Quad Cities Business News

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, & Dewey/Humboldt

You are here: Home / Archives for families

families

Families, Hikers, Tourists, Locals Seek Out Hyatt Place

By Leave a Comment

Travelers are back for views, monuments and adventures of the Grand Circle.

With all the vibrancy of a high country monsoon thunderstorm, the lobby of Hyatt Place is electric with excitement. Travelers in hiking gear, tourists meeting with outfitter guides, foodies savoring mango habanero tofu street tacos and locals enjoying prickly pear margaritas rimmed with black lava salt all seem to be in their happy place.

This high desert haven is perched above the expansive Page/Grand Canyon/Lake Powell zone, known as the Grand Circle, where stone can be swirled into timeless art pieces, rain showers drift across the pastel plateau and sparkling blue water beckons the outdoor recreationist.

Nearly five million visitors arrived at this destination in pre-pandemic 2019 and Hyatt Place Page Lake Powell General Manager Nadia Santacruz says 2022 is on track for another amazing year in tourism.

“Page has been discovered by visitors all over the world,” she said. “The beautiful slot canyon, Antelope Canyon, is the No. 1 attraction. It’s an amazing experience. You feel like you are completely outside of this world.”

Visitors also want to go to Horseshoe Bend or kayak, boat, stand-up paddle and explore the area’s many national parks and scenic byways. “Lake Powell is a family destination,” said Santacruz. “For some, it’s a tradition to visit every year, stay on the lake in houseboats or stay in our hotel and go back and forth to the lake and other destinations.”

After a big day of discovery, Hyatt Place guests can enjoy a dip in the heated outdoor pool, relax on the open-air patio with boundless high desert views or return to spacious, suite-style rooms with separate places to sleep and work. The vibe is both relaxed and sophisticated.

Despite the number of people wanting to explore, there are no big hotels in Page. That’s one of the reasons why Hyatt Place is so popular. Another reason is the atmosphere – stylishly trendy, insanely clean and authentically Southwestern. Santacruz’s influence is undeniable.

Santacruz grew up in Sonora, Mexico, making meals with her mother and grandmother using local spices and fresh produce. She folds those cherished memories, signature flavors and treasured family recipes into the menu of the hotel’s Prickly Pear Kitchen.

“We are Southwestern influenced and inspired. The soup is from scratch, the tortillas and tacos are from scratch, the sauces and dressings are from scratch. Nothing is better than home-cooked food. It is also the healthier way to go. We use unique ingredients and take special care. For example, we roast the jalapenos and tomatillos to give them that sharp flavor you are not going to find anywhere else.”

That passion for getting it right wafts into every part of the hotel. Santacruz was hired to help open Hyatt Place in 2018. She came from the nearby resort of Amangiri, where she served as the food and beverage manager and took care of guests like Kobe Bryant, Suzanne Somers, and Victoria and David Beckham and their family.

She says she is living her dream. “I started when the walls were not built. I feel very emotionally attached to this property. We put in all the furniture and flooring and went from zero to opening the doors. It was a good experience.”

A good experience is what she wishes for all guests and employees. “I am 100% proud of my team from housekeeping to the kitchen to the front desk. They do a tremendous job. They have been here through the pandemic and are the backbone of the property. We could not be successful without their hard work.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

For information about Hyatt Place, reservations and seasonal packages, visit PageLakePowell.Place.Hyatt.com.

Defining Culinary Teamwork

By Leave a Comment

All businesses and families require teamwork to achieve goals.

Growing up in our family, there were roles we each took as meals were being prepared. Opening cans of tomatoes and cream of mushroom soup was exciting for me, for my mom was going to make “Goulash,” a common casserole with ground beef, elbow macaroni and other fine ingredients we had in the refrigerator. Our family called it “Shitabowla!” Pronounced Sheetabowla. I am chuckling as I am writing this.

Growing up, I wanted to take on roles in the kitchen to help with the family meals. I also washed the dishes and my sister, Kathryn, dried them as well as buttered the toast. We loved taking turns bagging groceries when shopping at the local Aldi’s.

My siblings and I would climb the fruit trees and toss down the apples and pears to my mom to be placed in the baskets. Years later, we added more siblings and assisted in preparing and learning new recipes for family meals.

You may have heard the phrase, “teamwork makes the dream work.” It’s a magical quote that I believe and work into practicing daily.

Teamwork, defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary, is work done by several associates with each doing a part but all subordinating personal prominence to the efficiency of the whole.

All businesses and families require teamwork to achieve goals. I have been part of teams both with my family and corporate/business teams that have been life-altering.

An example of a successful company, Caterpillar (heavy equipment) states the following:

“We help each other succeed. We are a team, sharing our unique talents to help those with whom we work, live and serve. The diverse thinking and decision making of our people strengthens our team. We respect and value people with different opinions, experiences and backgrounds. We strive to understand the big picture, then do our part. We know that by working together, we can produce better results than any of us can achieve alone.”

“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” – Babe Ruth

The Goods from the Garden, Catering & Events team has received great accolades and recognition from our community and clients. Our team is where the magic is. Our team is like a garden: there are ups and downs in the soil, the seeds, the weather, the crops and the harvest. A bit like life itself.

The past year has been a bit of a roller coaster ride as we pivoted through the processes. We are committed to lead our company and strengthen the teamwork approach to gain positive results. We will be revamping our company culture to truly embrace teamwork. We have had ups and downs and all-arounds; however, at the end of the day, I am able to live my dreams with the support of my husband, Richard. My daughter, Stephanie, and grandsons, Ty and Easton, are also a part of our culinary journey. I am grateful for every day that God provides.

Goods from the Garden, Catering & Events is seeking Culinary and Service Team members to assist in keeping the Garden growing. Resumes can be emailed to:  goodsfromthegarden@gmail.com.

We are located at the Prescott Gateway Mall, 3250 Gateway Blvd. #516 and can be reached at 928-237-3214. QCBN

By Debbie Maranville

Debbie Maranville is co-owner of Goods from the Garden and The Natural Healing Garden. Visit us at goodsfromthegarden.com or on our Facebook page, Goods from the Garden. At Goods form the Garden, our reputation has allowed us to grow significantly over the last several years thanks to the referrals of family and friends, local businesses and of course, the referrals that continue to sustain us from the community! You can reach us at 928-237-3214. We are located at the Prescott Gateway Mall, 3250 Gateway Blvd. #516. n September, we celebrate our sixth year as a catering company in the greater Prescott area.

Animals Helping to Ease Pandemic Stress

By Leave a Comment

Free zoo and farm days invite families outdoors.

It’s challenging enough to be a young person with mental health issues without the added trauma generated by a worldwide pandemic.   Children and teens the world over are grappling with the stress, fear, grief, isolation and uncertainty created by COVID-19. Unfortunately, the struggles and losses of the past 14 or so months are likely to continue to affect young people and their families for some time.

These hard times are shining a spotlight on an annual event that traditionally is devoted to raising awareness about children’s mental health, National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week, which has been declared by Gov. Doug Ducey to be May 2-7 in Arizona.

The 2021 theme for Children’s Mental Health Awareness in Arizona is “Every Child’s Mental Health Counts,” with a focus on ever-mounting issues for the young, including restless and fearful sleep, changes in mood and behavior, increases in aggression and irritability, decreased interest in schoolwork and academic achievement, increased use of drugs and alcohol and dwelling on thoughts of death and suicide.

The Family Involvement Center (FIC), a 20-year-old non-profit with offices in Prescott Valley, Flagstaff, Phoenix and Tucson, is sponsoring two free events that will welcome all individuals and families who want to raise their spirits by enjoying the outdoors and interacting with animals.

The first is Free Zoo Day, scheduled for Saturday, May 8, at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson, and the second is on Saturday, May 15, at Mortimer Farms in Dewey.

Executive Director Jane Kallal started FIC in 2002 as a family-run organization where the family “voice” is central in receiving services.

“Although the events of the last year affected everyone, they were especially troubling for kids and young people,” Kallal said. “These free zoo days are a way to connect families with resources to help children with a mental health condition. The mission of the Family Involvement Center has always been to offer hope to parents and help them connect with another parent who understands, bringing them awareness that they are not alone. This is even more important this year as many have too often been isolated from social settings.”

The non-profit has been hosting events like these for almost 15 years to mark CMHA Week. In the past, families have been invited to large picnics, but this year, organizers decided to do the Zoo Days events to provide something outside that would be joyful for families.

“The feedback we receive from parents and youth has included comments about how they want more opportunities like this to meet and socialize with others who are on a similar journey,” she said.

The non-profit is partnering with Banner University Health Plans, Mercy Care, Arizona Complete Health, Health Choice, NARBHA Institute, and Firefighter Angel to host these events.

Activities at the Tucson zoo and the Dewey farm, all designed to lessen mental health stressors, include observing the antics of giant anteaters and ring-tailed lemurs at the zoo, and swinging on tractor tires and navigating a ropes course, munching on free lunches under shady trees and roaming in fields picking strawberries at the farm.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), noted in an FIC April 12 press release, “As many as one in six U.S. children ages 6-17 has a treatable mental health condition such as depression, anxiety problems or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).”

Another WHO statistic states, “Half of all mental health conditions start by 14 years of age but most cases are undetected and untreated.”

“One reason we’re really working to get the word out about children’s mental health is many parents don’t know that free help is available,” Kallal said. “Our goal is to raise community awareness about how common children’s mental health challenges are in the United States, while also reducing the stigma of mental illness.”

She added that Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is a “chance to change the perceptions around mental health, as well as recognize children’s uniqueness, rather than the characteristics associated with their disability, diagnosis or illness.

In addition, she says, the consequences of not addressing adolescent mental health issues extend into adulthood, limiting opportunities for adults to lead fulfilling lives.

The Family Involvement Center, a board composed of at least 51% parents who have raised children with unique challenges, governs FIC. Staff members also are primarily parents who have experience navigating services and supports that aid families in need.

Services at FIC include help coordinating with child-serving systems such as schools, assistance with life skills like employment and housing, providing parent peer support programs, counseling for adults and other family members, and offering respite services as breaks for parents and caregivers.

“We are there to help them navigate to get the needed resources and formal and informal supports in their communities,” Kallal said.

FIC also presents a wide variety of youth support services, including mentoring and after-school programs to build skills and cultivate healthy relationships.

The Reid Park Zoo has more than 350 animals in lush natural habitats and was founded in 1967 on 24 acres that are owned by the City of Tucson. It is a non-profit located within Reid Park and includes two fascinating aviaries, Flight Connection and South American.

“The zoo is home to animals from around the world, including from Africa and South America,” said Deborah Carr, director of marketing and events at the zoo. “We have a lot of new animals this year, like the African painted dogs. They’re a lot of fun. We have a pack of four sisters, each 2 years old. We also just opened a new Flamingo Lagoon, an expanded space with sparkling features, which houses the zoo’s flock of 26 Chilean flamingos. They’re among the most colorful animals at the zoo, with their deep coral feathers.”

There is also a baby African elephant, Penzi, who reportedly loves cucumbers, crushing boxes and rolling in the dirt.

The zoo focuses on conservation, education and connecting people with the natural world

Mortimer Farms is celebrating its 11th anniversary and is located on 324 acres, 60 acres of which are open to the public.

The grounds include a barn and country store, and farm-inspired rides, games and activities.

“We have miniature horses, calves, donkeys, goats, sheep, bunnies, chickens, ducks – lots of animals to feed, pet and hang out with,” said Ashlee Mortimer, who is the chief marketing officer at the farm. “It’s super fun to have that animal interaction with guests. In May, we’ll have quite a few babies. I love spring and all the babies that come along with it.”

The farm has about 40 varieties of vegetables growing at various times.

“Guests can come out and pick all day in the fields, whatever is available,” she said. “Right now, we are picking asparagus and cilantro. In a few weeks, depending on the weather, we should have strawberries.”

The Agua Fria River borders one side of the long, narrow farm

A grassy, shaded area will be available for families, who will also be given free box lunches.

“The event is held outside over several acres to allow for distancing of participants,” said Trisha Riner, who is FIC regional director for Northern Arizona.

There will also be volunteers on hand to help people enroll in AHCCCS if they don’t have health care and need assistance completing paperwork or are missing documents.

Attendance is limited for both events and families must register in advance. For more information, visit familyinvolvementcenter.org/get-involved/childrens-mental-health-awareness-week.

To reserve space at Reid Park Zoo in Tucson for May 8, contact Vianey Verduzco at 520-591-8602 or Vianey@familyinvolvementcenter.org.

For a spot at Mortimer Farms in Dewey for May 15, contact Trish Riner  at 928-713-3248 or Trish@familyinvolvementcenter.org. QCBN

By Betsey Bruner, QCBN