Lake Lugano, Switzerland, 1977: Two children, Yves, 6, and Monika, 10, are frolicking in the water, swimming and floating on air mattresses. Their families, all Swiss citizens, are vacationing in adjoining homes for the summer. Forty-six years later, Yves and Monika Leuenberger, married since 1997, are still sharing adventures together, and bringing friends and clients along for the ride. The vehicle for all this fun is their Avenues of the World Travel agency on East Cedar Ave. in … [Read more...] about Following the Dream of Travel
Recycling Revamp
Recent months have seen some significant changes in how the City of Flagstaff manages its recyclables. In late April, residents were asked to halt putting out their recycling materials, while commercial waste went to the landfill for about a week. All collections resumed after a week and a half, with no residential recycling going to the landfill. Why the glitch? It’s just one ripple effect of significant changes in recycling worldwide in the last six years, especially China’s 2018 … [Read more...] about Recycling Revamp
Expanding Your Business by Raising Your Voice
Peggy Woods had the picture-perfect life, the picture-perfect family and the picture-perfect marriage. At least, that’s what others saw. Behind closed doors, the picture wasn’t pretty. Woods was controlled, demeaned and often physically abused by the man she married as a young woman. She began to write poetry to express her feelings. She shared her poems with friends who praised her talent. She wrote a heartfelt poem to her husband, communicating her love, pain and confusion. He responded by … [Read more...] about Expanding Your Business by Raising Your Voice
‘Spontaneous Revolutions’ has Readers Rooting for Unlikely Athletes
If you have ever felt intimidated by a physical challenge you weren’t ready for or a daunting goal that didn’t seem possible, you may be happy to meet and cheer on Liza McQuade and Clark Campbell. These two inexperienced, out-of-shape, middle-aged cyclists prove to be champions anyone can get behind in what may well be this summer’s greatest anything-is-possible-with-a-good-attitude read: “Spontaneous Revolutions: Seeing American One Pedal at a Time.” The likable, … [Read more...] about ‘Spontaneous Revolutions’ has Readers Rooting for Unlikely Athletes
Jewels Livingstone Maintains Plant-Based Focus at Morning Glory Café
Jewels Livingstone’s start as owner of the Morning Glory Café was rough. She had worked there part-time for 15 years with Maria Ruiz, the woman who established the restaurant, known locally for its organic plant-based options. When Ruiz died unexpectedly in 2009, Livingstone found herself with the café and no recipes to go with it. “It was horrible losing her. I had just taken her to the doctor the day before she passed,” said Livingstone. “Maria’s daughter, Angelica, immediately flew in … [Read more...] about Jewels Livingstone Maintains Plant-Based Focus at Morning Glory Café
Athena Meets Challenges with Wisdom
In the messy world of Greek mythology, Athena, the goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, is displayed in statues, such as the one at the Louvre Museum in Paris, wearing a helmet, suggesting that she’s ready for combat. However, in a famous contest with Poseidon, she demonstrates how her superpower comes from her mind, and that’s how she wins battles. Once upon a time, Athens, Greece was a city called Cecropia, named after Cecrops, a legendary king who was half snake, half man. But Cecropia … [Read more...] about Athena Meets Challenges with Wisdom
Communications from a Family of Hams
It was a thrill making contact with volcanic Bouvet Island, says local ham operator Bob Wertz, marking a 47-year quest and the final confirmed contact with all 340 countries and independent entities. “Very few hams in the world have done this and I only know of eight others in Arizona that have ever contacted all 340 entities,” he said. “This is amazing to me, as there are about 22,000 Hams just in Arizona.” Bouvet is an island dependency of Norway, located 9,124 miles from Flagstaff … [Read more...] about Communications from a Family of Hams
Be Irresistibly Newsworthy in Story, Soul, Style
While attending a Phoenix-area Chamber of Commerce mixer, I couldn’t help but notice a woman who was speaking so passionately about her business that she had a crowd of about a dozen women completely entranced. In a tiny restaurant where people milled about smiling politely, pretending to be interested in the latest tax law and plumbing fixtures, she was holding court in a big way. As a journalist and public relations consultant who is constantly on the lookout for people who have great … [Read more...] about Be Irresistibly Newsworthy in Story, Soul, Style
Grand Canyon Train Picks Up Steam After Pandemic Setback
This past winter, while icy roads cut vehicle traffic to Grand Canyon 22% in the first quarter, Grand Canyon Railway (GCR) powered through all the snow with a 5% increase in ridership. Train travelers were treated to a snow-blanketed South Rim and photographers scored images of a century-old steam locomotive puffing smoke into the frigid air. “We’re chugging along and only seeing more and more people coming out to visit,” said Sam Langner, Grand Canyon Railway vice president of sales. … [Read more...] about Grand Canyon Train Picks Up Steam After Pandemic Setback
The Color of Money
ResourcesWhat is public art worth? How do you place a value on beautifying shared spaces? When artists turn their work into large-scale projects available to all, who benefits? Another round of Flagstaff’s Beautification In Action (BIA) grant opens Aug. 1, (with proposals due Sept. 15), which may provide answers. Beautification and Arts and Sciences Coordinator Cristen Crujido oversees not just BIA grants but also manages the city’s public art collection – murals, sculptures, installations, … [Read more...] about The Color of Money