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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

Local Meadery Gaining Global Attention

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Jeff and Jennifer Herbert of Prescott started with an unknown home-brewing operation and now, just seven years later, have won the federal Small Business Administration (SBA) “Small Business Persons of the Year in Arizona” award

The Herberts, owners of Superstition Meadery, will travel to Washington, D.C., to attend the award ceremony on May 5-6. They represent Arizona among the 53 businesses from all states and U.S. territories to be honored. The week before, on May 2, the Herberts will be recognized at the state level during the 26th Arizona SBA Enterprise Business Awards luncheon in Scottsdale.

Speaking for both, Jeff Herbert told the Quad Cities Business News, “We were stunned to hear we’d been selected from among all the small businesses in Arizona to receive such a prestigious award. We’re humbled that our business, Superstition Meadery, has achieved such high recognition at the national level.”

SBA Administrator Linda McMahon said she is privileged to honor a man and woman who represent the best among 30 million small businesses across the country.

Superstition Meadery Products Now Distributed Nationally, Internationally

In 2008, when they first made mead at their former home in Apache Junction, the Herberts had no idea that their homebrewing adventure would win them national and international acclaim. Jeff explained, “My first homebrew was a stout recipe. Before that first beer was finished fermenting, I visited a homebrew store and asked for a mead recipe. It turned out that my first meads tasted much better than my first beers.” While Jeff and Jennifer did not know it at the time, many of those early homebrew meads evolved into recipes that they make commercially today.

In 2012, one year after moving to Prescott, they established the first Alternating Proprietorship in Arizona, which is where one separate licensed winery leases space from another. At the former Juniper Well Ranch and Vineyards in Skull Valley, they shared production and packaging equipment. In just four bourbon barrels and one stainless fermenter, they made 300 gallons of mead and cider. Two production facilities later, Superstition Meadery had become the largest winery in Arizona by the end of 2017.

“We think by the end of this year, we’ll have produced 39,000 gallons of product, including mead, hard cider and even hard seltzer and zinfandel wine,” said Jeff.

The Herberts’ initial success with those first mead products led them to move from Skull Valley to Prescott. They opened Superstition Meadery as a retail business in a historic downtown building on Gurley Street. Locals tasted the mead and liked it. Its reputation grew. Before long, out-of-towners and tourists helped spread the word.

In less than a decade, the Herberts have expanded the market for their mead to virtually every community in Arizona. They also ship to 37 other states and to Washington, D.C. Sales do not stop at the U.S. border. Now, their products are available at select European retailers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Belgium and also in Asia in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.

Jeff grinned when he said, “Mead is the most delicious beverage you’ve probably never had.” He then explained that the variety of flavors is unlimited. “In our production facility, we have made over 200 unique meads and hard ciders. They range from dry to sweet, and can be sparkling. We’re always developing new flavors.”

As founding members of the American Mead Makers Association (AMMA), Jeff and Jennifer played an important role in defining and growing the modern mead industry. Jeff served as a board member and editor of the AMMA journal, and they helped draft legislation that was introduced to the U.S. Congress. When they started Superstition Meadery, about 150 mead makers existed in the U.S. Today, there are more than 600, with 200 more in the planning phase.

What is Mead?

According to the Herberts, mead is an alcoholic beverage that results from fermenting honey with water or fruit juice with the option to blend in other flavors from spices, fruits, grains or hops. Historically, mead is one of the oldest alcoholic beverages known to man. Evidence of honey being used in fermented drinks dates to 7,000 BC in China.

The defining characteristic of mead is that the beverage’s fermentable sugar comes from honey. The Herberts’ source for pure Arizona honey is Crockett’s Honey in Tempe. When the opportunity arises, they also enjoy working with small local beekeepers to create traditional meads that highlight unique honey varietals like ironwood and catclaw. However, they create many of their dozens of distinctive flavors by identifying and buying the best international ingredients they can find, such as saffron from Morocco, or vanilla beans from Tahiti.

They produce the mead in a production facility they designed and built in 2016 and now are expanding. They have 25 employees, many of whom share round-the-clock duties in supervising the complex production process.

The mead and hard ciders ferment in expensive 1,000-gallon stainless steel tanks. Many of the products are aged in hundreds of toasted and charred oak barrels stacked four high on racks in a carefully monitored, climate-controlled building on the northeast edge of Prescott Regional Airpark. Following the bottling process in the same building, the beverages are boxed and distributed locally, nationally and internationally.

In Prescott, Superstition Meadery has thousands of bottles shelved in a tasting room located at 120. W. Gurley. It is open seven days a week. But soon, the mead will be available in a much larger Arizona market.

“What’s really exciting is that we’re expanding our retail sales to Phoenix. We’ll soon open our new place called Superstition Downtown, which is located between award-winning Chef Chris Bianco’s Pizzeria Bianco and the new Pane Bianco restaurant just east of the downtown core,” Jeff explained. It will be on the northeast corner of 11th and Washington streets. They hope to open in early 2020.

The Herberts are enthusiastic about their business future and are thrilled that six of their brews were recently included in the Ratebeer.com list of the 15 best meads in the world. Jeff added, “We’re proud to share our delicious beverages with everyone.”

For more information, visit Superstitionmeadery.com or call 928-458-4256. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Designing a Life; Growing a Business

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“If you put energy, focus and heart into what you desire, it will unfold for you,” said Sadie Sarti, owner of Sadie Sarti Design Co. “So, be positive, think big, believe in people and businesses, and do good in your community. If we believe in ourselves and follow these ideas, we can live a fulfilling life.”

Sarti has applied her philosophy to her career, family and community, and is now leading four employees in web and graphic design.

“It’s a fun and inspiring place to work,” Sarti said. “We are a growing business where each time we hire a new employee it is like adding someone to our family. We have a great time collaborating and discussing our projects as we work together.”

The company helps clients reach target audiences with design and messaging. “I love the word-of-mouth referrals. There is no bigger compliment than someone referred by one of my existing clients calling to ask about a new website. We strive to be really authentic with everyone we work with and help them achieve their goals. It is rewarding to see that we accomplish that and our clients appreciate us for it.”

Cherishing relationships while tending to business, Sarti spends her working hours managing, supporting and interacting with clients, prospects, designers and other professionals.   

“I wake up to my two beautiful boys, now 9 and 11, get us ready for the day and run them to school. When I arrive at the office, usually with a cup of coffee in hand, I look over the email communications for the day. The time I actually get to do design work is limited at this point, but I love providing feedback and pushing my designers in the direction that best fits the client.”

Sarti learned about computer systems from two brothers who tinkered building them. Her   parents had careers as fine artists. The family would travel the country to galleries and museums, discussing composition and design. Those encounters were “very influential in shaping my view of art and design,” she says, and spurred her to study art and art history at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado.

Sarti had no inkling then that she would pursue graphic design, a discipline that beckoned after college and after she got married. With her first son on the way, it also gave her the opportunity to work from home. 

Sarti had performed website maintenance for a fine art print company, which became her first client. She expanded services to Durango-area businesses and designed real estate flyers. When a friend established a rafting company, he hired Sarti to create the website.       

“I had never built a site from scratch, but I took the challenge and learned a great deal from that experience. I found I had a real talent for understanding all the complexities of that field, as well as how to use my artistic background to help businesses visually organize their content in an effective way.”

Businesses had just begun to recognize the importance of a strong web presence, a trend still demanding quality web design 11 years later. 

“It is rewarding to work with so many local businesses and organizations. The work that we do stays incredibly interesting because of the wide variety of subjects we are introduced to. From non-profit missions to selling spices, we never know what our next project will have us dive into.”

Sarti believes success is as much about an owner/manager choosing the right people as the cohesiveness of the group they have become. 

“My design team [was created based on] their talent as well as how I thought they would fit into our team,” Sarti explained. “We spend a lot of time together and collaborate on most projects. I needed a team that would be good thinkers, get along and work together while complementing each other’s skills.” 

Despite the pressure of so much to accomplish during the limited hours of any given day, Sarti said she loves the independence of business ownership. Her downtown Prescott location enables her to walk to many clients’ offices, providing a sense of community.

“All the hats that I wear as a business owner gets exhausting sometimes, but we always figure out how to get all the work done,” she added. “Changing technology and troubleshooting challenges are big as well; we have to stay up on these changes so that we can be current with our offerings.”

Despite the intense workload, she also has volunteered for the past nine years with Prescott Area Young Professionals (PAYP) and recently joined the board of Prescott Downtown Partnership (PDP). Yoga and hiking help her stay focused.

Family is Sarti’s greatest reward. “I have to just walk away from my to-do list when it is time to pick up my boys. I really enjoy being a mom, attending school events and watching baseball games. I make sure that I prioritize my family at every important moment.” QCBN

By Sue Marceau, QCBN

Study Shows Promising Water Future for Prescott

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Some eyes were opened and some people were startled when they heard that, despite an increasing population and economic expansion, less water is being used in the City of Prescott now than 14 years ago.

In fact, water usage has decreased about 2 percent annually on average since 2014. That is what Prescott Mayor Greg Mengarelli told those attending a City Council work-study session Feb. 26. Mengarelli led the study session, saying, “I earlier did not have a great handle on our water portfolio, so we decided to get scientific data.”

The city contacted water expert Gary Woodard. Under terms of a $25,000 contract, Woodard began a long-term analytical study of past, current and future water conditions in early 2018. In his preliminary report in February, he presented initial findings. He will file a comprehensive final report later this spring.

During his report, Woodard revealed that in 2004, Prescott used 8,000 acre-feet of water. He contrasted that with 2018, when Prescott used just 6,700 acre-feet of water – 1,300 fewer acre-feet, even though 4,000 new water users had been added in those 13 years.

Woodard emphasized that his study involved data collected from water meter and utility data from the city, county and state.

Possible Reasons for Decreased Water Use

During his 45-minute presentation illustrated with PowerPoint graphs and charts, Woodard cited four factors that seemed to be driving the decline of water usage in Prescott. Among them:

Changing population demographics – smaller households, more seasonal residents and fewer children and teenagers;

Aggressive conservation efforts – rebate-related water efficient programs, enhanced conservation, including drought-tolerant water-sensitive landscaping, water reclamation and rainwater harvesting;

Passive conservation in existing homes – conversion of appliances to more water efficient devices, e.g., showerheads, dishwashers, washing machines, and toilets;

Construction of new water and energy efficient houses and businesses.

He noted some other factors unique to Prescott that affect water use. He said despite its population, only about 140 swimming pools were in the entire community. He also said only a few homes had evaporative coolers but instead used air conditioners.

Prescott’s water supply comes from a diverse portfolio. It includes groundwater, surface water and reclaimed water. That puts it in a better position than communities that rely upon a single water source. Additionally, in 1998, Prescott invested in two municipal reservoirs, which now serve as critical sources for the recharge program.

Several years ago, too, the City of Prescott began thinking of what is called “the Big Chino Water Pipeline,” a plan to import water from an aquifer northwest of Paulden. Mayor pro-tem Billie Orr said that Woodard’s presentation caused her to think of the Big Chino as a “…good insurance policy, but not something needed immediately.”

Woodard responded, “Your investment in the Big Chino aquifer was a smart one. I compare it to life insurance. You want it, in hopes that you don’t need it.”

Retired from his former position as a professor and administrator at the University of Arizona Water Resources Research Center and the NSF-SAHRA Water Center, Woodard has degrees in chemistry, public policy studies-resource economics, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan. He was involved internationally with UNESCO on water issues for arid lands. He was the co-author of the National Water Act for the Kingdom of Saudi Aribia. In more than 37 years of research about municipal water issues, he has directed and conducted studies around the United States, including water use models he developed for eight major municipal water departments and two water companies in Arizona.

“Gary’s credentials are unassailable,” said Mengarelli. “He has worked all over the world in the field and published dozens of papers. We were excited to hear what he had to say about Prescott’s water supply.”

Mengarelli told Quad Cities Business News, “I think now we can make better decisions with fact-based information rather than fear-based narratives.”

City Manager Michael Lamar echoed Mengarelli. “Information being given to the City Council will change the dialogue about water in Prescott. This information also will have major policy implications for the council going forward.”

Woodard will present the final results of the longitudinal study later this spring in a public meeting.

To view the Prescott City Council meeting, visit facebook.com/prescott-mediacenter/videos/359840414607118/?t=3857. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

City-Planned Events Delivering Economic Impact

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The economic impact of local events planned by the City of Prescott continues to grow, bringing new people and more dollars to the community.

The direct impact from spending on sporting events alone last year was over $2.5 million. The indirect economic impact totaled almost $6 million. Compared to five years ago, that’s an increase of more than $1 million in direct spending and $3.5 million in economic impact.

What is more, an expanded event calendar for coming months promises to be “…bigger than ever,” said John Heiney, community outreach manager for the City of Prescott.

Heiney told a crowd of local business and hospitality leaders that increased cooperation and participation from throughout the community is creating an excellent atmosphere for economic growth. The group met at the Hassayampa Inn on March 5 for an update called “Tourism Team Up.”

The combination of city-coordinated special events and sporting events from April through December 2019 adds up to more than 90.

Prescott Parks and Recreation Director Joe Baynes told the group, “The events we’re talking about today do not include those planned down around the Courthouse Square by the county and by Prescott Downtown Partnership. Those bring in hundreds more visitors.”

Baynes asked meeting attendees to spread the word that the annual city-sponsored 4th of July Fireworks Show is being moved to Watson Lake for safety reasons. For the past several years, it had been at the Mile High Mid-School Athletic Field, but drought conditions and fire danger had caused it to be postponed.

Rick Hormann, city recreation supervisor, distributed a list of upcoming sporting events that began March 9 with vintage baseball games, and concludes Oct. 26 with The Prescott Sixer Bike Race. Sporting events range from baseball and softball leagues and tournaments to soccer, pickleball, marathons, bike races, rollerhockey and disc golf.

Hormann noted that tournaments and state championships “…fill our local hotels and restaurants with teams and their families for multi-day experiences.” He said because of the increasing number of events, it is likely the city will be adding more ballparks and four more pickleball courts.

Of pickleball, he said, “Our program here has become so popular that we are thinking of sponsoring a national tournament.”

Michelle Stacey-Schroeder, city recreation coordinator, shared information about more than 60 events in downtown Prescott. Beginning April 6 and running through Dec. 31, activities include arts and crafts fairs, antique shows, music festivals, car shows, wine festivals and several major parades.

“The amount of money that circulates because of all these events throughout the summer and fall is inestimable,” she said. “We know this. Other cities are contacting us, asking for advice about how we deliver so many events. They want to imitate what we do because we have been so successful.”

Linda Nichols, who for several years has been active with the Parks and Recreation Board, applauded city staff members and told the crowd, “I think it is fantastic what the city does with the limited resources they have. They are enriching the lives of all our residents and those who visit Prescott.” QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

For more information, call 928-777-1552 or visit
prescott-az.gov/recreation-events/recreation-services.

Education Center Expansion Underway at Sharlot Hall Museum

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Ever-increasing visitation and recognition as a key destination in Central Arizona prompted leadership at Sharlot Hall Museum to accelerate plans for expansion of the education center.

Groundbreaking for the 10,000-square-foot addition to the existing John and Helen Lawless Exhibit Center had more than 75 museum supporters gather Feb. 28 for a spirited ceremony celebrating the success of the popular attraction.

Master of Ceremonies D.J. Fone described the soon-to-be constructed $2.75 million two-story (and a one-story basement) as being a “…further source of historical, literary, civic and educational interest in preserving the heritage of the central highlands of Arizona.”

Fone introduced several local dignitaries who participated in the symbolic groundbreaking ceremony.

Museum Director Fred Veil expressed thanks to those who contributed to the fundraising efforts. He explained that the additional facilities will support the current focus of developing museum exhibits. He noted that more school and group tours, hands-on activities and exhibits would be possible with the new space. Currently, the museum has thousands of objects, but capabilities to show only about 10 percent of them at any one time, said Ken Leja, the museum’s media and marketing manager.

More than 50,000 people visit the museum each year.

Veil then invited city and county dignitaries to join him to ceremoniously break ground.

When completed in about eight months, the Education Center will have an auditorium with theater-style seating for about 135 people. It also can serve as a multipurpose room to accommodate community activities. The second floor will have classrooms and other space equipped with contemporary technology. Prescott-based Kenson Construction is heading the construction.

It has been 90 years since Sharlot Hall Museum opened its doors. Founded in 1928 by Sharlot M. Hall, a writer, pioneer ranch owner, activist and historian, the museum has grown from a small parcel with a log cabin on bare land to a four-acre campus housing 11 exhibit buildings that contain more than 40,000 artifacts.

Upcoming events at the museum include the monthly Second Saturday Living History Adventures, the Folk Arts Fair in the first week of June, the Indian Art Market the second weekend of July, and Sharlot’s Winefest in August.

The museum is located at 415 W. Gurley Street in downtown Prescott. For more information, call 928-445-3122 or visit sharlot.org. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN

Solar After Sunset

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Arizona Public Service customers will soon be powering their evening dinners, prime-time television programs and bedtime reading lights with a cleaner energy mix. That news comes from Jeff Burke, the director of resource planning at APS, as the utility announces its initiative to add massive battery storage to its existing solar power plants, stand-alone energy storage and build new solar facilities with storage.
    “This is big and coming on quickly,” said Burke. This will be one of the largest solar battery storage installations to date in the industry – bigger than all the batteries installed across the U.S. combined last year.”

The effort is designed to provide solar power after the sun sets. “That is really important in going forward with our clean energy mix,” he said. “During Arizona’s hot summertime, we’ll be able to charge batteries early in the morning. As the sun goes down, use of electricity goes up and is at its most expensive. We’ll soon be able to use that excess solar energy on the grid so we can provide clean resources to our customers at an affordable cost.”

Traditionally, the additional energy needed to meet customers’ peak demand in the summer has been generated from natural gas. With this new direction, Burke says APS will use 150 megawatts of solar-fueled battery storage to meet part of the demand when energy usage peaks. 

APS currently provides customers with an energy mix that is 50 percent clean and getting cleaner, say officials. The latest initiative will add 850 megawatts of battery storage and at least 100 megawatts of new solar generation by 2025, for a total of 950 megawatts of new clean-energy technology. 

The addition of 850 megawatts of new clean resources to APS’s portfolio is estimated to provide enough power to meet the peak requirement of up to 275,000 residential customers on an average summer day.

“Another way to put it into perspective is that these new clean energy projects are the equivalent of adding the power of more than three million solar panels or more than 9,000 electric cars to Arizona’s energy mix,” explained Burke.

He adds that the battery storage plan is now possible because technology is maturing and costs associated with solar battery storage are declining. “We’re finding opportunities to pair the two together and make sure we can still maintain reliable, affordable service.”

“This represents a major down payment on Arizona’s continued progress toward an energy future that is clean, reliable and affordable,” said APS Chairman and CEO Don Brandt. “Arizona is already a national leader in solar energy. The challenge is, no one has figured out how to stop the sun from setting at night. As storage technology improves and declines in cost, we will increasingly be able to store the power of the sun cost-effectively to deliver when our customers need it.”  

The first stage of the plan includes retrofitting all existing APS solar facilities and upgrading them with 200 megawatts of battery storage systems. A team led by Invenergy is scheduled to install six of the new battery systems at solar plants in Maricopa County and Yuma to be in place by 2020. Two more upgrades are expected to be completed by 2021. 
Meanwhile, APS plans to build an additional 500 megawatts of solar storage and stand-alone battery storage by 2025. The first project is a 100-megawatt solar-storage plant. APS is already partnering with Tempe-based First Solar to build a first-of-its-kind solar-plus-storage project that will be one of the largest in the country when completed in 2021.

Officials say the utility company plans to use less natural gas as cleaner technologies become available. 

“Large-scale battery storage is a critical step on the path to reliable and affordable clean-energy solutions,” said The Nature Conservancy State Director Pat Graham in a news release. “Clean energy and clean air are important to the health of our communities and the lands and water upon which all life depends.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Northern Arizona Surgeons Reattach Man’s Severed Arm

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After a traumatic accident at a Winslow sawmill, hours of surgery and months of physical and occupational therapy, 44-year-old Mickey Rosenquist can almost fully straighten and bend his arm and turn his wrist from side to side. To have his arm at all is the result of quick action by co-workers, first responders and a team of leading surgeons.

Rosenquist was hired to cut standing-dead trees and lumber into firewood to be sold at convenience stores. He was feeding the wood into the band saw. The next memory he had was a experiencing “a very odd feeling.”

“I yelled at my coworker that my arm was gone,” recalled Rosenquist. “He thought I was joking. I yelled again and he realized I was serious. He sat me down, took off his belt and we used it for a tourniquet on my upper arm, then he ran 60 yards to the office to get help. I saw my arm laying a few yards away from me. When the paramedics arrived, they worked to stop the bleeding and called for a medical helicopter. My arm was placed in a clear plastic bag and tucked in beside me for the flight.”

Rosenquist was flown to the region’s only state-designated Level I Trauma Center at Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC). Fortunately, at least four of the country’s top surgeons work in Flagstaff.

Patrick Cole, M.D., is one of few who performs microsurgery (surgery at the “nano” level that requires special equipment and specialized training), as well as complex reconstructive surgery and plastic surgery. Dr. Cole is a physician member at the Plastic Surgeons of Northern Arizona.

This was not the first time Dr. Cole had performed such extensive surgery. In 2016, he did a successful hand replantation at FMC on a man whose hand was detached from an explosion.

Replantation is the surgical reattachment of a finger, hand or arm that has been detached from the body. In some cases, a replant is not possible because the body is too damaged or too much time has elapsed between injury and surgery. Rosenquist was a good candidate because the detachment was a “clean cut” and he was quickly transported to a trauma center.

Dr. Cole was joined by fellow Flagstaff surgeons Andrew Aldridge, M.D., Brandon Clark, D.O., and Mark Donnelly, M.D.

Dr. Aldridge specializes in all aspects of surgery, including trauma surgery. He was instrumental in the development of FMC’s Trauma Center and is part of the physician group at Flagstaff Surgical Associates.

Dr. Clark is an orthopaedic traumatologist. He specializes in orthopaedic trauma and adult post-traumatic injury reconstruction, which often include numerous complex fractures. He is part of the physician group at Northern Arizona Orthopaedics.

Dr. Donnelly specializes in vascular and trauma surgery and was instrumental in the development of FMC’s Trauma Center and Heart & Vascular Center.

The surgeons worked together to perform the arm-saving surgeries, each bringing his expertise and training to the surgical table to repair bones, muscles, nerves, arteries and veins, all in an attempt to save the arm and restore function.

According to Dr. Cole, surgeons only have about six hours from the time of the injury to restore blood flow. Drs. Donnelly and Aldridge performed the first surgery, which took four hours.

Dr. Aldridge explained, “We needed to bring the greatest amount of blood flow back to the arm in the fastest time. We used small tubing, like that used for IVs, to create vessels to move the blood between the upper attached and lower detached arm. Without this immediate blood supply, the arm would not be able to be replanted.”

The following day, Drs. Clark and Cole performed a second surgery. Dr. Clark used grafts, plates, screws, pins, wires, shunts and more to reconnect the bones, muscles and other soft tissues. Dr. Cole performed microsurgery to reconnect the nerves, which are just one-quarter the diameter of a strand of human hair.

“We can restore blood flow and reconnect the bones, muscles and tissues, but the amount of movement is dependent on the nerves, which are the connection between the brain and the body,” Dr. Cole said. “Without nerve regeneration and connection to the brain, there is no muscle movement.”

The third surgery entailed removing a large vein from Rosenquist’s leg to repair, connect and create three veins and two arteries in the arm. Skin grafts were the final stage of the surgical replant process.

“The level of function Mickey has is unprecedented,” Dr. Cole said. “He has a great deal more use than expected. I attribute the success to an extraordinary team of physicians, nurses, first responders, therapists and support staff. And, of course, to Mickey, for his determination and steadfastness to make the best of the situation and do everything he was directed to do.”

Rosenquist is more than grateful to the first responders, surgeons and trauma team at FMC.

“I am so grateful to the four amazing surgeons who brought their expertise to the table, literally. Without them, all the people at the hospital and my physical and occupational therapists, I would not have an arm, much less some use of both my arm and hand. I am eternally grateful.” QCBN

By Starla S Collins, QCBN

Canyon Receiving Grand Support

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Coming together to sponsor and commemorate the Grand Canyon’s 100th anniversary Centennial celebration, Arizona Public Service (APS), Bank of America (BofA) and Teva have partnered with Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC), to strengthen environmental, cultural, tribal, educational and conservation projects at the world-famous attraction.

“This support makes it possible for us to protect the canyon’s unique resources while inspiring future generations to experience and connect with the Grand Canyon,” said Susan Schroeder, GCC chief executive officer.

Of the several centennial projects initiated, long-time partner APS has sponsored improvements to the Bright Angel Trailhead, the preservation of the Desert View Watchtower and the Canyon Field School program for underserved students. APS employees also contribute and volunteer work at the Grand Canyon and serve on the GCC board.

“The Grand Canyon is a true treasure to Arizona, its residents and the visitors it draws from around the globe,” said APS CEO and Chairman Don Brandt. “This natural wonder is an awe-inspiring destination that gives our state its unique identity.”

Noteworthy projects for the Desert View Watchtower include restoration of murals, new spaces for a performance plaza and cultural center, and expanding tribal youth opportunities for education and job training.

Bank of America’s award of a $100,000 grant is expected to “ensure the Grand Canyon continues to thrive for the next 100 years through sustainable opportunities, access for visitors, Arizonans and the tribes who make the park a true national treasure,” said BofA Arizona President Benito Almanza. “While a landmark for visitors around the world, the Grand Canyon has become a personal passion for many Arizonans, including myself.”

Almanza usually hikes the Grand Canyon once or twice a year with friends and family and has completed 34 canyon hikes, including rim to rim. “I enjoy sharing the beauty of the Grand Canyon. Everyone always has a transformational experience.”

The BofA grant also supports several park priorities such as restoration of historic trails and the canyon’s designation as an International Dark Sky Park through the replacement of light fixtures to minimize light pollution.

Teva’s celebratory slogan, “Born in the Canyon,” reflects the company’s origin, when a Grand Canyon river guide strapped two Velcro watchbands to a pair of old flip-flops to prevent the sandals from floating downstream. “Our goal is to bring as much awareness as possible to this initiative so the Grand Canyon can be explored by adventurers for years to come,” said Teva General Manager Anders Bergstrom.

The Grand Canyon National Park and GCC have scheduled a list of events throughout the year to celebrate the 2019 Grand Canyon Centennial. From activities at the canyon to presentations in cities throughout Arizona, participants will have the opportunity to engage in a deeper understanding and appreciation of the canyon. For more information about upcoming events, visit grandcanyon.org. QCBN

By V. Ronnie Tierney, QCBN