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ADOT Announces Plans to Widen I-17 North of Phoenix

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It will take about two years to start construction on the $320 million project to widen 23 miles of Interstate 17 between Anthem Way and the Sunset Point Rest Area, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation. A portion of the project is to include eight miles of flex lanes between Black Canyon City and the Sunset Point, at a cost of $95.5 million.
ADOT says those eight miles will be constructed beside the existing southbound lanes, separated by concrete barriers. They will run, depending on the day, with the major traffic flow — either north or south.
“Safety is our top priority,” said ADOT Spokesperson Doug Nintzel. “There will be a safety gate system at both ends of the direction of travel.”
He said the project team will design and install appropriate signage for all drivers to see as they approach the area where the flex lanes are in operation.
The project is being designed to keep traffic moving along safely on a day-to-day basis, but when there is an incident like a crash, which closes the highway, the flex lanes can be used to divert traffic around it.
“At present, there is no timely, reasonable alternative to I-17,” said Nintzel.
The highway plan is good news for the 40,000 daily commuters and the 55,000 to 65,000 weekend travelers.
“This is exciting news for Arizona and our growing economy,” said Governor Doug Ducey in a news release. “Arizona’s fiscally conservative, balanced budget made a significant investment in our state’s infrastructure. This additional funding will expand Interstate 17 in a critical commerce corridor, helping to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow and increase public safety.”
Motorists have long complained about I-17 north of Phoenix because of traffic congestion and the lack of an alternative route.
The project is funded by ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration. Ben Peterson of the governor’s communications office said construction will take place in different stages because of the mountainous stretch of road involved and is expected to be completed in 2023.
According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, this round of the Infrastructure Rebuilding America discretionary grant program is making available between $855 and $902.5 million for projects that help rebuild the country’s infrastructure. FBN

 

By Patty McCormac, QCBN

Wildlife Park Attracting Record Crowds

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Out of Africa Wildlife Park has become a favorite year-round visitor destination in Arizona’s central highlands.

Ever-increasing visitation at the spacious 200-plus acre attraction will likely reach more than 150,000 guests this year, said Ashton Powell, public relations director for Out of Africa (OOA). Located just west of Camp Verde off I-17, it makes a great day trip for folks from the Quad Cities area – about 45 minutes by road. The same is true for those driving south from Flagstaff, and slightly longer for those coming from the Valley of the Sun.

Powell says guests are not only Arizona residents. “We track carefully where our visitors originate from. While about 65 percent are from the Phoenix area, the rest are coming from across the United States and from Europe, Asia and the other continents,” Powell said. She noted that North-Central Arizona has several attractions that bring visitors to the area and provide great benefits to the economic development of the overall region.

Many visitors pay for lodging and meals in adjacent communities such as Camp Verde, Cottonwood, Clarkdale and Sedona.

Steven Tillen and his family, from Brooklyn, New York, said visiting the park equaled anything they had ever seen on the East Coast.

Another couple, Jessica and Zachary Wagner, who recently relocated to Gilbert from Cody, Wyoming, said their visit to OOA was a special occasion, “an extraordinary experience we will not forget.”

 

It’s Not a Zoo

Dean Harrison and his wife, Prayeri, are the founder-owners of OOA. “This is not a zoo. Instead, you’ll see exotic animals from around the world roaming in spacious habitats similar to that which was native to their species. They are not confined in small cages and enclosures. Instead, they are in expansive fenced natural settings that could have come from their homelands. We wanted a non-traditional, genuinely natural kind of environment that would let the animals live naturally.”

Moreover, the animals are not just from Africa. They represent wildlife from Africa, Asia, Europe, Australia, North America and Central America.

Harrison is animated when he describes the animals at OOA. As he drives visitors around in an open-air safari vehicle, he stops frequently to talk about the wildlife wandering about in natural habitats.

The native Arizonan detailed his philosophy about creating a relationship with wild animals in his book, “Return to Eden.”

OOA has grown considerably since it was relocated in 2005 from its original 104 acres in Fountain Hills to the rough terrain of the Mingus Mountain foothills. Doubling the space allowed the Harrisons to add more animals, totaling more than 300 at the park now.

Popular attractions are lions, tigers, leopards, giraffes, zebras, a camel and rhinoceros. African hoof stock such as eland, nilgai, water buffalo, horned oryx and watusi cattle are up close to tour vehicles as they bump along.

OOA has a permanent staff of about 50 people who handle all aspects of park operations and maintenance.

 

Special Shows Offer Wildlife Variety

In addition to the regular admission, an African Bush Safari and several special shows are offered. These include Creature Feature, Tiger Splash, Giant Snake Show, Predator Feed and Wonders of Wildlife. They also offer add-ons such as the sloth encounter, feed-a-tiger and the Predator Zip Line Tour.

OOA is open daily from 9:30 a.m.to 5 p.m., except on Thanksgiving and Christmas. The wildlife park is handicap accessible, and courtesy park shuttles run continuously from opening until 4 p.m. Parking is free.

The busiest time of year is March and April, although Powell says other months are catching up as word continues to spread. QCBN

 

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information about Out of Africa, visit outofafricapark.com or call 928-567-2840.

Flying High

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Leonardo Da Vinci was quoted as saying, “Once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the Earth with your eyes turned skywards.” Holding one of the highest pilot certifications, Craig Sanderson spread his wings upward to serve as director of operations for Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines and mayor of the small but bustling town of Tusayan.

Sanderson acquired the Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certification at 28 years old. It is one of the most advanced certifications a pilot can obtain and necessary for any pilot wanting to fly commercial airliners, which was Sanderson’s intention. However, he had a change of plans.

“I learned early on that flying commercial airlines was not my cup of tea,” said Sanderson, who flew commercial airline flights for more than a year. “I’d rather fly over beautiful areas such as Lake Powell, Monument Valley and the Grand Canyon.” So, that is what he did. “My first job was flying scenic flights for Skywest Airlines based out of Page. The sights are so amazing and I loved sharing that view with people.”

Sanderson spent the first three years of his life in Page, and that is where he met his wife, Sheila, and raised their three children. They currently have five grandchildren. They made their move to Tusayan in 2002 where he began working for Grand Canyon Airlines.

“Craig has a passion for the Grand Canyon and does an outstanding job,” said GCSA President Jake Tomlin. “We’re so pleased to have him on our team, since tourism and hospitality runs in his family.”

Indeed, Sanderson’s love for sharing beautiful sights was inherited from his father, Bill Sanderson, who, along with his brothers, started one of the first river running companies in Page, Sanderson River Expeditions.

“The Bureau of Reclamation was looking to build three dams on the Colorado River and they asked my uncles to take them down the river. After the river trip, the Bureau of Reclamation gave a couple of Army surplus rafts to the family and the river running business started from there.” The company was sold in the 70s and is currently owned by Aramark, running as Wilderness River Expeditions.

“I never wanted to get into politics, never saw myself as a politician, but about six years ago, there was a recall election and the mayor at the time approached me and said, ‘Hey, you need to run for council.’ I said, ‘No way, you’re crazy, that’s not me.’ So, he told me about the town and why we need housing here and how people struggle.”

Sanderson served as council member, vice-mayor and, finally, mayor.

In 2016, Sanderson was Tusayan’s first directly elected mayor. His primary goal is to improve the quality of life for the people who live in Tusayan and to enhance the experience of the more than six million visitors who pass through the community to the Grand Canyon.

“I have had the pleasure of working with Mayor Craig Sanderson to advance and improve the Town Court in Tusayan,” said Judge Rob Krombeem, Justice of the Peace, Williams Justice Court. “Mayor Sanderson brings the type of forward-thinking, collaborative leadership that more communities need, particularly in these times of fiscal and other community challenges. He leads by example with a servant’s heart and I appreciate how he puts faith and family at the forefront of his priorities.”

If you could describe yourself in one word, what would it be?

“Peacemaker: having the personality to diffuse volatile situations and to help others reach a middle-ground compromise.”

What’s your favorite thing to do when not working?

“Our family loves boating and swimming, especially at Lake Powell. At my job, I can’t call it work when I get to fly and experience the beauty and awesomeness of this amazing place I have the privilege to call home.”

Where do you like to travel?

Lake Powell and Grand Canyon are my top two.

What is the most rewarding part of your job at Grand Canyon Scenic Airlines?

“Over my long career, I’ve contributed to the success of about a thousand pilots who began their careers working with and for me. Most of these pilots are now flying with a major airline.”

What is the prettiest sight you’ve seen from an airplane? 

“Wow! With over 20,000 flight hours, mostly over the national parks, I see beautiful sights every day. The most incredible are the ones that only last a few minutes. Grand Canyon and Lake Powell are beautiful on any day, but the right combination of sunlight, thundershowers and/or clouds can turn incredible into unbelievable. FBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN

HistoriCorps, Forest Service, Volunteers Saving Brolliar Cabin 

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Volunteer crews led by HistoriCorps, a nationally recognized non-profit organization, have been working to preserve the Brolliar Park Cabin this summer. The historic cabin, built by one of Arizona’s last homesteaders, is located in the Coconino National Forest south of Mormon Lake.

The award-winning group, which works to save historical structures on public lands around the nation, collaborated with the Coconino National Forest on the four-week project.

HistoriCorps arranged and trained the volunteer work force, made site assessments and developed the scope of work for the project on the Coconino National Forest. As a non-profit organization, HistoriCorps has a national agreement with the Forest Service. Work done under the agreement avoids the lengthy process of government contracting, explained Karen Malis-Clark, retired National Forest Service Public Service information officer. “That is such a win-win situation. The intangible value of volunteers spending time on special lands and historic structures is another positive result of these projects,” she added.

“Among our many management responsibilities, the Forest Service is charged with preserving our cultural heritage for future generations. Historic preservation projects, such as the Brolliar Cabin Project, can be complex to plan and logistically difficult to implement – especially in an era where federal budgets are increasingly tight,” said Jeremy Haines, the Flagstaff Ranger District archaeologist for the Coconino National Forest. “By partnering with HistoriCorps, the Coconino National Forest has been able to capitalize on their expertise and benefit from the diverse volunteer labor that they bring to each project. Not only do these projects save unique places, but they also build relationships between people, and directly connect people with the unique heritage resources on the forest.”

Haines worked with historian Pat Stein to write the report entitled, “The Brolliar Park Cabin Preservation Project,” which outlined the proposal for preservation of the log cabin, the only known homestead that continues to exist on the forest.

The Coconino National Forest report states, “Although the cabin is still standing with a partial roof, it remains in poor condition and is in imminent threat of collapse unless critical preservation actions are soon made. The CNF is partnering with HistoriCorps, a non-profit historic preservation organization with experience in log cabin preservation, in order to repair, stabilize and preserve this building.”

Four crews, each working for a week, removed sun-rotted logs, peeled new logs, measured and cut notches, and then hoisted logs into place the old-fashioned way – with ropes rolling them up inclined timbers. Besides three volunteer crews, the Arizona Conservation Corps worked for one of the four weeklong sessions. However, volunteers, who get hands-on experience preserving historic structures, are the heart and soul of HistoriCorps.

“Volunteering after you retire – that’s what it’s all about,” said Jane Jackson of Flagstaff. Jackson graduated from Northern Arizona University and then returned to Flagstaff after retirement. Three summers ago, she volunteered at her first HistoriCorps project, the Palace Station stage stop on Senator Highway near Prescott. She has been back with HistoriCorps every summer since.

Shannon Clark, retired Forest Service facilities engineer and current HistoriCorps volunteer, reflected, “Working on old buildings was one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. In retirement, I’m glad I can continue to contribute to the preservation of these special places with HistoriCorps.”

Clark, also from Flagstaff, is part of a volunteer crew that came together from Minneapolis, Minnesota; Jacksonville, Florida; Salina, Utah; Flagstaff, Mesa and Prescott to help restore the historic log cabin.

“All ages – from 17 to 81 years old – have been part of this Brolliar Park Cabin project,” said Al Osberg, HistoriCorps crew leader and camp chef. “No prior experience is required,” he said.

HistoriCorps provides all meals, tools, training and equipment for volunteers on their historic preservation projects. For the Brolliar Park Cabin project, HistoriCorps staff stocked up at local stores for food and supplies for four weeks. Local merchants included Fry’s, Safeway, Target, Home Depot, HomeCo, Tractor Supply and Grand Central Rental.

“We’re not restoring the cabin to its original construction. What we are doing is preserving it the best we can,” explained Patrick Kennedy, HistoriCorps building supervisor of the Brolliar Park Cabin project. He traveled from Monterey, Kentucky, to guide volunteers on the log project. Kennedy has worked with HistoriCorps since 2012. Volunteering for HistoriCorps is one way to gain log-building skills and learn preservation techniques from experts like Kennedy, who has worked with logs since the 1970s.

The west gable of the log cabin was removed because original logs were deteriorating from exposure to the Arizona sun. The gable was reconstructed from ponderosa pine logs harvested by Haines within 200 yards of the cabin.

The next HistoriCorps project takes place at the Dodge Lodge, ten miles southwest of Evergreen, Colo. Those interested in helping out may register as a volunteer at historicorps.org/dodge-lodge-co-2019/. QCBN

By Stacey Wittig, QCBN

Read more at unstoppablestaceytravel.com/2019/07/01/voluntourism-saving-brolliar-park-cabin-coconino-national-forest.

HistoriCorps: https://historicorps.org/

About HistoriCorps: HistoriCorps, founded in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides volunteers of all skill levels with a hands-on experience preserving historic structures for public benefit across America. Volunteers work with HistoriCorps’ seasoned professionals to learn preservation skills and put those skills into practice to save historic places. HistoriCorps works to ensure America’s cultural and historical resources will be enjoyed by generations to come.

Prescott Regional Airport Service Continues Upward

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A Prescott City Council member quipped, “It must be something in the air,” when he heard that Prescott Regional Airport (PRA) had been named 2019 Outstanding Airport by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

That honor was given to Prescott for the Western Pacific Region, according to the FAA.

The FAA statement said in part, “This award is granted in recognition of the exemplary work done by the city in proactively completing a Prescott Regional Airport master plan with significant involvement from the community, focus upon enhancing safely of the airport, and accommodating contained growth in commercial air service.”

The award was announced June 7.

Dr. Robin Sobotta, airport director, acknowledged the award and praised the airport staff and SkyWest Airlines, which operates the commercial airline United Express. That carrier provides two takeoffs and two landings daily at PRA. Non-stop destinations are Los Angeles and Denver.

Kristi Miller, airport management analyst, told QCBN that United Express routinely has exceeded previous passenger records during the past several months. Airport officials indicate passenger projections will go beyond the estimated 25,000 enplanements for 2019. The commercial carrier has been operating out of Prescott only since Aug. 28, 2018.
To accommodate all the expansion, PRA, also known by its historic title of Ernest A. Love Field, will soon be the site for a new air terminal. Planners and architects are actively involved in the pre-construction phases of an $11.9 million terminal building. Love Field, the name it was given 91 years ago to honor Love, a hometown hero who died in combat in World War I, is currently operating out of a building constructed several decades ago.

How “Busy” is Prescott Regional Airport?

PRA is the fifth busiest airport among the 114 in Arizona. The other four are Phoenix Sky Harbor, Deer Valley, Phoenix Mesa Gateway and Mesa Falcon Field.

PRA is the 44th busiest airport in the United States. It ranks just below Oakland and just above Portland. It has more annual operations than Dallas Love Field, San Diego and Raleigh-Durham.

In 2018, the airport had 235,554 aircraft operations. That includes all takeoffs and landings. That averages 656 daily operations, based on a 30-day month.

The majority of aircraft operations are non-commercial. For example, flight training programs of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and of the several private flight training schools in Prescott make up by far the majority of takeoffs and landings.

A report released through the City of Prescott based on 2018 airport operations and 2019 projects indicates that PRC generates a $160.3 million economic impact on the greater community. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Full details of the economic impact are available by contacting the Airport Administration at 928-777-1114 or online at flyprescott.com.

Calling on a Community to Battle Cancer from All Sides

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Clearing the five-year mark can seem like an invisible finish line in a contest that many cancer patients feel is the race of their lives. Cindy May, owner of Cindy May Marketing in Flagstaff, crossed that line in March. “Cancer changed me,” she said. “Through my journey, it caused me to take a step back. I always realized that family, friends and work are all important, but I feel it on a much deeper level now.”

May serves on the board of the newly-formed Flagstaff committee of the Cancer Support Community Arizona (CSCAZ), answering the call from statewide organizers to help with local connections. The organization has existed in Phoenix for 20 years and is the only one in the state that provides complimentary, year-round emotional, nutritional and educational support for anyone impacted by cancer. But, until now, there has not been a one-stop shop for comprehensive resources in the Flagstaff area.

“It was wonderful having the support and love of the doctors around me,” recalled May, who was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer in 2014, “but once I was walking out of the chemo room, that’s when the battle started in my head. I wasn’t sure how to support my children and my husband on an emotional level. It was kind of like hunting through information to see what I could find and not knowing what I needed.”

May reached out to Heidi Hansen, City of Flagstaff economic vitality director, to join the board as well. “I have had several friends who have had cancer and been able to beat it, but most recently, I lost a friend to her battle. It really touched home and made me more interested than ever to make this horrible disease something that no person or family has to tackle on their own. Having assistance in Flagstaff is so very important, and knowing the money raised will always stay local is the main objective for me.”

The Flagstaff organization is coming together under the leadership of psychologist and two-time cancer survivor Sandi Ernst Perez, Ph.D. Networking with support services is underway and a series of public health lifestyle programs are beginning this month. The group is also connecting cancer patients and families to activities that keep minds busy and lives normal. Ultimately, Perez says, the group is seeking a brick and mortar location — a home where those dealing with cancer can experience warmth, information and support of all kinds under one roof.

“I was so lucky,” said Perez, who discovered a tiny sore on her head at the edge of her hairline 14 years ago. Innocuous as it seemed, the small tender bump revealed Stage 4 metastatic melanoma. “I was healthy, had no symptoms, didn’t feel sick and was absolutely stunned.”

Treatment was aggressive and immediate for the former competitive swimmer and lifeguard who had enjoyed an active, outdoor lifestyle and a full, busy life. “I had two kids and a great job at a non-profit. Cancer was not part of my plans. Had it not been found, I probably would not have survived the year.”

Eight years later, cancer struck again. “Melanoma is a sneaky thing. It can go anywhere. It can be in between your toes, in your eyes, in soft tissue.”

This time, Perez was very sick. She learned the tumor was in her intestines. “I feel so fortunate that I have a strong constitution, I have a really positive personality by nature. Because I’m a psychologist, I used the tools that I taught other people to use when they were facing really serious life-changing circumstances. I got a good therapist, put together a team, asked questions and made the best decisions with my husband that I could make at the time.”

Perez and her doctors incorporated Western medicine and holistic therapy, including immunotherapy, visualization, radiation, surgery and medication. “All those things made a difference in my recovery both times.”

Today, she and her husband, Jon, are thrilled to relocate to Flagstaff from Phoenix, where she is serving as vice president of Northern Arizona Cancer Support Community.

“Sandi brings with her a wealth of experience creating and managing successful initiatives promoting health and community throughout Arizona,” said CSCAZ CEO Debbie DiCarlo. “She’s done therapeutic work with the White Mountain Apache Tribe and has led organizations such as Delta Dental of Arizona Foundation. Perhaps most importantly, because of her own experience with cancer, she passionately believes that all families deserve access to quality professional care.”

At the core of CSCAZ’s work is a series of free programs that focus on five interconnected elements to help those facing cancer: emotional support, health and nutrition, education, social engagement, and resources and referrals to bring awareness of community resources to patients and their caregivers.

“Working together, we can make a difference and strengthen an already incredible Northern Arizona community,” said Perez. “I am honored to open the doors of the first Cancer Support Community Arizona outside of Maricopa County.

DiCarlo, who became CEO after losing a dear friend to the disease, learned about Cancer Support Community Arizona while her friend sought treatment.

DiCarlo says the organization spent a year-and-a-half meeting with cancer patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals in Flagstaff. “One thing is clear: there’s definitely a need for comprehensive, free, professional services in Northern Arizona. A cancer diagnosis is overwhelming. Individuals and families need the right information at the right time to navigate the process.”

She says everything CSCAZ does is backed by evidence-based research. “We truly directly partner with the medical community and academic research community with critical research behind the services we provide. A cancer diagnosis upends a family’s world. They learn how to change eating and lifestyle habits in a way that empowers them. We don’t say, ‘You should do this.’ Instead, we’ll say, ‘Evidence has shown that when you are able to add more fruits and vegetables in a diet, life spans can be increased,’ for example. Anything the patient and the family can do to understand and participate in disease management makes a huge difference in the outcome.”

Promoting healthy lifestyles can include yoga or cooking classes, she adds. “Whatever a patient or family member can do to decrease stress and anxiety can decrease conditions like inflammation in the body.”

The organization also works to battle unwanted isolation. It organizes events and finds resources to fund activities, like plays and sporting events, that may not be in the family budget while a member is going through treatment. As a referral center, CSCAZ guides patients and families to resources that can help them navigate health insurance policies or learn how to care for wigs.

“Our motto is remove as many barriers for participation as possible, at no charge,” said Perez. “It’s a club we didn’t sign up to be a member of, but we know what the power of community – sharing our stories and getting ideas, hope and inspiration from each other – can do for the spirit, soul and immune system. It boosts all of those things. That’s why I’m passionate about it.”

In Phoenix, the programs provided by CSCAZ are housed in the historic Ina Levine House, a 3,000-square-foot estate that serves as the nexus for the community. The long-term goal for Northern Arizona is to find a similar location. “We’ll keep looking until we find a great place,” said Perez.

In the meantime, CSCAZ is partnering with other community organizations and educational institutions, including Native Americans for Community Action and Coconino Community College, which provide programs at their sites.

Joining Perez, DiCarlo, May and Hansen to drive the expansion into Northern Arizona is Museum of Northern Arizona Development Director Liz McGinlay.

“My life is busy, my business is busy, I’m on different boards. This is not just service on a board level to help them get started, but a personal issue to me,” said May. “To have all those daily life answers in one safe place, I am all in.” FBN

By Bonnie Stevens, FBN

For more information, visit cscaz.org.

Groundbreaking Makes Hilton Garden Inn a Reality

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As soon as the Shumway family from Snowflake tossed dirt in the air as a part of a groundbreaking ceremony, it seemed that heavy equipment started moving in to start building the multi-million-dollar Hilton Garden Inn Hotel.

More than 50 people from the City of Prescott, Prescott Chamber of Commerce, business community and general public gathered at the intersection of Montezuma and Sheldon for the event on June 11. They heard Steve Shumway and his family praise the “cooperative attitude and spirit of the greater Prescott community for its support and cooperation in bringing the modern hotel to Prescott.”

The 100-room, multi-story hotel will be connected to the historic Sam Hill Warehouse via a century-old railway trestle. The old warehouse, which belonged to Prescott College before being sold to the Shumways, is being converted into a conference center. Shumway quipped, “Now everyone in the country will know what is meant by the question ‘Where in the Sam Hill is it?’ The answer: ‘In Prescott, next to the Hilton Garden Inn.’”

Shumway introduced Dennis Porter, president of Porter Brothers Construction out of Gilbert. Porter told Quad Cities Business News that he and his team were making every effort to purchase supplies and materials locally to support the Prescott economy. “We’ve also already hired two local firms and sub-contractors,” he said.

Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli welcomed Shumway and his wife, Heidi, and his parents, Doug and Dixie Shumway, to the community. “We think you should move over here from Show Low. We’ve got a lot more to offer,” he said with a grin.

Mengarelli told the crowd that, for a time, he was unsure whether the hotel would be built because so many moving parts were involved, especially public and private partnerships. “But it happened, and all of this region will benefit economically and hospitality-wise.”

Prescott City Manager Michael Lamar repeated Mengarelli’s praise for the cooperative efforts within the community. He noted that Arizona Public Service and Prescott College were particularly supportive.

A recent study commissioned by the City of Prescott had a consulting firm, Applied Consultants, project potential economic benefits as a result of the construction and operation of the hotel and adjacent facilities. The report estimated the annual economic impact would be in the range of almost $18 million a year, with the 10-year impact approaching $180 million. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Gore’s Global Reach Touching Hearts at Home

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It was 10 a.m. on a Monday morning and Irene Hernandez was still asleep. Her granddaughter phoned for help after failed attempts at rousing her. It had been three days since Hernandez had ankle surgery, but doctors discovered that was not the problem. Irene, at age 62, with no usual symptoms or conditions, had suffered a stroke.

“We’ve long suspected that younger patients, who don’t have high cholesterol and hypertension, are having strokes because blood clots are reaching their brains through a hole in the heart that didn’t close at birth,” said Dr. David Leder, an interventional cardiologist at Mountain Heart in Flagstaff.

The medical condition is called a patent foramen ovale (PFO), or a flap-like hole in the heart. It affects 25% of the population.

Not all, or even most, people with a PFO will have blood-clot problems, but in the last 15 years, the condition has received more attention because young, active people are having strokes.

Jake Goble, the structural heart business leader at the W. L. Gore & Associates Medical Products Division in Flagstaff, heads up the team that has been creating and perfecting a device to keep these PFO-related strokes from recurring. It is called the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder for PFO Closure.

Preventing Second Strokes

“We wondered if there was a way to prevent strokes in young, healthy patients who have experienced a first stroke,” said Goble. “These patients are not obese, there’s no high blood pressure. It’s scary because these people don’t have typical conditions associated with stroke.”

What was happening, he explained, was a PFO was allowing blood clots to pass from the right side of the heart to the left side, travel to the brain and block a brain blood vessel, which would cause a stroke in a small number of people. Ordinarily, that clot would have been dissolved in the lungs, but the hole in the heart was allowing a passageway to the brain.

Dr. Leder explains that we all have a hole in the wall, the septum, that divides the upper chambers of the heart while in the womb. “When we are born, the tissues between the right and left atria fuse together in most people.”

Gore’s product information describes it like this: “Before birth, a baby’s heart will have a hole with a flap-like covering between the upper two chambers of the heart. This opening (the foramen ovale) allows blood-rich oxygen from the mother to bypass the baby’s lungs, which do not function until the baby is born. After birth, the flap-like covering will typically close the hole permanently. However, in about one out of every four individuals, the hole in the heart will remain open.”

“With these types of strokes, there wasn’t convincing data that would suggest closing the hole would prevent a future stroke,” said Goble. But that changed last year with the conclusion of a decade-long process involving clinical studies for stroke prevention and the benefits of the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder.

“I was one of the first to see the data,” said Goble. “We were blinded to the outcomes of the trial. In a study like this, you don’t want to have any influence by the sponsor. When we had the big reveal, I almost fell out of my chair to see how positive it was, to see those numbers flash up on the screen and the probability of this being a good benefit, as good as it could be – 77% better – than using only anti-platelet medication, like aspirin, for these patients.”

Late last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder for PFO Closure. “It’s a game changer,” he said. “Gore was the first company meeting its clinical endpoints to address stroke prevention in this space. And we are excited to see how this product is inserting itself into clinical practice.”

Device Works Like a Sandwich

The CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder is made of Gore’s patented ePTFE material that has been used in open-heart surgery for more than 40 years. It is supported by a thin wire frame and takes on a sort of butterfly shape with “wings” that close the hole on both sides of the septum.

Goble, whose team designed the delivery system as well as the Occluder, says the device is released and positioned from a catheter inserted into a blood vessel through a small incision in the groin. “It’s very much a straight shot. The tip of the catheter crosses the hole, pushes out the left disc and draws it to the wall of the upper chamber of the heart. It then pushes out the right disc on the other side of the hole. Essentially, it’s a sandwich of left disc, heart tissue, right disc.”

Doctors use ultrasound and X-ray in real time to see the movement as the Occluder is positioned in place. 

“There’s a lot of elegance to the design, which is a tribute to the ingenuity of the engineers and how they organically developed it here inside the four walls of Gore. Also, biocompatibility is one of the unique features of Gore’s ePTFE material,” said Goble.

Dr. Leder was the first to use the latest generation of this device in Flagstaff. He has performed three CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder surgeries at Flagstaff Medical Center, including the one for Hernandez in March.

“It’s a procedure patients tolerate well and it’s very rewarding. Being able to use Gore products and treat patients locally is a unique opportunity, so patients don’t have to drive to the Valley,” he said. “Stroke is a debilitating disease and lowering the risk, especially in young, active people, is a great service.”

Dr. Leder was familiar with Gore products before moving to Flagstaff two years ago from Chicago, where he served as an interventional cardiologist at AMITA Health Medical Group Heart and Vascular in Hinsdale, Illinois. He was surprised to learn the medical products were developed here. “Gore is a high-quality company that makes wonderful products,” he said. “This community is very invested in Gore. The employees are good people and represent the company very well. They are very proud to work for Gore.”

Today, Hernandez is still recovering from her ankle surgery as a result of a car accident, but her heart surgery is just a memory. Other than a slight tenderness from the catheter insertion in her leg, the Flagstaff Unified School District special needs aide reports no discomfort. “I had great doctors and I feel good!” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

For more information about the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occluder, click on About PFO on the GoreMedical.com website and hear Kathryn’s story, a compelling testimonial from a young athlete and stroke survivor.

Mob Burgers Celebrating Four Years on the Fourth

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Stroll into Marino’s Mob Burgers and Ice Cream parlor and you are not likely to escape the eye of General Manager Esther Mendoza. Elegantly bedazzled in sequence and jewels reminiscent of the Roaring ’20s, Mendoza will have an endearing nickname and a “we’ve-known-each-other-forever” greeting that draws you in.

Nevermind the hand-pressed fresh, never frozen, beef patties or the irreplaceable Thrifty ice cream that make this a local hangout, the secret ingredients that keep guests coming back are the respect, kindness and love that Mendoza and the costumed staff serve up in generous helpings.

“It’s kind of like going into a ‘mom and pop’ place. From the time you walk in the door, you’re treated with a fun time. I like to joke around with the customers, we have names for everyone and we want to play with them. They have names for me, too, like ‘Pearl’ because of the pearls around my neck, or ‘Mama,’” she said.

With all the unbridled spirit of the Old West, Mendoza hands out silverware and cautions diners to be careful with their “weapons.” She trains servers to come to work to play, as well. Dressing the part is in the contract for the front of the house. Mob Burgers provides dresses, jewelry, bow ties, suspenders and fedoras, but Mendoza has learned that staff members enjoy owning and wearing their own costumes.

Dave and Sherry Marino, the owners who previously opened Marino’s Corner Bistro, have enjoyed much success with the restaurant in its five years of operation. “If you believe in God, it was meant to be,” said Dave. “Every door was opened every time we’d come up against an obstacle that would be a show stopper.”

“It’s been fabulous! We have great employees and great food. Esther puts her heart and soul into this place,” said Sherry.

Mendoza, like many locals, grew up enjoying burgers and shakes under the same roof, when the establishment was known as Kendall’s Famous Burgers and Ice Cream. “It brought back so much history when I was a young girl of 13 or 14 years old coming into this location after school.”

Now, at age 40, Mendoza wants to repeat the same joy and warmth she felt with today’s kids. “We have a big clientele of students. You should see Fridays and Wednesdays! They write us notes telling us this is their favorite place.”

Before opening, the Marinos renovated the building. “We took down the low ceiling and found the 1900s’ version of the dining room. Everything in there was more than 100 years old. The original tin ceiling had too many holes in it from the old stove that used to heat the building, so we replaced it.”

They found a company on the East Coast that could match the old tin ceiling, complete with the Prescott stamp. They also removed walls, installed a new floor and exposed the brick. During the renovation, they found evidence of the Home Bakery owned by the Hume family from the 1860s. The Marinos are considering bringing back the bakery.

“We love the history of the town and we have the biggest desire to preserve it, not cover it,” said Dave. “We love our customers. Some, who are in their 70s and 80s now, came here when they were kids.”

Marino’s Mob Burger and Ice Cream is located at 113 S. Cortez Street, on the square in historic downtown Prescott. The Mob’s gang is planning to celebrate its fourth anniversary on the Fourth of July in classic all-American style with an ice cream bash. For more information, call 928-515-1690. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Volunteering to Keep Hikers Safe in the Canyon

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Education, self-assessment and planning are guidelines voiced repeatedly by the Grand Canyon National Park Service to ensure that hikers “Hike Smart” and understand the meaning of the adage, “Down is optional; up is mandatory.” Helping to ensure safety are Prevention Search and Rescue (PSAR) volunteers stationed on the trails.

Implemented in 1997, PSAR was created as a result of increased heat-related illnesses on Grand Canyon trails.

“District Rangers from south, north and inner canyon were having to leave their posts for distress calls along the trails,” said Meghan Smith, acting PSAR supervisor. “The PSAR program was created so we can be stationed at precise areas. We’ve grown into a group of five to seven seasonal rangers with one year-round permanent supervisor. When the program started, we had 30 volunteers and now have 75, with a waiting list.”

PSAR volunteers must attend an annual two-day training and have a current CPR and Wilderness First Aid Card. “They carry basic medical supplies, water, electrolyte powder, salty snacks and a radio,” said Smith. “They are not medically qualified by NPS, but the seasonal staff do carry diagnostic kits to check blood pressure, sugar and oxygen level.”

Volunteer PSARs also shadow rangers as part of their training and are required to do seven hiking patrols per season.

PSARs talk to hikers on the trail, answer questions, offer advice and make recommendations as to how far to hike. Smith says the PSARs also offer information on weather and heat conditions and provide hiker assist.

“Hiker assist is when we take action and do something for someone. For example, a hiker might have separated from the group and is feeling a little anxious,” said Smith. “One of our volunteers will stay with that person and give emotional support.”

Ann Scott is in her fourth year as a PSAR volunteer. “When I visited the Grand Canyon in 1988, I fell in love with it. All I wanted to do was come back. It was like a magnet. I love talking to the visitors on the trail and offering advice on how to have a safe and enjoyable hike below the rim. It is like an extension of my first summer job as a lifeguard. The main difference is that lifeguards rescue people after they get in trouble, but PSAR rangers try to give them information and advice so they don’t need to be rescued.”

Retired NAU Physiology Professor Stan Lindstedt says his background was ideal for the PSAR program. “I had a very active research program working on muscle physiology. This was a good head start for the PSAR program. I always said my job as a professor was the best in the world. Now that I’m a PSAR volunteer, I feel I have the best second career.”

Lindstedt is often exhausted leaving the trail at day’s end but calls it “a wonderful kind of exhaustion.” He says the NPS staff in charge of the program is outstanding. “They are probably the best administrators I have had the privilege of working with. It is apparent that everyone involved in this program is visitor-centered. Our collective goal is maximizing the enjoyment of all visitors.”

The volunteer PSAR season runs from April through October. Volunteers patrol the Bright Angel and South Kaibab trails and, when possible, patrol North Kaibab, Hermit and Grandview trails. “We cover them all when we can, but when we can’t, we focus on the more populated trails,” said Smith.

One of the main supporters of the PSAR program is the Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), which outfits rangers and volunteers with top-of-the-line gear. “We provide radios, backpacks, sleep kits and other equipment,” said Mindy Riesenberg, director of marketing and communications for GCC.

With summer almost here, Smith is adamant that hikers understand the dangers of heat illness, know the warning signs of dehydration and their limits when hiking. “Headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, cramping and decreased urine output are signs of heat illness.” QCBN