For more than a year, the pandemic has shaken things up, including how grocery stores (a $40 billion industry) can efficiently execute the journey that food and other products must make from farms, ranches and other production centers to our tables, pantries and garages. Arizona’s Bashas’ Family of Stores has taken an innovative step forward to speed up the connection between grocers and local suppliers by partnering with Forager, an East Coast online and mobile platform. Bashas … [Read more...] about A Faster Trip from Farm to Shelf
Play On: Musicians Singing a Merrier Tune
Musicians who have been upstaged by COVID-19 are thrilled that live entertainment is making a comeback and that the music scene is returning to a more normal situation in Arizona. Chuck Hall, who recently played at Charly’s Pub and Grill in the Weatherford Hotel in Flagstaff and Page Springs Vineyards and Cellars in Cornville, said he looks forward to playing at The Windsock Cocktail Lounge in Prescott and other area venues. “I never completely stopped, but I was picky about what I was … [Read more...] about Play On: Musicians Singing a Merrier Tune
CCJ Launching Mobile Home Park, Larger Thrift Shop
Encouraged by what seems to be an improving economy, the Prescott-based Coalition for Compassion and Justice (CCJ) is moving ahead with two major projects. One is to create an affordable housing project consisting of an estimated 20-unit mobile home park to accommodate homeless or low-income individuals and/or families. The second is the early April opening of the CCJ Thrift Store in its new location at 531 Madison Avenue, adjacent to Miller Valley Road. Both projects have been in the … [Read more...] about CCJ Launching Mobile Home Park, Larger Thrift Shop
Community Discusses Mental Health Crisis
The impact of more than a year of isolation created by the COVID-19 pandemic, in addition to job and housing losses, economic deprivation and personal and social crises, has resulted in radical increases in mental health issues. That is what leaders of several professional health organizations in the greater Quad Cities community shared during a two-hour town hall meeting last month, sponsored by the City of Prescott at City Hall. “As we are coming out of the worst of the pandemic, it’s … [Read more...] about Community Discusses Mental Health Crisis
WingSpace Celebrates Three Years of Coworking, Networking, Learning
Analyzing three years of sculpting WingSpace Coworking into a successful membership-based workspace enterprise, owner Melanie Banayat credits bootstrapping and pivoting to fulfill community needs. WingSpace offers offices, dedicated desks, flex desks and meeting rooms by the day, week or month. “After what we all experienced last year, I stand as a firm believer in the value of community and being connected, whether that means being part of a team, a club, a church or a coworking space,” … [Read more...] about WingSpace Celebrates Three Years of Coworking, Networking, Learning
Arizona Downs Returns to Live Racing
After a weak 2020 summer racing season that was jeopardized by the pandemic and subsequent shutdowns, Arizona Downs in Prescott Valley has announced a return to live racing, effective June 1. The track, east of Prescott Valley at 10501 E. AZ-89A, will feature live racing beginning at 1:30 p.m., every Tuesday and Wednesday through Sept. 15. Steve Peterson, a spokesperson for the racetrack, said Arizona Downs will be managed by Michael Weiss, a longtime horseracing industry leader who has … [Read more...] about Arizona Downs Returns to Live Racing
Paul Kirchgraber Takes Reins of PUSD Foundation
The new executive director of the Prescott Unified School District Education Foundation has national and international experience and credentials that bring him praise across the Quad Cities community. Paul Kirchgraber recently accepted the head administrative position for the PUSDEF after having headed the Yavapai College Foundation (YCF) for almost 10 years. “I watched the PUSDEF since its inception six years ago,” he said. “It is a remarkable success story. That small group of … [Read more...] about Paul Kirchgraber Takes Reins of PUSD Foundation
Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish
There’s a popular story told by many a motivational speaker that describes a person walking along a beach who was picking up starfish on the shore and tossing them back into the ocean. An observer told the starfish thrower that his efforts were basically pointless because there were so many starfish on that stretch of sand, so he couldn’t possibly save them all and what he was doing was not going to make a difference. Unphased by the discouraging comments, the starfish thrower kept walking … [Read more...] about Reflecting the Glow of a Lucky Starfish
Brenda Halvorson Soars with The Papillon Group
From a young age, the late Seattle contractor and aviator Elling Halvorson was known for his bold business ventures like building the ATT relay lines from New York to Los Angeles and bidding on construction projects in remote locations like Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. However, his decision to take on the monumental task of building a water pipeline through the Grand Canyon led to the development of Papillon Helicopters and Grand Canyon Airlines. What wasn’t risky for this risk taker was … [Read more...] about Brenda Halvorson Soars with The Papillon Group
Animals Helping to Ease Pandemic Stress
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 … [Read more...] about Animals Helping to Ease Pandemic Stress