Hello Flagstaff! Hopefully, by the time you read this, it will have rained. As of its writing, I’m wondering if I plant some tomatoes in the garden can I maybe tempt the weather into snow? It’s dry, really dry, and right now, windy. Large parts of our treasured national forests are closed, and fire restrictions are in effect for Flagstaff and Coconino County. We implement restrictions and close the forest to protect them from the very real threat of a catastrophic fire. There are several … [Read more...] about Protect Our Forest, Especially During Drought
Columnists
Understanding the Uncertain Home Seller
Hello, Flagstaff! As the home-selling season heats up, many homeowners begin considering the question: Is this the right time to sell, and if so, how can a realtor help me? Here are the four key advantages owners gain when hiring a real estate professional. Market Knowledge A local real estate agent has in-depth knowledge on current market trends. Real estate agents are tuned in to the industry economics. As such, your realtor is happy to provide accurate up-to-date … [Read more...] about Understanding the Uncertain Home Seller
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
As it navigates through a very complex world, the human body has to determine what is safe and what is not safe. Chemicals, pollutants, as well as processed foods have made the recognition of the environment challenging and complicated. Living amongst the chemicals abundant in our modern world creates an entirely new challenge for the immune system. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine estimates there are 90,000 chemicals present in our modern world, and we are exposed to these on a … [Read more...] about Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
Are You Prepared for Mental Decline?
No one likes to think about cognitive decline in themselves or their loved ones. But, for many families, this is an incredibly important topic to address. In fact, 5.5 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease, including 10 percent of people aged 65 and older. When they pass away, one in three seniors has Alzheimer’s or other types of dementia. Understand the Signs and Symptoms of Cognitive Decline Distinguishing between cognitive impairment and common aging traits can be challenging. … [Read more...] about Are You Prepared for Mental Decline?
Can You Learn to be a Great Manager?
My column last month was titled, “Five Habits of Great Managers.” I always re-post my columns on social media and that column had by far the most views of any column I’ve ever written. In addition, I received a long list of emails about the topic. One of the most interesting questions I received was, “Can anyone learn to be a great manager?” I decided to make that the topic of this month’s column. I am fortunate to be on the faculty of the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona … [Read more...] about Can You Learn to be a Great Manager?
Remember Your Décolleté When Getting a Massage or Facial
Pronounced “day-kōl-tay,” décolleté is derived from the French word décolletér, which means to expose the neck. It can also refer to a low-cut dress style on a woman. When referring to the body and skin care, the décolleté is simply the upper torso, including the upper chest and back and shoulders, as well as the neck and jawline. The décolleté is one of the most neglected and overlooked areas of the body, especially when it comes to protection from the elements, beauty rituals, … [Read more...] about Remember Your Décolleté When Getting a Massage or Facial
Recycling Used Hearing Aids
If you have an old pair of hearing aids or cochlear implant processors that someone used in the past, don’t waste the opportunity to help someone else. That device may open a new world of hearing to someone. There are a few options for you to recycle the hearing aids. All makes and models are of value and will be readily accepted. If you have a pair of hearing aids that you used and now have a new pair, ask your audiologist if the old aids would be a good back-up pair for you. If the … [Read more...] about Recycling Used Hearing Aids
Protecting Proprietary Information
Your company’s information is proprietary and it’s worth protecting. Many companies spend money on a security system for their building, they back up their data and store it offsite or they pay a company to come in and shred the data for them, in order to keep the information from ending up in the wrong hands. These automated systems are always there to protect your data, but your employees may be unaware of the value of this data, or may be seeking to exploit it. The human element is the … [Read more...] about Protecting Proprietary Information
Cleaning Ear Canals
One of the most common questions I hear is, “How should I clean my ears?” There are a few methods for keeping ears clean, but first, let’s learn a little about the ear canal. The Purpose of the Ear Canal The ear canal protects the eardrum, migrates dust and dirt out of the canal, funnels sound to the eardrum and, finally, modifies sound. The eardrum is the end point of the ear canal. The canal is shaped like a test tube and houses hair follicles and wax producing glands. The actual … [Read more...] about Cleaning Ear Canals
How to Keep Seniors Safe in Summer Heat
With summer conditions rapidly approaching, it is important to identify any potential risks that could harm your elderly loved ones. Increased temperatures and stronger sun exposures can really have a big impact on any individual, but especially on seniors. Recognizing a Heat-Related Illness Elderly people ages 65 and older are more prone to heat stress than younger people for several reasons: Elderly people do not adjust as well as young people to sudden changes in … [Read more...] about How to Keep Seniors Safe in Summer Heat