John Taylor has always loved gardening. “Growing up, we had Hopi friends who were gardeners. I always enjoyed creating spaces. It was a form of play.” A native of Flagstaff, his career path always included some form of gardening or landscaping. He worked in nurseries and as a private gardener for about 10 years. “I did ecological restoration work on the lower Colorado River,” he said. In 2009, Taylor developed an interest in education as more schools were looking for support in … [Read more...] about Tilling the Learning Landscape
NAU Keeping Pace with a Changing Arizona
For many, February means the romance of Valentine’s Day or the shadow of a groundhog that foretells future weather. For Arizonans, though, this month holds another notable celebration: the birthday of our state. Arizona celebrates statehood on Feb. 14, marking the anniversary of a unique addition to the United States. Many years have gone by since the start of our 48th state, but much remains the same. We still have an independent spirit, and a loyalty to the people and places around us. We … [Read more...] about NAU Keeping Pace with a Changing Arizona
Swedish Massage: Toward the Heart, Good for the Heart
Massage therapy has long been recognized as a means of bringing about feelings of peace and relaxation and reducing stress. While there are numerous techniques and methods, one of the most popular and most beneficial massage modalities is Swedish massage. Swedish massage, known in Europe as classic massage, involves the use of long, gliding strokes and firm kneading movements on the soft tissues (muscles) of the body. All strokes move in the same direction as the blood flows toward the heart. … [Read more...] about Swedish Massage: Toward the Heart, Good for the Heart
Sun Sounds Turning Up the Volume for Podcasters
Local podcasters have found creative ways to voice their messages. One pair records in a back bedroom inside a blanket fort to get the acoustics right. But now, the Sun Sounds studio is open for rent, offering professional broadcasting equipment. Sun Sounds is a non-profit radio station that helps the blind or other visually impaired by keeping them up on current events by having newspapers, magazine and books read out loud. The service can also be useful for those with dyslexia, a … [Read more...] about Sun Sounds Turning Up the Volume for Podcasters
Babbitt Ranches Soaring with Eagles
Efforts are underway to increase the number of golden eagles on Babbitt Ranches in Northern Arizona. Researchers are concerned a drier, warmer climate may be changing the prey base – decreasing the number of small mammals that the eagles eat – and at the same time, increasing populations of harmful insects that can be deadly to eaglets. “When the vegetation is more sparse, we can see fewer jackrabbits, fewer cottontails. And that type of an effect reverberates across the landscape, with … [Read more...] about Babbitt Ranches Soaring with Eagles
Flagstaff Online Convenience Store
On-demand movies and TV shows, on-demand water heaters and on-demand Uber rides have benefited Flagstaff consumers in recent years. But now, Flagstaff consumers have access to a new spin on fast and convenient: on-demand consumables. goPuff, an online convenience store, recently opened a warehouse near Northern Arizona University campus and is delivering consumer packaged goods like grocery items, household essentials, office supplies and electronics at the same prices as convenience stores, … [Read more...] about Flagstaff Online Convenience Store
Housing Divide Challenging the Region’s Vitality
Amanda and Andrew Atherton will likely be moving away from Flagstaff this summer, primarily because of the area’s cost of living. Married for two years, the couple would love to stay in Flagstaff, but the high cost of rentals makes saving for a home down payment too difficult. Amanda is finishing a graduate degree in mathematics at Northern Arizona University, and as part of her scholarship, will work for two years at a high-needs middle or high school, most likely in the Prescott region. … [Read more...] about Housing Divide Challenging the Region’s Vitality
Moonshot Hosts First Entrepreneur Pitch Contest Weekend
Sharks … in space. No, we’re not referring to the Sharknado movie where the ferocious fish manage to attack the space shuttle as it orbits around the earth. Nor is it a reference to the many studies done over the years about how the cycles of the moon affect shark attacks. In Flagstaff, Sharks in Space is a business start-up pitch competition hosted by Moonshot, the rebrand of the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship & Technology (NACET). The inaugural contest promises to … [Read more...] about Moonshot Hosts First Entrepreneur Pitch Contest Weekend
Presenting ‘My Deadly Valentine’ in the Weatherford Hotel’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Babbitt Riordan’s annual Red and Pink Valentine’s Party is a real heart stopper! Everyone who is anyone in Flagstaff is there for this yearly celebration of lovers and love! The wine is flowing. Music fills the air. Everything is perfect until a body hits the floor. At that moment, every guest is a suspect and a sleuth as they help Detective Richard Dick find the killer before the party is over and the killer escapes. “My Deadly Valentine” is the latest Murder Mystery Dinner Theater … [Read more...] about Presenting ‘My Deadly Valentine’ in the Weatherford Hotel’s Murder Mystery Dinner Theater
Trekking to Good Health
If hiking is a fitness goal for the New Year, you may want to consider using trekking poles. Trekking poles look like ski poles and are standard equipment among hikers. They’re a great way to provide stability and support on all types of terrain when they are fitted and used properly. When selecting trekking poles, hikers have a variety of options. Two poles can be used in tandem for stability, or one pole can be used for flatter terrains. Whether using one or two poles, however, a hiker … [Read more...] about Trekking to Good Health