June 11. 6:00p.m. Sage’s Wellness Center, 1101 E. Gurley St. Space is limited for this event so contact the Prescott Valley Chamber for more information.
Class Description: Functional disease is what they call it when all of the labs and tests come out normal but the patient continues to suffer from major symptoms. Examples of functional disease include irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis and chronic fatigue. Dr. Kathryn Sage treats functional disease by not focusing on the symptoms, per say, but instead by treating each person in their own unique way. Learn more about her approach and some of her effective methods by attending this event.
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Trendy, Upscale Home Decor
Prescott True Value is a unique hardware store in the realm of hardware stores, specifically the Kitchen Shoppe and Outdoor Living departments. Very few hardware stores have a kitchen and gift area the size of Prescott True Value’s. The Kitchen Shoppe evolved from the small kitchen section in the original location (where New Frontiers is currently located) to more than 3,600 square feet filled with everything for your kitchen plus trendy, one-of-a-kind gifts and more.
Eons ago (20 years plus), Prescottonians had limited shopping choices, especially when it came to the home. Furniture stores yes, but no housewares or gifty stores other than K-mart, Cornet or Yellow Front. Prescott True Value recognized that Prescott needed a place to buy dishes, silverware, pots and pans, as well as trendy, upscale home décor and giftware.
Buying trips to the National Housewares show, the Atlanta Gift Mart and other shows to see what new, exciting products should be brought to Prescott have become biannual events. Over the years, Prescott True Value’s Kitchen Shoppe has expanded to become more than just a kitchen department carrying gadgets and appliances, now offering gourmet foods, premium grade olive oils, balsamic vinegar, linens, canning supplies, gourmet cutting boards, kitchen cutlery, Fiesta Ware, cookware (Lodge, Swiss Diamond and Curtis Stone), barware, glassware, and even rustic furniture.
As the Kitchen Shoppe evolved, so did the outdoor living department. What started out with a few grills and basic patio furniture has now become a destination for a large selection of patio furniture, grills, fountains, birdbaths, gazing balls, kinetic yard art and more. The largest selection of Weber grills can be found here along with Saber infrared grills, Big Green Egg smokers, Kamado smokers and everything in between. The selection of outdoor furniture is also one of the largest in Prescott, and includes handcrafted artistic metal chairs and tables, metal rocking chairs, firepits, benches, bistro sets, wicker sets, plus several different types of outdoor dining sets. No matter what your style, there is something at True Value that will bring character and life to your outdoor living space.
Today, Prescott True Value’s Kitchen Shoppe and Outdoor Living departments are a destination for people looking for something more than what the big boxes carry. In fact, many locals bring their out-of-town guests and relatives to the store, telling them they won’t believe what great things can be found at Prescott True Value. QCBN
By Suzanne Springer
The Trend of Non-GMO Farming
With laboratory-created genetically modified organisms (GMOs) now a significant part of our food supply, health risks associated with consuming them are coming to light, raising concerns among consumers and resulting in the passage of GMO-related laws across the country. But perhaps a more promising trend is that food-related businesses large and small are responding to those concerns and taking a harder look at their use of GMOs.
General Mills recently announced that its original Cheerios will soon be “not made with genetically modified ingredients.” Last year, Whole Foods Market and Chipotle Mexican Grill announced new goals regarding labeling and sourcing non-GMO ingredients. The term GMO is rapidly becoming a household word and, according to Megan Westgate, executive director of the Non-GMO Project, consumer concern about GMOs and demand for non-GMO products has made “Non-GMO Project Verified” one of the most sought-after labels in the natural products industry.
How does this issue affect how business is conducted locally? A walk down the aisles of New Frontiers Natural Marketplace in Prescott reveals non-GMO shelf labels, making products easy for customers to spot. Store manager Philip Morris shared, “We require all fresh produce in our salad bar to be organic and any other items to be non-GMO sourced. Also, all high-risk ingredients, such as corn and soy in our delis, have to be organic. The USDA National Organic Standards prohibit the use of GMOs, so this is an effective safeguard against GMOs.”
Tamara Kastanas, owner of Prescott’s That’s It! Gluten Free Home Bakery, said, “My customers have repeatedly stated that they are very happy to find delicious gluten-free items that are made fresh, locally and are GMO-free.”
Mark Montague, director of food services at Crossroads Cafe in Prescott, agrees. “I am going to make a section on our menu that will highlight GMO-free items,” he said. “I have changed the cooking oil that we use on the grill, and we have promoted our GMO-free items so our customers know.”
On the animal-food side of things, Kim Sheridan, co-owner of Pet Headquarters in Prescott Valley, shared, “People were looking for foods and treats that they could feed without GMOs, so we set out to identify which ones we could verify were GMO-free. We have identified all foods and treats in our store with a little GMO-free tag.”
Mortimer Family Farms in Dewey offers non-GMO sweet corn at its farm stand and has reformulated its animal feed to be non-GMO. Pastured and non-GMO are also important to Tamra Kelly of Kelly Beef, who said, “The GMO issue was addressed in our business due to the health benefits of grass-fed beef providing a healthy alternative to commercially raised beef. Our beef is naturally GMO-free due to our grazing process. Our cattle are not, in any fashion, genetically modified.”
Dr. Caroline O’Sullivan, a holistic veterinarian in Prescott Valley, discovered that eliminating or reducing GMOs in the diets of her patients has consistently resulted in improved digestion, coat, energy and sleep patterns, and has reduced the need for pharmaceutical treatments.
On the non-profit front, Slow Food Prescott, a chapter of Slow Food USA, whose mission is good, clean and fair food, adopted a GMO-Free resolution, calling for all foods at their events to be non-GMO. GMO-Free Prescott, a community organization committed to raising awareness about GMOs, recently released its Chef’s Guide to Genetically Modified Foods.
The GMO issue is multi-faceted and multi-layered. However, with annual sales of Non-GMO Project Verified products in excess of $5 billion in 2013 and national chains and local businesses addressing GMOs, it looks like non-GMO could be the next food megatrend and local business opportunity.
Would you like to learn more about GMOs? Plan to attend either the premier showing of the new documentary film GMO OMG on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 7 p.m. at the Yavapai College Performing Arts Center, or The Dark Side of GMOs Symposium on Saturday, March 1 at 1 p.m. in the Yavapai College Library Community Room. For more information, visit www.gmofreeprescottaz.org. QCBN
McKeown is the vice chair of GMO-Free Prescott and can be reached at gmofreeprescott. For more information, visit www.gmofreeprescottaz.org.
By Lesley McKeown
Forum on GMO’s
A public symposium discussing the health risks of genetically modified foods will be held Saturday, March 1, 1 -5:30 p.m.
at Yavapai College Library Community Room, 1100 E. Sheldon St. in Prescott. GMO-Free Prescott and Yavapai College Community Education are presenting the symposium.
To register for the symposium, call 928-717-7755. The cost is $15.
Dr. Lorrin Pang, a genetic expert and medical researcher from Hawaii, will deliver the keynote address, “Emerging Health Risks Associated with Consumption of Genetically Engineered Foods.” Local experts Dr. Caroline O’Sullivan, a holistic veterinarian and Gary Mortimer, commercial farmer and rancher will join Dr. Pang for a panel discussion following his keynote address. The panel discussion will cover how local professionals are addressing the GMO issue.
Shea Richland, GMO-Free Prescott founder and president, noted that the symposium should appeal to local physicians, other health care providers, health and science teachers, as well as farmers and ranchers.
Dr. Pang, who also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health, is a featured lecturer on genetic contamination and the associated health risks. He has testified as an expert witness in both legal actions and legislative hearings. He has been a consultant to the World Health Organization since 1985 and has had over 60 studies published in peer reviewed professional journals. He also worked at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research for 20 years.
NonGMO/organic refreshments will be available for sale at the event.
The symposium will conclude with the premiere showing of the new documentary film “GMO OMG” by filmmaker Jeremy Seifert. This family film shows how GMOs affect children, the planet’s health and individuals’ freedom of choice. The film will be followed by and a Q & A session.
GMO-Free Prescott was formed in February 2012 with the intention of promoting grassroots efforts that encourage informed and nourishing food options and choices. GMO-Prescott is a partner of Sustainable Arizona, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit.
Community partners for this event are Yavapai College Community Education, Slow Food Prescott, New Frontiers Natural Marketplace, Mortimer Farms, Terroir Seeds/Underwood Gardens, Pet Headquarters, Kelly Beef and Arcosanti Community Foundation.
For more information, email gmofreeprescott@gmail.com.
Economic Growth Linked to Higher Education
Economic success and positive community growth are irrevocably linked to a quality higher education system.
That was the common theme for keynote speakers and most of the 50 or so participants at the late-November forum sponsored by Arizona Town Hall in cooperation with Embry Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott.
Tara Jackson, president of the Phoenix-based ATH and organizer for the forum, praised the innovative efforts of Quad Cities’ institutions in attempting to expand higher education to serve more citizens.
“Higher education is a critical component of our communities and our culture. It’s important to recognize that education is an investment in our future,” she said.
Prescott’s Jeff Burt, director of economic initiatives for the City, echoed Jackson. He said, “It’s critical to the success of our communities to have strong higher education systems that fulfill the current and future workforce needs of employers. Research consistently shows an overwhelming correlation between economic success and academic achievement.”
Several participants noted that the Quad Cities have a unique advantage in rural Arizona because four local accredited higher education institutions offer degrees to students.
Those four are Yavapai Community College, Prescott College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Northern Arizona University-Yavapai. They serve the educational interests of thousands of students who otherwise might have to relocate to metropolitan areas for college degrees. Many of those students are non-traditional – older students returning to enhance their skills.
Some participants suggested that more support needs to be given higher education – not just in the Quad Cities but throughout Arizona – if business and economic growth are to be sustained.
Two college presidents, Dr. Penny Wills of Yavapai College and Dr. Kristin Woolever of Prescott College, stressed that future economic growth in Arizona will be influenced by the amount of support given to higher education.
“It disturbs me that in just my few years at Yavapai College, we’ve seen annual diminishing of support from the Arizona legislature. It seems few legislators really pay any attention to colleges,” Wills said. “But I think forums such as this can create more public awareness and support and a stronger educational climate.”
Woolever, president of a private college that enrolls more than 1,000 students for either undergraduate or graduate degrees, was critical of Arizona‘s rank on the national scene.
She said, “Shame on Arizona that we rank 40th out of 50 states in the percentage of high school students that go on to college. And shame on Arizona that the state ranks 49th of 50 states in financial support given to education.”
However, Woolever was optimistic that the pattern of more collaboration and cooperation among and between colleges and universities will have positive influence. “We now have the capability of providing online, hybrid and blended educational courses and programs on demand. We’re more able to pay attention to an underserved population.”
Arizona Board of Regents Institutional Analysis Director Dan Anderson praised the efforts of the state’s universities in making higher education opportunities accessible to more people through its partnership programs.
“We have more than 150 locations around the state where students can take college and university classes,” he said.
He cited the partnership between NAU and Yavapai College as an example. NAU has two campuses in the Quad Cities area. One is in Prescott Valley and the other is on the campus at Yavapai College.
NAU Campus Executive Officer Dr. Susan Johnstad said that between the two sites, more than 200 students, mostly YC transfers, currently seek NAU baccalaureate degrees. “What’s more, we’re able to offer special tuition plans that are about one-half what the cost would be on the main campus in Flagstaff. That converts to about $5,000 instead of $10,000 for in-state tuition,” she said. “We want to focus on educating students with careers which are viable in the local economy.”
Cooperation between NAU and Yavapai College may be enhanced further if steps proposed in a 10-year master plan developed by the YC governing board move forward. One program recommendation is the creation of a collaborative Center of Excellence for Nursing and Allied Health.
Other recommendations in the master plan include one for closing the YC Chino Valley campus and expanding the Prescott Valley campus. However, those recommendations are very preliminary. Before any significant changes occur, a cost analysis for each step must be developed, explained YC vice president for finance and administration, Clint Ewell, in a statement to the news media.
Yavapai College currently serves around 8,500 students. About 6,500 of them are part-time, according to data from Cappex, a Chicago-based information center that tracks more than 750 higher education institutions in the United States. Presently, YC students attend classes in Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, the Verde Valley and Sedona. Tuition is modest – about $234 a credit hour, or about $1,700 a year, plus books and other fees.
On occasion, YC goes beyond the usual in advocating career opportunities. For instance, the college on Saturday, Dec. 14, YC offered a free “Mining & Technology” program to those interested in high-paying specialized jobs. One focus was on Diesel, Industrial Plant and Electrical Technology programs. Also featured was information about Freeport-McMoran scholarships, job placement and internships. Freeport-McMoran is the world’s largest producer of copper, gold and molybdenum and operates several mines in Arizona.
Those attending the forum formally praised the educational efforts of two private institutions in the Quad Cities area: Prescott College and Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. Though pricey – annual tuition and fees at Prescott College are more than $25,000, and at ERAU, more than $30,000 – both attract exceptional students who can earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees in highly marketable careers.
ERAU Chancellor Frank Ayers oversees an impressive undergraduate and graduate university where more than 1,700 of the “…highest GPA students in Arizona” can study for bachelor’s through doctoral degrees. Ayers and the community take pride in knowing that ERAU is “…rated number one in aviation and aerospace education programs, with more than 40 degree offerings.”
“We at ERAU want to continue expanding what we do, especially in cooperation with our sister institutions. We owe it to the communities and the state to make quality scientific, technological and professional opportunities accessible to as many people as we can,” he said.
Prescott resident George Ruffner, Ph. D., principal in EcoPlan & Associates, underscored Ayers’s comments. “To underestimate the importance of higher education in our economy and our state is a mistake we will rue for many, many, generations to come. Take a look at demographics. Arizona is changing. Let’s support expanding higher education opportunities in the community – or we’re dead!”
Following the forum, Prescott City Councilman Alan Carlow reacted positively to what he heard about expanding collegiate programs for the area, especially as they impacted the business and professional community.
“As we strive to improve business growth and retention, which creates regional wealth and jobs, a well-educated work force is the necessary foundation for these efforts,” said Carlow.
Assisting in organizing the forum was Lori Poloni-Staudinger, an NAU associate professor of politics and international affairs and the statewide coordinator for Arizona Deliberates. QCBN
By Ray Newton
Building Community Through Athletics
When Lisa Campos was hired as NAU’s vice president for Intercollegiate Athletics, the goal was clear: elevate NAU Athletics. Since her arrival in the summer of 2012, NAU Athletics has begun its revitalization.
Under Dr. Campos’ leadership, NAU won the Big Sky President’s Cup, an award presented to the most academically and athletically successful athletic program in the conference. During the 2012-13 academic year, NAU secured four conference championships, while earning five Conference Coach of the Year honors. In 2013, after capturing its seventh straight Big Sky Championship, the men’s cross country team finished second nationally, while the football team made its first appearance since 2003 in the Football Championship Series (FCS) NCAA Playoffs. All five fall sports programs qualified for post-season play, including men’s and women’s cross country, football, soccer and volleyball. Currently, NAU is tied for 25th in the Learfield Sports Director’s Cup.
The City of Flagstaff, NAU alum, and supporters have taken notice of the transformation NAU athletics is experiencing. During the 2012-13 season, attendance grew in record numbers, and the trend continues for the 2013-14 season. Ticket growth highlights include a 24 percent total increase in revenue from football paid attendance and a 131 percent total increase in revenue from men’s basketball paid attendance during the 2012-13 seasons. This past fall, the NAU football team played a nationally televised game in front of a sold-out crowd of Lumberjack faithful. This was the first sell-out since 1995.
NAU Athletics has also garnered national exposure for the institution and city of Flagstaff. Through its partnership with Fox Sports, NAU athletics was on national or regional television 40 times, including in the only FCS spring football game to be nationally televised. In the fall, NAU reestablished its partnership with the Phoenix Suns, bringing thousands of fans to their public exhibition game in the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. During the summer, NAU sports programs brought thousands of kids from all over the region to attend summer camps on the NAU campus and for the past two summers, the men’s basketball program has hosted clinics for coaches. These clinics have brought close to 200 high school and college coaches from around the region, including California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and Wyoming, to the NAU campus. The clinic’s coaching staff has been joined by sport legends such as Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, George Karl, Josh Pastner and Luke Walton. High altitude training has also been a part of the NAU athletics tradition as NAU continues to host elite athletes from all over the world. Other events such as the Wine and Dine in the Pines have helped to attract NAU supporters to visit Flagstaff and support the local Division I athletic program.
So what does a revitalized athletic program mean for the city of Flagstaff? The NAU athletics program continues to have a positive economic development and quality of life impact in Flagstaff. From the athletic department recruiting students to attend NAU from all parts of the world, to direct and indirect spending in the local community, to bringing visiting teams and their fans to Flagstaff, NAU athletics continues to play a role in our local economy. NAU athletics also provides the community, fans, alumni and supporters a place to unite, connect, and celebrate Northern Arizona University. QCBN