Remembered as a calm, thoughtful, humble and deliberate public servant, who listened first before offering a carefully considered response, Paul Babbitt, Jr., believed public service was a calling and a passion, said family members during a Celebration of Life service, Sunday, April 14 in Flagstaff. In remembrance, flags flew at half-staff across the state that day. The event was held in the Flagstaff City Hall complex, which Babbitt was instrumental in creating. “It feels like a piece of … [Read more...] about Arizona Honors the Life and Legacy of Paul Babbitt, Jr.
Celebrating Dark Skies through Outdoor Piano Recital, Downtown Art Walk, Flagstaff Star Party
With his Steinway concert grand piano being delivered to the open grassland of McMillan Mesa, astronomer and musician David Koerner, Ph.D., will be performing a free open-air concert in celebration of the Flower Moon rising over Buffalo Park, starting at 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 22. The event is a collaboration between the Coconino Center for the Arts (CCA) and Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition (FDSC) as part of the 10-day ARTx: Art + Ideas Experience Arizona festival. “The ‘Rising of the Flower … [Read more...] about Celebrating Dark Skies through Outdoor Piano Recital, Downtown Art Walk, Flagstaff Star Party
Tips for Entrepreneurs from Veteran Homebuilder Jose Berlanga
One of the best ways to reach your goals is to spend time with someone who has achieved the kind of success you haven’t yet dared to dream about. That’s when you know your big idea still has some growing to do. Seasoned home builder Jose Berlanga is an entrepreneur from Mexico City who has made a significant mark in Houston’s real estate industry. Berlanga was born to be an entrepreneur. By the time he was 21, he was already wealthy. He joined me recently on “Zonie Living: Business, Adventure … [Read more...] about Tips for Entrepreneurs from Veteran Homebuilder Jose Berlanga
‘Miles for the Missing’ Virtual Race to Support Investigation Costs for Families
Hundreds of thousands of people go missing every year, often leaving loved ones with unanswered questions and broken hearts. However, the situation is especially dire among Indigenous women because many cases go unreported. The National Institute for Law and Justice (NILJ), a non-profit organization with local ties, wants to help those families by providing funds to investigate the cases. To do so, volunteers are planning a virtual fundraising run/walk/bike race from May 1-31 called “Miles for … [Read more...] about ‘Miles for the Missing’ Virtual Race to Support Investigation Costs for Families
Team Snuffed Wants to Deploy Satellites to Watch the West
It sounds like a science-fiction movie, but a group of Flagstaff neighbors and associates are as serious as a fast-moving wildfire about their plan to put 90 satellites in space to watch the West and detect an ignition larger than a campfire. “We can buy a spacecraft from a commercial vendor and SpaceX does launches all the time,” said David Trilling, a professor and chair of the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science at NAU. This Flagstaff team, assembled by aerospace engineer Cody … [Read more...] about Team Snuffed Wants to Deploy Satellites to Watch the West
Making Progress in Affordable Housing
Flagstaff’s housing problem is acute, and I know it can sometimes feel like not enough is being done to address it. I wish we had double the resources to tackle this problem, but we’re making progress – due, in large part, to the partnerships the city has with our non-profit housing partners combined with some smart investments of our resources. Yet, there’s still much work to do. First, I’ll speak to the housing programs led by the city’s housing section and some of the work of our non-profit … [Read more...] about Making Progress in Affordable Housing
Can You Hear Them Now?
Hearing loss is an insidious condition that affects all aspects of an individual’s life. Enjoying television or movies means turning up the volume too loud for others or reading captions. In-person conversations become less enjoyable because of the effort required of the hearing-impaired listener. Phone conversations can be even more difficult, as visual cues are unavailable and the quality of the connection can vary. The inability to communicate effectively over the phone can be frustrating and … [Read more...] about Can You Hear Them Now?
Horses Teaching Life Skills to Children in Foster Care
With the Mazatzal Mountains serving as a classic Western backdrop for the 10-acre R & R Ranch, owner Samantha Walker, 35, strolls across the corral in well-worn jeans and dusty boots to greet her latest guests – five energetic boys from a Gilbert group home. The horses are the main attraction for this field trip, but human interaction and rules come first. “My students know as soon as they are here, no phones are allowed,” she said. “They have to be in the car. My No. 1 reason for bringing … [Read more...] about Horses Teaching Life Skills to Children in Foster Care
What is a Community Foundation?
The term “philanthropist” often conjures images of wealthy individuals donating money to important causes. Billionaires are frequently highlighted in the media for their headline-making contributions to universities, non-profits, disaster relief efforts and more. Although these donations are generous and critically important, philanthropy extends well beyond the elite and encompasses so much more. Philanthropy is the desire to promote the welfare of others; it is the expression of … [Read more...] about What is a Community Foundation?
The Medicine the Housing Market Doesn’t Want, But Truly Needs
April marked 24 months of greater-than-5% mortgage interest rates. While not an anomaly in the larger historic context of American mortgage rates, it has been a learning curve for home buyers that haven’t seen these levels for about a decade. We started this year full of optimism for lower rates given the Federal Reserve’s optimism late December 2023 with talk of lowering inflation and potentially multiple Federal Reserve (FED) rate cuts throughout 2024. That optimism has been waning. February … [Read more...] about The Medicine the Housing Market Doesn’t Want, But Truly Needs