Internet service. For most of us it is either too slow, too spotty, too expensive, or too far out of reach. Reliable internet service has become increasingly important to life and work in last 18 months. In this month’s article, we are going to share some of the solutions that are out there and what is happening at the county to bring forth those solutions, especially for those not-connected or under-connected to the internet. A quick disclaimer here: we are not going to be talking about what … [Read more...] about Coconino County and Partners Face the Challenge of Broadband
Columnists
CCC Celebrates Three Decades of Putting Students First
The Hubble Telescope was launched into orbit. The World Wide Web was born. The Soviet Union was formally dissolved, and Seattle-based “Grunge” music dominated the airwaves. It was also the year the Coconino County Community College (now called Coconino Community College) opened its doors in rented space in a building on Fourth Street. The date was Aug. 26, to be exact. Nearly 1,000 people showed up that day to begin taking classes at the college, far exceeding the expectations of the faculty … [Read more...] about CCC Celebrates Three Decades of Putting Students First
Fall is a Special Time for Northern Arizona Gardens
It’s a time of transition – there’s still a lot of life left in your late summer garden, with late bloomers that grow quickly and give your garden beds or patio containers a splash of color. (Deadheading flowering plants will help encourage those last few blooms, by the way). Then, there are the flowers that love the cool temps of this time of year: mums, asters and the second wave of hardy pansies and violas that you haven’t seen since spring. You can also still harvest from your veggie … [Read more...] about Fall is a Special Time for Northern Arizona Gardens
Healthy Feet Make the Best Dancing Feet
Being “light on your feet” when dancing is not entirely true; dancing the night away can take a toll on feet and ankles. Both professional and amateur dancers can suffer foot injuries that can stop the show, as witnessed this season on the popular reality-television show, “Dancing with the Stars.” The most common types of dance-related foot and ankle problems are overuse injuries, which occur because of the repetitive movements in dance. More than 50% of dance injuries occur in the foot and … [Read more...] about Healthy Feet Make the Best Dancing Feet
Finding Buyer Success in a Seller’s Market
I always say, we are extremely privileged to live in such a beautiful part of the country. As summer comes to an end and Flagstaff’s sunflowers are in full bloom, I look back on what was one of the busiest real estate seasons of my career. It was a full-blown sellers’ market, where any listing was solid gold and buyers were fighting for first place. While the market is still on fire – because of high demand and low inventory – in recent weeks, the market has moved from “red-hot” to “hot.” … [Read more...] about Finding Buyer Success in a Seller’s Market
Knowing the Raw Facts about Pets
You are pushing a cart through the supermarket, past the endless rows and aisles of food options. The great privilege of living in a first world economy comes with a downside, though: how do you decide what to eat? More importantly, what is healthy for you to eat? The endless barrage of new diet trends and fads is overwhelming. The endcaps of your local supermarket constantly being swapped out to follow the latest food trends are a constant reminder that you need to eat healthier – but can they … [Read more...] about Knowing the Raw Facts about Pets
Preparing Yourself for an Emergency
Coconino County holds the emergency management function in the area and part of these efforts include sharing important information about emergency preparedness. We are fortunate to live and work in a land of vast and endless beauty, but it comes with the risk of wildfires and post-wildfire flooding, among other possible emergencies. This summer has shown us examples of both wildfires and post-wildfire flooding. The Rafael Fire was discovered on June 18 in the Prescott National Forest as a … [Read more...] about Preparing Yourself for an Emergency
What to Consider When Assessing Flood Damage
The summer of 2021 in Northern Arizona has been associated with frequent monsoons. The National Weather Service issued multiple flash flood warnings throughout the month of July. It has also noted that, since the Museum Fire that took place in July and August of 2019, there is an increased likelihood of flooding adjacent to the Museum Fire “burn scar.” Portions of East Flagstaff (including Sunnyside, Mt. Elden Estates, Paradise Hills and Grandview) are at risk of flooding as a result of the … [Read more...] about What to Consider When Assessing Flood Damage
Neighbors Helping Neighbors Through Summer’s Events
It has been a rather tumultuous couple of months for our mountain town, from the Rafael Fire that had many of our community members set to evacuate, to the Museum Fire floods, which caused more than $5 million in public infrastructure and private property damage. Through it all though, I have seen how we have come together in times of need. Neighbors helping neighbors to rake needles and other fire fuels away from yards in the midst of wildfire, and then right after that threat ended, filling … [Read more...] about Neighbors Helping Neighbors Through Summer’s Events
Tips for Preventing STIs
It is my passion and professional commitment to stop the spread of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) and STIs (sexually transmitted infection) in our county and state! Today, I’d like to discuss prevention. Why? Because we need to increase our knowledge to stop the STIs from being shared. Here are some ways we can prevent STIs. Abstinence Abstinence is one way to prevent and stop the spread of HIV/STIs. If abstinence worked as the most solid solution, Arizona would not be No. 2 in the … [Read more...] about Tips for Preventing STIs