Coconino County’s Citizen Survey confirmed that transportation issues are a top priority for our residents. While the primary focus is on roads and road maintenance, transit is an important piece of the overall transportation picture in our communities. Transit provides a valuable connection to jobs, health care and education. Coconino County is a member agency of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Public Transportation Authority (NAIPTA), the entity that operates the Mountain Line, … [Read more...] about Vanpools: Keeping Coconino County on the Move
Aphasia: Communicating through the Obstacles
You can easily read today’s newspaper, but then struggle to read a child’s book aloud. For someone with aphasia, this wouldn’t be unusual. Aphasia is a language disorder that can affect a person’s ability to communicate. It can impair a person’s ability to speak, read, listen or write – but it does not influence intelligence. Nearly one million people in the United States live with aphasia today. Aphasia usually is caused by a stroke that damages the parts of the brain that control … [Read more...] about Aphasia: Communicating through the Obstacles
The Five-Year Travel Plan
When planning a vacation, everybody gets excited. And why wouldn’t you? You work hard, you have many responsibilities at home and you hold out all year for those precious two weeks. So when the time finally comes, you want to make sure everything is just right. You should look at your vacation planning the same way you handle your financial planning. First off, use a professional travel consultant. Take an hour out of your schedule and have a real consultation. Discuss your dream travel … [Read more...] about The Five-Year Travel Plan
Smoking and Your Oral Health
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products is harmful to your mouth, including your teeth and gums, and can be deadly. Each year, about 443,000 people die prematurely due to smoking or exposure to second hand smoke, and 8.6 million people live with a serious illness caused by smoking. How Does Smoking Impact My Mouth and Oral Health? Smoking can impact your overall oral health in a number of ways, including: … [Read more...] about Smoking and Your Oral Health
Grid Scale Solar More Efficient than Rooftop
With more than 300 days of sunshine every year, Arizona is a natural for solar power. In fact, the state was recently ranked number two for total solar energy capacity. Some of the benefits of solar energy are clear. This clean, renewable energy source has no carbon emissions and uses no water. Solar power is an important resource helping to power our customers’ lives; however, we must make sure we are getting the most bang for our buck. Grid-scale solar (large solar farms that typically … [Read more...] about Grid Scale Solar More Efficient than Rooftop
Reflecting on Orlando
The recent terrible, tragic shooting in Orlando struck close to home for me, literally. My family moved to Orlando almost 30 years ago. Although not born there, it’s the city I think of as home. My immediate family still resides in or near Orlando. For a period of time, I lived about a mile from the Pulse nightclub, the scene of the tragic events. For seven years, I taught at the University of Central Florida. When the names of the dead were released, I checked the names and photos to see if any … [Read more...] about Reflecting on Orlando
Creating Your Legacy
Each day you open your eyes in the morning you have the opportunity to create a legacy. You don’t have to be a superhero or famous actor to leave an example of a well-lived life. You and I influence each person we talk to on the phone, the people we pass on the street and even the people driving the car behind us. Our influence is wide and varied. So the question is: how do you want people to remember you? This is not a question of what your eulogy will focus on or what is said in the newspaper … [Read more...] about Creating Your Legacy
Video Team Showcasing Flagstaff
They are aiming for a young, video-savvy audience. The team of three at 4 Flag TV wants to entertain, educate and shine the spotlight on what is going on in the community. They produce three-minute video features about activities in and around Flagstaff and some commercials for local businesses that seem more like features than ads. Recently, they created a commercial for Custom Sound and the owner is very happy with it. “I like it a lot,” said owner Ryan Elewaut. “They are great to … [Read more...] about Video Team Showcasing Flagstaff
Keeping Skin Healthy This Summer
It's summer – the weather is warm and the sun is bright. While fun in the sun is all well and good, it can come with unintended consequences for the skin. We’ve all been there – a fun day outdoors quickly turns into an uncomfortable evening when the dreaded sunburn appears. Many feel as though this is an unavoidable consequence of those sunny summer days, but that is not the case. With a proper summer skin care plan, many of the negative side effects of sun exposure can be lessened, if not … [Read more...] about Keeping Skin Healthy This Summer
Parenting A Parent
I never thought I would have to be a parent to my dad. It is difficult to place when it even started. When I look back, I remember talking to my dad and thinking, “Is he just confused?” and “Didn’t I just answer that question?” I was sure he was just tired or that he just woke from a nap. It happens to all of us, right? I started seeing signs around the house, like food left out, an overabundance of subscription magazines and the house not kept up like it used to be. When I questioned my dad, I … [Read more...] about Parenting A Parent