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Travel Expo Helping You Decide Where to Go Next

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It’s time to get ready for Avenues of the World’s 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo. This year, the event will be held 5-8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 10, at the Doubletree by Hilton located at 1175 Historic Route 66 here in Flagstaff. There is no better place to be for happy hour!

Avenues of the World Travel has created this educational event for travelers like you. Meet with professionals behind the scenes, ask questions and learn what products are out there that you may not know about. Avenues of the World’s travel advisors will be on site to help guide you and answer questions. This is your chance to meet face to face with representatives of renowned cruise lines, hotel chains and tour operators to get the inside scoop on all things travel. Have you wondered what the new travel hot spots are for 2020, 2021 and 2022? Stop by the event and find out!

A few new things this year: taste an array of hors d’oeuvres from 5-6:30 p.m., and celebrate happy hour at the cash bar from 5-8 p.m. The first 300 guests can enjoy one welcome glass of champagne with compliments of
AmaWaterways.

There will be three new and exciting live presentations throughout the Expo this year. They will begin at 5:30 p.m., with Star Clippers, unique sailing adventures in style. Star Clippers is not a cruise ship in the ordinary sense. If you love sailing, this is an exciting option for you. There are no rigid schedules and you are free to do as you wish with your days and evenings. Discover firsthand what makes them so special!

At 6 p.m., attendees will be able to join Natural Habitat Adventures in discovering our planet together. Get ready for life-enhancing nature and wildlife experiences and learn how every trip supports the World Wildlife Foundation to preserve our natural world.

The final live presentation will be given by Avenues of the World Travel at 6:30 p.m. Learn how to Travel Like a Pro, with insider tips and tricks of the trade. We’ll learn how to create a five-year travel plan, cash in on early booking bonuses, leverage promotions and about the benefits of using a travel advisor.

Let us show you how we can help to enhance your next vacation. There will be one giveaway at the end of each presentation.

Avenues of the World Travel is excited to offer booking specials on site, featuring as much as $250 per person discounts, future trip deposits as low as $40 and special amenities such as extra shipboard credit, free vacation excursions, upgrades and more. Gift cards will also be available for purchase on site. No matter what you’re planning, or if you want to surprise a loved one, the award-winning travel advisors have you covered.

So, who will be at the Expo this year? For the cruise lines: Celebrity Cruises, Viking Cruises, AMAWaterways, Seabourn Cruises, Holland America Cruise Lines, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises, Star Clippers, Lindblad Expeditions, Silversea Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Un-Cruise, Windstar, Ponant, Paul Gauguin, Norwegian Cruise Lines.

For the tour operators: Classic Vacations, African Travel, Travel Impressions, AMResorts, Natural Habitat Adventures, Backroads, Rocky Mountaineer, G Adventures, Brendan Vacations, Trafalgar Tours, Insight Vacations, Zegrahm Expeditions, TCS Private Jet Travel and Context Tours.

Don’t miss your chance to enter the Northern Arizona Travel Expo Raffle! Prizes range from gift cards to gift baskets, all the way to three-night hotel stays. Only event attendees are eligible to win.

The event is free to all, so bring the entire neighborhood to the 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo 5-8 p.m., Thursday Oct. 10, at the Doubletree by Hilton located at 1175 Historic Route 66 in Flagstaff. The team at Avenues of the World Travel is excited to see you there! For questions about the expo, please call us at 928-556-0853 or email Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com. QCBN

By Daniela Harrison 

Daniela Harrison is a Travel Advisor and Director of Marketing at Avenues of the World Travel in Flagstaff, AZ. For questions, please reach out via 928-556-0853 or Daniela@avenuesoftheworld.com.

What’s Good for the Heart is Good for the Brain

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In honor of Active Aging Week 2019, we are thinking about all aspects of health and how tending to our physical needs can keep us going strong throughout our lives. One of the hardest-working muscles in your body – your heart – has a significant impact on the functionality of the body’s other organs. Your brain relies on your heart to deliver a continuous blood supply, so the healthier your heart, the lower your risk of developing dementia and heart disease. You can improve both your heart and your brain with just a few simple changes.

Stick to a Healthy Diet

Eating clean, nutritious meals is one of the best things you can do for your body and your mind. Those who maintain a healthy diet typically have lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels as well as a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Foods that are good for both brain and heart health include vegetables, fruits, whole grains, lean meat and fish. Limiting trans and saturated fats is another beneficial change you can make for your overall health.

Let Yourself Indulge

While we still recommend moderation when it comes to sweets, letting yourself indulge in treats like dark chocolate can offer your heart some benefits. As long as the dark chocolate is high in cacao content (and low in added sugar), consuming it in moderation offers a good source of antioxidants, lowers your risk of heart disease and increases blood flow to the brain.

 

Keep Moving

Sitting is the new smoking, according to a study performed by the Mayo Clinic. While it may sound like an extreme claim, it holds true. After just 30 minutes of sitting, our body’s metabolism slows down by 90%, good cholesterol drops by 20%, and we become more likely to develop high blood pressure and blood sugar.

Moving for just five minutes after 30 minutes of sitting can greatly improve your health over time. This small amount of movement will help protect your muscles from deteriorating, increase your energy and assist you in keeping off unwanted weight.

Maintain Friendships

The next time a friend or family member suggests you get together, say yes. Studies show that routinely interacting with friends and loved ones can improve your physical health by strengthening your immune system and fighting off common sicknesses. While all social interactions can improve your health, face-to-face interactions are best. QCBN

By Nicholas Brown

Nicholas Brown is a kinesiologist and certified fitness professional as well as manager of the Touchmark Health & Fitness Club. Membership is open to anyone 50 years old and older, and guest consultations are available to meet with a professional to cater a program to an individual’s needs. To reach Brown or for more information, call 928-708-3133.

Lisa Dahl Does it Again as Butterfly Burger Takes Off

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http://scottdyates.com

She has taken the burger to a whole new dimension,” exclaimed Diane Lange of Sedona after savoring Chef Lisa Dahl’s Gringo Burger. “It’s the freshness mixed with special herbs and spices that make it unique and cosmopolitan.”

The all-natural, certified Black Angus creation with white aged cheddar and Louis remoulade on a bed of shredded romaine and crispy onion strings served on an artisan bun and topped with a sweet baby gherkin pickle was the Scottsdale Burger Battle People’s Choice Winner in 2016. The Gringo Burger also was one of many crowd-pleasers served at the Butterfly Burger VIP Grand Opening Party in the Village of Oak Creek on Wednesday, Sept. 18.

Mark McClune, sports reporter and anchor for Phoenix television stations CBS 5 and 3TV, praised the Oui Oui Monsieur! “It’s the best patty melt I’ve ever had. From the herbs to the bread to the cheese, everything is blended so perfectly. I can’t imagine going anywhere else from now on.”

“A great burger is like a metaphor of culinary perfection,” said Dahl. “Every single layer matters. For me, it’s about taking each ingredient and giving it its own personality to achieve the OMG effect.”

Butterfly Burger is a first-of-its-kind “couture burger lounge” serving Dahl’s award-winning burgers and plant-based vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options paired with imaginative sides, robust salads, boozy milkshakes and an expansive craft beer and bourbon selection. From classic to extravagant, the menu features more than a dozen signature burgers, including those that have taken home top honors at the Scottsdale Burger Battle three years running.

“The success at these competitions was very encouraging to Chef Dahl,” said Butterfly Burger Social Media Manager Eric Nguyen, “especially because at the time she wasn’t offering gourmet burgers at any of her restaurants.”

Dahl introduced fine dining to Sedona in the late ‘90s with the opening of Dahl & Di Luca, which continues to draw national attention, and has since expanded to become the largest restaurant group in the area with accolades spanning the culinary spectrum. Today, her Dahl Restaurant Group also owns and operates the highly acclaimed Cucina Rustica, Pisa Lisa and Mariposa Latin Inspired Grill.

“Lisa has been using us for her organic fruits and vegetables since her first restaurant, Dahl & Di Luca,” said Bob McClendon of McClendon’s Select Organic Farm in the Salt River Valley. “She is very passionate about what she cooks with and very particular about quality dining and using local produce. It’s what she stands for and what she’s delivering.”

“I believe my reputation as a ‘burger master’ came about because I take every detail of creating my tantalizing burgers as very serious business,” she said. “It doesn’t matter if it’s a roasted beet or a gourmet burger, I think of burgers as its own art form. I believe in customizing the special seasoning and sauces for each to shine on its own. From slow-cooked caramelized onions, sultry sauces and a good aged cheese, I live for combinations that bring the robust flavors out in every bite.”

The 2,500-square-foot, ultra-luxe Butterfly Burger restaurant was designed by Dahl to embody a chic, high-end lounge with dark mushroom-wood-lined walls, exotic faux alligator-like booths, an open-display kitchen and a sleek, marble bar with a rolling library ladder for easy access to the connoisseur-level selection of 40 bourbons and spirits on display.

Butterfly Burger is located within Sedona Vista Village, a redevelopment project currently underway by Martin Aronson, who is transforming the former outlet center into a mixed-use destination with restaurants, retail and a new 120-room hotel, Element by Westin. Dahl says this will be the flagship location for the Butterfly Burger concept, which she hopes to expand beyond Northern Arizona.

“As the gateway to Sedona, The Village of Oak Creek is long overdue for a culinary scene of its own,” said Dahl. “I opened Cucina Rustica in The Village 16 years ago and it was the only fine-dining option in the area. Today, Cucina is busier than ever and I have no doubt Butterfly Burger will thrive in this community and make a name for itself nationally.”

Dahl is one of the country’s leading female chefs and restaurateurs who has pioneered the culinary scene in Sedona for more than 20 years. A James Beard House-featured chef and completely self-taught, she is widely credited for Sedona’s emergence as a national “foodie destination.”

Recently honored with the “Best Chefs of America Hall of Fame Award” by National Elite, a national restaurant industry organization, Dahl also was named “Top Chef” in 2018, the most prized honor by The Foodist Awards, Arizona’s most prestigious culinary award presented by the Arizona Restaurant Association.

Butterfly Burger, at 6657 State Route 179 B1, is now open for lunch and dinner daily from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Along with gourmet burgers, the restaurant is home to a dozen signature sauces, which Dahl plans to roll out in specialty grocery stores.

For more information, visit ButterflyBurger.com or call 928-862-4448. QCBN

 

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Reducing Workers’ Compensation Claims

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According to a recent study reported by Property & Casualty 360 that was conducted by Lieberman Research Worldwide, 42% of companies that provide their employees access to voluntary accident and disability insurance saw a reduction in their Workers’ Compensation claims. Reduction of Workers’ Compensation claims is an important goal for business owners and their risk management team. In fact, reducing Workers’ Compensation claims is most likely among risk managers’ top priorities.

Since offering voluntary accident and disability insurance helps alleviate Workers’ Compensation claims for businesses, business owners should consult with their broker or insurance agent in order to get advice on the potential benefits of offering accident and disability insurance to employees. Businesses will see positive results from giving their broker or agent direct access to their employees in order to educate them on these policies and how they work. It is important that your broker or agent partners with you in order to understand the unique needs of your workforce in order to ensure that the right products are selected. This is the ideal way to mitigate risk through voluntary accident and disability insurance. Surprisingly, when employers were asked whether they currently make voluntary accident and disability insurance available to their workers, 36% say that they do not offer voluntary accident and 27% report that they do not offer voluntary disability policies. This represents a significant opportunity for business owners to consider the potential benefits of accident and disability insurance.

One of the key areas worth exploring in more detail is the impact of off-the-job injuries on business costs. Although not every business has issues with an uptick of Monday morning Workers’ Compensation claims, it is worth taking a deeper look at your company’s claims data. The National Safety Council reports that every 10 minutes, 729 people will suffer an injury that is significant enough to require medical care. In economic terms, this means that there is an impact of $15 million every 10 minutes, or $90 million in one hour.

Savvy employers are recognizing that there are benefits to addressing safety outside of work as part of an overall strategy to promote effective productivity, profits and management of healthcare costs. In other words, offering accident and disability policies is an opportunity for companies to potentially save money without having to spend it.

Making accident and disability insurance available to employees can decrease frequency of Workers’ Compensation claims and may also reduce absenteeism at no cost to the business bottom line. QCBN

By Linda Mast, Ph.D.

Linda J. Mast, MBA, Ph.D., is a licensed independent agent and benefits consultant with Aflac. She has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare administration, health policy, insurance benefits, and education. Linda dedicates her professional practice to providing individualized service to business owners in order to recommend strategic approaches to using voluntary benefits. She is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives, a professor in Healthcare Administration, and is a frequently invited speaker on healthcare industry trends and business strategy. To reach Linda, call (928) 582-1074 or email Linda_Mast@us.aflac.com.

 

The Southwest Wine Center at Yavapai College Wins Environmental Excellence Award of Distinction

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Yavapai College’s Southwest Wine Center, located on the Verde Valley campus in Clarkdale, won the Award of Distinction at the Arizona Forward 39th Annual Environmental Excellence Awards Gala on Sept. 21. The honor recognizes the Southwest Wine Center as a leader in adopting environmentally sustainable practices for a better Arizona.

The Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence awards, presented in partnership with the Salt River Project, recognize projects, businesses, and individuals that support environmental sustainability and stewardship in Arizona.

The Southwest Wine Center won in the Governor’s Award for Arizona’s Future category, specific to programs that nurture “Arizona’s future through creative initiatives, public policies and/or collaborative efforts that enhance the state’s environmental quality, economic vitality and sustainability.”

Environmentally sustainable practices, such as reusing reclaimed Grade A+ effluent water and conserving water via an advanced drip system, led to securing the award.

Michael Pierce, Director of the Viticulture and Enology programs at the Southwest Wine Center, accepted the award on behalf of Yavapai College. “We are proud to be acknowledged as a leader in environmentally sustainable practices in Arizona. Although our primary goal is to teach students the skills and knowledge they need to be a success in the wine industry, we also stress the importance of cultivating a climate-appropriate agricultural crop using sustainable water conservation practices,” said Pierce.

The Southwest Wine Center is the only program of its kind in Arizona, offering hands-on instruction in both Viticulture (science of grape growing) and Enology (science of winemaking). The programs immerse students in real-world experiences, which cannot be duplicated in a classroom setting alone.

The Southwest Wine Center at Yavapai College is located at 601 Black Hills Drive in Clarkdale. The wine tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday from Noon to 6 p.m. For more information, contact lisa.russell@yc.edu or 928.634.6566. Learn more about their academic programs and resources by going online to www.southwestwinecenter.com.

 

People with Disabilities at Higher Risk for Flu

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Getting the flu can be an unpleasant event for even the most stoic among us. But, for a person with a disability, it could become a serious threat.

While not all people with disabilities are at higher risk for the flu or having unrecognized symptoms, there are groups that are more susceptible. These include individuals with limited mobility, those unable to communicate symptoms, those unable to limit contact with others and those who have trouble understanding or practicing preventative measures.

As someone who cares for people with disabilities, I can’t stress enough the importance of getting a flu shot if you live with a disability or if you care for someone with a disability. When you’re in a higher risk group, you especially want to try to prevent catching the flu, and a flu shot – with your physician’s approval – offers the best chance of this.

Individuals with physical or cognitive disabilities may be at a disadvantage when it comes to the flu. People with physical disabilities or with conditions that affect their immune systems – like chronic or respiratory diseases – may have a higher risk of getting flu-related complications like pneumonia. This may cause them to suffer the flu symptoms more severely and could even require hospitalization. Individuals with cognitive impairments also may be affected more by the flu if they have conditions that limit their ability to process information or make decisions.

A cognitive impairment may affect a person’s ability to follow through on preventative measures like hand-washing. It also can limit an individual’s ability to self-monitor symptoms or to avoid contact with people who are already sick.

Symptoms of the flu can include a fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, body aches, chills and/or fatigue. The flu has symptoms similar to the common cold. The way to tell the difference is to get a flu test from your physician within the first few days of your symptoms.

The flu spreads from person to person, often through coughing or sneezing. For individuals with or without disabilities, precautions for avoiding the flu remain the same:

Get a flu shot as soon as it becomes available in your area.

Wash your hands often with soap and water.

Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid close contact with people who are already sick.

Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze.

Practice good health habits such as getting plenty of sleep and exercise, managing your stress and drinking plenty of fluids.

 

If you suspect you have the flu, see your physician immediately, and try to stay away from others as much as possible – especially if you are a caregiver of a person with a disability. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that individuals stay home for at least 24 hours following a fever.

If you are caring for someone with a disability who has the flu, keep the person comfortable and follow the recommendations of his or her physician. You also can help keep others healthy in the home by putting the sick person in a separate area, washing hands and household surfaces frequently, and providing good ventilation in the home. Prevention can go a long way in helping everyone stay healthy this flu season. QCBN

 

By Patrick Mahaney, M.D.

Patrick Mahaney M.D., is the associate medical director at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.

 

Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital is a 44-bed, free-standing rehabilitation hospital that provides intensive physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from strokes, brain, spinal cord and orthopedic injuries, and other impairments as a result of injury or illness. For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.

 

3700 N. Windsong • Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 • (P) 928-759-8800• (F) 928-775-7781 • MVRRH.ernesthealth.com

 

How to Reduce Background Noise

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Have you ever noticed the background noise in a restaurant or other gathering area? Some spaces seem to promote noise, while others don’t. Some areas seem to boost background noise by using hard reflective surfaces, seating that is close together, high ceilings and music piped into the seating area. What is the reasoning when creating places that are not comfortable to sit and have a conversation? For restaurants, the management wants to have the tables turned over to the next patron as quickly as possible. If you sit and chat, it takes up space and reduces the seating for the next people coming in the door. They want you to eat and go! Notice in high-end restaurants, you will pay extra for carpet, very soft music, sound dampening tablecloths and cloth napkins. They want you to stay and order more food and drink.

Other places with history of noise issues are gyms, meeting rooms and churches. When you have large rooms with hard surfaces, the sound produced by the people in the room will bounce around and cause distortion. This makes it difficult to understand what is being said.

Noise Sources

Sound mitigation is a hot topic in any environment that people frequent in groups. Environments with small numbers of people rarely have the problem with background noise. Noise may be in the form of other people talking, laughing or moving around. It may be noise from air conditioners or heating units running. It may be outside traffic noise or the sound of music playing. All sound that is not your primary focus may be interpreted as noise. Persons with hearing loss have more difficulty focusing on the desired sound or speech while ignoring the unwanted sounds. In a large group of people, the room size and acoustic properties may be part of the problem of ignoring unwanted sound. If you plan to change the room acoustics, it is important to decide what the problem is before investing in remedies.

Options to Reduce Noise

Noise reduction comes in a variety of forms. You can cover windows with heavy draperies that specifically mention noise reduction on the packaging. Once I purchased simple heavy (adorable) curtains for my office, which did not help reduce the sound echo at all. I ended up taking them back to the store and purchased curtains designed to absorb sound. It made a significant difference in reducing the amount of sound bouncing around the examination rooms.

Place upholstered furniture with plush fabrics in the room to absorb sound. Thick fluffy toss pillows and throws will help maximize noise absorption. Thick carpet and padding are also valuable in reducing sound reflection.

Installing porous fabric-covered false beams on vaulted ceilings will provide some sound absorption and sound deflection. You may want to add acoustical foam ceiling tiles directly over the existing ceiling. This type of foam comes in a variety of colors, is lightweight and is easy to install. YouTube videos offer a plethora of ideas for installing the foam products. In some rooms, you may want flat foam to absorb sound and in other rooms, you may want foam with an irregular surface to diffuse the sound energy. This would help reduce echo of sounds.

Another idea is to place freestanding room dividers or screens covered with a special sound absorbing fabric in the room. These panels are made of material that absorbs sound rather than allowing it to bounce away. These panels offer visual privacy as well. Sound-deadening paint is available to spray or roll onto walls or ceilings. This paint is able to reduce the frequencies of background speech but not the low frequencies of traffic or air conditioner rumble.

Acoustic wall panels are used for absorbing and diffusing sound. You’ll need to do a little research before putting up the panels. You’ll also want to find reflection points in the room and place the panels at ear level. Are people usually standing in the room to be treated or sitting? Panels on adjacent walls can prevent the sound from bouncing back and forth between parallel walls.

Doing the Research

Sound mitigation can be confusing, making it important to find out what is the best treatment for your area. Sound in a music room is treated differently than sound in a meeting room or restaurant. There are professionals who specialize in treating room noise and are a great resource for your project. QCBN

By Karon Lynn, Au.D.

Trinity Hearing Center is located at 1330 N. Rim Dr., Suite B in Flagstaff. For more information, visit 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.

Plant the Best Fall-Colored Trees Now

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Not all trees are created equal when it comes to autumn colors, and this is their season. Autumn is also the ideal planting window for trees and tall shrubs. Increased garden success is achieved when plants are showing their colors. The days are cool and the soil is warm, so plants start with a burst of new root growth.

Most properties don’t have many trees. You can count on one hand the number of trees in the average landscape. Trees stand out in any landscape like anchors that bring together the foundation of a good plan. Also, don’t forget that trees increase the value of your landscape more than spas and grills.

Don’t waste money by cutting corners. Trees are where the landscape value is and no place to pinch pennies. Buy the best-looking tree you can find; bigger is better. Nice looking trees at the garden center turn into big, bold specimens as they mature. An ugly tree only stays ugly its entire life. Cut landscape dollars on shrubs, flowers and hedges so your budget can afford a few specimen-sized trees to enhance your outdoors. Below are the showoffs of fabulous fall foliage.

Red Prescott Maple

This very fast growing shade tree blazes in reds and orange through autumn. It produces a tall, narrow tree with ascending branches more resistant to wind and storm damage. Widely used as a street tree, driveway lining or any place tight spaces demand, the red Prescott maple will not spread past 20 feet with the brightest of reds in fall.

Flame Maple

This little maple is famous for blazing red foliage that ignites a landscape. It is well adapted to mountain clay soils, sun, wind and cold winters. Once rooted in a landscape, it’s easy on irrigation, and perfect for fire-wise landscape needs. Though sometimes mistaken for a Japanese Maple, this mountain variety is the far hardier of the two trees. Whether grown as a short, multi-trunk tree or a 10-foot shrub, it is on my list of preferred “water-wise” plants.

Ornamental Pistachio

These trees are for gardens that are exposed to the wind and subjected to micro-bursts or other weather anomalies. This autumn show-off thrives not only in harsh environments but also neglect. The attractive umbrella shape turns a brilliant crimson; no other tree produces such a vibrant, broad range of fall reds and orange. It can serve dozens of uses: as a shade tree, street tree, accent or first yard specimen. The ornamental pistachio is the ideal choice for flanking driveways, or planted in pairs to meet overhead at street sides. Grow this colorful low-water-need tree against a solid evergreen background to provide intense contrast to any landscape.

Aristocrat Pear

This is the last tree to turn autumn red, which happens in December, but it also celebrates the other three seasons of the year. It produces gigantic masses of white flowers in spring before the leaves appear, followed by glowing green leaves through summer that are disease- and bug- resistant. In winter, the clean winter outline is upright to pyramidal when young and becomes broadly oval at maturity, which resists wind damage. The autumn colors are disputed to be brighter than maple and rival the purple of Raywood ash.

Regal Petticoat Maple

This newly developed tree is striking as a shade tree. Large maple leaves are glossy green with a dark velvet purple underside. In autumn, the leaves are equally striking with aspen gold on top and a bright magenta pink on the bottom with accents of red, orange and salmon throughout the tree. The regal petticoat maple thrives in our high pH soils and matures above 35 feet with age. Petticoat has proven itself even in commercial landscapes and is very hardy against wind damage.

Quaking Aspen

For the past four years, the undisputed best seller here at Watters Garden Center is quaking aspen, Populus tremuloides, or trembling leaf poplar. Growing in the wild at 6,000-foot-plus elevations, it does well as a cultivated specimen. Aspens have the classic pure white bark like a birch, but unlike a birch, handle our clay soils even better. True to their name, the dainty leaves shiver and quake at the slightest breeze. For a natural look with aspens, plant them in clusters or buy a clump of aspens in the same container. They are social trees and like to hang out together in groupings. These are best planted before the Thanksgiving holiday.

 

Until next issue, I’ll be helping gardeners plant just the right trees here at Watters Garden Center. 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 .

 

 

Financial Well-Being and the Importance of Feeling Secure

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When it comes to discussing your finances, it can sometimes feel like a complex math problem. There’s a bottom line that you’re trying to make add up, and the way to get there is by exploring facts and figures.

And, there’s no way around it, the numbers are important. When we meet with our clients, we discuss retirement vehicles, market performance and safe money versus at-risk money, to name a few. But there’s something else that’s important to discuss: feelings about finances. One term we like to use to approach this topic is financial well-being.

Often, people can confuse having wealth with having financial well-being, but let us explain how they are different. You could measure the wealth of your co-workers, friends and family by reviewing the accumulation of money or positions that they have and comparing it with your own. But financial well-being is different. It’s a sense of financial security that comes from being confident that you have enough resources to cover your financial needs — and it is unique to everyone.

Let’s take a moment to break that down a bit further and examine characteristics of someone who exhibits financial well-being. Here are a few signs that we believe show this.

For one, they have control over their daily, monthly and even annual expenses. They typically have a budget that they refer to frequently. They dedicate time to plan out their financial life and allocate money to different expenses, even before the expense might arise. They are also able to meet and overcome a financial shock that may land in their lap.

Another characteristic is that they are typically on track to meet their financial goals. Maybe they are saving for a down payment on a house, or simply squirreling away for retirement, but they have planned their work and are now working their plan.

Finally, those with financial well-being often possess a certain amount of financial freedom that allows them to make decisions to help them enjoy their desired quality of life. Whether that is taking a family vacation or splurging on a new boat, people with financial well-being have control over their finances.

They can make choices to spend their money how they want to, not always how they have to.

Even though there are some common characteristics, at American Financial Security, LLC we realize this isn’t a one-size-fits-all model. In order to get to a place of financial well-being, you may have to think about what you envision for your life, how you want to live and the choices that you need to make now in order to land there in the future.

For some people, it is natural to measure their financial well-being, but if you don’t fall into that category, it might be useful to get into the habit of what we will call “taking your financial emotional temperature.”

Maybe you need to be reminded to do it at an annual visit with your financial services professional, or maybe it is during tax season when you are meeting with your accountant —either way, it can be helpful to find a time to stop and reflect once every year or so and analyze how you feel about your financial situation.

We make sure to remind all our clients to take the time to take their financial emotional temperature each year, because we know how valuable it is. Not only can it help you understand what financial well-being is, but you’ll be able to evaluate if you are on a path to get to your own financial well-being.

At the end of the day, that’s where we all want to be. QCBN

By Ronald Stevenson and Barbara Clark Stevenson

Ronald F. Stevenson & Barbara Clark Stevenson own American Financial Security, LLC. 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.

 

Ronald F. Stevenson offers Advisory services through American Financial Investments LLC a Registered Investment Advisor in Arizona. Insurance products and services are offered through American Financial Security, LLC. American Financial Investments LLC and American Financial Security, LLC are affiliated companies.

 

Rapid Tension-Release Massage Reducing Pain, Promoting Recovery

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Rapid Tension-Release Massage, also known as vibration or percussion massage, uses rapid movement to ease muscle tension and reduce aches and pains. This specialized massage technique provides concentrated, rapid, short-duration pulses deep into the hard-to-reach muscles and tissues. The short, rapid pulses stimulate blood flow and relax tight muscles, ligaments, tendons and the fascia that covers and connects all the body’s soft tissues and organs.

Vibration massage can be applied to any part of the body that can receive other massage strokes, and usually comes near the end of a massage once the muscles are somewhat relaxed and warm. Rapid Tension Release Massage movements are performed for relatively short but even sequences or duration over specific areas of the body. The vibrations are not too hard or aggressive or continued in one area for a long period of time to avoid overstimulation of the skin, muscles or nerves in that area.

Massage Envy’s Rapid Tension-Release Massage is a breakthrough treatment for those suffering from chronic pain or pain caused by injury or overuse. Gentle massage strokes and stretch to the muscles and connective tissues are combined with the Hypervolt massage device, which has varying speed and intensity settings that can deliver up to 3,200 percussions or vibrations per minute.

The lightweight and ergonomic design with four different attachments allows for an individualized and effective massage experience. The rapid vibrations can be either soothing or stimulating, depending on the pressure and/or the speed of the vibrations.

The Rapid Tension-Release Massage causes muscle contractions that can be up to 30 times stronger than regular voluntary contractions. The results include:

Decreased pain

Increased muscle strength, tone and recovery

Better balance and stability

Relaxation of tight and thickened connective tissue and fascia

Break down of adhesions and internal scar tissue present after injuries or surgery

Increased blood, oxygen and nutrient flow throughout the body

Increased circulation of the lymphatic system

Elongated muscle fibers

Improved range of movement and flexibility

Less stiffness in joints

 

Other health benefits of the Rapid Tension-Release Massage include:

Lower blood pressure

Enhanced immune system

Improved sleep

Elimination of toxins

Better mood

Smoother digestion and elimination

Healthy skin

Balanced autonomic nervous system

Stimulation of internal organs

Rapid Tension-Release Massage is beneficial for those who may suffer from:

Muscle soreness, spasms and cramps

Muscle injury due to trauma, surgery or disease

Sports-related injuries and overuse of muscles

TMJ syndrome

Bursitis

Tendonitis

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Sciatica

Fibromyalgia

Benefits to Those Who Have Some Paralysis

The high-vibration massage also is very beneficial for those who have full or partial paralysis from an injury or disease. The vibrations cause the muscles to contract on their own. This means it can be very beneficial to those who are unable to move or stretch a particular muscle or area of the body. The Rapid Tension-Release Massage stimulates the muscles and prevents non-use atrophy while also improving muscle and nerve responses.

Massage is an important tool in overall mental and physical health. Incorporate Rapid Tension-Release into your next Massage Envy session and experience the benefits for yourself! QCBN

By Mark Love

For more information about Massage Envy’s Rapid Tension-Release Massage, the benefits of massage and to schedule an appointment with a massage therapist, visit MassageEnvy.com, call 928-778-ENVY (3689) and follow on Facebook at Facebook.com/MassageEnvyPrescott. Schedule an appointment online – your time, your convenience, your massage. Mark Love is the Franchisee of Massage Envy Spa – Prescott, located at 120 E. Sheldon St., by the Sprouts grocery store.