August 2024

INSIDE THE AUGUST 2024 ISSUE: Prescott Kicking Up its Heels for Boys & Girls p. 6

The Frenchie Garden is Ready to Bloom

New florist plants her love for flowers and Frenchies in downtown Prescott

By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN

Quad Cities and surrounding area residents who love fresh flowers, distinctive plants and unique gifts have a colorful new option in The Frenchie Garden.

The name came from owner Samantha Huxtable’s love of French bulldogs. She named the business in memory of one of her beloved Frenchies that she lost in February. As a lover of dogs of all kinds, she plans to incorporate some fun canine décor into her business.

Huxtable brings a wealth of experience to The Frenchie Garden. Her mother, a florist in upstate New York for 36 years, retired and moved to Prescott in 2023. Huxtable, who learned the florist business from her mom, visited and fell in love with the area.

“I love the people here, everyone seems really nice and the vibe of the town – it’s a small, tightly knit community that reminds me of back home,” she said, adding that she enjoys

seeing so many dogs. “Just seeing everyone walking their dogs and the dog friendly businesses is very homey. You don’t see that a lot in upstate New York.”

Within a month of visiting, Huxtable bought land in Williamson Valley, packed up her two Frenchies and a bulldog and “hit the road.”

A four-year U.S. Army veteran who also served two years in the National Guard, Huxtable said her military experience taught her skills that she now uses in her business.

When her mom got a new job in Reno, Nevada, Huxtable and her partner, Nathan, decided to start The Frenchie Garden, incorporating the inventory from her mother’s old shop. But Huxtable is excited to add her own ideas and varied plants, gifts and décor to create a great mix that will appeal to a wide array of shoppers looking for something special.

Her ideas for the new shop promise fun and warmth. “We’ll have general home- and garden-type things in the shop – floral home

Continued on page 18

Nominations are being accepted now for the 5th Annual Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards. Read about the upcoming event honoring the businesswomen of Quad Cities and featuring Legendary Anchorwoman Mary Jo West, page 16.

Seven Women to Watch are Raising their Impact p. 8

Community Profile: There’s No Outrunning Greg Secatero p. 14

Samantha Huxtable puts her military experience to work in her new flower shop.

Photo by Kay Lyons

Clarkdale Kayak Offers Cool Summertime Heat Relief on the Verde

Owners Scott and Ally Buckley share their love for nature

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

The personality of the Verde River springs to life through the stories, musings and history recited by Clarkdale Kayak Company owner and founder Scott Buckley on his daily river tours.

A kayak cruise down Arizona’s only free-flowing river offers a wonderland of cascading ripples and gently flowing waters that casts a spell on visitors as they ramble down the 3.5 miles from TAPCO (The Arizona Power Company) to Tuzigoot. With herons cautiously eyeing you while hunting for food and clusters of ducks wading by, cares of the world seem to float away.

“The riparian zone in Arizona makes up less than 2% of land mass but houses 75% of all our biology here on the Verde River,” said Buckley. As you cruise down the Verde River, you’ll find yourself immersed in a whole new world as you pass

900-year-old ruins of the ancient Sinagua culture, red rocks, canyons and lush desert forests. Another fact of interest is the cottonwood and willow trees that line the river. “These trees can drink up to 400 gallons of water a day and can actually change the CFS (cubic feet per second), a measurement of the volume and speed of water flow of the river.”

With a degree in hotel and restaurant management from Northern Arizona University, Buckley was born in Northern California and raised in Flagstaff. His wife, Ally, also participates in the business as Clarkdale Kayak owner and operator. She is originally from Phoenix. Their love for the outdoors, especially water sports, put them on a watery path to their own kayak company. They moved to Clarkdale in 2005 and started Clarkdale Kayak Company in 2016.

“Prior to our kayak company, we owned a restaurant,” said Ally. “Owning and running Clarkdale Kayak Company with my husband and best friend has been a dream come true. The history, beauty and the

wildlife attract people from all over the world. Our kayak trips are educational and exciting.”

“I worked as a Grand Canyon River Guide for several seasons and was licensed. I now hold a Guide Level 3 through the American Canoe Associ-

ation (ACA), plus CPR and First Aid certification,” said Scott.

During the spring, Clarkdale

Continued on page 39

He says Clarkdale Kayak is a “river-first” company. “Part of our mission statement is to educate people about the Verde River and its importance economically and recreationally and its sustainability. We sell safe, educational fun, plus we like people to leave with a greater appreciation of the Verde River, which makes for a grander cause.”

Back to School, Back to Routines…

• Establish a consistent bedtime routine

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Clarkdale Kayak Company founder Scott Buckley often paddles down the Verde four times a day, leading tours or just enjoying the river.

Photo by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

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Flag Store’s Main Product Revered, Never Out of Style

By Peter Corbett, QCBN

Robert Newman has the kind of store that attracts vexillologists, that is, people who study flags. It also appeals to just good, patriotic Prescottonians and Americans.

Newman owns Flags Galore and More just off State Route 69 at Diamond Drive in between Prescott and Prescott Valley.

The store sells flags of all stars, stripes and colors: American, Arizona, other states and nations, military branches and sports teams.

A 3-by-5-foot polyester American flag, made in the United States, costs $45. Go big with a 30-by-60-foot version of Old Glory, the kind favored by car dealerships, for about $2,500.

U.S. Marine and Army flags are the most popular military flags at Flags Galore, Newman said.

“Prescott has a lot of veterans who are proud of their service and want to display their flag,” he said.

The flag business is steady, with a revered product that seemingly never goes out of style.

Sales pick up each year around Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, Labor Day and Veterans Day, Newman said.

Flags Galore also sells, installs and repairs flagpoles. That can include adding solar-powered lights to illuminate flags after dark. Flagpoles start at $129.99 and come in three standard sizes — 12, 18 or 22 feet.

Newman, 45, and his wife, Melissa, acquired

Flags Galore and More in 2019. But the flag store was in business for about 20 years under two previous owners. It closed for about a month in spring 2020 because of COVID-19 but still managed online sales during that time.

Since he’s had it, Newman said he has added a lot of America-themed merchandise beyond flags. The two-room store is stocked with windsocks, coffee cups, military-branch hats, stickers, refrigerator magnets, car flags and front-end license plates. It also features patriotic jewelry and belt buckles.

Business has been growing, Newman said, in part because Flags Galore has limited competition from big-box and other small retailers. He has one of the only brick-and-mortar flag stores in Northern Arizona.

Newman also owns Air-A-Zona Flag Co. in Mesa, one of the few flag stores in metro Phoenix. Each of his two stores has three employees. Flags typically last a year or more, depending on whether they are left out in harsh weather and other factors, he said.

In Arizona, state law dictates that homeowners associations cannot prohibit the installation of a flagpole in a resident’s front or back yard and must allow the display of up to two flags. That includes an American flag, military branch flag, Arizona flag, Arizona Indian nation flag, Gadsden flag, first responder flag, Blue Star or Gold Star service flags and any historic version of the American flag. Flagstaffs can only be as tall as a resident’s rooftop. QCBN

Robert Newman owns and operates Flags Galore and More in Prescott with his wife, Melissa.

Photo by Peter Corbett

THE 23 RD ANNUAL PRESCOTT JAZZ SUMMIT

Get your Tickets Now for the 23rd Annual Prescott Jazz Summit! Order online at www.prescottjazzsummit.net or call: 925-872-1942

Come Meet, Mix & Mingle with our extraordinary lineup of talented musicians in a relaxed atmosphere!

The 23rd annual Prescott Jazz Summit Kicks off Thursday August, 22nd with a special Arizona Premier Viewing of the Documentary Film “Jewel of the Desert” Showing at the ELKS Theatre starting at 7pm.

Friday, August 23 -Come Meet the Musicians —A Reception at the Hassayampa Inn in the Marina Room at 5:30pm. Followed by a Performance at the Elks Theatre at 7pm. The theme for this concert is “Birth of the Blues.”

Saturday, August 24th — Ruth Street Theatre at Prescott High School. Free Workshops–Come learn from the master’s from 10am to 2pm- Open to All Ages. Followed by the All-Star Big Band Concert at 7pm.

Sunday, August 25 — Hassayampa Inn Marina Room

Jazz Brunch from 9:30am to 12:30

The Afternoon Concert from 2 pm to 4 pm Marina Room and the Hassayampa

The event wraps up at with an Evening Jazz Session at Murphy’s Restaurant at 6:30pm.

Putting on their Dancing Shoes to Support Local Youth

Local celebrities are practicing their steps for Dancing for the Stars

By Heidi Dahms Foster, QCBN

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Arizona has leveraged the wildly popular national Dancing with the Stars TV show into a local extravaganza that has given opportunities to children that they may otherwise not have had.

The Boys & Girls Clubs Dancing for the Stars event is now in its eight year and has drawn dancers from all walks of local life – a mayor and town council member, business leaders, the Yavapai County Sheriff, a fire chief, cardiologist, dentist, saloon owner, college president and an online newspaper editor – among others. The local celebrities are joined with dance professionals who help them craft a performance for the event.

With clubhouses in Prescott and Prescott Valley, the Boys & Girls Clubs program incorporates academic enrichment, health and wellness, STEM, arts, sports and recreation, and character and leadership development.

During the school year, clubs offer

daily homework tutoring, educational games, healthy habit activities, arts and crafts, recreation and sports, STEM projects, community service and more. This summer, the clubs’ day camp is serving 300 kids.

The theme for season eight is “Dancing Through the Ages” with Phil Stephens and Dre Caldwell; Kym Lopez and Sally Ann Mcgee; Leslie Costes and Michael McConnell with Monique McConnell choreographing; Dr. Paul Hicks and Mallory Barrett; Rachel Sarti and Nolan Weidling; Conrad Jackson and Alexes Niekamp; Gillian Haley and Zach Leonard; Brad Wright and Beth Raber; and Rikki Avila and Ron Howard.

Each team is now collecting sponsors, ticket sales and voting dollars, which all go directly to the local Boys & Girls Clubs.

The show has grown far beyond the original local concept. Season seven drew more than 800 people at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center, and the event is expected to surpass that number this year. It has raised an average of $300,000 to

$500,000 each year, including about $100,000 in in-kind support.

Prescott Valley Mayor Kell Palguta, who now sits on the executive board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central

Other top donation earners for the event have been Matt’s Saloon

Arizona, participated as a dancer in 2020, partnered with Jamie Procknow. COVID canceled that event, but the following year, the dancing pair came back to perform. In the two years, the team raised $150,000 for the clubs.

This year’s local dancing celebrities are expected to draw an audience of more than 800 people and raise upwards of $300,000 for the local Boys & Girls Clubs. Photo courtesy of Blushing Cactus Photography

Woman Business

of the Month

Women To Watch

From silver hair glam to ancient healing practices, a wellness studio and a bodybuilding championship, seven women demonstrate how they are achieving their dreams and elevating their impact

Six months ago, seven highly driven, businesswomen gathered in Sedona during an epic blizzard for a five-day workshop called SHINE. Their charge was to clearly state their goals and message, boldly step into the spotlight and unapologetically inspire more people with their story, soul and style.

Quad Cities Business News caught up with these powerful women to hear their successes including influencing opportunities, exploring ancient wisdom to calm and heal the world, pivoting in the ever-changing real estate industry, creating a wellness studio, franchising a drone concept, gaining visibility for small businesses and stepping on stage in bodybuilding competitions.

SILVER HAIRED INFLUENCER ENCOURAGES ALL TO EMBRACE LIFE AT EVERY AGE

Fresh off a Las Vegas wedding photoshoot for David’s Bridal, Adelina Winfield exhibits all the glow and joy of a newlywed, and authentically so. Her 100,000+ Instagram followers know her as “FlyGrannyBK,” a glamorous 67-year-old silver-haired influencer, who married the love of her life at age 65 and encourages others to be themselves and live joyously at every age.

“It was a vow renewal campaign complete with an Elvis impersonator and iconic wedding chapel. We represented mature people having fun, which is what I push out online, too.”

In recent months, companies promoting stylish, comfortable shoes, healthy looking skin and joint care supplements have connected with Winfield’s brand of beauty, style and vitality. The T-shirts she sells say it all:

“Life is Grayt” and “Graytful.”

The Brooklyn native and fashion designer grew up in New York’s housing projects. “It was the ’60s and my mother used to cut her dresses shorter. I used the scraps to make dresses for my dolls.”

Since then, Winfield has traveled the world, shopping fashion hot spots like Paris, London and Barcelona and representing apparel brands such as Guess Jeans, Baby Phat and Urban Echo.

“It feels like the floodgates opened this spring and I’ve been blessed with so many opportunities,” she said. “People see me as relatable and credible. I influence Baby Boomers, but especially women over 50 about how to live their best lives in all areas, finding love at a mature age and looking fashionable over 50. You can still wear shorts at 50, 60, 70, I don’t care what people say.”

In 2019, Winfield decided to embrace her silver hair. “I let it come into its full glory and it changed my life in so many ways by embracing myself for who I am. I thought I would look older and I don’t. And the purpose of my life changed because I can inspire others to embrace their gray and this mature season of life with joy.”

Winfield also is working on a book, “Cornbread and Noodles,” a nod to the soul and Asian influences of her biracial upbringing. Her mother was Filipina, her father was black, raised in the South. They met during World War II. He served in the Army, stationed in the Philippines.

From the projects to Fashion Avenue, sprinkled with faith and lots of love in between – her sons are her biggest fans – Windfield shares inspirational quotes daily from her Prescott Valley home. “My message is consistent: Be brave with your dreams. Don’t be fearful. Go for it!”

FLAGSTAFF PUBLISHER SEEKS ANCIENT WISDOM, HEALING PRACTICES

Kimberly Trotta-Holmes has been a connector throughout her life, as an international project manager and engineer, publisher of Stroll Forest Highlands and mother of two. Now she is seeking the world’s ancient traditions and knowledge to connect herself and others with practices for clean, healthy living and to relieve pain from modern ailments.

“I think our whole world may be obsessed with muting the pain and emotions that we’re feeling, but to be able to let those loose and to discover where they stem from and how we can best use that for success, money and magic instead of illness, pain and surgery, that’s what I’m looking for.”

The seeds for this new chapter had been planted as she and her husband, Kip, began exploring different wellness modalities to spur them into a healthier lifestyle. “I was inspired to think about sharing all my adventures at the Sedona SHINE workshop and realized my project vision was very large. Ulti-

mately, I needed to have a community of like-minded people to begin this journey exploring the world and develop my own emboldened path as an inspiration for others.”

She began meeting with others focused on mind, body and freedom embodiment, while nurturing relationships with friends and coaches around the world. “I’ve come into community with people who are international mortgage brokers, financial planners, filmmakers, beekeepers, travel agents and others who are interested in balance and healing.”

She also developed her brand, KH Elements Marketing to promote retreats and workshops, along with her husband’s business, KH Elements Construction. “Kip and I have gotten involved in Brazilian jujitsu, morning yoga, cold plunge and breath work.”

In addition, she is practicing fasting, nutrition and exercise as a way of removing toxins from her body in order to start with a “clean” baseline as she adds natural therapies. In the coming year, she’s planning to explore healing practices in exotic locations including Costa Rica, Egypt and Bali.

“These rituals can take us out of our reality for a second and help us see a different perspective,” she said. “I’m learning how we can take charge of who we are, stand in our own rooted selves, feeling safe and not worrying about being judged or needing to numb ourselves with shopping, food, alcohol, drugs, sex or any other addiction.”

Trotta-Holmes plans to share her

discoveries on social media and produce an informational hub. For more, visit @Kh.elements.of.chi

After selling 150 homes in three years, Lori Anna Harrison is doing what she’s always done: welcoming and preparing for change while creating a world of beauty for those around her.

Growing up in Flagstaff, while most little girls were playing with dollhouses, Harrison was seeing the world through blueprints – imaging what could be in the spaces between the lines. As a young adult, she worked on yachts, including Steven Spielberg’s, turning small cabins into luxurious retreats.

“Great things come in small packages and when you’re working on a yacht, you have to maximize every single square inch of that beautiful vessel. And that applies today, especially with first-time homeowners and affordability being a big issue across the nation. Small does not mean that it’s not beautifully designed; good design does

Continued on page 34

ARIZONA REALTOR SEES BEAUTY IN SPACES, ANTICIPATES CYCLES

Lori Anna Harrison, Kimberly Trotta-Holmes, Linda Thein, Adelina Winfield, Roberta Hughes, Bonnie Stevens, Arvee Robinson and Colleen Biggs celebrate following a five-day workshop that kept them nearly snowbound in Sedona. Photo by Kay Lyons

Adelina Winfield

Winfield influences women about shoes and more.

Kimberly Trotta-Holmes

Lori Anna Harrison

Artists Prepare for Wearable Art Show

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Granite Mountain Jewelry Artists will hold the eighth annual Jewelry and Wearable Art Show and Sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug 17 at the Elks Performing Arts Center in downtown Prescott.

With more than 30 artists displaying their work, the show has grown each year and more than 600 attended last year. The artists started 12 years ago by meeting at Denny’s to share ideas about their jewelry art. The first show was at the Hassayampa Inn and then at Hotel St. Michael, but they outgrew that space last year, so this year it will be at the Elks Performing Art Center for the first time.

The art show is free to the public.

Founded in 2012, Granite Mountain Jewelry Artists is dedicated to the growth and development of its members’ jewelry-making and sales skills. The association has fostered a thriving community of artists.

A wide array of Prescott-area jewelry artists showcase a variety of styles and price ranges. In addition to the stunning displays, there will also be free door prizes.

Susie Straussman, one of the original members and the coordinator of this year’s jewelry and wearable art show, said the event has quite the following among tourists, as they have a mailing list of more than 550 people. All the artists are from the Prescott area, but the clientele comes in from many places.

Straussman describes her jewelry art as humorous, playful and interesting because she uses objects that she finds to make pendants and broaches. She is a retired nurse manager and said when she was working in the trauma ICU, she needed an outlet for joy. That was 15 years ago, and she finds herself working on the jewelry full time for fun.

“I love the show because it gives us the opportunity to sell our work,” she said. “I like to share my art with the public.”

Pam Haycraft creates permanent bracelets

that are welded on, so customers never take them off. They have no clasps. “It’s good for people with arthritis and it’s a trend in jewelry,” she said.

Haycraft also creates rings, necklaces and anklets. As a native Arizonan, she uses a lot of copper and turquoise.

“The show is great because we get a lot of followers who come back year after year,” she said. “The show has become a tradition and I love being with the other artists.”

Haycraft said the only challenge is finding enough time to prepare for the show each year.

Dan Cassetta focuses on lapidary art as he cuts and shapes a variety of stones. He was one of the early members of the jewelry association. He and several other artists took jewelry classes at Yavapai Community College and agreed to pursue this event.

“I love that it’s local, but the artists also love sharing ideas. I’m involved with setting up and tearing down this year,” he said. “It’s just a good group of people. The amount of talent is amazing, and everybody shares their talent.”

The association gets together once a month, showcases an artist and educates jewelers through workshops. The monthly meetings are the fourth Sunday of the month at Tis Gallery in downtown Prescott.

The wearable art includes coats, vests, shawls and scarves. “I knit, felt and dye,” said artist Janet Lambert. This is her first year displaying her wearable art. “I heard about the show from other artists, and they love it so much it sounded enticing.”

Joan Knight makes her wearable art from textiles from around the world, including pants and kimonos. She loves the upcoming show. “It’s fantastic because of the superb artists and it attracts a lot of quality customers. We get a lot of return business,” she said. QCBN

For more information, visit www.granitemountainjewelryartists.weebly.com.

Artists Janet Lambert, Joan Knight, Susie Straussner, Dam Casetta and Pam Haycroft prepare to display their art at the show. Photo by Stan Bindell

// BUSINESS CENTS //

BY BONNIE STEVENS, QCBN

Adopting an Ooh-La-La Attitude

With all eyes on Paris this month, Americans have the opportunity to glean some fashionable tips for living well, loving life and expressing an ooh-la-la attitude.

EGGS-CUSEZ-MOI, YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE IS SHOWING

The streets of Paris are lovingly packed with street-side cafes, charming boutiques, designer dress shops and the most decadent bakeries. You might wonder how they all seem to be bustling with activity. I believe it’s because they let their signature style do the talking while you do the walking. For example, as entrées are often enjoyed en plein air, cuisine becomes advertising. Would you stop for an egg served sunny side up in the middle of your pizza? The French would and if you want to have what they have, you would, too.

SAVOUR THE MOMENT

If there is one thing that stands out most in Paris, it would have to be how the French make everything seem utterly cherished. Imagine being passionate about every sip of un café, every nibble of an éclair chocolat, every delicious conversation, every ray of sunshine and every moment relaxing among the trees in Jardin du Luxembourg during the workday! When you treat every little blessing as a treasure and not like something that’s in the way of getting back

to work, you may feel your face getting all expressively French and making kissing sounds in the air as you greet your friends cheek to cheek. Magnifique!

SURROUND YOURSELF WITH INSPIRATION

When I asked the late Apollo 12 astronaut Alan Bean what went through his mind when he was standing on the gray, still, quiet world of the moon, he said, “I realized we live in the Garden of Eden.” Color, beauty, life and movement are everywhere here, especially for those who live near forests and oceans. If your environment is not inspiring you, you’ve got to get your rocket ship headed in the right direction. Parisians are surrounded by architectural marvels on the streets, priceless works of art in museums and endless grassy rolling hills just outside the city. If you need inspiration, make like Simone Biles and spring for it.

WHY BE PRETTY GOOD WHEN YOU CAN BE OOH-LA-LA?

While shopping in a beautifully appointed men’s clothing shop, my husband made the mistake of taking an assortment of linen shirts and jackets with him and disappearing into a dressing room. That left me all alone surrounded by lovely garments. The scarves especially drew me in – so very French. As I was wrapping

myself in silk, I was interrupted by an extremely dapper gentleman who very intentionally plucked the lovely scarves from me, one by one with dramatic flair, and rushed away, saying something that sounded excitedly lyrical. When he returned, he had one precious scarf in his hand – red and flowing with flowers of orange, green and violet – which was soon artistically draped around me. As I was being positioned in front of a full-length mirror, he smiled with satisfaction

and said, “Ooh la la!” In my little black dress, I thought I looked pretty good already, but “Ooh la la,” spoken by a Frenchman in Paris is definitely better.

Let’s all be better as we draw inspiration from Paris and the Summer Olympics. Bonne journée! QCBN

Bonnie Stevens is the editor of QCBN. She is a career journalist and public relations consultant. She can be reached at bonnie. stevens@gmail.com.

// COMMUNITY PROFILE // BY

BONNIE STEVENS, QCBN

In Step with Greg Secatero

Deer whisperer, criminal investigator, ultra-athlete sets the pace for success

Greg Secatero is a quiet Navajo Nation lawman of extreme patience and perseverance who may well have covered more miles of the Four Corners Region on foot than any other human, past or present. With a reputation for knowing every location, every draw, every canyon where bad guys hide, hikers get lost or animals look for water, Secatero uses intuition, decades on the land and a natural understanding of people and animals to guide himself and others. Today, that combination of determination, heart and grit is carrying him over rugged territory and brutal conditions toward a Grand Slam of 200s as the first Native American to master four ultramarathons in one year.

RAISED IN HIS GRANDMOTHER’S HOGAN

Dirt floors, blue corn mush and a weaver’s loom interlace the early memories of Secatero’s humble beginnings in Alamo, New Mexico, the

eastern edge of the Navajo Nation.

“My grandmother could make something out of nothing. She would turn powdered jerky gravy into a meal.”

Before he was old enough for school, young Greg was looking after his grandmother’s sheep – as many as 300 – feeding cattle, hauling water and in charge of the butchering.

“For a while, I didn’t know anything beyond the sheep camp. We didn’t have any means of transportation. We would shear the sheep and sell the majority of the wool. With the other part, my grandmother would wash, spin and pick her own natural herbs for dye. I would help her with the loom.”

When he began school, Greg was speaking his traditional language, but the other kids were talking and reading in English. “I was at a disadvantage. I had to stop my native tongue and start with English. It was hard.”

Continued on page 35

Greg Secatero poses with Michael “Dark” McKnight, whom he calls a “running machine,” in Lake Tahoe, Nevada, while they were there for an ultra in 2023. Courtesy photo

Supporting Our Community and Making the World a Better Place

Findlay Subaru Prescott is proud to have supported 2,375 students in high-need schools within our local community.

Pioneering Anchorwoman Mary Jo West Headlines PrescottArea ATHENA Awards

WBy Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

omen and organizations of the Quad Cities are being celebrated for their excellence in the workplace, in mentoring and in giving back to their community during the fifth annual Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards, 3-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, at Starting Point in the Pine Ridge Marketplace.

Encouraging, entertaining and motivating the audience will be Keynote Speaker Mary Jo West, the first woman ever hired to sit in the Phoenix primetime news anchor seat. Her presentation, “SUCCESS: Getting It, Keeping It, Enjoying It,” will include tips and anecdotes from her extraordinary life.

“I look forward to getting to know the ‘Sheroes’ of the historic Prescott area and powerful women of Yavapai County!” she said.

West’s television news career took her from reporting news, sports and weather in the dual market of Tallahassee, Florida/Thomasville, Georgia, to the national network anchor chair at CBS in New York. She came to Phoenix in 1975 as a producer-host at the Public Broadcasting Station KAET-TV in Tempe. A year later, she was invited to share the anchor desk with legendary Phoenix newsman Bill Close at the CBS affiliate KOOL-TV.

“When she started in news, it was tough,” said retired Fox 10 weatherman Dave Munsey, who worked with West in the ‘70s and ‘80s. “She paved the way for all of these women in

Phoenix anchor chairs. Every one of them owes her something.”

“Mary Jo West was, and is, my idol to this day,” said recently retired Fox 10 anchorwoman Linda Williams, following West’s 2018 induction into the Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame. “She was the heart and soul of KOOL News for several years and she opened the door for all women journalists to follow. I could go on and on about her strength and character as a journalist, but it is her strength and character as a woman that guides me still.”

West continues to inspire women through her volunteer work in Africa, helping remote villages have clean water. She also has a college scholarship in her name, promoting excellence in communication and participates in workshops to help professionals improve their on-camera skills and increase their visibility.

“We are thrilled and honored to have Mary Jo West headline this year’s Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards,” said Troy Bix, publisher of Quad Cities Business News, which hosts the event. “She is a true champion for women and, really, for all of us. She shows us what hard work, kindness and excellence looks like, which shines through in everything she does.”

Nominations are being accepted now for three categories: ATHENA Leadership, ATHENA Young Professional Leadership and ATHENA Organizational Leadership. For nomination forms, table sponsorships and tickets, visit www.PrescottATHENA.com. QCBN

Mary Jo West, shown here with Peacefull Living founder Roberta Hughes at a February SHINE workshop in Sedona, has been inspiring and encouraging women in communications and in life since television news brought her into our homes, starting in the 1970s. Courtesy photo

Family-Owned Pinnacle Banks Focus on Their Communities

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

The roots of the bank go back 86 years to a rural setting in Palmer, Nebraska. It was the Great Depression and the town’s only bank closed.

Brothers George and Tom Dinsdale, both farmers by trade, decided to work together with some friends to help the community by starting a new bank that would be responsive to local needs. When it opened in 1938, they gave it an inspiring name: Pinnacle Bank.

George Dinsdale’s sons, Roy and Jack, took over the family business in the 1950s and began expanding. Today, still family-owned and operated, it thrives as Pinnacle Bancorp and has expanded to 167 locations in eight states: Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas, Wyoming and, beginning in 2020, five branches in Arizona.

The focus is still on community with core values that reflect hometown virtues.

Pinnacle Bank, with two branches in Prescott and single branches in Scottsdale, Sedona and Flagstaff, is doing well, say bankers.

Cheryl Rolland is right in the thick of this success as vice president, branch manager and business development manager, supporting both Prescott branch locations. “We’ve grown so much in just over four years,” she said.

“We’ve been very blessed by the communities where we’ve put locations. I think the success at all the branches boils down to a few things: doing the right thing; building trust with our clients; and operating with integrity. We spend the time to really get to know our clients, making sure we build the relationship and understand how they do banking so that the trust is built between them and us. People have to trust their banks.”

Clients enjoy the benefits of working with a long established, family owned and managed bank, including the attention given to their businesses by the Dinsdale family.

“The owners are highly engaged with the activities of all their branches,” said Rolland. “But they give us autonomy to run the business, so that decision making is quick and local.”

Team members (selected on a rotational basis) and owners all come together at a conference once a year to get information on the bank’s direction for the upcoming year and to

celebrate new locations.

“They tell us if we operate with integrity, at the end of the day it will come back to you,” she added.

After starting with a tiny 100-square-foot rental location with no windows, the Prescott branch celebrated a grand opening this year with a brand new, state-of-the-art building on East State Route 69. The bank also has a branch downtown on East Sheldon Street.

“It’s been a fun journey starting a bank from the ground up,” Rolland said. “The owners already had institutions in Colorado and New Mexico and knew Arizona was the very viable stop for the next location. They knew Prescott is a community-involvement town. Prescott aligns with much of who they are as a company.”

One way the Pinnacle Bank shows community support is through its sponsorship of the Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards, an internationally prized honor that recognizes the achievements of businesswomen.

In addition to Prescott, the awards are given in multiple locations in Arizona including Flagstaff, Phoenix and Yuma.

“Again, community is so important to our owners and us locally,” Rolland noted. “We want to help recognize the success others have had and lift others up in our community. It is such a pleasure to hear the background of the candidates and how they got to where they are. It is inspiring for sure!”

Rolland, who was born in the small town of St. Johns in the White Mountains, moved to Prescott Valley in 1993 to finish high school. After attending Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and studying to be a physical therapist, she switched gears in 1997 to work at a bank in Prescott to help her then-husband finish his schooling.

“’I’ll just work in a bank temporarily,’ I thought. And then, I really fell in love with it,” she said. “I love this industry. I love helping others and that every day is different. I get the chance to pour into others on a daily basis and be a support in things that matter to them. I love the team I work with and the staff we have.”

Rolland raised her three children as a single mother, working in managerial positions at

Continued on page 18

“We’ve been very blessed by the communities where we’ve put locations. I think the success at all the branches boils down to a few things: doing the right thing; building trust with our clients; and operating with integrity. We spend the time to really get to know our clients, making sure we build the relationship and understand how they do banking so that the trust is built between them and us. People have to trust their banks.”

several banks in Prescott. Today, her three children, two girls and a boy, are grown and are centered in the Prescott area, as are her mother and stepfather, as well as her brother and his wife and their family.

“I’m not planning on moving,” she said. “Our community is amazing. We have kind people. I love it here.”

Rolland has seen many changes in the banking industry during that time. “When I first started, we had lines of people in the banks. Everything was a manual process back then. Most everything is virtual now. People like the virtual piece of it, but they still like to have in-person communication as well in the branch. They still want a dialogue.”

The popular ATM system is now evolving to the higher-tech ITMs, which are now being used in some of the Pinnacle Banks, including the new location in Prescott on Hwy 69.

“You can speak to a person,” she explained. “Let’s say you’ve lost your card, they can log into your account and get cash for you.”

Live people are staffing the ITMs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday.

The movement from long lines to more electronic banking includes the “Positive Pay” system that “helps prevent fraud for our business clients, also remote scanners help business owners run deposits in the comfort of their location,” she said.

Rolland offers tips for managing finances. “Choose a financial institution where you know your banker. If a situation comes up – fraud, purse stolen, cards not working, etc. – you want to know who to call versus waiting on a 1-800 number. Lastly, use extreme caution when getting phone calls requesting your information. If you are unsure, hang up and call the company directly to confirm validity of the call.”

Aside from her banking career and with her youngest in high school, Rolland plans to get back into acting at the Prescott Center for the Arts, as well as upping her volunteer commitment to help nonprofits in the area.

FRENCHIE continued from page 1

décor and fresh plants, candles, gifts and succulents.”

She also wants to offer a flower bar so shoppers can choose and build their own arrangements. Once open, she’ll host flower arranging classes at night with wine and snacks, and during the holidays, arts, crafts and wreath-making classes. “I’ll be doing a lot of different things creatively.”

Dog lovers will find plenty besides Frenchie portraits and décor. She already has a framed portrait of her Frenchie to hang in the new business. She plans to carry dog treats, doggie charcuterie boards, dog “wine” (broth), and more.

Along with wanting to carry on her mom’s floral legacy, Huxtable wants to become truly immersed in her new hometown. “We want a lot of feedback from customers and we want to be involved with the community. I would love to see local businesses thriving off of each other; I think it helps us to work together. It’s really important to bounce ideas off of each other, even competitors.”

The Frenchie Garden is located at 226 S. Montezuma, next to Vibes Juice Bar and just up the street from the Courthouse Plaza.

“We’re hoping to help draw foot traffic to the smaller businesses surrounding The Frenchie Garden. People will be able to stop in and get

fresh flowers to go, and we offer same day delivery. People seem eager to have us open,” she said.

Along with convenient drop-in flower and plant purchases, The Frenchie Garden offers all aspects of floral service, including wire services for both traditional and contemporary bouquets. Arrangements can be ordered for all occasions and artificial arrangements are available, as well.

The Frenchie Garden also provides floral services for large events such as weddings and funerals. Local delivery is free.

“I’m just looking forward to having everyone come in and I hope to bring something to the town that everyone will love,” she said.

The Frenchie Garden will be showcasing its table arrangements as a sponsor of the Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards on Friday, Sept. 20, at Starting Point in the Pine Ridge Marketplace. QCBN

With fresh flowers, distinctive plants and unique gifts, The Frenchie Garden owner Samantha Huxtable says she hopes to bring something to town that everyone will love. Photo by Kay Lyons

Understanding Your Hearing Test Results

By Jeff Lane, Au.D.

The first step on any hearing health journey is undergoing an examination. This exam provides you and the audiologist an understanding of your current state of hearing and allows for proper recommendations to be made. The findings are presented in a report called an audiogram. An audiogram contains both a written section and a graph. While the audiologist does review the audiogram during the appointment, it can sometimes be difficult to remember or fully grasp how to interpret your results. Proper interpretation in imperative, as it empowers you to be an equal partner in treatment.

HEARING THRESHOLDS

Hearing thresholds are presented graphically on the audiogram. The x-axis of the graph (left to right) represents frequency. Frequency is interpreted by humans as pitch, with increasing frequency corresponding to increasing pitch. Pitch increases from left to right along the x-axis. Thus, the left half of the audiogram would represent bass, while the right half would be treble. An average exam will test frequencies between 250 and 8,000 Hz. While human hearing can detect frequencies above and below this range,

these are the most important for daily communication.

The y-axis (top to bottom) represents intensity as measured in decibels hearing level (dB HL). On this scale, 0 dB HL does not represent the absence of sound, but rather the quietest sound that the average adult can hear. Intensity is interpreted by humans as loudness. A higher decibel level corresponds to a louder sound. Quiet sounds are at the top of the graph, while very loud sounds are at the bottom of the graph.

Your ears function both as combined and independent systems. As such, the audiologist will want to test the respective performance of each ear. The hearing thresholds for the right ear are represented by circles or triangles, while the left ear thresholds are exes or squares. Hearing thresholds are the quietest sound you can hear at a given frequency. For example, the right ear threshold at 1k Hz may be 20 dB HL. This would mean that at that specific frequency, the right ear can hear the sound when it is 20 dB HL or louder, but not below that level. This will hold true for the threshold of each respective frequency. The cut off for normal hearing is 20 dB HL, with 21 dB HL and higher representing increasing degrees of hearing loss.

SPEECH UNDERSTANDING

Another main component of a hearing exam is speech testing. Speech test results may be found in numerical form in a box typically located at the bottom of the page. Two main speech tests are typically performed. The first is the speech recognition threshold (SRT). It represents the quietest level at which you can understand speech 50% of the time. The SRT mainly functions as a way to verify accuracy within the test battery. A measurement that is more relevant to daily communication performance is the word recognition score (WRS). Your WRS represents how well your brain can interpret speech sounds and is reported as the percentage of words repeated correctly. When measuring the WRS, the words are presented at a loudness level that is easy for the patient to hear. A high WRS means you can understand words well, while a lower WRS means that the brain has difficulty interpreting the speech sound because of distortion in the auditory system.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THRESHOLDS AND SPEECH UNDERSTANDING

One important concept to understand is that your hearing thresholds and ability to understand speech are not

necessarily correlated. Better hearing thresholds do not always mean a better WRS; nor do worse thresholds always mean a worse WRS. Indeed, two individuals may have the exact same hearing thresholds, yet drastically different abilities to understand what is being said. So what influences your WRS? It all has to do with the frequency filters in your ears. Each speech sound has a different fundamental frequency. Sounds like “shh” have a higher frequency than “oo” would. When sound is picked up by your ears, it is sent through specially designed filters to help separate out all the speech sounds. As more damage occurs to the auditory system, those filters become less precise and

overlap with each other. Thus, “shh” and “oo” may appear to your brain to be coming from the same filter and it has difficulty distinguishing them.

While many factors are taken into account when deciding treatment, test results are a main one. By possessing a greater understanding of your results, you can feel confident in the decisions being made. QCBN

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Jeff Lane is a doctor of audiology with a passion for improving the lives of others. Dr. Lane may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@ trinityhearing.net.

Rehabilitation Services at Yavapai Regional Receives Second Consecutive Human Experience Guardian of Excellence Award

By Joanne Robertson

Excellence is considered the pinnacle of achievement in any profession. It’s difficult to attain, hard to find and those who truly excel are an inspiration. Such is the case with Rehabilitation Services at Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center. For the second consecutive year, the team has placed in the top 5% of healthcare providers nationwide.

Press Ganey, the global leader in healthcare experience solutions and services, has awarded the Yavapai Regional Rehabilitation Services team the 2023 Human Experience (HX) Guardian of Excellence Award for its performance in patient experience. The award is part of the company’s annual assessment of the top hospitals and health systems in the country, which ranks more than 41,000 hospitals and healthcare facilities according to safety, quality and experience of care.

Rick Logan, P.T., director of

Rehabilitation Services at Yavapai Regional, is honored by the distinction, but not surprised.

“As a physical therapist, and now administratively leading the physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy teams at Yavapai Regional for the past two years, I can honestly say that this team impresses

me every day,” he said. “I am constantly in awe with respect for each individual’s contribution. The level of compassionate care, professional and charismatic intervention and unwavering listening skills create a positive atmosphere and strong patient outcomes.”

Members of the team, comprised

of licensed physical, occupational, speech and massage therapists, agree that excellence is built one moment at a time. Connecting individually with their patients and creating long-lasting relationships is essential.

“Being a therapist is as much about friendship as it is about treatment,” said physical therapist Rich Tenney.

“At Yavapai Regional, we are given the opportunity to work one-on-one with our patients. This enables us to really get to know them personally. It helps us to work together with them as a team to improve their function, and it is key to their recovery. It is such a joy to see how working togeth-

Continued on page 29

The Rehabilitation Services team at Dignity Health YRMC west (above left) and YRMC east (above right), placed in the top 5% of healthcare providers nationwide for the second consecutive year. Courtesy photos

Nominations are now being accepted for the ATHENA Leadership Award®, which will be presented to an exemplary leader who has achieved excellence in their business or profession, served the community in a meaningful way and, most importantly, actively assisted women to achieve their full leadership potential.

Nominations are also open for both the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award and ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.

Nominations are now being accepted until August 2 at prescottathena.com

QC pet news

Caring for Wild Babies and Racehorses

Rescuers step in to help and heal

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Nature can seem cruel sometimes, even among Arizona’s majestic wild horses. Since June, Wildhorse Ranch Rescue has taken in six sick foals, abandoned by the herd, and also provided financial assistance for a thoroughbred while its owner seeks treatment for a life-threatening disease.

“Every year, we take in orphaned and/or injured wild baby horses,” said Kimberly Meagher, Wildhorse founder and co-author of Alternatives to Auction and Slaughter. “We have a team of volunteers we call The Foal Club. These babies need care every two hours with milk replacement and often veterinary care to get them healthy and eventually adopted into wonderful homes.”

“They are the real deal,” said equestrian and animal advocate Ann Herrington. “Wildhorse Ranch is a true rescue operation. They paid for the veterinary services for these foals, the medications, the food, the shelter. I don’t know what would have happened to them if they hadn’t stepped in.”

Like the wild foals, Herrington found herself feeling vulnerable recently. With the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, her resources were depleting, along with her energy. Her concern stretched beyond her health to the welfare of her beloved horse of 12 years, Miss Pauleena, a 17-year-old bred for horseracing.

“When I realized I could not take care of Pauleena financially at this time, I was sick over it. I was worried that I would have to give her up.”

Herrington shared her situation with Meagher.

“As a rescuer, she helps others, especially animals,” she said about Herrington to The Tucson Dog.

“When she called me about her recent diagnosis and not being able to provide care for Miss P, I immediately wanted to do anything I could to help. Ann’s first thought was that she had to give Pauleena up and she wanted her to go to a safe place. As

“Every year, we take in orphaned and/or injured wild baby horses,” said Kimberly Meagher, Wildhorse founder and co-author of Alternatives to Auction and Slaughter. “We have a team of volunteers we call The Foal Club. These babies need care every two hours with milk replacement and often veterinary care to get them healthy and eventually adopted into wonderful homes.”

Ann and I talked, we came up with a practical solution.”

The plan called for Wildhorse to take temporary ownership of Pauleena. But rather than bringing the horse to their ranch in Gilbert, they found a way to keep her with Ann in Northern Arizona.

“She’s always lived in Northern Arizona, and I was afraid she may not do well in the heat,” said Herrington. “She’s a very sensitive being and because we are so bonded, sending her to the Valley would have hurt both of us deeply.”

As with the rescued foals, Wildhorse took care of Pauleena’s needs, which included veterinary care for

a torn back ligament. “I am deeply grateful,” said Herrington. Not comfortable asking for help for herself, Herrington is encouraging others to consider a donation to Wildhorse Ranch Rescue in Pauleena’s name to help recover the costs. In addition, Pauleena needs to be hand-walked for six months to a year while she recovers from her injury. Thus, Herrington is looking for a volunteer who can take on this task once or twice a week. Meanwhile, the foals have received a clean bill of health and Ann’s condition has stabilized. She is convinced a big part of her recovery is being close to Pauleena. “I see her almost every day here in Chino Valley. And I cannot thank Kim and Wildhorse Ranch Rescue enough.”

For more information or to donate to Wildhorse Ranch Rescue, visit wildhorse.orgor call 866-926-8007. Checks may be sent to Wildhorse, P.O. Box 3080, Gilbert, AZ 85299, along with a note about how the donation is to be used, for example, for Miss Pauleena, cats, dogs, baby horses or where it’s needed most.

Wildhorse Ranch Rescue will celebrate 30 years of supporting and saving animals in January. QCBN

Ann Herrington and Miss Pauleena have been together for 12 years. Courtesy photos

Wildhorse Ranch Rescue adopted six wild foals abandoned by the herd this summer.

Don’t Feel Like Going for a Walk? Easy Fix: Get a Dog

By Loree Walden

Exercise might not be everyone’s favorite activity, but adopting a dog can be a game-changer. Walking your dog for at least an hour every day can be enjoyable and beneficial for both the pet and the owner. According to the Mayo Clinic, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity each week is recommended. This can include a mix of moderate and vigorous activities, ideally spread out over the week, with at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity daily. Walking, categorized as “moderate physical activity,” is a win/win for both you and your dog!

Regular walking helps maintain a healthy weight, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, strengthens muscles and bones, and improves overall mood by releasing endorphins. For dogs, it provides necessary physical exercise, mental stimulation and an opportunity to explore their environment, which is crucial for their well-being. Moreover, consistent exercise can help mitigate behavioral issues in dogs, such as excessive barking or destructive chewing, often caused by pent-up energy and boredom.

While some people prefer going to the gym, walking a dog can fulfill daily fitness requirements effortlessly. It doesn’t feel like exercise; it’s more like therapy. Pets are some of the best therapists – they listen well, don’t judge and keep secrets. This time together strengthens the bond and helps build trust, confidence and socialization skills. Walking your dog allows you to connect with nature, take in fresh air and enjoy the changing seasons, making the experience more pleasant and less monotonous than a treadmill workout. Plus, it gets the blood moving before a long workday and helps you unwind afterward.

Morning walks can energize you, setting a positive tone for the day, while evening strolls provide a peaceful way to decompress and reflect. Additionally, walking your dog can create opportunities for social interaction with other pet owners, fostering a sense of community and belonging. For children, walking the family dog teaches responsibility and empathy, making it a valuable family activity that promotes physical and emotional health for all members.

Northern Arizona is absolutely spectacular, with numerous dog-friendly trails and hikes. Despite the hotter temperatures, it’s a great

time to enjoy the beautiful outdoors –just be sure to keep both yourself and your pets safe from the heat!

Always bring more water than you think you’ll need. Both you and your dog will require frequent hydration breaks, especially in hot weather. Pack a collapsible or portable water bowl for your dog. This makes it easy to provide them with fresh water regularly. Take regular breaks in shaded areas to allow your dog to cool down and drink water. Plan your hikes or outdoor activities during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning or late evening, to avoid the extreme midday heat, and watch them closely for signs of overheating.

Speaking of being outdoors and walking, Yavapai Humane Society is gearing up for this year’s Walk for the Animals and we’re changing it up a bit by making it a 5K Fun Run/Walk, which is brought to you by Team Charity Case. We’re also excited to partner again with Prescott Dog Magazine for their annual Dogtoberfest event.

Save the date: Sunday, Oct. 6, at Watson Lake. The 5K Fun Run/Walk starts at 9 a.m., just before Dogtoberfest begins. There will be two routes available, an approximately 1.5-mile route, suitable for walkers of all skill

levels, and the 5K. After the Fun Run, you can join in on all the festivities at Dogtoberfest. It will be a fun day for both humans and dogs! What better way to enjoy nature and a fun day while supporting the animals and Yavapai Humane Society?

During Dogtoberfest, there will be great entertainment, food trucks, vendors, freebies, dogs available for adoption and much more.

The 5k Fun Run/Walk for the Animals offers a chance to connect with

nature, dogs and each other while supporting YHS. Call your friends, grab your furry family members and make a plan to walk together! More information will be coming soon, so keep an eye on our website, yavapaihumane.org and our social media pages so you can join the Walk for the Animals and make a difference!

Loree Walden is the marketing manager at Yavapai Humane Society.

Surviving Loss, Living with Grief, Rediscovering Joy

TBy Bonnie Stevens, FBN

aylor and Megan are the kind of strong, talented women who seem to have it all. Their friendship and support for each other is enviable. And their smiles light up a room. But a series of tragic events shook their young worlds. At age 24, these best friends are both recovering from the sudden and unexpected deaths of loved ones. Today, they want to help others who are trying to find their way through deep grief and offer advice to friends of those grieving, while reimagining their way forward and holding tight to that precious part of themselves that brings them joy.

TAYLOR’S STORY

As Taylor looks back over her past, she sees how chaos has long played a role.

“Growing up, there were a lot of things going on in the household, addiction and behaviors that made it very hard to navigate day to day,” she said.

Feeling responsible for creating a stable life for herself and her younger sister, Taylor began earning money at a young age. She moved out of the house

at 18 and was managing a salon and more than 30 employees. Her plan was to move her sister in with her when she graduated from high school.

“Unfortunately, it all came to a very tragic end in May of 2021. My mom passed away suddenly. That was the worst day of my life. She had cancer when I was younger, but I think ultimately, the addiction to alcohol did catch up to her and unfortunately did play a part in her death, right before my 21st birthday. It was even more chaotic after that. My dad was having a really hard time and he ended up passing away a year-and-a-half later,” said Taylor.

Megan recalls how difficult it was for her to see her close friend lose her mom and dad. “It was such a shock to everyone and at the time I hadn’t experienced grief in my life, so it was difficult for me to know how to show up for someone, especially someone who had two extreme losses in their life, like their parents. It was very difficult knowing there was nothing I could do to help her make the pain go away.”

Continued on page 31

Megan and Taylor have stood by each other through a long friendship that has included traumatic loss. They hope to help those who are grieving and teach others how to support their friends during life’s most difficult moments. Courtesy photo

Understanding Impact Fees in Prescott

On Aug. 13, Prescott City Council will hold a public hearing regarding proposed impact fees affecting new residential and commercial projects. If council decides to move forward, we will have an Oct. 8 meeting to formally adopt the new rates, which would go into effect Jan. 1, 2025. There have been some concerns expressed about the steep increase in these fees. In this message, I will outline the factors that have made this kind of increase necessary.

First, I would like to provide an overview about impact fees and why they are used in Prescott and other cities and towns. Prescott, like other cities and towns in Arizona, charges impact fees to fund the cost of public infrastructure needed to accommodate growth and development. These fees are levied on new residential or commercial developments and are intended to offset the impacts that new developments have on the local community, hence the familiar phrase that growth should pay for growth. Here are some reasons why impact fees are necessary.

Infrastructure Costs: As new residential and commercial developments are built, they require additional infrastructure such as roads, water and sewer systems, and other public facilities. Impact fees help cover the cost of expanding or upgrading these systems to accommodate increased demand from the new development.

Fairness: Charging impact fees ensures that costs associated with growth, such as new roads or police stations to serve a growing area, are borne primarily by those who directly benefit from the new development.

Revenue Source: Impact fees provide a revenue source to fund essential infrastructure projects. This can be especially important in rapidly growing areas where traditional tax revenues may not keep pace with infrastructure needs.

Planning and Management: By charging impact fees, we can better plan and manage growth. We have the opportunity to use the revenue to strategically invest in infrastructure improvements and ensure that devel-

opment occurs in a coordinated and sustainable manner.

Overall, impact fees in Prescott and other Arizona cities help to finance necessary infrastructure construction, expansion or upgrades that maintain the quality of services in the city and ensure we can continue to meet community needs.

It should be emphasized that impact fees are only used to pay for one-time capital improvements, like a new fire station or new water pipes to serve a new development and apply only to new construction for residential or commercial properties. Existing residents and businesses do not pay impact fees unless they decide to build a new home or business. In contrast, transaction privilege (sales) taxes support ongoing (year over year) operations costs such as police officer and firefighter salaries or maintenance of an existing road.

In Prescott, we have utility and non-utility impact fees. Utility fees cover costs of needed infrastructure for water service delivery and wastewater

treatment. Non-utility fees support the cost of public safety facilities and vehicles, for example, help meet the demand of growth, and maintain service levels as new developments are established. By law, these fees cannot pay for enhancement or improvements to existing services, only enhancements to maintain current service levels.

There has been some concern about the rate of increase in the proposed new impact fees. These increases are necessary for a few reasons.

In 2008, the State Legislature imposed a moratorium on some impact fees in response to the recession, which hit Arizona particularly hard. Then, in 2012, the legislature eliminated certain categories of impact fees, such as recreation and non-public safety facilities. These changes diminished the city’s ability to collect an amount that would fully maintain the quality of services across the city and mitigate the impacts of new development on our operations. While the city has continuously collected

utility impact fees, non-utility impact fees such as streets, police and fire were eliminated following the actions of the state legislature and then reinstated by the city council in 2018, albeit at less than recommended levels.

Over this multi-year span of time, the city continued to grow, and infrastructure and public safety needs increased proportionately. In short, I believe we need these new impact fees to keep up with the increased expansion of the city’s physical infrastructure as well as public safety services. I urge all concerned citizens to participate in the Aug. 13 public hearing and subsequent public discussions. For information about all city meetings, go to Prescott-az.gov. QCBN

Back to School: What Parents Can Do When Concerned About Their Child’s Mental Health

By Deanna Eder

As summer wanes and the school year approaches, the anticipation of returning to school can bring mixed emotions for children and adolescents. While some are excited to see friends and engage in new learning experiences, others may feel anxious, stressed or overwhelmed. At Polara Health, we understand the significance of your child’s mental health and the crucial role you as parents play in ensuring their well-being during this transitional period.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES

The back-to-school season can be particularly challenging. New routines, academic pressures, social dynamics and extracurricular activities can contribute to heightened anxiety and stress. It’s essential for parents to recognize the signs of mental health struggles, as early intervention can prevent more severe issues from developing.

SIGNS TO WATCH FOR

Parents should be vigilant in observing changes in their child’s behavior, mood and overall demeanor. Some common signs of mental health challenges include:

ƒ Changes in Sleep Patterns: Difficul-

ty falling asleep, staying asleep or oversleeping.

ƒ Appetite Changes: Noticeable increase or decrease in appetite.

ƒ Withdrawal: Avoidance of social interactions, loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.

ƒ Academic Performance: Sudden decline in grades or lack of interest in schoolwork.

ƒ Emotional Outbursts: Increased irritability, anger or frequent crying.

ƒ Physical Symptoms: Frequent headaches, stomachaches or other unexplained physical complaints.

HOW

PARENTS CAN HELP Open Communication

ƒ Create a Safe Space: Encourage open and honest conversations with your child about their feelings and experiences. Let them know it’s okay to express their emotions without fear of judgment.

ƒ Active Listening: Show empathy and understanding. Sometimes, they just need to be heard and validated.

Establish Routines

ƒ Consistent Schedule: Maintain regular routines for meals, homework, playtime and sleep. Predictable routines can provide a sense of security and stability.

ƒ Prepare for Transitions: Help your child prepare for the school day by discussing what to expect and creating a morning routine that reduces stress.

Promote Healthy Habits

ƒ Balanced Diet: Ensure your child eats nutritious meals that fuel their body and mind.

ƒ Physical Activity: Encourage regular physical activity, which can reduce stress and improve mood.

ƒ Adequate Sleep: Ensure your child gets enough sleep each night to support their physical and mental well-being.

Monitor Screen Time

ƒ Set Limits: Establish guidelines for screen time, especially before bedtime to prevent disruptions in sleep patterns.

ƒ Encourage Offline Activities: Promote activities that don’t involve screens, such as reading, outdoor play or hobbies.

Encourage Social Connections:

ƒ Foster Friendships: Support your child in building and maintaining healthy friendships.

ƒ Family Time: Spend quality time together as a family, engaging in activities that strengthen your bond.

SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP

If you notice persistent signs of mental health struggles in your child, it may be time to seek professional help. At Polara Health, we offer a range of services to support children and adolescent’s mental health, including counseling, therapy, support groups, parenting classes and case management. Our experienced professionals are here to provide the care and guidance your child needs to thrive.

As the new school year begins, parents must prioritize their child’s mental health. Remember, early intervention can make a significant difference, and Polara Health is here to support you every step

of the way. By staying attuned to their needs, fostering open communication, and promoting healthy habits, you can help your child navigate the challenges of returning to school. Together, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed academically, socially and emotionally. Call us at 928445-5211 or go to www.polarahealth. com for more information. QCBN

Deanna Eder is the director of marketing and communications at Polara Health.

For more information, please call 928-445-5211 or visit our website.

Phil Goode is the mayor of Prescott.

How to Make Aging in Place Safer, More Convenient

Welcome to “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” We are going to talk about aging in place, because I receive calls weekly about home modifications such as removing tubs and installing walk-in showers, widening doorways, adding ramps. Yes, the baby boomer generation is aging.

Sandy: Summertime, summertime, sum-sum-summertime! Warm, then hot, then blistering hot, and hotter. And let the monsoons pour!

Tom: Sounds counterintuitive, but I agree, let’s hope the monsoons, as our summer rains are known, make a long-lasting appearance this year.

Sandy: Everything is so dry. This might be a good time to remind our readers about being Firewise. To our readers, please check with our local fire departments to find out what the fire regulations are. And when towing a trailer, make sure those tow chains do not drag. It is so easy to cause a brush fire with those dragging chains and the sparks they create.

Tom: Great point. What will we talk about this month? What are your most frequent calls these days?

Sandy: Well Tom, I receive all kinds of calls. The cutest call I received last week was from an elderly woman. She wanted to adopt a doggie and wanted my help on where to go to find one. Her current dog was 17 years old and is in failing health. She wanted a new medium-sized dog to bring into the home before her current doggie crosses the rainbow bridge. The Yavapai County Humane Society only had small dogs, so I told her I would make a few phone calls on her behalf. Other than the dog adoption call, I have had numerous calls from homeowners, the elderly, precious seniors, who are trying to decide if they should stay in their home as they age. It is a dilemma and can be pretty daunting if they don’t have good information.

Tom: So very true. As an architect, I have spent quite a bit of time using the Americans with Disabilities Act information as part of what we can apply to what the industry calls “aging in place.” There are two questions folks need to ask themselves regarding staying in their home or moving to

other locations.

Sandy: I bet the first questions should be: “Are they comfortable where they are currently living? Do they know the neighborhood and the neighbors? Are they close to services?” Things like that.

Tom: Spot on, Sandy. Those are the key first questions. If the answer is no here, then moving to an incorporated, all-encompassing living facility that can better support their needs makes sense.

Tom: If the answer is yes, well then, we suggest looking around to see what changes or improvements might be needed in order to make aging at home a bit simpler and easier and less stressful.

Sandy: I would venture to say that changes in the bathroom would be first and foremost for ease and convenience and, of course, safety. I receive so many calls to remove the bathtubs and install walk-in showers with shower seats and grab bars. Many families want showers without curbs to support wheelchairs. Getting in and out of a tub can certainly be a challenge for folks with mobility issues. What is some of your sage advice here?

Tom: Yup. That’s a great place to start, as that room ranks as the most accident-prone space in the home and the most dangerous part of this room is the tub/shower.

In an ideal situation, we would remove the tub and replace it with a zero-entry shower. That is a shower that has no curbs.

Sandy: No tub, no curbs, that certainly reduces a major tripping hazard. With a seat in the shower and a handheld faucet, many issues could be solved.

Tom: We also recommend having a floor surface that is non-slip. While mats can help that, they can also move.

Sandy: What if someone want to keep their tub? Can you install grab bars to help?

Tom: Yes. We would install at least three. One vertical bar at the entry point to help stabilize the movement over the tub’s edge. A second would typically be on a 45-degree angle along

the long wall of the tub. This facilitates sitting down, and if you are standing, the angle helps catch you if you fall. The third one is horizontal just above the faucet or tub filler. This helps sitting up and preparing to stand.

Sandy: What other modifications do you see most often when converting a bath for the elderly or, for that matter, someone who is in a wheelchair or has health challenges?

Tom: The vanity sink faucets could be replaced from the turning type to a paddle design.

Sandy: The ease of the on and off is pretty apparent. I would think this would apply to the kitchen sink as well.

Tom: Yes, and door handles. But one more item in the bathroom before we move on: the toilet. At least trade out for what is known as a “Comfort Height” water closet if not an outright handicapped height. The increased height is what helps. Grab bars in this area help as well.

Sandy: So that could be four or five grab bars in a single bathroom, and I know they are worth their weight in gold the one time you need them and those that get used every day for safety assistance.

Tom: Yes, they are.

Sandy: So, move us on to the rest of the house. What room is next?

Tom: Let’s talk kitchen. You mentioned the paddle handles for the sink. That is important. The other aspect of the kitchen’s usability are the cabinets.

Sandy: Upper shelves can be hard

to reach and keeping the most used items on the lower shelves is the smart thing to do here. Heck, I already do that, and pull-out shelving is awesome!

Tom: Great! We like to recommend installing pull out drawer shelves for the lower cabinets. Sandy, we are on the same page. Often a good cabinet shop can retrofit your existing cabinets with these back-saving devices.

Sandy: How about counter space? Moving pots and pans around can be difficult if the counters are too far from the cooking surfaces or the refrigerator.

Tom: Yes. A couple of things here: One, there should be a minimum 18” to 24” of counter on each side of a cooking surface; and two, there should be at least one counter near the refrigerator and pantry. The other back-saving modification would be to have the oven with its racks about counter height and the same with the microwave.

Sandy: Lifting in and out of those necessary appliances can be an issue. There are other household simple modifications that can be made to help stay in your home – things like area or throw rugs are tripping hazards and lighting needs to be brighter. That could be as simple as changing a bulb.

Tom: You are correct. There are a lot of the things that can be done to make your home safe and comfy for years to come.

Sandy: And a lot of those things can be DIY! How cool is that, Mr.

Renovations?

The vast majority of Americans aged 65 and older, about 90%, say they want to continue to live in their own homes as they gain in years. Many seniors are worried about their financial futures. Approximately 15% of seniors surveyed by the AARP say they are not confident their finances will last through their retirement years and 8% have no financial plan for retirement. The good news that we shared with you in our column this month is that these changes that make your home safe will not break the bank.

Tom: For our readers, Sandy, while it seems simple to remain in their home, it is possible that homeowners will need to make some adjustments to their daily routine or even make some modifications to their home as they age, such as the modifications we discussed. With some research and helpful resources, anyone can find ways to make aging in place safer and more convenient.

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. Until next month! QCBN

Tom Reilly, Architect, 928-445-8506

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association. 928-7780040.

Exploring the Best Four-Season Trees for Any Landscape

By Ken Lain

Trees are where your landscape value is. Plant them right and your home value grows; get trees wrong, and they take over, lift patios and driveways, hide beautiful architecture and more. Think of trees and the four seasons. Begin with trees that announce spring by blooming, then have trees that offer summer shade, autumn reds and gold, ending with visual interest through winter. The goal is not simply to collect specimens in the yard but rather to have at least one model tree per season that adds pizzazz to your landscaping.

SPRING TREES FOR THE LANDSCAPE

Oklahoma Redbud grows just 16 feet tall. This local native is super easy to grow. Vibrant, red flowers cloak the branches of early spring. Luscious heart-shaped leaves emerge with a soft pink tinge that matures to a deep green. Plus, it’s small enough to grow in any yard.

Purple Robe Locust shows incredible, long clusters of purple flowers in May that look just like Wisteria flowers hanging from this local bloomer. The 8” fragrant clusters cover the tree profusely! Super hardy and drought tolerant with a brisk growth rate of 2’ feet in one year. It’s the perfect shade tree later in summer.

Thunder Cloud Plum is the perfect small purple tree between evergreens. Blooms in a profusion of pink flowers that precede the deep purple foliage. Large enough to use as a front yard tree and behaved enough to use as a street tree. Plant pairs flanking gateways, driveways or in orchard-like rows to

screen a view of neighbors.

SUMMER TREES FOR THE LANDSCAPE

Quaking Aspen has a tall, columnar form that provides excellent shade in small backyards or between homes at the edge of property lines. Perfect at shading scorching, sunbaked walls. They eventually grow tall enough to shade second-story decks. A valuable characteristic of aspens is that they don’t take over the yard after several years like many other fast-growing trees.

Sensation Maple is a stunning shade tree that thrives in severe garden conditions without skipping a beat. Faster growing, the spring leaves erupt in soft copper that quickly matures to a refreshing green with just a hint of copper undertones for the summer. Through autumn, it unleashes a brilliant display of red leaves. Where this tree really shines is in areas having challenging conditions. Once established, it is super drought tolerant. The perfect tree to line a long driveway or the picture-perfect patio shade tree.

Sunburst Honeylocust cheerfully shouts, “Hello, Spring!” with its glowing yellow leaves. As summer heats up, it settles down to a naturally cool green that turns gold again in autumn. This Watters exclusive casts a dappled shade perfect for reading a book or sharing an outdoor meal. It takes the sun and wind, yet is easy on your time, water and maintenance. Even the autumn cleanup is a piece of cake! Impervious to deer.

AUTUMN TREES FOR THE LANDSCAPE

Prescott Blaze Maple flaunts fall

color like embers in a blazing hot fire. It loves mountain soil, extreme conditions and takes our wind better than all other shade trees. It’s perfect for patios, hot sunny walls, street and driveway trees or any place shaded relief is needed.

Raywood Ash has the boldest fall foliage. The dark green summer leaves turn attractive wine-red through autumn. Plant as a single shade tree or grove for more widespread shade, especially on hotter south and west walls and patios. It is the perfect driveway-lining street tree that is both drought-hardy and beautiful.

Prescott Flowering Pear starts spring with dazzling white flowers. Summer shade is created by thick dark green foliage that is the last tree to turn brilliant red in fall. Even the winter bark is attractive. It’s the ideal specimen for lawns, lining driveways and standing alone as a model in small spaces. Even in the most challenging soil, this tree grows 30’x15’.

WINTER EVERGREEN TREES FOR THE LANDSCAPE

Austrian Pine blocks the neighbors with a gorgeous evergreen tree! It is a handsome tree with a densely branched conical form when young and becomes umbrella-shaped with age. Needles are long and dark green. It is superb for windbreaks or as a single specimen. It is the fastest-growing local pine that quickly grows 40’ tall x 15’ wide.

Blue Spruce trees combine beauty and function. Their distinctive blue foliage is a stunning addition to any landscape and they grow tall enough to screen and create a wind break. Twice taller than wide, this native evergreen is best planted where it has room to grow.

It can be used to separate tall multistory buildings and is tall enough to screen the view from second or third story windows. The blue spruce is gorgeous in estate-sized landscapes.

Vanderwolf Pine is related to Arizona Pinion Pine and produces fluffy foliage that resembles a blue cedar from a distance. It is remarkably resilient in dry Arizona soils and makes a graceful single specimen in front yards, parks or expansive, estate-sized landscapes. This distinctive pine grows 12’ x 5’ with long, twisted, silvery needles covering the dense branches. It is also carefree and easy to grow.

You now have the three ideal trees for every mountain

season. The soil is warm and trees are actively rooting, making this an ideal season to plant new trees of your own. Research even more local choices through the web at Top10Trees.com. Until next issue, I’ll be helping local gardeners plant the best trees here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN

Throughout the week, Ken Lain can be found at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Road in Prescott, or contacted through his website at WattersGardenCenter.com or Top10Trees.com.

Understanding Home Appraisals: Ensuring Fair Market Value in Real Estate Transactions

By Greg Riordan

An appraisal is a critical part of the homebuying process. It is an objective, professional assessment of the value of the property. An appraisal will verify that the sale price of the home matches fair market value. This ensures that the buyer pays what the home is worth, and that the lender doesn’t lend more than the home is worth. When a homeowner is refinancing their mortgage, the lender will get a home appraisal to ensure its market value before offering a new loan.

Here are some things a home appraiser will look for:

ƒ Location of the home.

ƒ Where the neighborhood is located and whether it’s growing or not.

ƒ Square footage of the entire property.

ƒ Layout of the home.

ƒ Potential hazards, such as floods.

ƒ Age and condition of the house overall.

ƒ Amenities, such as a fireplace, deck or swimming pool.

ƒ Condition of the appliances.

ƒ Sales trends and price ranges for comparable homes in the neighborhood. An appraisal is also beneficial to the lender because it helps the lender determine factors like your interest

rate, minimum required down payment, and whether the buyer will be approved for the loan.

The appraiser will provide a report, which must include:

ƒ A street map showing the location of the appraised property and comparable sales.

ƒ An exterior building sketch.

ƒ How the square footage was calculated.

ƒ Pictures of the home (front and back), including the street it’s on.

ƒ Pictures of each comparable property used.

ƒ Other relevant information such as market sales data, public land records, and public tax records that have been used to determine

the property’s fair market value. Appraisal waivers allow buyers who meet certain qualifications to skip the appraisal process when purchasing a home. Instead of an in-person appraisal, the lender will usually rely on automated underwriting systems to determine the value of the home. A lender could waive the appraisal if they have significant evidence that the home value matches the loan they plan to give. An appraisal waiver is usually reserved for homes with distinctive features, those that have undergone extensive renovations or those in fluctuating markets. QCBN

Greg Riordan is a Loan Officer with Legacy Mutual Mortgage. For additional information or to get in touch with Greg, visit legacymutual.com/officers/greg-riordan or call 928-427-5156. You may find his office at 325 W Gurley St #102, Prescott, AZ 86301. Greg cares about the people that choose to trust him with the biggest asset in their lives – their home. He will give straight, honest answers with exceptional advice whether you are refinancing your home to pay off debt, lowering your rate, reducing the length of your loan or to purchase your first or next dream home.

Considering the Election, Market, Bonds, Interest Rates into the Second Half of 2024

By Steve Schott

When writing these articles, I find difficulty in relevance, especially when submitting weeks before publication; however, here are some thoughts on where we have been so far this year and where we are going.

Election Obviously, this is a very hot topic as I write this in July, and it will continue to be so. Most interesting to me, it appears a prediction can’t be made until we have an electoral outcome. Most important, though, is to follow the data, not the narrative (the topic of my last article). To recap, no matter the narrative, the economy is doing better than the negative narrative that seems to prevail in our media or even conversations within our spheres of influence.

Market The market has had a terrific run as one of our major valuation indicators is the price/earnings ratio. The current P/E is around 27, which is higher than a “normal market” ratio of about 20, so either

earnings must go up or the market will come down to get back to more normal levels. I think it will be a bit of both, but the unknown is how to value artificial intelligence (AI) going into the future. Momentum due to AI may keep the current rally in technology going.

Bonds/Interest Rates This is where we are focused and think we will be until the end of the year. Rates are high, offering investors great yield in the fixed market, and if rates go down, bonds will appreciate in price. In my opinion, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is most important when thinking about the economy after the election.

As I sit here just ahead of the 4th of July, which is important for our country, county and city, I often think of leaders and how proud I am to be an American. So, I will close this article with a quote from Ronald Reagan that struck me as timeless and very to the point. This is a quote from a commencement address he gave at Notre Dame in 1981:

“This Nation was born when a band of men, the Founding Fathers, a group so unique we’ve never seen their like since, rose to such selfless heights. Lawyers, tradesmen, merchants, farmers – 56 men achieved security and standing in life but valued freedom more. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Sixteen of them gave their lives. Most gave their fortunes. All preserved their sacred honor.

“They gave us more than a nation. They brought to all mankind for the first time the concept that man was born free, that each of us has inalienable rights, ours by the grace of God, and that government was created by us for our convenience, having only the powers that we choose to give it. This is the heritage that you’re about to claim as you come out to join the society made up of those who have preceded you by a few years, or some of us by a great many.” QCBN

Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer member FINRA/SIPC. Advisory services through

Meeting Prescott’s Unique Cleaning Needs

By Lucy Leyva

Living in Prescott presents unique challenges, especially regarding maintaining a clean home. As owner of Prescott Maid to Order, I understand these challenges deeply and have built a business that caters to the specific needs of the Prescott community.

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

When I first started Prescott Maid to Order, I faced numerous obstacles. The initial challenge was understanding Prescott’s unique cleaning needs, where seasonal pollen posed significant problems for homeowners. Additionally, establishing trust within the community took work. Many residents were skeptical about hiring a cleaning service, preferring to handle their cleaning themselves.

At Maid to Order, we tackled these challenges head-on by immersing ourselves in the community and listening to residents’ concerns. We invested time getting educated about the specific environmental factors affecting Prescott homes. By focusing on these unique challenges, we developed specialized cleaning techniques and services tailored to combat the pervasive pollen.

ENHANCING LIVES THROUGH PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

Prescott Maid to Order clients often share how the company’s services have positively impacted their lives. Hiring a professional cleaning service allows residents to spend time on activities that bring joy and fulfillment rather than worrying about cleaning. Many clients report having more time to exercise, prepare healthy meals, take up new hobbies or simply relax. The assurance that their home is being regularly and professionally cleaned provides peace of mind and reduces stress.

VALUING YOUR TIME

While cleaning can be handled personally or delegated to family members, the value of time is immeasurable. Entrusting cleaning needs to professionals frees up valuable time for more meaningful and enjoyable activities, whether spending time with loved ones, pursuing personal interests or focusing on health. Professional cleaning services enable residents to prioritize what truly matters.

BUILDING TRUST AND COMMUNITY

What we are most proud of is building a community of satisfied clients who trust

Prescott Maid to Order with their cleaning needs. We achieved this by consistently delivering high-quality services and being transparent with our clients. Our team’s dedication to the business and our clients has fostered a loyal customer base that appreciates our personal touch and professional care.

JOINING A COMMUNITY OF SATISFIED CLIENTS

Prescott Maid to Order prides itself on making clients’ lives easier and more enjoyable. The company’s deep cleaning services are tailored to meet the specific needs of Prescott residents, ensuring homes remain sanctuaries from the pollen-filled environment outside. By choosing Prescott Maid to Order, residents join a community of satisfied clients who enjoy the benefits of a professionally cleaned house. Maintaining a clean home in Prescott is essential for health and well-being. I am proud that our team at Prescott Maid to Order can address the unique challenges of helping residents create healthier and happier living spaces. QCBN

Lucy Leyva is the owner of Prescott Maid to Order.

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Schott Financial Management are not affiliated. These are the opinions of Stephen Schott and not necessarily those of Cambridge, are for informational purposes only, and should not be construed or acted upon as individualized investment advice. The information in this email is confidential and is intended solely for the addressee. If you are not the intended addressee and have received this email in error, please reply to the sender to inform them of this fact. We cannot accept trade orders through email. Important letters, email, or fax messages should be confirmed by calling 928 776-1031. This email service may not be monitored every day, or after normal business hours. Indices mentioned are unmanaged and cannot be invested into directly. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) is a price-weighted index composed of 30 widely traded bluechip U.S. common stocks. The S&P 500 Index is a mar ket-capitalization-weighted index of 500 leading publicly traded companies in the U.S. The Nasdaq 100 Index is a basket of the 100 largest, most actively traded U.S. companies listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The index includes companies from various industries except for the financial industry, like commercial and investment banks. Investing involves risk. Depending on the types of investments, there may be varying degrees of risk. Investors should be prepared to bear loss, including total loss of principal. Diversification and asset allocation strategies do not assure profit or protect against loss.

AWARDS continued from page 20

Steve Schott has been a financial advisor since 2010. His expertise in business ownership and capital management spans banking, office products, office machines and autos. A former owner of Prescott Honda, Steve holds an MBA from the University of Arizona and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The University of Denver. Steve is a proud graduate of Prescott High School and an avid community volunteer. Steve purchased Tomlinson Wealth Management from its predecessor, Andy Tomlinson, in 2019, making Schott Financial Management a 3rd generation financial firm in Prescott, AZ.

er makes a difference in their lives from day to day.”

Physical therapist Aaron DeBord points out that the members of the Yavapai Regional physical rehabilitation team have been working for a long time as a close-knit unit, which has created a family atmosphere.

“Our team is such a great, cohesive group, all with hearts that care deeply about the patients,” he said. “It’s a wonderful collection of kind, fun and helpful colleagues. We’re supportive and encouraging to each other, which makes it enjoyable to come to work every day.”

“The breadth of expertise in our clinical family is remarkable, including specialized hand, lymphedema, women’s health, speech, massage, chronic pain, vestibular and postural restoration therapy,” said Tenney. “This breadth of expertise gives us the ability to collaborate to provide our patients the best care possible. However, it is our connection – our caring for each other – that really makes the difference. As we all know, when you love the people you work with, loving your work is more likely to happen.”

Exceptional professionals, a work environment that encourages caring relationships between therapists and patients, and a supportive family of coworkers and friends have combined to create excellence, earning the Yavapai Regional Rehabilitation Services team the Guardian of Excellence Award once again this year.

Tenney describes an experience that may sum up the effect that excellence has on those around us. He was entering a local market when he heard his name, turned, and saw a young man running toward him.

“He was an 18-year-old version of a 12-year-old boy who, at that time, was slowly progressing towards a life that would require the use of a wheelchair. It is difficult to express the joy I experienced seeing him run towards me. We embraced as he shared with me the remarkable things he was doing in his life. After saying our goodbyes, I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the sacred opportunity we have as therapists to make a lasting difference in the lives of those we care for.”

QCBN

To learn more about Rehabilitation Services at Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center, visit https://yrmc.org/services/physical-rehabilitation-services/services.

For more information about the Chronic Pain Self Care Program at Yavapai Regional Medical Group - Neurosurgical Medicine and Physiatry, call 928-445-4818. Anthony Torres, M.D., FACP, is president and CEO of Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center.

Corporate Philanthropy: Businesses Giving Back to Society

By Lisa Sahady

In today’s dynamic business environment, corporate philanthropy stands as a cornerstone of how companies engage with and support their communities. By actively participating in charitable initiatives, businesses not only contribute to societal well-being but also bolster their own performance and enhance their brand reputation.

Corporate philanthropy includes a wide range of activities aimed at positively impacting society. These include charitable funds, employee giving programs, competitive grant cycles, scholarships, and project-based services. Such initiatives are often structured to address specific community needs and are integral to a company’s broader commitment to social responsibility. Ultimately, corporate philanthropy catalyzes positive change, aligning business goals with societal needs and demonstrating a commitment to ethical practices and community stewardship.

REAPING THE BENEFITS

Corporate philanthropy is a power-

ful tool for businesses to give back to society in meaningful ways. By engaging in charitable activities, businesses can enhance their brand, improve employee engagement, and make a lasting positive impact on their communities. Both businesses and nonprofits must work together strategically to ensure their efforts are impactful and sustainable, fostering a better future for all.

Involving employees in social impact activities is pivotal in uniting teams, especially those who are remote, and revitalizing company culture. Corporate philanthropic efforts not only strengthen corporations but also attract and retain talent. As employee expectations for corporate responsibility and sustainability rise, corporate philanthropy serves as a crucial tool in fostering employee engagement and maintaining a productive workforce.

MEASURING THE IMPACT OF PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS

Measuring the impact of corporate philanthropy is crucial for companies to assess the effectiveness of their efforts. This involves tracking the

amount of financial donations and in-kind contributions made, as well as monitoring the hours employees dedicate to volunteer work. Additionally, collecting data on the number of beneficiaries and communities impacted provides insight into the reach and scope of their contributions. Analyzing participation rates in employee giving programs also helps gauge the level of engagement and commitment within the workforce, ensuring that philanthropic initiatives align with broader business goals and community needs.

NAVIGATING CHALLENGES

In navigating corporate philanthropy, companies encounter various challenges alongside reaping its benefits. One common hurdle is the limited availability of sponsorship opportunities, which can be exclusive or invitation-only, posing barriers for new nonprofits seeking support. Businesses often contend with a high volume of donation requests, making it complex to prioritize and decide which causes align best with their mission and resources. Another challenge lies in the communication

gap between nonprofits and corporations, where some organizations may struggle to effectively articulate their needs or make compelling requests for support.

Despite these challenges, corporate philanthropy takes diverse forms that reflect a company’s commitment to social responsibility and community engagement. For instance, businesses may establish scholarship programs or fund educational initiatives that resonate with their values and objectives. These initiatives not only contribute to societal well-being, but also strengthen employee engagement and brand reputation.

By addressing these challenges and adopting strategic approaches, both corporations and nonprofits can collaborate effectively to maximize the impact of corporate philanthropy on communities and stakeholders alike.

GET STARTED WITH THE HELP OF A COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Community foundations can help you determine the best mix of funds to include in your corporate philanthropy portfolio. This includes charitable funds, employee giving

Arizona Philharmonic Kicks Off Season with Passion, Peace, Power

By Cynthia Jones

Arizona Philharmonic is excited to launch its seventh season on Sept. 8, with Passion, Peace, and Power, a concert featuring the sublime artistry of violinist Dr. Katherine McLin and the AZ Phil orchestra.

Maestro Peter Bay, music director and conductor of the Austin Symphony Orchestra and conductor of the Bravo! Big Sky Classical Festival Orchestra in Montana, will return for his seventh season leading Arizona Philharmonic. The performance will start at 3 p.m., at the Ruth Street Theater on the Prescott High School grounds (1050 Ruth St., Prescott, AZ 86301), with a pre-concert talk at 2 p.m.

One of the highlights of Passion, Peace and Power is Felix Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto in E Minor,” a piece brimming with joy and virtuosity. The program will also include the serene “Pastorale été” by Arthur Honegger and Haydn’s sophisticated “Symphony No. 92 in G Major.”

The fourth work will come from a composer likely new to Prescott. “In collaborating on this program, I wanted to include a living or female composer, something unique and enjoyable for our audiences,” said Henry Flurry, AZ

Phil’s founder and artistic director. “In response, Peter introduced me to Gwyneth Walker, a living woman composer I did not know. Her piece, ‘Fanfare, Interlude, and Finale,’ written in 1980, is a delightful and beautiful work of vibrant energy.” QCBN

To learn more or to purchase tickets for Passion, Peace and Power, visit https://azphil.org.

Cynthia Jones is the marketing manager for Arizona Philharmonic.

Founded in 2018, Arizona Philharmonic (AZ Phil) is Prescott’s only professional orchestra focused on classical music, presenting large and small concerts that engage and inspire listeners. Beginning its seventh season in 2024-25, AZ Phil draws musicians from across Arizona and is committed to offering transformative music, while nurturing community participation and supporting the needs and growth of the Prescott area performing arts scene. Recognized in 2021 by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arizona Philharmonic is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Ticket information, sponsorship and volunteer opportunities can be found at AZPhil.org or on Facebook.

programs, competitive grant cycles, scholarships and project-based services.

For charitable funds, community foundations can handle the back-office administrative tasks, including vetting nonprofit organizations, managing scholarship applications and reviews, issuing grant/scholarship payments, and communicating with grantees and scholarship recipients.

Depending on your company’s individual needs, community foundations can provide strategic consultation, customized solutions, grant and scholarship administration, consultation on tailored investment options, development of corporate giving programs, education and training, and guidance. QCBN

For more information on corporate giving, visit azfoundation.org/corporatephilanthropy, or call one of our offices serving northern Arizona: ACF of Yavapai County at 928-583-7815, ACF of Sedona at 928-3997218, or ACF of Flagstaff at 928-526-1956.

Violinist Dr. Katherine McLin joins Maestro Conductor Peter Bay as AZ Phil begins its seventh season next month. Courtesy photo

Exploring a Gold Mine of an Opportunity South of Prescott

By Matt Fish

The Senator gold mine is an inactive mine located in the picturesque hilly and wooded area at the end of Senator Highway, about 10 miles south of Prescott. It was first opened around 1871 and was primarily operated between 1883 and 1899. Although it was initially created

for the prospect of gold, the mine also produced significant amounts of lead, zinc, copper and silver.

A mining town was established adjacent to the mine along the Hassayampa River to support the mine, including a saloon, a store and a boarding house. During the 1890s, Phelps Dodge purchased the mine and the settlement became a small town. The town grew and

In 1901, an official U.S. post office was added to the expanding community. Although the town has long since been abandoned, remnants of the community can still be found, as is typical of the many Arizona ghost towns.

MEGAN’S STORY

Meanwhile, Megan’s life was starting to unravel. The boy she had known since preschool and was planning to marry was now struggling with serious lingering effects of head injuries.

“He was a hockey goalie and suffered many concussions and brain injuries,” she said. “He was one of the best people that I had ever encountered in my life and it was really difficult to watch him go through that. He didn’t deserve the pain that he went through every day – constant headaches, migraines and ringing in his ears. It wasn’t a great quality of life to be constantly in pain.”

Hypnotherapist and former Phoenix-area high school nurse Rosemary Powell has witnessed the debilitating effects of head injuries on young people. “I had students who had brain injuries. They couldn’t think straight, they couldn’t focus, they couldn’t do simple tasks. And if they were without a headache for a while, it would come back if they did anything on a screen or with a particular subject, like math. And it shattered their future.”

Megan’s boyfriend died last July, just as she was preparing for the new school year and a classroom of fourth graders. She called Taylor.

SHOWING UP

“When she called me, I was like, ‘I’ll be there in 10 minutes,’” said Taylor. “I just came right over because I know what it’s like and you just want people to show up for you. I knew in that moment that I was going to continue to do that for Megan, forever. It made us closer, I think, because there are not many people in our circle or people that we know who have ever gone through anything like this. So, having each other to rely on and talk to is super important. I just love her.”

“Taylor’s my girl. I love her so

included hotels, restaurants, more saloons, a church and a school.

A dam was constructed on the Hassayampa River to hold water for mining operations and to provide drinking water for the town. Later, the town spread along Senator Highway and the river and was referred to as “Senator” or “Maxton.” In 1901, an official U.S. post office was added to the expanding community. Although the town has long since been abandoned, remnants of the community can still be found, as is typical of the many Arizona ghost towns.

The scenic area in which the mine is located can be accessed by driving south on Senator Highway for about 10 miles out of Prescott. Much of the drive is paved, with the last several miles being a mostly two-lane, graded dirt road. Four-wheel drive is not necessary

and the road is reasonably accessible in non-winter months. The heavily wooded area lends itself to scenic landscapes, with the Hassayampa River basin as the focal point. Lush with vegetation, the environment reaches out to people and makes an excellent day trip for those wishing to explore the gorgeous landscape near Prescott.

There has been some controversy in recent years as to the legacy of the remains of the mining operations. As with many other Arizona mining operations, various petitions and written communications have been made by environmentally conscious and local groups concerned with the impact the abandoned mine has on the ecosystem, with no resolution to date.

Some 221 acres of the picturesque surroundings, not including the mine, recently have been listed for sale.

The property is zoned as residential and can be used for single-family housing with lots of at least two acres. With rezoning, the land could also be used as a public park, a summer camp, a nature preserve, or a number of other public uses to allow everyone to enjoy this one-of-a-kind property just minutes from Prescott. Prescott Commercial Real Estate is the exclusive listing agent for the property. QCBN

much,” said Megan. “I truly don’t know if I would be here without her.

Grief is something you can’t even begin to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. So, to have someone by my side who knew exactly what I was feeling and what I was going through was so beneficial to me in my grief experience. She would show up any time I asked. She reached out to me every single day and never abandoned me throughout this entire grief journey that I’ve been on this past year.”

Megan and Taylor say being there for each other is vitally important. “It’s a weird thing. It’s almost like people are looking at you like you’re an exhibit in a museum, thinking, ‘Do I touch them?’ They don’t really know what to say,” said Taylor. “You don’t have to say the right thing or say anything at all. Just continue to show up.”

“And that’s the thing. Words won’t help,” added Megan. “Nothing that anyone says will take away the pain – no meals that are brought, no gift baskets. Nothing’s going to take away the pain except showing up and just hanging out and having a normal day with your friend.”

“Megan and Taylor are so wise,” said Powell. “Being present, even if you can’t find the right words. Just show up and be with those who are grieving. Do something odd or fun, send them a cute note or message, just be there and don’t wait for them to reach out to you.”

SEEKING SUPPORT

“When Megan’s boyfriend died, being there for her also made me show up for myself,” said Taylor. “Everything that I wanted her to do, I knew I’d have to do for myself or I’d be a hypocrite.”

They both took time away from work to heal. They both sought counseling and through Megan’s insistence, they have been attending a grief sup-

port group. They also continue to work through what therapists call “secondary loss,” grieving not just for today but for the future – the parents who won’t be there at important milestones or the man who was supposed to help build a life.

“Grief needs compassion and kindness always. There may be a day that you just cocoon and be with yourself and honor the time to grieve that loss,” said Powell. “Professional help with someone you really connect with also makes a big difference. Releasing any guilt or self-responsibility for what happened is essential. It happened. It simply was.”

“I’ve learned to pivot, to turn the negatives into positives,” said Taylor. “Instead of dreading Mother’s Day because my mother’s gone, I now think of how blessed I am to have had what I had.”

REGAINING JOY

Taylor is a self-taught guitarist, pianist and singer/songwriter, a talent she shared with her mother. She started singing and creating music as a girl. When her mom died, the music stopped. Through encouragement from Megan and Megan’s mom, Taylor began playing and singing again. Today, she performs four evenings a week at an upscale establishment.

“It’s still an ongoing battle to find things that ground me, but singing has definitely been a huge help. It’s something that I’ve always loved to do. And specifically, where I’ve been singing, is really near and dear to my family. My parents met when my mom was singing and my dad was working there. Every time I sing, I feel super close to them. It’s taken a minute, but now I don’t feel any pain when I’m singing. I feel genuine joy to sing and bring other people joy with my music.”

Meanwhile, Megan has a whole class of fourth graders that “fill her cup.” Through her pain, she showed up for the first day of class last August. “I definitely wanted to prove to my students and to their parents that I was there for their kids and I was going to show up for them and come back and give them my 100%.”

She kept her word and returned to the classroom in January. “You go into a teaching career wanting to change a child’s life, but no one prepares you for the fact that there are 25 little ones that change your life. I just have 25 little blessings that remind me of all the good and the innocence of life. Those kids mean everything to me and it’s been great in my grief. It’s kept me busy and my mind focused on something positive.”

TEACHING OTHERS

Megan and Taylor now have a driving need to educate people about loss, grief and death. Not only do they want to help people who are grieving, they want to tell others how they can support their friends going through loss. They’ve discussed writing a book.

In addition, Taylor encourages others to get life insurance. “After the shock of the initial loss, you have to figure out everything else. Neither of my parents had any life insurance or any will or trust or instruction about what I was to do in this situation.”

Today, she works for an insurance company. “I have life insurance. My sister has life insurance and I tell my friends to use that $20 they were going to spend on fast food to make a monthly payment on a life insurance policy.”

Megan wants to make people aware of the danger of sports-related head injuries. “It’s such an invisible disease. I’ve done a lot of research into brain injuries and it’s something I’m passionate about now, especially because I work with kids.”

Powell praised the women for speaking out. “You’re bringing light, not only to each other, but to far more people than you even realize.”

FBN

Watch the entire interview on Zonie Living at Star Worldwide Networks, https:// starworldwidenetworks.com/episodes/ loss-grief-and-finding-joy-video.

On the set of Zonie Living, host Bonnie Stevens, hypnotherapist Rosemary Powell, Taylor and Megan discuss loss, grief and finding joy. Courtesy photo

Matthew Fish, MBA, is the designated broker at Prescott Commercial Real Estate, 122 N. Cortez St., Ste. 300 in Prescott.

Real Estate Industry Transforming for Realtors

By Jeanelle Shearer

The real estate industry is on the brink of a significant transformation, especially for members of the National Association of REALTORS (NAR), starting in August. This change stems from a pivotal settlement that NAR reached, aiming to enhance transparency and fairness in real estate transactions regarding compensation. These adjustments will undoubtedly reshape the landscape for NAR REALTOR members, impacting various facets of their professional practices and changing how they work with clients.

At the heart of these changes is a commitment to increased transparency in commission practices. One of the most notable shifts is the requirement for realtors to disclose more detailed

information about commissions. This move intends to provide buyers and sellers with a clearer understanding of how commissions are structured and who is responsible for paying them. Such transparency is expected to foster greater trust between realtors and their clients and promote a more competitive market environment.

To effect commission transparency, the settlement mandates that buyer agents must now negotiate their commissions directly with their clients. Previously, compensation was communicated within the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Included within the settlement agreement is the required retirement of this standard practice. Moving forward, commissions will no longer be displayed in the system and must be conveyed through more direct

One of the most notable shifts is the requirement for realtors to disclose more detailed information about commissions. This move intends to provide buyers and sellers with a clearer understanding of how commissions are structured and who is responsible for paying them.

communication and negotiation. The new adjustment represents a departure from the traditional model, where commissions were often predetermined by sellers and their agents. By empowering buyers to have a say in commission negotiations, the industry aims to ensure that agents’ fees more accurately reflect the services provided and the value delivered to clients.

Another significant aspect of the settlement is the prohibition of other MLS policies that were deemed anti-competitive. For instance, NAR members can no longer use MLS rules to deny access to listings based on commission offers. This change is expected to level the playing field, allowing more agents and brokers to compete fairly and ensuring that consumers have access to a broader range of property listings.

The settlement also includes provisions designed to prevent realtors from misrepresenting the services they provide. NAR has been advocating for the use of written agreements between buyers and agents for years, a practice that is law in many states not including Arizona. The settlement will now require all MLS participants working with buyers to enter into written agreements with their buyers before even touring a home. This change will

Prescott Jazz Summit Begins with the Blues

By Mike Vax

The Prescott Jazz Summit is celebrating its 23rd year with the grand opening concert “The Birth of the Blues” on August 22-25.

We present musicians from around the United States, including Arizona and our own Quad Cities area. Many of these musicians have performed with the biggest stars in the entertainment business, such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, The Blues Brothers, The David Letterman Show, June Christy, Anita O’Day, Toni Tennille, Cab Calloway, Joe Williams and the big bands of Glenn Miller, Harry James, Jimmy Dorsey, Woody Herman and Stan Kenton.

At 7 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 22, we will premiere the documentary film “Jewel of the Desert.” It is being shown at film festivals all over the world.

The Jazz Summit is very involved with music education and has sponsored musicians to perform and do workshops in schools all over the state. We have reached more than 4,000 students through the years. We have also given scholarships to deserving students to attend summer music camps and have donated funds to many school music departments.

On the Saturday of the festival weekend, Aug. 24, we will present free music workshops for all ages, as has been our tradition.

The Prescott Jazz Summit showcases music in four different locations during the festival weekend: The Elks Theater, The Ruth Street Theater at Prescott High School, The Hassayampa Inn and Murphy’s Restaurant.

Our goal is to present enjoyable music in a relaxed atmosphere. One of the favorite aspects of our audiences is the interplay between the audience members and the musicians.

For tickets and more information, visit www.prescottjazzsummit.net. Mike Vax is the director of Prescott Jazz Summit. 925-872-1942 vaxtrpts@aol.com * www. prescottjazzsummit.net

go into effect officially on Aug. 17. This measure is crucial in maintaining the integrity of the profession and ensuring that consumers receive accurate information when making decisions about real estate representation. By upholding high standards of honesty and transparency, NAR aims to reinforce the trust that clients place in their realtor representatives.

All of these changes come at a time when the real estate industry is already undergoing significant shifts because of technological advancements and evolving consumer expectations. Technology has revolutionized the way properties are marketed, bought and sold, bringing unprecedented efficiency and opportunity to the industry, but with its benefits can come unintended consequences that must be addressed.

The implementation of the settlement’s provisions is expected to further drive innovation, as realtors adapt to new standards and explore creative ways to serve their clients effectively without relying solely on technology to communicate their value and negotiate their compensation.

The impact of these changes on NAR REALTOR members and therefore their clients cannot be overstated. While the adjustments may initially

require realtors to adapt their practices and embrace new approaches, the long-term benefits are anticipated to be substantial for them and, most importantly, the people they serve. By fostering a more transparent, competitive and honest marketplace, these changes will ultimately enhance the reputation of realtors as reliable professionals in their communities and strengthen the real estate industry’s overall health and sustainability.

The changes for NAR REALTOR members mark a significant step toward a more transparent and fair real estate industry. By mandating greater commission transparency, empowering buyer agents and eliminating anti-competitive practices, the settlement aims to create a more equitable environment for all stakeholders. As the real estate landscape continues to evolve, NAR REALTOR members are poised to navigate these changes with resilience and a renewed commitment to serving their clients with loyalty and integrity. QCBN

Jeanelle Shearer is a local REALTOR® and Associate Broker for Realty One Group Mountain Desert. She is the 2024 President of the Prescott Area Association of REALTORS® (PAAR). For additional information or to contact PAAR, go to www.paar.org.

APS Offers Community Pulse Event

The Prescott Chamber of Commerce is delighted to invite the community to the APS Community Pulse event, an essential forum for engagement and dialogue, generously sponsored by APS and The Center. The event is scheduled for 8-10 a.m., Friday, Aug. 16, at The Center, 1280 E. Rosser St. in Prescott.

The APS Community Pulse event is designed to address pressing issues impacting our community through interactive sessions and dynamic discussions. This gathering is designed to offer an opportunity for residents to gain insights, share their viewpoints and contribute to conversations that shape the future.

To secure a seat, RSVP at prescott.org or contact the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, events@prescott.org (mailto:events@prescott.org) or 928-4452000 by Thursday, Aug. 15. QCBN

Embracing Success, Addressing the Needs of Students, Community

By Lisa B. Rhine

This past year was a landmark year for Yavapai College, filled with outstanding accomplishments, partnerships and exciting things to come.

Our faculty, staff and administrators work tirelessly to ensure that YC is forward-thinking, innovative and student-centered.

This approach leads to success for our students, which is evident in the

record number of graduates this past spring. It also leads to employee satisfaction, and this past month, YC was named one of the Top Workplaces in Arizona by the Arizona Republic and USA Today Network.

YAVAPAI COLLEGE’S TRAJECTORY IS UPWARD

The landscape of higher education is changing rapidly. At Yavapai College, we do not consider change to be

negative but expect, embrace and harness it.

Our job as educators is to be flexible and adaptable, and I can assure you that at Yavapai College, we are working to do just that. Our 2025 strategic plan lays the framework for what we believe is an innovative approach that addresses the needs of our students and our communities.

The plan includes expanding health science programs, expanding

//We know that these individuals’ success directly impacts our communities’ future. The knowledge, skills and expertise they gain from Yavapai College will enhance the quality of life for us all and we are committed to providing the opportunity to our students.

workforce training, expanding the integration of artificial intelligence and virtual reality into academic programs, and further enhancing basic student needs, among others. Education, economic development and community activities and support focus on student success as our number one priority. Student success includes high school, current, future, traditional, non-traditional, lifelong learners, personal interest and everyone in between.

We know that these individuals’ success directly impacts our communities’ future. The knowledge, skills and expertise they gain from Yavapai College will enhance the quality of life for us all and we are committed to providing the opportunity to our students.

As we embark on a new fall semester, I urge you to explore YC’s opportunities. Try something new, explore extracurricular activities, and ultimately, take advantage of the phenomenal experiences that YC provides. QCBN

In February 2019, Dr. Lisa B. Rhine became the tenth president of Yavapai College, bringing to the institution over 30 years of leadership experience across a number of leading colleges and universities in Ohio, Kentucky and Virginia. Dr. Rhine assumed this role with a commitment to advance the mission of the college while ensuring access and support to those for whom opportunities may have been historically limited or denied.

Yavapai College offers over 100 degrees and certificates, student and community services, and cultural events and activities at six locations throughout Yavapai County, including campuses in Prescott and Clarkdale, and centers in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Sedona, and the Prescott Airport.

Record-Low Unemployment Demonstrates Stability for Yavapai County

By Teri Drew

Living in Arizona during a time of record-low unemployment has been an inspiring experience. Here in Yavapai County, we see firsthand how the efforts of ARIZONA@WORK-Yavapai County are not just statistics but real, life-changing impacts on our community.

As we celebrate this milestone, it’s hard not to feel a sense of pride and optimism. Arizona’s unemployment rate has dropped to a record low of 3.4%, reflecting our state’s workforce’s hard work and resilience.

Here in Yavapai County, the local branch of ARIZONA@WORK has been working hard contributing to this 3.4%.

ARIZONA@WORK-YAVAPAI

COUNTY: A RESOURCE FOR JOB SEEKERS

ARIZONA@WORK-Yavapai County has become a cornerstone of our community, offering a connection to those seeking employment. Through career counseling, résumé workshops, job fairs and specialized training programs, we provide essential resources that help individuals secure meaningful employment. Our focus

isn’t just on assisting people to find jobs; it’s about building sustainable and fulfilling careers.

BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN JOB SEEKERS,

EMPLOYERS

For those on the job hunt, ARIZONA@WORK-Yavapai County is an essential bridge to local employers. We offer recruitment assistance and employee training services as well as job placement services that align with the needs of our local businesses. This ensures that when we assist in finding employment for individuals, they step into primary roles valued by our community.

INNOVATIVE TRAINING PROGRAMS

One of our most impressive aspects at ARIZONA@WORK-Yavapai County is our emphasis on training and education. Partnering with local institutions like Yavapai College, we assist in placing people in specialized training programs in high-demand fields. These programs are designed to equip people with the skills needed to thrive in today’s job market, helping them be competitive for job opportunities.

REAL SUCCESS STORIES, REAL IMPACT

The accurate measure of our impact can be seen in the success stories all around us. From young adults entering the workforce to seasoned professionals finding new opportunities, many individuals have benefitted from our dedicated support. Local businesses rely on ARIZONA@ WORK-Yavapai County for a steady stream of qualified candidates to fill local job opportunities.

LOOKING AHEAD WITH OPTIMISM

As we move forward, our role will

continue to be crucial. Our commitment to fostering a vibrant and inclusive talent pipeline means we can sustain and build on this economic success. In a time when financial stability can feel elusive, ARIZONA@ WORK-Yavapai County stands as an internal partner for effective workforce development.

For anyone looking to advance their career or seeking skilled employees, ARIZONA@WORKYavapai County is here to

help. Our dedication to the community’s success ensures we can all look to the future confidently and optimistically. QCBN

To learn more about our services and how we can assist you, contact 928-778-1422 or visit our location at 221 N. Marina St. Prescott, AZ 86303.

Teri Drew is the regional director for NACOG-EWD.

Lisa B. Rhine, Ph.D., is the president of Yavapai College.

not have to cost more.”

Harrison uses her accounting degree and MBA to help clients figure out their budgets and buy a home of their dreams while still being able to enjoy splurges, like going out for a nice dinner.

Her gift for seeing what can be has won her awards and built a loyal fan base of homebuyers and sellers. And now, as the market is shifting again, she is anticipating the silver lining in foreclosures.

“It’s not 2009 at all, but I see the writing on the wall. History may be repeating itself. Recently, 0% loans were approved by a national lender. In addition, people can now borrow $15,000 out of the equity in their house to start the lending process on a new home, which puts them in a precarious financial position to begin with. The rules for home equity loans are becoming less stringent, rent is astronomical and credit card debt has shot up.”

Noting that foreclosures are not particularly high right now, “there are plenty of them at the moment,” she says, “enough to buy, fix them up and flip or live in.” And that, she sees as her new opportunity.

This summer, she has taken classes and learned the home foreclosure and wholesale auction process. She is also taking time to catch her breath and enjoy the calm following the real estate frenzy of recent years. On a solo restorative road trip through Arizona last month, she packed her pickleball paddle, hiking boots, audio books and tiny dog, Maybelline.

“I’m noticing a gentler road ahead,” she said. “Single women are now the largest percentage of homebuyers and I’m going to help them make their beautiful dollhouse.”

Find Harrison at www.azdreamlifestyle.com

PEACEFULL LIVING FOUNDER CREATES TRANQUILITY, OPENS PILATES, WELLNESS STUDIO

With all the serenity of a savasana, Pilates coach Roberta Hughes has been welcoming clients virtually onto their mats and meeting them where they are, metaphorically and physically, often at other people’s studios.

“I believe, since the pandemic, anxiety has become the norm. People are in this constant state of going and doing and they don’t know how to slow down. They don’t know where the off button is.”

Hughes opened her own yoga studio in 2007, in space that she subleased from a friend. The building was pur-

chased a few months later and the new owners didn’t honor her contract. In fact, they raised her rent substantially.

Shocked and hurt by the experience, Hughes, a military spouse raising two boys, chose to close the doors. “I said to myself, ‘I’ll never own my own studio again.’”

Since then, she has hired Arizona-based Business Coach Colleen Biggs and has been rebuilding her confidence, expanding her services and growing her clientele.

“Rewind back to October when we were creating our vision boards, Colleen planted a seed. She said, ‘One day I think you’re going to have a brickand-mortar studio.’ Following those words of wisdom, I added a photo of a beautiful space with big windows, trees outside all the windows and a wraparound patio to my 2024 vision board.”

Fast forward to Valentine’s Day, Hughes ran into an old friend and mentioned she was looking for a quiet space to offer her Tranquil Touch facial reflexology sessions. The conversation led to an introduction at a fertility doctor’s medical and wellness center.

“The doctor had a small studio in the holistic wing of the building perfectly sized for private Pilates, yoga and Tranquil Touch sessions. I would have my own business, work for myself and lease the space directly from her. It was a God thing.”

This spring, Hughes opened her own Peacefull Living studio near her home in Parker, Colorado. Not surprisingly, it has trees she can see through large windows and a wrap-around patio. She provides Tranquil Touch facial reflexology and teaches private and semi-private Pilates, yoga and meditation in person and online.

“Being stationary allows me to be more present and invite people into their own journey. I see myself conducting mini retreats, focusing on self-care, keeping bodies healthy and bringing nervous systems into a place where they can rest and restore.”

Hughes offers free content on Instagram, @Roberta_PeacefullLiving

GOING BIGG: BUSINESS COACH LAUNCHES DRONE FRANCHISE

For nearly two decades, Business Coach Colleen Biggs has been helping entrepreneurs create more than 350 businesses and cultivating her Leap Community, a network of businesswomen driven by their passions.

“I enforce two rules: Increase your visibility – tell everybody about you; and build long-lasting relationships.”

In the last two years while coaching

others, she and her husband, Robert, have started one business and bought another. However, the fatal illness and death of a close friend this spring caused her to pause and reassess priorities.

“Robert and I really enjoy assisting people, building their brands, buying and growing businesses. But we did everything separately. When our good friend, Mike, got sick, we bought Beyond Basil [a mobile pizza business] and that’s when we realized we needed to make sure we were supporting each other through all our endeavors.”

Meanwhile, Robert had been growing his Phoenix Drone Pros business. “It turns 10 next year and we have decided to create a franchise. I feel super confident in the franchise world and have been really successful in that realm, working with business owners from conception to design, to sales, marketing and scaling. Through this process, we’ve turned a good relationship into a powerful one.”

Biggs says Mike’s death also made her realize how the human body holds onto trauma. “I started doing these natural medicine journeys. They make you discover the childhood you forgot about, the traumas harbored and deep-seated anger that can cause cancer.”

She’s learned that we can choose our thoughts and change our outcome.

“We only have so much time and I want to keep building with Robert. We’ve gotten to a place where we’re saying, ‘OK, there’s a lot more we can do.’ We are deciding to play big in all our investments, our time, money and energy. When we’re talking about building peoples’ businesses and generating an opportunity for them to make their own money, I want to help as many families do that as I can.”

Find Biggs at www.ColleenBiggs.net

appeals to the target audience that they want.”

She believes businesses get so caught up in the day-to-day operations that they don’t think through their advertising choices and don’t spend their money effectively. “I can’t tell you how many businesses open and don’t have a marketing budget. They get so busy, they fly by the seat of their pants!”

Currently, she is working to spread the word about the power of digital marketing. “With the tremendous growth we’re seeing in Arizona, gone are the days of surviving by word of mouth. You have to be on all formats, including having a social media presence. For businesses that aren’t comfortable in that space, they need to work with a professional who can help them build a strategy and create messages that call customers to action.”

Thein is especially excited about being part of QCBN’s Prescott-Area ATHENA Leadership Awards, which features local women of excellence. It is scheduled for 3-5 p.m., Friday, Sept. 20, at Starting Point in the Pine Ridge Marketplace.

“Participating in the SHINE workshop was such a joy. The ladies were amazing and it was really nice to take time to connect with people and also focus on ourselves. Like a lot of businesswomen, I’m often working by myself at my computer or supporting others. Events like SHINE and the ATHENA Leadership Awards are such a boost for the spirit. The women are incredibly inspirational.”

For digital marketing and advertising strategies, find Thein at linda@ quadcitiesbusinessnews.com

MASTER SPEAKER GOES FROM BROKEN TO BUFF, SETS GOAL BIGGER THAN HER GRIEF

Small businesses are what keep the economy and communities vibrant and alive, says Quad Cities Business News Advertising Manager Linda Thein. “I honor the entrepreneurial spirit and want to partner with businesses to help share their stories, their successes, their inspirations, their innovations, including their pain.”

As a seasoned media and marketing professional, this Prescott resident cringes when she sees a business plan without a marketing strategy. “Advertising is how a business shares everything they have with their customers. It tells their story, it makes the offer, it

//

Their charge was to clearly state their goals and message, boldly step into the spotlight and unapologetically inspire more people with their story, soul and style.

Feisty, famous and fearless, Arvee Robinson, known to thousands as The Master Speaker Trainer, is invincible on any stage – she can hold her own with motivational giants like Tony Robbins, share the spotlight brilliantly with experts in any field and transform stage-frightened entrepreneurs into polished international speakers.

Known for thinking on her feet while getting conference-goers up on theirs, Robinson’s natural spunk and zest pours into the hearts of others.

But, what no one saw coming was the unexpected death of her husband and the crippling toll it took on her.

“My grief was overwhelming. I had to find something to live for. I needed something huge that would be bigger than my grief.”

She found it in bodybuilding. “I saw

a woman bodybuilder on YouTube. I’ve worked out all my life, but I didn’t look like that! She inspired me.”

Her goal was to push her boundaries and compete on stage in a bikini before she turned 70. “I discovered that you need the same elements for bodybuilding as public speaking: commitment, dedication and consistency.”

She began posting her progress on social media. “I was 35 pounds heavier a year-and-a-half ago. Unexpectedly, I started inspiring women in their 50s, 60s and some in their 70s. It gave them hope that no matter how old they are, they can start to work out again.”

In that time, she hit her goal more than once. “I’m going to be honest. It took a lot of courage to step on stage in a teeny-weeny bikini alongside a 50-year-old woman! But I won a victory for myself by doing that. I also inspired girls and older women right there at the competition. They wanted to take their picture with me. They made me feel like a star.”

This spring, she competed again, securing first place in the 60+ category for the National Physique Committee (NPC) California State Championship.

“I set the intention. I said I was going to win and I told everybody I was going to win and that’s how you manifest stuff. I knew, like, I knew, I knew. There was no question. I had to work up to that intention with diets and discipline. I had to avoid people who kept me up too late or wanted to go out to eat. I stopped everything and focused on my goal. I owned it. That’s what it takes for a big goal.”

Six days before her 70th birthday, July 26, Robinson competed nationally in the NPC Teen, Collegiate and Masters National Championships in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She tracks her journey on Instagram @Arveebuff4life

These seven women have proven to themselves that there is magic in declaring a grand vision, power in community and inspiration in success. Meet these “Women to Watch” on Zonie Living at Star Worldwide Networks, visit https://starworldwidenetworks. com/episodes/women-to-watch-video.

ADVERTISER HELPS SMALL BUSINESSES ATTRACT THE RIGHT PEOPLE

Roberta Hughes

Colleen Biggs

Linda Thein

Arvee Robinson

BUILDING FENCES AND CHARACTER

As he grew older, cross-country running, basketball, and forest thinning and fence-building with his uncles taught him discipline, while shaping his character and earning him money. “I learned a lot of different teachings and a man’s perspective from my uncles. They taught me that there’s always balance. And, as little as I was, I’m pretty sure I was helping with their workload. But what’s so cool about it, they put me on their payroll.”

They also introduced him to hunting. “I remember archery hunting in junior high. My first kill was an elk.”

He also recalls the impact of meeting NBA champions Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Byron Scott, James Worthy and Michael Cooper of the Los Angeles Lakers at a basketball training camp. From that moment on, he’d save his earnings for a wardrobe of court shoes.

Meanwhile, Greg was raising a calf that his mother had purchased – one for him and one for his brother. “We raised those calves, they produced offspring, and by the time I was in high school, I had 60 head of cattle.”

TRAINED BY THE ARMY, HIRED BY NAVAJO POLICE

Upon high school graduation, Secatero joined the U.S. Army. “I was a combat engineer, responsible for setting up obstacles by any means, using the terrain, trees, rocks, wires, anything to block a place.”

He also was trained to clear the path and breach obstacles. “We had to learn how to recognize, arm and disarm landmines. They even taught us how to make our own explosives. To do all this, you had to do math because with these different types of fuses you would have to nail down the correct timing. We saw what hundreds of pounds of explosives can do.”

He also learned that he could advance by doing more homework, practicing his shooting skills, and keeping up his physical fitness along with his uniform and overall appearance. “I was fortunate enough to be put into a leadership school and promoted to sergeant.”

At age 21, he decided not to re-enlist and applied to the Navajo Nation Police Department instead. Within months, he was in the Navajo Police Training Academy. After excelling as a patrol officer for three years, he became part of the prestigious Navajo Department of Criminal Investigations (NDCI).

“Between my work ethic, tracking skills and arrest rate, my mentor saw that my caseload was much higher than my co-workers’ and he helped me develop as a leader.”

DEER WHISPERER, CRIMINAL CHASER

Since his early years as a shepherd and hunter, Secatero has studied ani-

mals and their behavior. He says this knowledge, plus situational-awareness training from the military and police academy and his own intuition have refined his skills for tracking game animals and people.

As a hunting guide, he has a reputation for leading archers to trophy deer. “Greg is exceptionally talented and ambitious,” said QCBN Publisher Troy Bix. “In hunting circles, he is affectionately known as ‘The Deer Whisperer.’ Combine that with his patience, determination and achievements, he’s got to be the best there is.”

“I’ve guided people to the largest deer killed on the Reservation,” said Secatero. “People have these grand expectations. My biggest one is so small compared to the ones I’ve guided people to.”

His extraordinary abilities also have served him and the Navajo Nation Police Department well when it comes to searching hidden chasms and out-of-the-way gullies of the vast Navajo Nation for missing people and bad guys. He recalls tracing the steps of a murder suspect in Fluted Rock near Window Rock as a young investigator.

“This guy had killed a grandma. We found his vehicle and investigators were searching 360 degrees from the location but were tracking out. I knew something was wrong. From hunting other animals, I know that instinct takes over.”

Secatero believed the suspect was backtracking over his own shoe impressions and was going in the opposite direction toward his house. “In mid-afternoon, I got some people to cover me as I tracked into the night.”

At midnight, Secatero was still tracking in the dark of the forest.

“The suspect’s shoe impressions led us to a compound. Inside, we found houses. And that’s when it got creepy. His shoe impressions led back over our shoe impressions.”

Secatero and the other officers found the suspect inside his house with the gun positioned under his chin. “We cornered him. He was getting ready to pull the trigger and we tried to negotiate. But I knew he was hungry. I had some Beanie Weenies, little hotdogs, with me. I rolled three or four of the cans along with a flashbang [stun grenade] toward him. He took his finger off the trigger, reached for a can and the flash-bang went off. This stunned him. We were able to disarm him and get him into custody. I was able to use my tracking techniques, and it was a good ending.”

ON

TRACK FOR A GRAND SLAM

“Running in our culture is really significant,” said Apryl Joe, Secatero’s ultramarathon crew captain and a team member with Change Labs, a Tuba City nonprofit that supports Navajo and Hopi entrepreneurs.

“It has a big purpose in the teachings of Diné people,” she said. “It’s about getting out before the sun comes up, running toward the east and praying. Some do this in practice; it’s also used in some of our ceremonies.”

Joe met Secatero in 2022 at the Bears Ear ultra run in Utah. “He did the 50-mile race. My uncle was also participating.”

The two met again last year during the Cocodona 250, a grueling fiveday, 250-mile foot race across iconic trails and towns from Black Canyon City to Flagstaff, with nearly a 40,000foot elevation gain.

“He is definitely driven,” she said of Secatero. “He actually got into ultra running a little over two years ago. He ran the Cocodona last year when ultra running was very new to him. He only had a couple of ultras under his belt and he just signed up. Greg is determined. He sets a goal and works really hard to get it.”

Secatero did not have a coach at the time. He learned a lot about hav-

ing a strategy for sleeping and staying hydrated. “The hardest time for me to stay awake is between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. I was hallucinating plenty and it took my body six months to heal.”

Now, at age 49, his goal is to run four ultramarathons in the same year and become the first Native American to complete the Grand Slam of 200s.

He finished the 2024 Cocodona in a little more than 114 hours, three hours and 14 minutes faster than his time the year before. “It’s kind of weird,” he said of the hallucinations he experienced during the 250-mile race. “I was right on mile 200 with Tim Deel, my pacer. We were trying to get to the next aid station and I saw a 6-foot husky puppy on the side of the trail. I walked up to it and tried to give it some of the food that I had. And then I thought, ‘Puppies should only be tiny!’”

Just three-and-a-half weeks later, in early July, he completed the Tahoe 200, a journey around the largest alpine lake in North America. “I’m trying to ask my body to heal faster.”

“It was challenging, but he did really well there,” said Joe. “I wasn’t on site, but we had been in contact throughout the race. He finished strongly.”

In the three-week break before the next endurance run, he’s preparing for the Big Foot 200 starting at Mount St. Helens in Washington on Aug. 9. After that comes the Moab 240 in Utah this October.

AN INTENT TO INSPIRE

As the senior criminal investigator, a supervisor and captain for the NDCI overseeing the northwestern portion of the Navajo Nation, Secatero’s job includes investigating major crimes and also coroner duties.

“It makes you think what people can do to extend their lives. I figure more people can live a little longer and not be crippled by illnesses like

diabetes and hypertension. We have control over this. In my own life I’m not going to fall victim to these types of preventable illnesses. It’s what keeps me exercising. Hopefully, I’ve inspired others to get out there and take this sport to another level. Action speaks louder than words.”

MOST IMPORTANT LESSON

The most important lesson I taught my kids [two sons and two daughters, now adults] was to be honest and truthful, and to be themselves.

MEMORABLE SAYING

One of the classic sayings that my grandmother would use often was the Navajo version of “It all depends on you.” To me, that means it all depends on how much effort you put into something. If you put in a little bit of energy, you get a little back. If you put in a lot of effort, the possibilities are endless.

FAVORITE MEAL

If I had to order the same thing every day, it would be steak and eggs. I like having breakfast for lunch and dinner, too.

WHERE I GO TO RELAX

Mount Hesperus in Colorado is one of the sacred mountains for the Navajo and one of my favorite places to visit. I caught the biggest trout of my life fishing on a lake nearby.

IF

I COULD CHANGE THE WORLD

I wish people would take a little bit of time to themselves. Kids would get off the video games and people would spend a little bit of time prepping and cooking their meals, rather than gravitating to processed foods. QCBN

Top Left Greg Secatero, far right, is grateful to crew members Shunbaah Begay and Lavern Joe, and pacers Brandan Bowie and Zak Jansen, who helped him through the Tahoe 200 last month. Top Right Shown here with pacers, Ethan Liebross, Brandon Parker, Tim Deel, Samuel Nockideneh and Brandan Bowie, Secatero completed the Cocodona 2023. Missing is Roger Stash. Courtesy photos

SECATERO

How Businesses and Schools Can Successfully Partner

By Sheri Heiney

Businesses have a vested interest in their communities. They need a strong pool of local workers to choose from and consumers who can afford their products. Many businesses want to give to the community and invest in it, but sometimes they aren’t sure where to start. Schools can also benefit from these partnerships, providing students with opportunities for success in the workforce.

Businesses can help provide a more rigorous and skills-based curriculum, highlighting employability skills like teamwork, communication and pre-

sentation skills, among others. And they provide students with the third R, relationships. Relationships are not only important in the job market, but also to their personal lives – students gain access to role models they many not otherwise have.

So, with clear benefits to students, how do you get started? Here are some ideas:

Build a local advisory board. This group can be charged to invite local businesspeople into the classroom. Students can be the intermediaries between school and the business partner; they can talk about what is happening in the classroom to provide context and to give a human face

to the school.

Start small. Provide opportunities that aren’t too time intensive or expensive for businesses. For local, small business owners in a tough economy, there may be a perception that these programs will go beyond their means.

Highlight benefits! Highlight for businesses the benefits they gain by hiring a 16- or 17-year-old student. Students are learning relevant, 21st century skills, and global knowledge. They have a lot of energy and excitement, plus a desire to succeed. Who wouldn’t want someone like that working for them? And these students return from college as highly

Businesses can help provide a more rigorous and skills-based curriculum, highlighting employability skills like teamwork, communication and presentation skills, among others. And they provide students with the third R, relationships. Relationships are not only important in the job market, but also to their personal lives – students gain access to role models they many not otherwise have.

Thursday, August 1st at 4pm

Amtec Staffing

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

3605 Crossings Drive Suite B Prescott, AZ 86305

Monday, August 5th at 5pm

Vets Connect Business Mixer

The Club at Prescott Lakes

311 E. Smoke Tree Ln. Prescott, AZ 86301

Wednesday, August 7th at 11:30am

Women In Business Luncheon

Hassayampa Inn

122 E. Gurley St. Prescott, AZ 86301

Thursday, August 8th at 4pm Monsoon Strength and Conditioning

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

618 Division St. Prescott, AZ 86301

skilled laborers. Stress to businesses that the skills and relevance they provide will benefit themselves as well as the students.

Understand teachers are learners, too. Businesses can also provide opportunities for teachers. For instance, a two-week externship for a finance teacher could allow them to practice their classroom knowledge and return to it with real-world examples. If businesses provide professional development for their employees, such as time management classes, they could consider opening those up to teachers as well. Having teachers sitting in on advisory board meetings often leads to new ideas.

Be flexible. Create programs that are very flexible and simple. Make it international. Look for companies in your community that depend on exporting, importing or international banking. And make contact with your local Rota ry, World Trade Council or Chamber of Commerce to explore connections.

Education gives us a knowledge of the world around us and changes it

into something better. It develops in us a perspective of looking at life. It helps us build opinions and have points of view on things in life. People debate over the subject of whether education is the only thing that gives knowledge.

Education plays a major role in the economic development of any country, may it be developed or developing. Many resources play a part in the growth of a country’s economy, one of which and perhaps the most important is human capital, which means the workforce of the country. QCBN

For more information about the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, please visit prescott.org or call us at 928-445-2000 or 1-800-266-7534, or stop by the Visitor Information Center located at 117 W. Goodwin Street, Prescott, AZ 86303.

Heiney is the president and CEO of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce.

Thursday, August 15th at 4pm

James-Marco Health

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

132 S. Montezuma St. Prescott, AZ 86303

Friday, August 16th at 8am

APS Community Pulse

The Center

1280 E. Rosser St. Prescott, AZ 86301

Thursday, August 22nd at 4pm

Forest Villas Hotel

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony 3645 Lee Cir. Prescott, AZ 86301

Tuesday, August 27th at 8:30am

Chamber 101 - Maximize Your Membership

Prescott Chamber of Commerce

117 W. Goodwin St. Prescott, AZ 86303

Thursday, August 29th at 4pm

Habitat For Humanity

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

118 E Carleton St. Ste A Prescott, AZ 86303

Saturday - Sunday, August 31st - September 1st 9am to 5pm (4pm Sunday) Faire on the Square Arts & Crafts Show Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza

120 S. Cortez Street Prescott, AZ 86303

Sheri

co-owner Matt Brassard with Dre Caldwell at $96,000 and Sheriff David Rhodes with Carri Hughes at $95,800. Both teams danced in 2021.

Palguta admitted to some nervousness. “The last time I had danced was at my wedding!” he said. “I was not a dancer and I’m still not, but I used it as motivation. If it makes me look like an idiot onstage, we’re raising money for a good cause and the kids benefit from it.”

Palguta and Procknow were joined for their act by some good-natured Prescott Valley Police officers. “They weren’t pros either, but they said they had a great time doing it,” Palguta said. “It was a lot of fun.”

Other local celebrity dancers put their pride on the line to participate because they want to help area youth. Kymberly Lopez, an account executive for SignalsAZ, said she decided to dance “for the kids,” with a personal goal to raise $100,000.

Dentist Paul Hicks said he chose to dance for the challenge and the fun. “When they came to me, I couldn’t say no.”

Rachel Sarti grew up as a dancer. “I really love the opportunity to get up there on stage and give back to my community,” she said.

Conrad Jackson is the City of Prescott’s Wildfire Risk Manager. “After 40 years of living in Prescott, this seemed like a really cool opportunity to do something good for a piece of our community that’s always looking for some help.”

Gillian Haley of Haley Construction previously served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club. “I have some history with the clubs and I know what a great organization it is, and what a need there is for really quality child care in our community. I want to be supportive of making that possible for everyone,” she said.

This year’s Dancing for the Stars events will take place at the Jim and Linda Lee Performing Arts Center at Yavapai College in Prescott. Opening Night is scheduled to start at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6. The VIP Reception and Main Event is slated to begin at 4 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 7.

“This is truly Prescott’s prom,” Palguta said. “Everyone dresses up in ball gowns and tuxedos. It’s a lot of networking and interaction among the pillars of the community who contribute to such an amazing event.”

Donations online serve as votes for a dance team and qualify for the AZ Tax Credit. For voting, ticket and other event information, visit https://dancingforthestars.net. QCBN

Darnell Renee Opens Photography Studio in Downtown Prescott

By Stan Bindell, QCBN

Darnell Renee uses her 30-plus years of expertise in photojournalism at her recently opened Darnell Renee Photography studio in downtown Prescott as she showcases scenic landscapes, portraits, weddings and other events while also documenting Western lifestyles.

Renee’s impressive career includes work for the Dallas Morning News, Associated Press, Orange County Register and USA Today. She combines her intuition and her eye for capturing captivating images with her experience working with Pulitzer Prize-winning photographers and photo editors.

She offers a wide range of photography services, both in the studio and on location. One of her most popular requests is for portraits of people with their pets. One of her recent shoots was a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their labradoodle. She prefers smaller, more intimate weddings and events and ensures that each client receives exceptional quality, professionalism and concierge services.

Renee’s competitive photography edge comes from her background, personalized touch and lifelong passion for the art that seems to come through in every image.

Originally from Michigan, Renee began her photojournalism career with the Dallas Morning News. After 20 years there, she moved to Orange County where she was discovered taking photos on Balboa Island by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Cindy Yamanaka. They formed a friendship and worked together at the Orange County Register.

Renee moved to Prescott in 2020. She and her husband were looking for a small town. They were visiting downtown Prescott and heard jazz coming from El Gato Azul restaurant. They were enticed and smitten.

“It was the right size. I love the history, the people and the beauty,” she said of the city.

Renee is working on a photo documentary about cowboys and cowgirls. She is also working on a photobook about yoga.

Opening the studio is a new adventure for Renee, as she has never previously marketed herself. Most of her work was by referral.

For now, only her work is featured in the studio, but she is looking for a sculptor and will consider artists whose work is different from hers.

For Renee, Prescott has been very welcoming, especially the Prescott Chamber of Commerce, which she says has given her many opportunities for exposure. QCBN For more information, email darnellrenee@ sbcglobal.net.

Darnell Renee’s competitive edge comes from her background in photojournalism and a lifelong passion for the art of photography. Photo by Stan Bindell

Aloha Spirit Flows through the Verde Valley

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

Awhirlwind of Hawaiian fun swept through the Verde Valley last month during the tropical-themed Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce Aloha 2024 Annual Chamber Dinner hosted by Cliff Castle Casino and Hotel.

“Aloha, it’s more than a hello and goodbye but a warm recognition of the heart and a luau is an opportunity to celebrate,” said APS Community Affairs Manager and Cottonwood Greater Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Darla Deville. “This is a very special occasion because tonight the Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce celebrates 76 years of service to our community and all of Verde Valley. It’s all about partnerships and working together, supporting one another, planning for the future and empowering one another.”

The Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce was established in 1948 and just recently received approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) to change its name to Greater Verde Valley Chamber of Commerce. “We have always been a regional chamber,” said President and CEO Christian Oliva del Rio. I’m very blessed to be working with an amazing group of influential individuals.”

The celebration on Friday, July 19, included a silent auction, balloon pop, wheel spin, door prizes and island-style buffet.

“We are humbled and honored to be able to host this event,” said Cliff Castle Casino Interim General Manager Larry Resick. “The Yavapai Apache Nation makes a good effort to be good corporate citizens here in the Verde Valley and we appreciate everyone coming together in the spirit of partnership and cooperation. We really had a great turnout.”

The Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce has 453 members across the Verde Valley. QCBN

Phone 928-310-9662 Fax 928-226-0303

The Courtyard Building | 115 E. Goodwin Street - Suite D, Prescott, AZ 86303 troy@quadcitiesbusinessnews.com Web quadcitiesbusinessnews.com

Founder: Troy Bix

Publisher

Troy Bix | 928-420-4407 troy@quadcitiesbusinessnews.com

Advertising Manager

Linda Thein | 602-799-0583 linda@quadcitiesbusinessnews.com

Account Executives

Tyler Hood | 928-440-0747 tyler@quadcitiesbusinessnews.com

Editor

Bonnie Stevens | 928-380-4349 bonnie.stevens@gmail.com

Copy Editor

Carolyn Wendell | cwendell@gmail.com

Design & Production

Rob Ghosh Design | rob@robghosh.com

Contributing Writers

Bonnie Stevens

Stan Bindell

V. Ronnie Tierney

Betsey Bruner

Contributing Photographers

Kay Lyons, Bonnie Stevens, Sue Marceau, Stacey Wittig, Veronica Tierney, Fresh Focuses

Photography

The Quad Cities Business News is a publication of Quad Cities Business News, LLC and distributed free each month to residents of Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt. Reproduction of any portion of the publication is strictly prohibited without expressed permission. The publisher reserves the right to refuse any advertisements submitted to the newspaper and is not responsible for the claims of its advertisers.

Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Darla Deville, of APS, shared the meaning of the Aloha Spirit and extended the chamber’s appreciation to the event sponsors. Photos by V. Ronnie Tierney, Fresh Focuses Photography

Greater Cottonwood Chamber of Commerce members include Patty Pike of Credit Union West, Jamie Burrus with Verde Valley Homeless Coalition, CofC Vice Chair Cindy Crossett of Crossett Financial Services, Kelly Cathcart with American National Insurance Companies, CofC Treasurer Tania Simms of Verde Valley Habitat for Humanity, Lorena Marquez of National Bank of Arizona, CofC President and CEO Christian Oliva Del Rio and Board Chair Darla Deville with APS.

Kayak Company sponsors an outdoor children’s program and has partnered with Grand Canyon Youth, a non-profit organization that offers educational outdoor expeditions that connect young people to the rivers and canyons of the Southwest.

“Clarkdale Kayak has been an incredible partner,” said Flagstaff-based Grand Canyon Youth Executive Director Emma Wharton. “Scott has helped to connect hundreds of fifth graders to the wonders of the Verde River. We have collaborated for over five years. Scott provides the boats and access, and we bring the guides and the kids. He’s very supportive and loves that we bring the kids.”

Robert Brooks’ first trip down the Verde River was when he was 16. “I was pretty scared at first because I didn’t know what to expect, but I had a blast. The rapids are fun, but my favorite part is being out in nature and seeing wildlife that you don’t see every day. I now have my own kayak and over the summer go at least once a week to enjoy the river and fish.”

The Town of Clarkdale, in collaboration with Freeport McMoRan and the Arizona State Parks Board, has ensured improved access and recreational opportunities on the Verde River. “This has encouraged the community to form personal connections with this vital waterway,” said Clarkdale Parks and Recreation

Director Joni Westcott. “These connections are critical in establishing a collective sense of stewardship and protection for the river, and have been successful.”

Operating under a permit from the town, Clarkdale Kayak Company strives to foster a deep connection between the community and the river. With their exhilarating and educational river trips, the company

works to cultivate an appreciation for the Verde River for generations to come.

Clarkdale Kayak Company Director of Operations Aaron Weiss has extensive experience in whitewater rivers in the Canadian wilderness surrounding Hudson Bay. He also has sea kayaked in South America and has retraced the river explorations of John Wesley Powell on the Green and

Colorado rivers.

“That trip took 88 days on the river,” said Weiss. “We started at Flaming Gorge in Wyoming to the top of the Grand Canyon, then to Diamond Creek to finish it off.” Weiss worked as a winemaker and brewer before joining the team at Clarkdale Kayak.    Kayaking trips are available for children ages 5 to 12, who are accompanied by an adult in a tandem kayak.

Clarkdale Kayak Company uses Coast Guard Approved hard-shell or inflatable kayaks that feature a sit-on-top design for comfort and stability. They offer both guided tours and self-guided tours and shuttle service to and from the river. QCBN

To contact Clarkdale Kayak Company, visit www.clarkdalekayak.com or call 800478-4711.

Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce; Catalysts

Conveners

Champions for economic

Top Left Clarkdale Kayak Company Director of Operations Aaron Weiss has extensive experience in whitewater rivers in Canada. Top Right Scott Buckley strives to foster a deep connection between the community and the river. Photos by V. Ronnie Tierney

KAYAK continued

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Yavapai Regional continues to invest in the latest leading-edge innovations in patient care. Our recent acquisition of a DaVinci Xi Surgical System extends the capabilities of expert surgeons who are specially trained in using this device for orthopedic, urologic, gynecologic, and general-surgery procedures. Furthermore, minimally invasive intracranial (skull) and spinal neurosurgery are now performed using Medtronic’s O-arm™ Surgical Imaging System and StealthStation™ Navigation.

In the hands of our outstanding surgical teams, these powerful, ultra-advanced technologies are getting people back to their lives faster—with less pain, shorter recovery times, shorter hospital stays, less blood loss and scarring, less post-operative pain medications, and a lower risk of infection.

Explore at yrmc.org/NewEra.