Quad Cities Business News

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, & Dewey/Humboldt

You are here: Home / Archives for quadcities

quadcities

Mob Burgers Celebrating Four Years on the Fourth

By Leave a Comment

Stroll into Marino’s Mob Burgers and Ice Cream parlor and you are not likely to escape the eye of General Manager Esther Mendoza. Elegantly bedazzled in sequence and jewels reminiscent of the Roaring ’20s, Mendoza will have an endearing nickname and a “we’ve-known-each-other-forever” greeting that draws you in.

Nevermind the hand-pressed fresh, never frozen, beef patties or the irreplaceable Thrifty ice cream that make this a local hangout, the secret ingredients that keep guests coming back are the respect, kindness and love that Mendoza and the costumed staff serve up in generous helpings.

“It’s kind of like going into a ‘mom and pop’ place. From the time you walk in the door, you’re treated with a fun time. I like to joke around with the customers, we have names for everyone and we want to play with them. They have names for me, too, like ‘Pearl’ because of the pearls around my neck, or ‘Mama,’” she said.

With all the unbridled spirit of the Old West, Mendoza hands out silverware and cautions diners to be careful with their “weapons.” She trains servers to come to work to play, as well. Dressing the part is in the contract for the front of the house. Mob Burgers provides dresses, jewelry, bow ties, suspenders and fedoras, but Mendoza has learned that staff members enjoy owning and wearing their own costumes.

Dave and Sherry Marino, the owners who previously opened Marino’s Corner Bistro, have enjoyed much success with the restaurant in its five years of operation. “If you believe in God, it was meant to be,” said Dave. “Every door was opened every time we’d come up against an obstacle that would be a show stopper.”

“It’s been fabulous! We have great employees and great food. Esther puts her heart and soul into this place,” said Sherry.

Mendoza, like many locals, grew up enjoying burgers and shakes under the same roof, when the establishment was known as Kendall’s Famous Burgers and Ice Cream. “It brought back so much history when I was a young girl of 13 or 14 years old coming into this location after school.”

Now, at age 40, Mendoza wants to repeat the same joy and warmth she felt with today’s kids. “We have a big clientele of students. You should see Fridays and Wednesdays! They write us notes telling us this is their favorite place.”

Before opening, the Marinos renovated the building. “We took down the low ceiling and found the 1900s’ version of the dining room. Everything in there was more than 100 years old. The original tin ceiling had too many holes in it from the old stove that used to heat the building, so we replaced it.”

They found a company on the East Coast that could match the old tin ceiling, complete with the Prescott stamp. They also removed walls, installed a new floor and exposed the brick. During the renovation, they found evidence of the Home Bakery owned by the Hume family from the 1860s. The Marinos are considering bringing back the bakery.

“We love the history of the town and we have the biggest desire to preserve it, not cover it,” said Dave. “We love our customers. Some, who are in their 70s and 80s now, came here when they were kids.”

Marino’s Mob Burger and Ice Cream is located at 113 S. Cortez Street, on the square in historic downtown Prescott. The Mob’s gang is planning to celebrate its fourth anniversary on the Fourth of July in classic all-American style with an ice cream bash. For more information, call 928-515-1690. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Breakthrough Technology Bolsters Confidence for Mothers 

By Leave a Comment

Are you a mom under 40? One of your greatest joys, having children, can also be the beginning of one of your most embarrassing problems. Pregnancy stretches the pelvic muscles to carry the weight of the growing baby. In childbirth, the perineum, vaginal walls and surrounding tissues are stretched to their maximum and do not always heal or rebound back to their original strength.

The result can be mild incontinence. The most common form following childbirth is stress incontinence, the loss of a small amount of urine when exercising, sneezing or coughing. Other women experience urge incontinence, which is sudden strong urges to urinate, usually with a very short window of time to get to the restroom. At first, this may seem a minor inconvenience. After all, moms of young children usually stick close to home.

As women recover from childbirth, they often turn to exercise, to regain body strength and muscle tone. Abdominal exercises help firm up the abdomen and Kegel exercises are often done to help strengthen the pelvic muscles. The pelvic muscles can be difficult to strengthen and strengthening efforts often produce minimal results. Many women join a gym, do Crossfit, or simply exercise at home. Women in classes such as Crossfit may lose urine when jumping rope. If this is you, you may smile or even laugh to lighten the moment, or to divert attention, as you run to the restroom before the jump rope exercise. You may even stop going to class. This stuff is not easy to talk about and you may feel isolated. Then one day, reality hits, and you realize that this is no laughing matter.

If the situation goes unchecked, it will get worse with time. As the body ages, the pelvic muscles further weaken. Menopausal hormone changes further worsen incontinence, and the problem has a bigger impact on the individual’s life. Affected individuals start to pay for pads and other hygienic protection and may limit social contacts because of fear of leaking or odor. These individuals may also experience a loss of self-confidence and isolation.

Whatever phase of life you are in, you should know that you are not alone. According to the National Association for Continence, more than 25 million women suffer from some form of incontinence. Both men and women suffer from nocturia, which means frequent bathroom trips at night.

The staff at Skin Restoration Center is excited to announce what we think is the most promising option for mild to moderate urinary incontinence. The Emsella is a breakthrough technology that is now being offered by urology and gynecology specialists throughout the country. Emsella is a chair that utilizes high frequency electromagnetic energy to stimulate pelvic muscle contractions. Sitting on the chair for 28 minutes stimulates the user to perform 11,200 Kegel exercises; more than most mothers can do in the baby’s first year of life. An Emsella treatment is painless and noninvasive. Individuals remain fully clothed and there is no downtime.

Studies report that 95% of patients treated with Emsella report improvement in their quality of life. After a treatment series, patients report that they can reduce or totally eliminate the use of hygienic pads. They also have fewer bathroom trips and report that frequent urges instead feel like normal sensations. As an added benefit, many women report that their sexual orgasm is stronger and thus more pleasurable.

Just a word of caution: nothing can replace the relationship you have with your primary care provider. If you are experiencing incontinence, talk to your provider to eliminate underlying illness or complications. For uncomplicated mild to moderate incontinence, Emsella can help. You can get a free consultation by calling The Skin Restoration Center at 928-308-0915.

Go ahead. Enjoy those children, put them in their car seats, and keep yourself in the driver’s seat. Emsella is one of the simplest things a woman can do for herself! QCBN

By Carol Johnson RN, MSN, NNP-BC, LSO

Carol Johnson, RN, MSN, NNP-BC, LSO, is a nurse practitioner and the founder and director of Skin Restoration. In addition to her practitioner credentials, she is licensed by the State of Arizona as a medical director for a laser facility. She has taken numerous courses in advanced injecting and laser treatments. Johnson particularly enjoys meeting people and helping them make good choices to care for their appearance.

Volunteering to Keep Hikers Safe in the Canyon

By Leave a Comment

Education, self-assessment and planning are guidelines voiced repeatedly by the Grand Canyon National Park Service to ensure that hikers “Hike Smart” and understand the meaning of the adage, “Down is optional; up is mandatory.” Helping to ensure safety are Prevention Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteers stationed on the trails.

Implemented in 1997, PSAR was created as a result of increased heat-related illnesses on Grand Canyon trails.

“District Rangers from south, north and inner canyon were having to leave their posts for distress calls along the trails,” said Meghan Smith, acting PSAR supervisor. “The PSAR program was created so we can be stationed at precise areas. We’ve grown into a group of five to seven seasonal rangers with one year-round permanent supervisor. When the program started, we had 30 volunteers and now have 75, with a waiting list.”

PSAR volunteers must attend an annual two-day training and have a current CPR and Wilderness First Aid Card. “They carry basic medical supplies, water, electrolyte powder, salty snacks and a radio,” said Smith. “They are not medically qualified by NPS, but the seasonal staff do carry diagnostic kits to check blood pressure, sugar and oxygen level.”

Volunteer PSARs also shadow rangers as part of their training and are required to do seven hiking patrols per season.

PSARs talk to hikers on the trail, answer questions, offer advice and make recommendations as to how far to hike. Smith says the PSARs also offer information on weather and heat conditions and provide hiker assist.

“Hiker assist is when we take action and do something for someone. For example, a hiker might have separated from the group and is feeling a little anxious,” said Smith. “One of our volunteers will stay with that person and give emotional support.”

Ann Scott is in her fourth year as a PSAR volunteer. “When I visited the Grand Canyon in 1988, I fell in love with it. All I wanted to do was come back. It was like a magnet. I love talking to the visitors on the trail and offering advice on how to have a safe and enjoyable hike below the rim. It is like an extension of my first summer job as a lifeguard. The main difference is that lifeguards rescue people after they get in trouble, but PSAR rangers try to give them information and advice so they don’t need to be rescued.”

Retired NAU Physiology Professor Stan Lindstedt says his background was ideal for the PSAR program. “I had a very active research program working on muscle physiology. This was a good head start for the PSAR program. I always said my job as a professor was the best in the world. Now that I’m a PSAR volunteer, I feel I have the best second career.”

Lindstedt is often exhausted leaving the trail at day’s end but calls it “a wonderful kind of exhaustion.” He says the NPS staff in charge of the program is outstanding. “They are probably the best administrators I have had the privilege of working with. It is apparent that everyone involved in this program is visitor-centered. Our collective goal is maximizing the enjoyment of all visitors.”

The volunteer PSAR season runs from April through October. Volunteers patrol the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails and, when possible, patrol North Kaibab, Hermit and Grandview trails. “We cover them all when we can, but when we can’t, we focus on the more populated trails,” said Smith.

One of the main supporters of the PSAR program is the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), which outfits rangers and volunteers with top-of-the-line gear. “We provide radios, backpacks, sleep kits and other equipment,” said Mindy Riesenberg, director of marketing and communications for GCC.

With summer almost here, Smith is adamant that hikers understand the dangers of heat illness, know the warning signs of dehydration and their limits when hiking. “Headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, cramping and decreased urine output are signs of heat illness.” QCBN

Welcoming a Season of Activities, Offerings

By Leave a Comment

We are fortunate. Prescott is bustling right now with all of the summer activities. Prescottonians live in a city rich in art, culture, history, beauty and a friendly atmosphere. One can hardly drive by the Courthouse Plaza without seeing folks of all ages walking, talking, laughing, connecting and enjoying the sites and local businesses. We consider the Yavapai County Courthouse Plaza to be part of the heartbeat of this great city, and something unlike any other Arizona town. In fact, Expedia Viewfinder named Prescott “One of the Coolest Downtowns in North America.”

We are fortunate. There are so many things to do in Prescott! Some of the most popular outdoor activities include hiking, shopping, mountain biking, boating, canoeing, golfing, rock climbing, swimming, sunbathing and horseback riding. The beautiful topography and ever-changing foliage create a beautiful backdrop for camping, RVing, viewing of wildlife, photography, bird watching and relaxing. The cooler weather brings those from the Valley flocking to our higher elevations to enjoy our mild climate.

We are fortunate. Prescott is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Arizona. Its rich history, echoes of the Wild West, pleasant dining and hospitality, and varied offerings contribute to the delight and satisfaction of our tourists. In fact, a recent study by the Arizona Hospitality Research and Resource Center at Northern Arizona University uncovered that visitors ranked the “Satisfaction Level” of their trip through Prescott at 90%  – a truly outstanding number! The travel industry is booming in Prescott and the millions of dollars spent by these visitors add depth, both directly and indirectly, to our fiscal landscape.

We are fortunate. As a father of nine, my wife and I are thrilled that our children have so many options in the summer. They have a plethora of wonderful summer offerings put on by various schools, theaters, athletic organizations, churches and groups from which to choose.

Despite varying political perspectives, religious practices, personality types, educational backgrounds, socioeconomic histories, gender and cultural differences, we are fortunate to have one another in this town. We make each other stronger. We band together to celebrate the town we love. We see one another at parades, festivals, school programs, theater events and town council meetings, and despite our differences, we practice kindness and civility. We enjoy all that Prescott has to offer and are thankful we live in this city.

We are fortunate. We are Prescott. QCBN

By Greg Mengarelli

Enjoy the summer! For information on upcoming happenings, please go to: visit-prescott.com and prescottaz.gov for dates and details.

Greg L. Mengarelli is the mayor of the City of Prescott.

Arizona Downs: A Name with a Rich Heritage

By Leave a Comment

The inaugural summer season for Arizona Downs will be a reminder of the rich history of horse racing in our state, especially for Jim and Flo Herbuveaux, whose family originally owned Arizona Downs, and ran successful horse racing meets from the 1950s to mid 1980s.

In those days, Arizona Downs racing seasons took place in the heart of Phoenix, at Ingleside Turf Club (near 60th Street and Thomas) and attracted enormous crowds. In the late 1950s, Arizona Downs was bursting at the seams at its Phoenix location. The Arizona Racing Commission stepped in and recommended that Arizona Downs move its meets to the newly developed Turf Paradise, which was at risk of shutting down despite drawing large crowds during its inaugural racing season.

Arizona Downs’ move to its new home in northwest Phoenix was a shot in the arm that Turf Paradise needed, and a boon for Arizona’s horse racing circuit. The industry thrived for the next three decades, running meets throughout the year that took place in downtown Prescott, Flagstaff and at county fairs throughout the state.

Arizona Downs racing seasons alternated between spring and fall in the 60s, 70s and 80s, and attracted huge crowds that packed the stands. Fans enjoyed the best in Thoroughbred racing, including performances by the young and upcoming Don Pierce, a Hall of Fame jockey who went on to ride more than 3,500 winners in his 30-year career. Arizona Downs’ meets were filled with pageantry and prestige, and drew celebrities like Jack Benny, Jackie Gleason, Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr., Hank Aaron, Eva Gabor and Peggy Lee, among many others.

In the early 1960s, Arizona Downs also gained national attention when the racetrack introduced Mary Ash, an ASU music student who became the world’s first female racetrack bugler. Ash was an instant celebrity, and made guest appearances on What’s My Line and To Tell the Truth, where she stumped the Hollywood panelists. She also appeared at racetracks across the country, making a whopping $15 for each performance.

In 1983, Arizona Downs reached another major milestone, when wagering at the racetrack hit the $1 million mark – a first in the state.  The era of Arizona Downs ended in 1985 after tensions developed with the management of Turf Paradise, and the latter acquired Arizona Downs’ racing dates.

But, that’s not the end of the story.

In 2018, Jim and Flo got a call from Kentucky Downs’ owner Corey Johnsen. Johnsen had worked for them at Arizona Downs in the 1970s, fresh out of college, and kept in touch with them through the years.  “A group of local developers had purchased the site of the former Yavapai Downs, and wanted to bring the name Arizona Downs back to the state’s racing circuit,” said Jim Herbuveaux.   

When Jim and Flo learned a little more about the developers, they were convinced that these were the guys who could help rejuvenate the racing circuit statewide, including county fairs.

“We were delighted when we learned that the developers were the Auther brothers and Joe Jackson,” said Flo Herbuveaux. “Our nieces and nephews attended the same schools. We knew they were smart, trustworthy and have always had a great reputation.”

Jim and Flo Herbuveaux were reunited with former racetrack bugler Mary Ash-Duell, when all three took the stage at Arizona Downs’ grand opening on Memorial Day weekend.  They were thrilled to join the new owners for a celebration of the racetrack’s inaugural summer meet, and Arizona’s return to year-round horse racing.   

“It’s great to know that our namesake, and the rich history it represents, is in such good hands,” said Jim. QCBN

By Liz Meyers

Liz Meyers is the marketing and sales director of Arizona Downs

Finding Reputable Companies When You Cannot Shop Local

By Leave a Comment

Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy.” Sit back, relax and enjoy. Here we are, Tom, with the year just whooshing and whizzing as fast as can be.

Tom: I think I would add zooming to the industry life we are in. 

Sandy: Agreed. But fun it is!

Tom: Sandy, what is your topic for our readers this month?

Sandy: Well, I have been talking to vendors around the area and even vendors in Phoenix to see what they do if they cannot readily supply a needed item to a home project. It seems that if the vendor cannot supply an item to the contractor in order to complete their job at hand, or the material is back-ordered, contractors are going online to purchase items for new homes and remodels. What would you do if you were faced with this dilemma?

Tom: We have, from time to time, purchased items online when we cannot find what we need locally or something is on backorder that can potentially delay the job.

Sandy: I know that you, Tom, and so many of our other contractors and local business men and women and our citizens’ first stop is supporting our local vendors first. That is not only smart but good business practice as well. Supporting local should always be first!

Tom: Absolutely. We look at the locally owned stores first and the larger companies that have served us for decades.

Sandy: Tom, for our readers, when you buy local, more money stays in the community. When you spend money at locally owned businesses, it is pretty easy to understand that those dollars directly impact the local economy, as they keep local businesses in business. The multiplier effect is the amount of local economic activity that is triggered by the purchase of any one item. Community economics tells us that the more a dollar circulates in a defined region, and the faster it circulates, the more income, wealth and jobs it creates.

Keeping dollars local is an act of reinvestment in your community. Buying local products and services and banking locally keeps money circulating closer to where you spend it. This creates a ripple effect as those businesses and their employees in turn spend your money locally. Corporate chains send most of our money out of town. Okay, I am off my soapbox!

Tom: Very true. We believe in local; however, there are times when we are unable to purchase what we need locally, so we must purchase item online.

Sandy: I say shop local, except, I admit, I am an online shoe shopper. There are perils to online shoe shopping as well as benefits; shoes too small, too big, too flat, heels too high, so in the case of online purchasing perils, what steps can you recommend to our readers that Renovations takes to ensure security and quality and good fit?

Tom: Great question. And I will start with a one-word answer from which we can expand upon, RESEARCH. We do a lot of research.

Sandy: Do you research companies or products or both? I would imagine both.

Tom: Yes, Sandy, you are correct. Some of the products we have purchased in the past because no local stock or back-order have been high-ticket items. Initially, we look to well-established manufactures as a source for what we need. They, of course, do not require the vetting that less well-known manufactures need. Smaller specialty products are out there in abundance and often with a little background checking, they turn out to be reputable companies.

Sandy: Interesting. What are some of the methods you use to determine the reputation a company has?

Tom: We start by looking in the web address of a company to see if it is noted as a secure site. There is a padlock icon that appears, letting you know there is a secure system within which to do business.

Sandy: I always read the product reviews. They tell a real story about a company. And if the website doesn’t have reviews, I move on.

Tom: Exactly. Dee, in our office, is our online research guru. She looks at the reviews for everything we purchase and determines if the site is secure enough to do business with.

Sandy: So, the two steps are determining if you move forward are company/product reviews and to verify their website offers a secure means to do business with.

Tom: We also look at it in context of the time it would take to travel to another area, like the Valley, vs. ordering online.

Sandy: Good time management.  I like that.  What are some of the pitfalls you have found?

Tom: Whenever you get on the internet, or the information highway, you are putting some information about yourself out there. When you purchase using credit cards, that info can be out there, too, so our firm is extremely cautious.  In fact, many times if we need to order a product online, we even call and talk with a principal of the firm as well. 

Sandy: What about returns or items that aren’t what they appear to be? 

Tom: Yes. Most reputable companies will have a return label in the shipping box.

Sandy: Yes, my shoes always have a return label! Try them on; too large, too small, color off, back into the box they go. What are some of the sites you work with, Tom, when purchasing items for remodels and or new builds?

Tom: We work with several construction specialty sites that are geared and set up to assist with prompt shipping. Build.com is a source we use as well.

Sandy: Tom, product selection and availability is probably a major reason why you and other contractors would turn to relatively specialized online retailers for items.

Tom: Indeed, it is. A purchase from an e-commerce business primarily happens because that business offered a unique product not available from larger competitors or offers the product that will keep us on schedule should our regular supplier not be able to support us.

Sandy: It is refreshing to know that these smaller retailers and/or specialized online companies can offer particular products, those hard to find products and in-stock products to keep you builders on schedule.

Tom: There are specialty retailers that many contractors use because they have many times the number of products in a particular category vs. the relatively larger mass-market retailer with more product categories and less product items.

For example, we recently had a new build with specialized hardware. There is a mid-market, e-commerce retail chain that carries more than 90,000 product SKUs. Among these many thousands of products, this retailer carries roughly 20 different hardware designs.

In contrast, there are several small online hardware specialty stores that carry a few hundred different hardware designs. This incredible product depth and breadth within the hardware category attracts builders when we need a specialty hardware item.

Sandy: Tom, is it the number of products within a category that matters as much as which products are offered?

Tom: Unique choices are important. 

Buying direct from big box stores is popular; however, it all depends on what you are looking for. Our experience with purchasing items for our projects has been all over the board, with our first choice of course buying local.

Sandy: However, supporting local businesses and organizations means your money stays local, through taxes, investments and more. That means that your hard-earned money, once spent, continues to work for you. Local first, then check out those specialty construction online sites.

Thanks, readers, for stopping in and reading “At Home with Tom and Sandy.” You’re in good company and we love sharing educational, fun and important information with you. We will see you next month. QCBN

 

Tom Reilly, Architect, Contractor, Renovations 928-445-8506 renovationsaz.com

Sandy Griffis, Executive Director, Yavapai County Contractors Association.  928-778-0040.

Snagging the Best Price for Your New Car

By Leave a Comment

There’s nothing like that new car smell, but the car-buying process can be daunting when you consider the steps it takes to drive off the lot. Discover everything you need to know to get the best price for your next big purchase, and you’ll be doing a victory lap around the dealership in no time!

Research. Do the bulk of your research at home before even setting foot onto a car lot. Browse nearby dealerships’ websites to see who has the best price and start there. If you’re set on a specific make and model, look into various model years to determine which is the best fit – and the best price – for your needs.

Set your budget and stick with it. Once you’ve done the initial research on your dream car, you should have a solid understanding of how much you’re willing to invest in it. Set an upper limit for yourself, and don’t settle for anything over that amount. Your confidence and insistence will show the salesperson that you know what you’re doing, and you’ll avoid settling for a higher price.

Shop at the end of the month. In the final days of each month, dealers are anxious to meet their quotas. This means they’re generally more willing to cut you a good deal to close the sale, and you’ll have more leverage when negotiating a price.

Get pre-approved for financing. Waiting until you get to the financing office of the dealership is a surefire way to get locked into a high-rate loan, meaning you’ll pay more on it in the long run. Work with a trusted lender to get preapproved before you go to buy your car, so you feel confident in your interest rate.

With some of the most competitive rates for new and used auto loans in the state, OneAZ Credit Union’s loan consultants can work with you to lock in an excellent rate so you can get in the driver’s seat fast! QCBN

By Shibu Cherian

Shibu Cherian is a product manager for OneAZ Credit Union. With some of the most competitive rates for auto loans in the state, OneAZ Credit Union’s loan consultants can work with you to lock in an excellent rate, so you can get in the driver’s seat fast!

Identifying Your Income Stream in Retirement

By Leave a Comment

The number one concern for most retirees is the possibility of outliving their income in retirement. For example, Baby Boomers are retiring at astonishing rates and are looking for ways to replace their steady paycheck. They are worried about the potential of Social Security diminishing and what might happen to their retirement if it does. Baby Boomers are also concerned about the volatility in the market and the possibility of losing money in what may seem like the only place to earn money with interest rates being so low. 

Having a retirement plan plays an integral role when addressing ways to ensure income for life. Finding the most efficient and beneficial way to address this may impact your lifestyle, asset accumulation and legacy planning after you retire. Satisfying that need for monthly income entails knowing how much you need and when you need it.

Even though everyone’s income needs are different, the general rule of thumb is that a retiree will require 70 to 80 percent of their pre-retirement income to maintain their current lifestyle. Once you figure out your needed amount, the next step would be to explore beneficial financial strategies, options, and tools to help you achieve your income goals.

There are a handful of ways to fill your need for income in retirement. Social Security is one of the most well-known methods. It plays an important role in many Americans’ retirement plans, and it is beneficial for them to know how to properly manage it in order to maximize their benefit. Social Security is the foundation of income planning for anyone who is about to retire and can be a reliable source of income.

In addition to having a Social Security benefit, fixed index annuities have gained popularity, especially with the addition of income riders that allow people to defer income until some point in the future. They can turn on an income stream that is guaranteed for life, regardless of what happens to their account balance.

Fixed index annuities are products created by insurance companies to address needs for growth and a structured lifetime income, which can make fixed index annuities uniquely suited to be a significant asset in one’s retirement plan.

Fixed index annuities are like other annuities. But, instead of growing by an interest rate that is declared by an insurance company, they are linked to the performance of a market index. In addition, they are sometimes accompanied by fees that would be deducted from your account.

Fixed index annuities provide you with confidence about your retirement savings strategy and principal protection. They also have no exposure to loss when the market drops and help provide a hedge against inflation. Overall, they are a good alternative for someone looking for a secure vehicle, but also liking to follow the market.

When considering a fixed index annuity, it is important that you understand that your money is locked in the annuity for a pre-determined number of years. Also, if interest rates go up, that money is typically not available to move during that time or surrender charges can apply. There is either a return cap or a maximum participation rate linked to market earnings.

With fixed annuities, both the money you invest and the interest paid out are guaranteed by the claims-paying ability of the insurer. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of a fixed annuity carefully before investing.

Fixed index annuities are specifically designed to create income – either today or at some point in the future. A fixed index annuity may be an invaluable component of your retirement plan, helping you to safeguard your assets and your future.

When finding ways to create income for life, it is important to understand that each individual’s situation is different, and that you should work with a qualified financial services professional to help you decide what is right for you.  It is important to understand that there are many insurance companies that offer annuities and not one annuity is suitable for every person.  At American Financial Security, we work with many companies to accommodate our clients’ needs in retirement. QCBN

By Ronald F. Stevenson and Barbara Clark Stevenson

Ronald F. Stevenson & Barbara Clark Stevenson own American Financial Security, LLC and American Financial Investments, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the State of Arizona. They specialize in Retirement Income Planning, Social Security Maximization, Tax Free Income Design, Personal & Corporate Tax Preparation and Planning.  For more information, call 928-771-8368 or visit AFSprescott.com, 3112 Clearwater Dr., Suite B, Prescott, AZ 86305

TAVR: One Hundred and Counting at YRMC’s James Family Heart Center

By Leave a Comment

On May 7, the 100th patient underwent transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in the James Family Heart Center at Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) West in Prescott.

“Our TAVR team does incredible work every day and for every patient,” said YRMC Structural Heart Interventional Cardiologist and Director Soundos K. Moualla, M.D., FACC, FSCAI. “We are honored to have cared for the first 100 TAVR patients and look forward to serving the next 100 patients.”

This milestone – reached less than two-and-a-half years after the Heart Center’s first TAVR in January 2017 – demonstrates the program’s growth and success. In addition to being important to the region, TAVR also has changed the lives of individuals whose health made traditional valve repair surgery too risky.

“Our TAVR patients are so much more than numbers to the heart team,” said James Family Heart Center Cardiothoracic Surgeon and Medical Director Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS. “These are amazing people who, after their TAVR procedures, have embraced life. They have welcomed grandchildren and great-grandchildren, enjoyed travel, volunteered in the community, become dedicated to exercise and lived healthy lives, thanks to the availability of TAVR in our region.”

How TAVR Works

TAVR is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for people with aortic stenosis (blockage). During a TAVR procedure, the aortic valve is repaired without removing the old, damaged valve. The procedure is performed through an extremely small opening that leaves the chest bones in place. An artificial valve – deployed into the opening – takes over functioning for the damaged valve.

YRMC’s TAVR Team

All TAVR programs are federally required to have both a surgeon and interventional cardiologist to perform TAVR.

For YRMC, they are:

Jose Torres, M.D., FACS – Cardiothoracic surgeon (primary implanter)

Soundos Moualla, M.D., FACC, FSCAI – Structural Heart Interventional Cardiologist (primary implanter)

The TAVR team also includes:

Saina Attaran, M.D., MRCS, FRCS – Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Pierre Tibi, M.D., FACS – Cardiothoracic Surgeon

Mansour Assar, M.D. – Interventional Cardiologist

James D’Antonio, M.D. – Interventional Cardiologist

Anil Kumar, M.D., MRCP, FACC, RPVI, RPhS – Imaging Specialist, Cardiologist

Gwen Rhodes, RN – Structural Heart Coordinator

YRMC’s TAVR team works with George Gellert, M.D., a globally recognized specialist in transesophageal echocardiogram imaging. The TAVR team also includes anesthesiologists and staff from YRMC’s Surgical Services and Cath Lab as well as the support of almost every discipline in the hospital.

The Hybrid OR and TAVR

TAVR procedures are performed in YRMC’s Hybrid Operating Room Suite, considered to be among the finest in the nation. In the Hybrid OR, heart specialists diagnose patients using permanently integrated imaging equipment. After they diagnose the patient’s condition, the heart team is able to immediately perform a non-invasive, therapeutic procedure. The Hybrid OR can also convert into a state-of-the-art operating suite, which allows a seamless transition without moving the patient.

“The TAVR program’s success is due to the outstanding professionals who provide the highest level of care to our patients,” said Dr. Moualla. “I am proud to call them my colleagues.” QCBN

By Bridget O’Gara

Bridget O’Gara is a freelance writer, communications strategist and project manager who specializes in health care. She works with mission-driven healthcare organizations, including hospitals, other healthcare providers and advocacy organizations.

Women’s Health, Part I: Highlighting the Liver

By 1 Comment

The way modern medicine addresses women’s health frustrates me, both as a woman and a doctor. I think back to what little help I received from my doctors as a teenager with painful cramps and acne. Their solution was oral contraceptives to regulate my hormones. No one said anything about my food intake, exposure to toxins or stress level. Thank heavens I found Naturopathic and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)! Finally, I gained the knowledge and tools to really start helping women find ease and vitality within their whole selves. I stopped the pills, regulated my cycle, cleared up my skin and relieved myself of debilitating cramps with proper lifestyle modifications. Going through this myself gives me the experience, along with the knowledge to teach women the relationships between food, emotions, activity, seasons and their reproductive systems.

Naturopathic medicine is rooted in several philosophies that make it so effective. Treating the whole person, the cause, and stimulating the healing power of nature are three essential principles that I am constantly aware of with every person. TCM is also rooted in these aspects. Using acupuncture to stimulate the innate healing wisdom within all of us is effective, relaxing and sometimes downright amazing with all the disease it can alleviate. The needles inserted along certain pathways, or meridians, promote the smooth flow of qi, blood and lymph. Doing this indirectly supports the liver, because this organ is responsible for moving these substances. The liver is a major organ system involved in reproductive health. This is one general reason why acupuncture is so helpful for women.

In TCM, the liver is a general with more than 500 functions to complete. With our modern lifestyle, this organ is working almost every second of the day. We ask our livers to detoxify everything with which we come into contact; the food, air, water, pharmaceuticals, recreational drugs, hygiene products, cleaning products and even certain emotions like anger and frustration. The fact of the matter is that in most urban environments there is pollution, plus we eat processed food, we use standard hygiene and cleaning products, we do not exercise enough; subsequently, we do not feel well, so we have some low level of frustration because we know we should be feeling our best. This is all contributing to stress on the liver organ.

With the stress, the energy and even the actual organ tissue becomes stagnant and swollen. This leads to some general discomfort like bloating, mental depression or fluctuating moods, irritability, pain below the ribs, belching and poor appetite, and feeling the urge to sigh often. Often, a good remedy for any of these is taking a leisurely walk outdoors. Moving the physical body helps the liver move the stuck substances. Being outdoors is naturally soothing to mental tension.

Women’s bodies have a lot of internal movement within the uterus, ovaries and Fallopian tubes. This is all governed by the liver. It sends the blood to the uterus for the thickening of the lining, helps the egg release and move down the tube, and also promotes the complete discharge of the uterine lining if there is no implantation. Again, if the liver is stressed for any reason, we begin to feel those general symptoms plus some specific liver and menstrual symptoms. This typically looks like irregular and painful periods with clots. There is premenstrual moodiness, diarrhea and constipation, breast swelling and tenderness and acne. Often, heat applied to the abdomen greatly alleviates the pain, because warm things tend to move more easily. We can even do acupuncture points to open the menstrual gate and promote the period, especially when the premenstrual symptoms are very intense. Experiencing this both as the patient and doctor has solidified my perspective that within three months, periods are no longer dreaded and we move through them much quicker.

This has laid out the intricate relationships of the liver and the uterus. It may seem as though our livers are stressed every way we turn. There is plenty to be optimistic about, though; mainly regarding everyone’s favorite fact: liver tissue regenerates. Along with that, there are truly rewarding treatments for the liver. I specifically mentioned acupuncture, gentle walking and heat as being easy and rewarding activities for the body and mind that anyone can do today. There are other great treatments, but they should be customized to everyone’s unique needs. This is why working with a trusted and experienced practitioner is essential to get the safest, most effective and lasting results. QCBN

By Katie Borchert, NMD

Dr. Katie Borchert has office hours daily at Partners in Health Care Naturally in downtown Prescott, 343 S. Montezuma St. She is also available for home visits, a great way to help the whole family. She can be reached at 928-445-2900 or kborchert3@gmail.com. The clinic webpage is www.prescottnaturopathicdoctors.com and Dr. Katie has Facebook and Instagram accounts featuring naturopathic living.