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Exploring Career and Technical Education Programs Across the Region

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In 2001, the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) acronym was started by scientific administrators at the National Science Foundation (NSF). STEM is important because it encompasses every part of our lives. Science is everywhere in the world around us. 

At the Career and Technical Education Center (CTEC) of Yavapai College, STEM programs are alive and well. Since the dedication of CTEC in 2007, this state-of-the-art, 110,000-square-foot facility has seen growth of students in their programs for more than 11 years. CTEC provides students with hands-on training that gives them the skills for better employment opportunities.  The Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs are also at Yavapai College’s Chino Valley campus, the Verde Valley campus and the Sedona campus.

Here is what the CTEC campus houses:

Advanced Manufacturing (AAS Degree and Certificate) is designed to teach students marketable skills in high tech automated manufacturing processes that incorporate innovative technologies to improve production of products from design to manufacturing stages.

Aerospace Science (AAS Degree) prepares students for careers in aviation as pilots, air traffic controllers, instructors and unmanned aircraft operators.

Applied Pre-engineering (AAS Degree) is designed to provide students with a working knowledge of engineering concepts and to allow students to complete their bachelor’s degree at a four-year institution.

Automotive Technology (AAS Degree and Certificate) programs prepare students with the technical skills to obtain direct employment or to upgrade the skills of individuals already in the industry. They prepare students for the National Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) certification examinations.

Automotive Body Paint & Collision Technology (Certificate) prepares students for entry-level employment in the auto body and collision industry. The program addresses all areas of basic body repair and refinishing; frame and body repair, painting, graphic design and upholstery.

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining (Certificate) is planned to prepare students for entry-level CNC machining and programming positions. The program focuses on safe practices, problem solving, computer-aided design, fabrication, assembly and control systems.

Diesel Technology (AAS Degree and Certificate) prepares individuals to diagnose, adjust, repair or overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engines.

Electrical and Instrumentation Technology (AAS Degree and Certificate) is designed to prepare students for positions in the installation, repair and maintenance of commercial electrical and electronic equipment. There are six stackable certificates under this degree.

Fire Science (AAS Degree and Certificate) provides individuals the education and skills necessary to initiate success in the firefighter profession, or continue personal growth within the profession.

Gunsmithing (AAS Degree and Certificate) is listed as one of the best programs in the nation. The focus is to provide knowledge to acquire employment in the areas of custom gun trade as a custom gunsmith.

Welding (Certificate) prepares students for employment in welding positions requiring competency in the field of Gas Metal Arc, Gas Tungsten Arc, Pipe Welding and Structural Welding. Courses prepare students for the American Welding Society Citification test.

Here is what is offered at the Chino Valley campus:

Agriculture Technology (AAS degree and Certificate) programs are highly specialized for those seeking technical employment in the agriculture industry. Students have access to a large greenhouse, fish hatchery, equestrian arena, computer lab and science lab. 

Canine Care and Handling (Certificate) prepares students for entrepreneurship, employment or advancement in a variety of canine fields by developing handling skills, communication skills, health care and business operations knowledge.

Commercial Driver Training (Certificate) prepares students to take the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) commercial drivers’ license permit exam, and to complete 30 hours of driver training needed to pass the ADOT CDL Class A, B, or C commercial license road test.

Construction Technology (YC Courses) is designed to provide students with hands-on training in basic carpentry as it applies to residential construction. Core skills are framing, foundations, basic concrete, roofing, safety, window and door framing, blueprint reading and finishing.

Electrical Lineworker Technology (AAS degree and Certificate) is designed to prepare individuals for positions in the installations, repair and maintenance of commercial electrical and electronic equipment.

Equine Care and Management (Certificate) prepares students for entrepreneurship, employment or advancement in a variety of equine fields including business/barn management, training, husbandry, grooming, sales and nutrition.

The following is offered at the Sedona campus:

Culinary Arts Fundamentals (Certificate) equips students with basic skills in culinary arts, such as concepts and terminology, kitchen safety and sanitation, equipment usage, nutritional guidelines, food costing and theory and practice in the production of culinary products.

Hospitality (Certificate) is designed to prepare graduates for management careers in restaurants or hotels. The program is well-rounded with a mix of business and life skills in demand in the field of hospitality.

The Verde Valley Campus offers these programs:

Film and Media Arts (Certificate) consist of three areas, screenwriting, production and animation. Screenwriting is designed to focus on storytelling across the media. Production provides hands-on training using standard industry equipment. Animation creates unique animation works for various media.

Viticulture and Enology (AAS Degree and Certificate) prepares students for variety of careers from vineyards to wineries. Learning takes place in a student-run 13-acre vineyard and the Southwest Wine Center tasting room. QCBN

By Jim Voska

For additional information on Yavapai College’s STEM programs, contact YC’s Career Coaches Linda Brannock at linda.brannock@yc.edu or Jim Voska at james.voska@yc.edu.

Locally Sourced; Regionally Recognized

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When all the other boys and girls wanted to grow up to be firefighters and police officers, John Panza wanted to be a chef.

“I always kind of gravitated to the kitchen as a kid. If there was a family gathering or party, I was in the kitchen helping out mom or dad, whoever was cooking.”

Panza’s parents are Italian and Lebanese, so he said celebrations were always centered around food.

Now, he is the owner of BiGA, a restaurant that focuses on modern and local food. He shops at the Prescott Farmers Market, supporting local growers and keeping money in the community. “We are out there every Saturday. Most of our customers shop there. You see our employees shopping there.”

Panza was invited to participate in the Devour Culinary Classic at the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. The Feb. 23 event was a local showcase of the state’s top chefs and restaurateurs, with demonstrations, competitions and tastings.

“I was super excited to represent Prescott,” he said.

There were between 50 and 60 vendors displaying their best dishes for the event.

“We served duck with a savory bread pudding, a local carrot puree, dried grape chutney and a pomegranate reduction.” Panza says it did his heart good when “someone came to the booth and said, ‘So this is the duck we have been hearing about all day!’ That was pretty neat.”

Panza first came to Prescott to open the Capital Canyon Club. He was with the restaurant for about two years before he decided to break out on his own. He built a following by offering pop-up dinners around town.

“They were a blast. People got acquainted with us,” he said.

The opportunity to buy BiGA came about two years ago. “It is not a huge place, only nine tables and a bar, but a person never has to wait more than 15 or 20 minutes for a table. We just get them through.”

Local favorites are the roasted chicken entrée, the mussels dish with tomato fennel broth and a burger featuring local beef.

The menu changes constantly depending on the season and what is available.

“We make all our own bread in house,” he said.

In fact, the demand for their bread and rolls by other restaurants is growing quickly.

BiGA, by the way, is an Italian bread starter with fermented flour and yeast.

Standing by his side is his wife, Cassandra Hankison, who is in charge of everything except food.

“You name it, I do it, from keeping the lights on to running out to the grocery store because we need something right now,” she said with a laugh.

Hankison trained to be a pastry chef and met John when she applied at the Canyon Club. They were not hiring a pastry chef at the moment, but they did hire her to head up food and beverage at the restaurant.

Today, their business is booming.

“Things are going great. It’s crazy right now, it’s awesome,” she said.

Panza said he always talked about having his own restaurant and being a chef.

After high school, he attended Arizona State University, then culinary school at Scottsdale Community College. He worked for a few places, including a Different Point of View at The Point in Phoenix, before moving to Prescott.

BiGA is at located at 623 Mill Valley Road. It is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 928-227-2543. QCBN

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

Celebrating National Tourism Week

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Prescott leads travel and tourism during Travel Rally Day in support of the many ways travel contributes to the community.

The event was part of the 36th annual National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW), which unites communities across the country to celebrate how travel matters to American jobs, economic growth and personal well-being.

The theme of this year’s NTTW, “Travel Matters,” highlights the innumerable ways in which travel makes up the fabric of Prescott’s culture and economy. Each day of NTTW will celebrate a different facet of travel: the economy, new experiences, jobs, infrastructure, health benefits, hometown pride and how travel strengthens families.

“Travel supports one in nine American jobs and tourism has a direct impact right here in Prescott, Arizona. We will hold an open house on Tuesday, May 7, from 2-4 p.m., at City Hall for all the tourism stakeholders. All tourism stakeholders and their staffs are invited. The Tourism Office will also conduct visits that week to our stakeholders,” said City of Prescott’s Community Outreach Manager John Heiney.

“In every pocket of America – from the largest cities to the smallest towns – travel matters,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow. “I, like so many others, got my start in the travel industry, and it shaped my life in ways I could have never imagined. This National Travel and Tourism Week, we’re celebrating how travel powers our economies, strengthens our communities and changes our lives.”

From small businesses to large industries, travel employs a diverse workforce in Prescott. The facts are:

Jobs are supported by travel and tourism.

Travel and tourism helps local tax revenue for Prescott

This is an important part of travel’s economic importance nationwide.

Travel is a $2.5 trillion industry in the U.S. 

These visitors support 15.7 million American jobs – roughly 8.9 million direct travel jobs and 6.8 million indirect jobs.    

Travel-related spending generated $171 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue in 2018.

“I have seen firsthand how much travel matters to our community,” said Margo Christensen with the Ponderosa Hotel Management Group. “We continue to see increases in occupancy and Transient Occupancy Tax (bed tax) collections and the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center receives a steady flow of visitors every day from around the world. I’m proud of Prescott, and eager to welcome even more visitors here to show them why we love Prescott, Arizona so much.”

Heiney added, “Bed tax collections are approaching $1 million this year. This year alone, about 60 percent of collections are going directly back into the community in the form of special event grants to non-profits, and public improvements to trails, parks and open space.”

To learn more about National Travel and Tourism Week 2019, please visit our event page online at visit-prescott.com. QCBN

By Donna Werking

Donna Werking is the owner of Northern AZ Social, a Prescott digital marketing agency. Contact her: 928-710-7910 or NorthernAZsocial@gmail.com.

Exploring New Hearing Aid Technology

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A new technology in the hearing aid industry is remote adjustment to the hearing aid. This reduces the number of trips back to the office to have fine tuning completed. An appointment is made with your audiologist to be seen remotely at your house or office. It has been an interesting option to implement during the last few months. Most of the people I have contacted remotely are happy about the process, as they can stay in the comfort of their home or go to the environment causing difficulty and have the hearing aids adjusted by their audiologist while they listen.

Technologies Inside a Hearing Aid

We now have reliable rechargeable hearing aids. The battery life is designed to last a full day, between 18 and 30 hours. The difference in the length of battery life is based on the type of technology used in that hearing aid. A person using the Bluetooth circuit while streaming the phone or other Bluetooth enabled devices will drain the battery more quickly than someone who rarely talks on the phone. The battery is charged every night and is designed to last about six years.

Hearing aids are doing a better job of adjusting sound to make it more natural and realistic. The ability to change the way the hearing aid automatically modifies and enhances the sound in a place that has significant noise competition is now more successful. The two hearing aids are able to communicate with each other to focus on what you are looking at and diminish the input from other places in the room. This uses near-field magnetic induction (NFMI) and requires little power drain. Battery life is an important consideration for anyone wearing hearing aids. The two aids will change volume and programs together automatically or with the touch of a button. This near-field signal is a safe and effective means of changing the settings and using the specialized features that require two hearing aids.

Another circuit available in hearing aids is Bluetooth, which uses a band of radio frequencies around 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth technology works well to reduce the distance restriction of near-field technology but classic Bluetooth requires more energy than the NFMI. There are a few types of Bluetooth technologies on the market with different abilities. The type of Bluetooth in your car that streams your phone to the speakers requires significant power, which hearing aids are not able to accommodate (at this time). The Bluetooth circuit in a hearing aid is called Bluetooth low energy (BLE). The earlier versions of Bluetooth used in hearing aids needed a gateway device worn near or around the neck to send the signal to the hearing aids. Today, the gateway device is not needed!

After pairing the hearing aids to the device that you want to hear, e.g. phone, computer, car phone system or TV, you are able to hear the sound in both ears. As you listen to the signal through the hearing aids, you hear the sound with the proper frequency enhancement for your particular hearing loss. To talk on a Bluetooth phone, you do not need to hold the phone in your hand, you simply touch a button on the hearing aid and magically, you hear the voice in both ears! The other person hears your voice through a microphone inside your hearing aid. The phone can be sitting up to 30 feet away from you before the signal becomes weak.

The TV will need a transmitter to send the sound to your hearing aids. The device can be programmed to automatically connect to the TV sound when you walk into the room or you push a button on the hearing aid to hear the sound. This technology is nice because the other people in the room are able to set the volume where they want and the hearing aid user can listen at the volume he or she prefers.

Remote Microphone Use

Some environments are so noisy that even normal hearing people have difficulty understanding speech. If a hearing aid wearer is in this type of environment, often a remote microphone helps increase understanding of speech. The tiny hearing aid with its two microphone openings is just not able to make a voice louder that is six or more feet away from you. The remote microphone can be placed near the person you want to hear and it streams the sound back to the hearing aids.

As with any electronic device, change/improvement is a given. Don’t give up on hearing better, try out the new technology and decide if it improves your quality of life. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit the website at TrinityHearing.net. Karon Lynn is a doctor of audiology with 30 years of experience working with hearing impaired individuals. Dr. Lynn may be reached at 928-522-0500 or at audio@trinityhearing.net.

Five Ways to Keep Your Money Local

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In the age of two-day shipping and convenient megastores, it’s easy to think that opting for a national brand is the best use of your money. However, supporting Arizona 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 and improve the economy.

Thomas Barr, executive director of Local First Arizona, believes that every Arizonan can support the economy by spending money at local businesses. “Up to four times more of our dollars stay in Arizona when we choose a local business over a national chain,” said Barr, adding that this “creates more jobs, and builds hometown pride by growing relationships with owners of businesses in our communities.”

Here are a few easy ways to keep more of your money in Arizona:

Support locally owned businesses. Buying products from companies founded and run by Arizonans means much more of your hard-earned money stays in our community. “We love keeping our business as local as possible,” said Jenny Carey, co-owner of One Stop Nutrition in Scottsdale, “because our locals are the ones that have created our business and help us grow.”

Buy food farmed in Arizona. You can find meat, produce, dairy, honey and more, all right here. Whether you’re hitting the local farmer’s market every weekend or just shopping the local section at your grocery store, your grocery money will help Arizona businesses stay strong.

Bank local. Unlike national banks, local financial institutions are run in-state and decisions are made with the community in mind. From auto loans and credit cards to wealth management and mortgages, a local partner will help you achieve your financial goals, and profits will be reinvested in the local economy.

Support non-profits that improve your neighborhood. Whether your passion is helping at-risk youth or fostering rescued pets, there’s a homegrown non-profit in your area that could use your assistance. Invest your time and money in organizations that focus on Arizona’s needs and watch our community thrive!

Attend community events. This is a great way to discover new Arizona-run businesses and foster a greater sense of community. Opt for events that feature tasty treats from local restaurants or food trucks, and booths or pop-up shops from local retailers.

April is Community Banking Month, so there’s no better time than now to make the switch and take the first step toward keeping your money in Arizona. QCBN

By Miguel Maldonado

Miguel Maldonado is the northern regional president at OneAZ Credit Union.

Treating Mild Urinary Incontinence

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You’ve seen the ads (they’re everywhere). “You can be protected, stay dry and feel pretty!”  They come in many sizes and shapes! They come with flowers and beautiful designs! The ads make you think they may even be a desirable thing to buy. At the end of the day, though, let’s face it, they’re just diapers for adults. And a bit depressing, because you actually ARE thinking about buying them. Projections are that the sale of adult hygiene and protective gear such as stay dry underwear, hygienic pads and adult diapers will exceed the sale of baby diapers by the year 2020.

For those of us who have experienced it, that leaking feeling can really take the wind out of your sails. Mild to moderate urinary incontinence can be inconvenient, such as losing urine when jumping rope or interrupting your golf game to find a restroom. And the options available to deal with this issue are some combination of expensive, invasive and embarrassing. There are medicines to help your bladder relax, surgery with associated risks, or a lifestyle that includes trips to the local pharmacy to buy flowered protective hygiene materials.

You aren’t alone with this problem. According to the National Association for Continence, more than 25 million women suffer from some form of incontinence. The most common is “stress” incontinence: the leaking of urine caused by coughing, sneezing or exercise. The other common form is “urge” incontinence, characterized by an uncontrollable urge to urinate, usually on very short notice; which can result in accidents.   

Both men and women can experience “Nocturia.” which means frequent trips to the bathroom at night, which interrupts sleep patterns. Needless to say, incontinence has a negative effect on the lifestyle and confidence of those affected.

The staff at Skin Restoration is excited to announce what we think is the most promising option for those with mild to moderate urinary incontinence. The Emsella is an FDA approved, breakthrough technology that is now being offered by urology and gynecology specialists throughout the country. We are the first in the Quad Cities area to make this treatment available.  Emsella is a chair that uses high frequency electromagnetic energy to stimulate pelvic muscle contractions. Sitting on this chair for 25 minutes stimulates the body to perform over 11,000 Kegel exercises (more than most people could do in a year).

After six treatments, individuals report having stronger pelvic muscles and better control of urinary function. The usual treatment regimen is two treatments per week for three weeks, although this treatment plan is sometimes adjusted according to individual needs. An Emsella treatment is painless and noninvasive. Individuals remain fully clothed and there is no down time. This is one of the simplest procedures a woman could do for herself!

Scientific studies report that 95 percent of patients treated with Emsella report an improvement in their quality of life. After a treatment series, patients report that they reduce or can fully eliminate the use of hygienic pads. They also have fewer or no night-time bathroom trips, and frequent urges change to normal sensation. As a secondary benefit of having stronger muscles, many women report that they have stronger more pleasurable sexual orgasms. In short, their lives got easier and better!

Just a word of caution: nothing can replace the relationship you have with your Primary Care Provider. If you are experiencing urinary incontinence, talk to your provider to rule out any underlying illnesses or complications. For uncomplicated urinary incontinence caused by pelvic floor weakness: Emsella can help. The Emsella treatment is available at the Skin Restoration Center at 720 North Montezuma, Suite C. You can get a free consultation and arrange treatment by calling 928-308-0519. Go ahead: Say “no” to the floral underwear! 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.

Planning for Growth in Chino Valley

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Happy spring to all. Most municipalities are working on budgets right now and endeavoring to be as responsive to their citizens as possible in their fiscal year. The Chino Valley Town Council met recently in a retreat to discuss our priorities in the next year as well as for the next several years.

The challenges we face with our infrastructure have been much discussed – the town has five different water companies within our corporate boundaries, and our wastewater treatment plant was just built in the last decade. Lack of infrastructure in some key commercial areas has made robust economic development growth complicated and, in some cases, impossible. However, this dynamic won’t change by itself, and the council is committed to begin incrementally working on our infrastructure shortfalls. We will need to take several approaches to begin tackling this, but our future will make it necessary.

As we continue to grow, our citizens will demand closer access to services and retail, and it will be necessary for the town to grow both its retail base and job base to sustain the community. Planning for the growth will be better than just having it happen to us.

The focus areas that developed from our Strategic Planning Retreat remain constant with what we developed last year, and they continue to be the following: Water/Water Companies; Old Home Manor Industrial Park/Jobs; Roads/Maintenance and Funding; Infrastructure and Town Utilities; Maintaining a Rural Community and a Business-Friendly Environment.

Some of the specific action items that have been identified with respect to our focus areas include the extension of sewer or water in high density areas or in commercial areas. We have an opportunity with our Business Park at Old Home Manor to offer land to potential employers. But the employers are going to want more than just raw land, and that takes money. We were fortunate with federal grants to get utilities to the lot line of our 200 acres, but we will need to prepare about a half-dozen sites so they are ready for future employers and we can build momentum from there. Our Utility Committee members will develop a scope they consider reasonable and will bring it forward to our council for consideration of costs and level of improvements.

The town has recently hired an economic development project manager, and this person will help us create a strategic plan for our business park and identify the types of businesses or industries that might be a good fit for our community. But the business park must be ready to accept them.

As you might recall from a previous article, the town has proposed a Roads Maintenance Program to be funded by a property tax. Should this initiative pass with the voters on May 21, our road infrastructure should begin to improve, enhancing economic development and helping to maintain property values. Thus, it hits another of our focus areas and also continues to emphasize town infrastructure.

The town has many demands for development, much like our surrounding communities. We will continue to try and maintain the rural lifestyle, providing one-acre lots as much as possible, but the pressures are ever-present and difficult to accommodate. The more infrastructure we have for water, sewer and roads, helps any growth to be more responsible and less impactful upon our neighbors. We are transitioning from five-acre parcels to somewhat smaller lot, and impact on our neighbors becomes more prevalent.

Investment in infrastructure by this council will one day be considered forward-thinking and responsible. We have some work in front of us! QCBN

By Darryl Croft

Chino Valley Mayor Darryl Croft is in his second year as mayor and previously was a council member.

Growing Peppers: Hot, Hotter, Extreme

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I’m a salsa gardener, and proud of it! The bulk of my gardens are dedicated to tomatoes, tomatillos, cilantro, onions, chives and peppers.

The most exciting, tastiest, most versatile of new plants for a kitchen garden are peppers. Sweet or spicy, too hot or soothingly mild, peppers can be used for salsa, savory jelly, and for my favorite dish…stuffed and grilled.

Because Prescott and its surrounding area have a limited growing season for peppers, they should be started indoors eight to 10 weeks before our average last spring frost, around May 8. They can be transplanted to garden soil or containers when daytime temperatures are at least 70°F, and nighttime temperatures are at least 55°F. Peppers can be sown directly into the garden two to four weeks after the risk of frost but will be slow to start without the help of a greenhouse. With a bit of protection, most of our summer fruiting plants can be started now.

Helpful Idea

I start my first crop of summer vegetables with the help of plant protectors, also called “Wall of Watters.” These mini-greenhouses are filled with water and warm the soil around plants to prevent damage from frost. We have them here at Watters Garden Center, and for less than Amazon’s price. 

From personal experience, here are some of my tips and tricks on sowing and growing the best peppers:

Fertilizer

Fertilize if your seed-starting medium does not contain fertilizer. However, no fertilization is needed until seedlings develop the second set of leaves, known as “true” leaves.

Use Watters “Flower Power 54”  at two-week intervals and your peppers will be larger and overly abundant. Fertilize regularly and your plants will develop sturdier stems and large numbers leaves. Not only do large plants have more fruit-producing potential, the luxuriant leaves provide shade for the fruit, preventing sun scald.

Color Change

Most peppers start out one color, often green, and ripen to another color. As peppers ripen to their second color, the flavor sweetens, and the nutrients increase. By picking some fruit early, in the first color stage, you send a signal that the plant should create more seeds, which guarantees the continuation of the process of flower, fruit and seed maturity.

Hot, Hotter and Extreme

A class of compounds called capsaicin gives chili peppers their spiciness. Capsaicin occurs mostly in the light-colored ribs inside the pepper. The seeds contain very little or no capsaicin but are often hot because they come in contact with the capsaicin in the ribs.

Capsaicin has several health benefits. Studies show that it can increase metabolism, support appetite suppression, decrease heart disease, reduce pain perception. Oh, and cause heartburn (believe it or not)!

Like your peppers hot? The more mature the fruit, the hotter the pepper. Stress, such as drought, will also make peppers hotter. You can cause stress to the plant by cutting back on watering after fruits have started to develop. Just withhold enough water so the soil stays dry. Don’t allow your peppers to wilt or yields will be reduced significantly.

Aqua Boost prevents milder fruits from wilting. I created this special soil polymer that retains moisture at the plant’s roots in order to reduce wilt, decrease water needs and eliminate stress for sweeter vegetables. Visit the garden center for exact details.

The Scoville Scale, named for its creator Wilbur Scoville, measures the heat of peppers and other spicy foods. Some peppers such as bell peppers are sweet with almost no heat, while others, like the banana pepper, have mild amounts of heat.

Want to kick up the zing? Then go for peppers that are REALLY hot, like the cayenne and the habanero peppers. Peppers grow so well in the summer garden that it’s fun to mix the heat levels and their signature flavors. Guinness World Records regularly ranks the world’s hottest peppers, at over 2,000,000 Scoville units!

Hot Pepper Idea

Dry your hot peppers and then grind them. Place the grind in a shaker and use to spice up pizza, pasta, burgers, etc.

All of the peppers, herbs and vegetables sold at Watters are completely organic with no genetic modifications.

  

Until next issue, I’ll be here at Watters Garden Center helping gardeners grow better organic peppers. QCBN

By Ken Lain

Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his web site at WattersGardenCenter.com or FB.com/WattersGardenCenter

Family Owned Title Company Celebrating 15 Years in Sedona

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Pioneer Sedona branch manager Janet Gazda is a Northern Arizona native, albeit from Prescott, who initially dreamed of becoming a nurse.

“Except, nursing involved blood. And the thought of blood makes me nauseous,” said Gazda who eventually set her sights on the (almost) bloodless real estate industry.

She got her start in construction, overseeing a group that worked on stores and malls. That job led her to a position with the Association of REALTORS.

“I had a feeling something was not right and later discovered that a member of the team was embezzling,” said Gazda, who took the discovery as a sign. “After that, I was determined to only ever work for someone I could look straight in the eye and believe.”

The “someone” turned out to be NAU alum Keith Newlon, founder of Pioneer Title Agency.

“I took a position a couple years after we opened in Sedona,” said Gazda, who jumped in not only when it came to title and escrow, but in helping local realtors with continuing education, something she still champions on behalf of the office today.

And while Gazda would leave Sedona in 2010 for Scottsdale (for love!) before coming back in 2018, she always stayed with Pioneer. In fact, the mother of three – with four grandchildren and counting – has recruited one of her daughters into the business.

“My youngest is actually living in Cottonwood and working for our sister company, Yavapai Title Agency,” said Gazda, who has delighted in showing her daughter the ropes in recent years.

The only thing that gets her motor running more than that: an actual motor. When not busy at Pioneer or mentoring, Gazda and her husband are avid motorcyclists.

Like Gazda, Deb Staats has been a member of Pioneer Sedona since nearly day one. But her road to the industry – and Sedona – was perhaps even more winding.

“Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut, but thought I might settle for a pilot,” said Staats, a Michigan native, who went so far as to enter flight school.

Like Gazda, her potential career similarly made her nauseous.

“But not because of blood,” said Staats with a laugh. “For me, it was all those dizzying equations! I was far more artistically inclined, so I changed my field of study to art.”

She would graduate with a degree in the arts and move to Colorado, where she ran an art supply business for 14 years.

“In the 1980s, a boyfriend introduced me to Sedona. I fell in love…with Sedona, that is. Not the boyfriend,” said Staats, who moved to Sedona full time in 1986.

But, she was still nearly two decades from Pioneer.

“I actually opened my own gift shop – eScentuals, named and stylized that way for our popular scented potpourri wax some seasoned residents might remember – and ran it successfully for several years. I even met my husband thanks to the business,” said Staats, who sold it in 1993.

After the sale, Staats got into timeshare work.

“Of all things – I had a knack for handling timeshare closings,” said Staats.

By 2001, she moved over into title work full time, eventually joining Pioneer Sedona in 2004.

“It was right when we were getting the ‘Sedona Top 20’ off the ground,” said Staats, explaining that the Sedona Top 20 is an annual event wherein they work with local brokers to determine the top 20 realtors in the area each year and honor them – plaques and all – during a fabulous night of food and drink at a “wow” residential property in town.

But don’t let the fancy soirée fool you: Staats is tougher than many of us have had to be.

“In 2005, just as I took on the branch manager role for Pioneer, my husband was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor most will know as the type that took Senator John McCain’s life,” said Staats, noting the survival rate beyond a few years is nearly zero.

Staats would have to pull back from managing the branch, but somehow, the determined couple beat the odds together.

“And my husband is still with me,” said Staats, who championed Pioneer’s multi-year sponsorship and participation in Relay for Life in his honor. “Today, he’s a 14-year survivor, a medical miracle and inspiration to me daily.” QCBN

By Alison Bailin Batz, QCBN

Exploring the Condition Book at the Races

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Arizona Downs’ inaugural summer horse racing season is just around the corner. Thousands of fans will show up for our Memorial Day weekend celebration, but few will know everything that has gone on behind the scenes to prepare for our summer meet. Fans will be thrilled at the thundering sound of hooves racing to the finish line, but may not consider, for instance, how horses are selected to compete in any particular race.

Because “fan education” is a top priority for the management team at Arizona Downs, we’re taking every opportunity to explain the sport, including my role as Racing Secretary. The better you understand the sport, the greater the appreciation. Knowledge is also powerful if you happen to be a betting fan.

So, how are horses selected? It’s not a simple process, and it begins with what is known as the “Condition Book.” Sounds boring, but this book is a “must read” for anyone who is serious about competing in the industry – as a racehorse owner or trainer. It’s also a great tool for a serious bettor.

The Condition Book, which is my responsibility to produce, lays out the conditions, or criteria, that horses must meet in order to compete in each of our races. The conditions include: the sex and age of horses that can enter a race; the claiming price; the distance; and finally, specific conditions that a horse is eligible for relevant to accumulated career wins. For example, a maiden race is specifically for horses that have never won a race in their lifetime. But there are also races specifically for horses that have a career win, or multiple wins, within a specified period of time.

Another important sub-condition of each race is the weight allowance. A weight allowance may enable one horse to get into a race carrying less weight than other horses. A horse that hasn’t won a race within 30 days, for instance, may get a two-pound weight allowance over a horse that has had a recent win. An extra pound or two can make a huge difference at the finish line.

The most successful horsemen spend a great deal of time studying and analyzing this data to determine which races and qualifying conditions provide the best competitive advantage for each of their horses. Like any other sport, “scouting” is key to finishing first. A savvy bettor will study the Condition Book for the very same reason – to determine which horses have the best chances to win any given race on any given race day.

When you come to our summer races, you’ll immediately begin to see which betting fans are in it to win it. They’ll spend time at the Paddock, studying horses prior to their races. Just like football players, track runners and other athletes, horses can occasionally be off their game. Serious bettors also study the trainers and jockeys, and learn who is best suited to win races based on the given conditions.

As you can see, what I do is truly a science. But my end goal is always to create a racing season that is exciting for everyone — families who are new to horse racing, and more serious bettors who will be wagering on horses.

If you’re interested in learning more about the incredible sport of horse racing, you’re in luck. We’ll be hosting “fan education” workshops throughout our summer racing season. For more information, visit ArizonaDowns.com and “Like” our Facebook page for ongoing news and updates. QCBN

By Randy Wehrman

Randy Wehrman is the racing secretary at Arizona Downs. He has been a Kentucky racing official for nearly 35 years. His career includes several years serving as racing secretary and assistant racing secretary in various states.