If you have a bird house in your yard, you may be wondering whether you should clean it out each year. After all, cavity-nesting birds typically come back to the same nesting locations year after year. Chances are, the nest is in a state of disrepair after raising a brood or two the previous year. Some varieties of birds are much more fastidious than others. For example, both hummingbirds and house finches tend to have very dirty nests. When the babies in the nest need to defecate, they … [Read more...] about Should I Clean Out My Bird House?
Love is in the Air
Love may be in the air, but we can also find it lounging on a beach; while exploring the native culture Down Under; when skiing the French Alps; as we’re navigating museums and UNESCO World Heritage Sites or while gazing up at the Northern Lights – just to name a few of our favorites. With Valentine’s Day approaching, many of us are thinking about the special people in our lives. Marriage proposals, weddings and vow renewals will be at an annual high. We have a few tips for everyone to add a … [Read more...] about Love is in the Air
Understanding the Stages of Change
The new year is well upon us, and many have been making changes as a component of a New Year’s resolution. Identified changes may be orchestrated to become healthier by increasing physical activities, or an effort to eat a well-balanced diet. You may have attempted these changes in the past, with limited success. In order to create change in your life, you must first understand the process of making sustainable changes. The Transtheoretical Model, also known as the Stages of Change Model, … [Read more...] about Understanding the Stages of Change
Exploring Opportunities to Finance, Start, Expand Your Business
The year 2020 can be a year of economic change for people who have dreamed of owning a small business or expanding a current business. Starting or expanding a small business takes courage and the willingness to accept new challenges. It takes planning to overcome those challenges and to take risks to achieve the rewards of a growing business. It also requires access to financing. These are two challenges with which our local non-profit community-focused business development partners can help. … [Read more...] about Exploring Opportunities to Finance, Start, Expand Your Business
Jump-Starting Your Health Focus with a Dietitian
The following is a question and answer session with Northern Arizona Healthcare Dietitian and certified diabetes educator Shannon Heffern, RDN: How can I make 2020 my healthiest year yet? You have the power to lengthen your life by making smarter choices! One important thing is not to follow a “diet.” You need a way of eating that’s sustainable. U.S. News & World Report, which ranked Flagstaff Medical Center a No. 2 hospital in Arizona, looked at the top 42 diets in America and … [Read more...] about Jump-Starting Your Health Focus with a Dietitian
CCC C-LAB Opens for Students to Gain Hands-On Skills
Coconino Community College alumnus William Gonzales stood in the space with a smile on his face. He ran his hand along the workstation, felt the sawdust. The smell of newness filled the shop. Metal surfaces, once dull, gleamed. Tools, ready for use, lined walls. “This is just so amazing,” Gonzales said, glancing around. “I wish it looked like this when I started taking classes.” The Coconino Community College C-LAB for Construction Technology Management students has officially opened … [Read more...] about CCC C-LAB Opens for Students to Gain Hands-On Skills
Little America Dares to Be Different with Do-si-dos Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake
With an opened box of Girl Scouts Do-si-dos Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies on the butcher block, Pastry Chef Vanessa Ronspies brushes aside the cookie crumbs as she proudly presents her Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake creation. “It’s New York cheesecake,” she corrected, “because it’s tall.” This is the fourth year Little America and Ronspies have accepted the Girl Scout Cookie Dessert Challenge and come up with an even more decadent way to enjoy Thin Mints, Samoas and Savanah Smiles, as if … [Read more...] about Little America Dares to Be Different with Do-si-dos Peanut Butter and Jelly Cheesecake
Capturing the Big Moments
The images captured by professional photographer Tracy Fultz reflect the heart and soul of the artist behind the lens as much as the people in front of it. “Photography is a vessel to share happiness,” said Fultz, owner of Blushing Cactus Photography in Prescott. “It’s about building relationships and being a part of meaningful moments in the lives of others. I love capturing human emotion and telling stories through my photos.” Fearing for her life in an abusive relationship in Tennessee … [Read more...] about Capturing the Big Moments
Incomplete Minimum Wage Study Dies
The firm hired by the City of Flagstaff to conduct a study on the effect of minimum wage increases in Flagstaff has pulled out of the process, leaving the study incomplete. The move comes after a number of city councilmembers expressed concern that the firm, which has relationship with a conservative public policy think tank, could possibly bias the results. Initially, the city hired Rounds Consulting Group, Inc., after sending out a request for proposals to study the effects of the … [Read more...] about Incomplete Minimum Wage Study Dies
Val’s Workshop Creating Atmosphere, Affordability
His hands reach for scissors and comb as naturally as an artist reaches for brush and pigments. His canvas for creativity is the hair on a client’s head. Meet Val – Senor Alberto Valenzuela, who is called “Val” by almost everyone. His studio is Val’s Workshop on South San Francisco Street, a cozy, private, single-chair barbershop for men and women. The barber’s menu of services is concise: Haircuts, hair straightening, and beard, bang and neck trims. Services are billed as “Quality … [Read more...] about Val’s Workshop Creating Atmosphere, Affordability