INSIDE THE OCTOBER 2021 ISSUE: Hiring Troubles Continue p. 3 Noble Herb Growing p. 4 Robyn Allen is Prescott-Area ATHENA p. 10 FBN Reporter Launches Pilgrimage Guidebook p. 12
Mechanic Urges Attention to Car Care p. 14 Community Profile: Wayne Jones Marks Nearly Five Decades with Bashas’ p. 17
‘Homegrown’ Wind, Solar Energy Project Approved on Babbitt Ranches A legacy of land stewardship and conservation included in agreements
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By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
raising Babbitt Ranches for the way the family business manages its operations and citing the Babbitt family’s long-running reputation for land stewardship and conservation practices, the Coconino County Planning and Zoning
Commission unanimously approved a wind and solar project on Babbitt Ranches about 30 miles north of Flagstaff. The action allows NextEra Energy Resources to move forward with the Babbitt Ranch Renewable Energy Center (BREC, pronounced B-REC) across 669 acres of a nearly 50,000-
acre site, located seven-and-a-half miles southeast of Valle on the CO Bar Ranch, which includes the Babbitts’ private land and State Trust Land.
A DEFINING MOMENT
During the Aug. 25 meeting with the commission, Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco shared a story about the turning point in the company’s 135-
year history. “In 1990, Babbitts was going through a lot of successional changes. One of the things that was happening for Babbitt Ranches was the pressure to sell. We had offers from neighboring entities and there ended up being this big push for 40acre development. Because Babbitts was going through a lot of successional changes, we actually said, ‘We have to say either yes or no to our
FLY FLAGSTAFF FIRST!
Continued on page 40
Study Promotes Flagstaff Among Top Cities for Restaurant Workers
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John Conley, owner of Salsa Brava Mexican Grill and Fat Olives, questions the validity of the report that puts Flagstaff on par with the national average for the cost of living. Photo by Stacey Wittig
October 2021 | Issue 10 Volume 14
By Stacey Wittig, FBN
he Flagstaff metropolitan area ranks second for U.S. metros that provide restaurant workers with the best opportunity for healthy wages, an abundance of jobs and a more affordable cost of living, according to a recent study by moveBuddha.com. The study ranks all U.S. metros to find the best conditions for working in a restaurant as a cook, server or host. The team at moveBuddha.com, which conducted the study, used data for the Flagstaff Metro Area that includes all of Coconino County. The combined metropolitan area has an estimated population of 145,101. Maddie Agee, assistant manager at Agee’s in Munds Park, agrees that the Flagstaff area is a good place to be for restaurant workers. She points to the small-town atmosphere, where it’s easy to make connections; the climate; and the kindness of small business owners and management. “In all honesty, this is a very kind place to work. In the two previous restaurants where I worked, the management was very kind and understanding,” she said. Agee began her career Continued on page 43
CHECK OUT OUR NEW FBN PET NEWS SECTION, COVERING A VARIETY OF SUBJECTS ABOUT OUR FAVORITE FURRY FRIENDS ON PAGE 24
