Columnists

There are several grassroots organizations focused on keeping Flagstaff unique by supporting locally owned businesses that contribute economic stability, pizzazz and personality to our town.  There’s the Flagstaff Independent Business Alliance (FIBA), Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3), and the Downtown Business Alliance (DBA), among others. Yet, it’s still very difficult for worthy locally owned businesses to survive here. Why is that? Maybe because we’re all local business owners and we’re … [Read more...] about Shifting Your Shopping Habits

If you are a Medicare recipient and are in the market for hearing aids, you need to do your homework. You may want a professional to sit down with you and go over the various options. Medicare basically has three plans: hospital coverage, medical coverage and a combination of hospital and medical. Coverage of certain medications is an option that may be added to one of the plans. Here is a partial list of services that Medicare will not cover any part of: long-term care, routine dental care, … [Read more...] about Medicare and Hearing Aids

I remember a time when identity theft was a rare occurrence, something that happened only to the very few (and extremely unlucky) people. Now, almost anyone you talk to has experienced some sort of ID theft, usually stemming from hacked passwords or credit card usage, both online and offline. ID theft is on the rise, and the offenders are getting better at it. If you’ve been paying attention to the news recently, you probably have seen stories about massive hacks that compromised credit card … [Read more...] about Passwords: The Firewall to Your Identity

Since getting elected to the Flagstaff City Council about a year and a half ago, I have made it a priority to focus on economic issues, the cost of housing and our infrastructure, most notably, our streets. The last half of 2013 saw some strides toward these goals while continuing to factor in Flagstaff's unique character and balance environmental concerns. If you and your family are like mine, you not only value the quality of life and natural wonders we all treasure here in Flagstaff, but … [Read more...] about Council Striking Balance

Coconino County is always evaluating the latest tools and methods to increase customer service, efficiency and to enhance how we deliver the best possible services for our citizens. It’s something we are getting pretty good at – we’ve even received recognition nationally. But for some jobs, such as energy efficiency, our best efforts only get us so far. To go further, our best ally for efficiency can be found skyward: the sun. In an effort to increase energy efficiency, further the … [Read more...] about County Increasing Energy Efficiency

Measuring Cholesterol Levels According to the American Heart Association, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is the number one killer in the United States. Although the death rate over the last 20 years has decreased, the prevalence has increased. A major risk factor for developing CAD is unhealthy lipid levels, more commonly known as cholesterol, in the blood. Hyperlipidemia is the general term applied to high blood cholesterol and/or elevated blood triglycerides. Good and Bad … [Read more...] about Know Cholesterol Numbers

You may recognize the word “core” as a description of part of your body. You may have heard the word on TV, or read it in magazines and the Internet. It is even a subject for infomercials, but do you really know what it is? When physical therapists speak about the “core,” they are talking about the group of muscles located in the central part of the body, forming a cylinder around the spine. The core consists of all the muscles that run from the ribs to the pelvis in the front and back of the … [Read more...] about Strong Core Key to Health