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NAU: Proud of its History, Grateful for Community Connections

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We are thankful that this community supports our students and our university, and we are dedicated to enhancing collaborations and strengthening our ties.

Northern Arizona University’s economic impact is growing. We create jobs, intellectual property, technology transfer and business incubation, and we educate and develop the sophisticated, high-level workforce that meets the demands of today’s industry. 

We also strive to do more in our community. Last academic year, our students contributed more than 20,000 hours of volunteer service to charitable organizations through our community service programs.

Just last month, NAU hosted a two-day event providing free dental care to hundreds of Northern Arizona community members. Working 12-hour days on June 7 and 8, volunteers treated patients with dental issues small and large. We partnered with the Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy (AZ MOM) and a number of local sponsors to create an event that brought the community together, helped neighbors in need and provided NAU students an invaluable learning opportunity.

I first heard about an event like this in Phoenix and thought the people of Northern Arizona could benefit from the same type of care. The dean of the College of Health and Human Services, Lynda Ransdell, and the chair of our dental hygiene program, Tracye Moore, jumped on the opportunity to figure out how NAU could make this happen for Northern Arizona. They saw the significant need for dental care in the area as well as the expansive community of dentists and dental hygienists willing to help, and started putting the pieces together.

The result was the first AZ MOM North dental event taking place on the NAU campus, coordinated by assistant clinical professor of dental hygiene Amy Smith. On the planning committee with Smith were dental hygienists and NAU alumnae Kim Freeman and Jenny Garcia. Garcia is also an adjunct dental hygiene instructor. Among several community partners were the Central Arizona Dental Society Foundation, which helped NAU with organization and implementation, and the Arizona Dental Association and Northern Arizona Dental Society.

For the event, Rolle Activity Center was transformed into a 50-chair dental clinic. Treatments included fillings, cleanings, extractions, root canals, X-rays and denture fittings. All members of the community in need of dental care were welcome without restriction or prior qualifications, and patients were not screened for insurance status, income level or residency status.

During that two-day period, 616 patients were served, resulting in $650,000 in free dental services – an average of $1,055 in free dental services per patient.

Our student volunteers were involved at every level, getting hands-on experience working with patients in a supervised, real-life setting. In addition to dental hygiene students, nursing students performed health assessments on patients checking in and physical therapy students screened patients for temporomandibular disorder, a pain in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement.

Other areas of our NAU community also joined in as NAU PD, parking services, facility services and information technology services all had leadership roles in planning and implementing this monumental task.

This event provided a wonderful opportunity for the NAU and local communities to work together to provide dental care to our neighbors in need and helped our students learn about giving back to the community and the powerful impact that can have.

My thanks to the hundreds of dentists, community members and NAU volunteers for making this a tremendous success. QCBN

By Rita Cheng

Rita Cheng is the president of Northern Arizona University.

Hyperacusis: Hearing That is Too Good

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Most of us are aware of hearing loss and the difficulty associated with not being able to hear conversation or other important sounds. What about the people who suffer (suffer is the correct word to use here) with hyperacusis? One in 50,000 people reportedly suffer from hyperacusis.

What is Hyperacusis?

The definition of hyperacusis varies and may even seem unclear. Most audiologists define hyperacusis as a condition in which a person has intolerance to a level of sound. It can be defined as a condition that is a disorder of the perception of loudness of sound. This may also occur with what you might consider a soft sound.

The physical characteristic of the sound need not be loud to have the sensation of pain or discomfort. Another way to describe hyperacusis is a decrease in sound tolerance. There are other definitions for sound intolerance, such as phonophobia: the fear of a sound; and misophonia: a negative reaction to a sound. The term hyperacusis is usually reserved for individuals who feel that particular pitches or sounds cause physical discomfort. Individuals may describe discomfort, pain, tingling or pinging.

What Causes Hyperacusis?

A hypothesis about the cause of hyperacusis is that the individual has a reduced nerve input in response to sound. This causes the brain to attempt to compensate and increase the gain of the sound, which causes the over-amplification. This means that the issue is in two areas: the hearing organ and the auditory path in the brain.

There are people who have increased activity of a muscle that tenses the eardrum called the tensor tympani. This muscle is designed to contract in response to loud sound but in some individuals the muscle moves too much and causes discomfort. Hyperacusis is more prevalent in people with a history of noise exposure, ringing in the ears, physical trauma to the head or viral infection of the inner ear. There are conditions associated with hyperacusis, including Bell’s palsy, Lyme disease, depression and autism. Actual hearing ability does not seem to predispose someone to this condition. People with hearing loss or normal hearing may experience the discomfort.

How is Hyperacusis Tested?

All forms of hearing sensitivity are tested by having a person sit in a very quiet room and listen through earphones for pure tones or speech signals. The unique nature of hyperacusis shows as a reduction in loudness growth from the pure tones or standardized environmental sounds. The individual will say that sound which is slightly louder than what they can just hear is uncomfortable. A normal response to stepping the sound up louder and louder while staying comfortable is about 100dB! A person with hyperacusis may only tolerate an increase of 10dB.

Hyperacusis Treatment

The two most common management techniques for hyperacusis are counseling and sound therapy. Counseling for hyperacusis includes activities that are focused on cognitive behavior therapy, helping the individual to adjust his or her perceptions of sound. The individual is exposed to the noise in a controlled environment and the noise is increased in volume and the length of time of the session is increased. Some of these therapies focus the sound to be similar to the difficult sounds; other therapies focus on general environmental sounds. The therapy is a slow process but people with significant hyperacusis are thankful that they can try this technique rather than withdraw from the sounds of society.

Wearing Musicians’ Earplugs

Another treatment is noise reduction by wearing musicians’ earplugs. These are custom-fit earplugs that are comfortable enough to wear day and night. This type of noise reduction does not completely block your hearing but reduces the extreme edges of sound. The plugs come in 9dB, 15dB and 25dB sound-reduction options.

The plugs have a diaphragm that functions as an acoustic filter to give various amounts of reduction to sound. The 9dB reduces the sounds through the middle frequencies, the 15dB uniformly reduces sound across all frequencies and the 25dB gives a relatively flat sound reduction across all frequencies. The sound of your own voice sounds the most natural using these filters (not muffled). The goal is to wear the least amount of noise reduction so that your natural auditory filter is given the chance to work as much as possible. Many people find that they only need to wear the plugs in certain situations and they are comfortable enough not to wear them in other situations.

It is important to discuss your hearing issues with an audiologist. A professional will be able to point you in the right direction. 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.

Heel Pain, Foot Pain, Plantar Fasciitis? Massage May be the Answer

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Many people live in northern Arizona for the outdoor lifestyle it provides. The outdoor lifestyle typically involves movement – hiking with the family dog through groves of oaks and pines, mountain biking, running or jogging on trails and streets, and snow sports. Needless to say, the feet can put in some work.

But a painful condition called plantar fasciitis, also known as “jogger’s heel,” can hamper those activities or even stop them all together. According to the sports medicine community, many therapies exist to help alleviate the pain of plantar fasciitis, and among them is massage.

What is Plantar Fasciitis?

It is estimated that two million Americans suffer from plantar fasciitis. The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society defines plantar fasciitis as an overuse injury caused by repetitive over-stretching of the plantar fascia, which is the thick band of tissue and tendon that runs under the foot. A diagnosis of plantar fasciitis means inflammation in the tough, fibrous band of tissue (fascia) connecting the heel bone to the base of the toes. The condition is often confused with heel spurs, which is a build-up of calcium on the heel caused by repeated impact.

Plantar fasciitis leads to pain (from dull to severe) in the heel of the foot, especially upon awakening in the morning and taking those first steps after getting out of bed, or after sitting for a while, such as at a desk, then standing. After walking, the pain usually eases.

Information from the Mayo Clinic states that several factors can contribute to the onset of plantar fasciitis, including age; exercises and activities that place significant stress on the heel; being flat footed or having a high arch; obesity, which puts more strain on the fascia; wearing hard-soled shoes; and working at jobs that keep you on your feet for much of the day.

If left untreated, and if the condition becomes chronic, not only can it affect your activity level, plantar fasciitis can alter the way you walk and could lead to foot, knee, hip and even back problems.

Treating Plantar Fasciitis

A host of therapies and treatments exist to help turn the tide against the pain of plantar fasciitis. Reducing pain and inflammation is a top priority using ice, compression, rest and anti-inflammatory medications. Taping the foot can relieve the pain under the heel. Proper shoes are extremely important. Orthotics, steroid injections and surgery are more costly options for extreme cases.

Stretch. Stretch. Stretch. Exercises to stretch the plantar fascia and calf muscles are a priority. Calf muscle stretches should be done three to five times a day, holding the stretches for up to 30 seconds at a time. The plantar fascia stretch is done by pulling the foot and toes upwards aiming to feel a stretch in the arch of the foot and back of the calves. Rolling the foot over a ball can also help stretch underneath the foot.

Massage Therapy to Stretch, Relieve, Restore

Massage therapy not only deals with the symptoms but treats the root of the problem. Deep tissue massage works to loosen muscle tissue, remove toxins and increase circulation of blood and oxygen to the area. Deep tissue massage works because it physically breaks down the adhesions caused by overexertion or strain. A trained massage therapist can work the foot and heel so the ligaments and muscles start to relax, which promotes healing and diminishes chances of reoccurrence. As a result, pain decreases and there is increased ease when walking, standing and participating in daily activities.

Additionally, individuals dealing with the pain of plantar fasciitis frequently adapt the way they walk to try and avoid the pain. Doing so can cause issues with other parts of the body, such as the hips, feet, ankles, knees, low back and joints, which eventually causes strained muscles and sore joints.

Although lasting treatment takes time, most people report feeling partial to full relief from the pain of plantar fasciitis after a series of massage sessions.

Daily at-home massage can be done through the use a rubber ball or a circular object like a water bottle to roll across the bottom of the foot while sitting in a chair with enough pressure to be effective without causing too much pain. QCBN

By Mark Love

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

Habitat for Humanity Helping Families Build Homes

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Imagine what life would be like if you didn’t have a place to call “home.” No matter how modest or rudimentary your current living situation is, it’s still your “place.” And, it’s where you and your family members gather to share love, life and daily experiences.

Without Prescott Area Habitat for Humanity, 90 families would not be able to access this privilege, which most of us take for granted. Talk to someone who has been homeless, and you will begin to understand how these families live with a constant burden of uncertainty, stress and fear. Every day, more and more families find themselves in a struggle to keep a decent roof over their heads, right here in the Quad Cities.

Fortunately, this valuable organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary as a local affiliate right here in Prescott. Maybe you know they’ve been here all these years, but do you REALLY know what they do? And, who benefits?

Established locally in 1989, this affiliate has built (and/or renovated) more than 80 ”houses” that were transformed into homes through the efforts of staff, volunteers and families who qualified for the housing. Families who partner with Habitat build their own homes, alongside volunteers, and then pay an affordable mortgage (30-year, interest free).

Habitat for Humanity is a partnership, not a giveaway program – Habitat’s homeowner families buy the houses that Habitat builds and renovates. Habitat homeowners also invest hundreds of hours of their own labor (500 hours per couple – 250 hours per single), working alongside volunteers. As a result of this collaborative model, Habitat for Humanity houses are affordable to local low-income families.

The local Habitat affiliate directly helps people secure decent, affordable housing. We also help people to improve their housing conditions, through a range of indirect services locally and throughout the United States, and in more than 70 other countries.

A decent, safe and affordable place to live transforms a family’s life in other key ways as well, including the following:

Health: “My daughter has asthma,” explains Mario. But since moving out of a dusty apartment and into their new Habitat house, “she hasn’t used her asthma pump once. I don’t even think she needs it any more.”

Child development: Gabe and Sylvia’s Habitat house is designed to accommodate their son Oscar’s disabilities. “Owning this home will allow both Oscar and Lucy to have the quality of life they deserve,” Sylvia explains.

Financial freedom: A statewide survey of Habitat homeowners in Minnesota reveals more savings and more confidence that college is in reach.

Community strength: “As the neighborhood grew, we came to understand what being accepted felt like,” says Cathy. “We are very different families, but we all come together to help each other.”

Habitat for Humanity knows that safe, decent and affordable shelter plays an absolutely critical role in helping families to create a new cycle, one filled with possibilities and progress. Affordable homeownership frees families, and fosters the skills and confidence they need to invest in themselves and their communities. The outcome can be long-lasting and life-changing, as it has been right here in the Prescott area.

With a little help, Habitat homeowners are able to achieve the strength and self-reliance they need to build better lives for themselves and their families. They are empowered to overcome the barriers that so often stand between their families and better, healthier, more financially stable lives.

Studies conducted by academics and experts draw a straight line between housing quality and the well-being of children. Surveys of Habitat homeowners show improved grades, better financial health and parents who are more certain that they can meet their family’s needs. Wherever Habitat works, there is tangible evidence that strong and stable homes help build strong and stable communities.

Decent shelter provides the solid foundation for all of this. It’s the platform on which a family lives out today’s realities, and prepares for tomorrow’s transformations. Every Habitat house changes lives: those of the families who help build them and pay an affordable mortgage or loan, and all those who offer them a hand up in a time of need.

The local Habitat for Humanity Affiliate provides year-round opportunities for community members to support the mission of bringing people together to build homes, communities and hope. Yes, we can all work together to create a world where everyone has a decent place to live. QCBN

By Alyce Ayers

Making Your Business More Marketable

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Selling your business is similar to selling your house.When you sell your house, you want to get it ready because you know that potential buyers are going to be coming through and evaluating it against the other houses on the market. To this end, we may paint the house or do some landscaping. We may take care of any deferred maintenance. When you sell your business, you should follow the same approach. Do everything that you can to make your business shine in comparison to other similar businesses that may be on the market. Below are some actions that will make your business more marketable.

Get the financial statements ready.

You should have the Balance Sheets, Income Statements and Cash Flow Statements for at least the last three years available for the buyer before putting your business on the market. If possible, you should also have pro forma financial statements for future years, especially if there is growth expected in the future.

If you need help in getting your financial statements ready, you should first discuss this with your accountant. However, the Small Business Development Center at Yavapai College (SBDC) can assist you by reviewing your financial statements and providing feedback.

Make your business easy to hand off to a new buyer.

The more you can document how the business operates, the more appealing your business will be to a buyer. By creating manuals that show how the business operates on a day-to-day basis, it will be easier for a potential buyer to understand and see how he can take it over successfully. Think about it from a potential buyer’s perspective. SBDC can assist you with this by reviewing your current operating documents and making recommendations. We have experienced business consultants who will share their perspective and insight.

Make your business independent.

Your business should be independent in the following four areas:

You – If your business does not run efficiently when you are not there, then it is too dependent upon you.

Employees – If any individual employee quit and it would cause a huge problem for your business, then you have a problem now.

Customers – If your business is so dependent upon a single customer that your profitability would be significantly hurt if that customer left, then you have a major weakness that needs to be addressed.

Vendors/Suppliers – Relying on a single vendor for essential supplies can increase the risk of a shutdown due to lack of inventory.

Dependence in any of these four areas will decrease the value of your business to a potential buyer. Anything that jeopardizes the certainty of the earnings/cash flow will cause them to discount the value of your business. SBDC can help you develop strategies to mitigate these risks and build a stronger business.

Appearances do count.

The time to replace that worn-out piece of equipment, upgrade to new technology or paint the building is before you put the business on the market. The time to “spiff up” the business is before you put it on the market. It might be helpful if you took a look at your business from the perspective of a buyer. Try to put yourself in the place of a prospective buyer. Going back to the house analogy, new houses sell faster and at higher prices than “fixer uppers.” The same is true with businesses.

Be ready to address buyer questions.

If you are not already, you should get up to speed on your industry and business environment. You should be able to discuss your business’s position in the marketplace, why your industry and business are growing, and the effect competition might have on that growth potential. SBDC has experienced consultants that would be happy to review your industry with you and suggest some talking points that might address concerns that a buyer might have. We can even role play with you so that you can practice addressing buyers’ questions.

Eliminate surprises.

Before you put your business on the market, do your best to eliminate surprises. Review every facet of the business and remedy any problems that could appear during the sale process. No one likes surprises – least of all, potential buyers. Whether it is a legal problem, an accounting issue, environmental concern or something else – solve it now.

Financing is an important aspect in sale of your business.

Studies have shown that a seller who asks for all cash receives on average only 70 percent of his or her asking price, while sellers who accept financing terms receive on average 86 percent of their asking price. In many cases, businesses that are listed for all cash just do not sell. Most sellers are unaware of how much interest they can receive by financing the sale of their business. It also tells the buyer that the seller has confidence in the future of the business. If a seller cannot afford to finance their business, then helping the buyer find financing will also add value to the sale. Working with SBDC, we can assist the buyer in applying for small business loans. QCBN

By Michael Seibert

Michael Seibert is a financial and management professional with the Small Business Development Center at Yavapai College. Call 928-717-7232 or visit us online at yc.edu/sbdc.

Turning Sea Days into Highlights of Your Cruise

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When talking about a cruise vacation, there are many obvious options to consider, from the ports of call, the trip length, the size of the ship, the on-board inclusions and, of course, the levels of service you’ll experience on board. The one thing that always turns into a big point of discussion for us are the number of sea days during any given cruise itinerary.

Travelers either love them or hate them. But, we have figured out that sea days can be the highlights of your next cruise vacation, if you are traveling with the right cruise line for your interests.

While some lines are only focused on partying, gambling at the casino on board and visiting the shopping malls, other like to elevate your experience and challenge your knowledge.

Holland America does an excellent job of challenging their affluent cruisers. All ships offer a variety of programs to engage and stimulate their travelers’ minds and help them develop and fine-tune new skills. One of their most popular programs is America’s Test Kitchen, which offers live on-board cooking shows and hands-on workshops and the BBC Earth Experiences, which include exclusive lectures, concerts and documentaries.

For the wine connoisseur in you, join the Blend Program on board and learn how to create your own unique wine blend. Afterward, stroll through the on-board art gallery and get inspired by renowned artists before attending a digital workshop that will teach you how to edit, display and share your favorite vacation memories.

Enjoy cultural performances that capture the spirit of the region or join one of the many engaging presentations and interactive workshops on board that are led by expert guides and the top of their fields. What does that mean for you? You get to connect with marine biologists to learn about the underwater life in your destination. You can join a historian on your shore excursion and learn all about the history of ancient tribes in the region.

For Oprah Fans, schedule your day around the O-Inspired Programs, like morning meditation and yoga, the Oprah Book Club, and many others that guests can enjoy onboard and be inspired to live life to the fullest.

When inspiration strikes you, stop by the Rijksmuseum at Sea. Much more than a floating art museum, Rijksmuseum at Sea is a creative salon where guests can be inspired by the museum’s collection to create their own works of art – through drawing, photography or just doodling. Rijksmuseum at Sea includes a bright studio space featuring life-sized reproductions of artworks from Rijksmuseum, drawing tables, sketchbooks, pencils, friendly instructors and everything guests need to create their own masterpieces. 

Choosing a longer voyage that offers more sea days can add an amazing value to your next cruise vacation. You will be able to enjoy many exclusive on-board activities like those mentioned above, most free of charge, and you won’t have to miss out on spending time in ports and exploring the destinations you’re visiting. No more feeling rushed and feeling anxiety over missing out on activities. Holland America Cruises Legendary Voyages are a great way to get the best of all worlds. These lengthier itineraries extend your journey, giving you longer stays and overnights in key ports – time to truly experience the heart and soul of the region you are visiting. Each carefully planned itinerary gives you time to discover and reflect, with a diverse assortment of excursions, including culinary-themed shore excursions in partnership with FOOD & WINE. On board, make the most of each destination with Explorations Central, where you can engage in local language lessons, expert-led talks and more. In short, take advantage of amazing savings, cash in on added amenities, really get to know the crew on board as well as the expert guides and lecturers, acquire a new skill, discover a new destination and come back relaxed and rejuvenated.

To learn more about Holland America and the programs they offer on board, join us at our 6th Annual Northern Arizona Travel Expo on Oct. 10, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Flagstaff. Meet with Megan from Holland America and many other cruise lines, tour operators and hoteliers, face to face between 5-8 p.m. Our Avenues of the World Travel Advisors will be on site to answer any questions, schedule appointments and assist with live bookings on site. Don’t miss your chance to secure amazing booking specials and enter our door raffle for vacation giveaways and much more! QCBN

By Daniela Harrison

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

How to Support Prescott Airport

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Last month’s article talked about some of the concerns around the airport regarding noise from flying aircraft. Several of our readers reached out directly to me about that article and there was a lengthy discussion of the article on the Prescott Facebook page. I’m very pleased to see that there was overwhelming positive public support for our aviation community in Prescott.

This month, let’s talk in detail about how the average citizen can support the airport and airport services. The easiest support possible is to be an informed voter and participate. Without getting political here, many of the problems in this country today are because people don’t participate or get informed about topics of importance to their communities, states and the nation. So, let’s get educated and participate!

One source of education is the Prescott Airport Users Association, which I’ve highlighted previously. Anyone who is interested in aviation is welcome to attend meetings and you’ll hear directly from the airport administrative staff, the FAA control tower, as well as the major flight schools.

The airport itself relies on businesses and individuals to support operations. Without people using an airport, an airport will die. It’s that simple. To support the growth of the airport, the converse is also that simple: We need to utilize the airport!

For the average citizen of our community, the easiest way to utilize the airport is to fly the airline. To date, the SkyWest service launch has been the best ever and that’s because the flying public has supported the new airline in record-breaking numbers. SkyWest bid that contract at a 44% load factor, which means they planned for planes to be flying less than half full. That number has been greatly exceeded, with load factors reaching into the 90% range. Ultimately, this utilization will mean more flights and more destinations.

Some other ways to support the airport and its businesses are to utilize them.

Do you know that there is a good restaurant right in the airport terminal? Come on out and enjoy a delicious breakfast and watch planes on the weekend.

How about taking a Discovery Flight? Have you ever wanted to see the Dells from the air? Lynx Lake? The Goldwater Lakes? Or Sedona and its marvelous red rocks? My company offers these flights and they really are for two different audiences.

The first audience is someone who simply would love to experience flying and seeing our iconic landscape and rock formations from the air. The second audience is the person who might be considering a career in aviation but wants to get a taste first before committing significant time and money to aviation training. These flights serve as an introduction to flying lessons and you will get to take the controls and experience flight from the pilot’s seat.

Or, take it a step further and get involved with aviation. You can do that by learning to fly. People have all sorts of reasons for wanting to learn to fly. The motivation can be a potential career opportunity or can be a “bucket list” achievement.

Another possible way to get involved is by being an aircraft builder. General aviation started as a homebuilt project (the Wright Flyer) and continues to evolve today. If you’re handy, like to build and love learning new things, then perhaps becoming an aircraft homebuilder might be for you. Prescott has a very active EAA chapter, #658 Golden Falcons. My life in aviation started as the son of a homebuilder, helping my dad with his airplane when I was young. Being exposed to the homebuilt aircraft was the No. 1 reason I became a pilot later in life.

For kids interested in aviation, Prescott has a very active Civil Air Patrol unit. For those who don’t know, Civil Air Patrol is an U.S. Airforce Auxiliary that does missions like search and rescue when aircraft are lost – and numerous other activities.

If you’re an entrepreneur, how about starting a business? Or moving an existing business to Prescott? One of our new vendors, A&P Aircraft Detailing, is a new business to town that has moved here from another city. The company does a wonderful job keeping our aircraft looking very nice for our pilots.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the Wings Out West Airshow put on by Embry-Riddle, coming Oct. 5. It will be a day full of aviation and information, so come see us. I will be there! QCBN

By Lance Leighnor

Lance Leighnor has four decades of experience in general aviation aircraft, and active management of rental aircraft since 2011. Lance is the managing member of Leighnor Aircraft. He can be reached by phone at 928-499-3080, by email at lance@LeighnorAircraft.com or via the Leighnor Aircraft website at LeighnorAircraft.com.

Building Wealth Might Be Simpler Than You Think

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Wealth building isn’t about get-rich-quick schemes or chasing the trends in the stock market. Often, it just comes down to making the right financial decisions, big and small, over an extended period of time.

Recently, we came across an
Investopedia.com article from May 2019 entitled, “3 Simple Steps to Building Wealth.” We thought these steps were worth sharing. Sometimes, it can seem like the secret to wealth building is a mystery, when in fact it can be simpler than you think.

Don’t get us wrong – these steps are simple to understand, but they can be harder to execute. Still, they’re worth considering. According to the article, in order to build wealth over the course of your life, you need to do three things.

First, you need to Make it: You need to have a consistent source of income that allows you to have some left over after you’ve covered your necessities like housing, utilities, food and transportation.

Then, you need to Save it: Once those necessities are paid for, your next step is to have a proactive and consistent savings plan. This could include a 401(k) through your employer or another type of individual savings strategy.

Finally, you should Invest it: Once you have put aside that savings, it needs to work for you in an investment mix that matches your risk tolerance and long-term strategy.

Let’s dive into each of these three steps to wealth building a bit more in depth, starting with earning income. While earning income may seem like a no-brainer, it is still the most important step. Odds are that you have seen various charts and tables showing the value of compounding interest over time. What those tables and charts rarely show is what you need to be making to cover the necessities of your life. There is only so much you can save by cutting down on your expenses.

You will likely need to increase your income over time to allow for more opportunities to invest. One way to make sure that you are using new income for savings is to automatically increase your savings when you receive a raise or a bonus. You already know how to live on your current income, so don’t simply spend more because you have more.

Some 401(k) plans and individual retirement accounts will even provide you with the ability to automatically increase savings percentages on the schedule that you determine works for you. Are you paying off debt like a credit card or school loan? Schedule an increase for when that debt is paid off, thereby increasing your savings.

Speaking of savings, there are some more ways that you can avoid spending more than your income. Budgeting is an incredibly important and underrated tool to help you spend within your means and save what’s left over. Make sure you are looking at all of your monthly expenses and keeping excess and wasted expenditures to a minimum.

Finally, you need to find the right investment strategy and mix for your risk tolerance. At American Financial Security, LLC, we provide the Color of Money Risk Analysis and the Color of Money report. The first step is to color code your risk tolerance by answering the 11 questions of the Color of Money Risk Analysis. This analysis provides you with a financial picture and a roadmap to your overall risk preferences.

Building wealth can seem like a daunting task. But when you follow these three simple steps, you will find yourself on the right path. If you have any questions you’d like answered or would like to discuss your financial future, contact us today. QCBN

By Ronald Stevenson and Barbara Clark Stevenson

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

How TCM Improves Women’s Weight Loss Success

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I am honestly surprised by how many people come to me for weight loss treatments. In the very beginning of my acupuncture practice, the majority of conditions treated were in regards to pain and stress, in otherwise non-overweight individuals. In the past five years, that percentage of people seeking alternative medicine to assist with weight loss has grown.

Partly, this is positive, since more of us have the resources and information to seek out this really great adjunctive therapy to a weight loss plan. Conversely, it is negative, because I see that obesity is becoming more prevalent. I particularly see it in women who struggle with stubborn weight gain either after pregnancy or during the perimenopausal years, both of which involve big shifts in hormones. 

I say that acupuncture is a great adjunct for two reasons: first, it gently supports the entire system; secondly, to successfully lose weight, change one’s lifestyle and correct chronic diseases setting in, a well-rounded, all-inclusive, easily accepted and adapted plan needs to be in place. This article will discuss how and why weight gain occurs through a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) lens and what components of a weight loss plan directly support that perspective. 

In the TCM view, we are dealing with two major organ systems: spleen and liver. They are on the same level, but we will focus on the spleen for this month. Spleen shares many similarities with the pancreas in this perspective, such as digestion, assimilation and metabolism of all that is eaten. Spleen is the organ that takes the best qi, or energy, from what is eaten, mixes it with qi from breathing to then make the qi that circulates throughout the body. When the spleen qi is strong, a certain uplifting energy is felt from eating the proper foods. The muscles are toned but also supple, there is minimal excess tissue, the complexion is bright, there is regular elimination, minimal inflammation, and good balance of activity and rest. When the spleen qi is weak, food often leaves us tired, the muscles are soft, there is extra tissue around the abdomen and cellulite, the complexion is yellow, digestion is upset, there are aches and pains, and likely there is too much sitting and consuming going on.

Because digestion and obtaining nutrients and making qi is a process, there are steps along the way that can get bogged down, and make the process less efficient. The starting material, or that which is being eaten, also plays a big role in how much and how effectively we are using qi to process the food. If the food is too processed, creamy, sticky, starchy or thick, the spleen really has to expend a lot of energy to digest it, and it might not even be able to digest all of it, depending on the ingredients. What’s left then is a heavy byproduct known in TCM as dampness, and more modernly termed mucus or inflammation. As dampness accumulates, it makes digestion and assimilation even more inefficient and ineffective. The digestive system is then too weak to digest the new food and move the dampness through the body, which results in storing it around the abdomen or in any bodily area that has weakness. This paves the way for chronic diseases such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high blood sugar and even cancer. 

If this article has inspired you to strengthen your spleen qi and put cleaner foods in your body, excellent, both of those are part of the answer. A lot of weight loss can be accomplished via the foods being put in, with, of course, the omission of foods that do the most damage. The long-term success with weight loss happens after reconsidering some habitual eating tendencies. For instance, save meal times for sitting outside and relaxing or engaging in light, happy conversation with a loved one. Trying to work, read, study and even watch TV involves consuming via the eyes and ears. At the end of the day, the body and mind have to process that, along with food, and there is no need to waste precious energy trying to do all things at once.   

Another key change is to make the meals as simple as possible; the fewer ingredients the better. Perhaps this looks like seven mangoes for dinner, but the spleen will feel so good and energized after traditional concepts of meals and eating may fall by the wayside as more efficient and specific practices emerge. QCBN

By Katie Borchert

To cultivate a specific weight loss plan and support your spleen qi in the process, contact Dr. Katie Borchert at 928-445-2900 or kborchert3@gmail.com.

Dr. Borchert has office hours daily at Partners in Health Care Naturally in downtown Prescott, 343 S. Montezuma St. She is also available for home visits, a great way to help the whole family. The clinic website is prescottnaturopathicdoctors.com and Dr. Borchert has Facebook and Instagram accounts featuring naturopathic living.

Mountain Valley Rehabilitation Hospital Recognized Among Top in Nation

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Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital has been named in the top 10% of inpatient rehabilitation facilities in the United States for the 12th year in a row. The hospital’s care was cited as being patient-centered, effective, efficient and timely.

We strive to deliver this higher level of care as our standard. We have graciously been recognized as a top-performing facility for many years now, but we never take it for granted. Our staff is exceptionally passionate about helping patients reach their full potential through the care we provide. We work daily to ensure patients are reaching their highest levels of ability and independence.

Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital was ranked in the top 10% from among 870 inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationwide by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR), a non-profit corporation that was developed with support from the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The UDSMR maintains the world’s largest database of rehabilitation outcomes.

If you take into account that a national study has previously shown that inpatient rehabilitation facilities provide better long-term results for patients, being ranked at the top of that group validates the quality of care we provide. The study, commissioned by the ARA Research Institute, showed that patients treated in inpatient facilities experienced improved quality of life as compared to skilled nursing facilities.

To provide the highest level of rehabilitative care available in the United States to our own community is truly rewarding. This means our family, friends and colleagues don’t need to leave the area to receive the best care available.

Through the UDSMR, Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital also will collaborate with peers throughout the nation to share information and establish best practices for patients. This helps elevate rehabilitative care for everyone across the United States.

Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital provides specialized rehabilitative services to patients who are recovering from or living with disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses or chronic medical conditions. This includes, but is not limited to, strokes, brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, orthopedic injuries, cerebral palsy, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease), multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease. QCBN

Judy Baum is the CEO of Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital.

Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital provides specialized physical rehabilitation services to patients recovering from or living with disabilities caused by injuries, illnesses or chronic medical conditions. The hospital is consistently ranked in the Top 10 percent of inpatient rehabilitation facilities nationally by the Uniform Data System for Medical Rehabilitation (UDSMR) and is nationally certified by The Joint Commission in stroke and brain injury rehabilitation.

By Judy Baum

For more information, visit MVRRH.ernesthealth.com.

3700 N. Windsong Drive • Prescott Valley, AZ  86314 • 928-759-8800 • mvrrh.ernesthealth.com