Experts Weigh In as Regional Real Estate Market Shifts p. 3
Western-Inspired Trailborn Greeting Williams Guests p. 4
Life Coach Offers Strategies for the Life You Want p. 8
Winslow is Open for Business p. 11
Faster, Reliable Internet Coming to Flagstaff p.16
Lucy Leyva is Poised to Clean Up in the Verde Valley p. 24
Economic impact in the millions
By Peter Corbett, FBN
One need not be a cinephile to know Hollywood loves Arizona.
Producers, directors, actors and film crews have traveled a well-worn
path to Arizona for a century to capture the natural beauty of the state’s spectacular landscapes.
The film productions spotlight familiar Northern Arizona scenery with a healthy spinoff, bringing jobs and significant spending to Flagstaff.
“Flagstaff rolls out the red carpet,” said P.J. Connolly, founder of Flagstaff-based Locations Southwest and Production Services. “They want to
bring films here.”
Connolly, a 35-year veteran of working on film shoots, said production crews on feature films have broad impacts all over town.
“They’re building sets, buying lumber, renting vehicles. They’re eating at our restaurants, staying at our hotels, hiring local people, using our airport. So, it’s huge.”
During the filming in 1988 of
“Midnight Run,” starring Robert De Niro and Charles Grodin, the production company booked a large block of rooms at Little America for three weeks, Connolly said.
The company also arranged to let De Niro work out in off hours at Flagstaff Athletic Club, he added. Flagstaff has long been a hub of movie-making for locations all over
Continued on page 39
The labor of love that followed inspired a downtown restoration movement
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
The traveler, Milan Horacek, wandered the halls of the Weatherford Hotel, hungrily absorbing details of the historic building and filled with emotion about visiting the place where Western author Zane Grey stayed and wrote. Grey’s novels fed young Czech boys’ and girls’ imaginations with the spirit of freedom and tales of adventure in the wide-open West.
“My country is crazy about the American West,” he said, noting that Grey’s books were available, even under Communist rule. “As a person who grew up reading about the West and to walk into the place of my favorite author gives
me shivers down my spine. It would be so sad if it didn’t exist.”
“So sad,” was also how Weatherford owner Henry Taylor felt when he learned of the scheduled demise of the once magnificent Victorian building on the corner of Leroux Street and Aspen Avenue. Henry and his brother, Lloyd, who grew up in Holbrook in a historic hotel, combined efforts to purchase and save the building on May 19, 1975.
“There were just transients living here. There was no economic reason to try to save it,” said Henry in a 2007 Arizona Daily Sun article by Betsey Bruner. “It was tough trying to sell history downtown, because no one cared about history, and then we found that picture.”
It was a photo from 1906 that revealed the wrap-around balconies. “They were beautiful, and we learned how hotel guests would enjoy watch-
Navigating the housing market in Flagstaff, the Verde Valley and Prescott
By Mary Marini, FBN
Asurge in available listings across Flagstaff, theVerde Valley and Prescott is reshaping the residential real estate conversation in Northern Arizona. While home prices remain relatively stable, the increased inventory is creating opportunities for buyers – and new challenges for sellers – in a market long known for its limited supply.
Flagstaff is usually a seller’s market, but this year it is getting closer to a balanced market, said Gary Nelson, managing broker of Realty Executives of Northern Arizona and former president of the State Association of Realtors. With inventory up, buyers have more choices now than they’ve had for the last five years.
“The last time we’ve had these numbers was 2019. We’ve seen inventory increase over the past few months, and we are up 21% month over month. There’s a lot more on the market than even a year ago.”
That means sellers need to price their homes right. Overpricing a home in this environment can lead to it becoming stale, which often results in price drops, longer days on the market and less negotiating power.
Nelson predicts prices will remain flat much of the year, with a potential for a slight increase by the end of the year. And while interest rates tend to affect buying power, Nelson says it’s hard to predict what interest rates will do over the next few months given the current economic and political climate.
Chris Hallows, senior loan officer and branch manager at Benchmark Mortgage, agreed. “We’re hoping the 90 days pause on tariffs will play into the market, but some real estate investors are feeling fearful and concerned right now.”
One caveat is the luxury market. Hallows is surprised at how hot that market is in Flagstaff right now, saying it is moving fast and 80%-90% of transactions are cash.
Sellers and buyers in Prescott and the Verde Valley are in unique situations as well.
In Prescott Valley, single-family home listings are up 20% year over year, explained Kayla Stazenski, realtor and president of the Prescott Area
Association of Realtors.
“Naturally, you would see as inventory and days on market go up, it would push toward a buyer’s market, but it’s almost like buyers are not jumping in with both feet because they have a lot to look at,” said Carissa Maxwell, designated broker of Glow Realty in the Quad Cities and Verde Valley.
With more homes on the market, buyers have the time to be choosier, and sellers need to be willing to make concessions, she added. Some sellers are offering concessions like closing cost assistance, interest rate buydowns, or even home warranties – things that were rarely necessary during the peak of the seller’s market.
Maxwell predicts in the next three months appraisals are going to start coming in lower because there isn’t support for inflated prices. She believes people are going to start evaluating what their next move will be – many will take their house off the market, and those who need to move will move.
While this abundance of available homes is in the $400,000-$550,000 range, Stazenski said starter homes, those in the $300,000-400,000 range, are the fastest moving properties right now, with some seeing multiple offers. On the other end of the spectrum, like Flagstaff, the luxury market in Prescott is different. There is demand, but not a lot of luxury homes available. For this market, people are looking in developments like Stringfield, Prescott Lakes, Solstice Ridge and Talking Rock.
But some areas in Northern Arizona are still seeing large growth.
“Out of our whole Yavapai area, Chino Valley is growing the fastest right now,” said Stazenski.
If you’re faced with a move, Stazenski recommends finding a local agent who lives in the market and educating yourself on the market so you can set reasonable expectations.
Nelson agrees. “Find a very good real estate professional and trust their advice, because you will need them.”
As Northern Arizona’s residential real estate market continues to evolve, buyers and sellers are navigating a landscape far different from the frenzied years of the pandemic-era boom. With inventory levels rising and market dynamics shifting, local expertise is more valuable than ever. Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or invest in Flagstaff, Prescott or the Verde Valley, the experts say staying informed – and adaptable – will be key in the months ahead. FBN
By Stacey Wittig, FBN
Castle Peak Holdings recently added Trailborn Grand Canyon to its collection of hotels and resorts strategically placed in supply-constrained outdoor destination markets. Trailborn, a new hospitality brand, focuses on markets including national park gateway towns, beach towns, wine country and ski resorts.
Trailborn Grand Canyon in Williams is the company’s fifth endeavor, joining a portfolio of properties, including those at Highlands and Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina; Estes Park, Colorado; and two soonto-be-opening properties in Mendocino, California.
SUSTAINABLE RENOVATION OF A ROUTE 66 CLASSIC
Trailborn prioritizes renovation and adaptive reuse of existing structures over new construction, which reduces resource consumption and environmental impact. Castle Peak Holdings revamped a classic Route 66 motor lodge and restaurant in Williams, a town known as the Gateway to the Grand Canyon.
Trailborn, which recently earned the Emerging Hotel Concept award from Gold Key Awards for Excellence in Hospitality Design, focuses on designing for the locality.
“It’s midcentury design with futuristic infusion,” said Michael Reardon, general manager, describing Trailborn Grand Canyon’s unique design. “There are little touches that call back to the history, but there are also many technology-infused amenities.”
ranching heritage and its connection to the Grand Canyon. Guest room art features vintage postcards and matchbook covers from
in a desert-inspired color palette.
Continued on page 37
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By Peter Corbett, FBN
It has been an interesting path for Del Uschenko to get to Prescott and find his niche customizing classic American pickup trucks from the 1950s and ‘60s with modern performance gear and vintage style.
Imagine driving a fully restored 1959 Chevy Apache four-wheel drive truck, fueled by a 525-horsepower engine that can outpace a roadrunner. It’s one of Uschenko’s latest builds for his local company, Delmo 4X4.
He grew up in Calgary, Alberta. Eventually, he had a hot rod shop there. He decided in 2009 to move 1,200 miles south to sunny California with his wife, Ola.
“It snows for seven months of the year so it’s a bummer having a nice car there,” he said of Calgary.
The Uschenkos landed on their feet. Ola got a nursing job at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Beverly Hills. Del went to work at Hollywood Hot Rods in Burbank. A year later, he moved to a shared garage nearby with a friend who had the Old Crow Speed Shop.
Next, Uschenko rebuilt a 1965 Chevy C-10 pickup, lowering it but keeping the faded-paint patina and adding larger diameter stock wheels with 10-inch “dog dish” hubcaps.
“Things blew up from there,” he said. “From then on, I was kind of considered a truck guy. It was busy. It was new and it was fresh.”
Hot Rod Magazine in 2013 noted that his unusual style of customizing trucks was “attracting a lot fans.”
Uschenko’s move to Arizona came in 2015 after scouting in Austin – “too humid, too busy.” Colorado was “too wintry.”
“No way were we living in Phoenix – too hot.”
So, they headed north to Prescott.
“We went to Whiskey Row, had some drinks, stayed at the St. Michael’s Hotel and fell in love with the town in one weekend. It was that easy. In five weeks, we had a house.”
Now Uschenko, 53, works from home with three employees wrenching on a handful of old trucks. They currently include:
Two Ford 4WD pickups from 1967 and 1969
1967 Chevy C-10 low rider
1971 4WD Chevy Suburban that has been shortened 8½ inches
1971 Chevy K5 Blazer
Uschenko said he has a yard full of trucks his clients can choose from unless they have an heirloom truck they want restored.
“We decide on a body style and a paint color and I take it from there,” he said, sticking primarily to factory colors.
Options include a custom camper shell and a side of horsepower. It can be a General Motors LS3 engine with 525 horsepower or a super-charged LS3 engine with up to 1,200 horsepower. The LS3 engine, a small-block V8, was used in Corvettes and Camaros until a decade ago.
Regarding the 1959 Chevy Apache Uschenko built, he describes it as his “flagship truck.” He plans to sell the pickup priced at $480,000 but hasn’t figured out the best way to market it. Prices for his restored trucks start at $385,000.
If that seems steep, six-figure prices are not unusual for the most sought-after classic trucks. Velocity Restoration, a high-volume shop in Florida, lists prices for its half-century-old trucks on its website:
$399,900 for a 1977 Ford Bronco.
$309,900 for a 1967 Ford F-100.
$351,900 for a Chevy K5 Blazer.
Uschenko said his Delmo Apache is “so much fun to drive.”
“Unfortunately, it’s almost too nice to take off road but it has the capability to do anything you want.”
The Apache is a toy, not a daily
driver, Uschenko explained.
“These buyers are people who already have a Ferrari. This is a person who has done well and is into cars and just has a soft spot for the old classic pickup trucks. They bring back memories.”
The rebuilt trucks still have roll-up windows, a dimmer switch on the floor and you have to reach across the cab to unlock the door.
“Those are all the things that are romantic about the old trucks.”
The modern upgrades include the fuel-injected LS3 engine, overdrive,
an adjustable suspension, 13-inch disc brakes, air conditioning, a big stereo, backup camera and power side steps.
“We don’t overload the truck with new technology,” Uschenko said. “It’s in there and it works but you can’t really spot it.”
So, what’s on the horizon for Delmo 4x4?
The mechanics plan to work on a 1968 Bronco and restore some crew cab trucks, Uschenko said.
“We want to keep our menu simple, just like In-N-Out Burger. You can have this and this and this.” FBN
Northern Arizona Orthopaedics (NAO) and Dr. Yuri Lewicky are among a select few in the world offering an innovative all-arthroscopic shoulder reconstruction using donated bone and cartilage. This advanced procedure—Arthroscopic Distal Tibial Allograft Bone Augmentation with Cerclage Fixation—rebuilds the shoulder socket using the end of a donor shin bone, eliminating the need for metal implants or harvesting the patient’s own bone.
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“This groundbreaking procedure offers new hope for patients needing more than traditional surgical options,” says Dr. Lewicky, shoulder specialist at NAO.
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The Arizona Commerce Authority offers a wide range of programming to support entrepreneurs and small business owners. Find tools to help launch, operate and scale your business with our online, interactive Small Business Checklist. View webinars in our Small Business Boot Camp to help you master everything from finances, to leadership, to business plans. If you want to improve your digital footprint, our Small Business Digital Academy offers hands-on training to help grow your presence online. Plus, we’ll connect you with fellow Arizona business leaders who can share valuable insights and growth strategies to help you find success. Whether you have questions about getting started or you’re looking for a strategic plan to take your business to the next level, we’re here to help.
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
For those who know in their heart and soul that they are not living the life they were born to live, Donna Whitley has a plan. As a Certified Master Life Coach, Whitley helps her clients climb out of a rut, face fears and break down barriers that are keeping them from their fullest, most joyous lives.
Splitting her time between Arizona and Colorado, Whitley draws from more than 45 years of personal development and communication experience to guide her clients toward a future that matches their true calling.
“This isn’t therapy,” she said. “Therapy focuses on the old story. Coaching deals with your new story.”
Certified through the International Coaching Federation and armed with a master’s degree in communication, Whitley describes coaching as a future-focused journey. “We do a deep dive into where you are right now and where you want to be in the future, what you want your life to look like –and then we address that gap between those two places. We find strategies and practices that help you get to where you want to be.”
At the heart of Whitley’s approach is her signature system that provides a roadmap out of stagnation. Moving clients from frustration to forward motion, she helps them find clarity about what they truly want.
“Getting clear about what we really want out of our life is so important and it’s something that we really don’t ask ourselves very often. Women, especially, are often taking care of other people and we lose knowing what brings us joy, what brings us love and what brings us to a place that makes us feel alive. Sometimes we need to go back to childhood to see what brought us joy, because it’s been so suppressed for so long.”
She helps clients become more aware about how they talk to themselves and others, and particularly the language they are using. “I was working with a young gal whose hopes and dreams were many. But she said she didn’t want to make too much money. After several statements like that, I asked, ‘Is that really what you want? You don’t want money?’ She said, ‘No! That’s not it at all. I didn’t realize I was saying that!’”
Another key focus in her coaching practice is identity. “We start with the words ‘I am…’ and flow with it.”
One of her clients was a woman who recently lost her husband. Whitley says she was grappling with her grief and also “at a complete loss for who she was,” now that she wasn’t part of a couple that had been together for decades.
“Through coaching, she finally gave herself enough grace to take some brave steps in honor of her husband and come out of her house to do the things she loved doing with acceptance for that grief and that change. ‘Who am I now?’ is a really difficult question and it’s important to have someone by your side who believes in you when you’re having trouble believing in yourself.”
MEETING YOUR PRIORITY BULLY
Whitley cautions that getting overwhelmed and distracted by tasks, other
people’s priorities and imagined emergencies can keep us from living the life we want. “Sometimes we fear our own greatness, or we take on other people’s priority and deem it more important than our own or we may believe that a clean house is more important than moving toward the person we want to be.”
And that’s when we need a Priority Bully. “Notice I didn’t say ‘priorities,’” said Whitley. “I’m talking priority, as in one. We may not be aware that having more than one priority is even an issue, but multi-task thinking and doing can steal days and months from our progress if we let it. Having more than one priority scrambles the eggs of our brain.”
TheTheThe Priority Bully becomes a persona to make us sit and do the thing we need to do, she says. “If you try to get up to do something else, it will stand at the door and say, ‘No, no, no, no, no, no, no no. Go back to your desk and finish this project’ or whatever it is. This Priority Bully will punch other priorities in the nose. It takes a really aggressive stance on helping you do what you want to do for yourself. So, you call in this bully to handle all these distractions that come into play. She’s pretty effective!”
Whitley also encourages setting hard deadlines, hiring others to take on some of our tasks and challenging ourselves to do the things we don’t want to do, faster. “I want our not-to-do lists to be longer than our to-do lists.”
Whitley’s passion for empowering others stretches back to childhood. She recalls creating vision boards as a kindergartner and leading meditation circles with her friends at age 10. “I have always believed we can create our own reality,” she said. “I just needed to find the courage to fully step into that truth.”
After decades of studying, she launched her coaching business five years ago, shedding the fear that had kept her on the sidelines. Today, she sees her work not as a job, but as a
calling to serve others by helping them discover their own worth, creativity and power.
“I believe we are all meant for more,” she said. “It is my mission to help people claim the exciting, fulfilling lives they were born to live.” FBN
Hear more from Master Life Coach Donna
Whitley on Zonie Living at Star Worldwide Networks, https://starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/getting-unstuck-becoming-who-we-are-meant-to-be-withlife-coach-donna-whitley-video
She can be reached at donna@donnawhitleylifecoaching.com and followed on Instagram at dwhittles33.
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By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Janet Yazzie, who hails from a long line of weavers and sheepherders, represents the first generation of her Diné family to bring artwork to shows. At Coconino Community College’s 20th annual Palette to Palate, Yazzie, adorned in traditional turquoise and silver jewelry, was as comfortable painting on display as she was in the warmth of her family’s hogan as a child, surrounded by family and love.
Drawing inspiration from her Native roots, Yazzie floods her canvases with vibrant contemporary portrayals of landscapes, night skies and Navajo traditions. On this Friday evening, April 25, Yazzie dotted her oil painting with stars of the Milky Way, stretching above a humble hogan, an original piece in the making that charmed the hundreds of attendees and
brought in $1,650 for the CCC art program and student scholarships in a spirited live auction.
“My art represents a deep reverence for the world’s wonders,” said Yazzie, who earned her associate degree from CCC. “I strive to capture the essence of life’s beauty that surrounds us.”
Randall Wilson, also a Diné artist, completed an original painting during the event, which he, too, donated to CCC for the auction. “The gift of giving is an act we do every day,” he said. “I went to school to learn to paint here. This is my way of giving back.”
His vibrant stagecoach scene created over a canvas of old newspapers advertising a Pow Wow and rodeo was purchased by retired Coconino County Manager and former CCC Foundation Director Steve Peru. “The event is
Continued on page 36
// BY STAN BINDELL, FBN
Winslow Mayor Roberta “Birdie” Wilcox Cano is on a mission to grow the economy in the town and clear any obstacles out in the way.
Mayor Wilcox Cano, who is starting her third term, said Winslow is wide open for business. One challenge, however, is that the town needs more electric power to support major employers. To resolve this, she and others are working with APS.
“We’ll figure this out because we have everything else in place. We have the land and we have the water, thanks to having one of the largest aquifers in the state nearby.”
She is also focused on creating more opportunities that will make young people want to stay in town or return to town after going to college. She notes that the Northland Pioneer College Winslow branch offers classes in trades, such as welding,
that students can take while in high school, so that when they graduate, they will have a high school diploma and an associate degree. And, she adds, when a major employer comes to town, NPC will be there to help train employees for those careers.
She wants this not only for Winslow, but for the neighboring Navajo and Hopi nations. Wilcox Cano is the first Native American mayor in Winslow and proud of it. She is Navajo, San Juan Pueblo, Scottish and Irish.
“Tribal people often don’t feel like they have a seat at the table,” she said.
“I’m not a politician, but I saw things that needed to change. Whether you’re Native American, a woman, or any minority or any marginalized group, you want to be able to feel that you can be a trailblazer. We’ve got some great ideas.”
After she graduated from Winslow
High School, she left the area because she felt there wasn’t much of a future for her in Winslow. She doesn’t want today’s youth to have that same feeling. She went to work for the Arizona Department of Corrections in Yuma and married a police officer. That, she says, made it easy for her to return home and find employment because of the state prison in Winslow.
Wilcox Cano recalls that in the 1990s, Winslow experienced an economic downturn when Interstate 40 bypassed Winslow and motorists no longer had to drive through town. Many of the buildings were closed and boarded up.
However, Winslow began an economic comeback in about 1999 when the Standing on the Corner Park was constructed. The Eagles’ lyric “… standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona…” in the hit song, “Take It
Continued on page 35
Did you know...
Atria Restaurant is committed to sustainability through its sourcing practices which includes being mindful of fishing practices, as well as ethically and responsibly sourcing beef, fowl, gourmet commodities and local produce?
Tourism puts an estimated 8,000 people to work every day in Flagstaff.*
*Source: 2018 Visitor Intercept Study
Every Flagstaff household receives a $1,331 in tax relief related to visitor spend.*
*Data is based on research and opinions of the industry data analytics expert Dean Runyan Associates.
National Tourism Week May 4-10, 2025
Mark Chapman, M.D., has been awarded Flagstaff Medical Center’s (FMC) 2025 Nate Avery Physician of the Year award. The award aims to select a physician who not only excels at patient care, but who goes above and beyond in patient experience and quality, and is an engaged member of the community. Dr. Chapman is a board-certified anesthesiologist at NAH, where he serves as chairman for anesthesia on FMC’s Medical Executive Committee. Dr. Chapman is also chairman of the credentials committee and he previously served as the chief of staff at FMC, where he was on the board of directors in 2008. He has worked as an anesthesiologist in Flagstaff for more than 25 years.
This distinguished award is named after Nate Avery, a neurosurgeon born and raised in Flagstaff who also practiced at FMC. Dr. Avery passed away in 2012, leaving behind a legacy of kindness, empathy and giving. This legacy continues to influence the values and culture of Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH).
“We are so proud to honor Dr. Chapman with this esteemed award.
He is such an incredible physician and is always at the forefront of his field with the incredible amount of knowledge he holds,” said NAH Chief Medical Officer Rachel Levitan, M.D. “Dr. Chapman is well respected by his peers and always takes on the most difficult and challenging cases. His dedication to his patients and his amazing attitude that is always on display have shown that he is the most deserving person to receive this year’s award.”
Dr. Chapman earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee and his undergraduate degree from Utah State University in Logan, Utah. He went on to complete a residency in anesthesiology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. He is board certified in anesthesiology by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
FMC colleagues nominated physicians who exemplify these values and submitted comments with their nominations. FBN
FireFlight, an innovative tech startup specializing in wildfire risk management and AI business solutions, is celebrating its grand opening at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 28, at Moonshot Headquarters, 2225 N. Gemini Dr. Two free educational business workshops featuring artificial intelligence will follow.
Founded in 2023, FireFlight provides dual expertise in wildfire prevention and AI business solutions. The company uses drone technology and AI analysis to create comprehensive wildfire protection plans for homeowners and businesses, while its technology division delivers AI consulting, training and automation services to help local businesses thrive in an increasingly digital space.
“Our presence at Moonshot reflects our commitment to Flagstaff’s economic development and climate resilience,” said FireFlight founder Ariel Strong. “We use technology to help residents and businesses protect their homes and livelihoods from wildfires, and to empower them to grow their businesses during a time of rapid change.”
The morning workshop, “The AI Advantage for Small Businesses: So
Much More Than Just Marketing,” will provide small business owners with an overview of the many ways artificial intelligence can enhance their day-today operations across a wide range of business functions. To register, visit fireflight-ai-advantage.eventbrite.com.
The afternoon session, “Essential Tools for Real Estate Professionals: Help Your Clients Understand and Navigate Wildfire Risk,” is designed to equip real estate agents, home inspectors and mortgage lenders with the communication strategies and information they need to answer client questions and address their concerns about wildfire risks, including home insurability and the cost of mitigating properties. To register, visit fireflight-essentialtools.eventbrite.com.
“These workshops are our way to share our experience and expertise while introducing FireFlight to the community,” said Strong. Space for each workshop is limited and registration is required. Both include complimentary refreshments and networking opportunities for attendees. FBN
For more information, call Ariel Strong at 928-419-1081.
Team NAH offers a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to hea and vascular care.
Our range of services includes:
• Consultation with doctors who specialize in different types of diseases and conditions.
• Noninvasive testing.
• Interventional and minimally invasive surgical procedures.
• Cardiac rehabilitation.
• Sleep medicine.
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• A cardiovascular disease prevention program.
Our experienced providers are located in Flagstaff and Co onwood, ensuring that you receive high-quality health care services close to home.
To make an appointment:
Cardiovascular Institute - Flagstaff Cardiology Clinic: 928-226-6400
Cardiovascular Institute - Flagstaff Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery Clinic: 928-773-2332
Cardiovascular Institute - Camp Verde, Co onwood, Sedona and Village of Oak Creek Clinics: 928-634-3278
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Local leaders, residents and business representatives gathered at the Flagstaff Aquaplex on Wednesday, April 9, to celebrate the groundbreaking of a major broadband project that promises to reshape connectivity across the city.
Wecom Fiber, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff, officially launched construction on a $5 million high-speed, multi-gigabit fiber network that will serve 34 municipal facilities, including City Hall, public libraries, recreation centers, fire stations and more. The project is funded through a $2 million grant from the city and $3 million in private investment from Wecom.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Becky Daggett said the announcement represents more than the start of a construction project. “It marks the beginning of a new era for Flagstaff. With the groundbreaking of this fiber broadband network, we
are laying the foundation for a more connected city. This is an investment in innovation, and it is going to change the way that we serve our community.”
Mayor Daggett emphasized that the new fiber network will support vital public services such as traffic management and public safety systems, while also helping to bridge the digital divide.
“Fiber to the home means more than just fast internet; it means better access to education, to healthcare, to job opportunities. It means ensuring every family in our city has a fair shot at success in the digital age,” she said.
Beyond the municipal network, Wecom says it is investing approximately $40 million in private capital to expand fiber broadband service to virtually every home and business in Flagstaff, with full project completion expected within three years.
Wecom CEO Paul Fleming said his wife’s grandfather started the family
Continued on page 30
May 11th,2025 | 10:00 AM- 3:00 PM
Every day, prepared.
Wildfire preparation helps to protect 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.
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• We provide access to several specialized and competitive markets.
• Our local office provides the opportunity for in-person consultations and superior customer service
When the Kayenta and Black Mesa coal mines closed, many Hopi and Navajo families lost a key source of fuel for home heating. With coal no longer available, some turned to gathering firewood – an effort complicated by land-use restrictions and limited resources.
On the Navajo Nation, firewood collection is often restricted to designated clan lands, and removing wood from another’s allotment is not tolerated. While some Hopi mesas have forested areas, wood is often scarce, and cutting live trees is discouraged by traditional beliefs.
• Top 100 P/C Agency for 7 consecutive years
• Dedication to continuing education with changing markets and new programs
• A vast amount of insurance resources with offices in six states.
• Crest gives back to the community and we sponsor countless organizations.
www.crestins.com
To help fill the gap, volunteers and organizations are stepping up. The Coconino National Forest, which regularly thins trees to reduce wildfire risk, allows individuals and nonprofits to collect cut wood through its firewood permit system.
The National Forest Foundation (NFF) partners with the U.S. Forest Service to supply firewood through its “Wood for Life” program, managed locally by Sean Etsitty. The program recently suffered funding cuts, limiting its ability to serve tribal communities.
In response, a Flagstaff-based volunteer group, Sky Blue, expanded its grassroots firewood
delivery effort. Led by longtime Navajo Nation science educator Bryan Bates, the group has delivered 28 cords of firewood this season to elders in communities including Moenkopi, Bacavi, Shungopavi, Cameron, Tuba City, Chilchimbito and Leupp.
“Meeting a basic need like warmth shouldn’t be out of reach for anyone,” Bates said, who initiated the program and would cut and deliver about four cords per season to villages such as Tolani Lake and Leupp. “This is just neighbors helping neighbors.”
Volunteers sourced wood from the Coconino National Forest and from trees removed at Lowell Observatory to make room for its Discovery Astronomy Center. Distributions are made without cost or expectation and delivered to village elders, who then share it among community members.
Participants in the Sky Blue effort include Bruce Auld, Bruce Donelson, Gary Lee, Frank Branham, Debbie Hill, Julie Elliott, Andre Potochnik, Russ Rouse, Charlie Silver and others. FBN
For more information about the Sky Blue, contact Bates at b2bates@earthlink.net.
By Devon Forrest
Getting sober is difficult for anyone. Add pregnancy or being a new mom to the picture while facing an especially high cost of living, and the challenge seems insurmountable.
At The Guidance Center, we’re seeking to engage women who may benefit from a pilot program called Moms and Babies. In partnership with Arizona Complete Health and AHCCCS, the program covers expenses related to therapy, housing, childcare, peer support and other needs.
We want new and expecting mothers to feel
truly supported on the recovery journey with a team focused on helping them toward a new way of living. If you or someone you know in Coconino County may benefit from the Moms and Babies program, please reach out to us at The Guidance Center. We’re ready to help ease the burden.
An added benefit of Moms and Babies is our dedicated staff who will assist women in navigating the often-complex systems of health care, insurance and social services. This pilot program offers a package of services using a whole-family approach.
Moms and Babies services are offered on our
Moms and Babies services are offered on our Flagstaff campus as well as other community-based settings including the Coconino County Detention Facility. This flexible, inclusive model ensures that those who most need assistance are not left behind.
Flagstaff campus as well as other community-based settings including the Coconino County Detention Facility. This flexible, inclusive model ensures that those who most need assistance are not left behind.
If you’re reading this and are curious about becoming free from substance use, The Guidance Center is here for you. Not everyone will be part of our Moms and Babies program, but we have many avenues of support for you or your loved ones. With 56 years of experience helping our neighbors, our inpatient and outpatient programs support members as they work to change their lives and habits related to substance use. FBN
Devon Forrest is the CEO of The Guidance Center, located at 2187 N. Vickey St., in Flagstaff. For more information, call 928-527-1899 or visit tgcaz.org.
Moms and Babies is made possible by SAMHSA Grant 1H79TI087171-01. Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the official policies or contractual requirements of the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) or the Department of Health and Human Services; nor do mentioned trade names, commercial practices or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
By Misti Warner-Andersen
Northern Arizona’s unpredictable high-desert climate means cultivating tomatoes can be both a unique challenge and a deeply satisfying success. Whether you’re cultivating a backyard garden or container plants on your patio, the key to a thriving tomato harvest lies in choosing the right varieties, using proper techniques, and understanding local conditions.
And if you’re passionate about tomatoes, there’s even more to love: these garden staples have a fascinating history and global footprint that might just surprise you.
To get the most from our short tomato-growing season, select plants that perform well in cooler climates or have a shorter maturation period, such as Early Girl, Siberian, Better Boy, Celebrity and Stupice.
Sungold and Sweet 100 are cherry tomatoes known for their sweet flavor and rapid yield.
Tomato Trivia: Tomatoes come in a wide array of colors – including yellow, orange, green, purple, black and striped varieties. Try some Black Brandywine heirlooms or bite-sized Sungold varieties.
Getting a healthy crop in this region means being mindful of elevation, frost dates and water conservation. Start indoors (either seeds or seedlings) and transplant only after the danger of frost has passed (typically by midJune). For unseasonably cold weather, frost
cloth, water-filled season extenders or cold frames can help shield your plants. Irrigating wisely will help your plants thrive, and we always advise using a drip irrigation system, which ensures deeper, more even watering while conserving this precious resource.
We also suggest rotating your crops and avoiding planting tomatoes in the same soil year after year. It will make your garden more productive and reduce the risk of disease buildup.
Tomato Trivia: Tomatoes have been cultivated since at least 700 A.D., originating in South and Central America. The Aztecs were among the first to grow them for food. Thomas Jefferson was an early champion of tomatoes in America, growing them at Monticello and helping to popularize their use in American cooking.
Northern Arizona growers can expect a few bumps in the road during the growing season:
Cool Weather Yellowing or Purple Leaves: Usually a sign of phosphorus deficiency that corrects itself as the soil warms.
Pests like Aphids and Whiteflies: Use insecticidal soap or remove them manually.
Fungal Issues such as Early Blight: Remove infected plants promptly to prevent spread.
Tomato Trivia: For a very long time, tomatoes were considered poisonous in Europe and were prized more as a decorative plant instead of a food source – even in Italy! There are multiple reasons why. Botanists were worried because they (correctly) identified tomato plants as being related to deadly nightshade. Meanwhile, the acid in tomatoes caused lead to leach out of pewter plates, which did indeed cause illness, even if it wasn’t the tomato’s fault.
Warner’s Nursery is proud to present Tomatopalooza, our annual Memorial Day weekend event celebrating all things tomato! It’s a chance for gardeners of all levels to come together, browse dozens of tomato varieties and get expert tips on maximizing their harvest. We’ll have helpful staff
on hand, tomato-themed specials and all the supplies you need to make your tomato season a success.
Tomato Trivia: Last piece of tomato trivia for you. Tomatoes have been to space. American astronaut Frank Rubio cultivated the red beauty on the International Space Station. The Ziploc bag containing his harvest disappeared, however (and Rubio was even accused of eating it), but it turned out that in the weightlessness of space travel, it floated away and got lost. It was eventually found and Rubio was cleared of any vine crimes!
The big takeaway from Rubio’s story is that with a little patience, some planning, and the right guidance, you can pretty much grow tomatoes anywhere – even in Northern Arizona.
So, let’s get growing and we look forward to seeing you at Tomatopalooza! 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.
By Jeff Lane, Au.D.
The world of hearing aids can be intimidating. With the multiple manufacturers and models, it can feel akin to purchasing a vehicle.
A minority of adults with hearing loss are actually fit with hearing aids, while the average length of time between noticing an issue and seeking treatment is seven years. Fortunately, licensed providers are available to act as guides, with guides being the key words. While providers are very knowledgeable and reliable sources, the question of which type of hearing aid is best suited for an individual is highly dependent on lifestyle and desires. Selecting amplification should be a collaborative experience.
At the most basic level, one must choose between hearing aids that are contained entirely within the ear or those that sit on top of the ear. One style is not superior to the other in terms of sound quality or processing power, but each does have its own advantages and disadvantages.
An in-the-ear (ITE) style is custom-molded to fit the patient’s ears specifically. Thus, an ITE aid can be quite comfortable and easy to insert for those with dexterity or vision issues. They can also be more discrete, depending on the size of the shell, if cosmetics are a concern. However, as they completely fill the ear canal, patients with better hearing in the low frequencies can feel “plugged up,” and experience difficulty adjust-
At the most basic level, one must choose between hearing aids that are contained entirely within the ear or those that sit on top of the ear. One style is not superior to the other in terms of sound quality or processing power, but each does have its own advantages and disadvantages.
ing to their own voice. ITEs can also be more fragile and are not a viable option for those with chronic middle ear issues.
The other style is one that has the hearing aid resting on top of the ear between the skull and pinna. Sound is delivered to the ear canal via either a thin wire (receiver-in-the-canal, or RIC) or tubing and an earmold (behind-the-ear, or BTE). The degree of hearing loss may act as the determining factor on occasion, as those with a profound hearing loss would need the power that a BTE aid provides. However, most patients should be able to use a RIC aid.
An RIC aid is advantageous in that it does not fill the entire canal, providing for a more natural sound quality. They are also highly durable and easy to maintain. One feature exclusive to non-ITE aids is the option of a rechargeable battery. Disadvantages of this style are that it can be more difficult to put on and it can be more visible. The cost difference is usually negligible between ITE and non-ITE aids.
HOW FANCY SHOULD THEY BE?
Once the style is chosen, the next decision is level of technology. As with any electronics, there is a range
of how advanced hearing aids can be. Noise is going to be the most important factor in choosing a level. All levels of hearing aids produced by a given manufacturer will provide the same sound quality and amplify 360 degrees when in quiet surroundings. Thus, if the patient is elderly and spends the majority of waking hours watching TV, entry-level hearing aids will suffice.
Those who are younger and are in more challenging listening environments will derive more satisfaction from a fancier aid. First, there are going to be more programs and algorithms available for reducing background and wind noise. For example, a standard-level aid may have three programs designed to improve listening ability in noise and nothing to filter out wind. The advanced level may have five programs and an algorithm for wind, and premium even more.
Second, the fancier a hearing aid becomes, the more automatic its function. All levels possess an automatic program that allows the hearing to analyze your environment and self-adjust. A fancier hearing aid will have more modes from which it can
automatically choose. In essence, the artificial intelligence becomes more precise.
Finally, higher-level hearing aids have more directionality. An entry-level aid will either amplify all around the patient or directly in front of them. But what if the room is noisy and the talker is off to the right? More advanced hearing aids are able to focus on specific points around the body, with the number of points correlated with the level.
A hearing health provider can offer tailored guidance and answer questions about the minutiae. But the above can function as a primer for the start of the research process. Possessing a firm grasp of amplification needs and desires will help ensure the best possible outcome. 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
By Donna Werking
Prescott Frontier Days, Inc. is thrilled to announce tickets are on sale now at www.worldsoldestrodeo.com via the only valid third-party ticket vendor, Rodeo Tickets. 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.
With record-breaking rodeo attendances over the last three 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 has been joining the Prescott rodeo for more than two decades; Rockin’ Robbie Hodg-
es, known for his amusing acts as a rodeo clown; the Riata Ranch Cowboy Cowgirls, a fan favorite and talented ladies who master trick riding, and Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Announcer Randy Corley, joined by Co-Announcer James Horcasitas, to highlight the eight performances. Finally, the stock contractor that makes the Prescott Rodeo go ‘round, Vold Pro Rodeo Company. Kirsten Vold and her team of pick-up men, Ty Atchison and Dalton Ward, bring the Prescott rodeo together and offer a show that continues to draw new rodeo fans and audiences to the Prescott area every Fourth of July.
The downtown annual rodeo parade, themed “Women in Rodeo,” is set to take place at 9 a.m., Saturday, July 5, in downtown Prescott, sponsored by Barrett Propane. During the rodeo parade, we will celebrate the grand marshal honoree and many female rodeo representatives to be featured in this year’s rodeo. Join us as we celebrate the enduring spirit of Western traditions at the World’s Oldest Rodeo!
PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, INC. WORLD’S OLDEST RODEO
SCHEDULE: 2025
Performance 1 Monday, June 30, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Daily Courier
Performance 2 Tuesday, July 1, 7:30 p.m. Ridin for a Cure Sponsored by National Bank of AZ
Performance 3 Wednesday, July 2, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by York Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Performance 4 Thursday, July 3, 7:30 p.m. First Responders Sponsored by Cinch Jeans
Performance 5 Friday, July 4, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Jack Daniels
Performance 6 Saturday, July 5, 1:30 p.m. Military Tribute Sponsored by Patriot Pest & Termite Control
Performance 7 Saturday, July 5, 7:30 p.m. Sponsored by Coors
Performance 8 Sunday, July 6, 1:30 p.m. Sponsored by Nackard Pepsi
MUTTON BUSTIN’ | PRESCOTT RODEO GROUNDS
Monday, June 30, 6 p.m.
Tuesday, July 1, 6 p.m.
Wednesday, July 2, 6 p.m.
Thursday, July 3, 6 p.m.
Friday, July 4, 6 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 12 p.m.
Saturday, July 5, 6 p.m.
Sunday, July 6, 12 p.m.
RODEO DAYS FINE ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW SPONSORED BY THE PRESCOTT DOWNTOWN PARTNERSHIP
Friday, July 4 – 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, July 5 - 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, July 6 - 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Continued on page 35
Annual celebration returns to Cottonwood’s Riverfront Park with wineries, local fare, live music
By VVBN Staff
Wine lovers and festivalgoers will once again flock to Cottonwood’s Riverfront Park this spring as the Verde
Valley Wine Festival makes its highly anticipated return 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 10. Now in its seventh year, the popular event will bring together more than 20 wineries from across the
Verde Valley and beyond. Attendees can sip their way through some of Arizona’s finest wine selections while enjoying craft beer, spirits, food from local eateries, live music and artisan shopping – all set against the scenic backdrop of Riverfront Park at 1284 E. River Front Road.
“This event is the best way to celebrate Mother’s Day,” said Festival
Continued on page 27
By Stan Bindell, VVBN
Fifteen years after launching the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s first Earth Day event, David Lewis says the annual gathering continues to grow in both participation and purpose.
Lewis, manager of the tribe’s Environmental Protection Department, created the event to promote environmental awareness while strengthening tribal and community partnerships.
This year’s celebration, held Saturday, April 5, welcomed representatives from the region, including the Town of Camp Verde, APS, Home Depot, the Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance and the Sierra Club.
“The challenges that tribal people in the desert Southwest are concerned about are climate change, surface water and groundwater,” Lewis said. “This was a good time to bring green vendors
together to talk about environmental issues.”
Lewis said the event highlights the importance of shared responsibility when it comes to protecting natural resources.
“We want to promote the health of the environment by bringing everybody together, tribal and non-tribal,” he said. “The livelihood of everyone is dependent on the environment because we all need clean air and clean water.
Everybody can help. Conserving water is just one example.”
The event featured Native American song and dance, with Yavapai-Apache Nation member Sean Lody serving as DJ. “This is my first year here. I think it’s a great event because it brings the community together,” he said.
Also participating was 9-year-old Savannah Prigmore, known as Little Miss Yavapai-Apache Nation.
Continued on page 26
By Heidi Dahms Foster, VVBN
As a single mom, Lucy Leyva began her residential cleaning business as its lone employee. Today, 20 years later, Prescott Maid to Order has more than 80 workers and Leyva is planning to expand into the Verde Valley.
At the beginning, Leyva said, she knew that she wanted to create a business and she needed one that did not require a lot of investment money for startup. She also wanted to stay connected to people and the community. “I love people,” the former Prescott Valley Town councilmember said. “This is a great business and a great service to provide.”
Leyva began cleaning one house every other week, and then another house every month. Her business grew enough that she hired another person, then another, and soon, her customer base was rapidly growing.
“At some points in the growth of the business, I was overwhelmed because I had to do the cleaning, the estimating and answer the phones,” she said. “I was the one in charge of everything. I had no experience with human resources, marketing, taxes or accounting. I had to learn all those things. The cleaning was the easy part, but learning the rest of it was kind of hard. And managing people, that’s a big thing.”
She learned quickly and put into place a foundation that serves the
business and its employees. “This is a business of trust, because you’re letting people into your home, so we have to establish a relationship where you feel comfortable.”
New employees learn the company’s mission and vision, policies and procedures and each attends the
Leyva said she feels every customer should be treated with care. “Everyone is different and they have different pet peeves. Some people say, ‘just focus on the floors.’ For others, it’s the bathrooms or the showers. It’s a very personal service, because your home is your sacred space,” she said. “The little things can really free up space in your mind when they are taken care of. It’s a great service to have and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful.” //
Maid to Order “Cleaning Academy” program. Leyva maintains files on all customers, so cleaners know customers’ preferences before beginning a job. Employees work in teams and when each team leaves the office in Maid to Order vehicles, customers are notified that they are on their way and a photo of the team is provided.
Leyva said she feels every customer should be treated with care. “Everyone is different and they have different pet peeves. Some people say, ‘just focus on the floors.’ For others, it’s the bathrooms or the showers. It’s a very personal service, because your home is your sacred space,” she said. “The little things can really free up space in your mind when they are taken care of. It’s a great service to have and I think that’s why we’ve been so successful.”
She also has built a loyal employee base. “We all have to work, and we all deserve to be working in a place where you’re treated right, and you
get paid fairly. We eliminate a lot of employee issues before they start because we treat our employees well.”
Prescott Maid to Order serves a large area on the west side of Mingus Mountain, so Leyva says expansion into the Verde Valley on the east side is an easy decision. “It’s just adding a territory. We already go to Sedona for new constructions and vacation rentals.”
Today, the full spectrum of Prescott Maid to Order services includes residential, new construction and vacation rental cleaning, and janitorial services through MTO Janitorial. The business manages an average of 60 jobs per day, with teams handling four to six houses each.
Even though Prescott Maid to Order has grown exponentially, Leyva said it has been – and still is – rewarding. She has loved meeting people and getting to know them better through their homes. “You go into people’s homes and see their
personality through their decor, their pictures, their history.”
She wants people to know that Prescott Maid to Order is here to stay and that it’s a family- oriented business providing employment to local people. “We’re taking care of each other, taking care of people. I’ve been able to create systems and ways to make it so personal and train our cleaners how to care,” she said.
Leyva credits the longtime support of her two now grown children, Abraham and Helen, who assist her in her other business, the Warehouse Event Center in Prescott Valley, for making it possible for her to use her time for creating and working on projects. “It feels super amazing,” She is also grateful for her loyal customers. “I’m really thankful because people trust us.” VVBN
For more, visit prescottmaidtoorder.com.
// BY V. RONNIE TIERNEY, VVBN
Descendant Jerry ‘Geronimo’ Martin shares his story
When Jerry “Geronimo” Martin speaks about his famous ancestor, he’s not sharing folklore – his goal is to set the record straight.
The great-great grandson of the legendary Apache warrior and medicine man Geronimo, Martin has made it his life’s mission to tell the true story behind the man often misunderstood by history books.
“What makes my grandfather the greatest warrior is that he was the last to stand for what he believed,” said Martin. “There are so many newspaper stories about Geronimo that are inaccurate. I want to tell the truth.”
Geronimo, born in 1829, endured unthinkable loss when his wife, mother and three children were murdered. “He also fought for his people because he wanted to live as they always had lived,” Martin said. “Not under the watchful eye of the government on a reservation. He
didn’t want sustenance; he wanted to hunt and grow his food like it used to be.”
Martin travels the country speaking at historical societies, state parks, libraries, museums, schools and military events. “It is a promise I made to my grandmother, known as Lil Granma,” he said.
“Jerry brings his ancestral stories to life,” said Nate Meyers, director of the Sedona Heritage Museum. “He’s so passionate and he has a good story to tell. The audience really gets a good sense of Geronimo, the person, rather than Geronimo, the myth.”
Martin was born in Boulder, Colorado. His mother, who contracted tuberculosis at age 14, met his father – a married man with children – while in an infirmary. She became pregnant at 17. “Because she wasn’t released from the hospital, my grandmother came from the San Carlos Reservation [in southeastern Arizona] to raise me,” Martin said. “My mom was released three years later.”
He affectionately called his grandmother “Lil Granma” because she was just shy of five feet tall.
At 18, Martin joined the Navy and was assigned to the Marine Corps as a hospital corpsman, serving as a medic for four years in Vietnam with the artillery unit known as the I/9 Walking Dead. “We suffered the
most casualties of any other unit in Vietnam military history,” he said. “There was a bounty put on us by the president of North Vietnam.”
After his eight years the military, Martin earned degrees in computer
science and business administration. He worked as a truck driver for 25 years before transitioning into the fiber optics industry. “With my background in fiber optics, I also
Continued on page 27
By Tawny Yaw
Kickboxing is a martial arts-inspired workout that focuses on punching, kicking and footwork against a sparring partner, a punching bag, or by shadow boxing. This sport offers numerous health benefits, including stress relief, mood enhancement, increased self-confidence, self-defense skills, weight loss, improved strength, muscle tone, health, coordination, balance and
flexibility.
Kickboxing helps relieve stress by channeling aggression on to a bag, melting away any tension you might be holding on to. By learning valuable self-defense techniques, you’ll develop a sense of security and empowerment, boosting your self-confidence. These skills can be incredibly useful in real-world situations, providing you with the ability to protect yourself if needed.
Kickboxing is also an excellent
Kickboxing classes provide a fun environment, filled with supportive people who often encourage each other, help with accountability and focus, and have a great time while working toward individual goals. The camaraderie and support you’ll find in a kickboxing class can make all the difference in achieving your fitness goals.
choice for weight management. It engages multiple muscle groups, resulting in improved strength and muscle tone. Research shows that an average person who weighs 155 pounds can burn 372 calories during just 30 minutes of kickboxing. That makes it an efficient and effective way to burn calories and shed unwanted pounds.
Studies have shown that kickboxing has even helped patients manage their MS (Multiple Sclerosis) symptoms by strengthening and toning targeted muscle groups. Regular aerobic exercise can also improve your joint health with increased synovial fluid production, strengthened muscles around the joints and improved range of motion. This can lead to increased mobility and reduced pain for those suffering from joint issues.
Participating in three one-hour long kickboxing classes per week has also been shown to have great benefits for your heart health and lung function because of the increase in the maximum oxygen uptake (or VO2Max), which is your body’s cardiovascular endurance level, reducing your risk of chronic conditions,
such as heart disease. By improving your cardiovascular health, you’ll experience increased energy levels and overall well-being.
Kickboxing classes provide a fun environment, filled with supportive people who often encourage each other, help with accountability and focus, and have a great time while working toward individual goals. The camaraderie and support you’ll find in a kickboxing class can make all the difference in achieving your fitness goals.
Kickboxing enhances your overall physical and mental well-being through the natural release of endorphins. Additionally, the incorporated stretches and core exercises enhance your coordination, flexibility and balance. You may find yourself feeling more relaxed and focused, which benefits all aspects of your life.
HERE
Proper form is very important in exercise. Practice punching and kicking movements in slow motion before increasing your
speed. Slowing down the speed can help prevent injury and improve form. Just a little bit of practice can help you gain confidence for your first class.
Practice staying on the balls of your feet. The balls of your feet will offer more stability and balance as you transition from one movement to another.
Engage your core. This is a good habit to build for most exercise movements. Core engagement helps create force and resistance while punching.
Don’t extend your limbs fully during movements. When you throw a punch or a kick, stop the extension just before full extension for optimal form and to prevent hyperextension injuries.
Most importantly, have fun and let go of any perceptions of what you look like. Proper form and technique come with years of maintaining regular practice. Every one of us starts somewhere. VVBN
Several organizations shared resources to encourage environmental action. Diane Scantlebury, a volunteer coordinator for Tree City USA in Camp Verde, said the program provides grants for planting trees on public land. It also promotes tree planting on private property.
“We inform the public about the best type of plants, shrubs and trees to grow in their area,” said Scantlebury, noting that guidance is also available on Camp Verde’s website.
Patty Mancini, stormwater specialist for the Town of Camp Verde, focused on education around water conservation. “Water pollution is a big deal,” she said. “If a candy wrapper goes in the water, it pollutes the water. If you don’t want to swim in it, don’t put it in the ground.”
Mancini said she regularly speaks to students and gives them tours of the wastewater treatment plant to illustrate how the system works.
Elaine Nichols with Friends of the Verde River in Cottonwood called the Earth Day event “a great way to kickoff spring with a celebration of the environment.”
Sharon Kelly, volunteer coordinator for the Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance, said the group of 30 volunteers is focused on public engagement. “We are working at raising people’s awareness,” she said.
By V. Ronnie Tierney, VVBN
From purebred poodles to one-of-
a-kind mixed breeds, Rim Rock’s Lazurus Rising Pet Grooming owner Pat Watson and her granddaughter Victoria “Vicky” Ellen Casey are busy doing what they love. And their dog-loving clients love that.
Watson, a retired nurse, says she never would have opened a dog-grooming business, but her granddaughter asked her to consider the idea. “Vicky worked as a dog groomer and left that job to work as a veterinarian technician. Customers missed her and begged her to groom their dogs. She decided to open a home business but didn’t have the room in her home, so she asked me if she could use our home since we have the space.”
At first, Watson was just helping. “I learned I really enjoyed it and became the primary owner. Everything just fell into our laps,” she said.
Today, Watson does grooms dogs full-time and Casey works part-time.
“I lived on farms growing up and was very familiar with animals, plus my nursing background helped,” said Watson. “I love it and wish I would
WINE continued from page 23
have started doing this years ago.”
The schedule at Lazurus Rising Pet Grooming fills up fast and customers come from around the region.
Watson strives to keep prices affordable, including transportation for locals who need it. “My husband, Bill, loves dogs so he will help with pickup and delivery and sometimes helps with bathing.”
“This is by far the best grooming experience I’ve had in Sedona and the Verde Valley,” said local chiropractor Dr. Rosemary Zimmerman. “Pat and Vicki are grooming professionals who take personal pride in providing the best experience for you and your dog.”
“I have loved animals since I was a little girl,” said Casey, who is a trained groomer and has been grooming since she was 19 years old. “Animals hold a dear place in my heart. They are wholesome and kind and keep me going even on a very dark day. I currently have three Great Danes, one is the namesake for this business.”
Lazurus Rising also grooms cats. “We recently transferred to natural shampoos and conditioners to accommodate our clients that have skin issues and allergies,” said Watson.
Organizer Paula Woolsey. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for families to celebrate mothers while enjoying local wines and delicious food. The chance to meet the winemakers adds a personal touch, allowing attendees to learn more about their favorite wines directly from the source.”
The festival is co-sponsored by the Verde Valley Wine Consortium and the City of Cottonwood. Organizers expect a strong turnout of wine enthusiasts from across the state and region.
Participating wineries include well-known names such as Page Springs Cellars, Arizona Stronghold, Caduceus Cellars/Merkin Vineyards and Chateau Tumbleweed, among others. Wines will be available by the glass, bottle or case.
Here is the full list of participating wineries:
1764 Vineyards
Alcantara Winery
Arizona Stronghold
Bodega Pierce Winery
Caduceus Cellars/Merkin Vineyards
Cella Winery
Chateau Tumbleweed Winery
Cove Mesa Vineyard
Da Vines Vineyard
Four Eight Wine Works
Grand Canyon Winery
Laramita Cellars
Oak Creek Winery
“I highly recommend Pat for dog grooming,” said Rimrock veteran Eric Kaiser. “Kelly, my PTSD dog, loves Pat and trusts her and always comes back home in good spirits and acts like
Omphalos Winery
Page Springs Cellars
Rubrix Wines
Salt Mine Wine
Southwest Wine Center
Su Vino Winery
Twisted Union Wine Company
Other libations will be offered by Desert Diamond Distillery, The Belfry Brewery and Wild Tonic, which will serve both alcoholic and non-alcoholic kombucha options.
To pair with locally sourced wine, an array of food trucks will be on site serving everything from wood-fired pizza and crepes to gourmet kettle corn and handcrafted chocolates.
Featured vendors include Campfire Grill, Craft Wood Fired Pizza, The Gravy Train, Sweet Breeze Crepes and Coffee, Carolina’s Chocolates, Fan Man and the Red Head, Tiny Gourmet, Gia’s Toffee, Poppin in the Pines, and Positively Frosted. FBN
Tickets start at $20 for early birds and include a commemorative wine glass and six tasting tickets. Tickets at the door are $25, and non-drinker tickets are available for $10.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit verdevalleywinefestival.com/tickets or Stride Events
it’s the greatest thing to be clean. She smells so good and she gets her nails cut, too.”
In Rimrock since 1996, Watson says her family loves the area. “It’s so quiet,
became a contractor for the U.S. Government, moving analog to digital. We worked all around the U.S.,” he said.
Today, Martin lives in Camp Verde with his wife, Eileen, a writer who authored Lena-tu-ha: An Apache Maiden, a historical novel based on Lil Granma’s life. Writing under the pen name Isherbomb, Eileen recounts the story of Lena-tu-ha and her sisters, who escaped from a prisoner-of-war train but were captured and sold into slavery by Mexican federales.
In the book’s acknowledgements, Eileen offers a special thanks to her deceased motherin-law, Consuela, who planted the seed for the book, and describes the struggles of the Native people as told to her. “…the Indians were captured by both the U.S. soldiers and the Mexican Federales. They were placed on reservations. If they escaped, they were prisoners of war. They were used as slaves on the big ranches in Mexico. U.S. soldiers took the children off the reservations and sent them to Residential Schools where they were taught to be ‘civilized human beings.’ If they did not comply with White Men’s ways, they were sometimes euthanized. Their parents were told that they just ran away.”
The couple shares their home with horses, chickens and five German shepherds, one of which is a service dog. Martin’s full nationality is Benakahe, Chiracahua, Mescalero, Lippan Apache and Aztec.
Martin also explained how the term “Geronimo!” became a battle cry. “He was on the train from Arizona to Florida as a prisoner of war. In San Antonio, my grandfather jumped out of the train, did a rolling tuck, climbed up a water tower and took a leap from about 40 feet.
peaceful and it’s home.” VVBN
For more about Lazurus Rising Pet Grooming, call 928-301-0529.
He did another tuck and roll and they tackled him.”
Matthew Sakietewas Gilbert, professor of American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona, said Martin is more than just a storyteller. “As a descendant of the great Apache leader Geronimo, for years, Jerry’s stories of his people have captivated Indians and non-Indians alike,” he said. “Indian Country needs more leaders like Martin – those who are fearless, direct and motivated by their past and a desire for a brighter future.”
MY FAVORITE MOVIE
“The Wizard of Oz.” It is fascinating, a place that you can go and be safe.
MY FAVORITE PLACE
Sedona. That’s where I visited the last five years for vacation.
MY SUPERPOWER
Visions, visions do come true. I see visions in the future that I can forecast, either a warming or change of venue. Those are my powers, just like my great-great grandpa, he had those visions, too.
MY GUILTY PLEASURE Chocolate.
MY FAVORITE SAYING
It’s not important who you are, as much as it is who you allow yourself to become. You’re the only one who’s responsible for you. VVBN
For more information, visit geronimolegends.com
By Chris Hallows
Are we having fun yet? Yes, as exciting and/ or scary as it may seem, we are experiencing many historic moments here in the market. We are working toward what feels like the end of an inflation cycle with economic conditions we’ve not seen since the 1970s and 1990s.
That cycle has put us in 25- to 30-year highs for mortgage rates. At the time of writing this article in late April, the proposed tariffs – rivaling those not seen in more than 100 years—are on a temporary pause, but we’ve not fully recovered from the market losses incurred in just days.
Finally, it’s also worth noting that real estate values are at an all-time record high. I empathize with all those who have been seriously impacted by these conditions. And, for all of us, it raises one big question: What is next?
I am in no way an economist or day trader but, as a mortgage loan originator and student of history, I believe it’s important to look at historic cycles and attempt to answer the question of “what is next?” The value of this is not to make quick bets but to work to guide large financial decisions and specifically to discuss the risk and reward of buying a home in 2025.
Yes, the scary R-word of recession is begging to be thrown out there by the media and economists. Many reputable financial figures are even making personal statements, believing we are already in a recession. It may be helpful to remind the reader of the official definition of a recession, which is “a significant decline in economic activity that is spread across the economy and lasts more than a few months.”
A common indicator of this is two negative quarters of Gross Domestic Product, the mea- sure of our country’s total economic activity. Many folks’ retirement accounts already have taken a big hit from tariff news and market trading, and a recession seems like it could be some type of inevitable financial cliff.
However, economic slowing is exactly what the Federal Reserve has been working on in attempts to slow inflation. They did overdo it in the 1970s and 1990s and we did enter recession conditions at the end of both those cycles, so that, in and of itself, is not atypical. My purpose is not to then make a case that we are or are not heading toward
a recession but to acknowledge that it is a potential outcome of the current condition.
Steadily slowing inflation and the “normalization” of economic conditions will likely bring lower mortgage rates, paced increase to demand and paced home appreciation. After all the whipsaws of real estate in the last five-ish years, “paced” and “normalization” would both
Continued on page 38
BECKY DAGGETT
In mid-April, I finished my Mayoral Fellowship through the Mayors’ Institute for City Design (MICD) and the Just Cities Lab at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. This fellowship focused on issues of justice, equity, community development and housing.
Eight mayors were selected to participate from a diversity of cities facing a variety of issues relating to housing. The program convened a distinguished group of professionals in design, transportation, planning, community development finance
and policy who presented research and examples designed to assist us in deepening our understanding of the complexities of housing issues and spark lively conversations about myriad housing topics.
We began in February with two-and-a-half days in person on Harvard’s campus. This was followed by online workshops and discussions and homework assignments and finished with two days in person at Harvard, where each mayor presented our final projects and received excellent feedback and ideas from
the assembled experts. In between our presentations, these skilled practitioners presented projects and problems they’ve worked on and encouraged lively discussions.
I applied to the program because of the topic and my desire to address the significant housing problem in Flagstaff. Affordable housing is defined as spending no more than 30% of monthly gross income on housing costs. Spending more than that is considered being “housing cost burdened.” According to the city’s 10-Year Housing Plan, “27% of
homeowners and 57% of renters are housing cost burdened, meaning that 22,073 Flagstaff community members are living with a housing cost burden.”
Clearly, for people who live and work here – and who invest their lives in our community – the cost of housing is one of our biggest problems. Not addressing it isn’t an option. It impacts the health of our community in so many ways, including job creation, school enrollment, diversity, non-profit support, our carbon neutrality goals and the overall vibrancy of this place we all love.
My project centered around strategies for preserving housing and building resiliency in some of Flagstaff’s older neighborhoods. I explored neighborhood strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT), demographics, crime statistics, housing values, and percentages of homeowners and renters.
The MICD paid all expenses for each mayor. The access to these researchers and practitioners is invaluable to me and to my work as your mayor. I’m still
compiling my notes and ideas generated throughout the semester and am looking forward to brainstorming with city staff and local partners.
I’ve added some of the readings from the fellowship to my website and will add the remaining articles and presentations soon. You can take a look at beckydaggett.com/updates. I’ll write more about ideas and efforts as they continue to take shape.
We can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors and to live in a healthy, resilient and vibrant community, we must. FBN
By Roy DuPrez
Sharon Lee felt helpless when she discovered her son, Justin, was experimenting with drugs during his teenage years. Having recently separated from her husband, Lee was working long hours to provide for her family, yet some things at home slipped through the cracks.
Justin was always an excellent student, so Lee figured if he was keeping his grades up, he was doing fine. This couldn’t have been further from the truth as Justin fell deeper into his addiction. Luckily, over time, with the help of counselors, family members and the Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery Program, Justin was able to find sobriety as his mother found relief and the help she needed to work through her own struggles.
“During the early days of Justin’s addiction, I just didn’t know what to do,” Lee said. “I was working long hours and trying to keep an eye on him and help him any way that I could, but it was just never enough.”
As Justin got older, his personality began changing as his addiction progressed. Isolating from family
and friends, blatantly disrespecting the rules of the home and even once stealing his mother’s car to purchase drugs, led to an out-of-control situation for Lee.
“Justin graduated high school with honors in 2018, but by the following January, I was afraid to be in my own home,” Lee said. “Justin made it a habit to never see me. He would smoke cigarettes in the home even though he knew it wasn’t allowed.
I was so afraid that Justin would overdose and there was seemingly nothing I could do about it. He just wanted nothing to do with me and every attempt I made to speak with him or connect was left on deaf ears.”
As time went by, Justin sunk deeper into his addiction. Justin’s siblings tried to watch out for him but had no luck in connecting with him either. His health began deteriorating. He needed to use a nebulizer regularly and was losing a lot of weight. Finally, one day Justin was found passed out at a gas station and taken to the hospital. While he was going through withdrawals and looking at potential legal problems, his sisters began searching for ways to help their brother.
“His sisters started looking for rehab facilities,” Lee said. “Many health professionals were suggesting 28-day programs, but I knew this wasn’t long enough for him to get the help he really needed. His sisters found
Back2Basics, which seemed like the perfect fit.”
Throughout Justin’s childhood he enjoyed the outdoors, his mother said. Hiking trips in the Adirondack Mountains were a regular event for
business, Western Electronics Communications, now Wecom, in Mojave County in1956 to improve communications.
“This mission has been at the heart of our family for more than six decades,” he said. “Our goal is really very straightforward: Bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to every corner of Arizona. Where you live should not be the determining factor in whether you have fast, reliable fiber internet.”
Fleming said that Wecom is currently working to deliver fiber service to more than 120,000 households across Arizona, many of them in unserved or underserved areas. He added that Flagstaff’s leadership made the city a natural partner.
“It’s a privilege to be a partner with leaders like Mayor Daggett, the Flagstaff City Council, Coconino County and NAU,” he said. “They understand that improving broadband connectivity is critical for any thriving city such as Flagstaff.”
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Julie Pastrick said the fiber project will have a significant impact on the
“We
the family. So, once the family found Back2Basics, they deemed this the perfect place and scenario to help Justin beat his addiction and get sober.
“Out of all the places we found, Continued on page 38
region’s economic vitality.
“We know how critical high-speed internet is to our quality of life and to a competitive region,” she said. “You cannot be competitive if you have a lot of your school kids without internet or businesses that have latency or inconsistent coverage. We are going to be an even bigger magnet for business.”
The new broadband infrastructure is expected to benefit residents as soon as this summer, when Wecom plans to activate service for its first customers.
Looking ahead, Fleming said Wecom’s ambitions extend beyond the city limits.
“If all goes well, we will be starting construction early next year on a fiber broadband network to bring the same high-speed internet access to all the residents throughout Coconino County,” he said. “Every police department, every fire department, every school, every business, every resident — you name it — we want to build it for them.” FBN
know how critical high-speed internet is to our quality of life and to a competitive region,” Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Julie Pastrick said. “You cannot be competitive if you have a lot of your school kids without internet or businesses that have latency or inconsistent coverage. We are going to be an even bigger magnet for business.”
//
BONNIE STEVENS, FBN
If we think of our brand as a fashion accessory, we may give more thought to the meaning behind it and what it’s saying about us. Often it is the first impression a potential client, associate or customer develops before meeting us in person. And it should be visible almost everywhere that we are and especially where we are not, including in the background
of our Zoom calls and on marketing items like t-shirts, keychains, sun visors and whatever else we wear, carry, give away or leave behind.
An interesting exercise is thinking of a brand and delving into its backstory. For example, Purina is a leading name in pet food, and we likely recognize the red and white checkerboard attached to the name. That pat-
Another fun surprise is tucked into the famous Baskin-Robbins logo. The company originally offered 31 different flavors—one for every day of the month. Brilliant! When you visit the pink ice cream parlor on Milton Avenue in Flagstaff (and you know you will), look closely at the BR logo to spot the hidden “31.” Now that’s a sweet detail.
tern, introduced more than a century ago, is a nod to its founder, William Danforth, whose childhood memory was that of his family’s clothing made from the same bolt of checkerboard material. To him, it represented balance in life, transferring to balanced nutrition for animals. Knowing this makes me laugh at the image of an entire family dressed in red and white checkerboard, but I also think of high-quality pet food!
Also in Northern Arizona, we have the opportunity to notice other long-established brands used by ranching families. Babbitt Ranches has been donning its CO Bar brand since 1886. It’s a brand that grounds the company in family and relationships, a mark of stability harkening back to Cincinnati, Ohio (CO), where the original five Babbitt brothers came from before becoming cattlemen in Flagstaff. Recently, I became aware of hidden symbols in popular brands that we seemingly see every day. Amazon, for
instance draws a curved line with an arrow from A to Z in its name. Thus, that’s what it delivers – everything from A to Z – something many of us can attest to since the pandemic! The line also looks like a smile, designed to convey the idea of happy customers.
Meanwhile, a close examination of the FedEx logo reveals a hidden arrow, cleverly disguised in the negative or white space between the letters E and X. This element is meant to subconsciously connote speed and accuracy.
Another fun surprise is tucked into the famous Baskin-Robbins logo. The company originally offered 31 different flavors—one for every day of the month. Brilliant! When you visit the pink ice cream parlor on Milton Avenue in Flagstaff (and you know you will), look closely at the BR logo to spot the hidden “31.” Now that’s a sweet detail.
Our brand’s job is to repre-
sent us, even when we are not around – on our website, on the pens we give away at the conference and on our ads in Flagstaff Business News
My Zonie Living brand is intended to speak of Arizona, which is what we do on the video podcast, designed with the vibrant, blending colors of an Arizona sunset.
What is your brand saying about you? Think about it, because you know we will! FBN
By Eric A. Heiser
Flagstaff is one of the most beautiful places in the country
– but it’s also one of the most expensive. Skyrocketing housing costs, limited rental availability and an influx of outside investment have made it increasingly difficult for many people, especially young adults and working families, to build a sustainable life here. While there are many necessary conversations to
be had about how to reduce the cost of living, we must also talk about the equally critical role of education – especially higher education – in ensuring that our community remains accessible, vibrant and economically resilient.
In high-cost communities like Flagstaff, a college education is not a luxury. It is a practical and powerful tool for economic mobility. National data consistently show that individuals with an associate degree earn, on
average, about $400,000 more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. That number climbs to more than $1 million for those who earn a bachelor’s degree. These aren’t abstract statistics – they represent real opportunities for Flagstaff residents to secure stable employment, support families and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
At Coconino Community College (CCC), we serve as a gateway to those
In high-cost communities like Flagstaff, a college education is not a luxury. It is a practical and powerful tool for economic mobility. National data consistently show that individuals with an associate degree earn, on average, about $400,000 more over their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. That number climbs to more than $1 million for those who earn a bachelor’s degree. These aren’t abstract statistics – they represent real opportunities for Flagstaff residents to secure stable employment, support families and contribute meaningfully to the local economy.
opportunities. Whether students graduate and enter the local workforce or transfer to Northern Arizona University to pursue further studies, the outcome is the same: They are better positioned to stay in Flagstaff, to build careers here and to thrive.
But the value of higher education goes beyond individual earnings. An educated citizenry is essential to the health and success of any community. College-educated individuals are more likely to vote, volunteer and engage in civic life. They tend to have better health outcomes, stronger job stability, and are more likely to contribute to local business growth. In short, education is one of the key drivers of a thriving, interconnected community.
Community colleges, in particular, are uniquely positioned to make that happen. At CCC, we provide affordable, accessible and high-quality education to students from across Coconino County, including rural and tribal communities that are too often left out of the conversation. Without institutions like CCC, cities
like Flagstaff risk becoming enclaves of privilege – places only accessible to those with outside wealth or inherited means. That’s not the future we want for our city or for the people who call it home.
Of course, higher education is not a silver bullet. It cannot, on its own, solve the housing crisis or reverse the forces of gentrification. But it is a critical piece of the puzzle. By investing in education, we invest in people – their potential, their resilience and their ability to help shape a more equitable future for Flagstaff.
If we want our children, neighbors and future leaders to live and work here – not just survive, but thrive – we must continue to support and strengthen institutions like CCC. Education empowers individuals and communities alike. And in a place as beautiful, complex and costly as Flagstaff, that empowerment has never been more necessary. FBN
ing the town’s Fourth of July parades from them,” said Henry. “We had no idea what was there!”
The late astronomer Henry Giclas later shared how, as a child, he tried to sneak a peek of the view. “He told me he was shooed off the balconies with a broom in the hands of Mrs. Weatherford, who firmly stated, ‘The balconies are for guests only!’” recalled Taylor.
The original builder, John W. Weatherford, was a wealthy businessman who had elaborate business plans and great expectations for Flagstaff. Among other buildings, he created the Majestic Theater Opera House, now the Orpheum Theatre, and built the extraordinary hotel as a lovely respite from the Arizona Territory for cultured easterners. He also created a toll road to the top of the San Francisco Peaks. The Weatherford Road, now the Weatherford Trail, never succeeded and eventually bankrupted the Texan.
Henry, a counselor in the 1970s, kept the three-story building afloat by housing vocational rehabilitation clients in the rooms. Meanwhile, tirelessly and methodically, the two brothers worked to repair the distressed hotel, once deemed “first class in every way” by The Coconino Sun when it opened on the first day of the 20th century.
By all accounts, it was a grand building inside and out, with rare comforts such as hot and cold water, electricity and a sun parlor. Among its guests were U.S. presidents, famous artists and
legendary lawmen.
By the late 1970s, Henry and Lloyd had created a space for musicians to perform and a restaurant to attract guests to help finance the project. Steve Willis was among the first to perform in Charly’s Pub and Grill.
“I was in the house band at the Widowmaker when Henry and his brother were remodeling. They would come down there all sweaty and dirty,” said Willis. “They turned the hotel into an important music scene long before the remodeling was finished. We’d store our equipment in what was the kitchen, and it was like an on-going party back then.”
Willis remembers many great musicians who played there, including Jimmy Rogers, widely regarded as the “Father of Country Music,” and John Fahey, who reportedly was to the solo acoustic guitar what Jimi Hendrix was to the electric.
“Henry’s little club turned into a great place for national acts to play, which is why Charly’s Pub and Grill was voted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame,” said Willis.
“Charly’s was a real hub for live music,” said long-time musician and Limbs Akimbo founder Jimmy DeBlois, who performed there often. “It was a big reason why I decided to move to Flagstaff. Henry always treated me and the other musicians well and Charly’s was wellknown for having really good live music. It drew an appreciative crowd.”
Pamela “Sam” Green was pulled into the vortex of the old hotel in 1980, when she began waiting tables in Charly’s. She fell in love with the building’s architectural beauty and with Taylor. In 1983, they wed.
“When I met Henry, it was like Karma. We had an interest in saving old buildings and history. He could do the electrical and plumbing, and I could do the painting and decorating,” Sam said in a 2011 Arizona Daily Sun interview
with Betsey Bruner.
The couple lived above the bar for a decade as Henry worked on the hotel’s structural integrity and Sam added the historic aesthetics. “It was a long time before we made money here,” said Henry. “We kept it going by working it all the time.”
The couple’s daughter, Chelsea, was born during that time. Chelsea spent her first day of life behind the bar in Charly’s as Sam bartended.
“In, 1995, I was about to lose my mind living above live music late into
the night for 10 years,” said Sam. “At the same time, the whole downtown was torn up with restoration projects. We struggled to buy a house on Cherry Avenue, but that gave us some space away from the construction and the nightclub noise, which helped our sanity. The city put time and energy into the streetscape and the streetlamps, and life downtown became a little easier.”
“Henry’s vision and passion for restoring the Weatherford Hotel no doubt inspired other businesses as well
By Christina Kovalik
NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine
Dinucleotide) is a vital coenzyme that plays a key role in energy production, cellular metabolism and cellular repair. It is important in maintaining cellular activity and mitochondrial function and often has a fast turnover rate to NADH (hydrogen molecule attached), which is why it can easily get depleted by DNA damage and inflammation.
Maintaining the proper balance of NAD+/ NADH ratio to promote the anti-inflammatory effects is key in reducing the effects from depletion during aging. Reduction in NAD+ has been shown in aging tissues of the brain, skin, liver, skeletal muscle, fat cells and macrophages – immune cells that can result in increasing age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disease, skin laxity,
metabolic diseases, diabetes, insulin resistance and weight gain.
NAD+ production has multiple precursors involved to synthesize NAD+. NAD+ depletion/consumption is accelerated if DNA damage is present. Some precursors are tryptophan, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and niacin B3 supplements. The precursors are best absorbed in food sources versus oral supplementation. NAD+ in an IV or injectable form is the best way to increase levels, along with diet.
Eating more foods high in NAD+ may also be helpful, as they contain many of the natural precursors (Vitamin B3, niacin, tryptophan, NMN ) to produce more NAD+ in the tissues, but many people may need high concentrations of it to see marked results. Food sources seem to be better absorbed than
NAD+ production has multiple precursors involved to synthesize NAD+. NAD+ depletion/consumption is accelerated if DNA damage is present. Some precursors are tryptophan, nicotinic acid, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and niacin B3 supplements.
taking niacin – vitamin B3 supplements.
Food sources high in NAD+ and niacin are poultry, dairy, beef, leafy greens, broccoli, avocado, cucumbers and cabbage.
Other ways to increase NAD+ production are exercise, short durations of far infrared heat, sauna or cold plunges and intermittent fasting (16-hour fast, 8-hour eating time), as they all reduce inflammation. During the aging process, NAD+ gets more depleted and has a harder time filling the NAD+ pool to reduce inflammation.
Fatigue, skin aging, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, muscle weakness, weight gain, brain fog, cognitive decline or visible signs of aging can all be caused by low NAD+.
NAD injections are designed to replenish these levels, offering a host of benefits. They can:
Boost energy levels
Improve metabolism and increase weight loss
Reduce chronic pain and inflammation
Decrease anxiety and depression –NAD has been shown to increase serotonin
Lower neuroinflammation in TBI,
as the City of Flagstaff to recognize how special and meaningful these historic buildings are to Northern Arizona and beyond,” said former Flagstaff Mayor Chris Bavasi. “He and Sam have an undeniable love for our community. We can thank them for contributing greatly to the 1990s restoration movement in the downtown that created the beautiful and thriving historic district we enjoy today.”
The hotel’s basement, which housed various businesses including a radio station, a cobbler’s shop and even an underground passageway to the
Orpheum, also served as the hotel’s workshop and storage space. Old medicine and whiskey bottles, a tall redwood door with a bullet hole through it and other remnants from Flagstaff’s storied past could be found there, including an extraordinary antique bar rescued from another old hotel.
This treasure trove of nostalgia, hidden under the building, continued to whisper to the Taylors, spurring their imaginations and motivating them to keep doing the work. In 1997, they opened the sophisticated Zane Grey Ballroom, featuring that heavy
Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease
Boost cognitive function, general focus and memory
Improve insomnia and jet lag
Help fight DNA damage, reducing age-related diseases
Reduce risk of cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis
Improve NASH (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
Improve athletic performance
NAD+ injections are the most effective and easiest way to administer the coenzyme. Injections really are the ideal delivery system as oral NAD+ or precursors like NR (nicotinic ribose) and NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) do not work efficiently, as they are broken down by the digestive system. NAD+ delivered through an IV has several drawbacks, including side effects like nausea, discomfort and the time commitment of the IV treatment. Injections can be administered three to five times per week, depending on your goals.
CAN THIS BE USED ALONE OR WITH OTHER TREATMENTS?
While there can be benefits to standalone therapy,
antique bar. The corner windows of the second-floor ballroom look out over the town with the San Francisco Peaks as the backdrop, a unique space that continues to offer a favorite view for wedding couples and others celebrating momentous occasions.
In 1996, they completed restoration efforts on the space that held Flagstaff’s telephone exchange, where operators once connected calls by hand, and opened the doors to the Exchange Pub.
Barely stopping long enough to catch their breath and honor their hard work, Henry and Sam pressed on, this time securing a $100,500 Arizona Heritage Fund matching grant (60% from the Taylors and 40% from the state) to reconstruct the balconies. They were completed in 1999.
As the hotel’s 100th anniversary neared, the idea for a New Year’s Eve celebration and Great Pinecone Drop emerged in a hotel staff meeting. Sam and Henry styled their pinecone out of a garbage can covered in real pinecones and adorned it with a tangle of holiday lights.
Locals welcomed the humble creation as their own quirky symbol of hope for the New Year and faithfully cheered as it was lowered to the street at midnight, ushering in Jan. 1, 2000, thus marking the hotel’s 100th anniversary and ringing in a new century with a new mountain town tradition.
Since then, the Great Pinecone has evolved into a 100-pound, six-foot-tall
NAD+ injections work best as part of a complete plan to optimize your health. Co-factors are helpful to make the NAD+ effective, along with diet and lifestyle changes for optimal health.
NAD THERAPY SIDE EFFECTS?
NAD+ injection therapy is usually well tolerated. Side effects that patients report are from rapid IV infusion and not injection therapy, such as a flushing sensation, nausea, stomach pain, headaches and dizziness.
Aging is inevitable. As we evolve and discover more research on the benefits and ways to slow the aging process, it is so exciting and fascinating to see how it all unfolds. We can make a difference by doing basic tweaks in our lives, such as eating more whole foods, exercising regularly, taking care of our mental and spiritual health and fully utilizing the tools to help us age optimally. 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.
original metal sculpture with some 200 petals sporting LED lights. It now attracts more than 10,000 revelers for the New Year’s Eve countdown each year.
“The Great Pinecone Drop has become a much-anticipated event, and the historic Weatherford Hotel is truly an icon for Flagstaff,” said Discover Flagstaff Executive Director Trace Ward. “The magnificent building is part of the sense of arrival for our visitors from around the world. We are all so grateful for Henry’s stewardship of the Weatherford Hotel,”
Today, the Weatherford Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Great Pinecone Drop is considered fifth among the nation’s New Year’s Eve drops by USA Today readers and the dark basement is now the bustling speakeasy-styled bar, The Gopher Hole Pub, a nod to the Gopher Hole game room that occupied the space a century ago.
“Sometimes we get lucky and have a visionary in our midst whose actions guarantee a better future for our community,” said Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett. “Henry Taylor is one of those visionaries who helped to guarantee the vibrancy of Flagstaff’s entire downtown when he purchased the Weatherford Hotel in 1975 and saved it from demolition.”
With half a century of improvements, including bracing the entire building from the basement to the third floor with steel columns and wooden
beams, the 24,000-square-foot stone building offers 17 early 1900s-themed rooms, Charly’s Pub and Grill, the Zane Grey Ballroom and The Gopher Hole Pub plus 800 square feet of balconies and the nationally celebrated Great Pinecone Drop.
“Not surprising that an Arizona native, Henry Taylor, saw opportunities in the historic Weatherford Hotel and the need to preserve the early days of Flagstaff’s western logging town atmosphere,” said Coconino County Supervisors Board Chair and District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman. “Together with Sam, they re-vitalized this Flagstaff institution with fine dining, a hotel, a community gathering place and a centerpiece for musical entertainment. Henry and Sam were instrumental in the revitalization of Flagstaff’s downtown, setting a new standard for Flagstaff’s downtown businesses. As a student at NAU in the mid-1970s, and throughout my decades in Flagstaff, the Weatherford and Charly’s Pub have been and remain a part of my life and an essential part of our community.”
“I tell Henry and Sam there should be a statue of them in the downtown, for all they’ve done to make Flagstaff so special for the community, for musicians and for all who visit,” said Willis. FBN
NBy Ryan Randazzo
ational Travel and Tourism
Week is May 4-10, giving communities the opportunity to reflect on the important role visitation plays across the country.
In Flagstaff, the celebration is nuanced, with the city celebrating National Travel and Eco-Tourism, which is a hat-tip to this high-elevation mountain community’s commitment to responsible visitation.
With approximately five million visitors to the city annually, travel is vital to Flagstaff and serves as the foundation for the city’s economy.
The direct benefits of visitor spending are clear. Restaurants, hotels, motels and world-class attractions such as Lowell Observatory and the Museum of Northern Arizona all enhance the community, and all told, the tourism sector supports approximately 8,000 Flagstaff jobs.
But the benefits of tourism run much deeper in the community. Here are seven ways tourism benefits
a 2% Bed, Board and Beverage (BBB) tax on accommodations and restaurants. The largest portion of those funds, 33%, supports parks, recreation and open space in Flagstaff. That amounts to approximately $5 million annually, and the money is spread throughout the community on some of the city’s most heavily used facilities including the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, five Flagstaff Unified School District fields and seven city sports fields, neighborhood and community parks, basketball and other sport courts such as pickleball and tennis, and disc golf facilities. Playgrounds at city parks also benefit, as do recreation centers.
Beautifies the city and fosters community pride. Another 20% of the BBB collections support beautification initiatives throughout the city. Some of the major projects include the Downtown Connection Center, Switzer Canyon Roundabout and the Lone Tree Overpass. This program offers dozens of grants to community members for projects like murals, With 7.5% of the BBB money funding arts and sciences, the city’s program operates in partnership with Creative Flagstaff to support non-profit and
private agencies engaged in arts and sciences. Public art in parks is also included. Upcoming is a sculpture titled “Rustle,” to be placed at the
By Mike Jensen
In today’s digital-first world, it’s easy to overlook the enduring power of radio. Yet across Central and Northern Arizona, local radio remains one of the most trusted and far-reaching media – connecting communities, supporting businesses and keeping residents informed. It continues to bridge distances and demographics across the region’s diverse and expansive landscape.
RADIO WHERE YOU NEED IT MOST
With Northern Arizona’s unique geography – stretching from mountain towns to remote high desert
communities – radio delivers a level of accessibility that digital platforms often cannot. Unlike online ads or social media that depend on internet access, radio signals cut through rugged terrain to reach people wherever they are. Whether you’re in Prescott, Cottonwood or Flagstaff, or driving the scenic highways between them, you’re never far from a signal. For example, Tune In 95.9FM or 102.9FM. That kind of universal reach matters in a region where internet connectivity can be inconsistent and where local updates are essential.
A LOCAL VOICE RESIDENTS TRUST
Local radio is about more than just music – it’s about connection. From weather alerts and to local news and event coverage, stations serve as trusted sources of real-time, relevant information. In a media landscape dominated by national headlines, the value of local content is unmatched. Radio focuses on the stories, people and places that matter most to Central and Northern Arizona residents.
Through live call-ins, interviews with local voices and community-driven programming, radio helps create a sense of unity that social media often lacks. In areas where towns
While digital campaigns often skew toward younger audiences, radio continues to reach across generations. According to Nielsen, 92% of U.S. adults listen to radio each week. From seniors enjoying their morning programs to commuters catching up on local news during the drive home, radio remains a reliable daily companion.
continued from page 11 Easy,” drew attention to the town.
“This has become one of the most sought-after destinations in the U.S. as people come from all over to stop and have their photos taken there,” she said. “But there’s always room for improvement, as we still have some dilapidated buildings. Before this, the locals were apathetic, but they are now energized. We’re in a position to come back. We can mix the old historic feel with new opportunities for business and industry.”
In addition, Mayor Wilcox Cano says the town has become more business friendly. “If a new business is coming in, they want it to take 36 months, not five years,” she said.
One problem that is close to being solved is an outdated levee on the Colorado River that, if not fixed, could flood about 80% of the town, she said. The project is estimated to cost more than $100 million, with the federal government providing about $65 million from the Biden administration’s infrastructure act, about $35 million from Yavapai County and other contributions from the state and the town. The last flood was in 1993.
“This is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the region,” she said. Already, land surveys are underway, and work is scheduled to begin this summer, with project completion expected in 2029. U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Reuben Gallego support the project.
The mayor says she loves Winslow because both sides of her family are here and the community comes together for various events. “It’s that everybody knows everybody and when issues come up, we work together. The best thing about Winslow is the people.”
Another economic engine, she said, is tourism. The Route 66 Club draws visitors with music and art festivals. Also, Winslow is a central location for other destinations, with Strawberry to the south, Petrified National Forest to the east, Navajo and Hopi lands to the north, and Meteor Crater to the west.
Mayor Wilcox Cano understands that some residents are traumatized from past job losses. Part of her job, she says, is encouraging residents and convincing them that they deserve the opportunities and thriving community that can come with growth. FBN
are spread out across long distances, radio creates shared experiences that bring people together – even when they’re miles apart.
While digital campaigns often skew toward younger audiences, radio continues to reach across generations. According to Nielsen, 92% of U.S. adults listen to radio each week. From seniors enjoying their morning programs to commuters catching up on local news during the drive home, radio remains a reliable daily companion.
For local businesses, radio advertising delivers results – generating an average return of $6 in sales for every $1 spent, according to a Nielsen study on radio ROI [return on investment]. This impressive return highlights how effective radio can be in driving consumer action and boosting brand visibility. And with the growing
RODEO continued from page 22
popularity of station apps and online streaming, many campaigns today combine the best of both worlds: the broad, trusted reach of traditional radio and the precision and convenience of digital engagement.
In Central and Northern Arizona, local radio continues to prove that even in a digital age, the human voice – broadcast clearly across the airwaves – is still one of the most powerful ways to connect. FBN
Mike Jensen is the regional director of sales and marketing at Yavapai Broadcasting in Central and Northern Arizona, overseeing stations 95.9 KKLD, 105.7 KVRD, 100.1 KVNA, 96.3 KYBC, and ESPN Radio 104.7 in Flagstaff. With more than 25 years of experience in media broadcasting and advertising across the country, Mike is passionate about helping businesses grow through impactful radio advertising and digital marketing. He focuses on delivering results, boosting brand visibility and building strong, lasting partnerships for success.
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Thursday, July 3, 2024, 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. – Family Night
Friday, July 4, 2024, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Ages 21 and older
Saturday, July 5, 2024, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. – Ages 21 and older
KIWANIS KIDDIE PARADE, SPONSORED BY THE CITY OF PRESCOTT
Friday, July 4, 8:30 a.m. - Cortez & Goodwin Streets
PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, INC. RODEO PARADE, SPONSORED BY BARRETT PROPANE
Saturday, July 5, 9 a.m. – Courthouse Plaza / Goodwin Street
COWBOY CHURCH AT THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS RODEO GROUNDS
Sunday, July 6, 9 a.m.-10 a.m.
WHISKEY ROW BOOT RACE SPONSORED BY BUDWEISER
Saturday, July 5, 12 p.m.–1 p.m. | Downtown Prescott, Arizona
Join us for a week of unforgettable rodeo experiences. 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 - Friday. Contact Tickets at 928-445-4320 or Tickets@ worldsoldestrodeo.com
For rodeo inquiries, please contact the rodeo office at 928-445-3103 or email info@worldsoldestrodeo.com. The Prescott rodeo office is located at 840 Rodeo Drive Prescott, AZ 86305 and open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. FBN
Donna Werking has been marketing the Northern Arizona region since 2006. Northern AZ Social has been named Best Marketing Agency by FBN for seven consecutive years. She is the co-founder of the New Year’s Eve Boot Drop. 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. Donna also serves on the Board of Advisors for the ACFYC and volunteers her time to her community in Prescott.
amazing,” said Peru. “It brings together local artistry and great food and benefits CCC students. It’s perfect.”
Also during the live auction, Coconino County Manager Andy Bertelsen successfully bid on a painting of the Flagstaff train depot.
Jalen Whitethorne, a third-generation Native American artist, began painting at a young age, drawing inspiration and guidance from his grandfather, world-renowned artist Baje Whitethorne, Sr. Jalen honors his family’s
artistic legacy through the Buddy Whitethorne Foundation, which supports young Native American artists through mentorship and resources.
Local restaurants supported the event as well, with chef-prepared appetizers and desserts. Fat Olives
founder and chef John Conley captivated the crowd by handmaking authentic Italian mozzarella cheese with fresh curds and milk at his booth. Fat Olives won the award for best appetizer. The Flagstaff High
School Culinary Arts program won the award for best dessert.
“We are extremely appreciative of the artists, entertainers, patrons of the arts, restaurant sponsors and volunteers who made the evening a great success,” said CCC Vice President of Advancement and Strategic Initiatives Dianna Sanchez.
Proceeds from the fundraising evening – an estimated $35,000 – will help support CCC’s art program and student artists. FBN
The music playing in public spaces complements this ambiance with a relaxed, outdoorsy vibe.
Trailborn Grand Canyon integrates modern technology and amenities throughout the property to enhance the comfort and convenience that today’s travelers have come to expect. These include Tesla EV charging stations, 55inch 4K Smart TVs with screencasting capabilities that allow guests to stream content from their personal devices, Bluetooth AM/FM radios for wireless music streaming, high-tech telephones and, of course, complimentary highspeed WiFi available in all rooms and public areas.
“The Tivoli radio is one of my favorite touches,” said Reardon. The tuning dial of the retro box radio with antenna is set to 92.1 FM, the local Williams radio station for guests.
“The technology we brought to this project is good for families.”
Other family-oriented amenities, besides the outdoor pool, include a bocce ball court, an outdoor fireplace, s’mores roasting kits, and a public space in the Camp Hall with board games, table shuffleboard and darts. Trailborn is less than one mile from the Grand Canyon Railway Depot, making it a convenient base for family fun aboard the Polar Express train ride and other excursions
throughout the year.
Part of the Trailborn plan is to develop the place as a gathering spot for locals as well as guests. “That’s easy because Miss Kitty’s Steakhouse has been so popular with the locals over the years,” said Reardon. Although Trailborn has revamped the restaurant and bar space and brought in Chef Paul Beatty to expand the steakhouse menu, it has kept the name and promotes Miss Kitty’s Bar and Steakhouse as a separate brand.
Chef Paul, a chef on Food Network’s “Chopped,” presents classic choice steaks with a selection of rubs and sauces and vegetarian options with a southwest flair. Look for BBQ cauliflower tacos, a vegan veggie tortilla lasagna and handheld options like smash burgers and fried chicken sandwiches. Even Chef Paul’s desserts are a nod to the locality with green chile apple pie, churros and Texas sheet cake.
The visually inviting bar at Trailborn Grand Canyon, located within Miss Kitty’s Steakhouse, is designed to celebrate and reflect the unique character of its Williams setting and the broader Southwest region. Dark woods and handcrafted tiles create an earthy ambiance. Its menu is centered on agave spirits -- such as tequila and mezcal -- and features a selection of
regional beers, such as Mother Road Brewing Company and Barrio Brewing Company.
Beyond the intimate restaurant and eye-catching bar area, food is also available in the spacious Camp Hall, which sports a bandstand and is equipped for live music, movie nights, games and private events, supporting up to 200 guests.
The recent renovation brings the
Route 66 motor lodge, built as the Thunderbird Motel in 1957, to ADA compliance with compliant walkways, pool area resurfacing, adjustable shower wands, roll-in showers and mobility-accessible rooms.
The boutique hotel also focuses on the environment with modern guestroom furniture designed without metal pulls, room cards made from cardboard rather than plastic and a refillable water station in the reception area. Reusable water bottles are available in their grab-and-go marketplace.
Through the “Keep Extraordinary” initiative, Trailborn donates $1 from every direct booking to local land conservation efforts, supporting organizations like the Grand Canyon Conservancy and Rocky Mountain Conservancy. FBN
Trailborn Grand Canyon 642 E Route 66, Williams, AZ www.trailborn.com/ grand-canyon
Stacey Wittig is a Flagstaff journalist focusing on travel.
RECESSION continued from page 28
be welcome words if the market could deliver on that. Many may associate stock market volatility and recession conditions with a falling housing market. History makes a different case.
Just like the simple title of this article, recessions usually lead to cheaper borrowing costs because of the Federal Reserve’s desire to stimulate a slowing economy. The lower cost of borrowing leads to more borrowing and the additional demand, coupled with the lower cost, leads to an average or slightly above average increase in home prices. The Great Recession brought on by the housing crisis is certainly an exception as is the minor, short-lived Gulf-War recession of 1991, in at least the most recent 44-year history.
WHEN OTHERS ARE GREEDY BE FEARFUL, WHEN OTHERS ARE FEARFUL BE GREEDY
It has been fascinating to have a front seat to the Flagstaff housing market the last three to six months. I don’t wish to make light of any individual’s concerns, whether political, financial or otherwise. Rather, I wish to make an objective commentary on the current state of market and human emotion in purchasing real estate here in Flagstaff.
I have seen more concern driving opportunity to buyers than driving deals away. Even just this last week, I saw two offers get accepted, with sellers commenting that they would have normally countered more aggressively but their concerns of market conditions drove them to accept the higher concessions or lower price and they just wanted to “get the deal done.”
In conclusion, it is the responsibility of every individual buyer and seller to assess their goals and their personal stability when making a decision to buy or sell. My encouragement with this information is to illustrate that a recession is not a “bad thing” for real estate. And, should history continue to repeat itself, this may also just be a moment in a bigger cycle. Long-term decisions, such as a home purchase, could have a great long-term upside, as history has shown. 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
ADDICTION continued from page 30
Back2Basics just seemed to tick all of the boxes,” Lee said. “It was far away from home so he wouldn’t be able to just run away, and the program had the counselors and staff needed to get to the root of his issues with addiction.”
In August 2019, Justin entered the Back2Basics program. Lee and her son still were not on speaking terms, so she would receive updates via her daughter, who was living in Scottsdale at the time.
In November 2019, Lee joined one of her daughters at a family weekend with Justin in Flagstaff. Lee was happy to see her son looking strong and healthy once again, but the weekend wasn’t fully a happy reunion.
“During the family weekend we had family counseling sessions and some of it just got a bit too deep for Justin at the time,” Lee said. “He had to step away a few times from the sessions, but it was that crack in the door we needed to help start rebuilding our relationship.”
Through the help of counseling sessions and long discussions with Dr. Natalie Rudolph on a weekly basis, Lee began to realize she wasn’t helpless when it came to Justin’s recovery. She also realized she wasn’t alone in dealing with the situation. Finding the help she needed for her own mental well-being allowed Lee to be more open and understand better
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where Justin was coming from and how the family dynamics played a role in the entire run of things.
“Everyone at Back2Basics was great in helping Justin begin his road to recovery,” Lee said. “Things weren’t always smooth, but we pushed through as a family and now things are going great.”
If Lee could give advice to other parents who have children suffering from addiction, it would be to ask for help early on and to find the right help for your child. Doing these simple steps can make a world of difference.
“I would tell any parent going through a similar situation to seek out people who can help you and your child,” Lee said. “Many parents may feel like they can deal with the situation on their own, but I realized that I needed help in my own way. Finding the right people makes a major difference and with the right help you will eventually see that things can and do get better.”
Since graduating from Back2Basics, Justin has received his associate’s degree in human services and is currently in a pre-med program working toward becoming a psychiatrist. Last semester he received all As in his classes and the relationship with his mother and family are continuing to be rebuilt.
Justin is back on the path to
success having set goals he wants to achieve and has a brighter outlook on life while being sober. Lee and his mother are continuing to work on their relationship to rebuild trust and are connecting better than ever.
“I was so afraid of losing my son just a few years ago,” Lee said. “Now I have him back and I couldn’t be prouder of the person and man he has become after going through all of this. I will be forever grateful to everyone at Back2Basics for helping us get our relationship back.” FBN
Roy DuPrez, M.Ed., is the CEO and founder of Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in Flagstaff. DuPrez received his B.S. and M.Ed. from Northern Arizona University. Back2Basics helps young men, ages 18 to 35, recover from addiction to drugs and alcohol. Back2Basics is an adventure recovery program, up to six months, for young adult males ages 18-30 with substance abuse issues looking for a positive and meaningful life. In our program, clients are exposed to a weekly combination of both wilderness adventures and residential programming. For more information, visit https://back2basics-soberliving. com, call 928-814-2220, or email rduprez@ b2badventures.com.
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Northern Arizona and it has generated millions of dollars over the years for the local economy.
That’s everything from John Ford’s “Stagecoach” (1939) with John Wayne to Tom Hanks in “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “Frontier Crucible,” an independent Western starring Armie Hammer and William H. Macy that wrapped in November. All three films include scenes from the iconic buttes scattered across Monument Valley on the Navajo Nation. Hanks also shot scenes in downtown Flagstaff and at Twin Arrows, east of town.
Let’s look at how the film business got started here, why Hollywood relies on Arizona for locations and just how much money films, TV shows, commercials and advertising photo shoots bring to Northern Arizona.
The Arizona Film and Digital Media Program, an arm of Arizona Commerce Authority, estimated that close to 400 statewide film and media projects were completed since 2017, with a combined budget value of $418 million.
Coconino County and four other Northern Arizona counties tallied about 200 projects since 2017, with a budget value of $205 million, according to Matthew Earl Jones, director of Arizona’s film office.
In February, the Phoenix Film Office reported that 777 film and media projects in metro Phoenix generated $29 million in economic output in 2024, up from $18 million a year earlier.
Arizona’s proximity to Hollywood, sunny weather, four seasons in parts of the state and diverse topography are factors in attracting film productions. “It’s also one of the most
beautiful places on the planet,” Jones said of Northern Arizona. “The topography sells itself and not only do we have amazing locations, but we have a growing base of crew, talent and vendor support.”
The production crews boost spending in the towns where they set up shop and hire locals as extras.
But there’s also an intangible benefit to Northern Arizona tourism, Jones said. “A lot of people see a beautiful location in a movie they didn’t know about, and they want to go there.”
Filming movies in Northern Arizona got started in spectacular fashion in 1911 with Ellsworth and Emery Kolb capturing their grueling Grand Canyon boating adventure crashing and splashing through Colorado River rapids. That black-and-white film was one of the longest playing movies ever made. Emery Kolb showed it daily at Kolb Studio on the South Rim from 1915 to 1976, when he died at age 91.
Since then, Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Lake Powell and other locales – Sedona, Verde Valley and Prescott – have provided eye-catching landscapes and streetscapes for hundreds of films.
Consider the good – “Easy Rider” and “Midnight Run” – the bad –“Stay Away Joe” with Elvis Presley –and the ugly – “Natural Born Killers,” filmed in Winslow, Holbrook and Gallup, New Mexico.
Prescott locations on films include “Billy Jack,” “Wanda Nevada,” with Peter Fonda and Brooke Shields, and “Junior Bonner,” starring Steve McQueen.
Sedona, known for its red rock buttes, was the setting for dozens of Westerns – “Angel and the Badman,”
Brings the community together. The festivals and events throughout our city are special because they not only bring visitors from out of town to celebrate things like Hullabaloo, the Great Pinecone Drop, Fourth of July, Pride in the Pines and several others, but those events create touchstones for residents that the city can look forward to each year.
Reinforces Flagstaff priorities like sustainable, regenerative visitation. As the destination marketing organization for the city, Discover Flagstaff not only strives to increase visitation, but also embraces the responsibility
“3:10 to Yuma” (1957) and “The Rounders.”
“You know our red rocks are just stunning,” said Connolly, who has worked on a number of shoots in Sedona. “It’s such a popular spot for commercials that Sedona restricts filming to weekdays so as not to disrupt weekend visitors.”
In Flagstaff, some fairly recent productions include “Forever Home,” a haunted-house comedy largely filmed indoors for Apple TV. Also, the TV series “Sister Wives” has filmed in Flagstaff for the TLC cable network, said Ryan Randazzo, the city’s film commissioner and marketing project manager for Discover Flagstaff.
Nike came to town last spring to film a commercial with its Olympic athletes. The two-day shoot with more than 200 people involved was staged at Flagstaff High School’s track and soccer field.
Last May, Some Such Productions paid the Flagstaff Unified School District $10,495 for use of the high school’s facilities and made an additional donation of $15,500, said FUSD spokeswoman Madison Pompeo.
The city does not charge production companies to use municipal property. Production companies must file for a city permit, show proof of insurance and hire off-duty police officers to control access if a road closure is involved, according to Randazzo.
He said he serves as a kind of concierge for production companies, helping them with permits and providing referrals for local providers like hair and makeup artists, caterers and other vendors.
Jones said the outlook for future
of educating travelers before they arrive. Every advertisement and marketing effort to promote the city is also an opportunity to remind visitors of key messages such as to “Be Fire Aware,” and to “Leave no Trace.” Also critical is winter recreation information that instructs visitors on the appropriate places to play in the snow and stay safe.
Promotes Northern Arizona cultural heritage. Events such as the Heritage Festival at the Museum of Northern Arizona and the current exhibition at Coconino Center for the Arts called “The Future is Indigenous: Messages
6993 N. Columbine, Flagstaff, AZ 86004, Tel (928) 526-7006 | (928) 526-6231 www.intermountainaz.com | admin@intermountainaz.com
productions has improved after a downturn in the wake of COVID-19 and strikes in 2023 by Hollywood writers’ and actors’ unions. Arizona is also hoping to lure more productions with a refundable tax credit program announced in 2023 to compete with nearly 40 other states that offer incentives. Arizona’s program offered $100 million in
to the Seventh Generation” increase awareness among residents and visitors alike about the unique history of this region and the people who have lived here for millennia.
Encourages business development and investment. The city uses 9.5% of the collections to promote economic development in Flagstaff with things like business grants, business retention and workforce development. These tourism-funded efforts also include the “Visit, Discover, Grow” campaign aimed at attracting additional businesses to the community
incentives for projects in 2024.
In January, however, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit against Arizona Commerce Authority, claiming the tax credits are an illegal subsidy giving taxpayer money to film companies.
Jones declined to comment on the pending lawsuit. FBN
and helping get them launched. They also support the Innovation Mesa Business Accelerator program, which allows university professors and entrepreneurs to work in a supportive environment to develop ideas into commercial business models. FBN
