By Alana Stroud

The term fly off the handle originally stemmed from American pioneer days when axes were handmade and axe heads were crudely fitted to the helve. The heads often flew off the handle in mid-chop, sometimes injuring the axe man or people nearby.

The origin of Arizona’s name comes from the Indian word Arizonac, meaning “little spring.”

Though the roadrunner is New Mexico’s state bird, they are rampant in Arizona because they are desert dwellers that nest in cacti. It is the largest North American cuckoo and can run up to 20 mph!

No one is permitted to ride a horse up the stairs of the county court house in Prescott, Arizona.

No piece of paper can be folded in half more than seven times.

Arizona is roughly the size of Italy.

“We believe really strongly that there’s a whole new way of eating—by aerosol.” Stated by David Edwards, Harvard professor, on creating inhalable chocolate dubbed Le Whiff.

Arizona Highways has an approximated 85 percent circulation rate outside the state of Arizona.

Arizona produces more than 1 million metric tons of lettuce each year.

By Scott Bohall

Whether rubies conjure images of Dorothy’s red slippers in The Wizard of Oz or the luscious lips of a model, you probably envision something positive when you think about the deeply hued gem. In the ancient language of Sanskrit, ruby is ratnaraj, which translates to “king of precious stones.” Writings from as far back as biblical times speak of wisdom as “more valuable than rubies” and a woman of virtue as “more precious than rubies.” In the eleventh century in what is now Iran, the ruby was considered the most prized gem. In 1894, the most popular and complete gem book to date indicated that a top-quality ruby was considered the most valuable precious gem known to human beings.

Not everyone who wants a fine ruby can afford one. Around a hundred years ago, a few types of simulated and synthetic rubies appeared on the market. Many of our relatives still own men’s rings with a rectangular flame-fusion (synthetic) ruby. In the ’70s and ’80s, the malls were flooded with stores that carried rubies created in labs—they still do. The availability of and profit from these fabricated gems are better for jewelers than rubies that come from the earth.

Here, though, is where it gets a little more complicated, and here’s why you should find a good, responsible jeweler. Most rubies mined in the last hundred years were heated to improve the clarity and, often, the color of the ruby. Finding certified, unheated rubies of good quality is rare. The market became used to all the look-alike rubies as well as the various qualities that came from the ground. New technology in the last decade produced a few new ways to take very low-grade rubies and fill the cracks with leaded glass—like with a ding in your windshield. Color was also added to make a $2 stone look like a $200 gem. The FTC requires disclosure of any treatments that greatly affect value. The problem is that most places selling these new rubies—e.g., the Internet, auctions, department stores, cruise ships, and a number of retail jewelers—are not disclosing that information. There is a huge difference between heat-treating a natural ruby and taking junk and making it look good.

The Arizona Jewelers Association has alerted the media to this practice and challenged major jewelry outlets to comply with federal laws, but the overwhelming attitude is that consumers don’t seem to care, so why should the sellers? I could not disagree more—consumers simply don’t know how badly they are being cheated. Be sure, then, that when you click your heels together and say, “Take me to the rubies,” that the jeweler is a reputable one. If you want a real ruby, your jeweler will provide you with the information you need to know about your gem’s pedigree—whether it came from the Ruby City or some guy in a lab behind a curtain.

By Alana Stroud
Fingerwaves The era of the glamorous 1940s are again the cat’s meow, with items like ankle boots, fitted jackets and skirt suits, stylish hats, and gloves. Complete your classy look with this elegant hairstyle, perfect for any occasion and easy enough to do at home.

Acting Classes If you never took drama in school, you missed out! Not only is acting fun, but studying this art form can enhance your public speaking skills, confidence, workplace performance, and communication skills. It also provides the opportunity to discover a bit about yourself along the way. For fun times, useful skills, and friendly instruction, check out Dearing Acting Studio (dearingstudio.com) or one of several other Valley studios.

Anna Sui for Target It’s back-to-school time, and designer Anna Sui has teamed up with Target to introduce a bold new fashion collection inspired by popular CW primetime soap Gossip Girl. The collection will hits stores September 13, just in time for a new school wardrobe. Save money and look good!

Wet ’n’ Wild Water Park Living in Phoenix means that we can hit up the water parks until at least October! Wet ’n’ Wild has finally opened its doors and has awesome attractions the whole family can enjoy, like the thrilling Tornado and the one-of-a-kind Maximum Velocity H2O Coaster. Season passes are available (a major money saver), and special events are scheduled. phoenix.mywetnwild.com

Home Cooking With the current lack of resources to make going out to eat a twice- or thrice-weekly event, home cooking is again becoming a valued tradition. Increase the family time once usurped by the jobs of two-income parents and after-school activities, and make those meals in your own kitchen! Cooking classes are readily available to aid those in need of a refresher course.

Actors-Turned-Singers Jane Powell. Debbie Reynolds. Frank Sinatra. Vic Damone. Gene Kelly. These stars of eras past were known as triple threats: they could sing, dance, and act—and do all three well. Many Hollywood heavyweights attempt a crossover career—sometimes it’s a brilliant move, other times an embarrassing one. For some stars worth listening to—and watching, as well—check out Zooey Deschanel’s original ’60s-era creations (with M. Ward, as band She & Him), Robert Downey Jr.’s singular stylings in his album The Futurist, and the gritty vocals of legendary film star Clint Eastwood.

By Cassaundra Brooks
Everyone is feeling the effects of fuel prices, which are again on the rise. Carpooling and occasionally working from home helps those with long commutes to work, but what about those who must do time on the road? Companies that rely on vehicle fleets for service or deliveries struggle to improve service while controlling costs in the down economy. Fuel costs alone can account for a substantial percentage of a company’s total operating costs. Technology like MAM (mobile asset management) is a big help, but historically, it has been expensive and complicated.

That is changing. New MAM technology has begun to hit the market, and the Web-enabled offering operates on a real-time basis, enhancing route optimization and planning, vehicle tracking, engine data capture, engine idle time, IFTA reporting, dispatch management, and customer service. Time is money, and efficiency on the road is best achieved through good drivers, good vehicles, and good management. Sprint’s premier Arizona business partner, eSystems Management, is helping to make the latter possible.

Remember how wonderful the car phone was, if you were one of the lucky relative few to have one, and how obsolete it became when the mobile phone caught on? How did companies dependent on vehicle fleets and the like function without modern technology? Perhaps soon you will wonder how your company operated before implementing MAM technology. Several local companies have already optimized this technology to increase their bottom line by 15 to 20 percent. In a time when saving every penny, attracting new and return customers, and operating smoothly and efficiently on a daily basis are crucial to survival, we need to look into our options. This is just one of many.

For more information, call Mike Estabrooks at (602) 515-5967.

By Alana Stroud
Photo courtesy Trend TAG Boutique

August not only marks the back-to-school season but it also signals that the end of summer is upon us. Those two things typically equal time to shop! Shops at Norterra has a diversified selection of stores, eateries, and entertainment venues from which to choose. Send the hubby and kids over to Harkins while you pick out a new wardrobe or set the family down at Paradise Bakery & Café for a light meal once the shopping is done.

Be sure to check out clothing stores like Trendy TAG Boutique, Fans & Fashionistas, and SoVain for the latest styles and fashion trends. Trendy TAG Boutique features lines from brand names like Chinese Laundry, Juicy Couture, and Body Language, to name a few.

Fans & Fashionistas is a fabulous blend of sports stuff for him and handbags for her, so couples can do their shopping together. There are always sales happening, so stop in and see what you can score!

SoVain is a clothing boutique for men and women offering edgy to casual styles for those heading to school or out for a night on the town.

To see all that The Shops at Norterra has to offer, visit norterrashopping.com. Mention North Valley Magazine for a 20 percent discount at Fans & Fashionistas.

By Dr. Wilson Kwong
I have a sore in my mouth. How can I be sure whether it is a canker sore or oral cancer?

In addition to checking for cavities and gum disease, dentists look for signs of oral cancers when we do an examination during a checkup. We look at the most common areas where oral cancer is found: under the tongue and on the floor of the mouth, on and around the sides of the tongue, in the back of the throat, on the sides of the cheeks, on the roof of the mouth, and around the lips. Sometimes an X-ray will reveal cancer in the bones of the upper or lower jaw or in the spaces in the sinuses. Dentists will also examine the neck for unusual swellings or hardening of the lymph nodes, which may indicate cancer in the throat. One of my patients noticed an unusual change in his voice and later found that he had a tumor on his larynx. Fortunately, it was operable and he continues to sing in his band today.

Oral cancers look like red sores or white patches. They are often painful and irregularly shaped, and bleed easily. Unlike canker sores or cold sores, they do not improve or disappear over time. Teeth around the area may be loose or uncomfortable to chew on. Patients may also notice a lump or thickening in the mouth or throat.

A biopsy is the only certain way to determine if tissue is cancerous. Biopsies can be performed by your dentist or an oral medicine or surgical specialist. The tissue sample is then sent for a histological test at a lab to determine if it is a cancer. Different levels of severity, from benign to malignant, will be assessed and treatment will be recommended. Complete removal of the cancerous tissue is recommended to prevent spread, or metastasis. Treatment may also involve radiation and chemotherapy if it is suspected that the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. Unfortunately, if the cancer is advanced, radical surgery to remove large areas is often required in order to save a patient’s life. This type of surgery can be disfiguring and debilitating to the patient, who will often have difficulty with chewing and swallowing, and may require speech rehabilitation. As with all forms of cancer, early detection is crucial.

There is no absolute prevention of oral cancers. There are ways to reduce your risk, however, such as minimizing drinking, refraining from smoking or chewing tobacco, and eating healthy foods. The combination of alcohol and tobacco is particularly risky, as alcohol thins out or strips away the lining of the oral tissue, which then allows the carcinogens in tobacco to damage the cells. Limiting sun exposure and using a lip balm containing sunscreen will help to prevent cancer on the lips. Infection with the human papilloma virus (HPV) has been linked to several types of cancer, including oral, so practicing safe sex can also help to reduce your risk.

Going to the dentist is an important part of your total wellness and should be done on a regular basis. Ask your dentist to evaluate your overall oral health with a thorough cancer screen.

Keep smiling—sometimes a sore is just a sore!

Henckel Knives

Quality kitchen gadgets are necessary for creating gourmet meals. This ten-piece block set of steel ergonomic knives includes all you need to chop, carve, and slice your way to culinary perfection. $945 at jahenckels.com

Charlotte Thomas Bedding

We (supposedly) spend a third of our lives sleeping, so why not sleep in style on the best bedding? Charlotte Thomas’s Bespoke collection is interwoven with 22-karat gold thread and backed with Indian silk. A pillowcase goes for $2,350, while a king-size duvet cover costs $12,760. charlottethomas.co.uk

27,000 Square-Foot Estate

A single-family home this size offers plenty of space for privacy! Enjoy seven bedrooms, nine and a half baths, pool and Jacuzzi, indoor tennis court, and two detached guest homes on a ten-plus acre lot in Scottsdale, all for the fair price of $15,900,000. frankaazami.com

Microsoft Surface

Love your iPhone and wish you had something larger that could do the same stuff? Enter Microsoft Surface, a digitally interactive touch-table with a 30-inch display that can connect with other networks, printers, and more all by the stroke of a finger. Currently only available for commercial purchase. Begins at $12,500. microsoft.com/SURFACE

Ravenscroft Pianos

If you’re serious about your music, you’ll want a Ravenscroft. Pianos like Model 275, base price $280,000, are all handcrafted and can even be customized to your specific sound and cabinet style. All materials are imported from around the world and assembled in their state-of-the-art Scottsdale facility. spreemanpianoinnovations.com

Private Jet

Tired of bustling airports and conforming to a preset schedule? Bombardier SkyJet will set you free with the use of their SkyJet membership, which allows you to charter a private plane at your leisure. You need give only twelve hours notice and a $100,000 deposit using your SkyJet card. skyjet.com

Fancy Frames

These gold and wood frames are layered in white gold, boast six diamonds on each end piece and another eleven diamonds on the bridge, and have temples made from buffalo horn. $1,700 at Optical Gallery Arizona. (623) 362-8642 or opticalgalleryaz.com

Custom Pool

This peaceful paradise by Tribal Waters Custom Pools & Spas offers a resort-style atmosphere with the privacy of home. A raised spa with an overflowing water feature pours into the pool, a lovely grotto feature adds tranquility to the whole backyard escape, and the large barbecue/kitchen area for cooking is topped with a Ramada/Cabana providing much-needed shade from the heat. $160,000. (623) 587-8500 or tribalwaters.us

By Scott Sackett
Photos by Colleen Miniuk-Sperry

In the last issue of NVM, I talked about Step One of a great setup: The Grip. This article is going to cover Step Two of a great setup: Posture. The body angles that you create at address determine what you can and cannot do in the golf swing. When you maintain a consistent posture, the likelihood of creating a repetitive swing is magnified. If you want to improve your current ball striking, you must understand the importance of how the body moves through the golf swing.

Fig. 1: Address:

Fig. 2: Address: 

The most difficult thing about the golf swing is the up-and-down movement of the arms and the rotation of the body. These two movements control the overall path and the angle of attack. Their coordination produces solid contact and powerful shots. The first key to combining these movements effectively is posture, because how you stand directly affects the size and shape of the motions. Check the posture of tour players, and you’ll see that these angles are almost universal. They include a spine angle (forward bend from the hips) of approximately 30 to 40 degrees from vertical and a side tilt away from the target of two to ten degrees, with the left shoulder slightly higher than the right and the head behind the ball.

Take your grip; stand straight up with your feet together. Fig. 3

Spread your feet shoulder width apart, with knees locked. Fig. 4

Stick your rear end out with your knees still locked. This position allows you to bend from the hips rather than from the waist. Fig 5

Ground the club while keeping your knees locked.

After the club is grounded properly, bend your knees slightly. This places the spine at the proper angle. Fig. 6

Your head should be behind the ball. This raises your left shoulder slightly higher than your right and should give you a small amount of side tilt away from the target. (see Fig. 1)

Your weight should be balanced over the balls of your feet, partly favoring the heel. Never are you on your toes during a golf swing.

Side Tilt

At address, the spine must be tilted slightly away from the target. (See Fig. 1) This is the number-one fundamental that I see golfers overlook, because many amateurs think the head starts directly over the ball in a full swing. This is a vital element of great ball striking.

Preset the hips an inch or two toward the target and position the sternum slightly away from the target to create the proper side tilt. Once you tilt, it is important for your body to be balanced at address. With effective side tilt, we are now prepared to use our body to its greatest extent. It allows us to load on the right post in the backswing and return to impact with our head behind the ball. This is one universal fundamental of all tour players—Claude Harmon said it best: “It’s pretty hard to get behind something that you never got behind in the first place.” Achieving side tilt at address allows us to hit the ball with power and accuracy.

Remember: If you’re going to implement power into the action, your head must be behind the ball at the point of contact.

Your posture should remain constant, regardless of the club you’re hitting. If the club is shorter, the overall shaft plane will be steeper; conversely, if the club is longer, the overall shaft plane will be flatter.

Results of Good Posture

Good posture promotes a level backswing. If your stance is overly upright, for instance, you will grow taller in the backswing, thus restricting your shoulder turn and reducing power. Stand too hunched, and the swing becomes very steep. By staying level throughout the swing, you can swing the clubhead at maximum speed at a 90-degree angle to your forward spine tilt. Fig. 7

The proper side tilt also helps you turn behind the ball, which allows you to load up on your right post for a powerful coil. All good golf swings operate around two axis points: the right leg and the left leg. If your posture is poor, you’re more likely to rotate around only a single axis point, which makes it next to impossible to deliver the club with any balance and force behind it. As stated earlier, all good players set up with the head behind the ball—a result of the spine tilting away from the target—and keep it behind the ball through impact. It does not return in front of the ball or over the top of the ball. This is why side tilt is necessary. Make sure the entire spine tilts as a unit; don’t simply move your head behind the ball.

Now that you have a better understanding of posture, start observing Tiger Woods, and you will see why he is the best ball striker in the world today.

By Carol La Valley
Photos courtesy of AWEE/Louann Phillips

PHOTO CREDITS:

Arizona Women’s Education and Employment’s president and CEO Marie Sullivan is passionate about helping people.

Participants at AWEE’s Youth Employment Summer Summit (YESS) in June have fresh goals and the means to achieve them.

Reentry participants in Arizona Women’s Education and Employment’s Mentoring Service Activity Group have started meeting monthly to participate in a community volunteer project. The group makes get-well cards for Phoenix Children’s Hospital patients.

When teenagers graduate AWEE’s Youth Workforce Readiness Workshops, they are ready to be reliable, creative employees.

Success in the workplace comes in increments for women who are stepping out of incarceration into the Valley sun. Arizona Women’s Education and Employment (AWEE) programs lead them to take personal responsibility.

Leticia Butler, age 36 and single mother of two, knew she had to become proactive as she acknowledged her past misdeeds and faced a down job market. When she had to list a felony on the application, her heart sank and depression escalated, even though she is an experienced collections clerk. Her prayers were answered when she heard about the career preparation, job-retention skills, and life coaching that nonprofit AWEE offers women as well as men ages 14 and older—for free.

“What stressors did AWEE relieve?” Butler rhetorically asks. “Everything. When you are living day to day, you don’t have time to plan.”

Butler juggled finding daycare for her toddlers, wondering how she would afford a bus pass ($5.25 per day on Valley Metro), and knowing she needed a résumé but lost as to how she might bring hers current. Sitting in a room with people with similar tribulations, she explored careers, learned how to write cover letters to accompany résumés that touted strengths, and answered the ever important “Tell me about yourself.”

Side by side with career development specialist Monika Nathan, Butler learned to set achievable goals. Twelve weeks ago, she came to AWEE. Nine weeks ago, she started a new job. Seven weeks ago, she received a pay raise. One month ago, she was able to move into her own apartment. Now she is making plans to return to college in the fall.

Volunteers make it possible for AWEE to achieve its mission to “change lives through the dignity of work.” They mentor women who have been laid off and need to find a new sense of direction, women who have escaped domestic violence and seek a means to provide for their families, and homemakers returning to the work force. These caring volunteers might be retail managers or your neighbor next door, retired professionals or bank presidents. They can be women like Lois Lucas, who have been through AWEE programs and know how to help a client obtain a food box or face the fear that they will always be seen for who they were versus who they continue to strive to become. “A lot of people stepped up and helped me for no good reason, so now I just want to help somebody else,” Lucas says.

Volunteers process donations of gently used work clothes so a woman can feel confident presenting herself for job interviews as well as the first day on the job. They are currently needed to help with special-event planning and provide computer and technical support. Dollars also make AWEE’s empowerment of women possible as the organization transitions its $1.4 million budget from 42 percent public funds to 80 percent private support. In 2008, AWEE served 9,000 people.

“This year, we are already are on target for 10,000,” says Marie Sullivan, AWEE’s director and CEO since 1997. “Seeing people’s lives change as the result of finding dignity in staying employed, and as a result, taking care of their families, moves me every day. It never gets old.”

For more information about AWEE, visit awee.org or call (602) 223-4333.

Perfectly ripe nectarines and plums unite in a delightful tart

By Alison Malone
In British Columbia, stone fruits can be found at farmers’ markets from July through September. Largely produced in the Southern Okanagan Valley, these juicy, sweet-tart fruits are delicious eaten alone or, even better, crafted into dessert. This nectarine-and-plum tart can be made one day ahead of time and is wonderful served with a dollop of crème fraîche or lightly sweetened sour cream. Our tip: Preserve additional fruit for use throughout the year by removing the pits, cutting it into wedges, and freezing it in plastic bags. You’ll thank yourself on a cold winter night when local summer fruit is available right in your kitchen!

Nectarine and Plum Brown Butter Tart

Recipe developed by Hilary Malone
Serves 6–8

Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup icing sugar
½ tsp salt
¾ cup unsalted butter
¼ cup ice water
3 ripe nectarines, halved, pitted and cut into 6 pieces
3 ripe plums, halved, pitted and cut into 6 pieces
3 eggs
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp all-purpose flour
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and browned until golden

*special equipment: nine-inch tart pan with a removable bottom

Preparation:

Combine flour, sugar, and salt in a food processor. Add butter, and blend until the mixture resembles coarse breadcrumbs. Add water and process until the dough comes together in a ball, adding additional water by the tablespoon as needed. Wrap dough in plastic and refrigerate for at least one hour or overnight.

Once dough has chilled, roll out on a lightly floured surface to one-quarter-inch thickness. Press pastry into a nine-inch tart shell and freeze for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove shell from freezer and line with parchment paper. Arrange surface with baking weights and bake for 10 minutes. Remove paper and weights and bake for an additional 10 minutes until golden and crisp. Cool to room temperature. Arrange fruit skin side down in the pastry shell.

Whisk eggs and sugar in a small bowl until thick and pale. Add flour and brown butter and mix to combine. Pour the filling evenly over the fruit and bake for 30–40 minutes or until golden and set in the middle.