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Chiropractors Keeping Control System in Order

June 23, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Imagine your pain resolving. For many people I’ve met in my 32 years of providing natural family health care, this was very difficult to do. Many had been told that everything had been tried: the drugs, the shots, the therapies and even surgery had left them with continuing problems. Others had seen friends and family go through this process and decided they didn’t even want to try; they’ve decided to tough it out and just live with it.

Many years ago, after encountering so much frustration in patients, I decided to do all I could to help people resolve chronic, seemingly intractable conditions. I chose the methods that I felt held the most promise to get people well safely, effectively and for the lowest cost.

Chiropractic

Imagine a major healing system built on the premise that the body innately possesses the power to regulate itself and heal many of the problems that affect it from the inside out.

Our brain correlates phenomenal amounts of information to keep us in “Homeostasis” – health. An intricate web of nerves connects this marvel to the rest of the body so that the brain can perform its myriad tasks. Correcting and preventing interference in this complex system has been the goal of chiropractors since 1895.

There are many different ways of accomplishing this goal of keeping a good “Command and Control” system operating. At New Life Chiropractic, we tailor your care to you, taking into account specifics of your condition. Our patients have ranged from newborns to centenarians. In our office are many testimonials of patients who have been helped even though they had lost hope that they could be helped. We encourage you to visit us to discuss your concerns and to meet others with similar conditions that are glad they tried one more time.

Acupuncture

If there ever was “magic,” it has to be rooted in this ancient art of inserting tiny pins into specific points to relieve pain and correct imbalances that lead to good health. I, myself, hated injections all my life, so the thought of having this done to me, let alone performing this on others seemed impossible until I met Dr. Amaro, the director of the International Academy of Medical Acupuncture (I.A.M.A.), where I am now a fellow. In 1998, he calmed my fears and showed me how acupuncture could be performed very effectively and efficiently without pain or discomfort.

The purpose of acupuncture is very similar to chiropractic – to allow the energy of the body to flow unhindered through the body’s pathways. To this day, it seems miraculous that I can insert these delicate little pins into a knee or shoulder with advanced degeneration and within minutes, the pain recedes. This method has been a real boon for our patients.

Kinesiology/ Nutrition

A great help has been the addition of kinesiology, using muscle testing to gauge our body’s reaction to substances such as foods.What we consumeinflames our tissues and creates conditions such as many digestive disorders, cardiovascular problems, arthritis and many skin conditions. This method is accurate and inexpensive, yet it can have very profound effects with nothing more than a change in diet.

Physiotherapy

We utilize modalities such as ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation to reduce swelling and tone tissues. We also utilize exerciseto help restore flexibility and strength. QCBN

Check our website, newlifechiropracticaz.com, for other methods we employ to bring you the best in natural, drugless healthcare. Call us at 928-445-5818 to schedule a no-cost consultation to discuss how we may help you.

Gosar’s Bill Addressing Water Rights

June 20, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

U.S. Congressman Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S. (AZ-04) has introduced H.R. 4924, the Bill Williams River Water Rights Settlement Act of 2014 and made this comment:

“Water in our arid state is critical to our continued economic stability and is, of course, a limited resource on which there are many existing demands that need to be met. The settlement of tribal water rights claims is a priority in the State of Arizona.

“This bill is good for private property owners, settles an outstanding water rights settlement, and will result in a net water benefit to the basin.”

Background:

Reps. Trent Franks (R-AZ), Matt Salmon (R-AZ), David Schweikert (R-AZ), Ron Barber (D-AZ), Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) and Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) are all original cosponsors of the bill.

U.S. Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and John McCain (R-AZ) introduced a companion bill in the Senate (S.2503).

The bill would facilitate the achievement of a fair, equitable and final settlement of certain claims within the Bill Williams River watershed among the Hualapai Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior acting on behalf of itself and as trustee for the Tribe, its members and allottees, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Freeport-McMoRan.

In addition to securing certain water rights for the Tribe, the Tribe will also benefit from two non-Federal contributions provided by Freeport-McMoRan to: 1) support a tribal water supply study necessary for the advancement of a settlement of the Tribe’s claims for Colorado River water; and 2) enable the Tribe to purchase and secure Colorado River water rights to help facilitate a future comprehensive settlement.

As part of the agreement codified by this Act, Freeport-McMoRan will also transfer portions of Planet Ranch for use in the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program. The agreement will result in a net water benefit to the basin as Freeport-McMoRan has agreed to cap its use of water from the Wikieup Wellfield.

Alternative to Lengthy Hospital Stays

June 20, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

In the past, receiving intravenous medications meant a hospital stay. Now, thanks to home infusion companies like Altius Healthcare, the same medications can be provided by specialty pharmacists and administered by professional nurses in the cost effective comfort of the patient’s home or out-patient center.

Home infusion therapy is a means of supplying patients with necessary treatment and intravenous medication at home. Altius clinicians work with the patient’s physician on a plan of care for prescribed medications, duration and mode of infusion. Altius educates patients and caregivers on administration to help them become as independent as possible. This is particularly helpful in rural areas for patients who appreciate the comfort of home over the stress of constant trips to medical facilities.

Prescott based Altius Healthcare is owned by local Pharmacist Kevin Nestrick and was formed in 1990 under the franchise name of Option Care of Arizona, with a service area that covered Northern and Central Arizona. Today Altius operates statewide with locations in Phoenix, Flagstaff, Show Low, Payson, Casa Grande, Tucson, Sierra Vista and Yuma. Kevin says, “Our presence in the rural health care markets has brought value to local medical communities with the ability to service local physicians and hospitals with the same level of service as would be expected in metropolitan centers”.

The name “Altius” is Latin for “higher”, which Nestrick says perfectly describes the higher level of service and care they provide throughout Arizona. Kevin has been a member of the National Community Pharmacists Association since 1984 and currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Home Care Services, steering and advisory committees. NCPA ® represents America’s community pharmacists, including the owners of more than 23,000 community pharmacies, pharmacy franchises and chains. The Altius professional staff also is active in National Home Infusion Association (NHIA) a network of over 2,000 infusion sites throughout the USA.
This affiliation offers tremendous value to our Arizona patients through professional education and placement services for traveling patients. Altius earned an accreditation from the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), which means they meet or surpass outstanding levels of excellence in-patient care and maintain the highest quality clinical standards.

The Altius Healthcare central office is located at 1151 Iron Springs Road,
Suite G, Prescott, Arizona. For further information call 928.708.0025 or 1.800.531.2469 or our website, www.altiusaz.com or on Facebook

A Priority for Arizona’s Next Governor

June 19, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Three of Arizona’s five Democrat members of Congress last week joined all four of their Republican colleagues from the state to accomplish what a similar bipartisan majority in the Arizona Legislature did earlier this year: It loaded a badly needed shot in the arm for the small-business owners who generate almost every new job in the state and nation.

The U.S. House of Representatives voted to make permanent a tax provision that would allow small businesses to write off up to $500,000 in new equipment purchases, and some improvements to real property, instead of depreciating the costs over time. H.R. 4457, titled America’s Small Business Tax Relief Act of 2014, would provide small businesses with expensing levels that are permanent, predictable and at a level adequate to their needs.

This change to Section 179 of the federal tax code, which overwhelmingly passed the House on a 272-144 vote, would prevent the expensing level to fall all the way to $25,000 in 2014, after being at $500,000 from 2010 through 2013. It also indexes the level to inflation. In addition, the House also passed a bill that eases the tax burden on small businesses that change from taxable C-corporate status to S-corporate status.

A quick sample of the small-business owners benefitting from the H.R. 4457 expensing levels would include:

Your local pizza shop owner who might want to install new ovens and countertops that cost $100,000. He could deduct these capital improvements the same year he makes them, instead of waiting for the current 39 years to get his full depreciation.
A farmer considering equipment purchases of $300,000 could do so with much more ease, knowing it could all be deducted the year she bought it, instead of only $25,000 of it the first year.
A contractor looking to buy two work vehicles costing $60,000 would be more inclined to do so. Under current law, only $35,000 could be deducted—spread over five years—instead of all of it immediately.

On June 12, Arizona Democrats Ron Barber, Ann Kirkpatrick and Kyrsten Sinema joined Republicans Paul Gosar, Trent Franks, Matt Salmon and David Schweikert in supporting this pro-jobs legislation. Congressmen Raul Grijalva and Ed Pastor, both Democrats, voted against H.R. 4457. The measure now goes to the U.S. Senate for its consideration.

Earlier this year, a similar tax relief act, House Bill 2664, passed the Arizona Legislature with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. It, too, would have created an immediate state income tax allowance, similar to federal Section 179 expensing for qualifying business equipment investments valued up to $500,000.

In a tragic misreading of the needs of Arizona’s economy, Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed HB 2664 because “the money would be better utilized” on her spending priorities. Undaunted, NFIB is committed to vigorously lobbying Arizona’s next governor and the new Legislature next session to finally realize our own $500,000 allowance to spur new job creation.

Last week’s strong bipartisan House vote to pass H.R. 4457 is very encouraging to small business, especially as demonstrated by the votes of Arizona’s congressional delegation. If Congress and the president do succeed in making it federal law, Arizona’s next governor must match it. If Washington fails, then establishing the small-business expensing allowance in Arizona’s tax code will be all the more critical.

Fratello Marionettes at the Prescott Library

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Explore the science of marionettes and the puppeteers who bring them to life! Today we enjoy the exciting story of Aladdin as told by the Fratello Marionettes. This event will be Thursday, June 26th at 10:00 and 1:00. The Summer Fizz Boom Entertainment! programs are popular and fill up fast. Seating is on a first come, first served basis. For all ages. PPL will present a “Fizz Boom Entertainment!” performer every Thursday, June 5-July 24 at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Call 928.777.1537 for more information.

Giving Businesses Reap Rewards

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

The word “g-i-v-e” often spells more for the overall awareness of a business than any marketing or employee team-building program ever imagined by a company visionary.

“It gets the company name out in the community for the good that they do,” said Carol Chamberlain, regional manager of the Yavapai County Community Foundation (YCCF), an affiliate of the Arizona Community Foundation (ACF). “What they get most is a sense of corporate camaraderie unsurpassable with what it does for the team spirit within a company.”

There are many ways to give back to the community using individual or collective time, treasure and talent, as evidenced by the projects in which local firms are engaged. Whatever the route chosen – money, discounted products or services, fundraising events, in-kind donations or contributing to an endowment organization such as YCCF – the benefits to both donor and non-profit can be compelling.

Sixty-one charitable funds have been created by local businesses and residents through cash, real estate, marketable securities and other assets under the YCCF umbrella, according to Tracey McConnell, the foundation’s grants and operations coordinator. Professionally managed through the ACF, the funds are pooled statewide for economies of scale. Since 1993, YCCF has awarded more than $7.6 million in grants and scholarships throughout Yavapai County.

Philanthropy drives business, inspires customer loyalty and encourages employees to work together. McConnell said, “It’s camaraderie across the organization that you can feel. It’s palpable and that’s believable to me and calls me back as a customer.”

McConnell likened the process to planting roots. “What we are talking about here goes deep. The deeper the roots, the bigger the tree. It’s relationship-based, trust-based and very productive in terms of marketing. Companies get the biggest return on their investment in terms of outreach and involvement. It’s the least expensive marketing with the greatest return.”

Businesses launch philanthropy efforts for reasons ranging from a desire to give back to a feeling of responsibility for helping the communities they serve and whose citizens positively impact their bottom line. Philanthropists patronize other firms that partner with them on their donation programs. They also encourage other businesses to start their own charitable giving programs.

“To promote making a difference in the community” was the inspiration behind Fann Contracting’s Employees Making a Difference (FEMAD) in 2006. Forty-one employees now contribute to FEMAD, supporting seven non-profits through weekly or one-time payroll deduction, according to Kerri Vaughn, the company’s charitable donation administrator. Employees can choose one charity or many among a list determined each year by the company’s charitable contributions committee. The company matches plan donations dollar for dollar and FEMAD has raised $300,886 since the program began, Vaughn said. She noted that Fann is eager to share its process with other companies wanting to implement a similar program.

“Charitable giving pays back in so many ways,” said Ed Pattermann, owner of Windermere Real Estate Northern Arizona. “Not only helping your community and your own self-esteem, but it develops a tighter bond with people in the community in business relationships.”

Chamberlain explained, “It’s not what you ask for. It’s who asks who. Giving is to people. It’s not to causes. If you get people enthused about something, they want to participate. It’s my asking you. You are going to join that effort.”

Employers like to host or participate in events because they have employees “who want to become involved in the community,” she said. “They want a stake in it, a presence.”

Windermere’s efforts include an annual charity golf tournament in May, a community service day in October, agent contributions of a percentage of each property sale to the Windermere Foundation, and emerging needs throughout the year. Funding to local charities assisting families and children has totaled about $100,000 in the past 12 years, Pattermann said, with about $38,000 this year and last.

The Windermere Foundation Charity Challenge this spring celebrated the foundation’s quarter century of service with a Facebook contest awarding $25,000 in each of five regions to a charity receiving the most online votes. Yavapai Casa for Kids, nominated by the local Windermere offices, won by more than 1,000 votes in the region including Arizona, Nevada and Utah.

Ken Coleman, owner of Sir Speedy Printing and Marketing Services, said he likes to help with a discount on jobs for non-profits. The firm’s annual contributions amount to “somewhere between $15,000 to $20,000 a year,” he said. “You try to do what you can” for the many organizations seeking support during a given year.

“We have no specific dollar amount we budget each year,” Coleman noted. “We do not operate that way. We try to be flexible as we go through the year. We know how business is trending over the year. That’s the way I like to operate, to help out as many as I can…I like to spread it out and do a lot more smaller ones.”

There are so many ways that people can get involved in giving, Chamberlain said, starting with “making a selection of what you want to support. The exercise itself brings people inside the community. Peers get together and do something. Just the conversation will spur ideas.”

Competitive spirit emerges and “sparks the entire team to do something together for a common purpose,” she continued. “You involve so many people in your circle. I would ask the mailman to sponsor me when [he was] delivering the mail, my dry cleaner to give me a coupon. It’s like a ripple effect. You throw in a stone and it just grows.”

“This is a very generous community [with] very kind-hearted people,” Pattermann said. “So much goes unseen and unknown about how much businesses give. We try to make sure to do our part. The opportunities are there, everywhere. There are so many people in need.”

Businesses will be rewarded through a giving philosophy, Coleman predicted, urging that they “adopt whatever level [of funding] they can and set [it] aside…It’s like people tithing to their church…Here is the amount I can do to help out the local non-profits…Some organization will really appreciate it. It’s going to make somebody’s day.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau

Quad Cities Business News

Starting Online Business

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

A person who wishes to become a business owner but does not necessarily have the capital to start a brick and mortar business might consider an online business. You can reach millions through the Internet and determine how large you want your company to become. Although as easy as it might sound on paper, an online business still requires appropriate funding, strategic planning, a great product and a solid marketing plan. Here are a few tips on how to make your online business a success!

1. Have a Business Plan

I am always surprised at how many business owners have spent their life savings on their dream business, yet have never considered creating a solid marketing plan. Within two years and sometimes less, they sadly have to close their doors. It is crucial to understand the potential of your revenue stream, break-even duration and other factors you may encounter in the first three to five years of your operations. It is important to include where you want to be in the future. What will you do if you fall on hard times? A solid business plan will prepare you for the unexpected, whether it is good or bad.

2. Online Business Formalities

If you want an online business, you have to take the time to organize it correctly.

Most communities do not require a business license for people operating businesses out of their homes, but it is becoming more common as they see it as a source of revenue. Check with your city or town to see if you need a business license.

Next, you will need a sales tax number. As a business, if you sell an item that is shipped within the same state in which you live, then you will need to collect and pay sales tax for this transaction. To get a sales tax number, you will need to register and a number will be assigned to you. Also, wholesale companies will not do business with you if you do not have a sales tax number.

You will also need an IRS Tax ID Number. Simply go to www.IRS.gov. This ID number is also another name for your business. You certainly do not want to give out your social security number to everyone with whom you do business. Your IRS tax ID number shows that you are credible and valid so you can do business with larger companies.

3. Be Accountable, Invest Wisely

Any business venture is a RISK. Experts claim that most new businesses fail because they are undercapitalized. Businesses also fail because they don’t know how to track their cash flow and fall short in properly analyzing their expenses. If numbers aren’t your game, don’t hesitate to hire a professional to keep you on track.

Analyze your revenue and expenses every 90 days. If you are not on course with your business plan, make the necessary changes in your expenses. However, don’t make the mistake of just cutting back. You have to think outside of the box and be creative. There are many ways to improve your customer base.

4. Market Your Business Online

The online world is everything but static. Once you get your business up and running and you are driving revenue, it may be easy to put your feet up and relax. Don’t do it! Take this time to find new products, new services and new methods of marketing to take your company to the next level. Don’t underestimate the marketing value of social media or online advertising. Reach your customers on a one-on-one playing field. There is always something new to learn that could be applied to your business practices.

5. Network – Be Proactive

Networking is nothing new in the business world. Word of mouth marketing is still a principal part of any successful marketing plan. If you have the gift of gab, it can take your business in many directions. Create relationships and take advantage of the right business opportunities that may come your way. B2B partnerships may be the determining factor as to whether your company can ride out a storm.

6. Have a Solid Backend Software System
Be sure that you have the right ECommerce software. Your backend operation is the nucleus of your online storefront, so it is imperative to spend time analyzing the backend operations functionalities. Features include inventory management, credit card processing, reporting systems, analytics and more. Your backend operations should be accurate, measurable and provide real time data.

An online business may not be for everyone, but if you choose to explore it, always have an unbiased evaluation of your business. Be prepared to recognize and improve upon your mistakes. Rectify your errors faster than your competitors and spend your time on duties that drive revenue. QCBN

By Donna Werking

Best Use of Technology

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Last month’s article covered the common misconceptions of technology, but there’s a question unanswered: how do I use it to help my business? Before we dive into the ways technology can help, let’s find out how you’re using it by measuring against these three metrics:

Effectiveness

Do you have a one- or two-year strategic plan that identifies challenges and reflects your overall business objectives and goals?
Have you evaluated your technological infrastructure, budgeted appropriately for annual replacements of hardware and planned for growth?
Do you have an online marketing strategy clearly outlining your business’s online objectives, brand, identity, and messages?

Consistency

Are there policies in place for technology, online marketing and brand reputation management?
Do you have a stable and reliable infrastructure that can support growth?
Have you identified your online presence, audiences, developed engaging content and campaigns in alignment with your brand?

Sustainability

Are you proactively managing your technology and online marketing?
Are you proactively posting and engaging customers? Are you measuring these metrics on a consistent basis?
Are you re-evaluating and implementing revisions to your strategic, technology and online marketing plans?

If you answered “no” to any (or all!) of the above questions, you are not alone in this venture! We often don’t think of leveraging technology as a tool for success, because the only time we really recognize our technology’s importance is when it breaks – meaning more time and money spent, right? But what if we actually used technology the right way from the beginning? This time, not as just computers and the Internet, but as a partner in business.

Think in Threes

Where do you want to go? What are the steps and challenges to get there? How will we sustain these efforts? The answers are always different for each business, but the process remains the same:

– Plan. You never execute or implement anything without identifying a clear set of objectives and goals first, right? Building the foundation is single-handedly the most critical component in this process.

Develop a Strategic Plan to set your business objectives, goals and identify challenges and the resources needed to be successful. Once you have a clear idea where you’re going, it’s time to think about what infrastructure is needed to support your business’s growth by creating a Technology Plan. This includes an overview of your existing technologies, pain-points and frustrations you and your staff are experiencing, cultivating ideas for improving processes and enhancing efficiency, and other objectives in alignment with your strategic goals. The final step in the planning process is to create your Online Marketing Plan. This document identifies your business’s brand, identity and messages and concisely defines your online target audience. From researching successful competitors’ engagement tactics on social media, to selecting the appropriate social media outlets, to identifying brand reputation management pages such as Yelp, Google or UrbanSpoon, the online marketing plan is vital to building consumer awareness, increasing public visibility and expanding your audience.

– Implement. Your foundation is set, now it’s time to start executing your plans! First, implement the appropriate infrastructure needed to support growth and eliminate any operational frustrations by increasing efficiency. After all, the quicker you can manage the day-to-day processes, customers and other information pertinent to your business, the easier it will be to focus on what matters most – reaching your goals.

Your technology is now up-to-date and the staff is happy and more productive than ever, but now it’s time to implement policies to ensure your business’s brand is promoted as efficiently and consistently as possible. IT policy defines how your business will approach security, how technical issues will be handled and set rules for how technology is to be used in the workplace. Your online marketing policy will primarily focus on branding, identity, and online brand reputation management. The staff responsible for implementing your online marketing strategy will also be responsible for responding and engaging with your audience. Your staff should have a comprehensive understanding about how to manage both positive and negative customer feedback, content aligned with your brand and how each aspect of online marketing will be managed.

– Sustain. The investment of time, financial resources and dedication to achieving your business goals means that there needs to be a strategic approach to sustaining these efforts. Proactively managing technology and online marketing means that your business is able to easily adapt to the inevitable evolutions of technology and social media trends, leaving your business in a position to overcome obstacles and grow.

Using technology to build your brand and grow is a process and a big black hole of endless learning, but with proper planning, implementation and sustainability efforts, you will find that it will be the one thing that differentiates you from the competition – getting you to where you want to go. QCBN

Chalease Linderman is the owner and community development director of CommunIT, LLC

She can be reached at 928-443-8433. Visit the CommunIT website at azcommunit.com.

Smoki Events for July

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

Between Worlds: The Art of Peterson Yazzie, will be featured at the Smoki Museum. The opening exhibit is July 5th, with a children’s book signing at 3:00 pm. The exhibit will run through November.

July 26th, an estate sale will be featured, with a special collection of Zuni fetishes and necklaces. Offerings include pottery, baskets, Navajo jewelry, southwestern art and collectibles all available with fixed pricing.

The Smoki Museum is located at 147 North Arizona Avenue. www.smokimuseumorg.

Cowboy Tommy Meredith Brightening Prescott

June 17, 2014 By quadcities Leave a Comment

When Tommy Meredith was about eight or nine years old, his father signed him up for a sports tournament at the Phoenix YMCA. The tournament included swimming, running and even a card game. Meredith won the title of overall champion of his age group. He earned a five-inch high loving cup for his efforts.

He still has that trophy, which has been displayed for nearly 50 years on his headboard.

“It is a symbol to me that had an effect on my outlook for expectations in life,” he said. “It tells me if you have any kind of natural abilities, to try to use them. It motivated me and catapulted me into a future with a competitive spirit. It gave me the spirit and motivation for being competitive.”

Meredith and his wife, Joan, are familiar faces around the city of Prescott. They are the owners of the Jersey Lilly Saloon on Whiskey Row. The couple has welcomed guests there for the past 14 years.

They have been married for 53 years. She was Miss Congeniality in the 1956 Miss Arizona Pageant. Before that, she was Salad Bowl Queen, which was the precursor to the Fiesta Bowl. Tommy says she is still a beauty queen. They have two children and several grandchildren.

While Meredith was growing up, his family had ranches in Young, which incidentally is where some of the Zane Grey novels are set.

“We had the normal cattle ranch and horses to run them,” Meredith said. “I had a brother who was the real cowboy.”

In his late teens and early 20s, Tommy would go up twice a year for two-week round-ups. “It is a way of life, of course. You always have your own horse. Being out there it was just you and the cattle and your horse and the terrain,” he said. “It was fun. Rewarding. The only problem is you had newbies with you. You’d ask them to open a gate, but then they would just stand there. Cattle would not go through the gate with someone standing there.”

He said his father was also in the home-building, real estate business.

Meredith has lived in Arizona since the age of two when his parents moved from Texas. He attended Phoenix High School. He was the state wrestling champ there. He went to Arizona State University, where he lettered in wrestling and left with a degree in business.

Through the years, Meredith has been involved a lot of things, from racecars to antiques to real estate. He says it feels like he has lived three different lives and dressed differently for each. He would dress in boots and hats for his ranch life, in Ivy League shirts and slacks for his real estate life and in t-shirts and flip-flops for their summer home in San Diego. And he has always had a passion for hunting and fishing.

He and Joan came to Prescott 18 years ago. “Phoenix was getting big. I love Phoenix for what it is, but Prescott has the elevation and the pine trees, the weather and the four seasons,” he said. “We bought a summer home up here with the intention of coming up to slow down and retire.”

The couple considered starting a business with their extensive collection of antiques, which was housed in a 3,000-foot warehouse, but instead ended up buying the saloon.

“Everyone said, ‘What are you doing being in the saloon business?’ I don’t have a good answer for them,” he said. “There was a restaurant in Phoenix that we went to once a week. The owners were there all the time and I saw how they treated their customers when they came in; how they took care of them while they were there. I thought that was about right.”

He said every bar has its niche. “We just chose to be an upscale, over-30 bar. There is no food, but I spend a lot of money on popcorn.”

The saloon is on the second story with an outside balcony, which overlooks the courthouse town square and Whiskey Row. There is an elevator, but almost everyone climbs the stairs.

“The average age is over 30, but it does get younger on Friday and Saturday nights late,” he said. “It is a local bar on weekdays and we get tourists and day-trippers from Phoenix trying to get out of the heat. We do a fairly good job taking care of locals as well as tourists.”

Meredith is involved in local politics and the Prescott Downtown Partnership where he serves on the board, but the thing of which he is most proud is leading the charge to light up the trees on the town square during the holidays.

Meredith said six or seven years ago, he was complaining at a City Council meeting that the city was not doing enough to light up the trees, which was a shame since former Governor Rose Moffett had named Prescott a Christmas City.

“I just made the statement to them that we need to look like the Christmas City and needed a lot more money,” he said. “One of the councilmen said, ‘Tommy, Why don’t you do something about it?’ It sounded negative, so I said, ‘Mr. Councilman, I may do something about it.’”

He kicked off a fundraiser that sells paper light bulbs to customers, which are placed on display in the bar with the donor’s name written on them. During the campaign, the bar is covered with them.

“The first year, we raised $1,500. The last two years, we were right at $17,000. I’m kind of proud of that,” he said.

He said the newspaper gives them ad space and there are two kick-off parties, one of which is an auction and one during the holiday season. The trees are lighted from December to January.

“We have a lot of activities,” he said.

While on of the subject of fundraising, Joan and Tommy allow the use of their bar for a variety of fundraisers. “We donate space. We also do a lot of weddings and anniversaries and things like that,” he said.

Would he sell the saloon? His answer is “maybe.” He will turn 76 in July. “I’m getting to the point where we could talk,” Meredith said. QCBN

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