INSIDE THE JUNE 2022 ISSUE: Building Battery Storage for Solar Energy p. 3 Music Store Upping its Volume p. 6 Kari Rauch Coaxes Metal, Stones into Art p. 8
World’s Oldest Rodeo Going Big p. 11 Paula Sedillo Wise Helps Kids Step it Out p. 12 Arizona Rangers Backing Up the Law p. 14
Market Strategist Discusses Supply Chain, Interest Rates, Inflation, Cars
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By Ray Newton, QCBN
espite increasing mortgage interest rates, the worst inflation the nation has experienced in 40 years and a falling stock market, a senior analyst and technical market strategist for LPL Financial Investment says, “Don’t panic. The U.S. economy still remains the strongest around the world.”
Scott Brown, based at the LPL office in Charlotte, North Carolina, delivered this message to dozens of business and financial professionals in Prescott. Using the theme, “From Hand-up to Hand-off,” Brown said the market is especially volatile and likely will remain that way through the year. Brown was invited by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with One AZ Credit Union to speak at
the annual spring Economic Forecast 2022 program on May 3 on the Yavapai College Prescott campus. He emphasized that caution rather than panic should govern stock market decisions. He noted that the U.S. economy is bouncing back from one of the worst years since the Great Depression and the potential for growth was one “of the best in nearly 40 years.” During a detailed presentation,
he defined several major issues for investors: N Increasing costs for commodity products such as computer chips. N Rising retail sales markets and, at the same time, rising product costs, especially food. N Unpredictable and disrupted supply chains, particularly for items necessary in the production of apContinued on page 35
Turning Dreams into Wine Ignacio Mesa realizes vision with Clear Creek Vineyard and Winery By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN
E Ignacio Mesa invites guests to visit his 10-acre vineyard in Camp Verde, where he produces red and white blends. Photos y V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography
June 2022 | Issue 6 Volume 10
arly morning reflections mirrored in the flourishing pond at Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery suggest a perfect terroir – a French term pertaining to a region’s climate, soil and terrain that affects the taste of the wine. With grape vines stretching across most of his 10 acres in Camp Verde, Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery Owner Ignacio Mesa has cultivated sustainable solutions for his viticulture paradise. He purchased the land in 1994. Today, he produces about 1,150 cases of red and white wines per year. Patiently and methodically,
Mesa has approached his Clear Creek Vineyard & Winery with a purpose and a plan for developing a wine-growing ecosystem. Mesa’s two white Great Pyrenees dogs, Pancho and Cisco, are part of the operation. Not only do they greet guests, but they also keep coyotes and raccoons away. Frolicking between the rows of grapevines, geese munch on weeds, chickens chomp on bugs and ducks, which have proliferated through the years, keep the pond regulated by eating the moss. Using his past insight gained through managing irrigation projects in Phoenix, Mesa built a pond, gravity fed from Clear Creek, in an area where irri-
gation is possible around and below it. “Four valves open so water can be released to irrigate the vineyard without electricity. This reduces the carbon footprint,” explained Mesa. “It can be costly to pump water, as it uses a lot of electricity. It is very costly to run electric powered pumps.” When he was having problems with too much moss in the pond, he was having to dredge it. But then, migratory ducks moved in and took care of the problem. “Deposits from the ducks and fish provide natural nitrogen for the vineyards. We don’t have to buy expensive chemical nitrogen fertilizers, requiring the use of electricity, which also reduces the carbon footprint,” he said. Continued on page 33