Interestingly, the front yard often is the sunniest spot in a landscape, and although vegetable gardens thrive in lots of sun, we rarely install what is basically a working farm in the front yard. With careful planning, edible plants can become parts of a striking front yard design. “Hide them in plain sight” is the secret to a great-looking landscape that also adds to your harvest. Artichoke plants are the superstars of the front yard edibles. These attention-grabbing plants make quite a … [Read more...] about Creating Edible Plantscapes
Columnists
Remodeling Tips for Home Re-Sale
Welcome to the inaugural column of “At Home With Heidi & Sandy.” We are here to give you the inside scoop on real estate and the construction industry; what’s up, what’s down, what’s hot and what’s not. We’ll share real estate stats, home prices, building permit numbers, lending information, construction pointers and give you hints on renovations that will give you a return on your investment. There is plenty going on in the real estate industry and the construction industry and we want to … [Read more...] about Remodeling Tips for Home Re-Sale
How Much is Your Business Worth?
Estimating the fair market value of a business is part art and part science. For the purposes of this article, we are discussing “Small Businesses.” Small businesses are generally considered to be businesses that are independently owned and operated, organized for profit, and are not dominant in their field. The Art of Business Valuation The art of valuation is a factor in determining how attractive a business will be to the fair market of buyers of businesses. The ability to accurately … [Read more...] about How Much is Your Business Worth?
Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona Achieves Major Accreditation
CARF International recently announced that Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona has been accredited for a period of three years for its community employment service programs for individuals with disabilities. “This achievement is an indication of your organization’s dedication and commitment to improving the quality of the lives of the persons served,” according to the letter received by Goodwill from Dr. Brian J. Boon, the president and CEO of CARF. The latest accreditation is the … [Read more...] about Goodwill Industries of Northern Arizona Achieves Major Accreditation
A Gardener’s Guide to Sowing Seeds of Life
Spring is in the air and we are all scrambling to plant our seeds so the beautiful flowers and nourishing plants can start growing. Each of these seeds represents a hope and an expectation. They start off as small, insignificant seeds, but with the right mix of sun, nutrients and water, they become beautiful life-supporting food, healing sources of medicine and endless supplies of inspiration. Our life has many similarities to a garden. Here are some basics to prepare for a … [Read more...] about A Gardener’s Guide to Sowing Seeds of Life
Protecting the Surviving Spouse
A surviving spouse faces unique challenges in retirement, and not all of them are prepared for it. When the loss of a spouse occurs, there are a whirlwind of emotions and decisions that need to be made, and the last thing you want to do is worry about your finances. A simple way to start planning for the surviving spouse is by having your personal documents in order. We encourage you to make sure your important documents are organized and managed. But far too often, this can sometimes get … [Read more...] about Protecting the Surviving Spouse
What to Expect Next in the Explosive Flagstaff Real Estate Market
Three years ago, this article dealt with the advantages buyers had in the Flagstaff real estate market. Two years ago, the word “balanced” was thrown around heavily. Now, it’s all about the sellers. It’s also all about cycles. Cycles and basic science. What goes up must come down. Taking what we’ve learned in the past decade, one can only hope that lessons were learned and mistakes of the past won’t repeat themselves. Having been in the past cycle of an explosive market, I can say truly it’s … [Read more...] about What to Expect Next in the Explosive Flagstaff Real Estate Market
Exploring Extended Wear Hearing Aids
Have you seen the ads about the extended wear hearing aids? One of my patients asked me to discuss them in my next month’s column, so here we go! The name of the extended wear hearing aid is Lyric3. The company that initially invented the product was recently purchased by the company Phonak. Now, Phonak is investing in the development of this hearing aid that can be worn full-time without the need to take it out even when you sleep! What Does Extended Wear Mean? An extended wear … [Read more...] about Exploring Extended Wear Hearing Aids
Avoiding Stress Eating
Many things can contribute to your stress levels, such as holidays, work or everyday life. Stress in small amounts can be helpful because it temporarily increases energy production through your adrenal glands. Your body is not meant to be under chronic stress, however, and it can have serious side effects, including: Increasing your heart rate. Constricting your blood vessels and elevating your blood pressure. Keeping glucose in your bloodstream rather than storing it in your … [Read more...] about Avoiding Stress Eating
Nursing Critical to Hospital’s Quality of Patient Care
Tina King has been a registered nurse at Mountain Valley Regional Rehabilitation Hospital for 10 years. She took the position after working in home health and long-term acute care because of an interest in rehabilitative care. “It’s been such a great experience,” she said. “It’s always changing and challenging. I can’t imagine going back to doing any other kind of nursing.” Leah Walters agrees. As the hospital’s nursing director, Walters comes from a long line of nurses, including her … [Read more...] about Nursing Critical to Hospital’s Quality of Patient Care