The last year and a half has been difficult and stressful for everyone. Overnight, our lives were turned upside down and we were left to figure out how to navigate unknown territory. Families lost employment and income, there was uncertainty and fear, in-person contact with our support systems stopped and parents were dealing with stress and anxiety about how to take care their families. In a very short period of time, schools, daycares, community centers, sports, extracurricular activities and … [Read more...] about Understanding, Responding to Challenging Behaviors
Columnists
Veterans Day Honors All Who Served
Veterans Day is approaching, and I have a singular mission in mind. I will be sure to wish my father a Happy Veterans Day and thank him for serving our country. Dad served in the Air Force as a young man, prior to his marriage and raising four children. The U.S. was not at war at the time, and his work as a nuclear weapons systems specialist was always a footnote to his life as a husband, father, softball coach and computer software engineer. Although we rarely discussed his military service, … [Read more...] about Veterans Day Honors All Who Served
Eleven Fall Tips for Better Gardens
Autumn gardening is a great time to look back on garden successes and disappointments. There’s still plenty of time to do some garden maintenance. Fall gardening takes advantage of cooler temperatures and fewer weeds and insects. Putting the garden to bed is not as hectic as waking it up in the spring. You’ll have time to really see how your plants are doing. Here are some tasks to do now, to make next year’s garden brighter and better. Enrich garden beds with Watters Barnyard Manure. … [Read more...] about Eleven Fall Tips for Better Gardens
Considering the Airport, Revitalization, Open Space and More
Winston Churchill once said, “Continuous effort, not strength or intelligence, is the key to unlocking our potential.” Certainly, that describes Prescott’s evolution from a small mining town on the frontier of our country in the 1860s to the award-winning 21st century community we are today. As my term as your mayor comes to an end, I would like to reflect on what we, as a community, have accomplished during the past four years that I’ve had the privilege to serve as your mayor. Together, we … [Read more...] about Considering the Airport, Revitalization, Open Space and More
Nutrition and Aging Gracefully
You may have heard the sayings, “Food is life,” or “You are what you eat.” Well, I believe these sayings to be true and they are especially important to our senior population. Because as we age, our body is more reactive to what we put in it. We also stop producing important vitamins and minerals that impact how we feel. So, if you are mindful about what you eat, then you will not only feel better, but your quality of life will increase and you will age gracefully. Let’s talk about aging … [Read more...] about Nutrition and Aging Gracefully
Are You a Happy Camper?
Most of us take our day-to-day experiences with a grain of salt. We don’t expect things to go too smoothly or we are disappointed, so why expect more? This article is about how to create the life you want. It takes planning, steadfast focus and self-reflection. A joyful life does not just happen, it is created! Focus on Being Your Authentic Self Take the time to sit down and look at your future goals. You could divide them into short-term and long-term goals. Now, look at the goals and see … [Read more...] about Are You a Happy Camper?
Pandemic Pets: How Animals, Owners, Vets are Managing
As the COVID-19 pandemic has dragged on, veterinarians and pet owners say the emotional bond between people and their pets has had a significant positive influence on human mental health. But, while pets have provided valuable companionship during the lockdown, there’s been a big increase in pet adoptions, according to the Animal Policy Group, and also the workload for veterinary practices, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Veterinarians like Drs. Sarah Bason and … [Read more...] about Pandemic Pets: How Animals, Owners, Vets are Managing
Orthopedic Surgeon Brings New Level of Specialization to Yavapai County
Orthopedic surgeon Jason Weisstein, M.D., MPH, FACS, is joining Yavapai Regional Medical Group (YRMG), Orthopedic Surgery, bringing to Yavapai County new, specialized orthopedic surgical expertise and expanding the availability of current, important services. “Dr. Weisstein specializes in joint replacement and limb salvage surgery,” said Ken Boush, Yavapai Regional Medical Center director of marketing and communications at Dignity Health. “His work helps people whose limbs are compromised by … [Read more...] about Orthopedic Surgeon Brings New Level of Specialization to Yavapai County
Staying in Your Color Lane
Welcome to “At Home With Tom and Sandy!” This month, we have Tim and Jackie Santos, owners and interior designers at Prescott Interior Design Group, joining us. Tim and Jackie have been teaming up to create some lasting color impressions in their interior designs. Read on as they will help us to better navigate the somewhat daunting task of choosing and using colors in our homes. Sandy: Tom, I was driving the other day and saw a purple house! I’m not kidding. I did, and of course it made we … [Read more...] about Staying in Your Color Lane
Changes in Employee Health Insurance Benefits
If you are an employer in the Quad Cities that pays for a portion of your employees’ health insurance premiums, you should learn about the major changes that are now happening. No longer will you be limited to the ho-hum plans that about four different carriers offer — where they tell you what you can have and that your premium is going up and your benefits are reduced. Now, you get to design your company’s plan and it will have the benefits that you want; plus, now you can truly save money … [Read more...] about Changes in Employee Health Insurance Benefits