Columnists

Spring has fully arrived in Northern Arizona, and if you haven’t already started, it’s time to plant your garden. The experts at Warner’s Nursery and Landscaping have been getting ready all winter and have what you need to get your garden growing. The prospect of beautiful flowers and homegrown vegetables is probably motivation enough, but if you need another reason to dig in the dirt, here it is: Studies show you will be healthier, and live longer, if you garden. The first obvious reason … [Read more...] about Health Benefits of Gardening

In the last month, I received a number of questions and comments at [email protected]. Several of the questions were very specific to the business owner. I share this only to say that if you have a question that is specific and you don’t want it shared, I will still try to help. This month, I will touch on the importance of asking for advice. Several emails have asked questions around employee retention, increasing revenue and getting feedback from clients. A discussion at a recent board … [Read more...] about Ask the CEO: Always Ask for Advice

 There is just something special about art created by hand. It is robust and real, painstakingly made to evoke feeling. The history of permanent cosmetics began thousands of years ago. Sharpened sticks and stones were used to implant natural pigments into the skin. You can still see signs of these markings on preserved human remains today. Mummies dating back to the times of Cleopatra still show visible signs of hand-tattooed permanent makeup. Today, the hand method has been reinvented … [Read more...] about Ancient Art of Tattooing Modernized with Permanent Cosmetics

It’s confession time. I have an addiction. I don’t remember exactly when it started. I don’t remember how I got hooked. I just know that I have a problem. I love watches. That’s right, watches, those things that told us the time before we had cell phones. My problem is so bad it’s a joke around the house. If I’m idly surfing the Web, my wife, Tracy, asks “Are you looking at watches again?” I’m pretty sure there’s a mental eye-roll accompanying the question.   You would think that … [Read more...] about The Dulling of Shiny New Things

The move from law enforcement to city code enforcement was supposed to be an easy one. Simple ordinances, less negative confrontation, more resources and a lower expectation of overnight case closures were the claim. Well, sometimes, ordinances can be anything but easy to understand, pushback occurs very often – sometimes from all sides, and so many complaints carry an urgency that makes you think someone may be about to jump if you do not respond immediately! I have come to appreciate the … [Read more...] about Understanding the Perspective of Code Enforcement

While much can be said for the realists who disregard the somewhat glib and popular "be positive" posters we’ve all seen on the ceiling in the dentist’s office, a stronger case can be made for the optimists who see the true and important difference a positive attitude can make when facing tough situations – predicaments we face in our businesses, and in our lives, every day. If you can change your perspective, you immediately change your opportunities. We don’t get to control the obstacles or … [Read more...] about The Power of Positively Speaking

The first truck hauling Arizona craft beer for distribution to New Mexico left Mother Road Brewing Company on March 18 and turned onto Route 66 toward the Land of Enchantment. The local Flagstaff brewer, located on a “lost section” of Route 66, is the first Arizona brewery to distribute to the New Mexico market. “Since the beginning, our number one goal has been to distribute across all Route 66 states from Chicago to L.A.,” said Michael Marquess, who along with his wife, Alissa Marquess, are … [Read more...] about Mother Load Brewery Distributing in New Mexico

Spring is here, and the real estate season is in full bloom! With a more balanced market and interest rates remaining historically low, I believe that we can expect a busy 2015 for the Flagstaff real estate community! Through years of experience working with many buyers and sellers across the real estate spectrum, I have found owning rental property to be a lucrative investment for those interested buyers. And the future looks promising. As the Flagstaff community continues to grow, the … [Read more...] about Benefits of Purchasing Rental Property

Mammography, also known as a mammogram, is the examination of the breast using X-rays. It is considered the most effective tool for early breast tumor detection. Most medical experts agree that successful treatment of breast cancer is linked to early diagnosis. Mammography plays a central part in early detection of breast cancers because it can show changes in the breast up to two years before a patient or physician can feel them. Most imaging centers and hospitals use digital mammography … [Read more...] about What is Mammography?

The city operates several businesses that are supposed to pay their own way – in other words, they are not supported by tax money. These businesses charge a fee for services. They are Water, Sewer and Trash. Even though the city has a monopoly for its water and sewer business, it cannot charge whatever it wants. State law requires a city to justify its rates with specific data as to the cost of operation. That data has to be made public and the City Council has to hold a public hearing on the … [Read more...] about The City’s Businesses