Prescott Living - Winter 2024 by Nei-Turner Media Group

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Cristi Silverberg-Rose, Bethany's Gait

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VOICES of the COMMUNITY

At Prescott LIVING magazine, our slogan is “The Voice of the Community” because we believe the stories in our local region are best told by the people, companies, nonprofits and governments that comprise our community. Here are the “voices” who helped make this issue possible!

Tod Christensen Managing Broker, Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty, Sedona

Sheri L. Heiney President/CEO, Prescott Chamber of Commerce

Ken Lain Owner, Watters Garden Center

Marnie Uhl President & CEO, Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce

Michelle Stacy-Schroeder Recreation Services Administrative Supervisor, City of Prescott

Loree Walden Marketing Manager, Yavapai Humane Society

Donna Werking Owner, Marketing Agency Northern Arizona Social, LLC

John Hughes Mayor, Town of Dewey-Humboldt

Phil Goode Mayor, City of Prescott

Jack Miller Mayor, Town of Chino Valley

Kell Palguta Mayor, Town of Prescott Valley

Maggie Tidaback Economic Development Project Manager, Town of Chino Valley

PRESCOTT PIONEER

The Latest Local News

Upper Verde Recommended to Congress as Wild and Scenic River

Thirty-six miles of the upper Verde River have been found “suitable” for protection as a Wild and Scenic River by the U.S. Forest Service, which noted the Upper Verde’s “outstandingly remarkable values” including scenic, recreational, cultural and fish and wildlife habitat significance.

Gary Beverly, a local activist who’s been working toward getting the designation for the Upper Verde since 2008, said such a finding is not a requirement for obtaining the recognition, but “it’s always helpful to have it.”

He’s a key player in a coalition of national and local conservation groups pursuing the Wild and Scenic protection for the Verde River from its headwaters just outside Chino Valley to Clarkdale, plus Sycamore Creek as it runs through Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Area and 2 miles of Granite Creek. He said there are multiple reasons why acquiring protection is important for the waterway and the region, stemming from the fact there are no other freeflowing rivers left in the state.

“All the other rivers have been degraded by groundwater pumping, dams, diversions, and the Verde is the only one left in its natural condition,” Beverly said. “The flow is only about half what it was pre-development, but it’s still a functioning ecosystem.”

It supports a wide range of wildlife partly because there are so few comparable habitats nearby, he added.

The Forest Service studied the segment within its jurisdiction and found it suitable for the federal

designation because it meets the requirements of being free-flowing, having acceptable water quality and other values that could be protected by the Wild and Scenic designation, which restricts development in the river and along a corridor extending for about a quarter-mile on both sides of the river.

The agency did exclude two short segments from the “suitability” finding where the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has proposed building fish barriers, with structures intended to block the upstream movement of nonnative species to protect threatened and endangered native species. If the barriers are not built, these segments totaling 2.2 miles can be considered for inclusion in the Wild and Scenic designation, the agency said.

The Long and Winding River

The Upper Verde was first declared eligible for Wild and Scenic protection in 1982, according to the Sierra Club, which is among the groups that support the designation. Another report issued by the Forest Service in 2010 reached the same conclusion and is the basis for the current suitability finding, which was signed in mid-November by the forest supervisors for Prescott and Coconino national forests — the river forms the boundary between the two.

Congressional approval and the president’s signature are necessary to add the segments to the U.S. Wild and Scenic River System.

The designation is not intended to affect existing agriculture, ranching, mining, power or communication transmission or other similar uses along the river, according to the report. Private property within the protected corridor is exempt from federal control.

Beverly said Prescott National Forest has been managing the Upper Verde using Wild and Scenic protection guidelines since the 2010 eligibility finding, though it lacks the kind of authority a federal recognition would confer.

“It’s kind of a stopgap, holding pattern management plan, which is very good, that has already made a difference in the river,” he said. If and when the river gets final approval, the Forest Service will be required to create a local management plan to maintain or improve the characteristics that qualified it for Wild and Scenic status.

The organizations working together to make the Wild and Scenic status a reality include American Rivers, Sierra Club, The Wilderness Society, Friends of the Verde River, Grand Canyon Trust, Arizona Wilds, the Natural History Institute and the Yavapai-Apache Nation. Beverly has helped secure letters of support from Yavapai County and municipalities throughout it.

He said the coalition behind the push has drafted language for legislation that can be introduced in Congress, and he got a positive response from both Arizona senators while meeting with them last year.

“I’m optimistic, I’m very happy, all the indicators are favorable,” he said. “We have legislation written down, that’s where the rubber meets the road.”

Another 40-mile stretch of the Verde River, between Camp Verde and the Mazatzal Wilderness, has had a Wild and Scenic designation since 1984.

WINTER 2024

Stories by BLAKE HERZOG

THE PRESCOTT PIONEER

Sky’s the Limit for Prescott Area’s Dolly Parton's Imagination Library

Dolly Parton launched her Imagination Library project in 1995, signing up kids from the county in eastern Tennessee where she grew up to receive a free book in the mail every month from the time they were born until they turned 5.

The nonprofit has now given out almost 230 million books, having expanded throughout the U.S. and four more countries.

The Imagination Library of the Prescott Area (ILPA) isn’t thinking quite that big, but it’s been busy over the last two years, tripling its number of registered children. Now serving more than 2,400 kids from Ash Fork in the north to Black Canyon City in the south, the library is in the midst of its first read-a-thon, running throughout the month of February.

Spring into Reading welcomes anyone who wants to pledge to read a certain number of pages during the month.

“They can challenge people to sponsor them or to read more than them,” said Blair Runion, youth services librarian at the Prescott Public Library and treasurer for the Imagination Library of the Prescott Area.

“We’re highly encouraging book clubs to get into the action, and there will be prizes for people who earn the most money and prizes for the top two book clubs, as well,” she added, with the winners to be recognized

at a March 7 event. To learn how to sign up and more visit www.ilpabooks.org.

This is the nonprofit’s first-ever fundraising event of what will likely be more as it works to raise $25 for each of the rapidly growing number of children it serves. It’s primarily supported by sponsorships, grants and donations, which can be made through the website. The overall fundraising goal for 2024 is about $73,000.

“Our specific needs vary with how many kids are registered, so it depends on how fast they’re registered, how fast they graduate, all of that is always in flux,” Runion said.

The program began in 2019 as the Prescott Area Imagination Library and covered the three main City of Prescott zip codes, an effort sponsored by the three Prescott Rotary Clubs and Friends of the Prescott Public Library.

“After we started this program there was an outcry of ‘Oh, we want this in our area too’ from other people, and it took a little bit of time to put together,” Runion said. By March 2021 the 501(c)3 organization under the Imagination Library of the Prescott Area name was in effect and registration was opened to every child in Yavapai County zip codes not already eligible for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library affiliates in the Verde

Valley or Bagdad, including Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and numerous unincorporated areas.

Enrollment has grown from 740 children before the expansion to 2,400 as of January, and the number grows by the week, Runion said.

The library has been responsible for sending more than 50,000 books with the age-appropriate book selections and shipping handled at the national level. Runion said she’s optimistic they will reach the 3,800-child goal, set through census data; that represents about 60% of all eligible children in the coverage area by mid-year.

Supporting childhood literacy and academic success is the mission behind the Imagination Library at the national and local levels.

“How engaged and much a child reads, and if they’re at reading level by third grade, is an indicator for high school completion. That’s the one of the best ways to track whether a child is on track to succeed, and that third-grade literacy level is really determined by age 5, with the brain growth,” Runion said.

“Everything we can do to encourage reading and to encourage books in the home is really important,” she added.

Story of Lincoln Elementary School "Reading and Feeding" event in March 2023 with donation check from Prescott Sunrise Lions Club.

Photo courtesy of Prescott Public Library

B ethany's Gait Founder with Veterans, First Responders Matches Rescued Horses

BY BLAKE HERZOG

Horses have enthralled Cristi Silverberg-Rose for as long as she can remember, and for nearly 20 years she’s used the magnificent animals’ emotional intelligence and empathetic nature to bring healing to people suffering from trauma and pain through her 501(c)3 nonprofit Bethany’s Gait.

Initially she focused on at-risk children before shifting to veterans, those currently serving in the military, first responders and their families once the group was relocated to a Williamson Valley

ranch in 2013, moving to Chino Valley two years ago.

As the wife of a retired lieutenant colonel and mother of two activeduty servicemen, the former government public relations specialist offers a pathway to recovery from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and other mental health issues through working with horses who’ve been saved from abuse, neglect or abandonment.

Bethany’s Gait also “wraps around” their families, with the Lissa’s Legacy

program offering support and education that’s often unavailable for military and first responders’ spouses and a program for their children that pairs them with a mentor who teaches them how to care for and ride a horse.

The group hosts two major fundraisers each year, the Wild Rose Horse Obstacle Contests and the Heroes Among Us Awards in October. For more information about Bethany’s Gait programs and how to contribute call 928.449.9442 or visit www.bethanysgait.org or www.facebook.com/BethanysGaitR.

Photo

PRESCOTT LIVING: So where did you grow up, and how did you end up forging such a deep connection with horses?

Cristi Silverberg-Rose: I grew up in Orange County, California, for the most part. I had an uncle who was a rodeo cowboy, so he would tell you ... he passed a couple of years ago, but he would tell you that he spent so many years chasing bucking horses, he forgot to get married and have children. So, he had a ranch in Northern California, and when he realized I was just absolutely horse-crazy at around the age of 5, he got me a pony.

I consistently had horses from that point on, working, riding with him and running around the rodeo a little bit, and those types of things. I spent my summers and any Christmas break I could possibly get at his ranch.

PRESCOTT LIVING: And what was it about horses that has you making sure you never are without one?

Cristi: I don’t know. There’s just something magical about them. They just mesmerized me. They just are such gentle creatures, and I love being in that relationship and developing that relationship.

PRESCOTT LIVING: Can you tell us a little bit about Bethany, after whom Bethany’s Gait was named?

Cristi: She was a little foster girl who I met at a horse camp that on the weekends served foster children. I was volunteering because I suddenly found myself a single mom and had to sell my horse and needed to make sure that I was still getting my horse fix. It’s funny how God works because I went in kind of selfishly and ended up coming from that to create this huge ministry.

So foster kids would come out on Saturdays, and she was the little girl who I bonded with and just saw what a huge difference the horses made for her. She was the inspiration for starting the program,

which didn’t happen until 15 years later.

When she first started coming out, I think she was 5 and much more than introverted, almost disconnected. After a few times, the little girl came out of her. She just started opening up and she quit being afraid, talking more.

After meeting Bethany and then losing contact with her, I got more involved in the world of foster children through volunteering at group homes, volunteering with organizations that served them, had two different foster children in my home and took about 15 years to where I had the resources and met my husband and was able to actually start the program.

So we started in 2007 in California and we were just serving foster children. It was more of just a horsemanship type program, but really what I found through the years is that the horses do the therapy.

We just need to get out of their way, and it was very therapeutic for these kids. And I started having therapists contact me and say, “I’ve got a child who I see, who is not a foster child, but I think they could really benefit from what you do, and there’s no other programs like that here.”

We expanded into serving that population, and then my husband Hoke, who was a Marine, had one of his fellow officers tell him about a Marine who was actively seeking treatment for his PTSD; came back from war and ended up committing suicide. My husband felt that there needed to be a better way for men, especially, and military men on top of that.

Sitting in a room and talking about your trauma with a therapist wasn’t working, and he knew for himself and others that he needed to be doing something with his hands. That experiential, figuring things out on his own was the best way.

We started initially working with

active duty military out of Camp Pendleton and with the VA hospital up in Long Beach and then some clinics down in the South Orange County area. Then when he retired and we decided to move to Prescott in 2013, there was another program similar to ours, which is no longer around, that was serving foster and at-risk children.

And we thought, gosh, really our hearts are with military. Besides my husband serving, both my boys serve, and we decided just to focus on the military and then added first responders. Our neighbor across the street was in the state police for 34 years, and we realized the need to serve first responders as well. Began doing that, and then realized the entire family is affected and really needs help to navigate this lifestyle. So we started the kids’ program and then the spouses’ program.

PRESCOTT LIVING:

And the spouses’ program is called Lissa’s Legacy — what can you tell us about Lissa?

Cristi: We had a Marine come into our program who had been blown up pretty horribly in Iraq and had spent two years at Walter Reed Medical Center and was out here going to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

He was married to Delissa, so I met her and we quickly became friends. She was never a horse person, but was very much a cheerleader for veterans with PTSD and physical and other issues to get the help they need, very much an advocate for that and for mental health. And continued that right up to the end.

Certain little things can just really set off PTSD, and her husband was getting ready to graduate and the stress of that triggered him. And we watched him just start to drown in his PTSD and seek help. He’d go through times where he’d seek help, or not seek help with the VA on a variety of different meds.

Continued on page 24

None of them seemed to be working and then, on Oct. 8, 2016, he woke up early in the morning and decided she was the enemy and shot and killed her. They had two little girls, they were 5 and 11 at the time.

It was tough, and we are a Christian-based program and not evangelical, but our values and our morals are all Christian-related, and when we started the Lissa’s Legacy program, we felt God led us, because when we were going through all of this, there was no support system anywhere for her, there was no one for her to turn to. So that was how Lissa's Legacy started.

PRESCOTT LIVING: Can you briefly describe the different programs you offer and who they benefit?

Cristi: We have three divisions. The first is Resilience Unleashed, which is specifically for military and first responders, and I say military because we serve active, reserve and veterans. The majority of those who we serve are veterans, but we do still get some active duty and first responders, also those who are active or on reserve or those who are retired.

In that program we use a method called Equine Facilitated Coaching and Wellness that I created along with two other program directors, one in Utah and one in California, because we wanted something that was really going to allow the horse to be more a part of the team than a tool for what you were doing.

That makes it much more experiential and something

Ariah and Crystal

Cristi

Cristi with her husband Hoke and sons Henry and Tyler

Cristi and Dazzle

that would be based more in natural horsemanship and horse communication and horse relationships.

We work with groups as well as individuals in doing that, and families. And then, we do three-day cattle drive retreats down in Bumble Bee. It’s just a really good time for the guys to bond, and then they stay connected through text groups and barbecues and things like that. And we do hobby-related things.

The second program is Lissa’s Legacy. That is specifically for spouses and is not as horse-centric as the other programs. In Lissa’s Legacy, we do three-day retreats that are to provide the spouses with tools they need to support themselves and their family, along with education and support.

They may need to ensure the well-being of themselves and their children, and at those retreats, they’re really pampered. We do some horse work during those.

Also, we talk a little bit about domestic violence to make sure that they’re not in a situation like that because first responder and military marriages are 80% more likely to have domestic violence than civilian marriages. So we get them in a place to make sure that they’re safe, but primarily just again, it’s about these connections that form.

We do have spouses from all over Arizona and California who join us. We’ve had some that even come from different places across the nation, particularly active-duty spouses.

Then, we have online programming. We do an online Bible study, and we do online Coffee Chats quarterly, where we just bring in a speaker. We’ve had women in Japan and Germany who have attended some of those. Then, we do an annual conference that we hold here in Prescott every spring.

The kids’ program is much simpler. It’s called Mustang to Wrangler, and

that is a horsemanship program where each child is paired with a horse and a mentor.

We used to have them do work individually, and then we discovered that it was important for the kids to have peers who understood what their lifestyle was like, who could understand things like, daddy or mommy comes home from work and has to sit in the car for 10, 15 minutes to get their brain in the right space before they can come into the house, or comes in the house and sometimes has a bad day and needs to go into the bedroom, whatever they might need to do to just retreat and regroup.

We had a child in our program whose father was a critical care nurse who actually was in the hospital in Washington with Patient Zero when COVID came into the U.S. And he was adopted from Thailand as a toddler, not a baby, so there’s some issues that do come along with that. This sweet little boy was kind of terrified of everything, afraid of trying new things.

He worked with a horse named Moose, and Moose is what we call a Craigslist rescue, for horses that get put on Craigslist and listed for a very low price. He’s a Mustang draft cross, and he was listed, I think for $500 or $700, kind of a kill-buyer’s dream. You get a big beefy horse like that, and you don’t have to pay much for him.

And it took us a while to get him to come around — we got him, five, six years ago — and we discovered he loves children, just absolutely loves children. He has just become this absolute joy at the ranch, the greeter of new rescue horses that come in. He kind of chose this little boy, who was 7, and they worked together. And this little boy groomed him and played games with him and was really thrilled to do stuff on the ground, but kind of terrified to get on the back of the horse.

We’d put him on Moose’s back, and he’d sit there for a minute and then

start to shake, and he’d start to cry and we’d have to take him off. But he really felt safe with my husband. My husband’s kind of a big guy, but he’s a softy. So he got up on the horse and he was a little bit scared, but he took a deep breath, and Hoke put his hand on his back and his mom had her hand on his leg, and they started leading forward, and he got the biggest smile on his face. They were leading him around the ranch, and he was saying to everybody, “Look at me. Look at me. I’m riding Moose, I’m riding Moose.”

PRESCOTT LIVING:

Do most participants come from the Prescott area?

Cristi: Yes, I would say that probably Lissa’s Legacy attracts the most participants from other areas because there’s just not a program like it anywhere. We have started holding retreats in California, so we’ll do one retreat in California a year, and we have had women from out here go there, like “Oh, I want to do a retreat at the beach.”

All the kids in Wrangler to Mustang are from this area, they come out weekly for an hour and a half. The Resilience Unleashed, the veteran/ first responder program, is primarily local.

PRESCOTT LIVING:

How many horses do you have now, and how many total have you rescued over the years?

Cristi: The program has 10 horses, and we have, gosh, through the years, I’m going to say probably close to 40 or more. What makes us a little bit different than a traditional horse rescue is we probably would more be considered a sanctuary.

What we do is we bring the horses in and rehab them with the help of the clients and the clients that form this bond and this attachment, and we provide a home for the horses

Dear Prescott Residents,

PRESCOTT city of

One of the issues we continually deal with is replacement of old underground infrastructure. Water mains, sewers and other infrastructure deteriorate over time and fail.

Some of our underground pipes and lines are nearly 100 years old and still going. Other, newer installations seem to fail prematurely. One of these types that has been problematic, is polyvinyl chloride or PVC pipes.

Meanwhile, ductile iron pipe (DIP) has a relatively long life span and can be more cost effective.

I asked our Public Works Department to provide some facts and figures about these two solutions for infrastructure.

PVC pipe is a thin-walled, smooth pipe made from petroleum products that has many functional applications including potable water, storm drains and sewer systems. It is relatively inexpensive, lightweight and resistant to corrosive soils.

DIP is made from recycled iron; it can be recycled when it is removed from our systems. DIP is lined with cement-mortar to protect the interior of the pipe and mitigate corrosion. It is rated for high pressures, has a tensile strength nine times higher, eight times greater crushing strength, and a lifecycle typically twice that of PVC.

PVC was first installed in the Prescott area in the mid-1980s. However, in the 1990s, the city began to experience numerous failures on PVC water lines in neighborhoods including Hassayampa, Marvin Gardens, Cliff Rose and at the Ranch. In many cases, the root cause of the failure was related to the installation process, and as the PVC aged, leaks and line breaks occurred.

We did not experience the same rate of failure for DIP. In fact, the average lifecycle of PVC in Prescott has been 20 to 30 years while DIP has lasted 60 to 80 years.

The costs of DIP at $36 per linear foot is recovered through the longer lifecycle versus PVC at $33.50 per linear foot. DIP has proven to be a better investment with fewer leaks, breaks and service interruptions on our potable water lines. We have adopted DIP as a requirement for water pipe through our General Engineering Standards (GES).

I would like to thank the Public Works department for their information, and Councilmember Cathey Rusing for bringing this matter to the public’s attention.

As we look to the year ahead, I hope that yours will be a prosperous one!

Sincerely,

PRESCOTT MAYOR

Call the City of Prescott with questions or comments at 928.777.1100 or fill out a citizen inquiry form at prescott.seamlessdocs.com/f/5xTEgE.

Phil Goode

PRESCOTT VALLEY town of

““Happy 2024 to all of our residents in the Quad Cities and Prescott Valley areas.

“I would not be able talk about the New Year without first celebrating a big accomplishment in 2023, the largest open space purchase in the history of Prescott Valley, which of course was the purchase of 2,284 acres of property on Glassford Hill.

“Working in partnership with Yavapai County and the City of Prescott, we were able to acquire this land. The final vision for this Glassford Hill property is not yet clear, but many residents can envision active and passive recreation working in a symbiotic relationship for all to enjoy.

“The goal is for all of our residents and visitors of all ages and mobility levels to enjoy the outdoors and what our great region has to offer. This purchase was regional cooperation at its finest.

“As Mayor of Prescott Valley, I want to be the first to say that 2024 is ‘Our Year.’ Some may think that mantra is the same every year, but this year is different.

“In Prescott Valley we have been working diligently for the past two years to change the mindset that we all move at ‘the speed of government.’ We are replacing that mindset with ‘the speed of business.’

“When you are a business owner and you need to fix a problem, or there is a new product you want to roll out to the public, time is of the essence. Whether we as a town need to fix a pothole, erase some graffiti or approve a permit for an addition on a home, time is valuable and the last thing we want is for our residents (customers) to be unhappy about the service they have received or feel that their issue is not important.

“Wishing you all a prosperous and happy New Year!"

Upcoming Spring Events

EGGstravaganza!

Saturday, March 23, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Prescott Civic Center. Our annual event features a 10,000 Easter egg hunt with inflatables, pony rides, face painting, a petting zoo, carnival rides, a bike rodeo hosted by the PV Police Department, and more.

Music on the Green concerts begin Saturday, May 18, and continue on June 15 and Aug. 17, 7 to 9 p.m. Live music from local bands, this series is free.

Find the most up-to-date information at www.prescottvalley-az.gov/parks or call 928.759.3090.

Email the Town of Prescott Valley with questions or comments at comrel@prescottvalley-az.gov or call 928.759.3100.

Jack Miller

““My priorities for the Town of Chino Valley are more road paving, continued IGAs (Intergovernmental Agreements) with the City of Prescott, and setting the groundwork for a new town hall.”

CHINO VALLEY town of

Events:

Beer and Paint at Insurgent Brewing Company

Every month at 5:30 p.m.

$35/person

Sessions held monthly. Call Insurgent Brewing for details.

Cowboy Challenge Clinic

Chino Valley Equestrian Park (all day)

Perkinsville Road, left on Rodeo Drive and the park is on the left

Co-ed self defense workout class

Every first Sunday of the month

Compass Training Center

$10 – March 4

John Hughes

DEWEY-HUMBOLDT town of

““Arizona’s Country Town, Dewey-Humboldt, is the gateway to Prescott.”

Dewey-Humboldt is located in the high desert of Northern Arizona, 85 miles north of Phoenix and 12 miles east of Prescott.

At an elevation of 4,556 feet, the 4,500 town residents enjoy a mild, four-season climate that includes an occasional snowfall during the winter months.

Yavapai County’s Comprehensive Plan 2032

Let us explain.

In February 2021, Development Services launched our Community Vision Statement Survey for Yavapai County that had over 900 responses within the three-month period it was open. In August that year, we launched four more element surveys including dark skies, open space, food sustainability, water resources and cost of development.

This link, https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/2ba0fcecbcad4583890aea94b79703e3, will take you to updated survey results.

These results were submitted by you, our community members and we are truly appreciative of your participation.

Food distribution

Attention Dewey-Humboldt residents: Our community has the opportunity to partner with St. Mary’s Food Bank for mobile distribution. The Town of Dewey-Humboldt Citizen’s Events Committee is looking for volunteers to help with food distribution. Do you have a need for this service? Are you willing to volunteer? Please reach out to Amy Lance, 480.296.9680 with any questions, comments or concerns.

Body Care Lets you Love

All the Skin you're In

Skin care practices tend to keep a laser-like focus on the face, which is of course the most seen part of your body and also the most delicate.

But the skin covering the rest of your body serves exactly the same protective functions and has the same vulnerability to UV rays, infection and anything else that can compromise its defenses.

Body care, or devoting roughly the same amount of attention to the rest of your body as you do to your face, is going to be big in 2024.

A body care skin routine has much in common with the one you’re used to following for facial care. It’s generally a little bit simpler unless you choose to add serums or other specialized treatments to address specific concerns.

Following is a six-step routine that anybody who wants to show their body more love can embrace.

Cleansing

This is the first step for your body as well as your face.

You’ll need to choose a cleanser that meets the same needs of your skin as the one you use for your face, but in general facial washes are not ideal for your body, since they target the more delicate skin on your face and use ingredients which may either not be strong enough for thicker skin or too harsh because it targets problems

you have on your face that don’t exist elsewhere.

It’s best to steer away from artificial dyes and fragrances and use more natural formulations containing ceramides to nourish your skin.

Exfoliation

Because of the relative toughness of your body’s skin you don’t need to be as cautious with this step as many people are with their face, but you still don’t need to do it more than two to three times a week. Either a physical scrub or chemical exfoliator will help you say goodbye to dead skin cells and leave the rest soft and glowing. It’s best to start with your feet and work your way up, paying special attention to the knees and elbows.

Shaving

Here’s another step that doesn’t need to happen every day (or you can use other hair-removal techniques, or not at all), and you may want to save it for those when you have a little more time. Not only is it easier to do a good job free of nicks and scratches but spending a little more time under the showerhead softens your skin and follicles, making them more receptive to letting go of that hair.

Apply shaving cream or gel to your skin and take your time, shaving with the grain to reduce irritation.

Treatment

This is where you can apply any serums, oils or other products to give your skin an extra boost.

There are body serums with vitamin C and other antioxidants to provide that anti-inflammatory protection you deserve to have all over your body.

Body oils can get the moisturization process going a little earlier, and retinols are becoming more widely available for all-over body care to accelerate skin cell turnover, improve skin texture and boost collagen production. This in turn thickens the skin to make cellulite less noticeable.

Moisturizing

Best practice is to get this step in just after stepping out of the shower and toweling off,, slathering yourself from neck to toe with a cream or lotion.

Lotions contain a lot of water and are considered a lightweight option for those with normal skin. Those with drier skin can turn to heavier creams for deep moisture. Ointment is another option for very dry skin, but it can be an occlusive, so it should be used sparingly.

And don’t forget your hands and feet, even if they need different products.

Protection

If you do nothing for the rest of your skin besides running a bar of soap over it, you should apply sunscreen wherever you’re exposed to the sun, and reapply every 90 to 120 minutes. This can get tedious but protects you from UV-

Peppy Preppy Style Making the Grade

Preppy dressing has always been a classic, sophisticated style. This trend captures the hearts of fashion enthusiasts as we shift further away from pandemic pantslessness.

Whether you’ve been preppy since you were, or pretended to be, in prep school or still trying to rehabilitate yourself from your pajama days it’s a relatively accessible style to step into.

Keys to Prep

To achieve the perfect preppy look, there are a few key elements to incorporate into what is essentially a capsule wardrobe. These include polo shirts, Oxford shoes, skirts (including tennis skirts if you’re feeling a little flirty) and blouses.

Solid-color T-shirts, cardigans, blazers and khakis also are essential. These classic pieces form the foundation of preppy style and are easy to mix and match so you can reinvent yourself with a new ensemble every day.

Casual is Still Chic

Our new embrace of preppiness is the antidote to the sloppy excess of working from home, but we can still be less than uptight for a weekend or afternoon get-together.

You can start with a crisp polo shirt paired with a pleated skirt or pair of slacks. Complete the outfit with a pair of loafers or classic white sneakers. Don’t be afraid to add some pops of color with accessories like a vibrant scarf or a statement belt. This combination of staples will ensure you look chic and puttogether.

Working in Everything

Incorporating preppy elements into your work attire can add a touch of sophistication to your professional look. Opt for a tailored blouse with a high-waisted pencil skirt or slacks for a polished ensemble. Complete the outfit with a pair of Oxford shoes or kitten heels for a clean yet refined appearance.

Don’t forget to accessorize with minimalistic jewelry and a structured handbag or briefcase to elevate your workwear.

Accessorize with Precision

Accessories will play a vital role in completing your look. Opt for timeless pieces like a pearl necklace, a silk scarf or a classic leather belt. These will add a touch of elegance and enhance your outfit.

Additionally, you’ll want to style your hair in a neat and polished manner, such as a sleek ponytail or a refined updo. A headband, ball cap or beret puts a stylish lid on your outfit.

The Guy Side

Preppy style is rooted in the elite boys’ boarding schools that funneled their alums onto Ivy League campuses. It grew to incorporate vibrant colors and patterns within the template, such as salmon-pink trousers and sweaters, argyle-patterned sweaters and socks or striped shirts and tam-o-shanter hats with tassels.

Take advantage of this latitude to express your individuality in every way you see fit.

Button Down and Tuck In

As a whole, the preppy trend is made up of pieces that never really went away but are gaining new currency in a world that’s trying to get back on track after the massive disruptions of the pandemic.

Regardless of whether you’re returning to the office at least part of the time or punching in from the comfort of your home, choosing a more structured style of dress will help you direct your focus on your work and personal activities and set yourself up for effectiveness and results in all areas of your life.

Love Local

A Dream by Day

721 E. Sheldon St.

Prescott

928.710.4753

www.adreambyday.com

Aboost Wellness and Salon

543 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.910.4111

www.aboostwellness.com

Artisan Aesthetics and Wellness

212 S. Montezuma St., Ste. 1

Prescott

928.515.3096

www.artisanaesthetics.com

A Valley of Vitality

2047 Willow Creek Rd.

Prescott

928.442.6026

www.avalleyofvitality.com

ERA Salon & Spa

515 E. Sheldon St.

Prescott

928.778.0860

www.erasalonandspa.com

Prescott Medical Aesthetics

172 E. Merritt St., Ste. D

Prescott

928.277.7414

www.prescottbotox.com

Prescott Skin Care

1000 Willow Creek Rd., Ste. G

Prescott

928.275.1121

www.prescottskin.com

Rogers Academy of Beauty

2375 E. AZ-69

Prescott

928.848.9929

www.rogersbeautyschool.com

Salon Tru Blu & Day Spa

1436 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.445.4126

www.salontrublu.com

SkinFit

223 White Spar Rd.

Prescott

928.460.3317

SkinPlus MedSpa

1747 Willow Creek Rd.

Prescott 928.582.0716

www.skinplusmedspa.com

Skin Perfection

3190 Clearwater Dr.

Prescott

928.541.0003

www.skinperfectionaz.com

Skin Works at

Advanced Plastic Surgery

1615 Petroglyph Point

Prescott

602.931.5462

www.skinworksbyconnie.com

Strada Salon

931 12th Pl.

Prescott 928.778.2028

www.stradasalonaz.com

Studio ROX

720 N. Montezuma St., Ste. A

Prescott 928.351.1555

www.studio-rox.com

The Cut Above Salon & Spa 8600 E. Valley Rd., Ste. D

Prescott Valley 928.772.8728

www.thecutabovesalonandspa.com

Wilson Aesthetics

Beauty + Wellness

8196 Florentine Rd.

Prescott Valley 928.350.5484

www.wilsonaestheticsaz.com

Toner Prepares Face for

Prime Time

Skin toners got a deserved bad rep years ago for their high alcohol content and overdrying tendencies when used for their original purpose of treating oily skin and blemishes.

Since then, toner has been refined into hydrating liquids that remove the last of the grime and cosmetics left behind by cleansers.

Some skin care experts still regard toners as an optional step in the overall process, while others are coming to see it as an essential link in the journey to youthful, radiant skin, between cleansing and moisturizing.

Like any other skin care product worth its price, most toners have ingredients to address a constellation of concerns, usually focusing on a specific category of skin characteristics. Here are some

of the properties everyone should be looking for based on the skin they’re in.

Say no to excessive alcohol

This is a rule for all skin types. Many toners are alcohol-free, and any that list it among their top five ingredients can lead to excessive drying, even in oily skin.

Dry skin

Fermented yeasts and amino acids lead to deep hydration while aloe vera, vitamin E, grapeseed extract and witch hazel soothe the dryness, and ceramides restore lost moisture.

Oily skin

Salicylic acid, which works deep into clogged pores and hair follicles after penetrating the skin’s lipid layer, is a key. Witch hazel can clean up excess moisture without dehydrating your skin.

Sensitive skin

You need soothing, natural ingredients and to stick to alcoholfree toners. Hyaluronic acid and glycerin work well along with chamomile, rose water and other gentle botanicals.

Normal skin

You can concentrate on simply finding the healthiest ingredients that boost any type of skin, including antioxidants like vitamins A, C, D and B3, green tea and curcumin to fight aging and damage from free radicals.

Mature skin

Look for toners with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and don’t have any parabens, artificial fragrances or alcohol, as these irritate your skin as it naturally becomes drier.

Love Local

Your Guide to Local Style and Services

Afterglow Jewelers

7025 E. Florentine Rd., Ste. 106

Prescott Valley

928.515.3552

www.afterglowjewelers.com

Artful Eye Jewelry Design Center

124 S. Montezuma St.

Prescott

928.445.5570

www.artfuleyejewelers.com

Bashford Courts

130 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.642.7984

www.bashfordcourts.com

Black Arrow Jewelry & Art

124 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

800.621.6668

www.blackarrowgallery.com

Classy N Sassy

220 W. Goodwin St., No. 3

Prescott

928.776.7467

Creations in Thread

1046 Willow Creek Rd., Ste. 101

Prescott

928.800.2270

www.creationsinthread.com

Drawn West

134 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.778.5725

www.drawnwestaz.com

Drifters

130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 101

Prescott

928.458.7131

Fancy That!

124 N. Granite St., No. A

Prescott

928.445.1883

www.fancythatprescott.com

Fite Girls Boutique

210 S. Montezuma St.

Prescott

928.445.3524

French Hen Boutique

108 N. Montezuma St.

Prescott

928.445.3424

Gypsy Vibes Boutique

105 E. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.583.9554

www.gypsyvibesboutique.com

Hello Gorgeous Boutique

130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 309

Prescott

928.273.0499

www.shophgb.com

Lamerson's Jewelery

105 N. Cortez St.

Prescott

928.771.0921

www.lamersonsjewelry.com

Lost in Socks

130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 303

Prescott

928.445.1833

www.lostinsocks.com

Purple Clover Boutique

130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 205

Prescott

928.499.5195

www.purplecloverprescott.shop

Raskin's Jewelers

110 W. Gurley St.

Prescott

928.445.6120 www.raskinsjewelers.com

Scarlett’s Curated Collection

107 N. Cortez St.

Prescott

928.227.2581 www.scarlettsinprescott.com

The Clothes Hound

122 S. Montezuma St.

Prescott

928.771.0811

www.clotheshoundclothingco.com

The Hike Shack

104 N. Montezuma St.

Prescott

928.443.8565 www.thehikeshack.com

Vincenzo’s for Men

130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 310

Prescott

928.445.3501

Wardrobe

520 W. Sheldon St., Ste. 2A

Prescott

310.709.8099

Embroidered

Stickers

Confidence Men Can Step Out with in these Shoes

Guys, you have it easy when it comes to footwear. Many basic styles have been around for decades if not centuries, so keeping a select assortment in your closet will keep you appropriately shod for any occasion and impress the ladies (and many dudes) with your sophisticated, dependable taste.

Oxfords

These are the most classic of the classics and have had many years to develop the versatility they offer to you today. They can carry you to the office and smart-casual environments all the way up to the formality of high-powered business occasions and most black-tie events.

A pair of shiny black Oxfords works with any dark pants (including jeans) and suits in these settings while a brown or tan pair can travel with chinos, khakis or any other full-length trousers.

Dressy sneakers

This phrase sounds like an oxymoron to some, but it’s entirely reasonable to keep a pair of trainers or running shoes away from your workouts for casual occasions where a neat, clean appearance is still desirable.

Start with a classic white pair from Nike or the other top labels that’s as comfortable and stylish as you can get for shopping trips and any other activity that has you on your feet most of the time.

Loafers

Loafers fall a little closer to oxfords than sneakers on the formality spectrum but are spectacularly versatile, wearing as well with suits as weathered jeans and a T-shirt. They’re the perfect summer shoes when you want to dial your look up a little bit without going overboard.

They come in all colors and materials, but a timeless dark brown pair will never steer you wrong.

Dress boots

Dozens of styles fall under this category, making it easy for you to find one that will be as much of an all-star in cooler months as loafers are in the warmer ones.

Whether they’re wingtips, Chelsea boots, derby boots, chukkas, brogues or even cowboy boots, these shoes have slimmer silhouettes and more refined detailing that allow you to cruise into just about any surroundings.

Essential Oils Can Promote Elegance and Wellness

No luxury home is complete without the indelible scent of at least one essential oil wafting through the rooms and halls, spreading je ne sais quoi.

But what makes an oil essential? Essential oils aren’t oils in the traditional sense, though they resemble them in the way they don’t mix with water.

They are volatile compounds extracted from the aromatic portions of a plant such as the leaves, bark and roots, ensuring they will have the characteristic scent, or “essence,” of the species they were taken from.

• They and their exquisite fragrances and properties have been treasured for thousands of years for promoting healing, relaxation and spiritual communion, mostly through aromatherapy.

• Essential oils are powerful and must be handled carefully, heavily diluted with “carrier” oils made from nuts, seeds and kernels before

letting them touch our skin. These carrier oils have aromatic and therapeutic qualities of their own and picking these out can be half the fun of finding the right essential oil formula for you.

• Carrier oils aren’t needed if you are diffusing an essential oil, as they are when applying essential oils directly to the skin. Sweet almond and olive oils work well as carrier oils.

• There are about 130 essential oils you can choose from, starting with agar and running straight through ylang ylang, each with its own characteristics and properties. Given their resurgence in popularity, the market has become saturated with poor-quality products claiming to be essential oils.

• To ensure what you’re buying is a pure, completely natural product, be ready to pay top dollar and look for these signs of a true essential oil.

• They should be sold in small, dark glass bottles, usually amber or dark blue, to protect the contents from UV rays. Anything sold in a plastic bottle isn’t a pure essential oil because the bottle would start to dissolve before long.

• The label should include the scientific name of the plant it was produced from and such information as country of origin and extraction method.

• Remember they’re not oils! Any pure essential oil should not feel greasy or oily to the touch — but touch carefully.

• It should not leave any residue behind on paper after it dries — any mark left behind indicates the solution includes carrier oil.

• Don’t confuse with fragrance oils, which are synthetic and have no health benefits.

PLASMA FIBROBLAST

Thriving Together Prescott Chamber's Strategic Theme:

BY SHERI HEINEY, PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE PRESCOTT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

The Prescott Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to unveil the strategic theme for 2024: Thriving Together. This is a call to action, encouraging businesses, residents and community organizations to unite in a collective effort to foster prosperity, resilience and overall well-being.

1. Economic Prosperity through Collaboration

Thriving businesses are the heartbeat of a thriving community. The strategic theme emphasizes the importance of businesses working together to stimulate economic growth.

The Chamber will actively facilitate networking events, collaborative projects and initiatives that enhance the local economy, ensuring that businesses not only survive but thrive collectively.

2. Community Resilience

The challenges of the past have shown us the importance of resilience. Thriving Together aims to build a community that can weather storms and emerge stronger.

By fostering resilience at both the individual and business levels, Prescott will be better equipped to face uncertainties and adapt to changing circumstances.

3. Educational Empowerment

Education is a cornerstone of community success. We envision a Prescott where educational institutions and businesses collaborate to empower the next generation. Through mentorship programs, internships and joint initiatives, the

community invests in the education and skill development of its youth, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of the future job market.

4. Sustainable Practices for a Thriving Environment

Prescott’s natural beauty is a precious asset that deserves protection. The strategic theme includes a commitment to sustainable practices, encouraging businesses to adopt environmentally friendly approaches.

Through green initiatives and responsible business practices, we can ensure that Prescott remains a thriving community for generations.

5. Engaging the Community in the Thriving Vision

Thriving Together is not just a vision for businesses, it’s a call for communitywide engagement.

The Chamber invites residents to participate in events, forums and activities that promote a sense of belonging and shared purpose. The community spirit will be strengthened, creating a positive and supportive environment for all.

Conclusion:

A Year of Collective Success

As the Prescott Chamber of Commerce launches the Thriving Together theme for 2024, we invite every member of our community to join us in this exciting journey. The success of one becomes the success of all, and by thriving together, we pave the way for a brighter and more interconnected future for Prescott in 2024 and beyond.

Healthy Balance Find a Fit and

BY MARNIE UHL, PRESIDENT/CEO, PRESCOTT VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Here in Prescott Valley we have several studios and gyms, as well as beautiful outdoor settings, ready to assist anyone in reaching their exercise goals.

Let’s take a walk around Prescott Valley and look at the opportunities. We love the outdoors here, and we have several trails to get you out and moving. The Iron King Trail is a 14-mile moderately trafficked out-and-back trail and is good for all skill levels.

For the more advanced hiker, there is the 4.5-mile Glassford Summit Trail, which has an elevation gain of 944 feet. This trail is best used from April to September.

Mountain Valley Park/Urban Forest Lakes Park trail is accessible yearround. This is a 2.5-mile trail around both parks with exercise stations and beautiful lake views.

When indoor fitness programs are more your thing, we have a wonderful variety of options.

The Movement Studio has been serving the Tri-City area with dance, fitness and kenpo karate for more than nine years. It is a family-friendly studio offering something for everyone, including free child care fitness classes, family pricing and discounts. Owner Sasha Naasz offers challenge programs as well as fun group activities.

Just down the street is Anytime Fitness, which is independently owned and operated by Jonathan and Leanne Shearer. Their mission is to provide you with a total fitness experience designed to help you reach your goals.

A healthy lifestyle doesn’t start and stop at the gym; it starts with a plan, and that is why they offer solutions that incorporate a lifestyle change.

Anytime Fitness is a full-service, 24-hour gym with a large variety of equipment aerobics classes included in the membership.

FreedomCore Pilates studio specializes in a variety of Pilates workouts to strengthen the core and obtain maximum fitness in a low-impact fashion that works for all ages.

Dance enthusiasts will like Lessons by Lexe, which has classes for beginners and the more advanced.

If you are a CrossFit lover, CrossFit Prescott Valley and High Desert CrossFit have group classes and treat each client with individualized training.

Maybe you want a little help with finding a happy nutritional balance in your life.

Dr. Cathy’s Nutrition and Weight Loss is a perfect way to gain control of your diet with the assistance of coaching.

Glassford Summit Trail

Photo courtesy of Town of Prescott Valley

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THE PRESCOTT PIONEER

Continued from page 21

Local Communities Win State Funding for Trail Projects

The Town of Prescott Valley will receive $358,000 from the Arizona State Transportation Board’s five-year construction plan to develop the proposed 24-mile Lasso Loop, a trail being planned along the town limits to provide residents new recreation and transportation options.

The funding is to be used for “scoping” the project, or defining the design concept and estimating the total project cost.

It was awarded in November through the department’s Greater Arizona Transportation Alternatives program, dedicated to nonvehicular transportation improvements including bike lanes, trails and safe walking routes to schools.

Public art pieces also are planned to honor historic locations and physical landmarks along the route, which the Town says will enhance resident’s health while attracting economic growth and improving environmental practices.

Prescott Valley's required 5.7% share of the grant amounts to $20,400 toward the total of almost $379,000.

The funding is scheduled to be used during the 2024 fiscal year, which begins July 1. Prescott Valley is planning a shared-use nonmotorized trail with a variety of surfaces, including paved segments, dirt trails, bike lanes, equestrian paths and waterway corridors (through washes).

The proposed path connects parks and other recreation areas and may include other amenities like picnic areas, horse corrals and event spaces.

Similar scoping grants were awarded at the same time to:

• The City of Prescott: $198,000 for a proposed multiuse path near AZ-89 and Deep Well Ranch Road.

The Town of Chino Valley: $104,000 for the southern connection of its segment of the Peavine Trail to the longer one that begins in Prescott.

CAFMA Firefighters Complete YC Paramedic Program

Firefighters Andrew Kontz and Nelson DiVall of the Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) graduated in December from Yavapai College’s paramedic program, and eight more firefighters are currently enrolled, helping to strengthen the agency’s capabilities and expertise in treating patients.

All of CAFMA’s roughly 125 firefighters are required to have emergency medical technician certification, but more are pursuing the additional training and responsibility that comes with being a paramedic, providing extensive pre-medical care in chaotic, stressful environments.

Paramedics are qualified to administer more types of medication than EMTs and evaluate EKGs for cardiac patients, among other duties. Every CAFMA engine is staffed with at least one paramedic.

DiVall and Kontz completed 1,600 hours of training at YC, including 400 hours of field internships and 150 hours of clinical experience, learning the essential skills and scientific knowledge necessary to excel in their roles as paramedics, CAFMA said.

Both have obtained certification from the National Registry for

Emergency Medical Technicians.

Doug Niemynski, CAFMA EMS chief, said that “Well-trained, highly skilled, dedicated paramedics are vital to the success of a comprehensive Emergency Medical Services system, and we’re grateful to Yavapai College for a fantastic program. CAFMA is proud of our commitment to delivering the best possible emergency medical care for our community.”

CAFMA serves Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and unincorporated areas including Paulden, Williamson and Mayer.

THE PRESCOTT PIONEER

Agape House Expands Housing Options to Prescott Valley

A Prescott faith-based nonprofit that brings homeless families into transitional housing is expanding its inventory with six manufactured homes in Prescott Valley.

The first family is expected to move into Agape House of Prescott’s Agapeville II community in March, with others joining them throughout the rest of year, according to a press release from the agency.

The one- and two-bedroom houses are being placed on a half-acre property on Bob Drive located near services from the Yavapai Family Advocacy Center, Spectrum Healthcare and other providers — what Agape calls a “perfect spot” for the residences.

Agape House assists families in crisis with weekly mentors and classes in life skills, budgeting and

other areas and connecting them to social services to help them live independently, all while housing them in a nine-unit apartment complex in Prescott known as Agapeville.

About two-thirds of the families are headed by single mothers; the rest are single-father and twoparent families. Most have lived in vehicles, tents or other places not fit for human habitation.

Those who graduate from Agape’s program face a local housing market with limited and expensive options, so Agapeville II will be a place where the families can live and pay a nominal rent until they find an affordable apartment or house.

Once the Prescott Valley expansion is completed, an Agape House representative said the nonprofit will be able to serve 28 families a year.

The nonprofit was formed in 2013 and began aiding families two years later through mentorships, classes and linking them to temporary housing. It became a direct housing provider with the purchase of the apartment complex near downtown Prescott in 2019 and has provided more than 33,000 room nights of shelter for family members.

Agape House reports 86% of its families are still living independently a year after completing its program. Besides the Agapeville II groundbreaking on Dec. 14, in 2023 Agape House also celebrated the births of four babies to its families and the purchase of two Chino Valley homes by graduates of its program.

For more information on how to donate to or get help from Agape House visit www.agapehouseprescott.org or call 928.910.1089.

Photo courtesy of Agape House

Ryan Stringham

Alexis Madrid

Lynn Johnson

Heather Spencer

Dennis Tromburg

Daryl Weisser

Fernando Mendigutia

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Learning a is a Point of Trade PRIDE

BY NANCY DEWITT, OWNER, PATRIOT PEST & TERMITE CONTROL

There’s more to life than getting a four-year degree.

This is the right path for many students as they finish their high school years, but it’s impractical or unnecessary for others, especially when they’ve committed to learning a trade profession or already have by the time they graduate.

Plumbers, electricians, construction workers, medical techs, public safety responders, mechanics, pest control technicians and many more workers provide essential services and can earn $50,000 or more a year.

Most of these jobs require some training or a two-year degree, but it likely will cost much less than the oppressive expense of a university’s tuition.

In many cases, students can begin their journey to a well-paying career while still in high school at campuses like Mountain Institute CTED and Yavapai College’s Career and Technical Education Center, which are open to district, charter and homeschooled students.

Extracurricular clubs like FFA, 4-H, JROTC, SkillsUSA and others also can be gateways to picking up valuable skills for professional trades.

We’re here to cheer on every student who chooses this admirable path toward a satisfying career! And we’re proud to sponsor Prescott LIVING’s Education Section and offer a window of opportunity for students of all ages.

In each issue it provides a comprehensive guide to the public, charter and private schools available for them from kindergarten through postgraduate studies, along with several articles about education in Greater Prescott and pointers toward school success.

Yavapai College Alum Shares Reservation Life

with Students, Followers

SUBMITTED BY YAVAPAI COLLEGE

If you’re a fan of Jay Hosteen on Tik Tok or @jayhosteen on Instagram, you probably already feel you know him personally.

That’s because the Yavapai College alumnus, Navajo native, fourth-grade teacher at Tuba City Boarding School, husband and father of four shares his life — the joys, the challenges, the beauty and the bewilderment, all with a positive and comic bent — with thousands every day.

“Social media creation is my stress reliever,” he says. “It helps me take my mind off things that would bother me or keep me up at night.

"I also have established a great community online that comments with positive things that keep me motivated. In a way I reciprocate that energy.”

Hosteen started making Tik Tok reels three years ago, dared by a student he couldn’t get 100 followers.

Today, his account boasts nearly 50,000 followers. On Instagram his following has grown to 10,000. Several of his short, witty videos have garnered a million or more views.

Growing up in a tiny hogan with no electricity or running water left him reserved, he says. He credits his threeyear journey through Yavapai College, in part, for bringing him out of his shell.

At the urging of his mother, Jay followed

his half-sister to YC in 2002. He made lifelong friends living in the residence halls and serving in the Native American Club. He became a resident assistant and then a hall director.

“It was a really good place for me to find myself,” he says.

Hosteen pursued an education degree until his mother died, his grades sank and he was placed on academic probation. He returned to the reservation to help raise his siblings but never gave up on his dream of becoming a teacher. He eventually

earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees at Northern Arizona University; he’s on track to earn another master’s this year.

During the pandemic, Hosteen led the team that adapted Navajo schools for online learning. He regularly employs robots in his classroom and he’s developing an esports arena — a project buoyed this fall by a visit with his students to YC.

Hosteen posted a video of his students rolling down the grass hill outside The Rider Diner — something he used to do. “They’re never too young to see what college is like,” he says. “It just might stick with them.”

A Hosteen family portrait. Jay, his wife, Kristen and their children, Brianna, Brayden, Andrew and Aubrey. Photo courtesy of Yavapai College

Sacred Heart Catholic School

OUR MISSION: Guided by the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we are a community of faith, dedicated to teaching the whole child by providing a Catholic education that promotes academic excellence, quality of character, social responsibility, and spiritual growth, being the living example of God’s love to others.

We provide a broad and relevant curriculum based on our mission, philosophy, and Schoolwide Learning Expectations. We are devoted educators dedicated to curriculum development and best practices in instructional methodology to meet students needs in the 21st century.

We welcome you to visit our school, talk with our faculty and families, and take a tour or shadow for a day. Please contact us to learn more.

"You can never be overdressed or overeducated."

—Oscar Wilde

Education is the basis for the growth and progress of society, allowing people to contribute more in their areas of expertise and create better communities. Education on every level develops problem-solving skills and provides the opportunity for empowerment through hard work.

Thank you for reading the Education Section! The section appears in every bimonthly issue including a complete directory, local articles and messages from local schools to help you decide what best suits your personal or family needs.

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Fast Ways to Fit it In Don't Fall Flat with Fiber:

When it comes to your diet there are so many roles that different nutrients can play, but fiber may be the heaviest hitter in terms of how many functions it serves.

It’s an indigestible substance that helps keep your digestive system healthy by bulking up your stool, preventing constipation, lowering cholesterol, stabilizing blood sugar and creating feelings of fullness that cut down our food consumption.

Here are some of the most fiber-rich foods and easy ways you can fold them into your daily meals.

Whole Grains

Whole grain food is rich in both soluble fiber, which dissolves in water to transform into a gel-like substance, and insoluble fiber, which remains relatively unchanged

during its journey through the intestines. Both have significant health benefits and whole grains are a good source for both.

Oats, quinoa and whole wheat bread are excellent sources of dietary fiber. They provide essential nutrients and offer a range of health benefits, including improved digestion and heart health.

Incorporate whole grains into your daily meals by opting for whole grain bread, cereal and pasta.

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and vegetables are nature’s fiber powerhouses.

They not only provide essential vitamins and minerals but also contain high amounts of fiber. Apples, berries, broccoli and carrots are great options. Try incorporating fruits and vegetables into your meals by adding them to smoothies, salads, and stirfries.

Green Leafy Vegetables

These veggies in particular, including spinach, kale and Swiss chard, are not only rich in vitamins and minerals but also high in fiber. Incorporate green leafy vegetables into your diet by making lots of salads or adding them to stir-fries or sautés.

Legumes

Legumes, including beans, lentils and chickpeas, are rich in fiber and protein. They are versatile and easily can be added to dishes like soups, stews and salads.

Adding legumes to your meals provides a significant fiber boost while offering a host of other health benefits.

Nuts and Seeds

Nuts and seeds, such as almonds, chia seeds and flaxseeds, are packed with fiber, healthy fats and other nutrients. They make for a convenient and nutritious snack option. Try sprinkling them on your yogurt, salads or smoothies.

Bran Cereals

Bran cereals, such as bran flakes or oat bran, are an excellent choice for a high-fiber breakfast. They provide a substantial amount of fiber and can be enjoyed with milk or yogurt.

Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are tiny punches of fiber. They absorb liquid and form a gel-like consistency, making them a versatile ingredient in various recipes. They can add a delightful crunch to your smoothies, yogurt or oatmeal to boost your fiber intake.

Flaxseeds

Flaxseeds are another fantastic source of fiber, along with omega-3 fatty acids. They can be ground and added to baked goods, oatmeal, yogurt or smoothies.

Avocado

Avocados not only are creamy and delicious but also an excellent source of fiber and healthy fats. Include avocados in your salads, sandwiches or as a topping for toast.

Berries

Berries, such as raspberries, blackberries and strawberries, are not only sweet and flavorful but also packed with fiber. They make a perfect snack or can be added to cereals, yogurt or smoothies.

Proceed with caution

One thing to remember if you’re out to increase your fiber intake is that slow and steady wins the race every time.

Eating too much fiber in one sitting or increasing your intake too quickly can create such unwanted side effects as bloating, cramping, constipation. In rare cases, intestinal blockages happen when fiber is consumed without enough fluid, especially with fiber supplements.

Most dietary guidelines recommend getting most or all your fiber from food sources.

Calculate your approximate fiber intake per day, then work to increase it by 1 or 2 grams per day unless you feel digestive distress. If you do, try to keep your consumption at the same level until you can digest it comfortably.

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GYNECOLOGISTS

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is at the Center of Wellness H eart H ealth

When we talk about self-care we cover a huge range of dimensions that fall under a few broad categories — physical, emotional and spiritual.

This holistic health approach embraces every part of our body and works to make sure no part of your complex bodily system is going to hold you back.

But when we’re discussing physical health, we’re essentially talking about heart health. The heart is what makes it possible for us to pursue other areas of wellness.

Every beat of our hearts sends blood, nutrients and oxygen throughout our circulatory system, takes waste products back to the intestines and kidneys to be filtered and eliminated and is intimately connected to our brain health, immune system and every other important task our bodies need to carry out.

If your heart isn’t working well, odds are nothing else really is. Heart disease usually takes root when plaque, which is formed from cholesterol, fat and other substances, builds up in our arteries, restricting blood flow and the body’s ability to function on multiple levels. It leads to catastrophic events including heart attack and stroke.

Heart health sets the foundation for our overall health and something we should work every day to maintain, no matter how old or young. There are several broadly accepted actions we can all incorporate into our lifestyle to keep our hearts pumping strong and reduce our risk for heart disease:

Diet

Consume mostly vegetables, fruits and whole grains along with lean sources of protein, which can be from plants and animals. Limit red meat and other fatty proteins, refined grains and starches, sugar, salt and alcohol use. This will ensure you get the nutrients your heart and the rest of your body need to function at top capacity.

Exercise

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies recommend you get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, generally defined as a workout that makes you sweat and have some difficulty carrying on a conversation. At least two sessions of strength training per week are urged. This will help your heart work efficiently and help prevent plaque buildup.

Sleep

Getting seven to eight hours of sleep every night creates many positive health outcomes for your body, including your heart. Highquality sleep allows your heart rate to slow down, suppresses appetite-

stimulating hormones and reduces calcium buildup in arteries, among other benefits.

Weight

Being overweight or obese is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which are linked to heart disease. Extra weight also makes your heart work harder to circulate blood through more vessels in a larger body.

There are several tools you can use to estimate how much you should weigh, including body-mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and body adiposity index.

Know your numbers

Regardless of whether you have personal risk factors or a family history of heart issues, you should regularly have your weight, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, A1C (for diabetes risk) and other cardiovascular health indicators checked. They won’t tell you the whole story, but they’ll give you some good indicators of where your heart is and where you may have room for improvement.

How to Ease Low B ack Pain

The lower part of your back is responsible for supporting all of your upper body, so it’s no wonder most people report feeling some pain and strain there at some point. Experts estimate up to 80% of the population will experience it sometime in their lives, according to the American Chiropractic Association.

The pain typically starts either with one significant back injury or builds up over years of wear on the spine and its supporting muscles and ligaments. Once it begins it can be aggravated by poor posture, excess weight, smoking, repetitive motions and lack of support when you lift heavy objects.

Making these changes can decrease the pain you’re feeling, regardless of how it began:

• Maintain good posture while you sit or stand, keeping your spine in alignment. The best posture holds your head in alignment with your spine and doesn’t allow rounding of the back to interfere with the natural curvature of your spine.

• When you must lift heavier objects, bend at the knees instead of the waist.

• Avoid twisting your back, using your hips whenever you must turn to the side. Avoid long periods of sitting down, which put stress on your spine, discs and muscles.

• Continue to exercise as often as you can, but stay within your comfort zone and don’t attempt any vigorous activities that could aggravate your back pain.

• Stretch your back muscles gently if you can without aggravating your pain. Some stretches to try include lying on your back and pulling your

knees up to your chest or lying on your stomach, arms stretched outward, and lifting your chest and/or legs off the floor (the “Superman”).

• Consider using over-the-counter drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen, but ask your health care provider first about any concerns you have about them.

• If your lower back pain lasts longer than four to six weeks, you should consult your health care provider about other treatment. Call them sooner if the pain is unbearable or you have other symptoms such as extreme fatigue or signs of infection.

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With Preparation, You Can Hike with your Cat

If you’re a hiker and a cat “parent,” you might become a little wistful as you watch dogs on the trail with their owners, having a blast with each other as they explore nature together.

Your little best friend may be the most intrepid explorer you’ve ever known, and you’d love to share the beauty of Greater Prescott with them.

Depending on your cat’s temperament and the trail, it might not be such a crazy idea to bring them along.

First, consider whether your feline might have the right personality and physical fitness for hiking. Are they open to new experiences or skittish in unfamiliar situations? Do they go outside or show interest in going outside or are they content to look out the window? Are they in good physical condition?

Bringing Fluffy or Milo with you will take a little more training and planning than with Fido or Bella, but the hurdles to clear aren’t as high as you may think. If your cat already is good at walking on a leash, there’s hardly any barrier at all. If not, this is where you start.

Harnessing their power

The best approach is to get your cat acclimated to the harness. Using one that’s in the style of a jacket or vest is the best way to ensure it fits tightly enough to keep your pet from slipping out of it while still allowing their full range of motion.

Once you buy one, try not to put it on them right away. Let your cat hang out with it in their territory to get used to it.

Once they’re accustomed to wearing the vest you can attach the leash to it and practice walking inside the house; let them lead you instead of the other way around. If they do well on indoor walks you can start taking them into the backyard or a local park for brief walks before extending the length and venturing onto some hiking trails.

Regulations in Prescott, Prescott Valley and Prescott National Forest require all pets be kept on a leash no longer than six feet in public areas.

Choosing the right adventure

No matter how well-adjusted your cat becomes to hiking the busiest trails may not ever be an ideal place to bring them due to their sheer number of people, dogs and even horses not prepared to share the path with a feline.

Look for a less-frequented trail and don’t plan to go a longer distance than your pet can physically and emotionally handle. Check out the weather forecast as well — most cats won’t enjoy walking or hiking in the rain.

Make sure you take the appropriate supplies along. A backpack designed to be a cat carrier could be a good idea, since you’re probably going to be carrying your kitty part of the time either because they’re tired or to protect them from dogs or wildlife.

Bring water and treats to keep your cat comfortable and willing to follow through with the escapade. Also, be prepared to pack any droppings they leave back out with you, either with bags or a collapsible litterbox. Bring a small first-aid kit.

Hit the trail

Once you find yourself on a trail with your cat, do your

best to keep them on it to minimize their impact on the surrounding habitat — some owners find their cats do better at this on a narrow path.

But don’t expect to be calling all the shots either, as your cat will be even more interested in exploring than any dog you’ve ever seen. Don’t yank on the leash when they venture too far afield; keep the leash tight and your cat will turn back toward you.

Be ready to pick up on their cues. They’re likely to pick up on a potential threat before you do, so if they suddenly start to hide, pull their ears back or arch their back, pick them up as quickly as possible.

PHOTO BY BLUSHING CACTUS PHOTOGRAPHY

B eholder Pet B eauty is in the Eye of the

The old saying “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” is probably one of the truest statements ever made. What I find beautiful you may think isn’t, and that’s what’s so great about us all being individuals with our own thoughts, opinions and sense of style.

I have three fur babies, so there is never a lack of pet hair on my clothes. And guess what? I don’t care, and I’m pretty sure all of you reading this who have animals at home will agree.

I empty the dryer and put it on my bed to fold only to find one of those furry kids nestled up in the warmth, leaving their fur on everything. My thoughts? Going out in public with pet hair on my clothes is a statement to my love of the animals in my life. I think pet hair is my daily fashion accessory — lol!

OK, so I’ve been talking to you about beauty and style for us humans, but let’s talk about the beauty of all the animals out there.

All of the precious dogs and cats looking for a home may not be “beautiful” on the outside, but they are all

BY LOREE WALDEN, MARKETING MANAGER, YAVAPAI HUMANE SOCIETY

beautiful on the inside and they need someone to look beyond the outside and see what is in their soul. True beauty!

Let’s take Mochi for instance. That precious boy had everything going against him to find a furever home, but Bart, who lives in Phoenix, saw him on our website and ended up giving him the best life ever riding around on a motorcycle with special goggles made for him and so much more. Bart saw the beauty that was Mochi.

And Mr. Happy Face. Jeneda came down from Flagstaff during one of our adoption events and ended up taking this special boy home. Mr. Happy Face went on to win an “Ugliest Dog” contest, but he shared so much love and positive energy throughout the nation.

Sadly, both of these precious boys have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge, but the impact they made on us all will live on forever...

My message to you: Pet hair, don’t care. Look beyond what’s on the outside, both with people and with animals. There is a beautiful soul within all of us.

Mochi and adoptive dad Bart

Karen Shaw

Daryl Weisser

Sandy Combs

Center

One of the most in-demand kitchen features for 2024 is the rare one you can thoroughly customize to your own tastes and budget — the beverage center.

Whether it’s coffee you crave or you follow your passion for wine to the ends of the Earth, you can set up a station to cater to your needs by rounding up the appliances, equipment and ingredients you need to make a tasty splash in your life.

Scaling your beverage center (the term is also used for mini-fridges) to your needs and interests takes some forethought, but it’s also a great chance to use your imagination.

Setting priorities

The fact is there are a lot of different drinks you can make, and if you’re an aficionado of several types (say, wine, beer, smoothies, coffee, tea and flavored sparkling water) it can take up a lot of space before you even realize what’s happening.

If you find your wish list for your beverage center is getting unwieldy, you may need to scale back.

Equipment and location

Maybe you only need a couple of beverage dispensers to deliver fruitinfused ice water and iced tea, which could occupy a few square feet, or you have a coffee maker, espresso machine, blender and soda maker to serve all the beverages you love — plus you’d love an extra sink.

Clearing the space in your kitchen for all this machinery could be difficult, so in these cases you might be better off setting up a dedicated space in the family or dining room.

Wine collectors have even more considerations regarding storage and temperature that can entail one or two coolers. It would be ideal to integrate them into the kitchen if there’s room, but they could need to be set up in a separate bar area (and locked if you need to keep it out of reach for children).

If you have a kegerator for fresh beer, you may want to put it in the home theater or game room to pair it with the activities it’s likely to be consumed during.

Convenience and accessibility

The main function of a home beverage station is its convenience, so you need to think about everyone who’ll be using it. When there’s a significant

kid contingent you’ll need to put the supplies at a lower level while being cautious about placement of whatever you don’t want them to get into.

Also consider how it will most likely be used. Will it be a grab-and-go stop as everyone in your household heads to the car or hits the trail? Or will family and guests want to hang out to chat and mingle?

In the former case, you should try to get it as close to the front door or the exit into the garage as possible, and for the latter you’ll want some space nearby where people can stand or sit while they share and reminisce.

The fun factor

This is where your creativity comes out to play and gives your beverage center

the drawing power it needs to become a nerve center of the house.

This can start with signs and themed artwork, which can be refreshingly obvious or charmingly subtle. You can use glass-fronted cabinets to show off your collection of “world’s greatest dad” mugs or colorful drinkware from around the world.

If you have a favorite vacation spot or fantasy getaway you’d like to recreate at home, your beverage station is the place to do it.

Use art, knickknacks and furniture to transport everyone to the beach, the forest, the jungle, Machu Picchu or your favorite video game. Do whatever comes to mind as you turn it into a hangout for everyone who lives in or visits your home.

B ring the Future Forward M odern Light Fixtures

Bringing the right amount of light to a room can be tricky, but today’s LED bulbs, high-tech controls and intriguing styles make it much easier to accomplish — and a lot more fun!

What brings modern light fixtures together is their efficient use of today’s lighting technology with intriguing shapes or patterns to illuminate your home.

Sputnik or Glass Burst Styles

Inspired by the space race and fascination with the stars, these updated chandeliers feature spheres of light at the end of black or gold rods to recreate the spark of innovation and burst of new technology that make satellites and space travel a reality. They set an exciting tone for the room.

LED Light Rods

These can be found as a single stylish rod suspended over a kitchen for task lighting or mounted on the ceiling in bunches to bring a futuristic vibe to a living or game room. Their versatility makes them easy to customize to your taste and tasks.

Pendant Shades and Lanterns

The ideal marriage of form and

function, these put task lighting on task to also fill the room with a warm glow that invites family and guests to gather and gab. These look great hung alone or in sets of two or three.

Wall Sconces

These don’t have to be frilled and scalloped to be installed in a home to provide additional task or accent lighting. Think clean lines and colors other than gold, and you’ve got a thoroughly modern light source.

Recessed Lighting

These are not showy fixtures for the most part but sunken into the ceiling so as not to take up airspace and make the room feel smaller.

Such lighting has several variations, including ones that push the bulb

up into the ceiling (baffle trim), flush with or slightly below the ceiling (open trim) and in housings that can be angled to change the light’s direction (eyeball trim).

Flush Mounts

When you crave the drama of a chandelier overhead but just don’t have the ceiling height for it, you can always go with a flush mount lamp with modern angles. If you’re tired of the flush-mount dome lights in your home, you can always swap them out for an artsy statement piece.

Floor, Table and Desk Lamps

Don’t forget about these workhorses of the lighting world. Plugging gives you more freedom to play with styles and shapes.

Thriller Plants Perfect for B ig Pots

BY KEN LAIN, THE MOUNTAIN GARDENER, WATTERS GARDEN CENTER

Tall plants turn ordinary container gardens into living art, adding height, variety and drama.

My designer rule for stylish containers is “thriller, spiller, then fillers.” Combine a tall, “thrilling” focal point with plants spilling over the sides of your container to soften the edges. Filler plants bridge the space between. Very little potting soil should be visible when your design is complete. Plants will be touching foliage-to-foliage.

Start with a tall “thrilling” plant, and the rest of your job is easy. Here is my go-to list of tall plants that thrive in container gardens.

Insider Tip

The larger your container, the easier it is to grow and maintain. The more potting soil your container holds, the longer these tall beauties last for years of enjoyment.

Alberta spruce, Picea glauca, is a perfect front yard container and raised bed tree. Lush growth means it’s also an excellent screen plant that won’t overgrow spaces. Experiment with topiary spirals or poodles specimens on entries and patios without room to plant. A beautiful choice for woodland gardens or behind water features.

Arborvitae, Thuja, as the centerpiece of a container garden is elegant, classy and low maintenance. Choose one that holds its shape without a lot of pruning. A good option is Emerald Green arborvitae, a semi-dwarf cultivar that grows in a narrow pyramid to around 7 to 12 feet. Plant in a large pot with, and it will thrive for many years.

Boxwood, Buxus, are often grouped together in foundation plantings or to form low hedges. Dwarf boxwoods are famous for their use in formal cottage or English-style landscapes. They respond

well to pruning, making them popular as topiary and bonsai plants. The fun of using this plant is trimming it to be anything you want.

Agave thrives in a shallow clay pot. Locals refer to this native wonder as Arizona’s century plant — rumored to shoot up a 12-foot flower from its heart once every 100 years. I find they bloom every 10 to 15 years when cared for properly. They prefer a gritty, welldrained cactus mix.

Sage, Salvia, is the longest blooming sage with continual flowers broadcasting right through autumn. Hummingbirds and gardeners fall for this knee-high bloomer that deserves a prominent location in the garden’s hotter spots. Javelin -and deer proof.

Gardenia is famous for its heady fragrance, growing best as a patio specimen in partial shade. Gardenia

roots don’t like to be disturbed, so choose a larger 18-inch container for years of enjoyment.

Lavender is virtually synonymous with fragrance. The bestknown aromatic herb is a potpourris staple; its flowers and leaves, especially after dried, have a fabulous smell. Lavender bridges the gap between plants with aromatic foliage and those with strongly scented flowers.

Roses are surprisingly easy to grow in our dry mountain air; they love it here. They thrive in larger containers at least 18 inches wide. Try Easy Elegant, Knockout and Carpet roses for continual fragrance every month through the growing season.

Rosemary quickly forms a hedge of aromatic evergreen foliage. Profuse clear blue flowers add a charming effect. Leaves can be used as a flavorful herb in cooking. Prunes well but is equally excellent in its natural form without pruning.

Yucca is a magnificent Southwestern native producing 4-foot wands of bright trumpet flowers irresistible to hummingbirds. Blooms tower above the mound with sword-shaped foliage. A must-have for sunny waterwise gardens used in a showy evergreen planting.

Lilacs like Grandma used to grow

Growing up in Prescott, we knew spring was here when Grandma’s lilacs bloomed. She would be thrilled with this year’s top bloomers, including all new repeat and every blooming varieties just for Prescott. More beautiful than ever with the same heavenly scent your grandma enjoyed. Lilacs like Grandma used to grow...and better!

Soothing Elements Rule Home D esign

Calm is the ultimate luxury in 2024. Homeowners are looking for tranquility and comfort. They’re looking for rooms that open their arms to all who enter. Softer angles, restorative colors and natural themes are in demand.

Peachy Keen

Pantone’s Color of the Year is Peach Fuzz, a sweet shade with a subtle liveliness that can nurture a happy mood and a well-rounded person. Its warmth and good vibes stimulate as well as soothe, making it possible for us to get ready for a new day or new challenge without any stress to drag us down.

It makes space for us to be, feel and heal as we awaken to the warmth and texture of the world around us.

Earth and Sky Neutrals

Neutrals tied to nature can restore calm to the center of our lives. Sky and other lighter blues will be favored as a contrast

to neutrals as well as a primary color as we seek to bring the outdoors in.

Earthy creams, grays and browns can be joined by the subtle glow of terra cotta, seen everywhere from planters, counters and other hard surfaces where we’re used to seeing it woven into linens and throws.

Curves Ahead

Curved and wavy lines have shown up in places where we’ve learned to expect right angles.

Tables for dining or coffee are having their sharp corners rounded off, and counters that always traveled in a straight line are now starting to meander. Even walls are beginning to yield and turn at corners instead of screeching into a sharp corner, giving rooms a more cocoonlike feel.

Putting Green in the House

Green is one of the colors people

are putting on their walls and into their furniture, and it’s being magnified by plants — the home accessory that keeps on giving.

Sunny living and dining rooms are being transformed into conservatories for species both exotic and familiar, and you’re increasingly finding trees under the roofs in the largest homes.

Scent-sational Space

Interior design has long appealed to our senses of sight and touch to the exclusion of the other three, but more and more consumers are sniffing around for anything that can add aromatic appeal to their spaces. Plants, florals or that “new furniture smell” can be a great start, but placement of attractive diffusers can add attractive smells to a space without detracting from its aesthetic.

Adds Weight to Room D esign V intage Decor

Many people long for the character and historical awareness that vintage furnishings lend to a room.

Shopping vintage décor and accessories also is a “greener” way of adorning your interior rather than buying new lamps, rugs, mirrors, wall art and other knickknacks that aren’t as likely to withstand the test of time.

Classic art and objects that gain value with time add to a home’s prestige as well, proof of your discerning taste as well as your acumen for acquiring these marvelous pieces.

Here are some of the types of vintage (anything about 20 years or older) or antique (starting at about 100 years) items that can build your home’s “wow” factor.

Framed mirrors

Before they became utilitarian items kept in the bathroom and bedroom, mirrors

were works of art that made a room seem bigger and lighter and made looking at yourself just a little bit more fun.

High quality examples abound from the Victorian era through the art deco years and into the 1950s.

Sculpture and figurines

These are excellent art pieces for evoking nostalgia, remembering history, celebrating creativity and elevating your interior décor. It can be easy to go overboard with these, but placing them judiciously can draw the eye to unexpected corners of the room.

Oil paintings

You can find representative examples from any era over the last 500 years, and given the paint’s tendency to crack over time the ones that are best cared for tend to be of the highest quality. They lend gravitas to a room that won’t be soon forgotten.

Lamps

You’ll need to be more cautious with electrical items, but vintage and antique lamps that have proven to be in good shape or have been rewired can be a high “light” for any space with their graceful styling and attention to detail.

Chandeliers

These light fixtures are statement pieces no matter when they were made, but repurposed ones from earlier eras have a shine and heft that’s harder to find in newer examples. They can become the jewel of the room where they are hung.

Rugs

They truly don’t make these like they used to. The great majority of these are machine-woven now, so when you buy vintage or antique you’re paying for the experience and craftsmanship of the artisan weaver behind it. Colors can fade attractively over time, but the integrity of the piece holds strong.

Playroom Design Let your Imagination Rule

There are many good reasons to have a designated playroom for your children. It encourages them to play, learn and share together. It helps to organize toys while keeping the disorganization that usually accompanies them confined to one space. It keeps clutter and distraction out of their bedrooms, which should be reserved for sleeping.

All practicalities aside, playrooms are just fun, both to put together and to use.

Embrace your creativity (and that of your kids) to design a cheerful, vibrant area for all kinds of unstructured activities that will be the building blocks for their adult selves — but don’t tell them that, just let them have a blast.

Color it playful

Bright and fun colors and patterns set the stage for play and give the room its own vibe distinct from the rest of the house.

Wallpaper and rugs sporting bold patterns can be a gateway to learning geometry and bring life to even the darkest room.

Posters and decals can showcase superheroes, characters from cartoons or books, favorite animals, solar systems or imaginary lands and are easy to update as kids’ interests evolve.

Get them into the swing Incorporate physical play equipment wherever you can. Hang a swing from the ceiling, snake climbing bars and rock wall footholds along the walls and install hanging rings to build up little biceps.

They may rather go outside for this kind of play but giving them another option when it’s too cold or hot out will make sure they get some exercise every day. Just make sure there’s plenty of padding on the floor so they have a soft place to land.

Cozy seating

Finding adorably pint-sized chairs is a fun hobby for parents accommodating their kids’ needs for places to read, draw, paint, do puzzles or homework and just relax in between all the playing, learning and growing they have to do.

The endless options include tiny stools hiding storage compartments, animalshaped benches, colorful armchairs, rockers and sofas and mini-me versions of the chic styles found in your living room.

Rooms within a room

Again, there are so many directions you can go to create a sheltered play nook. Teepee-style tents and high canopies are popular ways to create a fort-like enclosure, and a playhouse can be assembled at floor level or built into a loft-style bed for a treehouse effect with added privacy and enjoyment.

The Perfect Retaining Wall System

VERSA-LOK retaining wall systems are cost-effective, easy-to-install, and give you endless design options.

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Keeping You Up All Night Silence the Squeak

Trying to get yourself to sleep on a squeaky, creaky bed is one of those small annoyances that can become a big problem if it leaves you tired and blearyeyed in the morning.

Fortunately, you don’t need to be a rocket scientist to figure this one out. There are a few relatively easy steps to diagnosing and solving this problem:

Locate the source

Identify where the squeaks are coming from. It might be the mattress, box spring, bed frame or even the headboard.

Tighten loose screws and bolts

Check all the screws, bolts and connections in your bed frame. Over time, they can loosen and contribute to squeaking. Use a screwdriver or wrench to tighten any loose hardware.

Apply lubricant

Lubricate the joints and moving parts of the bed frame. Common lubricants

include silicone spray, WD-40 or even a bar of soap. Apply the lubricant to areas where metal parts rub against each other.

Add padding or felt

If the squeaking is coming from areas where wood rubs against wood, consider adding padding or felt between the contact points. This can reduce friction and eliminate squeaks.

Check the box spring

Inspect the box spring for any broken or damaged components. If there are loose or damaged springs, they may need to be repaired or replaced.

Use anti-squeak products

There are commercial products available, such as anti-squeak sprays or wax, designed specifically to eliminate bed squeaks.

Tighten bed slats

If your bed has slats, make sure they are properly secured. Tighten any loose screws or connections. You can also add

additional support by placing plywood between the mattress and the slats.

Check the mattress

If the mattress itself is causing the squeaks, try rotating or flipping it. Some mattresses develop squeaks over time due to wear and tear.

Adjust the bed frame

Check if the bed frame is level. If it’s not, adjust the legs or supports to ensure the bed is sitting evenly on the floor.

Consider

a bed frame reinforcement

If the bed frame is still squeaky after trying the above steps, look for additional support brackets that can stabilize the frame.

If the bed continues to squeak, it then might be worth consulting with a professional or manufacturer for further assistance. For beds with warranties, contacting the manufacturer could be helpful to understand if the issue is covered.

Norte Dame Fourviére

Lyon DeliversMarvelous Mix

BY TORI WARD, CRUISE AND RESORT SPECIALIST, ROX TRAVEL

by Tori Ward

Recently we decided to make a repeat trip to Burgundy with our BFF traveling buddy, Rhonda, and included a four-day side trip to Lyon, France.

It seemed to fit all the items on our punch list. A city of historical significance with diversity, some mystery or sense of humor, and great food. Something European, but not pretentious. Lyon did not disappoint.

Our hotel was far enough away from old town Lyon to allow quiet evenings, but close enough to transportation and essential resources just a few blocks from the river.

The treasure of our neighborhood, though, was a wonderful Turkish restaurant whose alluring aromas tempted us. The incomprehensible menu didn’t discourage us. In spite of the fact that the waiter couldn’t understand a thing we said and we couldn’t understand him, we were able to order tender and crispy grilled chicken whose flavors we will never duplicate at home. It was served with small puddles of brightly colored, spicy relishes, olives and golden potatoes. We had plans that would include a traditional meal the following day, but this dinner offered some of the diversity we were craving.

A visit to Lyon included a trip to the Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica on the top of Fourviére. While not the oldest church in Lyon, it is very ornate and her presence dominates the city. We spent a respectful few minutes inside and

couldn’t avoid the temptation to take photographs of the glittering interior.

Directly down the hill from the basilica we were amazed at the remains of the Roman Amphitheater. Parts date back to 15 BC; it was built to seat 10,000 people. Lyon was a strategically important city for the Roman Empire as two important rivers, the Rhône and the Saône, crossed there making the city useful for passage to the Mediterranean.

Because of its important trade location, silk weaving was introduced to Lyon in 1466. The impact of the silk workers not only had a positive economic impact, the “traboules” hidden covered passageways the skilled craftspeople used to transport textiles between shops and ships to avoid the elements, also played an important role for the safe passage of messages and people for the French Resistance during WWII.

As we strolled through Old Town, I grabbed Rhonda when a small exterior door opened revealing one of the hidden passageways. I felt like I’d discovered Narnia.

While admiring my giant cherry earrings, bought in a boutique where Carmen Miranda could have plucked the fruit from her hat for jewelry, we snapped a few pictures in front of one of the multistoried frescos for which Lyon is famous — the Fresque des Lyonnais Célébres where images of 30 famous Lyon natives have been immortalized on the exterior walls.

Rhonda had done her homework and selected an accredited bouchon, one of only a few restaurants that have earned that designation in Lyon. To achieve the seal the restaurant must achieve several standards. The menu must contain traditional Lyonnaise fare using fresh ingredients hosted in a friendly atmosphere. At Les Fines Gueules we ate a wonderful lunch of salad Lyonnaise lavishly seasoned with salty lardons, escargots ladled with parsley butter and delicate pike quenelles finished with bubbly crab bisque. Service was warm and kind and helped “seal” the perfect ending to an excellent afternoon in Lyon.

“

"As we

strolled through Old Town, I grabbed Rhonda when a small exterior door opened revealing one of the hidden passageways. I felt like I’d discovered Narnia."

—Tori Ward

Photos

Tori's TIPS

As needed, make sure to buy OTC medicines and toiletries by early evening. Few shops are opened late and we could find no pharmacy opened on Sunday.

Early morning is the best time to visit the basilica and ruins in the Fourviére area. In Old Town, the streets are narrow and very crowded in the afternoon, and they close early.

Because there are fewer than 30 bouchons in Lyon if you want to dine in one, reservations are strongly advised.

Lyon is the gastronomic capital of the world, so if you don’t have a reservation for a bouchon, don’t worry; there are more than 4,000 restaurants in the city.

Public transportation is plentiful and inexpensive with the same tickets used on trams, metros, busses and the funicular that operates up and down the Fourviére.

Traditional bouchon lunch

Lyon Roman amphitheater

LAWTON CHAMPIE

riding in 1920’s prescott frontier days rodeo

BUILDING ON THE RICH HERITAGE AND STORIED LEGACY OF THE PRESCOTT FRONTIER DAYS, INC, THE 2024 RODEO WILL EMBRACE THE THEME OF ‘PRESCOTT

ANNOUNCE TICKETS ON SALE AND NEW PRESCOTT TRADITIONS THEME

rescott Frontier Days®, Inc is thrilled to announce that tickets for the highly anticipated 2024 World’s Oldest Rodeo® will go on sale in March 2024. Set to take place from July 1 to July 7, 2024, this iconic event promises to deliver another unforgettable experience for rodeo enthusiasts from around the world.

Building on the rich heritage and storied legacy of the Prescott Frontier Days, Inc, the 2024 Rodeo will embrace the theme of “Prescott Traditions.” This theme aims to honor the rodeo traditions and culture that have been cherished since the

inaugural event in 1888. It is a celebration of the timeless traditions that have made the World’s Oldest Rodeo a true institution.

To commemorate and pay homage to the vibrant Prescott rodeo culture, we are excited to launch the “Memory Catcher” campaign. This campaign invites rodeo enthusiasts to share their cherished stories and unforgettable moments from the historic Prescott Frontier Days, Inc - World’s Oldest Rodeo. Whether you have witnessed heart-pounding bull rides, thrilling barrel races, met legendary rodeo contestants, or have a family tradition or story to share, we believe

that your memories are a treasured part of our rich tradition.

We encourage everyone to join us in reliving the legacy and nostalgia of the World’s Oldest Rodeo by sharing your stories, photos, and videos. Visit our dedicated Memory Catcher website at https://worldsoldestrodeo.com/memory-catcher to submit your entries and be a part of this extraordinary celebration of our rodeo heritage.

“We are incredibly excited to unveil the theme ‘Prescott Traditions’ for the 2024 Rodeo,” said Jim Dewey Brown, General Manager of Prescott

Frontier Days, Inc. “This theme allows us to honor the deep-rooted traditions and culture that have shaped our rodeo since its inception. We invite rodeo enthusiasts from all walks of life to join us in celebrating the remarkable heritage of the World’s Oldest Rodeo by sharing their unforgettable memories.”

Make sure to mark your calendars for the ticket sale date in March 2024, as this is an event you won’t want to miss.

Prescott Frontier Days, Inc is dedicated to ensuring that the World’s Oldest Rodeo remains an accessible and family-friendly event. We are pleased to announce that general admission tickets for the 2024 Rodeo are priced at an affordable rate. Pricing available for general admission seating up to $40 per person. We want to emphasize the importance of purchasing tickets directly through our official website, www.WorldsOldestRodeo. com, to avoid third-party spam websites. By buying your tickets exclusively through our trusted platform, you can guarantee a seamless ticketing experience and secure your spot at this historic and thrilling event. Don’t miss out on the chance to be a part of the unforgettable experience that is the World’s Oldest Rodeo. Get your tickets March 2024 only at www. WorldsOldestRodeo.com. For rodeo inquiries, please contact the rodeo office at (928) 445-3103 or email info@worldsoldestrodeo.com. The rodeo office is located at 840 Rodeo Drive Prescott, AZ 86305.

1ST PERFORMANCE JULY 1, 7:30PM

Tribute Acts

B ring Time Travel to Elks Theatre

BY BLAKE HERZOG

Music’s ability to transport us to the past is well-known and is powerful enough to reconnect dementia patients with parts of their pasts that otherwise seem to have been erased.

It’s likely one of the reasons live bands that devote their song lists to playing the greatest hits from the music acts of yesteryear are a profitable cottage industry within the music world and a frequent presence at the Historic Elks Theatre in downtown Prescott.

Jennifer Ward, current business manager for the 119-year-old performance hall, says tribute acts on the stage tend to attract larger audiences to the theater, and she says she has an idea as to why: “Music is a key ingredient for pulling our memories out of hibernation and allowing us, even if just for a couple of hours, to relive some truly key parts of our lives. It’s really very special to witness.”

Ward says she’s not aware of any such performers appearing at the theater with any regularity before it was refurbished to its original elegance and reopened in 2010, after which current theater manager Colette Greenlee took over and brought her on board.

They were quickly approached by production companies pitching new acts to bring to Prescott and the nostalgic concerts honoring beloved stars from the 1950s, ‘60s and ’70s stood out with their success.

“Since then, we’ve chosen the production companies that are able to provide us with the best possible talent, while keeping the prices down,” Ward says.

In the past few years, bands that have their greatest appeal to the Gen X crowd have been taking up residence besides those more oriented to boomers and their forebears.

“We’re introducing new concerts this year (doing a few last year, as well) that will appeal to a different generation — my generation! Some ‘80s bands that were popular are proving to be a great decision for us, while keeping the popular ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s on our schedule,” Ward says.

She was quick to add, “We offer other types of events as well and stand behind our mission statement to ensure the support of local entertainment. We have an amazing array of artistic talent here in Prescott and are always thrilled to showcase them on our historic stage.”

The Elks’ slate for the first four-plus months of 2024 is abundant with tribute acts. The first six weeks have already saluted three superstar acts, while the 19 tribute acts scheduled from mid-February through mid-May cover everyone from Madonna and Motley Crue to the Beatles

and Beach Boys. Ticket prices top out under $30 for most shows.

“These production companies work hard to keep their pricing affordable, for our demographic, and we’re so grateful for that,” Ward says. For more information about upcoming shows visit www.prescottelkstheatre.org.

One show on Feb. 23 has deep local ties.

Iconic Voices: Women in Music is an ensemble show spurred by Merri McKee’s First Monday showcases at Back Alley Wine Bar, which drew together

talented female artists who enjoyed the chance to work together outside of their commitments to other acts.

McKee, who performs Celtic music and leads “paint and sip” classes for Del Rio Springs Vineyard, decided to put her experience producing shows in the RenoTahoe area.

The performance will include hits written by Dolly Parton, Pat Benatar, Bonnie Raitt and other songwriters performed by women representing a number of popular bands performing throughout central and northern Arizona.

Ward says tribute shows are selling out at record pace, and many of the most popular acts come back twice a year, a few requiring two-night stands to keep up with demand. She expects little to change this year.

“We’re an affordable space, allowing the public to easily purchase tickets and have money left over to visit us at the concession/bar area where we offer snacks, beer, wine and a few other options including sodas and, of course water. We’ve not changed our concession pricing in 13 years, and have no intentions of doing so,” Ward says.

Photo by Blushing Cactus Photography

Longest Mural by One Artist Completed

SUBMITTED BY GRANITE CREEK TRAIL MURAL PROJECT, PHOTOS BY DALE O'DELL

Barbara Nelson, President of the Board of Directors, and founder of the Granite Creek Trail Mural Project is thrilled to announce completion of “An over 400-foot-long outdoor work of art, 12 feet high in some places, designed and rendered by nationally and internationally accomplished local muralist Dana Cohn.

“The mural is located along the Granite Creek Trail near downtown Prescott, Arizona, and has been wholly funded by grants and donations. Formal dedication of the artwork to the City of Prescott took place on October 27th this year.”

The mural depicts forest scenes and well-known local landscapes such as Granite Mountain, Watson Lake, Lynx Lake

and Granite Creek, as well as more than 50 species of local birds and other wildlife chosen by the community via exclusive sponsorships. (Now ended and no longer available.)

In addition, 19 mourning doves together in flight are dedicated to the 19 Hot Shots who so tragically lost their lives 10 years ago. The project worked with ornithologists, photographers and wildlife and habitat experts and organizations, who gave of their time to consult on the project.

This art is available free to all providing education and enjoyment for all residents and visitors, trail users, educational institutions, environment and nature lovers of all kinds.

“The mural is now a permanent part of the Prescott landscape, and a significant addition to points of interest all over the state,” Nelson says.

“Excitingly, we are now focusing our attention on producing a commemorative book that documents the entire mural process: Making the Mural: Arizona’s Longest Mural by One Artist.

Through the medium of photography, the book tells the story of the mural from start to finish. The book is also designed to thank and recognize supporters, with special sections describing major contributions that made the mural a reality. It is in production and is expected to be more than 150 pages.

It may be pre-ordered on the project website for a donation of $25; considerably less than the postproduction donation expected to be $45.

“The book will memorialize this important piece of Prescott as well as Arizona history, the Granite Creek Trail Mural,” Nelson says.

Granite Creek Trail Mural Project is a 501c3 Arizona nonprofit corporation. More information can be found on our website: www.trailmurals.org.

This art is available free to all providing education and enjoyment for all residents and visitors, trail users, educational institutions, environment and nature lovers of all kinds.

Faster

BY TOD CHRISTENSEN

It starts innocently enough even when we are young

Just playing at the playground on the swings as they swung

Wanting to go just a little bit faster and a little bit higher

Not satisfied with being a walker now wanting to be a flyer.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with wanting just a little bit more Thinking somehow that just a little bit more means things are better than before

And we grow and we grow and we find new things to try

Bicycles at first, then cars or whatever catches our eye.

Always impatient with the pace that we are

Thinking faster somehow means we are actually going far

And things start to zip by our window and our own very eyes,

And we lose sight of so many treasures because we are so focused on the prize.

We are in such a hurry that we feel the wind now rushing no longer a breeze

As we hurtle toward the cliff like Thelma and Louise,

And we miss that beautiful sunset or the smell of that wild flower

And the giggle of a small child or that summer rain shower.

So consumed are we on the things that really don’t matter

Because it won’t be bankers and investors at our funeral who chatter,

It will be the people we touched while we were here on this earth

It’s the people we helped who will really determine our worth.

Did we help enough people did we do enough good,

Did we make enough time to enjoy this life like we should?

Or are we racing towards that cliff and that inevitable disaster

All because somewhere we became convinced we should go just a little bit faster.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tickets can be purchased for Western Heritage Center events

Wednesday - Saturday 10:30 am - 4:30 pm and Sunday Noon - 4 pm 156 S. Montezuma Street · 928-910-2307

PLEASE NOTE: Tickets for “Stepping Off The Page” must be purchased through the Elks Theatre Box Office or at prescottelkstheatre.org

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 · 6PM · $15

Western Heritage Center on Whiskey Row

CELEBRATE STATEHOOD DAY

Presenter: Stuart Rosebrook, PhD.

Join us on Arizona’s 112th “ Statehood Day ” to learn how from 1846 to the present, Arizona has been on the frontlines of America’s national defense!

Historian Stuart Rosebrook (editor of True West Magazine ) will share military history from Territorial days to 2024.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13 · 6PM · $15

Western Heritage Center on Whiskey Row

PRESCOTT WOMEN: PIONEERS TO POLITICIANS

Presenter: Melissa Ruffner - Author, Historian

Being that Prescott was the Territorial Capital - you know that there were definitely powerful women in this town. Join us in March for “Women’s Month”. Come learn how these tough pioneer ladies guided and changed the politics that still affect Arizona!

From building schools and libraries to ensuring women could vote - this is interesting history!

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 · 6PM · $15

Western Heritage Center on Whiskey Row

AZ SWINDLER: ”SOAPY” SMITH

Presenter: Jeff Smith

“Soapy” Smith (1860-1898), perhaps the most talented & extraordinary conman to inhabit the Old West, will come back to life. “Soapy” operated cons in towns across 20 states and territories, including Tombstone, Arizona, where he met lawman Wyatt Earp.

Join us to experience his live portrayal in full costume and experience real swindles by his great grandson & author, Jeff Smith of Williams, AZ.

FRIDAY, MARCH 29 · 7PM

The Elks Theatre & Performing Arts Center

STEPPING OFF THE PAGE

A Play Conceived & Directed By Jody Drake

Based On The Book “Hellraisers & Trailblazers” By Jana Bommersbach & Bob Boze Bell

Ever curious about the real women of the wild west? This play may answer all your questions and more! Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, and many other notable women will tell their stories about surviving in in the west.

Purchase tickets through the Elks Theatre Box Office or at prescottelkstheatre.org

for the balance of their life, unless we find that it is in the best interest of the horse to have an individual owner. I think it’s been maybe five horses I’ve adopted out through the years.

PRESCOTT LIVING: How do you find the horses that you rescue, and what qualities do you look for in them?

Cristi: We rescue any horse that is in a life or death situation. There have been rare circumstances where we will take a horse because somebody can’t use it anymore or they want to donate the horse. The horses that come into our program have been victims of abandonment, abuse or neglect. They generally are brought to our attention by someone.

We’ve had some horses come out of kill pens. We’ve had horses that are owner surrenders that are not being cared for properly, and we go and speak with the owners and are able to purchase the horses from them.

Horses are very forgiving animals and every relationship they get into is new to them. Most horses will explore that, and if you can get them to a place of curiosity instead of a place of fear, they get into a much better place.

PRESCOTT LIVING: Is the fact that they have a background where they’ve been mistreated, do you think that makes them better or more empathetic as therapy horses?

Cristi: Absolutely. They can sense in humans when there’s been trauma or fear or anxiety or depression or other issues, and if they’ve experienced something similar, this bond that’s just created between the horse and the human — that really couldn’t be matched elsewhere.

We take clients around and we tell them the horse’s story. And I’ll

find that they will be drawn to the human and the human drawn to them that has had something similar happen or they can relate to them. I have a little Arab horse who was pretty severely neglected, and she is really drawn to those who are loners or who feel like they don’t fit in anywhere and has done some pretty miraculous stuff with those clients.

PRESCOTT LIVING: How many first responders and families have you worked with over the years?

Cristi: I’d have to go back and add up all the numbers. Not as many first responders as we have veterans. They’ve primarily been law enforcement. We’ve just really started breaking into the fire community. Gosh, I have to guesstimate, probably 20 to 25 first responders.

And there is a lot of overlap especially in law enforcement, veterans who are serving in law enforcement. Gosh, for veterans, if you go back to California, I would have to say probably in the hundreds.

PRESCOTT LIVING: How many volunteers do you have?

Cristi: If we talk about regular volunteers, we’ve got about 10, and then we have another 15 or so who help with events, or special things that go on at the ranch. Sometimes we have Boy Scout troops out or we work with the Young Marines or the JROTC at Prescott High School. So volunteers will come in, just for that, and we always can use more volunteers, especially in the area of horse care and exercising our horses.

And then, the kids’ program does end up getting a waiting list if we don’t have enough mentors. So that’s also a big need; to have mentors who have horse experience who can come in and work one-onone with a child. Those who want

to volunteer or donate can go onto our website, which is www.bethanysgait.org.

PRESCOTT LIVING: Who are your major sponsors and supporters, and how can people donate?

Cristi: OneAZ Credit Union has been awesome. They provide volunteers whenever we need them. They’ve given us several grants; just really helped with whatever we need. The other would be Veteran Crane, owned by Mike and Angie Boitnott. They have been the presenting sponsor of our major fundraiser for the last two or three years, and they also are there whenever we need them. The others would be individuals. That is where the majority of our donations come from, private donations from individuals and families.

PRESCOTT LIVING: As far as the people you help, are the first responders and military connected people mostly men?

Cristi: It is primarily men, not by design. What seems to happen is we seem to attract families more than individuals. We do have some individuals who come into the program. We have reached out and tried to do some things that were specifically for women veterans, and it hasn't gone over as well as we have expected, but the program is definitely open to both men and women in the veteran community as well as the first responder community.

We find a lot of times that in these marriages, the spouse has either served as a first responder or in the military, and that’s where they met. So that’s been kind of an interesting thing.

PRESCOTT LIVING: How are the clients and horses matched up? Do they kind of suss each other out?

Cristi: They do. We take the clients around. We introduce them to all the horses, tell them the horse’s story, and then they will generally pick the one they want to work with.

Sometimes the horse chooses. We have a veteran in the program right now who initially thought he wanted to work with this one horse and was walking toward her and then Vaquero kind of came and stood right in front of him and was like, “No, you’re going to work with me.”

So he went, “OK.” I said, “I think this horse is telling you that he wants to work with you.” And he said, “I think he is. I need to work with him.” So we’ve had situations like that, and then those always seem to work out. Horses just seem to have this sixth sense.

PRESCOTT LIVING: Now that you’re doing this kind of work, it probably just seems like the fulfillment of where you were headed all along.

Cristi: It really does. Yeah. God just really put it on my heart when I met Bethany that that was what I was supposed to do. And it just took 15 years for me to get there and then, we pretty much just jumped right in, and I started up full-time almost immediately.

Cristi and her husband Hoke

Cristi and Big T

Adventuring Safely RV Road Rules Keep you

BY BLAKE HERZOG

Maybe you find the idea of RV life magical — saving money on airfare and hotels, carrying everything you need (including pets) with you, unplugging from the digital world and connecting with nature and a whole community of like-minded travelers.

But you’re a little scared of driving and (especially) parking a multi-ton recreational vehicle you think you’ll need to fill up at every gas station you pass.

Mastering the art of driving an RV is a journey in itself, but it doesn’t have to be a long one.

First, it’s helpful to know a little bit about the various classes. Definitions of these categories vary, and they’re listed here from largest to smallest, getting cheaper, easier to drive and more miles per gallon as they get smaller.

Class A

Built on a commercial truck chassis, these boxy vehicles generally run 25 to 45 feet long, and can sleep six to 10 people. They can tow another vehicle and have tons of storage space but can’t be taken as many places.

Class C

These are constructed on a smaller commercial truck chassis and have the same type of hood as a truck or van.

They can usually accommodate four to seven people and offer many of the same amenities as Class A but in most cases aren’t able to tow another vehicle.

Class B

These are built on a van chassis with RV components installed behind the cab. These can sleep up to four people at most and all space is at a premium but these are the most versatile — some have four-wheel drive and can go deep into the wilderness.

Driving Safety Tips

• Proper vehicle inspection and maintenance: Before embarking on any trip, ensure your RV is in optimal

condition. Regularly inspect the tires, brakes, lights and fluid levels. Take note of any potential issues and address them promptly.

• Speed control and braking techniques: RVs require more time to accelerate and come to a complete stop due to their size and weight. Drive at a safe and comfortable speed, allowing ample distance for braking. Use engine braking and downshifting on steep descents to avoid excessive use of the brakes.

• Handling crosswinds and large vehicles: Be prepared for crosswinds, especially when passing or being passed by large vehicles.

Keep a firm grip on the steering wheel and maintain a steady speed. If necessary, pull over and wait for high winds to subside.

Fuel Efficiency Tips

• Planning routes, avoiding unnecessary idling: Plan your routes to avoid congested areas and heavy traffic. Minimize idling time by turning off the engine when parked for extended periods.

• Maintaining proper tire pressure: Underinflated tires can decrease fuel efficiency. Regularly check the tire pressure, including the spare tire, and inflate them to the recommended levels.

• Efficient driving techniques: Practice smooth acceleration and deceleration to conserve fuel. Keep a consistent speed on highways, and use cruise control when

appropriate. Avoid sudden bursts of speed or unnecessary braking.

Navigating Different Terrains

• Mountain driving: When driving in mountainous areas, take extra precautions. Use lower gears to control speed on descents, and never ride the brakes. Be aware of potential engine overheating and consider using turnouts to allow traffic to pass if you’re driving at a slower pace.

• Beach driving: If you plan to drive on the beach, research local regulations and obtain necessary permits. Be cautious of soft sand and tidal conditions. Avoid driving close to the waterline or in areas where the sand is wet and compacted.

• Extreme weather driving: In extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain, snow or high winds, adjust your driving accordingly.

Reduce your speed, increase following distance and stay alert for changing road conditions. If conditions become too severe, find a safe place to pull over and wait for conditions to improve.

• Embrace the freedom of the open road, but always prioritize safety and respect for the environment. So, buckle up, check your mirrors and get ready to create unforgettable memories on your RV travels!

Prescott Recreation Services: Uniquely a Team Effort!

BY MICHELLE STACY-SCHRODER,

In the late 2000s, the National Broadcasting Company (NBC) aired a show called Parks and Recreation. While fictional comedy, it gave viewers a small insight into the world of city government and how different departments work together to help a town successfully function.

In Prescott, the Recreation Services Department is no different. However, where in quite a few cities and towns, a parks or recreation department focuses on quality of life through recreational opportunities, Prescott’s Recreation Services Department’s scope has broader responsibilities.

Recently, Recreation Services Director Joe Baynes gave the City Council an overview of the department. Along with parks, lakes, trails and open space, and recreation divisions, the department also oversees the city’s Fleet Services Division, Facilities Maintenance Division and municipal golf course complex at Antelope Hills.

More recently, the Department also took on oversight of the Forestry Division of the Prescott Fire Department.

With over 50 full-time employees and more than 20 part-time employees, the Recreation Services Department truly is a team that brings an array of expertise for the enjoyment of residents and visitors alike.

Fleet services is responsible for managing and maintaining all of the vehicles in the city’s inventory. It orders new police vehicles and fire trucks, as well as maintains an extensive parts inventory.

The Facilities Division is responsible for keeping roofs over our heads. This division was an integral part in renovating the new City Hall building. It also manages and maintains the parking garage on Granite Street, as well as finds ways to help the city buildings become more energy efficient.

The Forestry Division assists the public with wood chipping needs, as well as helps the City mitigate potential hazards. It educates the public on how to be fire wise.

What makes the Recreation Services team so different from other cities and towns is our ability to work together to get the job done and get it right.

During winter months, staff assists with snow removal on city streets and at city buildings so community use is not disturbed. Staff regularly works with event promotors to ensure special events run safely and successfully.

With the training and experience of each employee, many projects and maintenance tasks are performed inhouse, saving taxpayer money and giving an overall sense of pride and commitment back to our residents.

Karen Shaw Ryan Stringham

Robert Kinsler

Unique Adventures Await—Discover Chino Valley

BY MAGGIE TIDABACK, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT MANAGER, TOWN OF CHINO VALLEY

Embark on a journey to Chino Valley where a tapestry of unique adventures awaits your visit. Beyond its tranquil landscapes and picturesque surroundings, this Chino Valley boasts a vibrant community that celebrates a diverse range of hobbies and interests.

Let the spirit of adventure guide you through the special attractions of Chino Valley, where each experience is a testament to the town’s rich heritage and vibrant present.

Cooper AG Center Museum

The Cooper AG Center Museum is a historic landmark located at the original center of the town. More information is available by emailing: mtidaback@chinoaz.net.

Photos courtesy of Town of Chino Valley

Chino Valley Equestrian Park

Providing multipurpose facility primarily focused on promoting and preserving the equestrian life style. Hosts activities for educational events that support all disciplines of horsemanship as well as community events. www.cvequestrianpark.org

Chino Valley Flyers

Ichor Airsoft

Historic Del Rio Springs

Original territorial capital of Arizona hosting the Fred Harvey historic buildings. The history here is amazing, and you can learn by visiting the Cooper AG Center Museum.

A state park is on the way to its making! More to come.

The group passionately believes in their mission statement for Argonauts Arena: “To provide the largest, most inclusive and inspiring airsoft field in Arizona. Our Arena is dedicated to fostering the next generation of airsofters!” www.ichorairsoft.com

The purpose of the organization is to create an interest in, further the image of, and promote the hobby/sport of model aviation. www.chinovalleyflyers.org

Compass Training Center

Compass Training Center is a public shooting range. The range is 40 total acres in size and currently has a 50-yard pistol shooting range and a 100-yard rifle range. www.compasstrainingaz.org

Continued from page 63

THE PRESCOTT PIONEER

Free Service Helps Those with Low Vision Thrive

People Who Care is a nonprofit that’s been serving Greater Prescott for 31 years by offering transportation to residents who can no longer drive due to visual impairment. It also offers periodic classes on topics related to living with low vision.

Thanks to volunteers with decades of experience living and working with the issue it’s now able to offer one-on-one consultations.

Tom Perski, 70, has lived with low vision since losing most of his eyesight to a rare genetic form of macular degeneration while he was in college. He regrouped and established a career developing and selling devices for people with impaired vision, rising to senior vice president for Chicago Lighthouse, renowned for serving the blind and visually impaired.

“It’s kind of the story of my life, the irony of losing your vision and then finding it’s an actually an advantage for working in this field. You have instant credibility,” he said.

He’s now available two days a week to offer training and consultation to people learning how to live with reduced vision, usually by learning how to use devices like magnifiers, auditory readers and even apps and features on their smartphones they aren’t aware of.

His wife Diane, who was the business manager at

Chicago Lighthouse and ran the couple's own lowvision service business in Tucson, creates a report of his evaluation and recommendations for each patient.

A year ago they began offering their services out of a room at People Who Care’s headquarters at 1580 Plaza West Drive in Prescott, which through grant money has been furnished with numerous visual aids their visitors can try out, including some of the most technically advanced.

“The main part of this is there’s different protocols for using all of these devices, and in our research most people end up needing more than one or two things,” Perski said. “Depending on their lifestyle they want to see the buttons on the microwave or see the thermostat on the wall. The list goes on and on. The typical patient may over time pick four or five or even more different things to help them, like a toolbox.”

Appointments are scheduled for 90 minutes to two hours through People Who Care. Many patients also talk to him about some of the frustration and depression they’re dealing with due to their condition, something he can relate to.

“If you could write a list of all the things that you used to be able to do, or you can still do them but you get really frustrated, many people have a list

of 30 to 40 things, and then I say, ‘Try to prioritize those, because our research says that about eight or nine things, or your top 10, there is a solution for,’” Perski said.

“Reading and doing things up close is important, but there’s also watching TV and going to a play or a concert, or going to a museum and trying to see something through a glass case.”

Perski’s counseled people in their late 30s, but the vast majority have been seniors, including many in their 80s and 90s, he said. Whatever their age, it’s good to bring a family member or friend along to help with absorbing all the information that’s presented through these sessions.

He does not sell equipment but will make recommendations on what to use and reputable vendors; like glasses or contact lenses, in most cases these visual aids are not covered by Medicare. He also makes referrals to optometrists and other medical professionals.

People Who Care staff members do an initial evaluations to determine whether the one-on-one consultation is suitable. To learn more about People Who Care’s Low Vision Services call 928.445.2480, and information about other services is available at www.peoplewhocareaz.org.

Photo courtesy of People Who Care

THE PRESCOTT PIONEER

RWOP Supports Troops, Veterans Over the Holidays

The Republican Women of Prescott (RWOP) extended their record of supporting those who are serving or have served the U.S. military with multiple projects over the course of 2023.

The largest Federated Republican Women’s Club in the country at more than 1,000 members, in March it gave $11,886 to Honor Flight, which provides allexpense paid trips to Washington, D.C., to veterans of World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars to visit the memorials.

Two members anonymously donated $5,000 each, and additional members gave $1,886 through the group’s red donation envelopes.

Later in the year, more than 100 local veterans were invited to RWOP’s annual luncheon celebrating veterans Nov. 14, each receiving a Salute to Veterans

pin. Featured speakers at the event included retired Maj. Gen. Michael T. McGuire and Gold Star Mom Laura Stephens.

Late in the year RWOP donated $1,540 through AdoptaPlatoon for care packages to an entire platoon of 40 service members. Club members, local veterans and students from Lincoln and Taylor Hicks elementary schools collaborated on writing 1,303 Christmas cards to send with the care packages.

In addition, RWOP took part in Wreaths Across America, donating $1,700 to pay for 170 wreaths placed at Prescott National Cemetery on Dec. 16 as part of an annual observance honoring fallen heroes. That day a total of 1,754, one for each marker, were placed at the cemetery by 200 volunteers.

The club’s executive committee for 2024 was sworn

in Dec. 12 by state Treasurer Kimberly Yee during the club’s holiday luncheon, which drew 450 guests. Its leaders for this election year are:

• Sue Davis, president

Cynthia McSwain, secretary

• Sue Tatar, treasurer

Jill Martin, 1st vice president, programs

• Marilyn Read, 2nd vice president, ways & means

Elaine Janks, 3rd vice president, membership

• Joan Lesko, 4th vice president, communications

Michele Hamer, 5th vice president, education

For more information visit www.rwop.info or the group’s Facebook or Instagram pages.

& A

Kristen Lantrip

Owner, Cowgirl Country Antiques

Q: What brought you to Prescott; how long have you been here?

Q

A: I pretty much grew up in Phoenix and would visit northern Arizona often. My husband Donnie (who I’ve known since 7th grade and we’re high school sweethearts) and I spent many weekends in Prescott. In 2016 we were blessed to finally make those visits permanent.

Q: How did you become interested in your career field?

A: I’ve always enjoyed “old stuff” (my little girl dream was to be an archaeologist), and at a young age loved going with my dad to yard sales, or what we like to call them, “Yard Sards.” (One early morning, tired and not yet enough coffee, my dad was making a 24x36 poster for our own yard sale and mistakenly wrote “Yard Sard.”)

At age 14, I worked at Antique Alley in Phoenix, and that is where I began my career as an “antiqueologist.” Through many various career twists and turns — from film sets to the police academy, back to movies, to celebrity events and a law firm — it came full circle back to antiques in Prescott.

Q: What is the biggest reward of your job?

A: Every day is a gift. I am incredibly thankful and blessed to be a part of this community (especially the revival of South Montezuma = SoMo). I meet the most amazing people from all

over the world who come to visit our little slice of Wild West pie. Conversations range from grandma’s cast iron to dad’s old rodeo saddle, to escaping certain political landscapes and to our good Lord above (who gets all the glory!).

We have returning customers from Dubai, Belgium, Japan, Canada, Mexico, rodeo champs, TV show stars, musicians and most recently

a wonderful 102-year-old shopper looking for a cute wooden bench.

Q: What is the biggest challenge of your job?

A: Creating space where there is none. You really have to think outside the “antique’ box when inventory is constantly coming and going.

Oh, and dusting.

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Prescott Living - Winter 2024

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