It’s the start of a new fiscal year for local government in Arizona. Our new fiscal year here in Coconino County starts July 1, and as a result of decisions on the state level, the county faces new expenses. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the county’s FY2016 budget during a special session June 23. The budget, totaling approximately $175 million, reflects a $26 million decrease from the previous year. This is primarily because of a reduction in federal and state grants used … [Read more...] about Reviewing Coconino County’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget
Columnists
Choose Your Battles Wisely
If you are a business owner, you have probably had occasion to ask yourself if a fight with an unreasonable customer is going to be worth it. Are you going to win the argument and then have someone “bad mouthing” you all over town? If you are a parent, you have probably asked your spouse if it is worth it to battle your child over what they are wearing to school or cleaning up their room. We have all heard the expression, “Choose your battles wisely.” Sometimes you win in the short run but … [Read more...] about Choose Your Battles Wisely
Keeping Your House Cool in the Summer
Summer is here and the temperature is rising. Keeping your home cool in the summer can be a real challenge, particularly if you don’t have air conditioning. On average, only about 15 percent of houses in Flagstaff have air conditioning, so it’s important to know how to keep cool without AC. It may sound obvious, but the most important way to keep your house cool is to keep the heat out during the day. Heat enters the home through two primary pathways: windows and attic spaces. Windows allow … [Read more...] about Keeping Your House Cool in the Summer
Preventing Shoulder Injuries
A common complaint physical therapists and orthopedic physicians treat is aching and occasional sharp pain in the shoulder and upper arm. These symptoms, which may start suddenly or develop over time, are often a sign of an injury to the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is perhaps the most vulnerable component of the shoulder. The shoulder, a complex structure, is one of the most mobile joints in the human body. Few sports or daily activities are unaffected by the mechanics of this human … [Read more...] about Preventing Shoulder Injuries
The Guidance Center: A Leader in Behavioral Health
Established in 1969, The Guidance Center (TGC) is a Community Mental Health Center that offers a full range of Behavioral Health programs and services for children, adolescents, adults and families. Services are tailored to meet individual and family needs. What is Mental Illness? A mental illness is a combination of symptoms that leads to difficulties with emotion and behavior that disrupt the ability to relate to others and function daily. One in four adults are affected by mental … [Read more...] about The Guidance Center: A Leader in Behavioral Health
Container Gardening: Versatility, Variety
Want to enjoy the benefits of beautiful blooms but feel that you don’t have the space? Worried about having to manage a large garden? Need a little visual pick-me-up in a corner of your yard that doesn’t get any sun? Container gardening might just be for you! Among its many advantages, container gardening allows people with limited space to enjoy a garden without a large planting area. You can create a beautiful container garden with a wide variety of flowers, herbs or vegetables on a … [Read more...] about Container Gardening: Versatility, Variety
Identifying Kinds of Skin Cancer
Humans and other life on Earth depend on the sun – for warmth, light and energy. But along with those benefits comes danger in the form of exposure of the skin to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can lead to skin cancers, among other skin problems. Here in Northern Arizona, we get a lot of UV exposure year-round because we are much closer to the sun. Without protection from UV radiation, our skin cells become damaged, which can multiply to form cancerous tumors in the skin. The most common … [Read more...] about Identifying Kinds of Skin Cancer
Getting Hit By the Bus
Thanks for all the questions that were emailed to me this month at [email protected]. There was one reoccurring question that I heard not just from readers, but interestingly, I was asked this by a handful of the companies I work with through the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET) Accelerator: “How do I know when it is time to hire a general manager or an operations manager?” If you, as the business owner or CEO, are running all aspects of your … [Read more...] about Getting Hit By the Bus
The Ultimate Tailgating Tundra
The team at Findlay Toyota recently discussed a new promotional vehicle they could use for their sponsored events. They wanted something that would attract a crowd, something unique and special for Flagstaff, and something functional they could actually use to help promote their name and products in the Flagstaff community. After many ideas came to mind and after months of discussion, the team finally had a winning idea, “The Ultimate Tailgating Tundra.” The guys at Findlay Toyota knew … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Tailgating Tundra
Maximizing the Collectability of Your Accounts Receivable
If you allow your customers to carry a balance, you have to assume that some of them will evolve into a delinquent account. There are two simple things you can do to maximize your ability to collect the money you are owed when this happens. One: collect the right information up front. Two: have a clear agreement with specific terms signed by the customer. Your best opportunity to obtain information essential for collection is at the beginning of the relationship. It is at this point that a … [Read more...] about Maximizing the Collectability of Your Accounts Receivable