widely shared idea, the chances of prices remaining at current levels in then a rate-reduced market are very slim.
Most people experience fatigue at some point in their life. It becomes a problem when the fatigue is debilitating on a day-to-day basis. Feelings of sluggishness, low motivation, low energy or zest for life is common as we age. There are many illnesses that can cause fatigue such as chronic fatigue, chronic infections, blood sugar abnormalities, anemia, insomnia, hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. Some causes of fatigue that aren’t related to disease may be part of aging, jet lag, poor diet and sleep.
FOUR CAUSES OF NON-DISEASE RELATED FATIGUE
Poor Quality Sleep Many people struggle with getting enough sleep. They tend to go to bed too late or may be looking at devices that emit too much light (TV, tablets or cell phones). Try doing a device detox. Download a blue light app that helps to dim the light to lessen circadian rhythm disruption and create a calming bedtime routine. Make sure to sleep in the darkest room possible with minimal light.
disease, obesity, diabetes and inflammation. Moderate exercise and body movement three to five times per week for 20 minutes can release natural endorphins, balance your mood and benefit your overall health.
Hormone Imbalance Stress, adrenal fatigue, low thyroid, low female and male hormones, low Vitamin D, blood sugar dysfunction and liver congestion can all affect your energy levels. If you are feeling sluggish, get your hormones tested and then optimize your hormones to improve your health and vitality!
Allergies Food sensitivities and environmental allergies can often take their toll and make you feel sluggish. Food allergy sensitivity testing for IgG and IgE blood serum reactions can show mild, moderate or severe sensitivities to foods that might be contributing to issues with your weight, digestion, skin and energy.
TRADITIONAL TREATMENTS
If fatigue is caused by a disease, certain medications to manage the disease may improve energy levels. For example, if you have an underactive thyroid, you
supplemental advice to improve energy levels.
NATURAL TREATMENTS
Diet Eat a more whole food based clean diet. Eliminate food allergies/sensitivities and correct nutritional imbalances. If you have food sensitivities, you may not have an anaphylaxis response, but you may have symptoms of leaky gut that presents with skin issues, digestive issues (loose stools or constipation), fatigue, hormone imbalance, joint/ muscle aches, anxiety, and depression. By eliminating the offending foods and healing the gut lining for three to six months, the body will heal itself and your symptoms will disappear.
Movement Daily body movement, even if you on’t feel like it, will move stuck energy. Start slow if you are extremely fatigued. Go for a brisk walk, practice Qigong exercises or go hiking or biking. Here is a quick and easy Qigong exercise you can try: Shake your whole body for a couple of minutes to get the Qi moving (“Shaking the body pose”). You can also rub your hands and fingertips together up and down in a clapping motion to stimulate Qi. Saying affirmations, surrounding yourself with like-minded people and setting outcomes can help you feel as if you already have energy.
Try this visualization exercise: Close your eyes and visualize yourself sitting under a tree or on a beach. Visualize the sun and its bold, strong, fire energy. Allow the sun’s warm rays to shower all over you, energizing you. Do this visualization until you feel more energy. Try one of these grounding exercises: Walk barefoot in the grass, sit under a tree or spend some time to connect with nature. Take five to 15 minutes per day to ground. The earth’s energy can help you feel more grounded and connected, helping to ease stress and improve energy levels.
BENEFICIAL SUPPLEMENTS AND HERBS:
Always check with your health care provider before starting any supplements. Also make sure you take a good quality supplement that is GMP certified or organic herbs, not something you can just grab at a pharmacy or chain supermarket.
Adrenal support: Adrenal glandular from a trusted source of cows or pig adrenal glands will give you that boost that you are looking for while allowing your adrenals to restore. I often supplement glandulars with herbs like ashwagandha, rehmannia, licorice, skullcap, schizandra, rhodiola, and melissa to regulate
the hormones and adrenal systems. CoQ10: 100mg a day. This is important in energy metabolism at the cellular level.
Green food powder: 1 scoop daily of spirulina, chlorella, kelp, vegetable, fruit and antioxidant blends can improve energy levels. It also improves alkalinity in the body. Most people are too acidic, which increases pain, inflammation and fatigue.
Methylated B complex: 1-2 caps daily with meals to boost energy levels, decrease stress and support blood production.
Power mushrooms: Reishi, shitake, and maitake mushrooms boost the immune system and improve energy levels that are depleted by aging, chronic fatigue and illness.
Vitamin C: 1,000-3,000mg daily in divided doses or to bowel tolerance. A strong antioxidant to scavenge the free radicals of the day-to-day toxins.
Vitamin D: 5,000-10,000iu daily depending on blood levels. Low Vitamin D is associated with hormone imbalance, fatigue, osteoporosis, cancer and depression/anxiety.
Whole foods-based multivitamin: Take a good quality, whole foodsbased multivitamin with meals.
An effective treatment program is an impactful way to help someone struggling with a substance use disorder. The government, treatment professionals and local non-profits are working tirelessly to expand access to care to treat substance use disorders. Local communities are committed to expanding access to treatment programs, but they often don’t share this same commitment when it comes to expanding access to post-treatment care.
Relapse after leaving treatment
is all too common, which is why post-treatment care is so essential.
People leaving treatment need access to counseling, psychiatry, group therapy, case management and community recovery groups. These programs help them navigate the challenges that occur with maintaining sobriety after treatment.
Expanding access to post-treatment care is vital to promote long-term sobriety and recovery for substance abuse disorders. Here are a few steps addiction treatment professionals and the community can take to improve access to treatment.
There is currently a shortage of social workers in the United States, and properly expanding access to post-treatment care requires hiring more skilled social workers. We must increase access to trained professionals in order to expand access to care. Treatment centers must commit to hiring more treatment professionals and utilizing them as resources to expand post-treatment care.
There is currently a shortage of social workers in the United States, and properly expanding access to post-treatment care requires hiring more skilled social workers. We must increase access to trained professionals in order to expand access to care. Treatment centers must commit to hiring more treatment professionals and utilizing them as resources to expand post-treatment care.
Expanding access requires more than just hiring additional social workers. We must find more individuals to fill the variety of roles within the treatment center and community. This means finding small group organizers, recovery coaches and sponsors. All of these roles are vital to post-treatment success. These roles can be filled by experienced volunteers or successful alumni of treatment programs.
Creating an active community of treatment alumni will help meet the demand for post-treatment programs. They are well equipped to help someone navigate the initial challenges faced after the completion of residential programming. Alumni networks are a pipeline for recovery coaches and sponsors.
Hiring more staff to manage post-treatment care is the best way to address the issue of availability for these programs.
Addiction is an epidemic in our society. Addiction does not discriminate based on race or socioeconomic background. Addiction affects the entire community; therefore, the community should invest in addressing the problem. This requires expanding access to care via partnerships with non-profits, such as our partnership with Sky’s the Limit Fund, which is helping fund post-treatment counseling for some residents of Back2Basics. A partnership with a committed non-profit helps those in need offset out-of-pocket expenses for essential treatment. Partnerships with local universities are key. Northern Arizona University has been an essential resource in providing future talent within the roles of graduate and undergraduate interns to support our program. Addiction treatment is essential to the recovery process, including access to post-treatment care to support continued sobriety. Addiction treatment pro-
fessionals and the communities they work in must continue to advocate for expanded access to this essential care.FBN
Natalie Randolph, DBH, LCSW is the clinical director for Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery a long-term inpatient addiction treatment program in Flagstaff, specializing in Outdoor Adventure Therapy and behavioral health treatment modalities. Dr. Randolph has been working within the social work profession for 23 years within a variety of settings, including private and non-profit agencies. She has experience working with individuals, groups and couples, as well as families. Additionally, she also serves as an associate clinical professor through Northern Arizona University’s Social Work Department. Dr. Randolph completed her bachelor’s degree in social work at Northern Arizona University in 2000, while her master’s degree in social work was received in 2005 from Arizona State University. Furthermore, she completed her doctorate in behavioral health in 2016 through Arizona State University.
The City of Flagstaff has one climate action plan, the Carbon Neutrality Plan (CNP). This $600,000,000 plan aims to make Flagstaff “carbon neutral” by 2030. To achieve carbon neutrality, the city’s carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions must be reduced by 857,039 metric tons annually (CNP p. 46). As the CNP states on page 5, achieving this goal will require “…drastic shifts in how we heat and power our buildings, travel from place to place, and manage our waste.” The plan strives to make Flagstaff an all-electric city by eliminating natural gas and wood for heat and replacing them with electric heat pumps and appliances. Electric cars, trucks, buses, bikes and scooters will be our modes of transportation. Of course, these changes will substantially increase the city’s electricity demand.
Simultaneously, dramatic changes in electric power production are underway. Major portions of our reliable and diverse energy mix are being deactivated. APS is engaged in a massive program to replace dependable sources (coal and natural gas) with variable and vulnerable renewable power (wind and solar}. Variable
solar only works during daylight hours and days are shortest in winter when Flagstaff needs power the most. Storing backup energy and converting DC to AC power will require new, unproven technologies. Solar is also most vulnerable in winter. Snow-covered panels produce no electricity and overcast skies can significantly reduce output. Worst of all, hail has destroyed entire solar fields. According to the APS timetables, renewables (wind and solar) could become the dominant energy sources for Flagstaff by 2035.
These transformations in our electric infrastructure place Flagstaff residents in a dangerous energy squeeze. Our greatest demand for electricity is in winter when renewable energy production is at a minimum. Cold temperatures will increase demand for running heat pumps and charging electric vehicles. The deadly combination of lower power production and higher winter demand puts Flagstaff at risk for extended power outages. Outages in all-electric homes during frigid winter temperatures will create life-threatening conditions, especially for the elderly. Remember, one of the CNP goals is to eliminate natural gas and wood stoves, heat sources that could be used as backup during outages.
Sweden has a similar winter climate to ours. The country has been a world leader in developing wind and solar power. Experience though, has led them to recognize the existential threat of renewables in cold weather. Their parliament recently abandoned green energy, opting instead to increase nuclear power.
Another threat posed by transitioning to wind and solar power is China’s dominance over solar panel and battery manufacturing and supply chains. Batteries are required to power electric vehicles and to stabilize the variability of solar and wind power production. Cobalt is an essential element in lithium battery production. China controls 73% of the world’s cobalt refining, 77% of battery cathode production and 92% of anode production. Similarly, China is responsible for the bulk of solar panel manufacturing. Polysilicon is the basic material in solar cells. 79% is produced in China along with 97% of wafers and 85% of solar cells. The U.S. then is dependent on China for renewable energy.
We should not be so naïve as to think China will not use control of these resources as a weapon against us, especially as our dependence on renewables grows. Manipulation is
already happening in other areas. China also controls the supply chains for gallium and germanium, essential components in all microchip electronic devices. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is restricting the export of these raw materials as the chip war with the U.S. heats up.
All raw materials for building and operating coal and natural gas power plants are contained within the U.S. and not vulnerable to manipulation by China. By abandoning these power sources and replacing them with wind and solar, our country is sacrificing energy independence and giving control of electric energy production to China.
For more information about Climate Change, see Climate: The Movie: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=bOAUsvVhgsU.
Tom Pearson is the chairman of Flagstaff First. He is a retired Naval Officer with 28 years of service, 10 years aboard destroyers and replenishment ships and 18 years as a meteorologist and oceanographer. He currently serves on the board of the Sunshine Rescue Mission and volunteers as a telescope operator at Lowell Observatory.
// Sweden has a similar winter climate to ours. The country has been a world leader in developing wind and solar power. Experience though, has led them to recognize the existential threat of renewables in cold weather. Their parliament recently abandoned green energy, opting instead to increase nuclear power.
Flagstaff Pulliam Airport has recently undergone significant maintenance, with renovations still in progress to enhance the traveler experience. Both the interior and exterior of the terminal building have been repainted, and maintenance of the fire suppression system is nearing completion. Replacement entry doors and carpeting in the foyer have been installed, and updates to wayfinding signage and lighting are currently underway. To minimize disruption, all work is being done at night. Terminal maintenance is expected to conclude by mid-July.
Improvements extend beyond the terminal itself. The Terminal Parking Lot is closed for maintenance, including curb and sidewalk repairs, asphalt crack sealing, seal coating and restriping. Meanwhile, the Economy Parking Lot is available, offering ample parking. The first hour of parking is free, followed by a charge of $2 per hour, up to a daily rate of $6 and a weekly rate of $36. Temporary accessible parking has been established near the terminal at no cost. Signage is posted to help travelers
reflect our commitment to enhancing the airport. This essential upkeep is funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is set to expire this year,” said Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Director Brian Gall. “We thank all travelers for their cooperation during this work.”
pairs to fencing for wildlife mitigation on the airfield. Looking ahead, new food and beverage options and a smallscale Visitor’s Center will open in the café space later this summer. FBN
navigate to the appropriate parking areas. The Terminal Parking Lot will reopen mid-June.
“As we near the completion of several terminal improvement projects and
maintenance in the Terminal Parking Lot, we are excited to deliver a better experience for travelers. Visible improvements, including updated paint, wayfinding signage, lighting and doors,
Additionally, the monument sign at the airport entrance has been restored. Other improvements, less visible to the public, include the recent sealcoating and restriping of the runway and re-
Please continue to FLY FLAGSTAFF FIRST! For more information on all the happenings at the airport, visit flyflagstaffaz.com.
Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award®, which will be presented to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.
Nominations are also open for both the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award and ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.
Nominations are now being accepted until August 2 at prescottathena.com
Anchorwoman Mary Jo West
Prescott Frontier Days, Inc.
is thrilled to announce the much-anticipated 137th annual World’s Oldest Rodeo, taking place from Monday, July 1 to Sunday, July 7 in Prescott. This iconic event, held during the bustling Fourth of July week, is a cornerstone of Prescott’s summer calendar, driving economic prosperity throughout the county. Featuring a week-long extravaganza of world-class rodeo action and family-friendly entertainment, the World’s Oldest Rodeo stands as Prescott’s premier event of the year.
Drawing rodeo enthusiasts from across the globe, Prescott Frontier Days invites attendees to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Western culture and history dating back to its inaugural celebration on July 4, 1888. This year, the rodeo pays tribute to the deep-rooted Western culture, embodying the theme of “Prescott Traditions.” As part of the festivities, the rodeo is launching the Memory Catcher campaign, inviting fans nationwide to share their cherished memories and stories of Prescott rodeo traditions. These stories will be featured on the rodeo’s website and social media platforms, celebrating the enduring legacy of Prescott’s premier event.
Prescott Frontier Days General Manager Jim Dewey Brown expressed his gratitude for the generations of rodeo families, stating, “It is an honor to highlight their stories and share the profound impact our rodeo has had on their lives over the years.” To submit your rodeo memories, please visit https://worldsoldestrodeo.com/ memory-catcher.
The downtown event of the week is the annual rodeo parade, themed “Prescott Traditions,” set to begin at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 6, in downtown Prescott, sponsored by Barrett Propane. The parade will kick off with the grand marshal honoree, Ibbie Champie. She is the daughter of Lawton Champie, a 13-time rodeo champion across various events.
Lawton won the All-Around in 1931, 1934 and 1944; calf roping in 1939;
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steer wrestling in 1931 and 1934; saddle bronc riding in 1924, 1926 and 1931. However, Slim Riley got the credit for winning the bronc riding in 1924 because after he got hurt the first day and Lawton was bucked off the first day, Lawton filled in for Riley the last three days and won the event. In those days, it was customary for someone to ride for another person. Demonstrating true cowboy spirit, they shared the reward money.
With record-breaking rodeo attendances for the last two years and unprecedented sponsor participation, this year promises to be another triumphant showcase of world-class rodeo competition and family-oriented activities. This year’s highlights include Beau Schueth, a national champion bullfighter who grew up in O’Neill, Nebraska; Quirt Hunt, champion bullfighter who is joining the Prescott rodeo for his 21st consecutive year; Matt Tarr, known for his quick wit and passion for making people smile and laugh as a rodeo clown; Tomas Garcilazo, featuring his mastery and artistry of La Charreria, Broken Spoke Clydesdales, a fan favorite, and Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Announcer Randy Corley, joined by Co-Announcer James Horcasitas to highlight the eight performances.
Drawing rodeo enthusiasts from across the globe, Prescott Frontier Days invites attendees to immerse themselves in the rich tapestry of Western culture and history dating back to its inaugural celebration on July 4, 1888. This year, the rodeo pays tribute to the deep-rooted Western culture, embodying the theme of “Prescott Traditions.”
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The week’s festivities around the rodeo performances will culminate at the annual rodeo dance at the Depot Marketplace/BMO Harris Bank parking lot, offering three nights of music and dance. Thursday night is family night so bring your entire family to kick up your heels! Friday and Saturday nights are slated for ages 21 and older. Tickets for the rodeo dance can be purchased at the door at $5 per person. Join us as we celebrate the enduring spirit of western traditions at the World’s Oldest Rodeo!
PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, INC PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE:
2024
Performance 1
Monday, July 1, 7:30PM
The Daily Courier
Performance 2
Tuesday, July 2, 7:30PM
Wrangler Bucking Cancer
Performance 3
Wednesday, July 3, 7:30PM
York Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram
Performance 4
Thursday, July 4, 7:30PM
First Responders Tribute
Performance 5
Friday, July 5, 7:30PM
Jack Daniels
Performance 6
Saturday, July 6, 1:30PM
Military Tribute
Performance 7 Saturday, July 6, 7:30PM
Coors
Performance 8
Sunday, July 7, 1:30PM
Nackard Pepsi
MUTTON BUSTIN’ | PRESCOTT RODEO GROUNDS
Monday, July 1, 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 2, 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, July 3, 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, July 4, 6:00 p.m.
Friday, July 5, 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 6, 12:00 p.m.
Saturday, July 6, 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 7, 12:00 p.m.
RODEO DAYS FINE ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW SPONSORED BY THE PRESCOTT DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
Friday, July 5 – 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday, July 6 - 9:00 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, July 7 - 9:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.
RODEO DANCE | DEPOT MARKETPLACE/BMO HARRIS BANK 303 N. MONTEZUMA, PRESCOTT
Thursday, July 4, 2024, 8:00 p.m. to 12 a.m. – Family Night
Friday, July 5, 2024, 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. – Ages 21 and older
Saturday, July 6, 2024, 8:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. – Ages 21 and older
KIWANIS KIDDIE PARADE, SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF PRESCOTT
Friday, July 5, 8:30 a.m. - Cortez & Goodwin Streets
PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, INC. RODEO PARADE, SPONSORED BY BARRETT PROPANE
Saturday, July 6, 9:00 a.m. –Courthouse Plaza / Goodwin Street
COWBOY CHURCH AT THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO GROUNDS
Sunday, July 7, 9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
WHISKEY ROW BOOT RACE SPONSORED BY BUDWEISER
Saturday, July 6, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. | Downtown Prescott, Arizona
Join us for a week of unforgettable rodeo experiences and the celebration of enduring traditions. Prescott Frontier Days, Inc is dedicated to ensuring that the World’s Oldest Rodeo remains an accessible and family-friendly event. Tickets are on sale now only at www.worldsoldestrodeo.com, where you can purchase via our only certified ticket vendor, Rodeo Tickets. The rodeo ticket office is open 10 a.m. - 3p.m., Monday through Friday. For rodeo inquiries, please contact the rodeo office at 928445-3103 or email info@worldsoldestrodeo.com. For all media inquiries, please contact Donna Werking at NorthernAZsocial@gmail.com. The Prescott rodeo office is located at 840 Rodeo Drive Prescott, AZ 86305 For other inquiries, please contact the Prescott Rodeo Office at 928-4453103 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. Learn more at www. worldsoldestrodeo.com. FBN
Donna Werking, Owner, Northern AZ Social LLC
Northern AZ Social, LLC is a premier, full-service agency that specializes in traditional, digital, and social media marketing. In 2021, Northern AZ Social, LLC was named 10 Best Social Media Agencies in Arizona. Donna and her talented team are recognized for their customized programs for a multitude of clients across Northern Arizona. In 2022, she was named TOP 3 marketing agencies in Arizona by SocialAppsHQ and also featured on PBS’s Road Trip Nation as an Arizona leader in her industry. She has aided the marketing efforts of the Prescott Frontier Days-World’s Oldest Rodeo since 2017.
In 2017, Warner’s Nursery launched a project that was near and dear to our hearts: a coffee shop to honor our grandmother, Dorothy Warner, who founded Warner’s Nursery in Page back in the 1960s.
Dottie’s Garden Coffee Shoppe is right in the middle of our nursery, a relaxing place to enjoy coffee drinks, Italian sodas, and other refreshments is right in the middle of our nursery, a relaxing place to enjoy coffee drinks, Italian sodas, and other refreshments.
Now, one of our employees has developed a line of beauty products called Dottie’s Bru by recycling the grounds generated by our coffee shop.
Kelli Remley began in our landscape division almost two years ago, but quickly became interested in the retail side of our business, primarily so she could better answer questions for customers in our gardening center and help out as needed.
One of her added assignments was working behind the counter at Dottie’s and becoming a barista, which was a little ironic as Kelli doesn’t drink coffee. (She loves the smell, but not the taste.)
“I didn’t even know how to make espresso, and had only made drip coffee twice for a client in a past job
have been shown to make excellent exfoliants, while the caffeine and antioxidants can help reduce the appearance of aging, reduce puffiness, and stimulate skin cell production.
her product. She decided the name for her business would be Dottie’s Bru, a shortening of the Brazilian Portuguese word bruxinha, which means “little witch.”
“Since witches make brews and potions, I thought it would be a fun play on words,” she said. The logo for the products shows a hand holding a wand with coffee beans and a green leaf coming from it and uses the font and colors of the coffee shop’s logo.
You can find Kelli’s body scrubs at Warner’s Nursery. She is continuing her research into the nutrient components of the Dottie’s coffee grounds and exploring other possible products that could be made with them.
“Coffee ground uses are so versatile and their benefits for the body and environment are amazing,” said Kelli.
By Terry Baker– that was the extent of my coffee-making experience,” she said. “As you can imagine, the task was quite daunting at first. And since I don’t drink coffee, I had to learn to make it by smelling it.”
On a long road trip to visit family, Kelli started thinking about her future and how she might be able to grow at Warner’s. Her thoughts turned to the
coffee grounds, which were thrown out each day.
Coffee grounds are shown to be rich not only in caffeine, but also in antioxidants, such as hydroxycinnamic acids and polyphenols, which make them powerful ingredients in numerous beauty products.
The fine grains of coffee grounds
Kelli wondered if she could create a beauty line based on the grounds from Dottie’s coffee shop.
“I didn’t want to just have a generic, bland coffee scrub,” she said. “I wanted it to be something of high quality, something that was worthy to bear their grandma’s name.”
After a lot of research and testing, Kelli launched
We are so excited for Kelli, her new line, and the opportunity to make Warner’s Nursery even more “green” with this upcycling initiative.
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.
HALL continued from page 24
implications,” said Schindler.
As a leader, Hall has been involved in nearly every department at Lowell, including the one at the top: executive director for 14 years. “He’s navigated us through trying times to this ‘Camelot’ era of expansion,” said Schindler.
Under his leadership, Lowell has seen the completion of the Lowell Discovery Telescope at Happy Jack, the Giovale Open Deck Observatory (GODO) with its six state-of-the-art public telescopes, and coming soon, the Marley Foundation Astronomy Discovery Center – a world-class facility for educating the public about astronomy and science.
“He really has been a champion throughout his career – for dark skies, astronomical discovery and public education,” said Luginbuhl.
For these reasons and more, the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition praises Jeff Hall as a steadfast Dark Skies Champion. FBN
HOMES continued from page 26
Time will ultimately decide how that bet plays out but my objective below is to illustrate that the softer negotiation market doesn’t mathematically play out all too badly against a potentially lower rate scenario. In fact, there are creative ways to use seller concessions that put a buyer significantly ahead of what would be a lower rate but stiffer negotiation situation.
In the below analysis I’ve made several assumptions including using the current approximate median price point, a 20% down conventional loan and showing comparisons with then a non-reduced price in a slightly lower rate bracket against a reduced price or offered concessions without price reduction.
With the concessions I’ve structured, about $12,200 would go toward what is called a 2-1 Temporary Buydown. This means that on the buyer’s 30-year fixed rate loan that they’ve fully qualified for, they will have an incentive of a 2% lower rate locked for the first 12 months and then a 1% reduced rate for the next 12 months with the mortgage going up to the 30-year fixed rate for the remainder of the full loan term (assuming the buyer has not refinanced within that timeframe). The remaining concessions then contribute toward the buyer’s closing costs, resulting in their reduced out-of-pocket expense.
The savings across 36 months paints a clear picture of opportunity if the negotiation terms come together. While we don’t know exactly how things will play out in this market, I do believe it’s important to many households to consider the passage of time in reference to their housing expense. Unless there’s a strong factual case for a return to 2012 market conditions with low rates and lowered prices, then time will pass with landlords getting richer and zero equity building for those households without the promise of a better deal in the housing market.
I’ve searched for the case of a “better deal” market down the road and simply haven’t found a logical one, but if you have a good case, call me on that as I’m all ears! FBN
For additional information or to schedule an appointment visit ChrisHallows.Benchmark. us or call 928-707-8572. The Flagstaff location is 824 W. Route 66, Suite A-3. Chris Hallows is the Branch Manager & Sr. Mortgage Advisor of Benchmark Mortgage Flagstaff.
NMLS 306345 Ark-La-Tex Financial Services, LLC NMLS 2143 |Equal Housing Lender
SURVIVAL continued from page 3
control fear by what he calls “cultivating rational insanity.”
“You need to be rational in the respect of ‘OK, here’s what’s going on with my body,’ but then you kind of just need to be like a kid in a way. Kids don’t have limitations or boundaries. When your life’s on the line, you might be expected to do stuff you never thought you could do. So, when you have the science down pat, get ready to expand your boundaries and be more of an animal than a human or like a little kid and be able to push your mind through areas that you didn’t think you could go before. There are a lot of survival stories out there about regular people who survived situations by having nothing more than the goal of wanting to see their mom or their dad or their family. So having that thing that you want to live for is huge for that positive attitude to stay alive.”
Lundin says everyone needs basic survival skills. His courses include urban preparedness, modern outdoor survival skills and primitive living skills. His intention is not to scare people, but to help them stay calm, think logically and start out their journeys being prepared and educated. “These are not just outdoor survival courses, they help make us stronger, more resilient in the face of change.” FBN
For more information about “The Survival Show with Cody Lundin,” or his books and courses, visit codylundin.com. For more tips and scenarios, watch Zonie Living, “Surviving Arizona’s Extreme Environments and Emergencies with Cody Lundin” on https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/surviving-arizonas-extreme-environments-and-emergencies-with-cody-lundin-video
continued from page 8
for good motel locations, Isbell said. He also led expansion efforts into Europe, Asia, South America, Australia and Mexico.
The first Ramada Inn was a colonial design with a two-story, red-brick building. It had indoor hallways, a large portico and round columns. The lobby featured a crystal chandelier and a curving, glass staircase. Ramada’s mascot was a colonial lamplighter and the chain promised “Luxury for Less.”
The Ramada on West 66 in Flagstaff followed that architectural formula and featured a large monument sign. Ramada opened another Flagstaff inn just east of Fourth Street on Route 66.
In 1959, the investors opened their flagship Ramada Inn in Phoenix at 3838 E. Van Buren St. The $2.5 million property included 300 rooms, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a San Francisco cable car replica.
Isbell worked 19 years at Ramada, nearly half of it as a top executive. He resigned as CEO in 1981 in the wake of Ramada’s troubled redevelopment of a casino hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Isbell opposed the deal to buy and renovate the old Ambassador Hotel in Atlantic City. But Ramada board members all voted in favor of the project.
“It was the biggest mistake I ever made,” Isbell said. “I could have killed the deal but didn’t when I had the chance. I didn’t trust my own instincts.”
It cost $30 million to buy the property. The initial development plan was estimated at $135 million for renovation and new construction of the casino hotel. Interference by New Jersey’s Casino Control Commission and price gouging by contractors with mob ties increased the cost to close to $330 million, Isbell said.
With Atlantic City costs soaring, Isbell took the fall and resigned. He cashed in his Ramada stock and was in a position to live a comfortable life without working again.
In 1988, Ramada sold its hotels and restaurants for $540 million and restructured the company, creating Aztar Corp., which held onto its gaming entities. That included Tropicana casino hotels in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and Ramada Express in Laughlin, Nevada. FBN
FATIGUE continued from page 27
Glutathione: an antioxidant that benefits the liver, lungs and brain function. *most beneficial
ADDITIONAL TREATMENTS
Journal what you eat and drink. You are what you eat! If you feel tired after eating certain foods, think about what you ate and make the connection. People often skip meals or eat the wrong type of food. If you eat a fatty or high carb imbalanced meal, no wonder you feel tired. Focus on eating whole foods with a balance of healthy fats, proteins and good carbs (vegetables, quinoa, brown rice).
Drink water Many people don’t drink enough water and are chronically dehydrated. Drink half your body weight in ounces each day at minimum; more when it is hot out. If you don’t like water, try adding a slice of lemon, cucumber or mint.
Test for food sensitivity Consider having food sensitivity testing (Immunoglobulin E and G testing). There are 150-450 different foods, additives, herbs, medications, molds and chemicals that can be tested.
Have your urine tested for neurotransmitter imbalances, including serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, Gaba, glutamate, epinephrine, and amino acids-glycine. This can give you important information about what is causing your altered mood and fatigue.
Hair analysis can test mineral balance on the body systems and how it is affecting your thyroid, pancreas, female hormones, adrenals and metabolism at the cellular level before seeing changes on a blood test.
Acupuncture treatments on a regular basis can improve energy levels, boost the immune system, reduce stress, regulate hormones and stimulate movement of Qi in the body.
Not sure where to start? Follow up with a hormone health specialist or naturopath to address any underlying deficiencies that may be leading to your fatigue. With the right supplementation and treatments, you can feel your best and have more vibrant energy to do the things that you desire to do in life. FBN
Dr. Christina Kovalik NMD, LAc, The Vitality Doctor, is a naturopathic physician and acupuncturist specializing in hormone optimization, optimal health and vitality. She is a new Flagstaff resident, practicing since 2004, and opened her second location in Doney Park in 2020. For more information, visit thevitalitydoctor.com or call 928-863-6086.
toolbelt with collection packs to carry rock samples.
“Our actual spacesuits are going to be 300 pounds, they are going to be pressured to 4.3 PSI, so it’s kind of like being inside a basketball and then having to do scientific and physical work,” said Rubins.
“As you kneel down on one knee, you have to stabilize,” said Douglas. “We have to be careful how we move our legs to make sure we stay safe in the suit. The analogue helps us understand how to do that in the environment that we’re in. Even putting it [a rock] into the bag and using the swing arms can be a little bit of a challenge.”
On their backs was a portable life support system. “That’s going to be the backpack that carries our oxygen, our cooling loops, our CO2 scrubbing. So, as you can see, we’ve got this really hi-fidelity model and we can test that out as we’re doing all of our geology,” said Rubins.
Flagstaff-based USGS geologist Jim Skinner helped chart the path for the astronauts to find a variety of rock samples. “We expect the moon to be very flat with a lot of crater holes in it and a lot of distributed rocks and sediments, probably that had been ejected from craters from different areas,” he said. “From a geologist’s standpoint and in training the crew, the gradation of sediments across the surface is very, very subtle. One of things we’re testing out is whether the astronauts can see
the difference from one kind of unit of sediment into another. As we map the moon, we’re very interested in those subtle variations on the surface that we see from orbit. We don’t know what those variations are.”
Meanwhile, Flagstaff-based USGS geologist Lauren Edgar was receiving the information from the astronauts at Mission Control in Houston. “We were testing out situations in which the crew might be out of communications due to topography blocking the signal, or how we might not get the video feed from the crew beyond a certain distance from the lander. We also tested a situation in which we could get some real-time images transmitted from the crew to the science team in Houston, which is another way of experiencing what they’re seeing so we can help them make geology interpretations during the EVA [Extravehicular Activity]. Our colleagues at NASA’s Johnson Space Center have developed some great software tools that help us piece together all of the information in space and time.”
“This is a really great place for us to learn what might happen on the moon,” said Douglas, “but also, for just about anybody interested in geology. We train people from beginners to advanced because it’s just a rich place to look at different features and different minerals.”
The astronauts practiced two night walks, as the moon’s south polar region
will have challenging lighting conditions with the sun low on the horizon. NASA wants to know how water is stored there.
“We don’t know what form it is in,” said Edgar. “Is it a solid layer of ice? Is it trapped in pockets in the regolith? It would be a critical resource for supporting longer term exploration of the moon, to serve as a source of water for humans and as an important source of hydrogen and oxygen for rocket propellant.”
Douglas holds a doctoral degree in systems engineering. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a naval architect and was a senior professional staff member at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, where he worked in maritime robotics, planetary defense and space exploration.
Rubins, a microbiologist with a doctorate in cancer biology, is the first person to sequence DNA in space. She has worked on two flights on the International Space Station and spent 300 days in space. She says the innovations being developed for the space program could have “a serious impact” on remote corners of the world that don’t have access to clean water or effective ways to sanitize waste.
“On the International Space Station, we recycle all of our water,” she said. “If you don’t have a lot of mass that you can lift off of Earth, every single molecule is important. But if you think about the kinds of things that we’re
going to need to do to get to the moon in a sustained way and to get to Mars, conserving our carbon cycle means breaking down waste, making human waste biologically safe, potentially using that to build structures, making sure that we have plants that can scrub CO2 out of the atmosphere and then put that nitrogen back into the plants. All of these things are useful technologies for humans on Earth to help us live in our environment better, provide clean water, reduce waste and reduce our impact on the environment.”
Cordasco added, “What the community of NASA, USGS, JETT, Coconino County and others, along with Babbitt Ranches, provides with regard to our obligations to a land-use ethic, matters today and will benefit generations to come.” FBN
Hear more about the Artemis 3 mission from USGS geologist Lauren Edgar on Zonie Living: Business, Adventure and Leadership at https://starworldwidenetworks.com/ shows/bonnie-stevens.
6993 N. Columbine, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, Tel (928) 526-7006 | (928) 526-6231 www.intermountainaz.com | admin@intermountainaz.com
jobs, attracting new customers and bolstering our community’s reputation as a hub for innovation.”
“People who come here are happy to be here and you can see the evidence in their gardens all over Northern Arizona,” said Curé. “Some customers travel as far as Northern Nevada, New Mexico and Southern Utah, where climates are comparable to ours.”
Clarkdale resident Beverly Culver began working at VRG about a month ago. “I’m learning so much and I just love being outside. It is so gorgeous here and the people are wonderful. I love working with Lindsay, she’s a good boss. I often listen to her consult with customers and she’s very thorough and really knows her trade. I’m learning a lot from her.”
Verde River Growers has cut its water usage in half by using shade cloth over growing areas. Also used are AquaMats for efficient plant root filtration. “We also installed drip line irrigation, which can be fine-tuned to deliver a specific amount of water to different plants.”
Believing in responsible growing practices, VRG has implemented a pest management program that includes biological methods, which use predatory insects to prey on pests like aphids, thrips and spider mites. The business also recycles and reuses plastic pots.
“It’s fun working with Lindsey because we are both very detail-oriented,
which is nice,” said Inventory Manager
Annie Stewart, who has been working at VRG since 2017. “We both have a background in science, so it’s really easy for us to communicate with each other.”
VRG engages with the community and teaches about plants by working with schools, conducting field trips and providing guided tours. “In the fall, we sponsor A Day In The Garden, a free event offering educational classes,” said Curé.
Recently, Curé’s husband, Mat, be-
gan working as the VRG retail manager. Their off-time is often spent cooking and traveling to Oregon, where they have family.
LAST
We will be so busy and something will come up or a big order will come in that I wasn’t expecting and I’ll discover that I have already prepped for it. I’ll think, “Thank you, me from the past.” I’ve got my back even if I forget I did!
FAVORITE PLACE TO VISIT
I like to visit my parents. Whenever we get together, we have to stop and check out the garden before going inside. My mom will keep plants alive for decades. She had this one portulacaria for 40 years.
PERSON I MOST ADMIRE
I admire the first person who thought to put a seed in the ground to grow food.
FAVORITE QUOTE
My elderly great uncle, who is a World War II veteran, once said, “As long as you’re true to yourself you’ll be OK.”
MY SUPERPOWER
Cooking. We cook all our own meals and don’t eat out. It’s being really frugal, but it’s healthier, too. FBN
For more about VRG, visit www.verderivergrowers.com.
COCONUTS continued from page 14
team for any student who wants to participate,” said Sapio. “Some students want to work on the robot, some want to work on the advocacy and outreach. There’s something for everyone on the CocoNuts.”
Sapio also teaches in the Coconino Institute of Technology (CIT), which provides a unique science and engineering curriculum and social support within the larger high school environment.
For the CocoNuts, she coaches the outreach, advocacy and marketing team. Thompson works primarily with the technical team – programming, build and design, and driving.
Arizona FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), organizes and executes these robotic events. It is a program that connects students, educators, the community and the expanding technology industry in a collaborative effort to teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) principles through project-based robot building.
“The CocoNuts were honored with the FIRST Impact Award because of their extensive efforts to bring robotics to the Dine’ (Navajo) Reservation, a program they call RezBotics,” Sapio said, “and for running the FIRST Tech Challenge program for the whole state of Arizona, for their extensive STEM education advocacy efforts at the state
and national levels and for their mentorship of rookie robotics teams across Flagstaff.”
Competing for the Impact Award Championship is no easy matter. Only teams that win the Impact Award at a regional event first are eligible to compete for the Championship Impact Award. To compete for Impact, teams prepare an essay, answer 13 specific executive summary questions about their work in the community and give a seven-minute prepared presentation to a panel of judges at competition. Eighty-five teams from around the world qualified to compete for the FIRST Impact Award at the Championship.
Elena Klopfenstein, 15, an Impact Presenter, recalled some of these challenges.
“It took us weeks to create, edit, polish and revise our Impact essay and presentation,” she said. “All the time we put into writing and practicing our presentation – eight hours on the bus to Utah, hallways at the competition, in the parking lot – it paid off because the finished product included not just our impact in the community and what we did for others, but also the emotional and personal stories of us CocoNuts. It moves people to tears when they hear it!”
In addition to the after-school robotics program, many students take classes
during the day that help build skills that they use in robotics.
“For example, many of our students are members of the Coconino Institute of Technology and have received certification in SolidWorks (industry standard design software),” Sapio said. “Many also take advanced courses in science or engineering to help prepare them for majors and careers in engineering. “
For many of the team members, the actual construction of the robot presented continual challenges. Eugene Ellsworth Bowers, 17, was right in the middle of the project as lead robot designer and human player.
“The greatest challenge was constantly needing to iterate and redesign the robot for unseen obstacles that we encountered at competition,” Eugene explained. “For example, our note-launching mechanism had to be completely redesigned, rebuilt and reprogrammed in only two weeks leading up to World Championship because it didn’t handle variations in the game pieces well enough to be competitive.”
But, it’s not just about building a robot. Participating students learn a variety of associated skills, such as technical writing, public speaking, critical thinking, how to break down complex problems, data collection and analysis, marketing and fundraising, as well as specialized training in videography,
Bonnie Stevens' Communication Station is delivering a refreshing, engaging and inspirational vodcast (video podcast) that features Northern Arizona businesses, outdoor adventure and leadership tips twice a month. Zonie Living is sponsored in part by Flagstaff Business News. Go to https://starworldwidenetworks.com/ shows/bonnie-stevens
photography, website and social media management.
They also learn how to work collaboratively as a diverse team and how to cooperate with different teams from all over the world. “Essentially these students are running a small business of their own,” said Sapio.
Many of the skills acquired in the study of robotics are what high-tech industries are looking for in their employees. “Many big-name tech companies sponsor FIRST teams because they want these students to come and work for their companies someday (ex: NASA, Boeing, Disney, Qualcomm, Apple, Google, Ford, Haas, and many more),” Sapio elaborated.
“There is over $95 million in scholarships available from colleges to FIRST graduates! “
The CocoNuts team is almost 50% female. “Our girls excel not just at the writing, marketing, presenting, videography aspects of the team, but also in the engineering aspects,” she said. “Our team is often seen as a role model to other teams because our girls really shine in all areas! In the last three years, three girls from our team have been named Dean’s List finalists for their leadership on the team and dedication to the core values of FIRST.”
CocoNuts senior and member of the Impact crew, Alicia Clouser, 18, is experiencing how her earnest
participation in the team at CHS is providing real workforce skills that will be necessary to become a leader in the ever-expanding world of technology.
“I plan to study environmental science with a minor in business in the Honors College at the University of New Mexico,” Alicia said. “The CocoNuts has given me the opportunity to be a role model for my people, especially for my family. I’ve been offered over $125,000 in scholarships because of this program!”
Sapio and Thompson plan on continuing their commitment to the CocoNuts team mission. “FIRST teams such as the CocoNuts change lives, and open doors to opportunities beyond high school for the participants,” Sapio said. “It’s why Dave and I continue to put thousands of hours into the team and into providing programs for teams around the state.” FBN
For more information, contact Thompson at dthompson@firstpartners.org or Sapio at csapio@firstpartners.org.
wanted was her expertise in how to get their businesses noticed. She systematized her PR strategy and then tried it out on a friend. “She ended up on The Dr. Oz Show, twice in less than 60 days.”
That’s when Daves started PR for Anyone. She also has written two bestselling books: “PR For Anyone” and “The D-I-Y Guide to Free Publicity, 100+ Things You Can Do to Get Media Coverage for Your Business Now,” which is the original book updated with case studies. She offers tips like, “If you build it, they will come.”
“You need to build your brand,” she says. “This is so important. People have to know who you are, what you stand for, who you help and how you help them. And you have to be able to do this quickly.”
Another tip she offers is: “Always provide value first.”
“Whenever you pitch to the media, you always have to put it in the perspective of what’s the value to their audience,” said Daves. “Why should they put you on? What are you going to do? It’s about what you can give to their audience. Anytime you think about PR, think about that.”
Another PR tip she offers is: “I think I can. I think I can.”
“It’s so important to believe in yourself. You have a unique gift. It’s almost your job to share it with as many people as you can. And media is that opportunity to allow you to share your gift with the world,” she said. “Be confident in what you do. You’re not going to pitch something that you don’t know about. You’re going to pitch about your expertise, what you’re good at. And go for it. Share your gift with the world.” FBN
Daves also is a lifestyle host on television programs in the Washington, D.C. area. She is a guest QVC host and she features successful women over the age of 50 in her podcast, “Living Ageless and Bold.” Find her at ChristinaDaves.com.
Hear more from Christina Daves on Zonie Living at Star Worldwide Networks https://starworldwidenetworks. com/episodes/generating-greater-visibility-for-your-business-with-christina-daves-video.
COCODONA continued from page 4
125-hour cutoff.
Some runners go solo, but many others rely on support crews and pacers to keep them running, with breaks for food, water, changing clothes and shoes, as well as sleeping an hour or two.
Caravans of support crews move from one aid station to the next, relying on texts and electronic trackers to show where the runners are on the course. Crowded aid-station parking lots are full of SUVs, pickups, Subarus, rental RVs and tall Sprinter vans.
A woman on Prescott’s Whiskey Row wondered if there was a van life convention in town, since there were so many support crews in vans parked along Montezuma Street.
One could say it takes a village to help these runners complete Cocodona. That includes dozens of Aravaipa Running volunteers and the ultramarathon community that bonds during these events.
All of these runners have their own stories of taking on the Cocodona trail.
Greg Secatero, 49, of Kayenta, entered the race for the second year in a row after starting ultrarunning 25 months ago. He finished in just over 114 hours, shaving three hours and 14 minutes off his time in the 2023 race.
“It’s a tough gig, you know,” Secatero said of Cocodona. “I’m just happy I improved from last year.”
Secatero said he was a little sore but
went back at work on Monday. He is employed by the Navajo Nation Police Department as captain of the Criminal Investigation Department.
A native of Alamo, New Mexico, on the Navajo Reservation southwest of Albuquerque, Secatero served three years in the U.S. Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Meanwhile, Anne Tisdell, 36, from near the New River Gorge in West Virginia, completed Cocodona in 92:55:49, finishing 10th among women and 55th overall. She was women’s runner-up to Sally McRae last year at the Moab 240.
“She’s a tough-minded person. Once she sets her sights on something, there’s not much that’s going to detract her,” said her father, Mark Stablein, who was her support crew with her mother, Kay, husband, Tyler Tisdell, and friend, Keith Munch.
The family tacks on vacation days before and after Anne’s races and will be back in Arizona in 2025 for the Arizona Monster 300 next April.
Our son, Austin, shot video for livestream coverage of Aravaipa Running’s first Cocodona 250 in 2021. He also paced and crewed for his partner, Carrie Henderson, the past two years. This year they ran together to Prescott — mile 78 — arriving in just under 24 hours.
Henderson, 34, of Flagstaff, then picked up her pace and ultimately finished fourth among women, with a
time of 83:37:40.
Austin relied on six pacers to navigate the course and keep him going. That included Alex Lam, Tyler Peterson, Crawford Loper and David Wallace. Kelly Corbett paced Austin on a 21.5-mile leg overnight from Jerome to Deer Pass between Cottonwood and Sedona. Taffy, the family running matriarch at age 71, paced Austin on a 17-mile trek from Fort Tuthill to near Walnut Canyon National Monument.
He finished the race about 1:40 a.m. Friday with a group of friends, family and co-workers from Kahtoola cheering him across the finish line. His time was 92:29:32. It was exhilarating and emotional for me seeing him cross the finish line — with a smile on his face.
“I’m proud of myself for putting in the training,” he said. “There was never a time that I thought I would quit. I felt accountable to everyone who had done all they could to get me to the finish line.”
Aravaipa Running has staged the Cocodona 250 for four years. This year, 250 runners tested their endurance, speed-hiking and running across Arizona mostly on single and double-track trails. Forty-two runners did not finish.
The 250-mile distance is the equivalent of running nine-and-a-half marathons in row.
The youngest finisher was 17-yearold Brody Chisolm of Salem, New Hampshire. He was 12th overall, with a
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Arizona
time of 75:49:52.
Two 73-year-old men completed Cocodona: Michael Koppy in 106:06:16 and Terry Gardiner in 117:30:28.
The punishing Cocodona 250 course traverses Arizona’s Sonoran Desert to alpine terrain with an elevation gain of 40,000 feet and decline of nearly 35,000 feet. It starts with a steep climb into the Bradshaw Mountains to the former mining camp of Crown King at 5,771 feet and down the other side to Prescott. Next is a climb up 7,800-foot Mingus Mountain and down into Jerome.
Runners then cross the Verde Valley into Sedona before an ascent of the Mogollon Rim to Munds Park and on to Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff. The final climb up Mount Elden tops out at 9,300 feet at mile 241, leaving nine miles to the finish line – after several days on the trail with little sleep.
Aravaipa Running also stages the Sedona Canyon 125 and Elden Crest 38, which coincide with the 250-mile race. The Sedona race had 207 runners and the Mount Elden run included 191 participants.
The 650 runners and crews in the three races came from more than 40 states. The majority of them are from Arizona, California, Colorado and other Western states. The field also included 45 international runners.
Discover Flagstaff, the local tourism office and a Cocodona sponsor, sees the
event as enhancing the city’s reputation as a hub of high-altitude endurance training. Since 1996, about 350 Olympians and Paralympians have trained in Flagstaff. Currently, there are seven Olympic teams training in Flagstaff for running, cycling and swimming, said Trace Ward, Discover Flagstaff director.
Cocodona is also an economic boost to Northern Arizona and the communities along the route, including Prescott, Jerome, Cottonwood and Sedona.
Discover Flagstaff estimates the race’s economic impact on Flagstaff at $250,000 from 500 hotel room nights, restaurants and other ancillary spending, Ward said.
Cocodona Race Director Steve Aderholt estimated that Aravaipa Running spent about $325,000 on infrastructure, permits, staffing and contractors to stage the races. FBN
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Meanwhile, entrepreneur Jesslynn Armstrong won Moonshot’s 5th Annual Rural AZ Pitch Flagstaff competition with her Tensegrity Medical concept, a medical device company developing light technology to be used in medical emergencies and clinical practice. “At the heart of our vision is knowing we can make an intelligent difference in the way people heal and tell their story of survival,” said Armstrong, who was awarded $2,000 and the opportunity
to compete in the state pitch contest, Friday, Aug. 2, in Cottonwood.
“Being a woman-owned STEM company, I chose Flagstaff to develop my medical device here, knowing that the talent, industry and resources like POBA Medical, ACT Materials, Heetshield, Machine Solutions, TGen North, W. L. Gore & Associates, etc., would serve my vision and stakeholders best,” she said. “Finishing up second quarter strong with winning the Flagstaff Rural Pitch event gives
Tensegrity Medical the funding to produce the next version of our MVP (most viable product) in time for the state competition in early August.”
Christina Zubieta was awarded second place with her Boop Project, which aims to match shelter dogs with their future owners. Danilo Dominici received third place for his LaundryBud idea – a business designed to take on the laundering
needs of college students.
The city and Moonshot combined efforts to kick off their competitions together on Friday night, May 3, at the Moonshot Flagstaff Campus with a celebration that brought out Flagstaff’s startup community, local stakeholders and more than a dozen competitors.
“The competition featured impressive talent from across the city,” said
Moonshot President and CEO Scott Hathcock. “The event highlighted the innovative spirit of the Flagstaff community and its commitment to sustainability and economic development. Participants and attendees left inspired by the creativity and dedication on display.” FBN
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