PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
2026
Photo Contest FROM THE PUBLISHER: Photos, especially cover photos, are an ongoing challenge for any magazine. There are two key points to making the final selection. The first is to ask, “Is the image compelling enough for someone to pick up the magazine?” And then the important questions for production, “Does the image have the resolution quality needed for print, and will it work with the portrait aspect of the magazine layout?” We received over 250 photos, making the final selection extremely difficult! Not all images worked for our production needs. You can find all of the submitted photos online at prescott-now.com/photocontest — and many, including our People’s Choice winners, can be found in this issue. We hope you enjoy them!
Where Silence Meets the Sky Photo by James Bau - Broken Star Photography
PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
Cowboys at the Roundup Photo by Carolyn Cummins Photography
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES
Sunset Over Prescott Photo by Chris M Bellos Photography
Dead Tree Along the Path Photo by Larry Goeb
PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
PRESCOTT PRESCOTT L I V I N G
Your Community, Your Magazine Prescott LIVING magazine brings you the people, events and stories that make life in the Greater Prescott area so special. If you enjoy staying connected to our community, you will love having each issue delivered directly to your mailbox.
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PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
e l b u o h D thR s u ! e SMOKE FREE GAMING THE NEWEST SLOTS
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31 YEARS FULL TIME! PLACING YOUR NEEDS FIRST! #1 INDIVIDUAL AGENT IN PRESCOTT 2025
GUEST HOUSE! 3.87 ACRES, 2 STALL BARN!
HASSAYAMPA 4,434 SQ. FT. 1 LEVEL!
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On the 18th hole! 0.83 acres. 3 ½ car garage, 25 ft. beamed ceiling. Stunning, custom!
$1,999,900
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VIEWS! FULL REMODEL! 2.5 ACRES, PRESCOTT, 5 MIN TO COSTCO!
2022 BUILD! 2 ACRES GUEST HOUSE!
Main house 4 bed, 2 1/2 bath, 2,404 sq. ft. with 3 car garage. Guest house 734 sq. ft., 2 bed 1 bath, 1 ½ car garage!
$1,150,000
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50X50 DOUBLE RV GARAGE! 2019 BUILD!
Great views, 2 acres, 4 bed, 3 bath, extra-large 30 ft. attached 3 car garage. Horse set up, fenced and cross fenced yard!
3,477 sq. ft. high efficiency rasta block constructed home with 4 bed, 3 bath and 4 car garage. Fenced and cross fenced yard. A great horse set up!
$998,000
$974,900
0.49 ACRES, 1 MILE FROM SQUARE, 2 HOMES!
2,347 SQ. FT. 2020 BUILD WITH VIEWS!
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$850,000
Almost 4,000 sq. ft., amazing kitchen remodel, 20 ft. ceiling in great room! Extensive decks, patios for the views! Also includes a hidden 15x10 ft. safe room with 1 ft. thick door and lock!
Granite Dells in Prescott. Great views, 1 level, 3 bed, 3 bath, highly upgraded!
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Looking to list your home? Scan here to see what I offer!
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VIEWS 0.43 ACRES 2011 CUSTOM BUILD! Yavapai Hills, 2,244 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2 bath, 3 car garage! Super privacy with views!
Stunning landscaping with water fall! 2,381 sq. ft. ranch layout, 3 bed, 2 ½ bath, 3 car garage. Owner may carry or lease option call for details!
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$749,900
INCREDIBLE VIEWS! 2013 BUILD!
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2,500+ SQ. FT. 2016 BUILD!
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4 bed + den and 2 1/2 baths, highly upgraded, premium lot backing to a wash, 3 car garage and screened in covered back patio.
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1,388 sq. ft., open floor plan, sold fully furnished. All laminate and tile floors.
$414,900
CORNER LOT! OWNED SOLAR + BATTERY BACKUP!
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PETER J. FIFE 928-636-7000 PETER@LISTINGPRESCOTT.COM
WWW.LISTINGPRESCOTT.COM EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY OWNED AND OPERATED
ROC #291474
928.445.3200 1575 Plaza West Drive, Ste. A Prescott, AZ 86303 crystalcreekhomes.com
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CONTENTS
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
42
84
122
HOME
LIFESTYLE
WELLNESS
42 Farewell to 99 Shades of Gray: Color is Coming Back
68 Go Gray with Confidence and Intention
122 A New Approach to Substance Use Disorder Care
48 The Nifty 9: Plants that Survive Anything
74 Season’s Top Makeup Colors Mesh with Autumnal Prescott
124 Build your Own Medical Team through Communication
52 Plot your Home Renovation Budget for Pleasure and Profit
84 YMAX Theatre Unleashes New Dimensions for Audiences and YC Students
132 Tests For your Brain and Nervous System
54 Prep your Home for Fall and Winter Chill 56 Stretch your Dollar While you Host for the Holidays 60 Modern Victorian Design Fuses Old and New Sensibilities
92 Set Fire to your Frame with Blazing Fall Foliage Photos 94 The Season Most People Sleep Through 96 Picture Prescott: Connecting through Recreation
138 Practice Good Habits and Wear Pink 142 Understanding Hormone Therapy for Women and Men 144 Don’t Let your Healthy Lifestyle Fall in Autumn
FEATURE 2026 PHOTO CONTEST
32
The People’s Choice winners in the 2026 contest are revealed.
14 O C TO B E R / N OV E M B E R 2026
Watching You Watching Me Photo by Fernande Hastert Kuykendall
PRESCOTT’S #1 CHOICE FOR PEST CONTROL SERVICE Yo u r P e a c e o f M i n d I s i n O u r H a n d s
Our Ecofriendly Pest Control Promise
W e u t i l i z e e c o - f r i e n d l y, c h i l d s a f e a n d p e t s a f e m e t h o d s t o r i d your home or commercial property of unwanted pests. It is our mission to offer prompt and professional service. Call us and we will come right over to your place to handle these pests.
P R O T E C T Y O U R F A M I L Y, Y O U R H O M E , A N D Y O U R B U S I N E S S
Our Services
Residential • Commercial • New Construction Preventative • Green Pest Control G E T S TA R T E D C A L L N O W : 9 2 8 - 4 4 3 -1 5 6 6 P AT R I O T P E S T & T E R M I T E C O N T R O L 2 2 2 5 C I R R U S D R , P R E S C O T T, A Z 8 6 3 0 1 Monday thru Friday 7:00am to 5:00pm w w w. p a t r i o t p e s t p r e s c o t t . c o m
Locally Owned & Operated
Presents
A Season of Cheer!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in the Christmas City!
Prescott’s 29th Annual Holiday Light Parade & Bonfire Festival Saturday, Nov 28 Parade 6pm Bonfire 7pm Bonfire at Mile High Middle School
Grab a blanket and chair to watch the 44nd Annual Christmas Parade through Downtown Prescott. There’ll be festive floats, holiday music, leading up the exciting moment when Santa arrives. Stay for the 72nd Annual Courthouse Lighting with live Christmas music and wait for that magic moment when the Courthouse and its over 80 trees sparkle to life with millions of colorful lights.
Kick off your holidays the bright way! Watch as beautifully lit floats light up the night. After the parade, head to the field at Mile High Middle School for a HUGE bonfire and more festive fun! See the illuminated floats parked for viewing. Enter field through gate on Goodwin across from Old Firehouse Plaza.
44th Annual Christmas Parade & 72nd Annual Courthouse Lighting with Fireworks Saturday, Dec 5 Parade 1pm-3pm Meet Santa on the Plaza 3pm-5pm Lighting 5pm
These events are
FREE
Learn more about these and other holiday events at ArizonaChristmasCity.com or call 1-800-266-7534.
38th Annual Acker Night Musical Showcase Friday, Dec 11 5pm-8:30pm All tips provide funds for local youth music programs!
to attend in Historic Downtown Prescott! Arizona’s
Start the season on an inspired note! Catch the children’s choir at the Opening Ceremony, 5pm on Gurley Street. Stroll through festively-lit Downtown Prescott to enjoy music from more than 500 performers. Several streets are closed, and more than 100 Prescott businesses open their doors to talented musicians who donate their time. All tips to artists provide private music lessons to local youth and support school music programs.
16th Annual New Year’s Eve Whiskey Row Boot Drop with Fireworks Thursday, Dec 31 7pm-12:30am
City
P R E S C O T T, A Z
Join the party on Montezuma Street in Downtown Prescott from 7:00pm New Year’s Eve until 12:30am. Watch as the 6-foot, illuminated cowboy boot is lowered from the Palace Building. With two boot drops at 10pm and midnight, this unique Prescott event tradition is fun for all ages. Fireworks, giveaways, and entertainment to ring in 2027!
Additional Sponsors
TRIPLE E CONSTRUCTION
Media Sponsors
CONTENTS
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
CONT’D
COMMUNITY
ABOUT THE COVERS The covers of this issue feature our four photo contest cover winners as chosen by our publisher. See page 2 to learn more about how our covers are selected.
102 Become a Tourist in your Hometown, Prescott! 104 Celebrate Local: Making the Most of the Fall and Holiday Season
PRESCOTT PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE
108 Shop Local and Support Chino Valley 114 Heartland Ranch’s Fundraiser Exceeds Expectation
WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
114
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
116 Prescott Valley Historical Society Builds Toward Future
LOCAL LIFE
PRESCOTT PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
148 PV Fall Fun Continues into Winter Magic
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
152 Fall into Fun in Chino Valley 154 Scott O’Neal Chases Blues Away by Playing Them 156 Bean Peaks Trails Keep Prescott Awards Flowing In
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
PRESCOTT PRESCOTT
148
160 Spooky Season in Greater Prescott
OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
IN EVERY ISSUE 22
A Note From Laurie
PRESCOTT PRESCOTT OCTOBER | NOVEMBER
L I V I N G
24 Advertiser Index 25 Voices of the Community 162 Q&A: LaNette F. Smith, M.D., City of Hope Cancer Center Prescott
18 O C TO B E R / N OV E M B E R 2026
THE PRESCOTT LIVING YOU LOVE WITH A FRESH NEW LOOK!
162
ANNUAL PHOTO CONTEST P R E S C OT T | P R E S C OT T VA L L E Y | C H I N O VA L L E Y | D E W E Y- H U M B O L DT
Watson Lake Early Morning Photo by Dennis Tromburg Fine Art Photography Early morning light falls on the Granite Dells, reflected in the calm waters of Watson Lake. Wheeeee! Photo by Gary Wood A mallard shows off its colorful plumage at Watson Lake amid the Granite Dells.
Great Horned Owl Mom and Chick Photo by Moment of Perception Photography by Heather M Spencer A lucky afternoon photo captures the journey of this great horned owl family at Willow Lake. Catch of the Day Photo by Larry Goeb A ground squirrel goes “fishing” in a Forest Trails backyard.
A new take on an old-fashioned small-town mercantile, a destination shop offering great hospitality, premium specialty foods, signature small-batch from-scratch food provisions, crafted pastries, and thoughtfully curated fine home goods and kitchenware. 117 E. Gurley St., # 120, Prescott, AZ 928.660.1614 traci@moderndayforageraz.com modern-day-forager-mercantile.square.site
UPCOMING EVENTS
See what’s coming next and reserve your seats at FindlayToyotaCenter.com
The Premier Entertainment and Event Venue in North Central Arizona
What’s Happening at the Findlay Toyota Center? Concerts & Live Entertainment: National touring artists and shows.
Sports: Home to the Northern Arizona Wranglers Indoor Football Team, rodeo events, basketball, hockey, and more. Family Fun: Ice skating, family shows, and special events.
Event Hosting: Trade shows, catered banquets, galas and more.
Visit our website at FindlayToyotaCenter.com to see what’s coming up next!
A NOTE FROM
LAURIE
THE MOST COLORFUL
Time of the Year! We’re preening a bit this edition. Not only do we have a refreshed look and some content changes, we have the brilliant (as in smart and/or glorious) results of our annual photo contest.
Take advantage of the light one to two hours during and after sunrise and the same before and during sunset. Look for different textures and water features. Realize your most interesting shots likely are not the ones you take upright at eye level.
Our pages are filled with beauty of all sorts. For those of us graying, we show you how to celebrate it. But we take the opposite view with the graying of your décor. If Jamie Lee Curtis and Sarah Jessica Parker are embracing their gray hair, you might consider it too. Just know that going from coloring your hair to letting it go full-on gray is a bit of an art form. We offer ways to manage it. As for your décor, color is coming back. Not the brightest, but certainly more warm and vivid — mellow yellows, muted greens and slightly darker off-whites. Goldish shades are trending. For seasonal makeup read about what muted berry tones can do for your lips and warm brown or terracotta for your eyelids.
And did you know that Prescott’s Bean Peak Gravity Flow Trails, a group of biking-focused trails next to White Spar Campground, recently won a top award for recreational trails? A mountain biker’s paradise. Check out the Western Heritage Center holograms of history for free, and immerse yourself in the YMAX at Yavapai College’s Center for Learning Innovation where artistic and experimental films are shown. On a more serious note, discover what Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center is doing to improve substance use disorder care through evidence-based treatment, overdose prevention, Community Health Worker navigation and compassionate care. Help starts in the emergency room and bridges into community care. There’s so much more, so read on!
Don’t forget your feet. Stay away from certain temptations when it comes to cold-weather boots like too-pointy (learn the most comfortable spot for your toes). Don’t fall for cutesy over comfort. And please if you’re buying hiking boots, make sure they fit your heel snugly and allow your toes to spread out naturally.
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER, Prescott LIVING
Now is the best time for learning the ins and outs of taking fall foliage photos. We talk to some experts on how and where.
Golden Colors of Fall Photo by Cindee Beechwood
22 O C TO B E R / N OV E M B E R 2026
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ADVERTISER INDEX
A1 Garage Door Replacement
63
MasterTech Financial Advisors, Inc
Advanced Spine and Pain
133
MCK Woodworks
57
Allan’s Flowers
155
Mended and Whole Counseling LLC
141
Amish Home Decor
61
Modern Day Forager Mercantile
19
Animal Guardian Network at Healing River Ranch
110
Nations Lending - Lawton Scott Team
62
Arizona Christmas City
16
NewLight Blinds & Designs
65
Arizona Dermatology Group
66
Northern Arizona Social LLC
106
Axberg Homes, LLC
53
Northwest Christian School
119
Blushing Cactus Photography
77
Olsen’s for Healthy Animals
143
Bucky’s & Yavapai Casinos
8
Paslay Health Care
127
Chubby Chuck’s Subs / Old Stage Stop
23
Patriot Pest & Termite Control
15
Coldwell Banker Northland - Peter Fife
10
Phippen Museum
91
Core Pilates Prescott
97
Ponderosa Hotel Group
149
Crystal Creek Builders, Inc.
12
Prescott Flooring Brokers
40
Dermatology & Skin Care by Shelly
30
Prescott Junction Restaurant
157
DeYoung European Motors
109
Prescott Shooting Range & Gun Club
109
Dignity Health
123
Prescott Western Heritage Foundation Inc
105
Down Home Vintage
29
Prescott Women’s Clinic
135
Drawn West
77
Prickly Pear Family Dental
137
Eric & Sons
59
Primera Carpet One/Prescott Granite
50
Exceptional Community Hospital - Prescott
128
Purple Clover Boutique
79
Findlay Subaru Prescott
100
Rogers Academy of Beauty
71
Findlay Toyota Center
20
Russ Lyon Sotheby’s International Realty
59
Findlay Toyota Prescott
164
S&M Electric, Inc
65
Haley Construction Co.
47
Sacred Heart Catholic School
Hassayampa Inn
146
Sharlot Hall Museum
Heritage Park Zoo
153
Sleep Better Southwest
131
Highlands Center for Natural History
157
Spicy Streats
153
Hooper Family Dental
143
The Hormone Zone Prescott
141
Jasper Eco Dev
63
Watters Garden Center
49
Jim & Linda Lee Performing Arts Center
89
Willow Creek Charter
113
Joe’s Furniture
45
Wilson Aesthetics Beauty and Wellness
163
Keep Smiling Family Dentistry
139
Women’s Health & Wellness
139
La Tierra Community School
117
Yavapai Block Co. Inc /Yavapai Precast
51
Made in the Shade Yavapai
55
Yavapai Family Advocacy Center
26
THANK YOU Thank you to our advertisers. We encourage our readers to consider these fine companies for all your LIVING needs.
24 O C TO B E R / N OV E M B E R 2026
103
113 87, 119
VOICES OF THE COMMUNITY At Prescott LIVING, our mission is to be “The Voice of the Community” because we believe the stories of our region are best told by the people, businesses, nonprofits and organizations that make up our community. Here are the “voices” who shared their knowledge, experience and perspectives to help make this issue possible!
Nicole Baltes
Moorea Boardman
Steve Bracety
Everly Chadwick
Owner, Core Pilates Prescott
Personal Trainer/Owner, YellowLizard Strength, All Athletes Welcome Gym
President & CEO, Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce
Chief Communications Officer, Creative Services, Town of Prescott Valley
Mike Coomer
Shelly Crossman
Kristy Diaz-Trahan
Sheri L. Heiney
Executive Assistant, Town of Chino Valley
DCNP, FNP-C, Owner, Dermatology & Skin Care by Shelly
Recreation Services Director, City of Prescott
President/CEO, Prescott & Chino Valley Area Chambers of Commerce
Ken Lain
Serenity Lord
Helen B. Paslay
Blayne Soriano
Owner, Watters Garden Center
Owner, L.M.T., Prescott Massage Therapy
DNP, FNP-C & Founder, Paslay Health Care
Level 2 CrossFit Coach and CrossFit Kids Coach
Dr. Anthony Torres
Jesse Wasil
Donna Werking
Aymee Wilson
President & CEO, Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center
Founder & CEO, Summit 4x4 Company
Owner, Marketing Strategist, Northern AZ Social, LLC
Owner & Founder, Wilson Aesthetics
PRES COT T L I V I N G
25
Are you or someone you know a victim of an interpersonal crime?
WE CAN HELP. P E O P L E S TA R T TO HEAL THE MOMENT THEY FEEL HEARD. Yavapai Family Advocacy Center’s mission is to reduce trauma to victims of abuse by providing a safe and supportive environment and facilitating a team approach to advocacy, investigation, and prosecution. ALL SERVICES PROVIDED AT YFAC ARE FREE OF CHARGE TO THE VICTIM – YOU WILL NEVER RECEIVE A BILL AND WE WILL NEVER ASK FOR YOUR INSURANCE INFORMATION.
yfac.org Call
928.775.0669 to speak to an advocate. All conversations with an advocate are confidential.
PUBLISHER/CEO Barbara Krause
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Laurie Fisher
VICE PRESIDENT OF PUBLICATIONS Becky Peck
SALES & MARKETING Laurie Fisher
Vice President of Sales & Marketing
EDITORIAL
Julie Turetzky Editorial Director
Christia Gibbons Senior Editor
Blake Herzog Staff Writer
PRODUCTION & DESIGN Meredith Johnson Graphic Designer
Lauren Harrigan Senior Art Director
Kristen Rouse Digital Director
Keith Dobie Social Media Coordinator
T PRESCOTT L I V I N G
Shannon Price Digital Media Specialist
ACCOUNTING Nadine Seitz
OPERATIONS Terry Scheib
Delivery Manager
Subscribe to receive the Prescott LIVING digital edition in a monthly email newsletter delivered right to your inbox.
Gabrielle Luciano Administrative Assistant, Distribution Associate
COMMENTS & IDEAS
editor@prescottlivingmag.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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CORPORATE OFFICE
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Prescott LIVING is a publication of Nei-Turner Media Group, Inc. Gary E. Nei, Chairman; William Turner, President; Barbara Krause, Publisher/CEO. Editorial content is provided by affiliates, community members and local organizations. ©2026. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be republished, reproduced or reprinted without the prior express written consent of the publisher. The publishers assume no responsibility for errors or omissions of any advertisement beyond the actual cost of the advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable for inaccuracies, errors, omissions, or damages from the use of information contained herein. Submitted articles do not reflect the opinions of the publisher or management. Information contained within submitted articles has not been verified and readers are responsible for forming their own opinions.
Healthy Skin for a Happy Life Medical + Cosmetic + Surgical Dermatology
Relocating
Soon!
OUR NEW ADDRESS: 3225 Lakeside Village Dr. Prescott, AZ 86301
photo by Blushing Cactus Photography
We have insurance & cash pay options!
Accepting New Patients
PERSONALIZED CARE OFFERING: Skin cancer screenings, Biopsies, excisions of skin cancer and other lesions (Mohs is referred out), Rashes, autoimmune disorders, acne & more!
COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY: Botox, Fillers, Peels, laser treatments for aging skin, hyperpigmentation, rosacea, spider veins, hair removal
Shelly Crossman, FNP-BC, DCNP
Make your Appointment! 928.499.2915
www.dermatologybyshelly.com 1598 Susan A. Williams Way, Ste. E Chino Valley, Arizona 86323
2026
Photo Contest
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS Winners of the People’s Choice award from our 2026 contest received the highest number of online votes. prescott-now.com/photocontest
4
Black-Chinned Hummingbird A black-chinned hummingbird stares down the camera at a backyard feeder on Bryce Canyon Drive in Prescott. Photo by Joe Mancino
PRES COT T L I V I N G
31
2026
Photo Contest
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS Winners of the People’s Choice award from our 2026 contest received the highest number of online votes. prescott-now.com/photocontest
2
Cold Feet!
3
Fingers of God
Photo by Joseph Mancino
Photo by Rhonda King
1
Prescott Snow Birds Photo by Adrienne Reynolds Photography
5
Graceful Rainbow Photo by Faline Eck
6
Wheeeee! Photo by Gary Wood
8 7
Walker Road Photo by Lynne Johnson
Watching You Watching Me Photo by Fernande Hastert Kuykendall
9
Eastern Collared Lizards Photo by Lone Raven Photography
10
Diego Photo by ShariLynn
Mountain Bike Group Ride Photo by Dennis Tromburg Fine Art Photography
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES
Colorful Regalia at the Watson Lake PowWow Photo by Daryl Weisser
En Guard Photo by Larry Goeb
ECOSA Trail Sunrise Photo by Dennis Tromburg Fine Art Photography
Cows Enjoying Watson Lake Spillover from Peavine Trail Photo by Melissa Evans
2026
Mother and Child Photo by Karen Shaw
Photo Contest ENTRIES America 250 Celebration at the World’s Oldest Rodeo® Photo by Daryl Weisser
Frosted Kiss Photo by Tinamarie Cox
Mountain Bluebird in the Winter Snow Photo by Steve Matten Photographic Arts
Sleigh Bells Ring Photo by Fernande Hastert Kuykendall
Golden Hour Kayaking Photo by Martha Nall Court
Clouds on Fire Photo by Rhonda King
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES Twilight’s Barbed Tranquility Photo by James Bau/Broken Star Photography
Curiosity Photo by Gavin Wright
Harvest Moon with Watson Lake Reflection Photo by Dennis Tromburg Fine Art Photography
Dry Winter Watson Photo by Wilma Gibson
Tranquility Photo by Ken Davidson
The Horse Whisperer Photo by Fernande Hastert Kuykendall
Coming in for a Landing Photo by Joanne Diamond
Triple Delight Photo by Gary Wood
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PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION & FINANCING AVAILABLE We are proud to be the only Statements Dealer for Daltile for all of Northern Arizona!
COME VISIT OUR 3,100 SQ. FT. SHOWROOM AT 401 W. GOODWIN STREET IN DOWNTOWN PRESCOTT, AZ 86303
www.PrescottFlooringBrokers.com | 928-445-2544
DESIGN • STYLE • SELECTION • INSTALLATION
HOME
PRES COT T L I V I N G
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HOME
FARE WELL TO 99 S HAD ES O F G R AY:
Color is Coming Back BY BLAKE HERZOG
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he all-white kitchen no longer sets the standard for this space at the heart of the home, and gray has worn out its welcome as the once-soothing dominant neutral for home interiors, now derided by many as drab and clinical. Homeowners and interior designers have steadily shifted toward painting warmer, more vibrant colors onto their walls, though the majority are stopping short of deploying the brightest, most overpowering hues. Suzanne Adams of Prescott’s 365 Design Solutions is a color consultant and interior designer who started out as a paint color consultant for Sherwin-Williams. She watched millennial grays rise until the pandemic, then stepped away to kitchen and bath design for a brief stint before returning to color consulting and interior design. “It kind of felt like night and day,” she says. “It just felt like one day all of a sudden everyone’s like, ‘No gray.’ And I was like, ‘Wow, OK.’ It didn’t seem like it was gradual. It seemed very immediate. But then there’s obviously the hardcore people that are like, ‘I still like gray.’”
taken off as Pantone expected, with earthier shades including soft yellows, muted greens and slightly darker off-whites gaining more currency and momentum as the year rolled out. This pretty much tracks with what Adams has been hearing from her Greater Prescott clients.
This year consumers have pushed back when color influencers steer the discussion toward the least colorful end of the spectrum, as when Pantone for the first time selected a shade of white as its Color of the Year — Cloud Dancer, positioned as a “calming influence in a frenetic society rediscovering the value of measured consideration and quiet reflection.”
“I feel like the demand is to go less gray and to have kind of like a beigey, greige-y color, but light. And I’d say even a little toward the goldish side has been trending more, because people are tired of having it seem gray or having a purply or gray or even just those kind of undertones. So people have been more open to it having a slightly warmer look,” she says.
Some loved it of course, while others found it lacking in creativity and cultural nuance.
Several shades of green also are being favored by Adams’ clients.
At midyear The Spruce interviewed interior designers who said Cloud Dancer and other pure whites hadn’t
“A lot of kind of sage-y, green-y gray colors have really been trending. And that’s been a real nice way to accent
a bathroom or accent a wall in a living area or to saturate a dining room or whatever it is. It’s not usually like the whole house,” she says. The predominance of open floor plans locally can make it difficult for those who want to experiment with color in one space without it dominating the overall tone of the home. “I’d say people are willing to go bold in smaller areas,” she says. Color blocking, a technique that uses a contrasting band of color for a defined section of a wall such as the bottom half or top third, is being embraced by some homeowners to punch up a space. It can also be used for a smaller area, such as the area behind a larger piece of furniture like an armoire or headboard. Wallpaper is another avenue her customers are turning to for a splash of contrast, whether it’s color, texture or both.
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SW 7566 Westhighland White
“So it’s like they’re enjoying doing it on the back wall of a powder room or in a single wall in a niche. Yeah, it’s all just been kind of more like little areas and not full rooms for the most part,” she says. Adams also has her own favorite colors from the Sherwin-Williams universe, which mostly fall into the warmer, earthier end of the rainbow:
SW 7605 Gale Force
• Canvas Tan — “A neutral wall color that can kind of go throughout the house.” • Svelte Sage — “A good color for offices or guest rooms.” • Mothwing — “A medium shade of color that’s a bit moodier, but kind of feels modern.”
SW 6164 Svelte Sage
• Gale Force — “If you want to have a fun, kind of dark blue color.” • Westhighland White — An ivory-leaning white that works on walls, trim and cabinets alike.
SW 7531 Canvas Tan
SW 9174 Moth Wing
Whatever you do, it’s best to not rush into any decisions as they can be hard to undo. Some of Adams’ clients turn to her after their first big swing at choosing a paint color turns into a miss. “Maybe even they’ve made a mistake before because I’ve had people that have painted and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I had no idea that this color would be so purple or yellow.’” When that happens a lot of people will just live with the
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result rather than go to the expense of trying to cover it up with another shade that may not match their expectations.
SHOULD YOU FOLLOW THE TRENDS? Though Adams is hired as a color consultant to provide her own expertise, she finds many of her clients are aware of current interior design trends and use them as a rough guide for the general tone of their home “I would say that a lot of people are going toward trends a bit, just because they want to have something that’s going to be good in their house for a while. So sometimes people do that hairy, that off-ball thing, but a lot of people are looking for it to be tasteful for a while. They don’t want to change it for a few years at least.” Many design experts advise keeping your home interior current, if only through including some easy-to-replace accents or repaintable surfaces to infuse spaces with a fresh feel, but no less an authority than Nate Berkus denounces trends and the industries behind them. “They’re designed to make us buy things we don’t need or sometimes even like and make us feel bad about what we’ve ‘missed out on,’” he’s quoted as saying in numerous sources. But staying abreast of trends and incorporating those that align with your existing taste and furnishings ensures your home will stay dynamic and fresh, just like you!
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C AFE CU RTAINS WIT H M O D ERN ED G E S ERVE M U LT IPLE FU N C T I O NS BY BLAKE HERZOG
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afe curtains — those petite fabric panels mounted halfway to ¾ of the height of a window — were once reserved for throwback kitchens and drenched in nostalgia for sweet little French coffee shops and English cottages. Once natural light became one of the more coveted home features out there, designers and homeowners started taking another look at these classic window treatments for their ability to offer some privacy while letting sunlight stream in through the top portion of the glass pane. Now they’re a trend many believe has staying power. With or without ruffles, cafe curtains are replacing many heavy drapes and opening spaces up to the sun’s inimitable illumination.
NOT JUST FOR COTTAGECORE The pandemic-era cottagecore craze helped raise cafe curtains’ profile, and many styles retain the homey look in sheer white or floral and gingham prints for people who continue to love farmhouse-adjacent looks. These curtains also are available in contemporary styles and colors
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where they can add enticing detail to more modern homescapes. For this approach buyers can choose a minimalist curtain rod over more ornate varieties or layer sheer curtains with stiffer outer materials for added privacy and texture. Velvet has been a popular choice but may not work in every setting. Another approach is to layer cafe curtains over a roman shade to add flexibility and softness to the shade’s overall appearance. Choose a pretty, floaty floral print to embrace the rustic look or match the shade’s color and material for a more modern aesthetic.
NOT JUST KITCHENS Kitchen windows over sinks have for decades been the most common place to find cafe curtains, but their recent renaissance has led people to more creative placements: bathrooms, entryways, doors, family rooms, playrooms, bedrooms, even laundry rooms. Some of these spaces require more privacy than others and a stiffer fabric or a liner can take care of that issue, though it will block additional light from coming through the lower half of the window and cut back
on the natural light many crave for their dwelling. That tradeoff could be worthwhile for anyone who loves their airy appearance.
NOT JUST GINGHAM Another notable advantage of cafe curtains is they offer a compact canvas to try out bold colors, avant-garde patterns and other brave design choices you might be reluctant to try out with full-size curtains and other large surfaces. This can be your chance to bring a deep, moody purple accent into your kitchen without it dragging down the mood of the whole room or use your kid’s favorite anime characters to personalize their window treatments. If you’re just a little crafty you can make a wonderfully personal statement by hanging your handsewn projects throughout your home. Search the web for an assortment of how-to videos to walk you through the process. We recommended taking a look at Paige Handmade on YouTube to get you started. If you’re not, they’re still a terrific way to set your decor apart, and splurging on custom curtains that precisely fit your windows make them pop that much more.
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T HE NIF T Y 9: PL ANT S T HAT SU RVIVE ANY T HIN G BY KEN LAIN, THE MOUNTAIN GARDENER , WATTERS GARDEN CENTER
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utumn in the high country is a bit of a trickster. One day you’re enjoying a mild afternoon and the next a rogue frost, or a drying wind sweeps through the dells.
In the summer, it has clean, green foliage, but in autumn it turns a fiery red. Rabbits and deer generally leave it alone because of its fuzzy stems and tart scent.
We don’t just garden; we negotiate with nature. Between the alkaline soil, the hungry deer and the wild temperature swings, our plants have to be more than just pretty, they need to be tough. These “mountain tough” survivors have earned their keep.
3. Russian Sage: If you want color from July through October, Russian sage is your best friend. It loves the heat, thrives in poor soil and requires almost no water once established. Its airy, lavender-blue spires attract bees and butterflies by the hundreds. The aromatic foliage is a turn-off for deer and javelina.
1. Austrian Pine: If you need a privacy screen that acts like a fortress, plant this. Unlike our native ponderosas, which can be picky about drainage, the Austrian pine is a tank. It handles heavy clay and wind better than almost any evergreen. It provides that deep, forest-green year-round and creates an excellent windbreak for your more delicate perennials.
4. Coral Beauty Cotoneaster: This is the workhorse of the Prescott landscape. It’s an evergreen shrub that hugs the ground or drapes over boulders. In spring, it’s covered in white flowers, followed by bright red berries that persist through winter. It’s incredibly cold-hardy and stays green even when the temperatures drop into the single digits.
2. Gro-Low Sumac: This is my go-to recommendation for bank stabilization and groundcover. It only grows about 2 feet but spreads wide.
5. Artichoke Agave: This is the king of the local succulents. The Artichoke agave can handle temperatures well below zero.
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6. Skyrocket Juniper: When space is tight, but you need height, the Skyrocket is the answer. It grows tall and narrow. It’s perfectly adapted to our dry air and intense UV rays. I use these to frame entryways or hide a neighbor’s unsightly shed. 7. Gilt Edge Silverberry (Elaeagnus): This is a “bright spot” plant. The leaves have a brilliant gold margin that stays vibrant all winter. It’s tough and handles the buffeting winds we get coming off the mountains. It also produces tiny, silver flowers in autumn that smell like expensive perfume. 8. Lilac (Common & Miss Kim): Lilacs actually crave our winter chill to set their blooms. They are deeprooted and exceptionally long-lived. A lilac planted today likely will still be blooming for your grandchildren. 9. Arizona Cypress: This is a “plant it and forget it” tree. It loves our intense UV light and thin air. The Blue Ice or Carolina Sapphire varieties are especially popular because that silvery-blue color pops beautifully against our red rocks and blue skies.
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PLOT YOUR HOME RENOVATION BUDGET FOR PLEASURE AND PROFIT BY BLAKE HERZOG
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hen homeowners have been in their house for a while and planning to be there a while longer, it’s a prime time for them to think about refreshing or renovating their home.
Three projects came out with a perfect 10: adding a primary bedroom suite, getting a new roof and doing a kitchen upgrade. A complete kitchen renovation was close behind at 9.7, while a bathroom renovation scored a 9.8.
Especially when they’ve built up considerable equity for a loan, they dream about the upgrades that would make them love their home even more and happier to remain there longer. Resale value is a concern, but a fairly distant one.
The least satisfactory change listed in a condensed presentation on the report was a new garage door, at 7. The average project rated an 8.2.
But their budget isn’t unlimited so they must set their priorities, whether they’re focused on their own enjoyment of their home or the sale price years or decades down the road. They can let their own tastes and values be their guide but given the significant amount of money they’re shelling out they often seek out data to support their vision. There’s almost infinite, sometimes contradictory, analysis online about which home improvements get the best return on investment once it goes on the market. But there’s very little regarding homeowner satisfaction once the contractors have packed up and left.
THE ‘JOY SCORE’ One source that does take current homeowner satisfaction seriously is the 2025 National Remodeling Impact Report, from the National Association of REALTORS Research Group. Based on consumer surveys, the group assigns a “Joy Score” to numerous remodeling and home improvement tasks according to how they felt about it afterwards. 52 O C TO B E R / N OV E M B E R 2026
The most common reasons for remodeling were to upgrade worn-out surfaces, finishes and materials, at 27%, followed by increasing energy efficiency, feeling like it’s time for a change and planning to sell in the next two years. Just more than half funded their improvements with a home equity loan.
THE ROI The homeowner survey was paired with another by the National Association for the Remodeling Industry, which asked members how much of a return on investment homeowners could expect for the same projects. The only one with an estimated 100% return was adding a steel front door. No. 2, which saw a steep drop to 83%, was a closet renovation, and coming in third was a new fiberglass front door at 80%. A new primary bedroom suite was only expected to garner a 54% return, while both a kitchen upgrade and a kitchen renovation came in at 60%. Yet another survey asked Realtors about the improvements they’d seen the biggest growth in demand for over the last two years, which netted answers more in line with homeowners’ preferences: a kitchen upgrade, new roofing and a bathroom renovation.
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PREP YO U R H O M E FO R FALL AN D WINT ER CHILL BY BLAKE HERZOG
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f you’re a homeowner in Greater Prescott you’re probably thinking about the things you need to prepare your property for the onslaught of freezing temperatures, rain, snow and the havoc they can wreak, particularly if you’re a recent arrival from a warmer climate.
• Remove, clean and store window screens — This will allow more of the sun’s heat through the window, prevent screen damage and keep snow and cold moisture from getting trapped next to the window, which can damage frames and sashes.
These are the same concerns you find in neighborhoods everywhere in the nation outside the Sunbelt, though we don’t see the temperature extremes of places like Montana or Minnesota.
• Install storm windows if needed — But they’re not if you have double-paned windows, unless the ones you have are leaking cold air inside.
As a reminder for everyone, most winter prep needs to happen during the fall, so if you haven’t gotten started on the process it’s time to get moving. This checklist may include items that aren’t necessary for all locations and miss others that would be prudent in others, so ask your friends, neighbors and friendly hardware store personnel for additional tips.
DURING FALL: • Contact a professional for annual furnace maintenance — You can change the filter and vacuum dust, but find someone with the proper training for the serious stuff like testing the gas pressure and lines, and who can validate your home warranty.
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• Remove window a/c units (if you have them) — If you have a central HVAC system, winterize by disconnecting it from its outdoor power source, hosing off any leaves or other debris and covering the top with a piece of plywood or hard plastic to prevent icicles from crashing into it. • Clean the chimney or call a service to do it — If you’d prefer to call a specialist and it’s not an urgent matter, you might want to think about holding off till spring or summer, when they aren’t as busy. • Protect exterior faucets with insulated covers — This keeps the water inside the pipes from freezing and bursting. Also be sure to disconnect hoses and drain any trapped water.
• Reverse ceiling fans — You want the blades to rotate counterclockwise to push air downward. • Test the sump pump (if you have one) — You can do this by pouring water down the sump pit until the pump turns on.
IN THE WINTER: • Check gutters and lower roof for ice dams — Wait until midafternoon to go on the roof and use a safely secured ladder. Use a roof rake (from the ground) or a de-icing product designed for roofs. Or if you’re at all uncomfortable with it call a roof cleaning company. • Check those covers you put onto your outdoor faucets — Make sure they aren’t iced up or leaking. • Keep any standing water in your yard away from the foundation — Grading soil away from the foundation may be necessary. • Watch for branches encroaching on any power lines connecting your home to utility poles — Call your electrical provider for removal. Early prep and regular maintenance can save you from major repairs in the middle of winter.
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S T RE TCH YO U R D O LL AR WHILE YO U H OS T FO R T HE H O LIDAYS BY BLAKE HERZOG
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hether it’s your turn in the family rotation or you have the largest dining space among your friend group, being on deck to host a big holiday dinner is generally greeted with a at least a slight groan about its anticipated effect on the pocketbook.
meal into a potluck so everyone can contribute.
Today’s spiraling prices are making those reactions even more extreme.
• Plan ahead — You can save a considerable amount of cash and have a much better selection this way, so grab as many frozen veggies as you can when the deep discounts hit, without sacrificing nutrition or taste. One thing you don’t have to buy super early is the
But there are many ways the cost can be contained, from picking up one of those package deals from Target or Walmart intended to feed four or 10 people or turning the
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If neither of those approaches appeal to you or you’re searching for even more ways to scrimp, here are some ideas for lightening the load of your Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner:
turkey, which tends to be cheaper closer to the holidays when there’s a bigger supply and stores use them as a loss leader. • Finalize your guest list as early as possible – Make a good estimate of how many people and what they will eat, so you don’t buy an excess amount or have to panic buy at the last second to compensate. • Use store-bought shortcuts — You use them every other day, and it’s a great way to keep costs down as well as relieve some of the stress
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during hectic holiday prep. Reach for the frozen dinner rolls and puff pastries, stuffing mixes, canned broth or stock, salad kits. You can even consider some nontraditional mains like a store-bought rotisserie chicken or desserts like frozen cheesecakes or apple pies. Stick to less-expensive boxed wines and pitchers of mulled wine and sangria to keep the adults happy and moderately buzzed. • Shop around — Don’t go too overboard or the gas costs will outweigh any savings, but keep a close eye on nearby store sales and how far any coupons you have will go. Don’t hesitate to ask about price matching, and check out clearance aisles and racks for any undamaged tools or cans that might be useful. Ask friends and future guests about the bargains they’ve run across. • Decorate on the cheap — Gather autumnal leaves or Christmasy pine cones and branches and keep them protected in a box until they can be spread on a dining or buffet table. Buy a bushel’s worth of shiny red apples to add to the glow, then save and eat whatever your guests don’t take home with them. Place bunches of fresh herbs in glasses for their visual and olfactory appeal, and turn empty cans into votive candles by removing the labels and tin-punching designs into the sides.
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RUS T, G E ARS AD D CO NT R A S T AND D EP T H TO L AN DS C APIN G BY BLAKE HERZOG
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hen you’re looking for ways to punch up your landscaping profile at home it’s easy to blow past the trellises and pergolas and colorful furniture and hanging planters and metallic cactuses and yucca so often used to decorate property. If you live in Greater Prescott and would rather draw inspiration from the region’s rich history, one eye-catching way to do it is to find some rustic or vintage farming, ranching or mining equipment to integrate as planters, sculptural art or other visual points of interest in your outdoor space. No matter the size of your yard you can find a decommissioned piece of equipment or pieces of the buildings they were stored in and integrate it into the open space around your home, whether it’s a rusty miner’s pick resting by the shed or a tractor nestled into the edge of a large lawn. If you don’t already own one of these items through inheritance or other means, they may be easier to procure than you think.
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Check Prescott and Chino Valley antique stores and Craigslist if you’re trying to keep your search local. Smaller tools and signs are plentiful on Etsy and eBay. For larger vintage implements or machinery there’s farmcollector.com, machinerytrader.com, yesterdaystractors.com, several Facebook groups and more.
HIGH CONTRAST The aesthetic appeal of putting rusted-out equipment in the garden comes from the contrast between the patina on these magnificent old devices and the fresh, thriving plants and flowers around or inside them. New growth around the antique objects honors our heritage with continuity to the future. A popular method for those who have an old iron ore mining cart is to recreate a few feet of the narrow-gauge rail tracks that once guided them into caves and through underground tunnels. The cart itself is displayed on the track and stuffed full of colorful annuals or perennials, sleek succulents (including trailing ones like burro’s tail) and river rock or boulders.
You can get the same effect with a wheelbarrow for a more pastoral vibe, and if you’re feeling especially whimsical you can fashion a gardener to “push” it from an old wheel for an oversize “head” and other scraps to compose the body. To create a taller, more impressive piece that will stop people in their tracks, collect any rusty round implements you can find — discs from ploughs and harrows, tractor brakes, gears, wheel hubs and whatever else you can find, stack them and weld or glue them together. Collect different sizes if you can and stack from largest to smallest for a “Christmas tree” effect or vary the order for a more abstract piece. Fuse an iron gate out of pitchforks, shovels, scythes and other longhandled tools. Take a plow disc and upcycle pieces of sheet metal by attaching them around the rim to form the “petals” of a flower. Plot a garden path out of horseshoes. Let your imagination germinate and produce wonders.
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MODERN VIC TORIAN DESIGN FUSES OLD AND NEW SENSIBILITIES BY BLAKE HERZOG
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owntown Prescott is well-known for, among other things, its wealth of Victorian-style homes on its residential streets, primarily built from 1880 to 1900. You can see their influence in other parts of town like the Victorian Estates development just over the border into Prescott Valley, and if you aren’t fortunate (or unfortunate, depending on your perspective) enough to live in one of these historic structures you still can welcome their influence inside your doors. Modern Victorian design is a style pairing some of the bold, rich tones, intricate molding and craftsmanship emblematic of that era with some hallmarks of modern design, including simpler and cleaner lines in furnishings, geometric balance and abstract art. This blend makes modern Victorian one of the most striking themes you can choose for your home as we begin to embrace maximalism again.
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USE ANTIQUES STRATEGICALLY Modern Victorian homes aren’t stuffed with artifacts from the 19th century but they do include some that harken from or mimic the styles and quality from that era, often as statement pieces in otherwise understated spaces. Lavish chandeliers are a natural choice for high-ceilinged dining rooms and kitchens, while ornate rugs are an option for living rooms, bedrooms and even offices. Armoires, wardrobes and chests of drawers are splendid, along with smaller pieces like sideboards and bookcases with dropfront desks. Depending on your sourcing you could have a plethora of Victorianesque furnishings to choose from, but it’s best to limit rooms to one or two such showpieces.
CONSIDER DEEP, RICH HUES Darker colors including burgundy, navy, olive green and dark teals were favored for walls and furnishings in the
Victorian era for evoking royalty, luxury and opulence and for being better at hiding dust from coal used to heat homes during much of that time. There are many ways to make these tones work in a modern Victorian home, such as drenching selected rooms with one to imbue them with a moodier, more intimate feel or finding them in accent pieces such as pillows or textiles, including drapes. Don’t forget the ceiling, which was often painted and/or had gorgeous detailing. Sticking with lighter neutrals is a perfectly valid alternative and in most cases will be better at highlighting crown molding, wainscoting and other charming features. They can highlight other kinds of molding and baseboards.
DRAW THE EYE UP AND DOWN Victorian homes are famous for both high ceilings and dramatic flooring, so incorporating both will go a long way toward making your home the modern/period piece you’re envisioning. Of course, the former is much easier said than done if you don’t have them already, but there are a few tricks you can employ to create the illusion of a higher ceiling.
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Using low-slung furniture with clean lines (this can provide your modern contrast), hanging curtains just below the ceiling and vertically printed wallpaper can work wonders. Sumptuous rugs and bold, tessellated tiling are among the many choices used to create a showstopping Victorian floor.
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H O LIDAY G U ES T PREP G O ES B E YO N D T HE B ED RO O M BY BLAKE HERZOG
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s Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the other end-of-year celebrations approach, many of us are preparing for overnight guests to add to the merriment and coziness in our abode. The preparations inevitably focus on the room or rooms where your visitors will sleep, but there are subtle touches you can add to the rest of your home to turn up the comfort and convenience so memories of their stay will be even more cherished.
THE GUEST ROOM You’ve got a head start if there’s already a room in the house designated as the “guest room,” but you need to consider all the other uses it might serve over the course of the year: storage room, office, den, hobby room, escape hatch. It may not be possible to eliminate all the stuff that comes along with that versatility, but you can make it as cozy and private as you can by moving enough out of the closet so you can conceal the rest and create a space where guests can hang their own clothes.
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Use high-quality sheets, buying a new set when possible, to ensure your guests’ comfort even (or especially) when they aren’t sleeping in an actual bed but another bed-like platform like a sofa bed, futon or daybed. Hanging a bathrobe and leaving a pair of slippers in a convenient place on the floor adds a luxurious touch that will always be appreciated.
THE KITCHEN There are plenty of ways to make your guests feel welcome in the space where all the nutritional nurturing is done. Verify that you have all the necessary equipment from chairs and tables to grills and burners to comfortably serve breakfast and lunch as well as dinner to everyone under your roof. Feel free to recruit some help for cleanup but don’t lean on visitors too hard for prepping anything, which will be remembered more as “work,” unless they’re truly willing. Drink carts are an ideal place to stock with crackers, nuts and other nonperishable snacks, spreads like
chutney and hummus, bottled still and sparkling water and anything that caters to any dietary restrictions they adhere to. Be sure of your guests’ preferences before including any spirits or wines on the cart, and set up a coffee station for everyone in the kitchen.
THE BATHROOM Even if you’re sharing this space with your guests it’s a good idea to keep it as uncluttered and depersonalized as possible. Put as many of your sacred lotions and potions away as possible so they can gain a foothold with their own toiletries. Clean towels should be plentiful in the bathroom or in a prominent location in the guest room, so there’s no confusion.
AND THE REST It’s worth giving the rest of your home a deep clean to ensure your houseguests can breathe deeply and relish the clean, particulate-free oxygen. Vacuum and dust thoroughly, fluff all the pillows and replenish throws and other textiles — that should do the trick.
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Photo courtesy of Blushing Cactus Photography
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G O G R AY WIT H
Confidence and Intention BY BLAKE HERZOG
C
overing your gray hair used to be a foregone conclusion for any woman and many men who could afford the ongoing investment required, but the beauty world has been revisiting that impulse ever since the pandemic made it difficult to impossible to keep up the maintenance for more than a year at a time.
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LIFESTYLE
With gray hair it’s not so much about the style and more about the texture and learning how to transition. something of an art form. Stylists like Kelly Lee, founder of A Dream by Day salon in downtown Prescott, can usher you through the transformation with minimal fuss. “We’re all about it when someone wants to feel confident enough to go gray — educating people, how to use it, how to work it,” Lee says. “The correct process, our products to use to help the transition. But I think, of all of my clients that have transitioned, none of them have regretted it.”
GUT CHECK Her first step is always to verify that her client really does want to make the change and isn’t being steered toward or away from it by friends or family. In most cases it is a go, but not always for the reasons people expect. For instance, saving money on salon appointments may be a common motivation, but Lee says, “I found with our salon here in Prescott, I feel like it’s less about money when people are wanting to transition and more about wanting to be more natural or embrace the process of aging. “Which is nice for us because there is a stigma with going gray where you will have less appointments, and that will happen once the gray is completely grown out, but that can take years.”
WAIT, YEARS? To start with, you do need to grow out your hair at least somewhat so you and your stylist can see what you’ll be working with, and it isn’t always easy to do.
Celebs like Jamie Lee Curtis, Andie McDowell and Sarah Jessica Parker are leading the way. This year it’s been chicer than ever to wear your gray with pride as a signifier of maturity, wisdom and self-confidence, owning all the years this planet has been graced by your presence.
“You don’t know what you’re going to get until you get it, and then the gray also changes,” Lee says. “The majority of the time your hair starts going white around your temples, and then will slowly move back. And then the nape is usually the darkest at the last point. And then sometimes they go all white and sometimes they don’t.”
The process of going gray after you’ve been coloring your hair for years — without having to get past that glaring line of demarcation between the old and new you — is
Hair texture also changes as melanin, the pigment that gives it flexibility as well as color, decreases and runs out, leaving hair more unruly.
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“That is the thing that most people have difficulty with, is it gets wiry. It stops having pigment. So it doesn’t want to lay like it has their entire life,” she says. Lee helps her clients gradually go gray by adding silvery ash lowlights to selected strands of hair, as opposed to other stylists who bleach hair to remove all pigment, then color it with an ash-blonde tone. She also rubs a proprietary vitamin blend onto the ends of the hair to help pull out the remaining pigment and reveal the natural color and texture underneath. This process can require as many or more salon appointments as maintaining other types of color because lowlights tend to fade more quickly than permanent color. “So the first year, year and a half that you’re doing it, you might actually come in more frequently, because what we’re trying to do is get rid of that harsh line that was made from the previous permanent color,” Lee says. She adds a local factor that tends to fade hair color more quickly is its “hard,” mineral-heavy water supply, particularly for those using well water. The mineral deposits left behind by the water coat and dull hair and react with dye to alter its color. This is one reason why she avoids the bleach-and-recolor method. “I really started noticing with blondes,” she says. “So they would leave and they would look bright and it would look beautiful. And four weeks later, they’d come in and they would look fluorescent yellow or Big Bird yellow and they’d
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be like, what happened to this color that I, you know, just spent $600 on?” Remedies range from a full home filtration system running in the thousands of dollars to a $30 shower head insert available at big-box hardware stores, Lee says. Another option is to use conditioners and other products formulated to reverse damage from hard water, such as those sold by Malibu C.
NO GRAY AREAS There are some clients who have an easier time navigating the journey from color to gray than others; men, for one — their generally shorter hair allows the gray to appear as a sprinkling rather than coming in as a harsh line. This also holds true for women with shorter hair, she says, especially blondes. “The people who are used to having dark long hair tend to have the hardest transition with it. They like to have dark, rich hair and then seeing the white can be shocking. People who were blonde their whole life and have short hair, it’s easy,” Lee says. As far as styling gray or white hair, Lee doesn’t hold to the widely held belief that shorter is generally better. “I have so many clients that have hair that is short above their ears, and I have people with long, beautiful hair, gray hair that is thick and dense to their butt. I think that it works both ways,” she says. “You know, with gray hair it’s not so much about the style and more about the texture and learning how to transition.”
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rogersacademyofbeauty.com Salon Appointments & Enrollment: 928-848-9929
LIFESTYLE
BE AUT Y DIREC TORY
Your guide to Greater Prescott’s leading beauty professionals.
A Borgata Salon
3755 Karicio Ln., Ste. A Prescott 928.443.9119 aborgatasalon.com
A Dream by Day
721 E. Sheldon St. Prescott 928.710.4753 adreambyday.com
Aphrodite Aesthetics & Wellness
3619 Crossings Dr., Ste. A Prescott 928.362.7773 aphroditeaestheticsaz.com
Aria Aesthetics & Permanent Makeup
1955 Commerce Center Cir., Ste. A Prescott 928.298.5974 aria-aesthetics-pmu.com
A Valley of Vitality
2074 Willow Creek Rd. Prescott 928.442.6026 avalleyofvitality.com
Bella Luna Hair Salon 3147 N. Robert Rd. Prescott Valley 928.775.6706 bellalunahair.com
Cashmere Inclusive
8600 E. Valley Rd., Ste. D Prescott Valley 928.499.8271 cashmereinclusive.com
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Dermatology & Skin Care by Shelly
1598 Susan A Williams Way, Ste. E Chino Valley 928.499.2915 dermatologybyshelly.com
Desert Rose Retreat Salon + Medspa 701 S. Ruth St. Prescott 928.778.9798 desertroseretreat.com
Enhanced Beauty by Reagan
1320 Iron Springs Rd., Ste. B Prescott 928.713.5271 enhancedbeautybyreagan.as.me
Era Salon & Spa
515 E. Sheldon St. Prescott 928.778.0860 erasalonandspa.com
Essence Hair Salon
705 W. Hillside Ave. Prescott 928.778.0632 facebook.com/EssenceRelaxation
Exclusively Glamorous
8140 E. AZ-69 Prescott Valley 928.910.1747 exclusivelyglamorous.com
Hair by Joey
1559 & 1569 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.396.1695 hairbyjoey.com
Jess D Aesthetics
1320 Iron Springs Rd., Ste. B Prescott 928.713.6150 aboostwellness.net
La Lumière
214 N. McCormick St. Prescott 928.899.7021 lalumierelaser.com
Local Body Bar
1519 W. Gurley St., Ste. D Prescott 928.224.9014 localbodybar.com
Luxe Skincare
1320 Iron Springs Rd., Ste. B Prescott 928.273.1516 luxeskincare1.com
Nyla D’ Salon
144 N. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.445.8430 nyladsalon.com
Prescott Medical Aesthetics 3209 Lakeside Village Prescott 928.277.7414 prescottbotox.com
Prescott Skin Care
1000 Willow Creek Rd., Ste. G Prescott 928.275.1121 prescottskin.com
LIFESTYLE R & R Aesthetics
Strada Salon
Rogers Academy of Beauty
Studio ROX
Salon Tru Blu & Day Spa
The Hormone Zone Med Spa
100 N. Summit Ave., Ste. D Prescott 928.460.3866 ritualrest.glossgenius.com
2375 E. AZ-69 Prescott 928.848.9929 rogersacademyofbeauty.com
1436 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.445.4126 salontrublu.com
Salud Spa
309 E. Gurley St. Prescott 480.384.0380 salud-spa.com
Skin Lounge by J
8148 E. AZ-69 Prescott Valley 928.515.3006 facebook.com/skinloungebyj
Skin Perfection Med Spa 3190 Clearwater Dr. Prescott 928.541.0003 skinperfectionaz.com
SkinPlus MedSpa
1747 Willow Creek Rd. Prescott 928.582.0716 skinplusmedspa.com
Sola Salons
1046 Willow Creek Rd., Ste. 105 Prescott 402.680.1206 solasalonstudios.com/ locations/willow-creek-road
3227 Lakeside Village, Ste. B Prescott 928.778.2028 stradasalonaz.com
720 N. Montezuma St., Ste. A Prescott 928.351.1555 studio-rox.com
720 N. Montezuma St., Ste. C Prescott 480.338.8070 hormonezonemedspa.com
The Rancher’s Wife Salon 2235 S. AZ-89 Chino Valley 928.636.4637 facebook.com/ TheRanchersWifeSalon
The Reset Aesthetics and Wellness 1470 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.277.8860 theresetaesthetics.com
Whiskey and Willow Salon and Boutique 1511 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.642.3236 whiskeyandwillowaz.com
Wilson Aesthetics Beauty & Wellness
8196 E. Florentine Rd. Prescott Valley 928.350.5484 wilsonaestheticsaz.com
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LIFESTYLE
SE ASON’S TOP MAK EUP TRENDS MESH WITH
Autumnal Prescott BY BLAKE HERZOG
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T
his fall’s trends are refreshingly wearable: soft earth tones, blurred berry lips, and skin that looks like skin. They also match some of the colors we see around town this time of year.
SKIN FIRST: HEALTHY OR NOT HEAVY The season’s biggest shift is toward lightweight, skin-like bases — serum foundations, tinted moisturizers and skin tints that let your actual texture and freckles show through. In Prescott’s high-altitude climate, this is as practical as it is trendy: heavier mattifying formulas tend to cling and crack in low humidity, while a hydrating tint blends in and stays comfortable through a full day outdoors. Try this: Mix a few drops of hydrating serum into your tinted moisturizer before applying and set only where you need it (usually just the T-zone) rather than all over.
SOFT EARTH TONES ON THE EYES Sharp cat-eyes are taking a back seat this season to smudged, diffused shadow in warm browns, terracotta, muted rose, and soft taupe — tones that echo Prescott’s own granite dells and juniper hills. The technique matters more than the palette: press color into the lash line with a small brush, then blur the edges so there’s no hard line. Try this: A single warm-brown or terracotta cream shadow, pressed on with fingertips and blended with a fluffy brush, gives you a polished eye in under two minutes.
THE BERRY LIP, BLURRED AND EFFORTLESS This is the season’s signature look, and it’s one of the easiest to wear. Use deep berry, oxblood, wine or
muted plum, applied with a stained or blurred finish rather than a precise edge. The trend embraces a slightly “just-kissed” imperfection: swipe on color, then blur the edges with a fingertip instead of cleaning it up. Try this: Pick one versatile berry shade (a blackberry or brick-red tone works on most skin tones) and use it three ways — sheer and dabbed on for daytime errands, built up with a lip liner underneath for dinner out or mixed with a balm for a tinted, weatherproof option on windy Prescott afternoons.
BLUSH THAT MIMICS YOUR FLUSH Blush is moving deeper and more neutral for fall — terracotta, muted rose and rust rather than bright pink. These earthier tones blend
seamlessly into the skin instead of sitting on top, which reads as natural. A great trick borrowed from the runways: use the same berry or terracotta product on cheeks and lips for an easy, cohesive, monochromatic look that takes zero extra thought.
BROWS AND LASHES: NATURAL WINS Ultra-sculpted, laminated brows are softening into something more natural — full, feathery and textured rather than sharply arched. Mascara is getting a rest too, in favor of natural-finish formulas or simply well-groomed, tinted brows. This is good news for anyone who spends time outdoors; less product means less worry about smudging on a breezy hike or a warm afternoon on the trail.
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S T YLE DIREC TORY Your guide to Greater Prescott’s most stylish merchants.
Afterglow Jewelers
7025 E. Florentine Rd., Ste. 106 Prescott Valley 928.515.3552 afterglowjewelers.com
Amish Home Decor
2710 N. Glassford Hill Rd. Prescott Valley 928.277.8267 amishfurniturepv.com
Artful Eye Jewelry Design Center
124 S. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.445.5570 artfuleyejewelers.com
Bashford Courts
130. W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.642.7984 bashfordcourts.com
Bella Home Furnishings 115 W. Willis St. Prescott 928.458.7275 bellahomefurnishings.com
Black Arrow Jewelry & Art 124 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.776.4092 blackarrowgallery.com
Blush & Cactus Boutique 121 N. Cortez St. Prescott 928.277.1174 blushandcactus.com
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Carrie Weldon Gallery & Boutique 219 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.910.6402 carrieweldon.com
Classy N Sassy
220 W. Goodwin St., No. 3 Prescott 928.776.7467 facebook.com/ NewClassyNSassyBoutique
Creations in Thread
1046 Willow Creek Rd., Ste. 101 Prescott 928.800.2270 creationsinthread.com
Drawn West
134 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.778.5725 drawnwestaz.com
Drifter’s
130 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.458.7131 prescottdrifters.com
Fancy That!
109 S. Granite St. & 124 S. Granite St., No. A Prescott 928.445.1883 fancythatprescott.com
Fite Girls Boutique
210 S. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.445.3524 facebook.com/fitelikeagirl
French Hen Boutique 212 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.445.3424
Frontier Village Center 1841 E. AZ-69 Prescott 928.777.0532 frontier-village.com
Goldmine Jewelers
106 S. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.442.9167
Gypsy Vibes Boutique
103 N. Cortez St. Prescott 928.583.9554 gypsyvibesboutique.com
IdentiFreed
102 Montezuma St. Prescott 602.413.8909 identifreed.org
Joe’s Furniture
3787 Karicio Ln. Prescott 928.778.7593 joesfurnitureaz.com
Lamerson’s Jewelery 105 N. Cortez St. Prescott 928.771.0921 lamersonjewelry.com
Prescott’s Style Destination
W E S TE R N C L O T H I NG B O O TS & S H O E S S I LV E R & J E W E L RY 134 WEST GURLEY STREET
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P R E S C O T T, A Z
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928-778-5725
GE NU I NE C O W HIDES LAMPS & DECOR U NI Q U E GI F T S |
D R A W N W E S TA Z . C O M
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S T YLE DIREC TORY Continued
Lost in Socks
Pine Ridge Marketplace
The Clothes Hound
Mariposas Lifestyle Boutique
Purple Clover Boutique
The Hike Shack
220 W. Goodwin St. Prescott 928.925.6111 oldfirehouseplaza.com
Queen Esther’s Closet
Three Sisters Consignment
Palomino Lifestyle Co.
Raskin’s Jewelers
130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 303 Prescott 928.445.1833 facebook.com/LostInSocks
225 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.583.2778
Old Firehouse Plaza
3250 Gateway Blvd. Prescott 928.442.3605 pineridgemarketplace.com
130 W. Gurley St., Ste. 205 Prescott 928.499.5195 purplecloverprescott.shop
7025 E. Florentine Rd., Ste. 104 Prescott Valley 928.899.5516
122 S. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.771.0811 clotheshoundclothingco.com
104 N. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.443.8565 thehikeshack.com
4077 N. AZ-89 Prescott 928.777.0107 threesistersconsignment.com
110 W. Gurley St. Prescott 928.445.6120 raskinsjewelers.com
Wardrobe
Personal Touch Jeweler
Scarlett’s Curated Collection
Whatever Was
Prescott Consignment Galleries
SMARTgirls Resale Fashion
107 E. Gurley St. Prescott 928.350.6268 palominolifestyleco.com
377 N. Montezuma St., Ste. A-106 Prescott 928.777.9090
415 S. Montezuma St. Prescott 928.443.8665
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107 N. Cortez St., Ste. 100 Prescott 928.227.2581 scarlettsinprescott.com
7025 E. Florentine Rd. Ste. 107 Prescott Valley 928.772.1227 smartgirlsfashion.com
520 W. Sheldon St., Ste. 2A Prescott 310.709.8099
124 S. Granite St. Prescott 928.778.4186 facebook.com/pastafajole
Women’s Clothing and Accessories
LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR IN BASHFORD COURTS:
130 West Gurley Street #205, Prescott 928-499-5195 purplecloverprescott
Purple Clover Prescott
Water Bananas Photo by Fernande Hastert Kuykendall
2026
Photo Contest ENTRY
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LIFESTYLE
S T EP OVER T HE PIT FALL S O F
Boot Shopping BY BLAKE HERZOG
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LIFESTYLE
I
t’s the most wonderful time of the year for fans of a specific type of footwear, but it also can be tinged with disappointment for those who buy boots without accounting for all the variables that can affect their fit and lead to tightness, blistering and other painful problems. Trying them on with the wrong socks, or none at all, can mean you don’t leave enough room for your feet plus the wider, cozier ones you’ll want to use during the height of winter. Failing to really consider your calf size and whether the boot rubs against it can mean uncomfortable hikes or days of running errands. Even the time of day matters; since feet tend to swell and spread over the course of the day it’s not a great idea to go shopping for boots in the morning. These are the other things to watch for when you’re selecting this year’s new boots.
DON’T POINT That is, don’t force yourself into pointed-toe boots if they’re not comfortable, no matter how fashionable they may be, and they happen to be quite so this year. Your toes should always have at least a little wiggle room and never be squished together in a narrow toe box. This is a recipe for pain and balance issues, one that may not even keep you warm, since you need a little bit of space for warmer air to circulate. Be sure you’re wearing the right size. Try going up a half-size to compare fit.
Look for pointy boots that don’t narrow significantly until after they are safely past your toes.
REMEMBER WHY YOU’RE THERE Don’t let yourself get carried away by cute styling or what you thought looked great on someone else’s feet. Keep in mind how and where you’re expecting to wear the boots and buy accordingly. If you need hiking boots, choose a pair that fits your heel snugly, allow your toes to splay naturally, provide a thumb’s width ahead of the longest toe and doesn’t pinch you midfoot before you get into the styling. No matter what type of boot you’re shopping for it should feel good at the first fitting — don’t assume they’ll fit much better after being broken in.
LOOK INTO THEIR SOLES This will be as important as how the boots look and feel. Consider the conditions of Greater Prescott winters and even more specifically to the neighborhoods you live in and frequent. Rubber or lugged soles will save you from spills on rainy and slushy surfaces, while smooth leather soles look great in dressier settings but can be dangerous on slick surfaces since they don’t provide any traction, especially before they get a little scuffed up. Leather soles with rubber strips at the front and back or a half-rubber sole can be a good compromise, but they’re not effective with serious snow and ice.
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LIFESTYLE
M O D ERN IZE YO U R WARD RO B E WIT H S ELEC T IVE PU RCHA S ES BY BLAKE HERZOG
F
all and winter are the seasons when many people spend more time evaluating their wardrobe. For one thing, they tend to wear more clothes, covering up more to stay warm and layering as a strategy for rapid temperature swings. While going through all those clothes you might start thinking about how long it’s been since you bought anything new and begin to wonder if you need to start shopping again. This thought might fill you with dread of spending money you’ve been trying to save or facing the frustration of searching through stores or ordering and sending clothes back, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Updating around the edges with a few accessories and maybe one or two quality outerwear pieces may be all you need for an effective closet update.
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MOVING THE BACK UP FRONT If you’ve gotten bored with what’s front and center in your closet and drawers, first take a look at what’s been shoved further back. You could find a peplum-style top that’s coming back into vogue or your old black skinny jeans, which might fit into this year’s cautious comeback with the right styling. High-quality vintage brooches, antique-cut diamonds and chunky gold chains from the ‘80s and ‘90s are all trending this fall, so grab them if you have them!
ACCESSORIES DO HEAVY LIFTING Depending on where you shop, jewelry, bags, scarves, shoes and hats can be relatively inexpensive ways to update your look while avoiding the rigmarole of clothes shopping. That tiny purse at the vanguard of fashion a couple of years ago has been supplanted by larger, more practical bags suitable for daily life. Earrings in tune with current trends, hats that draw the eye upward without
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overwhelming the silhouette and cute, comfortable shoes instantly elevate your look.
BUILDING BRIDGES Finding pieces that can tie together garments that never worked together before is gold. Outerwear like a tailored blazer, a cozy cardigan or a sturdy pair of boots can transform outfits that have been worn dozens of times into something fresh and dynamic. Purchases like these will go much further than one trendy, flashy shirt or skirt that works with just one or two items you already have.
COLOR SWITCHING Whatever’s in your closet now, go the other direction. If you’ve been sticking mostly to neutrals since they’re easy to mix and match and timeless, buy just two or three pieces in vivid shades that appeal to you and work with your existing pieces — almost anything will. And if you wear bright and/or saturated colors wherever you go to brighten every space you enter, try adding a few more blacks, grays and whites to your rotation to add some real contrast and make getting dressed in the morning just a little bit easier.
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YMAX Theatre
U N LE A S HES N E W D IM ENS I O NS FO R AU D IEN CES AN D YAVAPAI CO LLEG E S T U D EN T S BY BLAKE HERZOG
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Photo courtesy of Jesse Bertel
LIFESTYLE
LIFESTYLE
R
emember studying Plato’s Allegory of the Cave in high school and/or college? Think of images of prisoners chained inside a dark, subterranean cavity, the fire-casting shadows of the world above on the wall, the sole captive who escapes into the sunlight and discovers the fullness of reality. These memories are likely to be hazy, depending on how distant in the past these lessons are. Nowadays, you can immerse yourself in that cave inside the YMAX Theatre, a 400-square-foot room on the second floor of the recently overhauled Center for Learning Innovation (CLI, a.k.a. Building 19) at Yavapai College’s Prescott Campus. It has equipment capable of projecting images simultaneously on all four walls, the ceiling and the floor, which are all coated with a reflective tint like a movie screen — the first rule is “don’t touch the walls.” The theater is being used to show artistic and experimental films as well as for numerous educational purposes, and can accommodate up to 15-20 people at a time. The first day of July’s 2026 Prescott Film Festival spotlighted the premiere of the 360-degree version of Imagine a Cave, directed by Jesse Bertel, a local videographer and instructor at YC and Chino Valley High School. Originally produced as a nine-minute traditional short film using local sites and performers, it won an award last year at the Covellite International Film Festival. Then Bertel was approached by Center for Learning Innovation Executive Director Robyn Bryce.
Photo courtesy of Yavapai College
“She said, ‘Hey, we got this room in the works,’” he says. “She had heard that my project was a cave, and so a cave being kind of perfect for this thing. And I said, ‘I have no idea what that means, but I would love to be a part of that. I’ll try.’” Bertel returned to the cave in Mayer where he initially shot the film with a cube-shaped 360-degree camera borrowed from YC, placing it where his other cameras previously sat to capture the rest of the environment for the film. Then came the work of precisely fitting the “action” of the film onto the front wall of the YMAX room. It took quite a bit of experimentation to figure it out, in part because the technology is so new: “It was definitely a process that — who do you ask?” He figured it out and says he was blown away watching it at the film festival, thinking, “Oh my God, this is what it really should have been all along.”
Viewers “stand” on a roof during an immersive presentation at YC’s YMAX Theatre.
He’s just one person of many discovering the potential of YMAX, using technology provided by Igloo Vision, a company Bryce and two colleagues discovered a couple of years ago at EDUCAUSE, an annual educational technology conference. They had been looking for an innovative concept to fill a blank in the floorplan for the under-construction Center for Learning Innovation, which already had media and immersive learning labs on the second floor. “All three of us were like this, this is it. This is what that third space is going to become,” Bryce says. “At that point, we had already seen things that Arizona State University had done with their Dreamscape Learn,” a collaboration with virtual reality giant Dreamscape Immersive to produce VR programs that combined storytelling and educational content. “And we though that that was really exciting, but we wanted something that offered more ways that people could develop from K-12 students all the way up through graduates and graduate level and doctoral level in these kind of rooms,” she says. YMAX is one of two fully immersive spaces, including the ceiling and floor, Igloo has created; the other is in the Middle East. The space is available for use to all YC students, faculty and staff. One request came from the EMS studies program to create a “chaos inoculator” to simulate the kind of real-world mayhem paramedics and other first responders must be able to face.
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LIFESTYLE You’re creating three-dimensional experiences that people walk through. If you go to any of the modern-day museums in the world, even traditional art is shown in this way now.” An immersive presentation about last school year’s collegewide Riders Read book, Nora Krug’s graphic novel Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia, featured readings of her words by speakers with authentic Ukrainian and Russian accents, along with her images. “That was pretty powerful. And so when Nora Krug stepped inside the space, she was a bit taken aback. She said, ‘I had never been inside one of my books before,’” Bryce says.
Fire Science has its own YMAX chaos inoculator, which helped the department get accreditation for the Fire Officer 1 certification class using immersive VR technology. Bryce adds, “There’s been playful conversations about, what about ‘smell-o-vision’ in here? How could you continue to make that experience even deeper by pumping in the smell of smoke or the smell of gasoline or
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bodily fluids? Because nothing is ever going to replace that true hands-on experience, but there are those things that you can do to prepare students psychologically.” The possibilities are nearly endless. Charts full of data were projected onto the walls during a workforce conference so attendees could walk past and discuss them with others instead of staring at a PDF or PowerPoint slides. Video game development could have a bright future here. Students in the college’s new Bachelor of Design in Visual Design program will create digital walkable 3D museum exhibits on par with what’s being done in the “real” world. “One thing that a lot of people don’t realize is that modern day museum and exhibit design is not static anymore,” Program Director Lindsey Masten says. “A lot of it is animated.
Google Street View works in the YMAX format, and YouTube has a repository of 3D videos it was tailor-made for, taking viewers under the sea and on the world’s tallest, fastest and longest roller coaster. It streams from webcams on the various YC campuses and construction sites and can provide a close-up view of linemen high atop utility poles for students in training. The public also has plenty of opportunities to experience YMAX. Immersive video of crisp winter snowscapes and other holiday scenes will be shown as part of YC’s first-ever Yavapai Yuletide festival Nov. 20-21, and many more opportunities are being planned. And anyone can request a tour of the entire CLI building by filling out the form at: yc.libwizard.com/f/requestcli-tour-group-individual.
Photo courtesy of Yavapai College
Bryce says, “Corey Carlson, one of our internal instructional designers and educational technologists, absolutely created a chaos inoculator. If you have any kind of sensitivity to strobing lights and loud noises, you should not be a part of this. But one of my favorite pictures that the EMS professors took is there are two students on the floor with one of their mechanical mannequins. And one of the students is working feverishly on the mannequin and the other one is just staring at the walls. And so it’s doing its job, right?”
Excitement is already brewing among CLI staff about the immersive media potential for this year’s Riders Read book, which is Never Whistle at Night, a horror anthology featuring Native American authors.
Autumn
Join us this
at Prescott’s favorite museum!
History lives on this fall at Sharlot Hall Museum. Whether you’re a history enthusiast, a curious tourist, or a family in search of adventure, our fall events are the perfect way to explore Arizona’s rich past.
October and November appenings!
Saturday | Oct. 10th 10am–3pm
Living History Adventure Harvest Feast: Recipes of the West
Dates!
Save the
Saturday | Oct. 16th 2:00pm - 4:30pm A Premier Victorian Afternoon Tea at Sharlot Hall Museum
Saturday | Nov. 14th 10am–3pm
Living History Adventure – Honoring Prescott’s Heroes
Frontier Christmas | Sat. Dec. 5th A Prescott Christmas Carol | Thur. Dec. 10th
Arizona An
Living History Center
415 W Gurley St, Prescott, AZ 86301 | 928.445.3122 | sharlothallmuseum.org Located in downtown Prescott, two blocks west of the Courthouse Plaza.
Having a party or large gathering? Ask about renting the museum! Call Katherine at 928.277.2005
LIFESTYLE
M EE T YO U R HERO ES VIA WES T ERN HERITAG E CEN T ER’ S H O LO G R AMS BY BLAKE HERZOG
They are based on recordings of re-enactors who spent years, even decades studying their characters, and more are being added to populate the Proto Hologram Luma system’s memory every few weeks.
Theodore Roosevelt hologram
T
he Prescott Western Heritage Center on Whiskey Row is a unique concept to begin with; a historic storefront where the public is free to wander through and peek at treasures from nearby museums and other local collections. A local history sampler to lure visitors to take a deeper look. Now, right next to the display of vintage posters and banners from the World’s Oldest Rodeo®, a sevenfoot, 400-pound touchscreen beams interactive holograms of Teddy Roosevelt, Doc Holliday, Sharlot Hall and other figures with ties to Prescott’s territorial days.
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Western Heritage Center Project Manager Doug Allen says the team has been moving slowly but deliberately to add new features with “guardrails” to ensure the accuracy of the information being shared, rather than letting in too much AI-generated content that could distort the information. “And then we really open the guardrails up and then we squish them back down. And it’s so much fun because when you apply the right guardrails and really key words, we can get in this sweet spot that really works. And so that’s right where we’re working right now,” he says. WHC Founder and CEO Dennis Gallagher sees in it a gateway to the future, engaging digital-native generations to come. But he adds:
“We think it’s kind of funny that a 70, almost an 80-year-old man brings hologram technology to Prescott.” The hologram is one of several projects coming out of a partnership between WHC and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University to fuse high tech with the Old West. Announced a year ago, students and faculty are collaborating with WHC volunteers to create new frontiers in Western education. Both entities have been pursuing grants to fund the hologram. Allen says there are nearly endless potential uses for the technology, but one of the ones he’s most excited about is the ability for visitors to see artifacts from local museums that are too fragile or valuable to be put on exhibit, such as ancient indigenous pottery: “So that is going to be one of those incredible opportunities now to get to bring those treasures forward. And that’s another learning opportunity, not just for the schools, but our entire public.” Gallagher says the center is the only place in Arizona where the public has admission-free access to this level of hologram technology. The Western Heritage Center, 156-C S. Montezuma St., is open 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. WednesdaySaturday (winter hours) and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. See visitwhc.org for more information.
Photo courtesy of the Western Heritage Center
These avatars greet visitors and tell them a bit about their life stories. They can answer questions about their backgrounds and achievements. They’re multilingual and can be programmed to speak to different age groups, giving a broader overview for younger audiences and drilling down into specific topics for adults.
Your Next Great Night Out Starts Here
Music. Broadway. M Memoori ies.
“Guys and Dolls”
Handel’s “Messiah”
GENTRI Christmas
NOV 6 - 15
DEC 5 & 6 | 3pm
DEC 17 | 7pm
Wayne Newton: Memories and Melodies
Dorsten (Cabaret)
An Evening with The Texas Tenors
JAN 15 | 7pm
JAN 23 | 7pm
Tickets, Flex Packs, & Gift Certificates:
YCPAC.COM | 928-776-2000 Buy early r the best h e seats!
JAN 29 | 7pm
LIFESTYLE
Valeriy Kagounkin
Heather Johnson Beary
Heather Johnson Beary
Suzy Amblade Townsend
B L ACK ARROW NAT IVE AM ERI C AN J E WELRY & ART GALLERY WELCO M ES FO U R N E W ART IS T S BY TRACEY HORN, HELKEN & HORN ADVERTISING AGENCY
B
lack Arrow Native American Jewelry & Art has added four artists to its gallery, expanding its collection of fine Western and Native American work. The new lineup features original paintings, watercolors, charcoal scenes and bronze sculpture, giving visitors fresh reasons to explore the space.
Leading the arrivals is Maddison Gore, whose bold charcoal Western scenes bring striking contrast and movement to the gallery walls. Joining her is Suzy Amblade Townsend, whose watercolor wildlife imagery captures the natural beauty of the region with soft detail and warmth. Rounding out the painters is Valeriy Kagounkin, known for heartfelt portraits of Plains folk that feel both personal and deeply human.
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The gallery also is proud to now carry bronzes from local favorite sculptor Heather Johnson Beary. Beary recently completed a sculpture of Sharlot M. Hall for the Sharlot Hall Museum, a milestone that honors one of the region’s most important historical figures. Her work reflects a strong sense of place and a commitment to preserving local heritage through art. These additions arrive as owners Bill and Amy Hoffman enter their third year of leading Black Arrow. Since taking ownership, the Hoffmans have woven themselves into the fabric of the community, building close relationships with local artists, collectors and neighbors. Their approach centers on more than sales; they see the gallery as a gathering place that celebrates regional talent and keeps the area’s creative spirit alive. The Hoffmans remain committed to supporting local artists and residents, offering a welcoming space where visitors can discover new work and connect with the people behind it. Their passion for the community continues to shape the gallery’s direction and its growing reputation as a destination for authentic Western and Native American art. Visitors are invited to stop by and experience the new collection in person at 124 W. Gurley St., Prescott. Visit blackarrowgallery.com for more information.
Maddison Gore
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LIFESTYLE
Set Fire
TO YO U R FR AM E WIT H B L A ZIN G FALL FO LIAG E PH OTOS BY BLAKE HERZOG
Liquid Autumn by Bob Larson
O
ur area is full of outdoor adventures involving hiking, running, climbing, riding, boating and generalized romping and reveling. While you’re busy stretching your muscles and filling your lungs, you’re appreciating your surroundings and they may well be giving you a boost emotionally. Every once in a while, you’re probably tempted to slow down enough to fully take in those stunning views and capture some of them with your phone or whatever other camera you have on you. This yearning to take a piece of the environment home with you certainly takes hold in any of our four glorious seasons, but autumn’s transformational yellows, oranges and reds never fail to capture imaginations and inspire new takes on a perennially beautiful season. With the local fall color peak expected to land between mid-October and early November, we’ve got a few ideas on making those shots pop
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from a couple of local photographers whose vibrant landscape photos make frequent appearances in Prescott LIVING.
THE HOT SPOTS Bob Larson’s work has been published in Arizona Highways, Outdoor Photography Magazine and numerous other outlets, and has been a Top Shot and Editors Pick at National Geographic. He says his favorite places to head to for fall color include some of the usual suspects in this beautiful area, including Willow Lake and Lynx Lake; the latter “has some wonderful areas with differentiating colors throughout the far side, away from the actual lake.” Watson Lake is a fine place to look as well, he says, but calls the Watson Woods Riparian Preserve just to the south “a full-on buffet of color.” He directs anyone who doesn’t mind a more urban setting toward downtown’s Courthouse Plaza with
its nearly 200 trees, primarily elms primed to burst into color in the fall. “Head about halfway up the Union Street parking area and you can catch the fall color of the trees, the courthouse and Thumb Butte in the background all in one shot!” he says. Karen Shaw takes her camera deep into the forest and on her kayak on the area’s lakes. Her work has been featured in Images Arizona and Arizona Highways, among other outlets. Her preferred locales for fall color are “exploring the area along Copper Basin Road that has the grove of aspen trees, Lynx Lake and Goldwater Lake,” she says. “The best day trip would be Crescent Moon Ranch near Sedona — an incredible spot for fall foliage!” Other locations that get high marks online on the leaf-peeping meter include Mingus Mountain with highelevation aspens that start to glow a couple weeks earlier, Granite Basin Lake’s cottonwoods and willows, more
LIFESTYLE
Path to Autumn by Bob Larson
blazing cottonwoods around Fain Lake and more. Beyond the trees you can look for smaller plants that show their most brilliant colors as they die off for the winter, like fetid goosefoot and Virginia creeper that’s found in the forest and foothills alike.
WHEN TO GO Shaw says she prefers shooting in mid-fall, “but sometimes it is nice to get a mix of autumn color with some residual green foliage at the beginning of the season.” Larson says he finds the most compelling color appears in midOctober through early November, but it’s often beneficial to go out earlier in the season to plan ahead and discover where the best scenes and angles might be once the vegetation really begins putting on a show.
FOLLOWING AND FACING THE LIGHT Take advantage of the hours when sunlight hits the trees at an angle, Larson advises: “One to two hours during and after sunrise, one to two hours before and during sunset. The angled light brings out the glow in the foliage. Don’t shoot with the angle of light, but against it. Walk around the trees or various plant life until you catch the side that showcases the
Crescent Moon Ranch by Karen Shaw
glow, the side that is lit up with the sunlight from behind.”
DOUBLE VISION Both photographers love having bodies of water in the frame. It adds another layer of visual interest, and its reflections can magnify the beauty of the scene. Shaw says, “A balance of textures like fallen logs, with colorful leaves and any water feature always work well.” Her photos on Images Arizona, on a page titled Parallel Waterverse, showcase her use of reflections on local lakes and streams, taken from her kayak. Larson recommends exploring the scenes from every angle you can and including any water surface available to you, even a puddle: “Don’t just stand upright at eye level for the shot. Take the camera off the tripod and get down on the ground, climb part of the tree, look for a puddle of rainwater and shoot just over it to get the reflection and twice the autumn in one shot! “Show the parts that we all don’t look for, not the part everyone takes a picture of.”
ALWAYS EXPLORE Larson exhorts photogs to always be looking for the most interesting angle to capture a stand of trees or a smaller scene. “There are always a couple of shots that are obvious, but the most interesting shots usually come from wandering around and positioning the camera at interesting angles or placement in areas that most people won’t think of,” he says. This process creates more of a story within the frame and many times more intimacy with the subject that translates into a shot that pulls the viewer in,” he says.
WINTER IS COMING Of course the technicolor beauty of autumn is fleeting — that’s part of the awe it inspires when it does arrive — and the equally ephemeral winter beauty of stillness, snow and ice overtakes our wonderland, with its own lineup of gorgeous photos to share. “For winter, nothing beats egrets in the snow/on the ice at Watson Lake and also the red bridge over Granite Creek in the (Watson Woods) riparian area there,” Shaw says.
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LIFESTYLE
T HE S E A S O N M OS T PEO PLE
Sleep Through BY JESSE WASIL, OWNER, SUMMIT 4X4 COMPANY
T
here is a morning every year, usually in early October, when you step outside and the air has changed. It has an edge to it, a cleanness not there in September. The light comes in low and gold through the pines. If you have lived here long enough, you know what that morning is telling you. The best season to be outside around Prescott has just begun, and most people are about to miss it. Somewhere along the way, we all decided that being outdoors is a summer thing, and that when the temperature drops, we are supposed to go in and stay in until spring. I want to make the case for the opposite. Fall and winter are the finest months we have here, and a 4x4 is the key that unlocks all of them.
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EARLY FALL IS THE REWARD FOR SURVIVING THE SUMMER The monsoon has cleared, the heat has broken, and the whole forest feels like it exhaled. This is the time to point the rig up a dirt road. The lower forest roads and off-road routes around town are in perfect shape, dry and firm and open, and the aspens up higher toward the Bradshaws start turning gold before the month is out. A capable rig with a little clearance opens up hundreds of miles of the prettiest driving of the year. Bring a thermos. Go early. Watch the light come up over a ridge.
WHEN THE SNOW COMES, CATCH IT OR CHASE IT Here is an honest local secret. Prescott gets snow, but it does not usually stick around. A storm will drop a few inches, and the sun will have most of it gone in a day
LIFESTYLE or two. So the move is one of two things. Either you catch it fast, on that first bright morning after a storm when the granite hills wear white, and the forest roads are quiet and perfect, or you use the rig for what it was made for and drive up to where the snow actually lives. An hour or so north, up toward Williams and Flagstaff, the high country holds real snow all season. The drive itself, climbing from bare ground into deep white, is half the fun, and having four-wheel drive under you turns a snowy road from a worry into a pleasure. Either way, the rig is what makes winter something you drive toward instead of waiting out.
CAMP IN THE COLD, JUST DO IT LOW
Photos courtesy of Summit 4X4 Company
People think the camping season ends when the nights get cold. It does not. It just moves down the mountain. The trick around here is elevation. Prescott sits high enough that winter nights get genuinely cold, but drop down to a lower dispersed site and you can have a comfortable 50-degree afternoon and a crisp, clear, star-filled night without freezing. Fewer people, no crowds, no reservations to fight over, just you and a fire and more stars than you remember existing. A word from experience, the Prescott Basin has a seven-day limit on dispersed camping, so it is worth a quick check on the rules before you go, and it never hurts to call the ranger district to make sure your road is open.
THE BEST COOL/COLD WEATHER NIGHT Pick a clear, calm night. Load the rig with camp chairs, sleeping bags, a cooler and a projector or even just a laptop. Drive 20 minutes out to somewhere quiet with a flat spot and a view. Build a fire if the restrictions
allow it; it is always worth checking first. Then turn the headlights off, let your eyes adjust, and put on a movie under a sky full of stars with the fire crackling next to you and the kids buried in blankets in the back. That is it. That is the whole thing. I have watched my family go quiet and happy on nights like that in a way that nothing indoors has ever matched.
Fall and winter around Prescott are quieter, cooler, emptier and in a lot of ways more beautiful than any other time of year.
DO NOT WAIT FOR SPRING Here is what I have learned after a lifetime. The people who love it here are not the ones with the biggest builds or the most gear. They are the ones who go out when everyone else stays in. Fall and winter around Prescott are quieter, cooler, emptier and in a lot of ways more beautiful than any other time of year. The trails are open. The nights are clear. The forest is right there, waiting for the price of a full tank and the decision to go. Your rig was built for exactly this. Not to sit in the driveway waiting for summer, but to carry you out into the best months this place has, the ones most people sleep right through.
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LIFESTYLE
PI C T U RE PRES COT T: CO NNEC T IN G T H RO U G H RECRE AT I O N BY KRISTY DIAZ-TRAHAN, CPRP, CITY OF PRESCOTT RECREATION SERVICES DIRECTOR
Prescott is full of those places. Throughout our parks, lakes, trails and natural parklands, there are countless opportunities to experience the beauty that makes our community so special. The dramatic granite formations of the Dells. A quiet morning at Goldwater Lake. Wildlife along the shoreline at Willow Lake. Wildflowers beside a trail. A child discovering a playground for the first time. Friends laughing around a picnic table. A hiker reaching a viewpoint and stopping to take it all in. Each offers a picture worth taking — but they also tell a bigger story. At Prescott Recreation Services, we believe recreation is about connection. Our parks and recreation system creates places for people to connect with nature, with
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their community and, perhaps most importantly, with one another.
from our busy lives and reconnect with the world around us.
Sometimes that connection is adventurous: hiking or mountain biking a trail, paddling across a lake or exploring the Granite Dells. Other times it is wonderfully ordinary — a morning walk with the dog, watching your child play ball, meeting friends at a park or sitting beside the water as the day winds down.
And while these places are beautiful, their real value isn’t measured only by how they look in a photograph. It’s measured by what happens there.
Those ordinary moments often are the ones that become extraordinary memories.
PLACES WHERE WE CONNECT
It’s the family picnic. The first bike ride without training wheels. The bird you’ve never seen before. The trail you walk every morning. The softball team that’s played together for years. The sunset that makes you stop talking for just a moment and look.
Prescott’s recreation system provides an incredible backdrop for them. Our Mile-High Trail System winds through forests, open spaces and the iconic Dells. Watson, Willow and Goldwater lakes each offer a completely different landscape and experience.
As Prescott LIVING celebrates the beauty of our community through its annual photo contest, I encourage you to explore Prescott through your own lens. Visit a park you haven’t been to before. Walk a new trail. Take your coffee to the lake one morning. Look for wildlife. Watch the changing fall colors. Bring a friend — or make a new one along the way.
Our neighborhood and community parks bring people together for sports, play, celebrations and quiet moments outdoors. Natural parklands provide habitat for wildlife while giving us places to step away
Take the picture, certainly. But don’t forget to experience the moment. Because the best thing about Prescott’s beautiful places isn’t simply that they are worth photographing.
Photo courtesy of City of Prescott Parks and Recreation
T
here is a reason we reach for our phones when the sun begins to set over Watson Lake, when a great blue heron takes flight at Willow Lake or when fall colors frame a favorite trail. Some places simply make us want to stop, take notice and capture the moment.
ESCOTT PRESCOTT L I V I N G
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Swallowtail Photo by Sarah O’Donnell
Where Peace Meets Purpose Photo by Daiton Fleming
The Aurora Comes To Prescott Photo by Moment of Perception Photography by Heather M Spencer
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES
Snow Flocked Trees on Granite Creek Photo by Beth Millbourn
These Boots Are Made For CLIMBING Photo by Laura Zona
Goldwater Lake Through a Dog’s Eyes Photo by Karen Shaw
Evening Peace Photo by MJ Denike
Nighttime Frost Sees The Light Of Morning Photo by Laura Zona
ADVENTURE Doesn’t End with Summer—It Evolves
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Photo courtesy of Daryl Weisser
COMMUNITY
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COMMUNITY
B ECO M E A TO U RIS T IN YO U R H O M E TOWN , PRES COT T. BY SHERI HEINEY, PRESIDENT & CEO, PRESCOTT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
W
hat do you love most about Prescott? Is it our historic downtown and Courthouse Plaza, our locally owned shops and restaurants, the miles of trails and beautiful outdoor spaces, or the people and businesses that make our community feel like home? Sometimes, when we live in a place every day, we forget to experience it the way a visitor does. We drive past places we’ve always wanted to explore, return to our favorite restaurants instead of trying somewhere new, or simply forget how much there is to see and do right here in Prescott. So, I have a challenge for you: Become a tourist in your own hometown! You don’t need an airline ticket or a week away to have an adventure. Spend a day rediscovering Prescott with fresh eyes — and while you’re at it, support the local businesses, attractions and organizations that make our community such a special place.
EXPLORE PRESCOTT’S HISTORY Take time to discover the stories behind the buildings and landmarks you pass every day. Visit one of our outstanding local museums, explore historic downtown or stop by the Prescott Chamber’s Visitor Information Center for ideas and information to help plan your day.
TRY SOMETHING NEW We all have that restaurant, shop, trail, attraction or activity we’ve been meaning to try. Make a list and start checking things off! Catch a performance, visit a museum, explore a new trail, browse our local shops or attend one of Prescott’s many community events.
SHOP, DINE AND SUPPORT LOCAL Being a hometown tourist is also a great way to support Prescott’s economy. Every time we choose a local restaurant, retailer, attraction or service, we’re helping support local jobs, entrepreneurs and the businesses that continually give back to our community. Prescott is a destination people travel from across Arizona and around the country to experience. Those of us who call it home have the opportunity to enjoy it every day. Take an afternoon, a day or an entire weekend and rediscover what makes Prescott special. Bring your family, invite some friends, try someplace new and fall in love with your hometown all over again.
PLAN A PRESCOTT STAYCATION
For more information about Prescott, local businesses, events and things to do, visit prescott.org or stop by the Prescott Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Information Center at 117 W. Goodwin St. in downtown Prescott.
Turn an ordinary weekend into a getaway. Book a night at a local hotel, inn or bed-and-breakfast, enjoy breakfast at a neighborhood café, spend the afternoon exploring and finish the day with dinner at a locally owned restaurant.
The mission of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership and resources to create a vibrant business environment.
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COMMUNITY
CELEB R AT E LO C AL : MAK IN G T HE M OS T O F FALL AN D H O LIDAY S E A S O NS BY STEVE BRACETY, PRESIDENT/CEO, PRESCOTT VALLEY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
A
s the leaves begin to change and the holiday season approaches, there is something special about this time of year in Prescott Valley. It is a season of gathering with family and friends, celebrating traditions, giving thanks and looking ahead to a new year. It also is one of the most important times of the year for our local business community. At the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce, we encourage everyone to make Shopping Local part of their holiday tradition. When you choose to purchase gifts, enjoy a meal, visit a local service provider or shop at a neighborhood business, you are doing more than completing a transaction; you are investing in the people, families and community that make Prescott Valley a great place to live, work and raise a family. Local businesses are the heart of our community. They employ our neighbors, support local organizations, sponsor youth activities, contribute to charitable causes and help create the unique character of Prescott Valley. When holiday dollars stay here, they can circulate throughout our local economy, supporting other businesses and strengthening our community. This holiday season, we encourage you to explore the many small businesses throughout Prescott Valley and the surrounding area. From imaginative gifts and specialty items to restaurants, professional services, entertainment and everyday necessities, there are countless opportunities
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to find what you need right here at home. Before heading out of town or shopping online, check local first. You may discover something special while supporting a local business. The Chamber is also proud to help bring our community together through events that celebrate the season. On Nov. 23, we will host our annual Flying High Turkey Food Drive, an opportunity for businesses, residents and community partners to come together and help local families during the Thanksgiving season. We invite everyone to participate and help make the holidays a little brighter for those in need. Then, beginning Nov. 26 through Dec. 30, Prescott Valley will shine brightly during our annual Valley of Lights celebration. This beloved community tradition brings families together to enjoy the magic of the holiday season and experience the beauty of Prescott Valley after dark. We encourage you to make an evening of it. Visit Valley of Lights, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant, stop by a local shop and spend the night supporting the businesses that help make our community special. The holidays are about more than shopping. They are about connection, generosity and community. This season, let’s put those values into action by supporting the businesses that support us year-round. For more information about the Prescott Valley Chamber of Commerce, please visit pvchamber.org or call us at 928.772.8857.
Western Heritage Center An Arizona Western Heritage & Culture Destination
Explore the unique showcase of museums, organizations & private collections that promote Yavapai County’s history.
EDUCATE • CELEBRATE • PRESERVE • PROMOTE
Located on Historic Whiskey Row
156 S. Montezuma Street • Prescott, Arizona
FREE ADMISSION VisitWHC.org
Prescott Western Heritage Foundation, Inc. is an all volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation.
Smart Marketing Strategies Northern AZ Social, LLC is a full-service marketing and advertising agency dedicated to helping businesses, organizations, and events stand out and grow. With a strong understanding of the Northern Arizona market and more than twenty years of experience, our team develops creative, customized strategies designed to connect brands with the right audiences. Our services include social media management, digital advertising, graphic design, video production and editing, public relations, media buying, branding, event marketing, website promotion, and strategic campaign development. From local businesses to large-scale events and organizations, Northern AZ Social combines creative storytelling with targeted marketing strategies to build awareness, increase engagement, and deliver measurable results.
PRESS RELEASES. COPYWRITING. PRINT ADVERTISING. GRAPHIC DESIGN. DIGITAL MARKETING. SOCIAL MEDIA. MEDIA BUYS.
(928) 710-7910
NorthernAZsocial.com
COMMUNITY
S H O P LO C AL AN D SU PP O RT CHIN O VALLE Y BY SHERI HEINEY, PRESIDENT & CEO, CHINO VALLEY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
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hen you need a gift, a great meal, a service for your home or something for your family, where do you look first?
At the Chino Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, we encourage you to look local first. Shopping local is about much more than making a purchase. Every time you choose a Chino Valley business, you are supporting a neighbor, a family, an entrepreneur and someone who has chosen to invest in our community. Our local businesses also are among our community’s greatest supporters. They sponsor youth programs, donate to local nonprofits, support our schools, participate in community events and step forward when our community needs them. The businesses we support today often are the same businesses we turn to when we’re raising money for a local cause, sponsoring an event or helping a family in need. That’s why where we spend our dollars matters. It can be easy to shop online or drive to another community without first considering what might be available right here in Chino Valley. Before you click “buy” or head out of town, take a few minutes to see if a local business can provide what you need. You may be surprised by the products, services and expertise available right here at home.
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And remember, shopping local isn’t just about retail. Think about where you eat, who services your vehicle, where you buy supplies, who you call for home repairs and the professionals you choose for insurance, banking, health and business services. All of these choices help strengthen our local economy. There are also ways to support local businesses without spending a dollar. Recommend a favorite business to a friend, leave a positive online review, follow them on social media or share one of their posts. A personal recommendation can make a tremendous difference to a small business. Most importantly, get to know the people behind our businesses. That’s part of what makes Chino Valley is special. We aren’t simply making transactions — we’re building relationships and strengthening the community we all call home. At the Chino Valley Area Chamber of Commerce, we are proud to champion our businesses and encourage everyone to think local, shop local, dine local and support local whenever possible. Because when local businesses succeed, Chino Valley succeeds. For more information, contact the Chino Valley Area Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Information Center at 928.636.2493, visit chinovalley.org, or stop by 199 N. State Route 89, Chino Valley.
PRECISION. PERFORMANCE. PEACE OF MIND. DeYoung European Motors has specialized exclusively in European automotive service and repair since 2004, using factory-level diagnostic equipment and advanced service techniques to protect performance, reliability, and long-term value.
Audi • BMW • Mercedes-Benz • Land Rover • Porsche
SERVICING THE FINEST CARS IN PRESCOT T SINCE 2004 928-445-3222 2999 Centerpointe E. Drive • Prescott, AZ 86301 • deyoungeuropeanmotors.com
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FOR ALL LEVELS
WHERE SAFETY, SKILL & PRECISION COME TOGETHER CLASSES & TRAINING:
• Introduction to Semi-Auto Handguns • Fundamental Skill Builder • Advanced Skill Builder • Arizona Concealed Weapons Permit Class • Intro to Pistol-Mounted Optics • Advanced Tactical Pistol • Private Beginner Class (2 hours) • Private Lessons (1–2 hours) • “Try Before You Buy” 3-Gun Lesson (1 hour) • Private Gun Cleaning Lesson • Ladies Night • LEOSA Qualification
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PRESCOTT’S ONLY INDOOR SHOOTING RANGE THAT ALLOWS LONG GUNS 1200 W. Iron Springs Rd. • Prescott, AZ 86305
928-910-3457
PrescottShootingRange.com
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y r a u t c n a AS
FOR THE BROKEN, AGING & UNWANTED Our sanctuary is a forever home for elderly, special-needs, and hospice animals — those often overlooked or forgotten — who were once destined for euthanasia or slaughter. Here, they live out their lives surrounded by safety, dignity, love and enrichment. HELP US CONTINUE TO BUILD A LEGACY BY SUPPORTING OUR MISSION: Legacy Giving • Monthly Donation • Volunteer Amazon Wish List • Fry’s Community Rewards Event Sponsorship • Seasonal Giving
ANIMAL GUARDIAN NETWORK PROVIDES LIFE-SAVING CARE TO NEGLECTED ANIMALS. 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ANIMAL SANCTUARY
This is a delicate subject, but it must be said. One of the greatest responsibilities we have to the animals who trust us is knowing when to let them go. Love makes us want to hold on, but we cannot let our need for more time become their suffering. When their quality of life fades, we must find the strength to make the decision they cannot make for themselves. It is kinder to let them leave while they can still feel our touch and hear our voice, than to wait until suffering has depleted them completely. Hoping they will pass on their own while they suffer is unfair to them, sparing us the heartbreak but not sparing their pain. They depend on us to put their comfort before our fear of saying goodbye. Helping your best friend peacefully over the bridge isn’t giving up. It’s taking their pain and making it ours, one final act of love. Kind, compassionate people can help you, in your home, when that time comes. A kind passing wraps your heart in comfort; an unkind one you carry heavily.
Visit ANIMALGUARDIANNETWORK.ORG to learn more or call 602.568.5636 2564 N. Arena Del Loma Rd. • Camp Verde, AZ 86322
Animal Guardian Network at Healing River Ranch partners with Desert Paws at Peace to help seniors who can’t afford humane euthanasia, covering costs and returning their ashes in an urn. Supporting Animal Guardian Network has always meant more than a donation. It means becoming part of their story. Carrie Singer, Founder/President Animal Guardian Network at Healing River Ranch
YOUR DONATION PROVIDES MEDICAL CARE, SHELTER & HOPE Rescue is where their story changes. Sanctuary is where the rest of it is written.
COMMUNITY
YAVAPAI CO LLEG E NAM ES B ERRY A S AC T IN G PRES ID EN T BY BLAKE HERZOG
students with a high-quality education,” Berry says. “We have an outstanding leadership team, and our faculty and staff are deeply committed to the college’s mission. I am confident Yavapai College will continue to be an industry leader and one of the best community colleges in the nation.” The Yavapai College District Governing Board appointed Berry July 29 to the interim position.
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r. Doug Berry, Provost and Vice President of Student Affairs at Yavapai College, is serving as Acting President at YC after former President Lisa Rhine was appointed in July to the presidency at Central Arizona College in Pinal County. Berry says he was honored to be selected as acting president and looks forward to working with the college’s faculty, staff and governing board to continue serving students and the community. “Yavapai College is one of the premier community colleges in the country, recognized for its innovation and commitment to providing
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“The Governing Board has the utmost confidence in Dr. Berry to lead the college and continue providing the highest quality education to the students we serve,” says Steve Bracety, Chairperson of the Yavapai College District Governing Board. “We look forward to working in partnership with Dr. Berry and the college’s Executive Leadership Team to build on the continued success of Yavapai College. We thank Dr. Rhine for her service to the college and wish her every success in her future endeavors.” Berry’s duties as Vice President and Provost include oversight for a wide range of academic divisions, including STEM and business, and institutional functions such as instructional support, academic master planning and academic initiatives. He’s also in charge of student affairs operations including enrollment management, retention, athletics, student life and student housing needs.
Prior to joining YC leadership in 2023, Berry served as Dean of Liberal Arts and Sciences for the Maricopa County Community College District. He also served as Interim Vice President of Academic Affairs at Paradise Valley Community College, where he was responsible for planning, directing, evaluating and overseeing the college’s Academic Affairs division. He holds a Ph.D. in general psychology, with a research emphasis in emotional intelligence and team cohesion, from Capella University; a Master of Arts in Sports and Exercise Psychology from Argosy University; and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Olivet Nazarene University. Berry was selected in May as an Aspen Rising President’s Fellow at The Aspen Institute’s College Excellence Program. These yearlong fellowships at the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit are designed for aspiring community college presidents “chosen for their potential to enact major reforms that deliver much stronger results for students,” according to a press release. He also participated in last year’s Dancing for the Stars event as a local celebrity. YC’s search for a permanent president is ongoing, with the board hoping to select a successor to Rhine in November who can start work in January 2027. To learn more about Yavapai College, visit yc.edu.
Sacred Heart Catholic School Being the Living Example of God’s Love to Others
Preschool through 8th Grade
O
UR MISSION: Guided by the Sacred Heart of Jesus, we
are a community of faith, dedicated to teaching the whole child by providing a Catholic education that promotes academic excellence, quality of character, social responsibility, and spiritual growth, being the living example of God’s love to others.
We provide a broad and relevant curriculum based on our mission, philosophy, and Schoolwide Learning Expectations. We are devoted educators dedicated to curriculum development and best practices in instructional methodology to meet students needs in the 21st century. We welcome you to visit our school, talk with our faculty and families, and take a tour or shadow for a day. Please contact us to learn more.
928-445-2621 | SacredHeartEducation.com 131 NORTH SUMMIT | PRESCOTT, ARIZONA
~ At Willow Creek Charter, Every Child Thrives ~ GRADES
Our Mis
K-8th
Info:
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR 2026-2027 At Willow Creek Charter, we believe in the potential of every student and are committed to the success of all. Each student is valued as an individual and we celebrate the unique qualities he or she brings to our family-like community. SMALL CLASS SIZE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR BULLYING FOUR DAY SCHOOL WEEK PERSONALIZED EDUCATION AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS WILLOW CREEK CHARTER SCHOOL | 928-776-1212 | 2100 WILLOW CREEK ROAD PRESCOTT, AZ 86301 Applications can be found on our website www.willowcreekcharter.com
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COMMUNITY
HE ART L AN D R AN CH’ S FU N D R AIS ER E XCEEDS E X PEC TAT I O N BY KRIS VENHAUS
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hen a community comes together with a shared purpose, extraordinary things happen. On May 16, that truth came to life at the 2nd annual Heartland Ranch Fundraiser, an evening that celebrated hope, healing and the incredible power of generosity. The event exceeded every expectation. More than 200 guests gathered at Heartland Ranch to celebrate the vision of providing a safe, loving and restorative home for children who have been rescued from trafficking. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of sponsors, donors, volunteers and attendees, the event raised a net total of more than $550,000. Every dollar raised brings Heartland Ranch one step closer to becoming a place where children can find safety, healing and hope. Beginning in January, 44 volunteers met regularly, giving countless hours of their time to prepare. Organized into 14 specialized teams, volunteers managed everything from décor and hospitality to marketing, auctions, registration, logistics and guest services.
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COMMUNITY Hosting the fundraiser at Heartland Ranch made the evening especially meaningful, allowing guests to experience firsthand the property that will one day become a place of healing for children. Guests enjoyed guided ranch tours, live music by Lonesome Whistle, a silent auction featuring more than $60,000 in donated items, wine and photos at the vintage red tractor backdrop. The auction included donations from businesses throughout the community, including Amish Home Décor, Black Arrow Jewelry, Dawson Knives, Findlay Toyota Center, Foothills Ranch, Founding Fathers Collective, Home Depot, Jim’s Custom Firearms, Olive U Naturally, Prescott Honda, Prescott Quantum Wellness, PV CrossFit, Talking Rock, TownePlace Suites and many others.
Photos courtesy of Heartland Ranch
Keynote speaker Tim Ballard challenged attendees with the urgent need to protect vulnerable children, while Heartland Ranch founders Kris and Greg Venhaus shared the vision, God’s faithfulness and the journey that has brought the ranch to where it is today. Their message reminded everyone that Heartland Ranch is about far more than buildings — it’s about restoring hope and providing children with a place to heal. Over 15-plus event sponsors who partnered with Heartland Ranch, made the evening possible. Their support, combined with the generosity shown through the silent auction, live auction, raffle and paddle raise, resulted in an extraordinary evening of giving. Special thanks to Amish Home Décor, APS, Adrienne Reynolds Photography, Arizona Hope, Cin Cin, Dawson Knives, Flour Stone Bakery, Hollis Brothers, Hope Serves, KPPV, Moore Party Rentals, OneHope Wine, Pack Daddy, Nei-Turner Media Group, Roxie Webb Securities, Sunbelt Rentals, Twice the Ice, UP2 Productions and Yavapai Broadcasting for their generous support. For more information on Heartland Ranch visit heartlandranchaz.org.
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COMMUNITY
PRES COT T VALLE Y HIS TO RI C AL S O CIE T Y B U ILDS TOWARD FU T U RE BY BLAKE HERZOG
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rescott Valley didn’t start developing as a residential community until the mid-1960s, when the Fain family began selling off parts of its ranch in what had been called Lonesome Valley. It’s not known for having the same kind of historic bones as Prescott, Chino Valley and DeweyHumboldt, but it does have a historical society that’s quietly working to raise awareness of the Town’s past, even as more pieces of it disappear. The Town’s Fain Park is centered on the site of Greater Prescott’s first gold rush in the 1860s on Lynx Creek and includes the site of the Barlow-Massicks Home or “Castle,” built in 1891. The mansion was on the National Register of Historic Places nearly 50 years until it burned down in May 2026. It’s a major loss for the community and the Prescott Valley Historical Society, which had been in line to move into the building after its final resident died. Now the Queen Annestyle stone mansion is going to be rebuilt over the course of two to three years as a museum, but the timeline has not been determined, historical society President Kay Klock says. She will be moving out of state soon, but she’s still happy about the rebuild. Much of the society’s small collection can be seen on the first floor of the Prescott Valley Public Library, and the rest is in a storage unit. Plenty more artifacts have been recovered from Prescott Valley, Klock says, but most went to Prescott’s Sharlot Hall Museum or Museum of Indigenous People “because we didn’t have any place to put them.”
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Exploring the world as we learn. Working together to nurture and inspire passion through hands-on learning, thematic lessons, and expeditions.
La Tierra Community School is a public, tuition-free hands-on learning school. For over 10 years, our enthusiasm for the outdoors and exploring the world is matched only by our close ties to every member of our community.
GRADE K-8 ENROLLMENT NOW OPEN! Schedule a visit with us today.
Photos courtesy of Prescott Valley Historical Society
551 1ST ST. | PRESCOTT, AZ 86301 | LATIERRACOMMUNITYSCHOOL.ORG | 928-445-5100
The society preserves a history that goes back to the eruption of volcanic Glassford Hill more than 10 million years ago, followed by the arrival of the wooly mammoths and humans. The Fitzmaurice Pueblo, atop a high mesa across the creek from the castle, is the largest surviving set of indigenous ruins in the Prescott area and was home to up to 200 people from approximately 1140 to 1300. The society has a brochure tour of Old Town Prescott Valley along the northern frontage road on AZ-69 between Robert Road and Navajo Drive, Klock says. The original real estate office is now the Dairy Queen, and the first commercial building was the strip mall between Dairy Queen and Cochise Drive, which bears a “Welcome to Prescott Valley” mural on its eastern wall. Oliva’s Mexican
Food a few steps away was the first community center. Signs were placed on some of the structures in 2003 and replaced in 2024. The society holds public meetings four times a year in the Crystal Room of the library, featuring speakers on local lore and history. For meeting dates see the Prescott Valley Historical Society page on Facebook. More historical information is available at prescottvalley-az.gov/explore/ historical.php. If you have any items to donate email pvhs19962016@ gmail.com, and monetary donations can be sent to: Prescott Valley Historical Society, P.O. Box 26663, Prescott Valley, AZ 86312.
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COMMUNITY
BA S IS PRES COT T L AN DS N E AR TO P O F U. S . N E WS LIS T S BY BLAKE HERZOG
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rescott’s highest-ranking high school, according to U.S. News and World Report, is also the No. 3 high school in Arizona, No. 5 among all charter high schools in the country and No. 29 among all high schools in the U.S., period. It’s not a bad position for BASIS Prescott to be in. “I think it reflects just the hard work of our entire school community,” says Head of School Abby McCarty. “So, students, teachers, staff and also the support of the families. I think it’s a really great reflection of that.” BASIS Charter Schools operate 23 campuses in Arizona, most with high school classes or feeding into a campus that goes up to 12th grade. High test scores and a rigorous curriculum consisting mostly of Advanced Placement (AP) classes have pushed its schools into the top echelon of the U.S. News rankings. BASIS Prescott is a K-12 campus with 600 students, about 90 of whom are in high school. Most of
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them have attended the school since their early grades, McCarty says: “We do sometimes get applications for ninth grade. Most students are joining us prior to that because the transition can be a little easier the earlier you join.” The rankings are based on how schools score in six areas, with college readiness carrying the most weight at 30%, followed by state assessment proficiency and state assessment performance at 20% each and 10% for graduation rate, underserved student performance and college curriculum breadth, or the percentage of students who took and passed multiple AP or International Baccalaureate (IP) exams. BASIS Prescott is in a tie for No. 1 both statewide and nationally for college readiness, which comes from the number of students who took and passed at least one AP exam, with passing scores worth three times more. Most BASIS Prescott students take 10 to 13, McCarty says.
Beyond these classes taken between freshman and junior year, seniors take a daily course dedicated to the college application process, and all along are enmeshed in an environment that builds the skills necessary to thrive at universities or colleges, she says. “I think while they are here, we really spend a lot of time focusing on building critical thinking skills, problem-solving skills, teaching students how to communicate,” she says. “They know how to communicate with their teachers. They learn time management skills, so they spend time here learning a lot of those executive functioning skills, but also working through advanced coursework and a rigorous academic program.” All students can play sports, join clubs and do “normal” high school things like dances and spirit weeks. The campus in Prescott Lakes has a full-size gym, theater, large outdoor play area, science labs, art rooms and music rooms.
Sharlot
Hall
Harvest Feast: Recipes of the West
OCTOBER 10TH | 10 AM-3 PM Autumn harvests brought families together to prepare hearty meals from local crops and game. Learn how pioneers turned their harvest into delicious dishes that sustained them throughout the colder months. Visitors will explore traditional recipes, see cooking demonstrations, and have the chance to make and take home their own spice mix and recipe card.
Kids Under 9
FREE
Museum
Honoring Prescott’s Heroes
NOVEMBER 14TH | 10 AM-3 PM Fort Whipple and Fort Verde played vital roles in protecting settlers and shaping Arizona’s military legacy. This program honors the soldiers who served throughout Arizona’s history and celebrates the heroes of today. Visitors will explore artifacts, hear stories of military life, and reflect on the courage and sacrifice that safeguarded Prescott’s history and have the chance to write letters for Veterans or share their own military stories.
415 W. Gurley Street, Prescott, AZ 86301 | 928.445.3122 | sharlothallmuseum.org
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Pronghorns Photo by Lone Raven Photography
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES Sky Magic Photo by Ashley Darling
Watson Lake Reflections Photo by Michael Marcinko Photography
WELLNESS
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WELLNESS by connecting patients with treatment and resources. Care does not end at the hospital doors.
A N E W APPROACH TO SU BS TAN CE US E D IS O RD ER C ARE SUBMITTED BY DIGNITY HEALTH – YAVAPAI REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER
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ignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center is building a coordinated approach to substance use disorder through evidence-based treatment, overdose prevention, Community Health Worker navigation and compassionate care.
Our goal is to ensure that when someone is ready for help, there is a pathway forward,” says Dr. Anthony Torres, President and CEO.
In Yavapai County, substance-related mortality remains a significant concern. In 2024, 85% of overdose deaths involved illicit fentanyl and/ or methamphetamine, reinforcing the need for prevention, treatment and pathways to recovery.
Through YRMC’s Medication for Opioid Use Disorder initiative, eligible patients can begin treatment with buprenorphine in the emergency department and receive a shortterm prescription bridging them to continued community treatment.
Those numbers represent parents, children, siblings, friends, coworkers and neighbors. They also challenge healthcare organizations to ask: What can we do differently when someone struggling with substance use comes through our doors?
Dr. Ronael Eckman, Vice President of Medical Affairs and SUD Clinical Champion, says, “An emergency department visit can be a critical turning point for someone with opioid use disorder. By offering evidence-based treatment at that moment, we can begin care immediately and help connect patients to long-term recovery.”
At Dignity Health Yavapai Regional Medical Center (YRMC) that question is shaping a coordinated approach that moves beyond treating an immediate crisis toward creating a pathway to recovery. “Substance use disorder affects families throughout Yavapai County, and addressing it requires all of us.
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EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AS TURNING POINT
But medication is only one part of recovery. Transportation, housing, food insecurity and behavioral health needs can affect whether someone remains connected to care. Community Health Workers help bridge hospital treatment and community recovery
YRMC also is confronting stigma through education that helps healthcare professionals understand addiction as a treatable medical condition, recognize implicit bias and strengthen compassionate care. Overdose prevention is another part of this continuum. YRMC is expanding access to naloxone, a lifesaving medication that rapidly reverses opioid overdose. Like CPR or an automated external defibrillator, naloxone creates something invaluable: time. Time for emergency care, treatment and another opportunity for recovery.
OUR MISSION CALLS US TO RESPOND For YRMC, this work is an expression of our mission to make God’s healing presence known, particularly among those who are vulnerable. “Our mission calls us to see the person before we see the diagnosis and recognize the dignity inherent in every human life,” says Mark Domingo, Director of Mission and Community Health. “When we meet vulnerability with compassion, we make God’s healing presence known.” That belief connects every part of this work: treatment, navigation, compassionate care, overdose prevention and community partnerships. Healthcare can help build the bridge. When someone is ready for help, our responsibility is to ensure there is a path forward. Because every life is worth saving, every person deserves hope, and recovery should always remain within reach.
Award-winning care, right next door. The Baskin Breast Care Center, Northern Arizona’s only Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Our state-of-the-art facilities, leading-edge technologies, expert medical specialists, and outstanding team have earned the prestigious Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation. And we deliver our exceptional services to you with compassion, every day. Call 928.771.7577 to schedule your appointment today. Scan the QR code for more information.
WELLNESS
B U ILD YO U R OWN M ED I C AL T E AM
Through Communication BY BLAKE HERZOG
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WELLNESS
“M
edical teams” are usually associated with departments at hospitals or other healthcare facilities, where they collaborate to care for all patients or may be part of a team designated to care for one with an especially complex condition or surgery. They’re also associated with sports teams that have medical staff and high-income patients who can afford to join a concierge service or keep professionals on retainer. Everyone else deserves the same level of care, and one way to ensure that is to work at building your own cohesive team from your primary care provider, specialists, other professionals including pharmacists and even family members caring for you at home, when applicable. This can take time and a little bit of luck, but we talked to Dr. Anthony Torres, President and CEO of Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center, for some pointers on how best to leverage your healthcare providers’ expertise for your overall wellness and longevity.
KNOW THE PLAYERS Torres begins where most medical teams do, with the primary care provider. This is most often a physician but as the provider shortage worsens it’s more and more likely to be a nurse practitioner (NP) or physician assistant (PA); both are paraprofessionals with postgraduate degrees who can treat patients with varying levels of autonomy. Aside from the rare case of mobile practitioners you’ll go into the office to see them, and Torres says patients make friends with the people behind the front desk as well. “So, the people who are there who check them in, who schedule their appointments. Those are the folks that they would probably have a
good relationship with to be able to foster that communication, which is important for the doctors and the nurse practitioners,” he says. “And then obviously there’ll be medical assistants or nurses involved in the care also and the care team with the physician and their front office people. And that would be the core.” Any medical specialists who see the patient would also be on that team, along with pharmacists, X-ray techs, phlebotomists, lab techs and mental healthcare providers. Your team will grow and shrink as your needs change. But communicating well with your primary caregiver is especially important for establishing the level of trust in that relationship, Torres says. “It’s really dependent upon the communication from the patient to the doctor or the nurse practitioner or physician assistant. And that they’re really honest and upfront with what’s actually going on with them,” he says. “Being able to give them accurate information if you’re sick or your blood pressure’s high or whatever’s happening to communicate that clearly and effectively to the provider so that they can intervene or they can
bring it into the office or adjust your medications or order any appropriate tests you might need.” Taking notes about any symptoms or changes in how you feel can be enormously helpful to your provider, who also needs to be approachable and engaged in the conversations for the relationship to work, he adds.
BUILDING BRIDGES Building a similar relationship with all of your other providers is especially important if they aren’t all working in the same office or organization, because information sharing between those that aren’t can be difficult, Torres says. This can be a particular issue for patients managing one or more chronic conditions, which often exacerbate each other. And even when the medical professionals have access to all the same records they don’t necessarily cover all the bases. “Those are the challenges within that format because you get used to communicating through the EMR, the electronic medical record,” Torres says. “And that’s not always the best way because sometimes in text, you
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WELLNESS don’t really capture the real flavor of what might be going on. It’s difficult for doctors in today’s world to pick up the phone and call every person back that they’re seeing in terms of who their doctor or doctors could be. So that’s a breakdown. And it really has to do with the communication, that you can’t completely inform another physician of the exact gravity or urgency of what might be going on with the patient well enough sometimes in an electronic format.” But the basic record sharing will soon be easier within Dignity Health’s Yavapai County coverage area, as it moves to a new software platform called Epic sometime around 2028-30. Torres says, “One of the reasons is because Epic is much more ubiquitous in a medical community. What that means is that if the hospitals and some of the clinic doctors are on that platform, they have the ability to share that information with other physicians in the community that may not be part of the organization. So that they can get access to the actual record and actually see what did Dr. A, B and C do that belongs to YRMC and myself that I don’t belong to YRMC. That exchange of information is crucial.”
TRANSACTIONAL VS. TRANSFORMATIVE Another way to ensure you get the highest quality healthcare from everyone on your team comes from your and their approach to all your medical appointments: looking to resolve each symptom in isolation with short visits versus considering it within the context of your health history. “Transactional is basically, it’s like calling up the doctor on the phone and saying, I have this problem or I need this, I need that. And they say, OK, we’re going to take care of that.
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Here, we’ll send a prescription for you,” Torres says. Transformational visits are generally in-office, he adds. “You want it to be more transformational. What that means is that it’s called active listening. And active listening is more than just hearing what the patients are saying. You have to observe them. You have to look at their face, look at their eyes, look at their emotion, their body language. Seventy percent of communication is nonverbal. So a lot of times you have patients that maybe are not great communicators. You have to pick up on other clues of what’s going on with the patients.”
provider a much broader picture and understanding of you as a whole person as opposed to, you have a heart problem, you have a diabetes problem, you have an arthritis problem. You can’t look at them and just say, ‘Well, I’m just going to worry about your arthritis problem.’ Because they’re all connected,” he says.
Older patients tend to seek care and talk to their providers from a transformational viewpoint, he says, while today’s younger patients veer toward the transactional model, which he says is not as beneficial, whatever the patient’s age. “The transformative relationship is going to give the physician or the
Dr. Anthony Torres Dignity Health, Yavapai Regional Medical Center
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WELLNESS
SHOULD YOU TAKE A PICTURE OF THAT SPOT? BY SHELLY CROSSMAN, DCNP, FNP-C, OWNER DERMATOLOGY & SKIN CARE BY SHELLY
W
e use our phones to photograph almost everything — family, vacations, pets, sunsets and the occasional meal worth remembering. But the camera in your pocket can also be a useful tool for something you may not have considered: paying attention to changes in your skin. If you notice a spot that looks different or catches your attention, taking a photograph can provide a visual baseline. Our memories are not always reliable when we are trying to remember whether something looked exactly the same several weeks or months ago. A photograph gives you something more concrete to reference. If you choose to photograph a spot, try to make the image as useful as possible. Take the picture in good, consistent lighting and make sure the area is clearly in focus. Including a second image that shows where the spot is located on the body also can be helpful. If you photograph the area again, try to use similar lighting, distance and positioning so changes are easier to recognize.
WHAT SHOULD YOU PAY ATTENTION TO? Look for changes in size, shape or color. Notice whether a spot begins itching, hurting, bleeding or repeatedly scabbing. Pay attention to areas that simply do not seem to heal. A lesion that looks noticeably different from
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the other spots on your skin also deserves special attention. But there is an important distinction between documenting a skin change and diagnosing one. A photograph cannot reliably tell you whether a lesion is harmless or concerning. Lighting, shadows, camera quality and even the angle of a photograph can change how something appears. More importantly, evaluating a skin lesion may involve details that a photograph simply cannot capture. That means your camera should never become a reason to delay an evaluation. If something is new, changing, bleeding, painful, persistently irritated, not healing or simply worries you, consider having it professionally evaluated rather than continuing to photograph it and waiting to see what happens. Individual risk factors and personal or family history may also affect how closely your skin should be monitored. Your phone can be a helpful tool for becoming more aware of your skin, but it has limits. A photograph can help you notice a change. It cannot tell you what that change means. And sometimes, paying attention is the first step toward knowing when it is time to ask someone to take a closer look.
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WELLNESS
T ES T S FO R YO U R B R AIN AN D N ERVO US SYS T EM BY HELEN B. PASLAY, DNP, FNP-C, PASLAY HEALTH CARE
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ew healthcare technology can help doctors learn more about how the brain and nervous system are working. Some problems may not show up on regular blood tests or standard medical scans.
BrainView does not diagnose a medical condition by itself. It gives healthcare providers extra information that may help them understand a patient’s symptoms and create a personal treatment plan.
Two tools called BrainView™ and VitalScan™ give healthcare providers more information about brain activity and nerve function.
WHAT IS VITALSCAN?
WHAT IS BRAINVIEW? BrainView uses a test called a quantitative electroencephalogram, or qEEG. This is a safe and painless test that records the brain’s electrical activity. Small sensors are placed on the scalp. These sensors measure brainwave patterns. A computer then compares the results with patterns from other people of the same age. The test may show areas of brain activity different from what usually is expected. Unusual brainwave patterns may be linked with concerns such as: • Attention problems • Anxiety • Depression • Sleep problems • Head injuries • Memory or thinking problems • Some nervous system conditions
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VitalScan checks the autonomic nervous system. This system controls many body functions that happen without us thinking about them. • These functions include: • Heart rate • Blood pressure • Blood flow • Digestion • Sweating • The body’s response to stress The autonomic nervous system has two main parts. The sympathetic nervous system helps the body respond to danger or stress. It is often called the “fight-or-flight” system. The parasympathetic nervous system helps the body calm down, rest and digest food. It is often called the “restand-digest” system. VitalScan may use heart rate measurements, blood pressure testing and sweat gland testing. These tests can give information about nerve health and how well the body responds to stress.
Unusual VitalScan results may be linked with conditions such as: • Diabetes • Nerve damage • Long-term stress • Heart and blood vessel disease • Dizziness • Tiredness • Some diseases that affect the brain and nerves
HOW THESE TESTS MAY HELP BrainView and VitalScan look at different parts of the nervous system. When used together, they may give healthcare providers a fuller picture of a patient’s health. These tests do not replace regular medical exams, blood tests or imaging studies. They provide added information that may help explain difficult symptoms and track how a patient responds to treatment. Healthcare is becoming more focused on the needs of each person. Tools such as BrainView and VitalScan may help providers notice changes earlier, choose more focused treatments, and improve patient care.
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WELLNESS
RE T HINK IN G ART HRIT IS: WHY M OVEM EN T M AT T ERS BY NICOLE BALTES, OWNER & INSTRUCTOR CORE PILATES PRESCOTT
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ould your beliefs about arthritis and pain be doing you more harm than the condition itself? When we have an arthritic joint, our instinct is often to protect it. We worry that movement will make it worse — or that pain while moving means we’re causing more damage. So we move less, avoid certain activities and sometimes stop exercising altogether. But this approach can sometimes work against us. The American College of Sports Medicine identifies a major barrier to exercise among people with arthritis as “the belief that exercise, particularly weightbearing exercise, will exacerbate joint damage and symptoms.” (ACSM, 12th ed.) People may avoid exercise because they fear making things worse. Yet regular exercise is an essential part of managing arthritis. Among its many benefits, exercise can reduce pain and joint stiffness and help maintain or improve physical function. While arthritis may start the cycle, our movement-avoidance response can help keep it going. Moving an arthritic joint less can
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ultimately make it more difficult to use. Pain from arthritis usually doesn’t mean you need to stop moving. Movement is a lot like medicine: too little can lead to stiffness, weakness and loss of function, while too much may leave you in pain and discouraged. The goal is to find the right dose for your body today — and remember that dose can change over time. I’m always reminding my clients to explore what they can do instead of focusing on what they can’t. Take knee osteoarthritis. If a full squat bothers your knee, maybe today you squat to a chair, hold onto a countertop or work through a smaller range of motion. Keep in mind that tolerable discomfort during movement is normal and OK. Find a version your joint can tolerate and build from there. As strength and joint tolerance improve, gradually increase the range, load or repetitions. If your joint lets you know you’ve done too much, next time adjust the dose and keep exploring rather than allowing pain to end the exploration altogether. You may be surprised by how much possibility remains.
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WELLNESS
10 WAYS MA S SAG E SU PP O RT S A S T RO N G , HE ALT HY LIFES T YLE BY SERENITY LORD, L.M.T., OWNER PRESCOTT MASSAGE THERAPY
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id you know massage can aid your physical and mental well-being far beyond relaxation? Here are 10 ways therapeutic massage can assist you in your journey to become stronger and more balanced in everyday life. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Release muscle tension so you can work out more effectively. Increase circulation for greater overall performance. Increase joint range of motion. Improve posture and muscle balance. Prevent training injuries by keeping muscles soft and pliable,
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6. Reduce pain from activity related muscle soreness. 7. Boost your immune system and NKC cells. 8. Lower cortisol and improve the body’s response to stress. 9. Improve sleep for better and faster recovery. 10. Increase proprioception, the brain body connection, allowing the brain to process balance and positioning more accurately. We recommend massage therapy in addition to your regular physical therapy or gym sessions to reduce pain and boost performance. You will be amazed at how good you feel. Your body deserves care, it carries you everywhere.
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WELLNESS
PR AC T I CE G O O D HAB IT S AN D WE AR PIN K BY BLAYNE SORIANO LEVEL 2 CROSSFIT COACH AND CROSSFIT KIDS COACH
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reast Cancer Awareness Month has been celebrated in October since the 1980s. It is called Pink October as people around the world adopt the pink color and display a pink ribbon to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and routine screening for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.
It’s important to always do routine checkups with a doctor you trust. On top of checkups, habits you can create on a daily basis like eating healthy foods, exercising, getting enough sleep, getting just the right amount of sunlight and keeping yourself well hydrated can fuel your body to its best energy.
An estimated 25% of breast cancer cases are attributed to modifiable risk factors. Understand what you can do to reduce your breast cancer risk. Reduce your risk by making better behavioral choices that include: maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, avoiding the overuse of alcohol, not using tobacco and not using hormones for a prolonged time. These are just some examples.
Find a local gym, an accountability buddy, a coach, a nutrition guide, a good support team and a community of people to surround yourself with to strive for your very best health. You don’t have to do it alone
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In the month of October honor someone with breast cancer by taking care of yourself.
Women’s Health & Wellness Jeanette Pilotte MD, FACOG Denise L. Gallus, PA
At Women’s Health and Wellness, caring for women is our passion. We have the experience, expertise and state of the art equipment — Helping you look and feel your very best! Plus a big friendly kiss from our office mascot!
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We offer same-day or next-day appointments to ensure that your urgent issues are addressed in a timely manner. Our clinical staff is also available to perform blood draws in our office for routine and diagnostic testing.
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I’ M INJ U RED, WHAT N OW? BY MOOREA BOARDMAN, PERSONAL TRAINER & OWNER YELLOWLIZARD STRENGTH, ALL ATHLETES WELCOME GYM
I
f you’re participating in a sport or activity and you sustain an injury, you’re probably thinking the worstcase scenario has happened (other than losing, of course). The good news is, our bodies are adaptable and will begin trekking the arduous journey of self-healing. But what do you do when the inevitable happens, and you are taken out by the proverbial banana peel on the floor? Here are some tips to assist you along the way.
TAKE A BREATH There’s nothing quite like an unexpected injury to throw you off your game. You’re thinking about all the ways your life is going to be negatively impacted with this new challenge. It’s easy to get worked up when you’re hurt. But don’t lose your cool! Catastrophizing is a poor way to start rehab.
PAIN AND DAMAGE ARE NOT THE SAME Ever get a papercut? How much do they hurt? But how much damage does the papercut really cause? That
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pain is feedback from your body — it’s information, but not always a reliable indicator of what’s happening underneath. Pain is a good reason to stop, slow down and take note. We tend to look at pain and injury as the same thing, but alarm bells and guarding can exist long after injury recovery. Stress, sleep, social support systems and many other factors can be influential. Don’t be afraid if your progress is not linear — there are lots of factors pushing and pulling on your timeline.
DEVELOP A PLAN WHILE YOU HEAL How much time can you dedicate to rehabbing your injury? What does that rehab entail? As you heal, you can progress out of your pain in many ways; slowly going back to your normal activities, increasing distance on your runs, increasing load on the bar, increasing pain-free ranges of motion during stretching. Be positive, progressive. Remember that experiencing pain is a part of being human. What will you do to
keep your morale high during this time? What work-arounds allow you to still perform the activities you love? Remember that a decrease in your pain during small things is a form of progression. All forms of progress are acceptable forms of progress.
PASSIVE AND ACTIVE STRATEGIES ARE GREAT When it comes to managing injury, things like ice and heat, massage therapy, physical therapy and medicines are all tools in your toolbox for rehab. (When my body is hurting, I tend to enjoy a deep tissue massage myself.) However, at some point, you must become an active participant in your own healing. This means doing the work; going to bed earlier, managing stress and being compliant with prescribed exercise. You may not be able to control how quickly your body heals, but you can control how you support it along the way. Stay consistent, trust the process and keep moving forward. We must put in the work to create resilient bodies!
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WELLNESS
U N D ERS TAN D IN G H O RM O N E T HER APY FO R WO M EN AN D M EN BY AYMEE WILSON, OWNER & FOUNDER, WILSON AESTHETICS
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ormones play a powerful role in how we feel every day. They influence everything from energy, sleep, mood and metabolism to muscle mass, bone health, sexual function and cognitive well-being. Yet as we age, hormone levels naturally change — and for some people, those changes can significantly affect quality of life. For women, the transition through perimenopause and menopause can bring fluctuating and declining levels of estrogen and progesterone. Symptoms may include hot flashes, night sweats, disrupted sleep, mood changes, vaginal dryness, changes in sexual function and shifts in body composition. Hormone therapy may be considered to replace hormones the body is producing in lower amounts and can be particularly effective for managing bothersome menopausal symptoms. Men experience hormonal changes as well. Testosterone levels generally decline gradually with age, although age alone does not necessarily
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mean testosterone therapy is appropriate. When consistently low testosterone levels are accompanied by symptoms such as reduced libido, decreased energy, loss of muscle mass or other changes, a medical evaluation can help determine whether an underlying condition is present and whether treatment should be considered. One of the most important things to understand about hormone therapy is that it is not a one-size-fits-all treatment. Similar symptoms can have many causes. Fatigue, weight changes, poor sleep, low libido and mood changes, for example, may be related to hormones — or they may be associated with thyroid disorders, nutritional deficiencies, medications, stress, sleep conditions or other health concerns. That is why appropriate hormone care begins with a thorough medical evaluation. A healthcare provider may review symptoms, personal and family medical history, current medications, lifestyle factors and relevant laboratory testing before recommending treatment. When hormone therapy is appropriate, the
type, dose, route of administration and follow-up plan should be individualized. Hormone therapy also requires ongoing monitoring. Symptoms, treatment response, side effects and certain health markers may need to be reassessed over time so therapy can be adjusted when necessary. Like any medical treatment, hormone therapy has potential benefits and risks that vary depending on factors such as age, health history, the hormone being used and how it is administered. Perhaps the most valuable takeaway is that changes associated with aging do not have to be dismissed or simply endured. Understanding what is happening within the body can open the door to meaningful conversations about health. For both women and men, hormone health is one piece of a much larger wellness picture. Thoughtful evaluation, individualized treatment, healthy lifestyle habits and ongoing medical guidance can help people make informed decisions about their health at every stage of life.
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WELLNESS
D O N’ T LE T YO U R HE ALT HY LIFES T YLE
Fall in Autumn BY BLAKE HERZOG
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WELLNESS
E
verybody knows about the “Freshman 15,” but maybe we should just call it the “Fall 15,” because as the weather starts to cool, everyone’s propensity to overeat tends to heat up. Born of a deep-seated human instinct to prepare ourselves for a long winter with limited food supplies, this is the season “comfort food” begins to get a foothold in many a household. There are plenty of ways to push back against the harmful side of this tendency and still eat good, comforting food by shopping for healthier ingredients, cooking healthy dishes and making sure to keep up with your physical activity.
SHOPPING Portion your shopping list and cart like you would your dinner plate. Many nutritional experts say half your plate should be covered with fruits and veggies, with a quarter each going to lean proteins and whole grains, so that’s how to divvy up your basket as well to give your kitchen a strong foundation.
COOKING It’s easy to find healthy and creative recipes to make some of the less known or popular fall crops more appealing, like glazing Brussels sprouts with olive oil, honey, mustard and other delicious sauces. Try carving your french fries out of celery root for a lower-carb version with the same decadent feel. Grilled radicchio adds an appealing charred taste to sweet sausage. Don’t give up on comfort food — just be careful about what you put into it. Soups are perfect for fall as long as they aren’t creamy or cheesy. Put tons of fresh vegetables instead of a bunch of meat into your stews and keep them percolating in your slow cooker so you have something genuinely warm and comforting waiting for you when you get home. Use yogurt or butternut squash to
replace some of the cheese in mac and cheese.
EXERCISE Remember your daylight hours will be getting shorter, so you may have to shift a few things around to keep your workouts on track, such as when you walk or whether to join a gym. Don’t shun outdoor exercise in colder temperatures — some studies suggest it might be better for burning calories. You may need to bundle up or shift to “cozier” activities geared to the season, including raking leaves and other yard work and even seasonal fun like heading to the Mortimer Farms Pumpkin Fest and Corn Maze. But don’t write off hiking — many trails are at their most beautiful this time of year, offering view of spectacular fall foliage.
Look for such in-season vegetables and fruit as apples, beets, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery root, cranberries, endive, leeks, okra, pears, persimmons, radicchio, rutabaga and squash. If some of these happen to not be favorites within your household, you can always find delicious recipes built around them, or slip them into your old favorites.
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LOCAL LIFE
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LOCAL LIFE
PRES COT T VALLE Y FALL FU N CO N T IN U ES INTO WINT ER MAG I C SUBMITTED BY TOWN OF PRESCOTT VALLEY
Kicking things off, outdoor enthusiasts can lace up for several engaging programs that highlight Prescott Valley’s scenic trails. On Saturday, Oct. 17, PV Trekkers will head out for a guided morning hike at the Highlands Center, perfect for anyone seeking fresh air and fall colors. If you prefer exploring after dark, Night Hikes offer a unique way to experience local trails. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, hikers of all ages can enjoy Watson Woods Riparian Preserve at dusk, followed by a nighttime adventure at Fain Park’s Lynx Creek Loop on Thursday, Oct. 29. These $2 guided hikes are designed to be beginner-friendly and welcoming, with experienced staff leading the way. Families looking for a little spooky seasonal fun will love Haunted Hikes on Friday, Oct. 23 at Fain Park. Kids 10 and younger can venture out from 4:30 to 6 p.m., while ages 11 and older get a later, slightly scarier trek from 7 to 9 p.m. It’s a playful, memorable way to celebrate Halloween in the great outdoors. Music lovers won’t want to miss Beginner and Advanced Hula classes
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offered again on Nov. 14, plus ongoing guitar, bass and ukulele lessons throughout November for all ages. These instructor-led sessions offer a warm, welcoming environment where participants can grow new skills and meet others with similar interests. For runners, the annual Turkey Trot returns Saturday, Nov. 21, at Santa Fe Station Park. This upbeat community fun run features activity stations, giveaways and a chance to support the Community Cupboard Food Bank. Runners who donate food items can earn raffle tickets, making participation even more rewarding. And of course, the season wraps up with Prescott Valley’s magical Winter Spectacular Dec. 5 from 2 to 8 p.m. This free community celebration is packed with holiday cheer, including photos with Santa, a dazzling holiday light parade, food trucks, bounce houses, live performances and more. Whether you’re coming for the festive atmosphere or the family activities, Winter Spectacular is the perfect way to launch into the holiday season with joy. With so many opportunities to connect, explore and celebrate, Prescott Valley Parks & Rec invites residents of all ages to come out and enjoy everything our community has to offer this fall and winter. Let the fun continue — see you out there! For more information on any of these events and activities, go to prescottvalley-az.gov/parks or call 928.759.3090.
Photos Courtesy of Town of Prescott Valley
P
rescott Valley’s Parks & Recreation team is keeping the excitement going well past mid-October, offering a full slate of friendly, family-focused activities that make it easy to enjoy our beautiful community. From guided hikes to festive celebrations, there’s something for everyone to look forward to as the season continues.
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LOCAL LIFE
ARIZO NA’ S CHRIS T MA S CIT Y U NVEIL S IT S 2026 H O LIDAY FES T IVIT IES SUBMITTED BY HELKEN & HORN ADVERTISING AGENCY
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owntown Prescott will glow with holiday magic again this season, welcoming families and visitors to a lineup of free, festive celebrations. Kick off the fun with the 29th annual Holiday Light Parade & Bonfire Festival on Saturday, Nov. 28, at 6 p.m. on Cortez Street. Led by Santa, the parade features over 40 illuminated floats and music from local school bands. At Mile High Middle School’s field 7 to 8:30 p.m. enjoy music, Santa visits and reindeer games — and a closer look at the live performances from Prescott High School and Bradshaw High School marching bands. Entrance is through the gate on Goodwin Street, across from Old Firehouse Plaza. The next week showcases Prescott’s 44th annual Christmas Parade and the 72nd annual Courthouse Lighting Saturday, Dec. 5. From 1 to 3 p.m., the parade will sweep through downtown
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Prescott with floats, marching bands and music leading up to the arrival of Santa. Afterward, children can share their holiday wishes with Santa on the Courthouse Plaza until 5 p.m. The Courthouse Lighting begins with live Christmas music at 5 p.m., followed by the illumination of the Courthouse and more than 80 surrounding trees at 6 p.m. with fireworks. A free shuttle service will be provided this day from noon to 8 p.m. from the high school to downtown. The joy continues with the 38th annual Acker Night Friday, Dec. 11, downtown. The opening ceremony kicks off at 5 p.m. on Gurley Street. On Acker Night, guests stroll beneath holiday lights while savoring live performances from more than 500 musicians. Over 100 Prescott businesses open their doors to these volunteer artists, all united by a heartfelt mission: keeping music alive for local
schoolchildren. While admission is free, every tip to the artists helps provide music lessons and instruments to local youth and supports school music programs. Free shuttle service is available from the Yavapai College on Sheldon Street. Ring in the New Year at the 16th annual New Year’s Eve Boot Drop on historic Whiskey Row. The festivities on Montezuma Street begin at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, and continue until 12:30 a.m. New Year’s Day. Feel the excitement of two boot drops at 10 p.m. and midnight, as a 6-foot-tall, illuminated cowboy boot descends from the Palace Building. Enjoy live music, fireworks, food trucks, carnival games, and giveaways. Arizona Christmas City events are presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Findlay Auto Group Prescott, Friends of the Jersey Lilly and the City of Prescott. Learn more at ArizonaChristmasCity.com.
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LOCAL LIFE
FALL IN TO FU N IN CHIN O VALLE Y SUBMITTED BY THE TOWN OF CHINO VALLEY
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andy, comedy, holiday lights and hometown traditions are waiting this season.
Fall in Chino Valley means cooler evenings, colorful sunsets and plenty of reasons to get out and explore. From costumes and candy to pumpkin pie and holiday lights, the season is packed with family-friendly events that bring a little extra fun to our hometown. Whether you call Chino Valley home or are looking for a reason to make the drive, discover Chino Valley this fall and add these three events to your calendar.
HALLOWEEN FUN AT MEMORY PARK
November brings a sweet stop at the Chino Valley Library with The Gingerbread Lady & Annual Pie Feast on Friday, Nov. 20. This free Thanksgiving-themed event brings together magic, comedy and storytelling, plus pumpkin pie, apple juice and a door prize. Choose from two showtimes, 11 a.m. or 1 p.m., at the Chino Valley Library, 1020 W. Palomino Road. It is a fun way to kick off Thanksgiving week and make a few memories before the holiday rush begins.
Grab the costumes and candy buckets because the Town of Chino Valley’s 29th annual Trick or Treating at Memory Park returns Saturday, Oct. 24.
ROUTE 66 MEETS HOLIDAY MAGIC
From 2 to 8 p.m. Memory Park will transform into a Halloween hangout filled with candy booths hosted by local businesses, organizations and community groups. Kids can show off their best costumes, collect plenty of treats and enjoy an afternoon built around safe, family-friendly fun.
December to Remember returns Saturday, Dec. 5, 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Memory Park with this year’s Get Your Kicks on Route 66 theme.
And when the trick-or-treating winds down, don’t head home just yet. Stick around for a free outdoor movie under the stars and enjoy a crisp Chino Valley fall evening. The fun happens at Memory Park, 1020 W. Palomino Road. Businesses and organizations interested in hosting a candy booth can contact Recreation at 928.636.9780 or recreation@chinovalleyaz.gov.
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PIE, LAUGHS & A LITTLE MAGIC
Then it is time to turn on the lights and bring on the holiday cheer.
Expect a festive Light Parade, food trucks, holiday activities for all ages, photos with Santa, gifts for the kids and plenty of Christmas spirit. Bundle up, grab something tasty and enjoy an evening of lights, laughter and hometown holiday fun. From Halloween candy and Thanksgiving pie to Santa and Route 66 magic, there is plenty waiting to be discovered in Chino Valley this season. Bring the family, invite some friends and make a day of it. Discover Chino Valley. It’s cooler than you think.
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1201 Iron Springs Rd. | Prescott, AZ 86305 | 928-277-8210 PRES COT T L I V I N G
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S COT T O’ N E AL CHA S ES B LU ES AWAY BY PL AYIN G T HEM BY BLAKE HERZOG
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cott O’Neal is the cornerstone of Prescott’s blues scene, for nine years owning a club downtown where he would bring the soulful, down-home music to the stage whenever he could, and for the last eight years he and his band have been hosting Northern Arizona’s Best Damn Blues Jam from 2 to 6 p.m. every other Sunday at the Windsock Lounge, 1385 Iron Springs Rd. He’s also the current president of the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame after sitting on its Board of Directors since 2017, and this summer he was finally inducted himself: “I’ve been nominated every year since 2018, I think. So, it was one of those deals where you hear people talk about the Academy Awards or whatever, and they say it’s
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an honor just to be nominated. That’s good for a couple years, but after two or three years, well, when am I going to get in? When am I going to get in? So I finally got in.” O’Neal, representing the state’s northern region, was inducted from the Windsock stage in June. He introduced himself to the blues while growing up just outside of Detroit. “I was listening to rock ‘n’ roll and I was actually listening to blues. I started paying attention to who wrote the songs that the bands were playing and they were all blues guys. So, I started looking them up and just got hooked on the blues.” Taj Mahal,
Bobby Blue Bland, B.B. King and Albert Collins are some of his biggest influences. Playing guitar and drums in rock cover bands throughout high school, he began playing the blues more often in his 20s. He later moved out to Arizona, living in the Valley for about 20 years before following his mother up to Prescott in 1998. The Scott O’Neal Band was launched in 2001, the same year O’Neal opened his club, Sundance’s (later known as Scottie’s), and it’s been jamming with varied lineups ever since. It’s now performing exclusively at the Windsock, which as a venue was inducted into the Arizona Blues Hall of Fame in 2023.
Photos courtesy Scott O’Neal
The band has two albums available on the major streaming platforms, Call Me Mr. Blues and Ya Get What’cha Pay For. They’ve been getting airplay on Badass Blues (KXBB), the 24/7 blues radio station owned by Sanford Cohen that started in Lake Havasu City and expanded to Prescott this year at 93.1 FM, but O’Neal says his local support has been solid since well before then. “Yeah. We have a pretty good fan base here in Prescott,” he says. “In fact, I talk to people from other regions. I know we have a better blues scene here in Prescott than they do in Flagstaff. I have a lot of people from the Valley that tell me the blue scene is better in Prescott than it is down in Phoenix. We’re kind of ground zero for the blues in Arizona, I guess.”
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B E AN PE AKS T R AIL S K EEP PRES COT T AWARDS FLOWIN G IN
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he City of Prescott’s 150-plus mile trail system has won tons of recognition with the national and international hiking community, and it’s doing the same now throughout the broader mountain biking community. Over the summer the Bean Peaks Gravity Flow Trails, a cluster of biking-focused trails next to White Spar Campground on the southwestern edge of town, won one of 10 2026 Tom Petri Annual Achievement Awards from the Coalition for Recreational Trails, handed out to projects that received funding from the federal Recreational Trails Program. Shortly before that, Prescott was included in the first 25 of the International Mountain Biking Association’s (IMBA) “Trail Towns,” a new designation for U.S. communities with at least 25 miles of bikeable trails and a long-term funding plan. Bean Peaks was highlighted by that award.
City Trails and Natural Parklands Manager Chris Hosking estimates the Bean Peaks/White Spar-area trails are now getting as many visitors as Prescott’s most popular. “I’m looking at how many spaces there are there and then compare it to the Peavine. And we have trail counts on the Peavine of 80,000 visits a year. So I think it’s equal to that now,” he says.
Bean Peaks is the only bike-optimized gravity-flow network in Arizona. It throws all kind of berms, tabletops, small rolling hills, rocky technical elements and freeride features in mountain bikers’ way for a rollercoaster ride, with smooth transitions. All trails are one-way; hikers can use the uphill ones to reach trails higher in the forest but are strongly discouraged from heading downhill with the bikes.
International Mountain Biking Association “Trail Towns” Proclamation Continued on page 158
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Top Photo Courtesy of Scott Bideau
BY BLAKE HERZOG
Special Events at the Highlands October
November
FRANKENPUMPKINS | OCT 26 – 3-5PM Members Only – Preregistration is Required Create your own Frankenstein-inspired pumpkin using loose parts from bolts to springs! All materials provided, including the pumpkins. This event is free, and for members, so make sure you get your membership today! Limited to 30 spots. Only children need to be registered and need to be accompanied by a caregiver.
WREATH MAKING WORKSHOPS | NOV 7 – 3 SESSIONS Open to The Public – Preregistration is Required The first session is from 9-11am, the second is from 12-2pm and the third session will be from 3-5pm. Preregistration required. We will provide you with a grapevine wreath, crafting and decorative supplies and foraged natural materials from the local forest. We encourage you to bring any items from home you may wish to decorate with as well.
SPOOKY STORIES & S'MORES | OCT 30 – 5:30-7PM Members Only – Preregistration is Required Time to get a little spoooooky! Join our incredible storytellers and make some s'mores by the fire. Event is free, preregistration is required as it will be limited to 30 children. Please register each of your children separately. A caregiver must accompany them.
CELEBRATE OUR 30TH BIRTHDAY | NOV 19 – 3-8PM Free and Open To The Public Come celebrate the Highlands Center’s 30th birthday with music, food and more!
DISCOVERY SATURDAY | OCT 31 – 9AM-12PM Free and Open To The Public – Halloween Themed Learning Stations highlighting the many wonders of the Central Highlands.
DISCOVERY SATURDAY | NOV 21 – 9AM-12PM Free and Open To The Public Learning Stations highlighting the many wonders of the Central Highlands.
928-776-9550 | highlandscenter.org 1375 S. Walker Rd., Prescott, AZ 86303
To register or become a member scan the QR code, visit highlandscenter.org or call 928-776-9550
P R E SCOT T
JUNCTION R E S TA U R A N T
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Ribbon Cutting
There are three downhill trails, one each designed for beginner, intermediate and advanced riders. All accommodate recumbent and other adaptive bikes.
The alliance was the catalyst for the project, winning a trail accelerator grant from IMBA in 2020 and spearheading the rest of the fundraising. The area is just outside city limits, but Prescott and its award-winning Over the Hill volunteer trail-building group were heavily involved. Prescott National Forest provided the land.
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The first phase of the project opened in 2024 and the second opened in April, with the final three miles scheduled for completion around the end of the year for a total of 20 miles.
year to ride. We’ve got the fall collars going on. We’ve had the monsoon, so that all the dirt is all really grippy. The weather is cooler. Yeah, we kind of finish with a flourish at the end of the year,” Hosking says.
Right now, the fall landscape is waiting. “Yeah, that’s the best time of
For more information visit beanpeaks.prescottmtb.com.
Bottom Photo Courtesy of IMBA
“Many people here in Prescott used to go outside of the state just to ride these kinds of trails,” says Ximena Florez, Board President of the Prescott Mountain Biking Alliance (PMBA). “They have them in Utah, they have them in California. We didn’t have them here. So, this was a great addition for us, not just for the locals, but also it will bring significant tourism and economic development to the area.”
Lightning Strike Over The Granite Dells Photo by Dennis Tromburg Fine Art Photography
2026
Photo Contest ENTRIES
Rain Washed Lavender Photo by Billie-Lynne Fife
Heron Mother and Chicks Photo by Beth Millbourn
LOCAL LIFE
S P O O K Y S E A S O N IN G RE AT ER PRES COT T PHOTOS OF 2025 MOUNT VERNON AVENUE HALLOWEEN BY BLUSHING CACTUS PHOTOGRAPHY
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he crisp air of fall has arrived and with it comes the fun of Halloween. Across Greater Prescott, families can find plenty of ways to celebrate from Boo at the Zoo and corn mazes to ghost tours, haunted hikes and community trick-or-treating.
Prescott Valley Parks and Recreation gets into the Halloween spirit with Haunted Hikes Friday, Oct. 23, at Fain Park. Children 10 and younger can hit the trail from 4:30 to 6 p.m., followed by a slightly scarier hike for ages 11 and older from 7 to 9 p.m.
And, of course, there’s Mount Vernon Avenue. Each October, elaborate decorations transform the historic neighborhood into a favorite Halloween destination with trick-or-treaters filling the sidewalks on Halloween night.
Chino Valley celebrates Halloween Saturday, Oct. 24, with the Town’s annual Trick or Treating at Memory Park from 2 to 8 p.m. Local businesses, organizations and community groups host candy booths where children can show off their costumes and collect treats.
Pine Ridge Marketplace hosts its annual Pine Ridge Prowl Saturday, Oct. 24, from 3 to 5 p.m. The free event includes trick-or-treating at participating merchants and trunk-ortreating hosted by Prescott Cars and Coffee in Heritage Circle. Families can also enjoy complimentary hot dogs, popcorn and nachos from Starting Point Church, along with balloon twisters, a corn maze, bounce house, photo wall and spooky soundtrack. A costume contest for children ages 5 to 13 begins at 4:30 p.m.
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When trick-or-treating winds down, families can stick around for a free outdoor movie under the stars. Halloween isn’t just for the kids. Downtown Prescott offers plenty of opportunities for grown-up fun, and the city’s storied past provides the perfect backdrop. In October, even the ghost stories shared by a local bartender can start to feel a little more real.
LOCAL LIFE
Prescott NOW See the October issue of Prescott NOW or visit the calendar online at prescott-now.com/events for more local events.
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Q&A
LaNette F. Smith, M.D. CI T Y O F H O PE C A N CER CEN T ER PRES COT T For my body, I try to exercise and remain active, enjoying time outside working in my yard. For my spirit, I attend church, pray and worship. I am reminded to be grateful, as I am blessed. I have a loving husband, family and a good home. HOW DID YOU COME TO PRACTICE IN YOUR CAREER FIELD? I grew up in a small town and volunteered with a local family doctor. I enjoyed the procedures and felt drawn to surgery. I was premed in college, where I met my husband, and decided to pursue surgery.
You share with patients births of children and grandchildren and unfortunately at times the difficulty of loss. This is what life is about – relationship. HOW DO YOU DEFINE A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE? Mind, body and spirit. For my mind, I try to stay up to date on guidelines for my job, learning new things, working on puzzles. I have to be tested and certified to maintain my credentials.
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My draw to cancer care came from my own family’s struggles, and then during surgery residency I was the only woman. I seemed to see more of the breast cancer patients. I enjoyed the “relationship” with these women and felt drawn to specialize in breast surgical oncology. There is long-term followup, sometimes extending years. You share with patients births of children and grandchildren and unfortunately at times the difficulty of loss. This is what life is about — relationship. WHAT TYPE OF EXERCISE (WEIGHTS, CARDIO, YOGA, PILATES, ETC.) DO YOU PREFER AND WHY? WHAT IS YOUR EXERCISE SCHEDULE ON A TYPICAL DAY/WEEK? 30 minutes of exercise, five days/ week is recommended to maintain a healthy lifestyle. I do not always
succeed. My life is very demanding right now. A combination of different types of exercise is most helpful — cardio for heart health, weights for muscle and bone health and yoga/Pilates for flexibility, balance and mobility as I age. WHAT ARE YOUR PRACTICES TO KEEP YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY HEALTHY? We have always tried to eat a healthier balanced diet and remain active. We do not eat a lot of processed foods, although we do splurge. I cook meals that include a lot of fresh vegetables and fresh ingredients. My husband is very helpful with chopping vegetables. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HEALTHY MEAL? Roasted Brussels sprouts with a balsamic glaze and roasted beets with a small amount of blue cheese. Salmon for the protein. If I am not being totally healthy, I have a small steak with a peppercorn glaze, but for special occasions. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST HEALTH AND WELLNESS TIP? Eat real food, not processed food nor junk food and have a routine schedule, meaning go to bed at a regular time and awake at a regular time. WHAT IS YOUR NEXT GOAL IN YOUR WELLNESS JOURNEY? To have more time to focus on exercise; perhaps take up some hobbies. I would like to learn to knit and crochet. Learning to play the piano is on my list.
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