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A Lifeline to Recovery

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Onlife Foundation raises funds to treat addiction, support sober living.

Sometimes, life’s struggles can seem insurmountable. This is especially true when an individual is drowning in problems created by the ravages of addiction or mental illness.

Help might seem just out of reach as families struggle to afford effective treatment for loved ones who are suffering. However, a private non-profit, Onlife Foundation, was founded in Flagstaff about a year ago to help soften this dilemma by raising funds and creating a network of partnerships that can provide innovative and varied resources for those in need.

“The goal really is trying to meet an audience that’s stuck,” said Onlife President and co-founder Roy DuPrez. “There are so many treatment programs out there, including a lot of expensive programs with minimal results. Families don’t even know what they getting into. We often have scenarios where the potential family may have good private insurance but not enough to cover their out-of-pocket or insurance policy deductions. We’re trying to help them bridge that, so they can participate in better quality programs.”

The motto of Onlife Foundation is “Placing the Impossible Within Reach.” Critical to the non-profit’s success are its partnerships with effective programs that have proven to be successful in helping individuals recover from addiction and other mental health conditions and go on to maintain sober and enriching lives.

DuPrez also started two programs in the Flagstaff area that are affiliated with and benefit from the efforts of Onlife Foundation – Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery and Beyond the Basics. The Back2Basics program is for young adult males, ages 18 to 35, who have substance abuse issues and are looking for a positive and meaningful life. Its success lies in a combination of concentrated direct care therapy and life-skill building. The program maintains four residential facilities for clients in Flagstaff and is a hybrid residential and outdoor adventure recovery program.

“Young adults truly benefit from various activities that are satisfying and engaging,” DuPrez said. “There needs to be some sort of carrot, not just another relapse prevention lecture. That isn’t going to do it for most young people at that age. My vision is we need to broaden their experiences and offer them an opportunity to see what life can look like while being sober.”

Adventures include trips to places like Moab, Utah, Grand Canyon, the Superstition Mountains and Sedona. Activities may feature camping, backpacking, kayaking and river rafting, with cross-country and downhill skiing in the winter.

Beyond the Basics is an additional six-month transition program that follows the Back2Basics program. It is focused on giving clients the groundwork to gradually transition from rehabilitation and recovery into living in the “real world” with long-term sobriety goals.

The roots of the Onlife Foundation story, as well as the Back2Basics and Beyond the Basics stories, are grounded in the longtime friendship of DuPrez and Sean Orlando that began in high school in Scottsdale and continued on to college in Flagstaff.

“We’ve been best friends since we were teens,” DuPrez said. “Sean’s always had an altruistic background; my family, too. We have a background of being of service that’s always bound us together. We both moved up here in 1993 for higher learning at NAU.”

The two were college roommates. “Coming of age together and facing the many social challenges as teens and young adults allowed us to connect around a shared perspective and common purpose regarding life in general,” Orlando said.

DuPrez majored in Latin American studies and Spanish, and earned his master’s degree in academic administration. Orlando majored in Spanish and earned master’s degrees in sustainable communities and oriental medicine.

Between 2000 and 2006, their first collaboration in Flagstaff was the Indigo Movement, which met in the historic El Divino Redentor church on South San Francisco Street in downtown Flagstaff and sought to prevent youth violence and delinquency through self-empowerment initiatives.

After almost a decade of working together on projects, the two men took separate paths: DuPrez moving into the field of recovery and mental health, eventually starting Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery in 2010; Orlando went on to establish his own clinical practice.

The Onlife Foundation is closely allied with the Back2Basics program with a direct line of financial aid and program support to those on the path to sobriety and recovery. “It’s composed of alumni families and community members who have their own professional backgrounds and want to do something to support those trying to get help and hopefully get into treatment,” said DuPrez.

A key member of the Onlife leadership team is co-founder Laura LeVee, who serves as treasurer on the board of directors. She says her son was greatly helped by the Back2Basics program. “Connor became an alcoholic while in college, and he didn’t get good treatment for many years,” she said. “He tried various inpatient and outpatient solutions, but all were for 90 days or so, at which point, he would quickly relapse. In addition, the short-term centers did not specialize in mental health issues, which Connor desperately needed. Indeed, most addicts really need mental health support in order to sustain sobriety.”

Connor completed the Back2Basics program last summer and has returned to school to finish his undergraduate degree. He now works full-time for a gym in Flagstaff.

“I am enormously grateful to Roy and his program, and I hope that Onlife can send many addicts to Roy’s program, as well as others, that specialize in long-term solutions,” said LeVee.

Currently, Onlife is planning community-based fundraising events, as well as pursuing grant opportunities, in an effort to support more people suffering from addiction and help them maintain sober lives. QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Onlife is designed to help support young men seeking recovery through Back2Basics Outdoor Adventure Recovery and Beyond the Basics, which include outdoor activities like river rafting in their programs. 

Celestial Gala Honored Jim and Linda Lee, Celebrated Planetarium

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“It was a really nice event, a great evening,” said Bobinsky.

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott celebrated the five-year anniversary of the Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium while honoring ERAU patrons, the Lees, at a Spring Celestial Gala that raised more than $70,000 to support the facility and STEM programming.

The Lees have been strong contributors to the success of the Quad Cities area for decades in a number of ways through charitable donations and business endeavors. They have donated to many community organizations and have impacted the area’s economic growth through upscale residential and commercial developments. The Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium, the only Arizona planetarium north of Phoenix, is one of their most visible contributions.

“The Planetarium has created a wonderful venue to bring not only our own students, but also high school, middle school and elementary students here to see what a STEM education can provide,” said ERAU Executive Director of Philanthropy Steve Bobinsky. “It also encourages Quad Cities residents to venture onto our campus, engage with faculty and students and see that we’re not just a flight school. We also offer incredible STEM-related majors such as aerospace engineering, mechanical engineering, cybersecurity, gaming and simulation.”

A live auction at the gala offered bidders unique opportunities such as a private event in the planetarium for 100 guests; a 60-minute flight in an ERAU Cessna 172S NAV III aircraft; a European culinary tour for eight people at the home of ERAU Chancellor Dr. Anette Karlsson and her husband, Dr. Rick Lehman, compliments of chef and restaurateur Barry Barbe; and a four-day live-flight experience for a parent and student.

Bobinsky said $33,000 was raised through the live auction and an additional $40,000 gift was received to support the expansion of the planetarium’s show catalog and technological capabilities provided for the public as well as STEM outreach educational opportunities.

More than 100 people attended the gala and were treated to an evening of images and discovery from the James Webb Space Telescope, set to a London Symphony Orchestra recording of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, created by Planetarium Director Eric Edelman.

“It was a really nice event, a great evening,” said Bobinsky. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: ERAU President Dr. P. Barry Butler and ERAU Prescott Chancellor Dr. Anette Karlsson honored Jim and Linda Lee (center) and thanked them for their involvement with the planetarium. 

Family, Education, Service, and Abe Lincoln Drive Tim Carter

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County Superintendent of Schools announces his retirement.

Yavapai County Superintendent of Schools Tim Carter has announced his plans to retire at the end of his term on Dec 31, 2024, after he will have served half a century in education, playing many roles as a public servant.

Carter has been a teacher, principal and accomplished track and cross-country coach, appointed to the position of county superintendent of schools and then elected five times. He reflected on his 50+ years in education in an exclusive interview with Quad Cities Business News.

Beginning as a classroom teacher and coach in 1973, Carter says he experienced an extraordinary time of change in American education. The positives include: the emergence of a variety of educational options, such as school choice and open enrollment; and a wave of technology from cell phones, computers and instant information. The negatives include: an increase in violence and drug-related issues; the internet, plus the spread of non-factual information; extraordinary health impacts, including COVID-19; an increased difficulty in recruiting and retaining teachers; and the creation of the U.S. Department of Education and a subsequent loss of local control.

Born in Glendale, California, Carter’s family moved to Southern Arizona when he was five weeks old. It was there, about 19 miles out of Tombstone, where he grew up on a thoroughbred ranch, the STC Stables. “I can remember Prescott from about 1958. My folks were in and out of Prescott all the time picking up and dropping off horses as part of the business.”

Early on, Carter believed his calling was to be a jockey. “I was going to be the next Bill Shoemaker, but by about [age] 12, I was too big for that idea.”

When he outgrew that dream, he decided he’d be a veterinarian, at least until he saw the list of math classes he’d have to take. “Then I thought, ‘Maybe not.’”

About that time, he was impressed by two men who became his mentors: Jack Charters, his high school track coach and Herman Fisher, his high school football and basketball coach. “I put those men right up there with Abraham Lincoln.”

Carter, a person of faith, received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Grand Canyon College. He earned his master’s degree in political science and secondary educational leadership from Northern Arizona University and his superintendent certificate from the University of Phoenix. In the 1970s, he taught at Alchesay High School on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation in Whiteriver and Antelope High School in Wellton. In 1979, Carter started teaching American Government and Introduction to Law at Prescott High School, and in 1991, he joined the Prescott High School administration. Altogether, he taught for 18 years and served as principal at Prescott High School for 12 years.

In 2003, with his first retirement, he began teaching law and political science at Yavapai College, the University of Phoenix and Northern Arizona University. In 2005, he was appointed by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors to serve as superintendent of schools. In 2006, Carter was elected to the first of five terms. When he retires this time, he will have spent 20 years with the county, 50+ years total in education.

Over the years, Carter has been inducted into the Arizona Track Coaches Hall of Fame, honored as Arizona Administrator of the Year, served on the executive board of the Arizona Interscholastic Association and twice selected as Outstanding JTED/CTE (Joint Technical Education District/Career and Technical Education) Capitol Times Policy Maker of the Year. He also has been inducted into the Grand Canyon University Hall of Fame and the NAU Hall of Fame. He served as the vice president and president of the Arizona State Board of Education and the Arizona Association of Counties.

Reminders of his greatest achievements are all around him in the faces of former students and staff members, he says. “Many of them work in our agency or in our schools, courts, police and fire departments, medical facilities and construction sites. They are engineers, architects, hydrologists, elected officials, executive directors, ranchers, office workers, doctors, contractors, stockbrokers, serving in the military, realtors, parents, grandparents and friends.”

He says retirement will afford him more time to go hunting, fishing, camping and traveling. “I will be more active with Prescott Sunrise Lions, continue to teach school law and school finance for universities and colleges, continue to be involved with our family and grandson as he gets ready to go off to college and I plan to write a book about Abraham Lincoln.”

Carter has long respected and admired the nation’s 16th president. “I appreciate that Abe Lincoln came from very humble beginnings and pulled himself up by his bootstraps, taught himself to read and write, became a lawyer at a time when you had to do a lot of that work yourself without going to college, had some difficulty getting into political offices and losing about as many [races] as he won. He was just a person of absolute integrity, served at a time when America was in peril and did some amazing things.”

PASSION PROJECT

I’ve been thinking about the book I’ll write about Abe Lincoln for several years now and I think it will be about Lincoln and the territories. When he was in Congress, he dealt with several issues involving territories, and as president, a different group of territories, including Arizona. I enjoy writing and this will be very interesting research.

WHAT MAKES ME HAPPY

I love what I do. I love education and I look forward to going to work every single day of my career. In the county, we operate an education service agency and we try to innovate whatever solution the schools need to deliver that service.

PLACES YET TO VISIT

The only state that my wife, Linda and I haven’t been to is Alaska. We would like to take two trips: one, a cross-country trip; the other, Alaska’s Inside Passage. Then, some international travel.

FAVORITE CHARACTER QUALITIES

Integrity, honesty and service. I have a personal belief that it’s hard to get past integrity. If you don’t have integrity, everything else seems to be tainted to some degree. And I believe in service. My life – teaching, coaching, being an administrator and superintendent – has been about service.

WHAT I LEARNED EARLY ON

4 a.m. You ask anybody who knows me, they know I wake up right at 4 a.m., every day. I never set an alarm. Growing up on a thoroughbred ranch, you had chores: feeding animals, exercising horses and cleaning stalls. And then you’d go to school. After school, after football, basketball and track practice, I got to do it all over again that evening. It does develop a work ethic. QCBN

By Ray Newton, Stan Bindell, Bonnie Stevens QCBN

Photo by Kay Lyons: Tim Carter continues to visit classrooms and read to children. When he retires, he will have more than 50 years in education.

Bombas Gives Socks to Young Ones through Tennies for Tots

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“She saw a need and did what it took, almost single-handedly, to fill it. That kind of volunteerism is rare, but the reward fills you beyond measure.”

Paula Sedillo Wise and the volunteers for the non-profit she started, Tennies for Tots, were more than thrilled when they learned they would be partnering with Bombas, a sock and T-shirt company, and their One Purchased=One Donated program. They are sending her 3,000 pairs of children’s socks to add to the new shoes, books and book bags she provides to children 5 years old and younger who are part of families who live in poverty throughout Northern and Central Arizona. As she put it with a smile, “It knocked my socks off!”

Bombas donates one item of clothing for every item they sell. Currently, the company has more than 3,500 partners distributing those gifts throughout the United States. To date, Bombas has donated 75 million pieces of clothing to programs that serve those in need. Of the clothing they donate, socks, underwear and T-shirts are the top three most requested items at shelters. “We are honored to be a part of this amazing and one-of-a-kind program,” said Wise.

Paula started Tennies for Tots in 2018, after attending a back-to-school event in Prescott, where she learned that there where programs in place to help school-aged children with school clothes and supplies but they were not available for younger children. Although she works full time, she decided she was going to fill that need. She started with a couple of the Head Start Programs in Flagstaff. Slowly, she expanded, and now serves nearly 40 Head Start programs in four different counties in Arizona and more than 3,000 children every year, including those in Williams, Flagstaff, Page, the Navajo Nation, Winslow and the White Mountains. For many of these children, they are the first new shoes they have ever had.

Last year was a difficult year for Tennies for Tots, Wise reports. She and the volunteers had always shopped discount bins and store closings to buy shoes and socks that they gave away. This held the cost to under $10 per child. But with inflation and supply chain problems, her sources dried up. As a result, the cost per child rose by almost 50%. “But thanks to some new ideas and help from Bill and Barbara Packard and their ‘Going Full Circle’ books, we found a way to get everyone outfitted,” she said.

“Making a difference is all about a commitment to a cause,” said Bill. “She saw a need and did what it took, almost single-handedly, to fill it. That kind of volunteerism is rare, but the reward fills you beyond measure.”

Sara Presler, former mayor of Flagstaff, introduced Wise to the Packards about four years ago. They helped her create the non-profit and fill out grant applications. Hence, donations doubled from 2021 to 2022.

“We were amazed how this single mother who worked full-time had found the time and resources to help all these children,” said Bill. “We recognized the same drive in her that lead us to open Full Circle Trade and Thrift and our Pantry.”

As word has gotten out, Wise says requests for help from families have increased as well. “We are always looking for more help, so if you or a group you belong to would like to help financially or to volunteer, buying, sorting and distributing, we sure could use the help.”

For more information, visit www.tenniesfortots.org. The State of Arizona recognized Tennies for Tots as a Qualifying Tax Credit Organization in 2022. That means a single person may donate $400 or couples may donate $800 to deduct the full amount from their state income tax bill. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Paula Sedillo Wise is joyfully overwhelmed by the gift of 3,000 socks to support her non-profit, Tennies for Tots.

Quad Cities Solar Co-op Surpassing Membership Goal 

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“It’s thrilling to see so much immediate interest in local solar from the community,” said  SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller.

The Quad Cities Solar Co-op launched on March 15, and has quickly blown past its membership goal of 50 residents. The solar co-op, a group formed to help residents go solar, just announced a new goal of 100 members.

The solar co-op, organized by non-profit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN), is free to join and open to homeowners and small business owners in the Quad Cities region. This includes residents in and around Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley and Dewey-Humboldt.

On Wednesday, March 22, SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller and local partners hosted a Solar 101 presentation at the Prescott Public Library to talk to residents about solar and explain how going through the co-op works. More than 60 residents from across Yavapai County attended the event.

“It’s thrilling to see so much immediate interest in local solar from the community,” said  SUN Arizona Program Director Adrian Keller. “We know that the process and considerations can be complicated, so it was great to see so many folks come out to the event and get their questions answered.”

Together, co-op members will learn about solar energy and leverage their numbers to purchase individual solar systems at a competitive price and top quality. Solar United Neighbors has run solar co-ops across the state, ranging from 50 to 200 members, but this is the first one for Quad Cities area residents.

With so much initial interest, SUN has already put out a Request for Proposal (RFP) for solar installers to bid on the co-op. After collecting bids, SUN will facilitate a meeting for co-op members to select a single solar company to serve the group. Members are not obligated to purchase solar. Instead, they will have the option to individually purchase panels based on the selected installer’s group rate. SUN remains vendor-neutral through the selection process.

With the federal passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, co-op members will also have the opportunity to use the solar tax credit for residential solar. The residential solar tax credit saves homeowners 30% on the full cost of a solar installation. A similar tax credit is also available to small businesses, who are invited to take part in the co-op.

The solar co-op will also help participants consider battery storage, which, paired with solar, helps bolster the grid during extreme weather events like last summer’s monsoons. Thanks to the IRA, homeowners can take a 30% tax credit for battery storage for the next 10 years. The new legislation also makes it possible to receive the tax credit for stand-alone storage, no solar needed.

Partnering on the solar co-op are: Yavapai Climate Change Coalition, Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance, Sierra Club Yavapai Group and Interfaith Climate Action Team.

SUN has hosted 13 solar co-ops in Arizona since 2019. According to the group’s estimates, the 383 homes and businesses that now have solar panels because of co-ops represent 3,070 kW of solar power, $9 million in local solar spending and more than 89 million pounds of lifetime carbon offsets.

Individuals interested in going solar can learn more and sign up for the co-op at solarunitedneighbors.org/quadcities. QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Solar United Neighbors (SUN) hosts Solar 101 presentations for residents. 

Sheltering Animals in Disasters                                                             

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Volunteers practice drills, identify shelter locations.

A record-breaking winter of cold temperatures, snow, rain and flooding in Northern Arizona has provided much-needed precipitation but has also primed grasses and fuels that will burn quickly in a wildfire. The wildfire season is the most recurring threat in Yavapai County, but neighborhoods may also need to be evacuated quickly because of flooding, severe weather or hazardous waste spills.

Disasters never happen at a convenient time and strong emotions of fear and uncertainty can run high when emergencies force humans to evacuate their homes.

Statistics from FEMA show that in emergency evacuations, most people won’t leave home without their animals, but with a plan in place, they will be better prepared to evacuate quickly.

Such evacuations can also be frightening for others in the animal kingdom, including household pets such as cats and dogs. However, until recently, there has been a lack of safe havens for evacuated farm animals, such as horses, ponies, mules, donkeys, goats, sheep, chickens, pigs, rabbits, llamas and alpacas.

Disasters have increased in size and frequency, and as communities grow, more animal owners are affected. Fortunately, Yavapai County is proactive in emergency preparedness. Serving the households of Yavapai County, two dedicated non-profit organizations partner with Emergency Management to provide animal shelter services at no cost to animal owners.

Animal Disaster Services (ADS) provides shelter to pets and small companion animals displaced by evacuations. Large Animal Shelters and Emergency Readiness (LASER) provides a safe haven for barn animals during evacuations, sheltering equines, goats, sheep, poultry, pigs, llamas, alpacas and emus. Both organizations are powered entirely by volunteers and donations; there are no paid positions and no government funding is provided.

This spring, the outreach resources of both LASER and ADS have been merged to create a stronger force in emergency situations to help animals, large and small, in both urban and rural communities.

“In 2023, it’s a kind of renewed partnership between LASER and ADS,” said Cathy Heath, LASER director and secretary. “We’ve always worked alongside each other, because we both deal with animals. This year, we thought it would be good to join our efforts and get the message out about emergency preparedness and about the resources available for animals and our offer to make presentations to communities to help inform them.”

The two non-profits are members of the Yavapai County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster), which is comprised of more than 20 organizations that may be activated to help people affected by disaster.

With similar missions, ADS and LASER address not only animal needs during a disaster, but also the safety of neighbors as well. They have teamed up to make community presentations about the resources they offer to individuals, families and households in the county.

Heath notes that LASER has been activated by Yavapai County officials seven times for local wildfires and has been on standby six times. “The April 2022 Crooks Fire struck early in the year and took everyone by surprise,” she said. “LASER sheltered 29 animals for the evacuated residents of Walker for an unprecedented 14 days. Our communities must always be prepared.”

Heath said the sheltered animals included chickens, turkeys, goats and horses. “There was plenty of food. Olsen’s Grain provides the hay. That’s one of our great community partners.”

It was challenging to prepare for the wildfire season during extreme winter conditions, she said, but efforts have been stepped up in the spring. “It’s been a very wet winter, so LASER held our first drill at the Yavapai County Office of Emergency Management on March 29,” Heath said. “The entire intake process was simulated with areas for our greeters and stalls. Some volunteers did role playing as animal owners, arriving at the LASER shelter with virtual animals and a variety of situations. The process was then reviewed in a roundtable discussion with input from everyone who participated.”

There was another session in April, with two more scheduled for May and June.

Volunteers are at the heart of both organizations, and in LASER alone, there are currently about 60 volunteers.

“We’ve picked up a lot of new volunteers,” Heath noted. “It’s stayed pretty strong. We have a lot of compassionate people here. Everyone pulls together when they are needed.”

Shelters are available at various predetermined locations depending on the locale and movement of disasters. The primary LASER shelter is in Prescott Valley, off Highway 89A, near Arizona Down. There, the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors has dedicated a parcel with 190 stalls as a Large Animal Evacuation Shelter and, under a written agreement, LASER will supply and staff it during evacuations.

Also, fundraising events for animal shelters have been effective. “In 2020, in spite of the pandemic, our communities rallied to raise over $40,000 to build a LASER shelter at the Chino Valley Equestrian Park,” Heath said. “This community has recognized this need, and they have always rallied for us. We’ve had great community support.”

Heath is one of six members of the LASER Board of Directors. “We are all very dedicated. What’s great about our board, each of us brings a different experience to the table, so we have a great balance within our board.”

Founded in 1999, ADS has provided shelter to pets displaced by fires and flooding, as well as warming shelters in the winter and cooling shelters in the summers when residents have been impacted by major power outages.

“One of my goals has been to reach out to organizations and work together to inform as many people as possible about pet emergency preparedness,” said ADS President Nancy Stamile. “I’m very happy to say we are achieving this goal. Working with a variety of rescue groups has also given us a better understanding of all the different evacuation needs. We are so proud to be a part of helping families, pets and other organizations in emergencies.”

Most recently, ADS provided two shelters simultaneously, with one in Camp Verde and the other in Black Canyon City, as a result of recent flooding, which impacted multiple communities throughout Yavapai County.

Supply trailers make ADS services mobile, as they are ready to be deployed to predetermined shelter locations within Yavapai County. Shelter locations have been selected based upon availability, accessibility and proximity to potential American Red Cross shelters.

“We always have to be ready,” Heath said. “With the Crook Fire, no one expected a fire that early in the year. They’re saying there’s really no fire season anymore; it could happen anytime.” QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN

Courtesy Photo: Large Animal Shelters and Emergency Readiness volunteers train for evacuations caused by wildfires, like the 2017 Goodwin Fire, and other disasters, such as recent flooding events. 

Bronze of Prescott Fighter Pilot Being Created for Airport

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“The statue will remind people of the history of Arizona and will promote the city at a nominal cost,” said Goode.

Prescott-based sculptor Bill Nebeker is working on an eight-foot statue of Prescott World War I fighter pilot hero Ernest A. Love, which will be placed at the entry of Prescott Regional Airport, Arizona’s third busiest airport.

The Prescott City Council voted unanimously March 28 to approve $125,000 for Nebeker’s creation. The statue is funded by the Arizona Community Foundation and Friends of the Airport. The statue is expected to be placed there by April 30, 2024.

Prescott Mayor Phil Goode said the statue will be a great addition to the airport, placed in front of the new terminal. The old terminal was built in the 1940s. Prescott Airport was built in 1928 and was the second in Arizona, with Tucson having the first in 1919.

“The statue will remind people of the history of Arizona and will promote the city at a nominal cost,” said Goode. “Bill is a world-renowned sculptor. It’s fortunate that we have someone of his caliber who combines Western art and aviation.”

Nebeker said he was honored that the Art in Public Places Committee selected him. The hardest part, he said, was researching Love so he knew how to authentically portray him in bronze. “Love was an amazing young man.”

Nebeker learned that Love excelled in athletics and academics at Prescott High School. He studied engineering at Stanford for three years and was at the top of his class. He quit during his third year because of his fascination with airplanes. He was sent to flight school in San Diego.

Nebeker also learned that Love wrote home to his parents every week. Nebeker read those letters for his research, which are stored at Sharlot Hall. A book about him, written by a second-generation cousin, is in the Prescott Library.

Love was severely wounded when his plane was shot down over France. He died a few days later. This happened two months before the war ended. Love was considered to be missing in action for several months. Later, his body was buried at Arlington Cemetery.

Nebeker is known nationally for his bronze statue creations. He sculpted the one by the roundabout near Phippen Museum. He has another one on Courthouse Plaza that pays tribute to fallen officers. His statue of early settlers is in Glendale and a statue of a territorial marshal is located at the Arizona Department of Public Safety headquarters in Phoenix. He also makes coffee-table sized bronze statues.

Nebeker started working in a bronze foundry in 1967 and remained there for eight years. He has been an independent artist since that time. His work can be found at Mountain Spirit Gallery on Whiskey Row. It is also online and in galleries throughout the country. QCBN

By Ray Newton and Stan Bindell, QCBN

Photo by Stan Bindell: Bronze sculptor Bill Nebecker displays a lot of love with a miniature and larger-than-life statue of Presoctt World War I fighter pilot Ernest A. Love.

Superhosts Share Tips for Short-Term Rental Success

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  Airbnb designation attracts visitors, increases revenue.

Wendy Chavis designed and built her Prescott home to raise her teenaged daughters. But empty nest syndrome began to emerge when they left home after high school. “Airbnb took the empty nest right out of the house,” declared the Airbnb Superhost.

From her four-bedroom home, guests can see the mountains and are close to the Prescott National Forest. “The online description of my Airbnb talks about plenty of peace and quiet, so it brings in the kind of guest that fits right in,” said Chavis, a residential sales realtor with Weichert, Realtors – CLA. “I get many female solo travelers who are attracted to the description.”

And through their glowing reviews, they attract more visitors to her home. “It seems like a blessing for all who come, so it’s an honor to provide a welcoming space. I anticipate my guests’ needs, like bringing a cup of hot tea to a weary traveler arriving late.”

A Badge of Honor

Every quarter, Airbnb evaluates the hosting performance of the past 12 months for all listings on the host’s account. Hosting performance is measured on various criteria, including response rate, cancelation rate and overall rating. Hosts must maintain a 4.8 rating to earn the Superhost badge.

“The Superhost program was created in 2014 to celebrate and reward the top-rated and most experienced Airbnb hosts,” report Airbnb officials in a news release. “Regardless of what kind of space they list on the platform – from a simple spare room to a sprawling estate – any host can become a Superhost by consistently offering exceptional hospitality. And it pays off.”

Indeed, the typical Superhost earned 64% more than a regular host, according to the Airbnb report.

Airbnb identifies its Superhosts with a special badge in the online marketplace for vacation rentals, indicating to potential guests that their short-term homestays have been reviewed and rated positively by previous lodgers.

Providing Comfort

Superhost Beth Tucker of Flagstaff is an 11-year Airbnb veteran with many repeat guests. “I enjoy meeting the guests,” she said. “I meet them and help them have an experience. I want people to come back and dig the area. It gives me great pleasure to hear, ‘I didn’t know there was so much to do here!’”

Tucker worked and traveled in developing countries for her job before retiring. “I feel I gained insight from those travel experiences and can provide comforts. Everybody travels differently, but being able to anticipate the guest’s needs makes me successful.”

One way she makes guests feel at home is to turn the internet radio onto a station streaming from the guest’s home country. “I had people from the Netherlands come in, so I set the radio to an Amsterdam station. Turns out they were getting homesick, so the radio in their native language really helped. You need to think about what kind of situation your guest is in.”

Creating Experiences

Darryl Brown, who rents out two rooms in his Flagstaff home, also earned the Superhost designation. “I made a separate entrance and closed [the rooms] off from the rest of my home. I had a blast creating the space, furnishing and decorating,” he told Quad Cities Business News. “I tried to make each space beautiful, fun and a different experience from what people have in their own homes.”

Brown says Airbnb success comes from “tangible” and “intangible” elements. “Photography catches people’s eye, but before long, people are booking on your reviews, so reviews have to be high. The feedback I get on my place is that people love the interior design and attention to detail. I have unique furniture, art, quality linens, a comfy bed and a beautiful bathroom. I have good coffee, tea and hot cocoa,” said Brown, who has been an Airbnb host for the past five years.

“I have seen short-term rentals done irresponsibly where large homes are rented out and the guests are loud and disrespectful to the neighborhood,” he added. “An aspect of being a good businessperson means respecting the community you are a part of.”

While earning the Superhost designation can pay off with more bookings, Superhosts like Wendy Chavis say they just feel really good about welcoming and taking care of guests. “I like the idea of maintaining my home and yard for people who are appreciative,” she said. QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Stacey Wittig is a travel journalist based near Flagstaff. If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to her website at unstoppablestaceytravel.com.

Photo by Kay Lyons: Airbnb Superhost Wendy Chavis of Prescott enjoys anticipating guests’ needs, providing special touches and making their stay a memorable visit. 

Delayed Justice Center and Jail Near Completion

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Upon completion, Greene said, the public will have an opportunity to tour the new facilities.

The construction on the Yavapai County Justice Center and Jail should be completed this month and the sheriff should be given the key by early summer, according to county officials.

“We’re getting really close,” said David McAtee, public information officer for the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.

The project, which has been underway since late 2020, is located along Prescott Lake Parkway. After construction is completed, McAtee said they have to go through the punch list to make sure everything is ready. He said the punch list can take a long time because it involves many details.

Polara Health will be housed at the detention center to address inmates’ behavioral health needs. “They will get the attention right there that they need,” said McAtee, noting that the emphasis is to keep people out of jail.

The Yavapai Justice Center and Jail will have two courtrooms, so those arrested can be processed right there. There will be space for two judges and courtroom staff, along with a big kitchen. The jail will have 125 beds for short-term holding. The cafeteria will be able to feed nearly 400 people, with inmates charged $2.99 per meal.

The project is running about six months behind and $1 million over budget because of the construction delays during the pandemic and inflation. It was funded through a $60 million bond and $12 million from the county’s general fund.

Hensel Phelps, with its corporate office in Colorado, is the main contractor, while Kitchell Corp. from Phoenix is coordinating the work on the ground. “They are doing an amazing job considering that prices doubled during the pandemic,” said McAtee.

Kristin Greene, director of public affairs for Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department, said there are three main buildings in the complex.

  • The jail, where inmates are either released or held before being sent to prison.
  • A new courthouse, which replaces the one on Gurley St.
  • A connection center, also known as a reentry center, where community resources will be housed. Concerns such as housing, substance abuse and mental health will be addressed there.

The overall size is 105,524 square feet, with the 73,289-square-foot detention center, the 24,466-square-foot court and the 7,769-square-foot connection center.

Inmates will also be screened for mental health and other issues before they are booked. “Recidivism rates have a lot to do with mental health,” Greene said. “We’re going to look at ways to keep people from coming back to jail,” she said.

Greene said the only jail intake and booking in Prescott now is very small and the old jail is dilapidated. She said the new jail will save time and gas costs by not having to transfer inmates to elsewhere in the area. The new facilities also will move the courthouse out of the busy downtown.

“This will be a lot more efficient from top to bottom,” she said. “I’m extremely excited about the connection center being right there. This is the culmination of a long belief by Sheriff David Rhodes.

Upon completion, Greene said, the public will have an opportunity to tour the new facilities. QCBN

By Stan Bindell and Ray Newton, QCBN

Photo by Patty Newton: Officials say the Yavapai County Justice Center and Jail on Prescott Lake Parkway will save on time and money, with services on site aimed at reducing the number of people returning to jail.  

Cancer Support Community Arizona Offering Free Services Statewide

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“I’ve found lots of support, encouragement, education, hope and many friends,” said Gerda Bubestinger.

When Cancer Support Community Arizona opened its doors in 1999, it was with the goal that no one impacted by cancer – from the newly diagnosed to long-term survivors to caregivers and loved ones – would have to face the disease alone.

The always-free services, which include educational workshops, support groups, resources and referrals, social and healthy lifestyle programs, would help ease the cancer journey by empowering participants, increasing their feelings of hope and connection and ultimately improving their quality of life.

Because Cancer Support Community was based in Phoenix, however, the vast majority of people accessing the non-profit’s programs were in Maricopa County. That’s changed dramatically over the past three years. Part of it was because of the pandemic, which prompted Cancer Support Community Arizona to pivot to streaming all of its programs online.

“There was still a community; it was now meeting on Zoom,” said Cancer Support Community Arizona CEO Debbie DiCarlo. “In fact, we found that attendance grew quite a lot during the pandemic because people throughout the state could now easily take part.”

The online option was so popular that even after Cancer Support Community started hosting in-person events again last year, most programs continue to be offered on Zoom as well.

“I participate virtually so I don’t have to drive a long distance,” said participant Sandy Basse. “My sister, who is one of my caregivers, lives in Washington state and we can participate together virtually. It is such a blessing to have this resource available to us.”

Another part of the non-profit’s expansion to other parts of the state was the opening in October 2021 of Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. In addition to the types of programs offered in Phoenix, the Northern Arizona campus also features a wig salon, the state’s only source of free wigs for cancer patients north of Phoenix.

“The wig salon is for anyone impacted by cancer, they don’t have to be from Flagstaff, they can come in from anywhere to get a free wig,” said Executive Director Cindy Payne. Although the wig salon’s scheduled hours are on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Payne said that out-of-towners visiting Flagstaff on other days can schedule an appointment to be fit for a wig any time the office is open.

In the 18 months that Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona has been open, it has reached out beyond the greater Flagstaff area. In-person support groups for patients and caregivers meet in Cottonwood and Sedona, while a Native American support group meets in Tuba City and on Zoom and men across Northern Arizona gather together weekly on Zoom for a Men’s Only support group.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to expand where we can provide these vital services throughout the state,” said Payne. “It’s a matter of having a relationship with an organization in a city or town that’s willing to host us in a central location where people can meet together.”

Whether in person or virtual, all Cancer Support Community programs are evidence-based and evaluated for efficacy in helping cancer patients or loved ones. In any given month, those programs can range from hypnotherapy for pain management, to exercise sessions that help prevent cancer-related fatigue, to workshops discussing how essential oils can help ease the side effects of cancer treatment.

Even the group’s fundraisers are a form of therapeutic support. Take, for example, the inaugural Paws-4-Hope celebration, which is scheduled for Saturday, April 15, at Bushmaster Park in Flagstaff. It was chosen not only because a dog-centered day at the park promises to be fun, said Payne, but because of the proven therapeutic benefits of dogs.

“National Institutes of Health studies show that even small interactions with dogs cause the human brain to produce oxytocin, the ‘cuddle chemical,’” she said. “Oxytocin increases feelings of relaxation and trust and empathy while reducing stress and anxiety. Who doesn’t need more of that?”

For some of the participants, the most important word in the organization’s name is “community” and the knowledge that they will not be alone in their cancer journey.

“I’ve found lots of support, encouragement, education, hope and many friends,” said Gerda Bubestinger. “I’ve attended classes like Strength and Balance, Yoga and Tai Chi on a regular basis since 2015. With the pandemic, Cancer Support Community Arizona generously offered virtual classes, which I’m really thankful for. Now I’m enjoying the classes in the convenience of my home. This saves the environment, and me time and money.” QCBN

By Cindy May, QCBN

To learn more about Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona and its wide range of in-person and virtual programs, visit cscaz.org or call 928-236-2333.

Courtesy Photo: The Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona wig salon is the only source of free wigs for cancer patients north of Phoenix.