Jessica’s joy says it all: “I am a skier! Now I can ski with my family!” Jessica, 27, was born with a rare genetic condition known as COACH, which stands for cerebellar vermis aplasia, oligophrenia, congenital ataxia, coloboma and hepatic fibrosis. Only a few thousand people in the country are believed to have this syndrome in which part of the brain does not fully form. Most individuals with COACH have a cognitive disability, organ problems and difficulty with movement. For Jessica, life … [Read more...] about Rejoicing in the Gift of Participation
Business
World Traveler Making Flagstaff Home for Seniors
What do you do when a king cobra strolls into your yard and steals your chicken? Well, according to The Bluffs of Flagstaff Senior Living Executive Director Janet Mars, who once lived in Nigeria, West Africa, you chase it. “I was totally oblivious to the danger, but I do believe the snake was more scared than I was,” said Mars. “The cobra was on its tail end and all puffed up, slithering down a hill with the chicken in its mouth.” If that wasn’t enough, Mars also remembered the baboons … [Read more...] about World Traveler Making Flagstaff Home for Seniors
Route 66 Icon Changes Hands
When Albert (Al) Chatinsky drove his son, Steve, up to Flagstaff in the spring of 1976 from their home in Tucson, he was in search of a four-season town to start a new outdoor recreational business. Originally from a suburb of Minneapolis, the Chatinsky family had moved to Tucson when Steve was 14 years old. After leaving Pima Community College, the son joined his father in 1973 to start a Tucson-based electronic and military surplus store, which began with selling vacuum tubes, precious … [Read more...] about Route 66 Icon Changes Hands
Kinney Construction Promotes from Within
Kinney Construction Services, Inc. (KCS) has announced the promotions of Dan Flint to senior project manager, Ron Lusk to senior superintendent and Francois Badenhorst to senior superintendent and safety liaison. The company says Flint, Lusk and Badenhorst all have been integral members of the KCS team, proving themselves as client and community champions. “Dan, Francois and Ron are some of the best in the business and each one of their projects serves as a testimony to that,” said KCS CEO … [Read more...] about Kinney Construction Promotes from Within
Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses
Three experts from different backgrounds and organizations spoke on a panel called Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses in Your Community at the Arizona Association for Economic Development Fall Forum. Although panelists Alika Kumar, Carlos Velasco and Melody Lewis represented diverse communities, they shared a passion for empowering minority groups and minority-owned businesses. The panel discussion was part of the Arizona Association for Economic Development (AAED), a three-day conference at … [Read more...] about Supporting Minority-Owned Businesses
Eyes on Dark Sky: Examining a Unique Flagstaff Brand
Every business leader knows the importance of a good brand. In Flagstaff, “Dark Sky,” has evolved into a unique local brand. Currently, there are 18 corporations registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission in Coconino County using “Dark Sky” or “Dark Skies” in their name. These businesses span everything from construction contractors to aerial dance professionals. In light of its growing popularity, the Dark Sky brand deserves some examination. The phrase “Dark Sky” originates from … [Read more...] about Eyes on Dark Sky: Examining a Unique Flagstaff Brand
New Routes, Whiskey Turned Hand Sanitizer, Quality of Life
Despite the difficulties of promoting Flagstaff during the pandemic to potential visitors and businesses looking to relocate, Discover Flagstaff officials and economic vitality leaders had many successes to report during their Annual Marketing Meeting on Thursday, Oct. 21. City of Flagstaff Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen stressed the fact that during the pandemic the Flagstaff Airport never shut down. “This was no easy task. There were several other smaller airports that lost … [Read more...] about New Routes, Whiskey Turned Hand Sanitizer, Quality of Life
Grounded in a Calling Received in a Bathtub
There’s an old Western romance novel, “Call of the Canyon,” by cowboy author Zane Grey. It is set in Arizona’s Northland in the 1920s, featuring Oak Creek Canyon and the high desert terrain surrounding Flagstaff and Sedona. Stunning, glamorous Carley Burch is the heroine who follows her fiancé from her high-society life back East to the rugged and wild Southwest. By the way, it was a passage in the book about Carley warming her hands by the fire in Flagstaff’s Hotel Weatherford that inspired … [Read more...] about Grounded in a Calling Received in a Bathtub
Carrying On the Family Profession
Equipped with ambition and foresight in the late 1960s, John DePoe moved his family to Sedona and opened the first affiliate Coldwell Banker Residential office in the country. That move not only paved the way for a career for him but for his wife and three daughters, who all obtained their real estate licenses. Though DePoe did not live to see his granddaughter, Alexandra Ewell, follow his lead, today, Ewell is a full-time realtor for Coldwell Banker Realty in Sedona, the same office he once … [Read more...] about Carrying On the Family Profession
Assistance Programs Keep Breweries Hopping
Breweries in Chino Valley, Flagstaff and Cottonwood are doing well following the pandemic, with one getting help from Yavapai College’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and two from the federal government’s pandemic assistance. Insurgent Brewing Co., located in Chino Valley, was selected as the SBDC’s Makeover of a Lifetime recipient. SBDC used its CARES funding to help small businesses. The selection for the makeover meant better signage, fresh paint and a sizable patio with … [Read more...] about Assistance Programs Keep Breweries Hopping