YRMC’s Grant Program: Working Together for a Healthier Community

By Lorette Brashear

When I joined Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) earlier this year, one of my first impressions was that YRMC’s team – from caregivers to support staff to executive leaders – share a core value about what it means to serve the people of Yavapai County.

What is that shared value? It’s an understanding that health care is a partnership between YRMC and the community. This health care partnership was evident on June 15 when YRMC announced its 2023 Community Grant recipients. The grants provide financial support to local programs that address specific community health needs identified by YRMC.

The following organizations received a total of nearly $320,000 to support programs that focus on behavioral health, chronic disease and housing/ homelessness.

CARE MANAGEMENT/ADULT DAY HEALTH SERVICES PROGRAM, SPONSORED BY THE SUSAN J. RHEEM ADULT DAY CENTER

Building a bridge between the acute health care services YRMC provides and the supportive services offered in the community can ensure a successful transition from hospital to home. This is especially important for older adults dealing with chronic illness. This YRMC-Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Center program is designed to improve the quality of life for older, chronically ill individuals by offering at-home medical monitoring and access to care-management services.

TRANSPORTATION AND SUPPORT SERVICES PROJECT, SPONSORED BY PEOPLE WHO CARE

Adults with vision loss, low vision or physical disabilities will receive transportation services and home-safety inspections from People Who Care, thanks to this YRMC Community Grant. The project’s goals are to promote independent living, encourage healthy living choices and increase the health knowledge of program participants.

ECONOMIC REVITALIZATION PROJECT, SPONSORED BY THE PRESCOTT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION

The Economic Revitalization Project is a multi-year initiative to both improve the economy and address the social needs of Yavapai County. The ambitious effort begins with data collection and community input to better understand the county’s challenges and opportunities. This will be followed by the creation and implementation of a plan that ensures the people of Yavapai County will thrive for years to come.

VETERANS INTEGRATED CARE, SPONSORED BY U.S. VETS –PRESCOTT

The Veterans Integrated Care program offers comprehensive services to veterans 58 years old and older. With the YRMC Community Grant, the program will provide case management services, counseling, coordinated wellness activities, housing, career development assistance and meals. All of this happens at the U.S. VETS Liberty Pointe campus in Prescott, which features a medical clinic with primary care services, palliative medicine, assisted living and hospice care.

PRESCOTT VALLEY AFTERSCHOOL CHILDCARE, SPONSORED BY THE JAMES FAMILY PRESCOTT YMCA

Almost every working family faces the challenge of finding safe, afford- able and high-quality afterschool care for their children at some time. The Prescott Valley Afterschool Childcare program will provide that to families with children in kindergarten through 6th grade. The program – sponsored by the Prescott YMCA – will be located in Prescott Valley.

YRMC is proud to partner with these five organizations through its Community Grant program. While the scope of their work varies, each organization offers services designed to improve the health and well-being of people throughout our community. QCBN so white it was almost transparent. She was well known for her punctual neighborhood walks under her huge orange sun bonnet. That hat went with us everywhere and took up as much space in the back seat as another child. We didn’t like making room for the hat. Charlie stuffed it onto the ledge of the rear window.

To learn more about YRMC and its services, visit DignityHealth.org/YRMC.

Before my dad pulled up to the border, rolled down his window and spoke with the border guard, we were instructed to sit still and be quiet. We watched him answer “no sir” to all the usual questions like, “Do you have fresh produce,” as our cheeks were puffed to their limits with banana mash. When asked about fireworks, he explained that the kids had a few small firecrackers. We saw the guard shake his head and my dad instructed the boys to hand them over. My brother, Jeff, slowly pulled a strand of firecrackers out of his pocket and gave them up, bravely trying to hold back his massive disappointment while obediently chewing a mouthful of banana.

I remember giving him my sad banana face, as we drove into Arizona. That’s when smirking Charlie tapped me on the shoulder and nodded toward grandma’s big ugly orange hat. He lifted it ever so slightly to reveal the largest roll of firecrackers I had ever seen in my life. My eyes must have been as big as my puffed-out cheeks. I looked back at the border to make sure no one was chasing us down. That’s when the dam broke. The three of us in the back seat lost it and projectile banana mash laughter filled the air.

Laughter is contagious and Laughter Yoga leaders like Olivia Vo believe we need more of it. She says the body can’t tell if our laughter is caused by an external force or if we are making ourselves laugh. “It’s all about self-activating your laughter,” she says. “You can practice laughter sounds like ho ho, ha ha, hee hee and laugh for no reason at all. You don’t need to wait to watch a movie or hang out with your friends to laugh. You can just initiate it yourself and the body is so appreciative.”

Olivia wears her joyful heart on her sleeve and also her face. Heartshaped glasses are her calling card. She brightens rooms, warms up audiences and emcees events. She says we can all derive laughter’s health benefits instantaneously by taking a laughter break. Go ahead, pause, reset, swallow that banana mash and laugh with Olivia on Zonie Living. Watch now at https://starworldwidenetworks.com/ episodes/breathing-resetting-healing-with-laughter-yoga-leader-olivia-vo-video. QCBN

Bonnie Stevens is a public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie.stevens@ gmail.com.

ENERGY continued from page 12

(MW) wind project featuring 50 wind turbines is on schedule. It is expected to begin delivering clean energy to SRP customers in early 2024.

Babbitt Ranches is known for its landscape-scale conservation practices and many projects conducted through the years with organizations such as the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Arizona Mule Deer Foundation, Arizona Department of Transportation, Arizona State Land Department, the U.S. Forest Service, Northern Arizona University and many others.

Speaking at the WAFWA conference, Babbitt Ranches President and General Manager Billy Cordasco shared the land company’s philosophy. “For us, relationships are everything; it’s the meaning behind our actions that’s important; and what we do is bigger than ourselves. All of us in this room share that privilege and responsibility to be involved in projects that are bigger than ourselves.” QCBN

TRAVEL continued from page 3 ferent gondola back down to the little town where you started. Or you can go on a full-day, really strenuous hike into the Alps.”

Popular among Northern Arizona travelers are trips to South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Botswana and Namibia. “Safaris are on everyone’s bucket list, and you need to go while you can still handle the longer flights and traveling through the bush in an open four-wheel drive vehicle while watching animals in the wild! Trekking with the gorillas is not only for the super fit, anyone that can do basic hikes will enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience! We really qualify our clients to make sure they get the best trip possible.”

However, you are not roughing it if you go on a safari, she points out. The tents have carpeting and bathroom faculties, including a shower. “I love the tents because you can hear the wildlife at night,” she said. “Imaging that you are enjoying a sunset, looking at the animals, you are out in the open in a little plunge pool having a glass of wine.”

The key to visiting Africa, she says, is understanding how diverse the continent is. “If you go to South Africa, you have the city of Cape Town, which is comparable to San Francisco. I think South Africa has the best cuisine in the world – it does such an amazing job with flavors, the wines are amazing and of course, you have unique meats.”

For travel in the U.S., she says Nashville and Seattle are competing for tourists with New York City, New Orleans, San Diego and Honolulu. “Nashville has been amazing. They have added so many hotels and are adding even more activities. Anyone who enjoys live music has to go to Nashville.”

Seattle appeals to city lovers as much as to nature lovers. “It offers an abundance of outdoor adventures. Mount Rainier is only three hours away. Also, you can take a ferry over to one of the islands. We love the vibrant cafés, the fun fish market and just exploring the city!”

Whether your dream vacation includes water, mountains, art or gorillas, Leuenberger highly recommends planning and booking early and buying travel insurance. QCBN

Avenues of the World is based in Flagstaff. Owner Monika and Yves Leuenberger are celebrating the travel business’s 30th anniversary this year. For more information, go to https://www.avenuesoftheworld.com or call 928-556-0853.

To hear more travel adventures and tips from Monika, watch Zonie Living at https://starworldwidenetworks.com/ shows/bonnie-stevens.

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Photography tthe Gateway to Grand Canyon since 1902. Through the past 34 years, the railway has been a key driver of the Williams economy.

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“It’s been positive because [GCR] helped put Williams on a stable financial basis,” said Williams Mayor Don Dent, adding that it has extended the tourist season beyond the summer months.

Preservation of the city’s historic district and Route 66 road trippers have also been a factor in a renaissance of Williams since Interstate 40 bypassed the town almost 40 years ago.

But the prosperity from the railway’s growth and other new attractions — Bearizona and Canyon Coaster Adventure Park — have created challenges for Williams. That includes a shortage of worker housing and a sewage treatment system that’s nearing its capacity.

The city’s sewer plant serves a population of about 3,200 residents, but at times it also serves close to 3,200 overnight visitors in hotels, recreational-vehicle parks and 200 vacation rentals, Dent said.

“We’re about to max out our sewer plant,” and the city is likely to enact a moratorium on sewer hookups within the next 60 to 90 days, he said.

That will stall development at a time when Williams needs new housing.

GCR is one of the city’s largest employers, with 350 workers. Some commute from Flagstaff, Parks, Ash Fork and Chino Valley. The railway’s main office is in the 1908 Williams Depot and Fray Marcos Hotel. A satellite office is in Flagstaff.

Passenger service to the South Rim ended in 1968. GCR revived rail service in 1989 with modest traffic. It carried 84,203 passengers in 1991. That increased steadily to 238,380 by 2006, according to a National Park report.

Mayor Dent, 71, a Williams native, said the mountain town suffered economically when it was the last community on Route 66 bypassed by I-40 on Oct. 13, 1984. It was the day the music of the Mother Road died. Locals no longer had to worry about semis barreling through town, but traveler spending declined at Williams gas stations, restaurants and motels.

Things looked especially grim when plans emerged to tear up the railroad tracks to Grand Canyon. Williams got a court injunction to halt salvage of the rails and ties, Dent said.

Luckily, a pair of angel investors, Max and Thelma Biegert, acquired the remaining railroad assets and developed GCR. But it was a struggle.

“I don’t think they turned a positive nickel for a number of years,” Dent said of the Biegerts, adding that GCR’s new Williams hotel in 1995 improved its bottom line.

Passenger traffic doubled to 170,481 from 1991 to 2001 and increased another 40% by 2006.

Xanterra bought GCR from the Biegerts in 2007. The company, which operates lodging at Grand Canyon and other national parks, has grown GCR into one of the nation’s most popular heritage trains.

“The [Grand Canyon] National Park is the magnet that brings folks in,” Langner said. “On the sustainability side of things, we keep just over 60,000 cars out of Grand Canyon National Park annually.”

That is 5% of the 1.2 million vehicles that entered the park last year. But Xanterra has other sustainability initiatives.

Last year, Xanterra completed the $35 million Maswick South Lodge, adding 120 rooms. It was the first new hotel in the park in a half century. The lodge is 40% more energy efficient than the buildings it replaced, and uses reclaimed water for landscaping, Langner said.

GCR also retrofitted its steam locomotive in 2009 to run on recycled vegetable oil.

“It even kind of smells like French fries as it’s chugging along,” he said. “What always surprises folks about the railway experience is just how you are, in a sense, transported back in time. We’re so used to plugging into our phones, putting in the headphones and not paying attention. This is an experience that forces you to really take it all in.” QCBN

MCIVER continued from page 14 gamble, as most restaurants fail, but she said she believed in me. I would not be doing this without the amazing support of my wife.”

McIver’s goal, he says, is to do everything well. “Other than a few items, we make everything in-house, including our bread and butter pickles. We hand dredge our chicken in a flour mixture, fry it, dip it in chili oil to bring out the flavor, then add the rub, which infuses the crust.

Menu items include the Arizona Famous Chicken Sammie, a boneless tender coated in the Flew the Coop rub and served on a toasted brioche bun, topped with chili-lime coleslaw, pickles and the restaurant’s Arizona Comeback Sauce. “It’s a big seller and we often hear customers comment that it’s the best chicken sandwich they’ve ever had,” he said.

Menu selections include chicken baskets, chicken and waffles and sides of potato salad, coleslaw, fries and beans. Beer and specialty drinks complement the offerings, along with a doggie menu consisting of Chicken Jerky Treats and Chicken Stew.

While traveling from Phoenix to Flagstaff, Northern Arizona University quantum physics student Jaden Brewer stopped at Flew the Coop. “This is my second time here and I really like the chicken and especially the seasonings. I had the ‘hot’ heat level, and it was great. My friends really enjoyed it, too.”

McIver attended Yavapai College and taught science and biology there for a few semesters. He then studied environmental science at NAU. While in college, he started bartending. “I met my wife, Jennifer, at Yavapai College and soon after managed bars and restaurants in Sedona. Jennifer is a certified ophthalmic assistant at Eye Boutique of Sedona.”

The couple has four children between the ages of 12 and 28. Daughter Ciara, age 16, works in the restaurant. “I love working there. The food is so good and it’s perfect every time, even when the chicken gets cold.”

The restaurant, located at Interstate 17 and Highway 260, operates every day from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more information, go to www. flewthecoophotchicken.com.

Character Qualities I

ADMIRE

Integrity and honesty.

How I Spend My Time Off

With my family, camping or staying in cabins and just going outdoors to hike, swim in the creek and relax.

FAVORITE PLACES TO VISIT

Lo Lo Mai Springs and Page Springs.

My Role Model

My mom taught me how to cook and first got me interested in food. She raised my brother, sister and me.

Best Advice

My sister said, “Do what your heart tells you. Always follow your heart.”

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