As the years go by, there is a much greater concern surrounding the different things that might be contaminating our water supplies. There are so many different products that come from a multitude of industries that are responsible for our water contamination. They can come from the most basic processing plants that manufacture products that we are accustomed to using on a regular basis — grass fertilizers, cooking utensils, shower gels, pesticides, swimming pool chemicals, pharmaceuticals — and the list goes on. Many of these contaminants can go undetected for years before they are discovered. The basic methods used for testing water do not cover all of these unknown and unhealthy pollutants, which can leave many people unaware that these toxins exist in the water we use every day.
Swimming pools are notorious for using an abundance of different chemicals for daily treatment. Unfortunately, many of them are harmful to our water supplies and our health. Wastewater departments around the country struggle to remove these chemicals from ground water while treating millions of gallons every day. With the abundance of pollution from the ground and air, we continue to struggle to discover new ways of effectively and efficiently treating our water supplies.
Exceptional Water Systems focuses on utilizing natural elements to treat swimming pools, spas, fountains, and much more to greatly reduce the transfer of unwanted chemicals to our water treatment facilities. By utilizing advanced ultra-fine bubble technology, we diffuse ozone, oxygen, and carbon dioxide into the water to efficiently and effectively treat these bodies of water. Ozone can be as much as 3,000 times more powerful than chlorine at disinfecting and oxidizing unwanted contaminants, and is 10,000 times more effective at destroying microorganisms.
Our systems increase the amount of dissolved oxygen present in the water making it feel soft and silky to the skin. The heightened oxygen levels help with the beginning stages of the wastewater treatment process, rather than hindering it with the abundance of unwanted chemicals.
Finally, carbon dioxide is used in place of muriatic acid to reduce the pH in the water naturally, also reducing the amount of unnecessary chemicals that go into our overloaded sewer systems.
EWS is dedicated to providing healthy water for humanity. If you would like to experience the noticeable at-home benefits of Exceptional Water Systems, we’ll be more than happy to assist you. Please feel free to call us at (480) 694-4709 or visit our website at www.exwsystems.com
GOOD
12 ESG Investing
14
What is it and is it right for you?
GEST Who!?
Free electric carts debut on Scottsdale nightlife scene
HEALTH & WELLNESS
16 Journey to Self-Love
It’s not what you think
18 Medical Cannabis and Professional Sports
Former NFL athletes advocate for cannabis over opioids for pain
STYLE
22
54
Love Is In The Air
Tips for planning a sustainable wedding
HOME
24 Fabulous Feng Shui
Five easy tips to welcome in the energy of 2023
SAVOR
38 Recipes
PHX Beer Co.’s Superfood Bowl + Pedal Haus Brewery’s Farmhouse Scramble
40 A Taste of History
Mission Garden honors Tucson’s historic culinary heritage
44 Sustainable Sips
These liquor brands give us something to toast to
TRAVEL
46 Welcome to Nashville
Everything to see and do in Music City
DESIGN
54 Brushes and Boughs
Colorado artist Curtis Killorn turns trees into art at the Arizona Biltmore
TECHNOLOGY
56
Parting With Plastic
Footprint Center serves as testing ground for eco-innovation
58 Legacy EV
Classic cars given new life with electric engine conversions
About the cover: As the first openly gay drag racer to compete in the National Hot Rod Association, Travis Shumake is both turning heads and breaking barriers. Turn to page 30 to learn more about his life growing up in Phoenix and his very big plans for the future. Photo courtesy of Visit Topeka.
Advanced imaging diagnostics
Largest gynecologic oncology and surgical breast oncology groups in the region
Expert multidisciplinary teams treating colorectal, pancreatic, lung/esophagus, urologic and neuro oncologic disease
Leukemia, hematology and blood disorder therapies
Bone marrow transplant and CAR-T therapies
Extensive clinical research trials
Support services, dietitians, financial assistance and more
I hope your start to this magical new year has been wonderful so far! As they say, “time flies” and with the holidays becoming an already distant memory, our staff is looking forward to an exciting month here, in Arizona.
With the WM Phoenix Open kicking off in Scottsdale on February 9 and the Super Bowl’s return to Glendale on February 12, we thought it only appropriate to dive into all things sports for this latest issue. Throughout these pages, you’ll learn about the efforts that WM is taking to continue to make the "Greenest Show on Grass" even greener, and what measures the Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee and NFL Green are taking to ensure that the Big Game has a positive impact on the environment in our state. And while sustainability is a key tenet here at Green Living, the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion are equally important to us. This month’s cover story from editor Shelby Tuttle touches on the journey of openly gay drag racer Travis Shumake, a Phoenix native who began his career in the NHRA in his late 30s, but began dreaming of his time in the sport as a teen at the Valley’s only outdoor karting venue, Phoenix Kart Racing Association. As one might imagine, his storyline is dotted with various encounters with bigotry, hatred and homophobia, but is ultimately driven forward by resilience in the face of adversity. Of course, no issue would be complete without in-depth features dedicated to both food and travel. This month, our own Rebecca Rhoades explores the history of the Sonoran Desert’s heirloom crops at Tucson’s Mission Garden, and featured contributor Misty Milioto takes readers on a boot scootin’ trip through Nashville, where you’ll explore every bit of greatness Music City has to offer.
Finally, the month of February reminds us to focus on all things love. Whether it be with a romantic partner or exploring the values of self love, as written about in “Learning to Love (Again)” by Deborah L. Monroe, I hope you’ll be inspired to reflect on what love means to you. For some, it may be an exercise in gratitude to appreciate all the ways in which you love those around you, or exploring how you receive love and allow it into your life. Whatever your journey, may it be filled with love this month and always.
Eco-consciously yours,
Dorie
Dorie Morales Publisher
Please connect with us on social media:
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Deborah L. Monroe is an Amazon best-selling author, transformational coach, writer and speaker, who has even had the pleasure of being invited to speak at Harvard University. She has an extensive background in health and wellness, which she used in her own self-discovery and healing process. She is an expert in holistic modalities for health, healing and spiritual growth. Learn more about her writing and coaching at www.deborahlmonroe.com or on Twitter and IG @deborahlmonroe.
Misty Milioto is a New Orleans-based freelance writer and editor with more than 20 years experience working with publications across the country. Most of her work has been with Modern Luxury’s suite of 85-plus regional magazines, and she has also written for Sunset Magazine and Colorado Homes & Lifestyles. She has regular columns in New Orleans Magazine, New Orleans Homes and New Orleans Bride. Misty also oversees a luxury lifestyle blog at www.girlwilltravel.com. She loves everything from exotic destinations and luxury resorts to food and wine — and everything in between.
Deborah L. Monroe, writer
Misty Milioto, writer
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Green Living magazine is a monthly publication by Traditional Media Group, LLC. Periodical rate postage paid at Scottsdale, AZ. Publisher assumes no responsibility for contributed manuscripts, editorial content, claims, reviews, photographs, artwork or advertisements. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various authors and forum participants do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the company or official policies. Entire contents © 2022 Traditional Media Group. All rights reserved. Reproduction or use of content in any manner without permission by the publisher is strictly prohibited. Opinions expressed in signed columns and articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Submissions will not be returned unless arranged to do so in writing. One print subscription is $25 per year or digital subscription is $12 per year. Canadian orders please add $13 per year for shipping and handling. International orders add $22 per year for shipping and handling. Bulk and/or corporate rates available. No representation is made as to the accuracy hereof and is printed subject to errors and omissions.
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Last month, we helped kick off NFL Green Week at the Phon D Sutton Recreation area to clean up the Lower Salt River. There were over 600 volunteers who came out, making it NFL Green’s largest event in history!
Early in his professional career, writer Nicholas Wise was fortunate to embark on an opportunity to live and work in Scotland. He grew up in the rural area of Lancaster County, Pa., and while he has been an urban dweller for the last two decades, he’s always had a deep connection to the countryside.
It’s often easy to be impressed by new breakthroughs in medical technology, but it’s worth taking the time to consider how far we’ve come, what we may have compromised in order to reach it, and ultimately, where we’re headed.
We love it when our energy is clear! Members of the Green Living team and a few of our friends gathered to experience a restorative sound bath with Kim Balzan Sound in Scottsdale.
We partnered with Check for a Lump on January 26 to bring mobile mammography services to our Health, Wellness and Water Expo at the Avondale Visitor & Conference Center. Thank you to all who came out to support and gain info on how to live a healthier lifestyle in 2023.
A free, new app developed by Scottsdale couple Irina and Igor Ilyinsky introduces a new dimension of storytelling. It’s called ListenUp, and it just launched in January. Local storytellers across multiple communities can record stories about the culture, natural beauty, historic neighborhoods, and destinations in their neighborhoods. Through crowdsourcing and artificial intelligence, users can hear those stories in 22 languages. The app also allows local businesses to participate and share stories and details about their locations to attract a passerby for a small fee. It’s an immersive experience the founders hope visitors will use to learn about the Valley during our busy tourism season. For further information, visit www.joinlistenup.com.
Real estate development firm Optima has verified it’s moving ahead on plans to build a $1 billion sustainable mixed-use residential area with the nation’s largest private rainwater harvesting system. The project is located at the southeast corner of Scottsdale Road and the Loop 101 Freeway and will be called Optima McDowell Mountain Village. The 1,333 residences are expected to use half as much water as the average Scottsdale multi-family residence, and onequarter as much water as the average single-family home. The project should provide the City of Scottsdale with 2,759 acre-feet of water that will be deposited into the Scottsdale water system. Optima will be the first project in Arizona to be built under the new International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and International Green Construction Code (IgCC). For more information, visit www.OptimaMcDowellMountainVillage.com.
The City of Scottsdale continues to invest in sustainability with its recent adoption of the 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and the International Green Construction Code. New Scottsdale commercial developments will be required to follow the city’s green building code. Scottsdale is the first city in the state and one of only a few nationwide to implement such guidelines. The change helps Scottsdale clarify code provisions, protect natural resources, and account for new technologies. It’s also expected to cut 20% of each new building’s water use and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%.
Florida-based company FreshJax offers pure and organic ingredients from around the world that are also non-GMO, MSG-free, and contain no preservatives, chemicals, or dyes. Additionally, the products are gluten-free, Kosher, and vegan. For every five packs of seasoning purchased, the company donates a meal to a child suffering from food insecurity. To date, the company has donated over 500,000 meals through Hunger Fight, Feed the Children, and Feeding America. For more information, visit www.freshjax.com.
Eco Sports is a sustainable sporting goods company that provides vegan, eco-friendly sporting goods for a variety of sports. Its core mission is to replace leather and toxic plastics in sports equipment by using a cruelty-free, sustainable TPU vegan leather, which is 100% recyclable and biodegradable. From its basketballs and footballs to soccer balls and volleyballs, this company’s vegan leather maintains the high-quality feel, bounce, and play you would expect from top traditional brands. Eco Sports also ships all products in home-compostable packaging and actively looks to offset shipping emissions. Moreover, it generously donates 10% of profits to planting trees across the nation.
Inspired by style icons like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn, Jessica Rey swimwear is created from luxe Italian fabrics using yarn knit from 100% regenerated pre- and post-consumer waste - think discarded and reclaimed fish nets! The company’s motto is “dignity for all” and pertains to customers and those who make the clothing. Along with swimsuits, Jessica Rey manufactures tops, skirts, and dresses in sweatshop-free factories in Los Angeles. All makers are paid a fair, living wage and treated with dignity and respect. We’re crushing on the Veronica Swim Tee, which offers both support and coverage for a fun day in the sun. Rey recommends wearing it cinched up to sport a vintage look or pulled all the way down for a classic vibe.
Moving beyond the sport-specific shoes that have been the industry norm, Lane Eight creates sustainable, functionally versatile workout shoes. Brothers James and Josh Shorrock created this with a mission to develop footwear for everyday athletes when they recognized there was a big disconnect with how brands developed and marketed their products to their end users. They also aim to reduce their reliance on ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) by incorporating algae into their midsoles. Lane Eight products can withstand all the rigors of a hard workout, with features like a stable base, durable materials, and a supportive fit. They weave sustainability with progress, committing to ever-evolving positive change, and pivoting to remain environmentally ethical as sustainable innovations become available. Lane Eight teamed up with TencelTM to create its popular HIIT Trainer, featuring a 100% plant-based upper from eucalyptus-derived lyocell and cotton. Ultra-breathable and moisture wicking, its blend of materials are lightweight and strong at the same time. Every pair returns 31.5 liters of fresh water back to the environment and removes 64 cubic meters of carbon from the atmosphere.
WVN (wo·ven) was started by Synergy Organic Clothing’s Kate Fisher and aims to create quality, fashionable clothing while caring for the Earth and inspiring more thoughtful practices in the fashion industry. WVN’s eco-fabulous women’s collection includes chic staples like blouses and dresses, along with flattering athletic wear and loungewear. Try the Define Yoga Bra for a supportively stylish workout. Featuring GOTS-certified organic cotton and spandex and an eye-catching triple-criss-cross strap design, this bra is certain to turn heads and make you feel good at the same time. This little gem’s positive environmental impact equates to 1,255.9 days of drinking water saved, 44.6 hours of LED bulb energy saved, or 0.2 miles of driving emissions avoided when compared to a conventional garment of the same weight and manufactured in the same manner. Now that’s something to smile about.
BY SUSAN KOE
AAs consumers, we vote with our dollars and the same goes for our investments. As more and more investors direct their monies toward companies that seek to lower their carbon footprint and promote corporate responsibility, various boards of directors are taking notice.
Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that by 2025, more than one third of the total funds under management will be invested with an ESG (environmental, social, governance) mandate. But what does this mean and is it right for you? Here are the answers to some of the most common questions investors have about ESG investing.
Companies are rated on how well they operate under environmental criteria and issued a score so investors can compare. There is currently no standard evaluation system for rating companies when it comes to ESG. MSCI and Sustainalytics are two major independent ESG risk rating companies, and each uses different criteria to come up with their scores.
Environmental criteria may include:
• Climate change policies.
• Recycling and waste disposal practices.
• Water use and conservation.
• Carbon emissions.
It doesn’t have to! While future returns can’t be guaranteed, recent research has shown that ESG investments are performing very closely to their nonESG counterparts. Morningstar found that 41 out of 56 ESG indexes performed better than similar indexes that weren't focused on environmental, social, or governance factors. Additionally, research published in 2020 by Morningstar concluded that holding
ESG funds does not affect risk. In other words, ESG investing doesn’t typically mean opening your portfolio up to more risk than you might have with non-ESG holdings.
Another important consideration that impacts performance is cost. It is important to choose low cost investments so that you can keep more of your investment’s returns. The good news is there are many low cost ESG funds to choose from.
There are thousands of ESG investments to choose from, so the process can become a bit overwhelming. It is important to go back to the reason that you are investing the money and make sure any investment fits with your goals, time frame, and risk level. The best way to do this is to work with a certified financial planner to make sure that you have a comprehensive financial plan that makes sense for you and your values.
Explore her Crystal Bowl Showroom in Scottsdale, Arizona, and purchase your favorite vibrational frequency. Because she believes in her healing practice through Crystal Sound Bowls, she sells only the best to the public. By appointment only.
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Sound healing allows soothing vibrations to transfix all sensations of being and provides an opportunity for human existence to realign into perfect function.
Kim Balzan SOUND produces endless vibrational frequencies using various instruments and high-quality Crystal Sound Bowls. Kim carries the finest Alchemy Crystal Bowls on the planet, each infused with pure quartz crystals, gemstones, or precious metals.
Her Crystal Singing Bowls send healing vibrations to expand health; introduce peace; provide relaxation; reduce anxiety; increase concentration; assist through grief; bring love; reduce pain; balance the nervous system; and so much more. From playing on television to selling out sound events, you can count on Kim to provide an extraordinary experience with each mallet stroke.
Kim creates experiences with SOUND for all occasions on location or in her extraordinary private space.
TThis month, GEST Carts – which stands for Green, Easy, Safe Transportation – will make its debut in Scottsdale.
The 100% electric carts operate similar to car transportation services like Uber or Lyft but at a local (and locally owned), micro level. Scottsdale riders can “call” a cart through the mobile app – downloadable through the Apple Store and Google Play Store – that tracks driver locations and estimated arrival times. The vehicles are able to drive on main roads, keeping up with the flow of traffic – but in a much more sustainable and enjoyable way than traditional transportation.
Local business leader and active Thunderbird Jason Pritchett invested in the forward-thinking business in 2022 with a plan to bring it to the Valley in 2023.
“I learned of the business model thanks to my brother – and now business partner – Japheth, who saw the Blackowned brand explode on the scene in other markets,” says Pritchett, who is also an attorney and president of Radix Law Firm in Phoenix. “Since 2018 alone, GEST Carts debuted across Charlotte, Chicago, Cincinnati, Detroit, Denver, and Las Vegas. Given our thriving nightlife and event schedule, together we knew the Valley was ready for something like this, too.”
When researching the business, beyond the obvious environmental benefits, the Pritchett brothers loved that, though open-air, each GEST Cart offers seat belts, air conditioning, and even heat for guests –
something lacking in various modes of alternative transportation in Old Town Scottsdale’s popular Entertainment District. In addition, rides on GEST Carts are 100% free to riders.
According to Pritchett, rides are free thanks to partnerships with businesses and events who advertise on the GEST Carts.
There are currently six GEST Carts in operation in Scottsdale. GEST Carts may travel up to 35 miles per hour and are currently cruising between Hayden Road to the east, 58th Street to the west, Chapparal to the north, and Osborn to the south. Pritchett expects GEST Carts to be particularly popular among those who live or are staying at hotels or rentals in the area and traveling to the ample entertainment options in the region, as well as those enjoying events around the Super Bowl, Barrett Jackson, Spring Training, and – of course – the WM Phoenix Open.
Given that passenger cars and trucks are a significant source of global warming, switching from gasoline to electricity is a vital contribution to reducing emissions and avoiding the worst impacts of climate change. In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency reports a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. This means
GEST Carts will eliminate nearly 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide in its first year alone, and likely more as the business expands. By year’s end, Pritchett expects to expand further into Scottsdale and into Tempe to bring safe alternative transportation options to major events, with eyes on downtown Phoenix and the East Valley, too. He also plans to make all of this happen while running his business, taking care of his family, and serving as an active Thunderbird.
“One other critical element that means the world to me: while GEST Carts are both cheaper and greener than rideshare and safer and more comfortable than golf carts, we think GEST Carts can also lower the incidence of drunk driving, especially among those who incorrectly
habitatcaz.org
assume they ‘are fine’ to drive after a few beers,” says Pritchett. “One, as too many people find out too late, is always too many to get behind the wheel.”
While statistics are not yet available for 2022, the Arizona Department of Transportation’s most recent Arizona Motor Vehicle Crash Facts report noted alcohol was a factor in 5,620 crashes, which was the highest number since 2009, when there were 5,905 alcohol-related collisions. Alcohol-related traffic deaths were up by 6.5%, the report said, rising from 228 in 2020 to 243 in 2021.
“We hope to make a positive impact on the environment while helping folks get home safely and creating jobs for fellow Arizonans for years to come,” says Pritchett.
Like GEST Scottsdale, GEST Chicago, GEST Detroit, GEST Denver, GEST Charlotte and GEST Vegas Strip are all Black-owned, with GEST Denver being LGBTQ- and veteran-owned. www.gestcarts.com.
Together we can build, repair, renovate and revitalize homes for those in Arizona who need an affordable place to call home.
If you’re looking to make longlasting, sustainable community impact, you can shop, donate or volunteer at habitatcaz.org
Let’s give Arizona a hand up!
As February rolls around, many people associate this time of year with romantic love, likening it to the highest form of love one can hope for.
In our journey of self-discovery and all that has transpired over the past few years, perhaps it’s time to re-think how we see the world and how we see ourselves. Many of us often look to the outside world to give us the validation of love, value, or recognition that we’re so desperately seeking. Yet, if we’ve learned anything over the past few years with constant change and confusion happening in the world, it should be noted many of us are also disconnected from our true selves. Futile attempts to seek outside validation can often lead to self-abandonment. We allow others to make crucial decisions for us because of how we see ourselves and our place in the world.
We can only love someone to the degree to which we believe that we deserve love. How can we hold love in our hands if we cannot give it to ourselves first, believe that it’s our birthright, and accept that it’s possible?
Many aspire to change the world or save the planet, but our true power lies in accepting the innate truth that we are deeply loved human beings here to create and inspire change.
We must begin with our own internal change first. We must become the love we’re seeking. In a world of social media and well-meaning influencers, “self-love” is an overused term – often over-simplified and used to mask personal heartache and uncertainty. So, what does self-love mean? What does it look like? And what practices can we put in place to create the kind of love we so desire?
Self-love is learning to honor and trust our internal guidance system, or intuition. It’s understanding all the ways we’ve shut ourselves off from the world and learning to open our hearts to ourselves and others. It’s learning to understand all the ways we’ve betrayed ourselves. It’s learning to see our value and our worth through the eyes of truth.
Our truth begins in our understanding that - despite the ways in which we have shut down or shut off - we are not broken. We have learned how to cope and survive with the consciousness
and understanding we’ve had up to this point. Oftentimes, trauma or old familial patterns and behaviors will dictate how we show up in the world.
As Maya Angelou so eloquently stated, “Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” It’s about recognizing our patterns and our self-defeating behaviors and then courageously healing them and elegantly walking away from what no longer serves us. It’s coming home to self.
As much as we love to say self-love is simply about meticulously manicured nails, lavender-scented bubble baths, or the perfect skin care routine, learning to love ourselves is really a much deeper process. It’s drawing on our courage to take a profound and honest look at all the ways we’ve lost the integrity with our truest self.
Here are some sustainable practices to begin your self-love journey:
Surrendering to ‘what is’ gives us an opportunity to be honest with ourselves and opens us up to create change. It’s leaning into acceptance and the belief we deserve better, all the while observing and healing the unknown aspects of ourselves that keep us from living an authentic life. When we begin to trust in a higher power - whatever it may be - and surrender to what is, we can then create sustainable change. Surrender means letting go of the familiar and learning to trust yourself. It’s learning to trust that life has your back and understanding that no matter what happens in your life, you’ll be able to handle it.
The red velvet rope policy is about honoring ourselves by creating a safe environment around us. This means recognizing not everyone should have access to you and not everyone deserves a seat at your table. Simply put, it’s about learning to set healthy boundaries that allow you to protect yourself. This is not about ego, but rather an understanding of your personal value, time, energy, and resources. It’s about creating a safe space, honoring yourself, and knowing your value as a human being.
The non-negotiable list is a self-made template for how you show up for yourself and others. This list is often created over many years and will grow as your self-inventory deepens, becoming an account of all the areas of your life where you have not held firm to your beliefs about yourself; either violating the boundaries of others, or allowing others to violate yours. These areas include respect, accountability, truthfulness, authenticity, trust, integrity, and any other values you hold true.
Speak your truth from a place of authenticity, even if it frightens you. By honoring and showing up for ourselves first, we then begin to teach others how to treat us.
Learning to love yourself is often one’s most authentic path to wholeness, joy, and a feeling of true freedom. By embracing the ways in which we can learn to honor and love ourselves wholeheartedly, we can finally, willingly, and fully accept love from others.
“Cannabis saved my life, period,” affirms Kyle Turley, a retired NFL player. “I was addicted to opioids for two decades, which took a toll on my body. Since switching to using only cannabis to address my health issues, I have been off all pharmaceuticals since 2015.”
Turley, along with many other former professional athletes and medical professionals, continue to speak out about the health benefits of cannabis – especially when it comes to recovering from grueling athletic careers and as an alternative to opioids.
Dr. Elaine Burns, an Arizona-licensed naturopathic medical doctor (NMD), is the medical director of the Southwest Medical Marijuana Physician’s Group. She shares she has been a part of the medical marijuana industry since 2011 and focuses on helping patients obtain their medical marijuana cards to treat a variety of ailments.
“Naturopathic medicine is all about using botanicals
to help the body heal itself – marijuana is a botanical,” Dr. Burns says. “Over the years, I’ve made a name for myself in this industry, and for patients, it’s not about getting the medical marijuana card itself – it's about what the card represents. It’s about the benefits of cannabis and the hope for a better quality of life.”
Dr. Burns explains she most often has patients referred to her by physicians in mainstream medicine. She recommends patients seeking to improve their quality of life through cannabis usage work with a physician directly.
One of the areas she sees cannabis used is pain management. In her own experience – which she makes sure to note is anecdotal and based on the results of her own patients – she believes cannabis, when used under the guidance of a medical
professional, can oftentimes relieve chronic pain better than conventional pain killers and opioids.
“Sometimes, there is a 100% conversion of the patient from pain killers to cannabis because it works so well,” she says.
According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the FDA has not approved the cannabis plant for any medical use. However, the FDA has approved several drugs that contain individual cannabinoids (most often THC and CBD). According to the NCCIH, “some evidence suggests modest benefits of cannabis or cannabinoids for chronic pain and multiple sclerosis symptoms.”
In 2019, Canna Research Group, led by Joanna Zeiger, Ph.D, a former Olympic triathlete, author, and researcher, alongside her father Robert Zeiger, an allergist and pediatrician, conducted the Athlete PEACE (Pain, Exercise, and Cannabis Experience) Survey. In it, they found 67% of the 1,200 athletes surveyed had used cannabis in their lifetime. Sixty one percent had tried cannabis for pain relief; of those, 68% reported relief, according to the survey.
Dr. Burns notes she has no current professional athletes as patients, as professional sports often have stringent rules regarding marijuana use, but she has treated retired athletes. Most, she shares, come in for pain management, to lessen their use of opioids, or to address neurological health conditions like migraines.
“Retired athletes, like all [of my] patients, use cannabis for an improved quality of life, bottom line,” Dr. Burns says. “For example, CBD, a cannabinoid found in cannabis, can be a home-run treatment for migraines. I emphasize, though, that patients seeking cannabis for treatment need to be working with a doctor and see it through the filter of medicine, because that’s what it is.”
Like Kyle Turley, retired NFL player and two-time Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon is an advocate for the health benefits of cannabis as an alternative to opioid usage for pain. “Cannabis is a lot better than taking pills – pills just mask the pain. Cannabis has medicinal benefits that are life-changing,” McMahon says.
For years, the CDC has declared an opioid crisis in the United States. According to the CDC, more than
932,000 people have died since 1999 from a drug overdose, and nearly 75% of drug overdose deaths in 2020 involved an opioid.
According to the FDA – while they acknowledge that there is a growing interest in the health benefits of cannabis and its components – scientific research still is ongoing, and officials have yet to approve cannabis as a formal alternative to opioids.
McMahon, Turley, and fellow NFL retiree Eben Britton co-founded their own cannabis brand called Revenant MJ in 2021. Using their connections and various platforms, all three co-founders raise awareness about the health benefits of cannabis while simultaneously supporting nonprofits like the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, which helps retired NFL players in dire circumstances.
“Between myself and my Revenant co-founders, we have decades of experience with cannabis that speaks to its ability to help former athletes reclaim their lives,” Turley says.
Turley says their goal is to have professional sports leagues like the NFL stop testing for cannabis usage all together. Until that happens, though, the NFL and NBA have loosened their restrictions over the years when it comes to cannabis usage among players.
Opposite: Former NFL player Kyle Turley shows cannabis inside of his own dispensary, Shango. Turley is a cannabis advocate and speaks out regularly about his health journey and positive experiences with the plant. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea
LLove is in the air and it’s officially wedding season in Arizona. And whether these celebrated unions take place in large banquet halls, fancy resort surrounds, or quaint backyards across our fine state, many brides and grooms will be planning a wedding that celebrates their love with Mother Earth in mind.
Planning a sustainable wedding can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be! According to Arizona-based wedding and event planner Paris Semple, there are some easy things couples can do to help make their day a little eco-friendlier.
“All it really takes is having a goal in mind and a little extra foresight. For example, I’ve worked with great florists that create sustainable floral designs by only working with flowers that grow locally and are in season,” she notes. “Also, we partner with organizations that will, after the wedding day, accept donations of flowers to create unique arrangements for local hospitals and nursing homes. Another way to reduce your footprint is to ditch the favors and
goodies at the table - it cuts back on waste and allows couples to spend money on other upgrades.”
Semple suggests an easy way to reduce food waste is to opt for a plated dinner format instead of a buffet-style reception. Additionally, working with local rental companies to provide linens and table settings can easily be one of the best ways to reduce waste. As many items from a wedding are rarely reused, employing a rental company allows couples to procure necessary reception items without having to purchase them and potentially throw them in the trash after the event is complete.
Around Arizona, when it comes to wedding venues that can host a sustainable wedding, Semple shares
almost all venues can help clients meet their ecofriendly goals and be adaptable to client requests.
Valley resident Madeline Dolgin recently planned her own sustainable wedding, saying it was important for both her and her partner. “When planning our wedding, we looked at each crucial or trendy element of this special event with a critical eye. We determined what impact it would have on the environment, whether it had a purpose – and then researched how to reduce the environmental impact for the things we chose to do with our choice of vendors and sustainable products.”
Dolgin shares sustainability became a passion while studying fashion in college. She was horrified to learn about human rights abuses within the industry and how fashion manufacturing pollutes the environment. The wedding industry can also have detrimental impacts on the environment, so when she got engaged while pursuing her master’s in natural resources, she knew she wanted to start her marriage in a sustainable way. Dolgin wanted to make a commitment not only to her partner but also to their shared dedication to the environment and creating a sustainable life. According to her, their wedding goals included “supporting local, supporting diverse or minorityowned businesses, and reducing the environmental impact.”
For her bridesmaid dresses, Dolgin turned to a Los Angeles-area designer for sustainable fabrics, but she used Valley-based vendors for other elements, such as a local flower farmer, digital photo booth in lieu of wasteful photo booth prints, and even a vegan caterer. The entire event was held at the Icehouse in Downtown Phoenix, a preserved historic building dating back to 1920.
For wedding rings, Dolgin wore a family heirloom, and her husband wore a fair trade ring from carbonnegative company Aether. Final touches included renting compost bins from Recycle City to ensure food and other materials were composted at the end of the event.
Dolgin says while it wasn’t the easiest of processes to make her wedding sustainable, it was worth it. “It sometimes meant sacrificing the perfect vision, but it also meant connecting with incredible people and vendors whose values aligned with ours. We felt good knowing we made steps to reduce our environmental impact, so our planning process felt more intentional and spiritual.”
Feng Shui is a 3,000-year-old Chinese philosophy based on the premise that your environment — your home, office, landscape — is a direct reflection or mirror of your consciousness. The better the energy of your life can flow freely through your spaces, and the more beautiful, tidy and uplifting those spaces are, the more energized, beautiful, clean, and joyful your inner world becomes.
The 2023 Chinese New Year's Day was January 22. According to the Chinese horoscope, the Yin Water Rabbit will reign through February 9, 2024. To prepare for an auspicious new year, try these tips below to energize your living spaces and your own personal energy field.
1. To feel peaceful, joyful, and energized in 2023, commit to removing items in your living spaces that no longer serve you. Hopefully, you are setting some great intentions for this coming year to become the best version of you. Perhaps it is the cookies and the other sugary items that no longer speak to the healthier version of you. Or maybe it’s the pockets or mountains of clutter you ignore. According to Feng Shui, anywhere in our home that is not receiving love and attention is a direct reflection that, somewhere in
your life, YOU are not receiving love and attention. Let go of the stuff that holds you back and remove all clutter.
2. Have increasingly more clarity and effectiveness this year by sitting or sleeping in the power positions of your home. You are in the power position of a room when you are able to see the entry door, but are not directly in front of it. Place yourself in the power position in all your rooms: in your office, living room, dining area, bedroom, and any other rooms you sit/stand in for long periods of time. If you can't sit in the power position of the room, place a mirror opposite the entry from your alternate vantage point. According to Feng Shui, we do not want mirrors in our bedrooms, so utilize a very small mirror in this sacred space.
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3. Add living plants to your spaces. Plants nourish you with oxygen, and they also bring nature into your indoor environment. Being surrounded by nature is especially healing and considered very good Feng Shui. You will want to have a healthy, lush plant no further away than seven feet from where you sit or sleep. Choose plants with rounded leaves and no sharp edges.
4. Take an assessment of your home to make sure everything is in good working order. As a Feng Shui consultant, I have my clients actually take a field trip around their home. During this process, they go outside to the front of their home as if they are a guest, and I ask them to look at their home very carefully, as if they were visiting for the first time. During this tour of your own home, look to see that everything is working and nothing is broken, including within your front and backyards. According to Feng Shui, anything broken in your home represents something broken in your life. A gate that needs repairing, a household item left unmended – all of these items over time create agitation and frustration.
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5. Have fun and celebrate your blessings! Having a grateful heart is the very best Feng Shui. A joyful home will bring you much happiness and laughter. Plan parties and gatherings, and look for all you can to be grateful for. Toast to yourself and others often. Recognizing and acknowledging small and large blessings attracts and ensures that blessings will continue. Your home will be the home where everyone wants to go and won’t want to leave.
With these five easy steps, see what joy and positive energy you can usher into your life in 2023. For more information, visit www.elementsandenergy.com.
We are looking for experienced newspaper, magazine, and digital media Advertising Sales Representatives. We are seeking candidates who have demonstrated skills in the following areas:
• Direct, in-person, B2B sales, especially in the advertising field
• The ideal candidate will have two to five years of sales experience
• The Ad Rep will report directly to the Publisher
Responsibilities include the following: direct, inperson B2B sales of advertising for print, website, and e-Marketing formats in addition to sponsorships for eco events and summit events, through a relationship-based approach, being articulate and professional in both communication and appearance.
Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee President and CEO Jay Parry.
TThe Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee wants to make Super Bowl LVII is the “greenest Super Bowl ever,” with a goal for positive, longitudinal impact in the Phoenix community.
With just days to go until the Big Game, the committee has focused on four main sustainability areas in planning the event for more than 18 months: education, greening projects, waste diversion, and material and food recovery. The committee kicked off NFL Green Week on January 21 with a clean-up of the Lower Salt River. More than 600 volunteers focused on cleaning debris from the riverbed and banks, while military veteran divers with FORCE BLUE removed over 500 invasive apple snails and clams. NFL Green also planted nearly 100 low-water usage trees in the state.
Committee President and CEO Jay Parry notes that while committee efforts are paramount, the indelible effect of the week-long events surrounding the Super Bowl and the game itself will take place through public educational efforts on how to live more sustainably. “We want to make sure people are aware of efforts they can continue in their daily lives, because that is where the long-term impact happens,” Parry said.
The public will be encouraged to bring reusable water bottles and can make a positive impact by doing their part. These efforts include reducing consumption of single-use plastics and being aware of personal waste, in addition to disposing of waste correctly through landfill, recycling, or composting bins that will be available throughout downtown Phoenix, Parry said. “Working with our partners and stakeholders, we know [the] environment and sustainability [are] incredibly important not just in Arizona, but around the world,” she said.
The NFL estimates a typical event generates 35 tons of waste, with a Super Bowl event generating 50%
more. Parry adds that materials used in the eventsfrom the game turf and lumber for various stages and structures, to pole banners and vinyl decor - will be repurposed in some way. City of Phoenix resources, like a state-of-the-art compost facility and packager machine (one of only three of its kind in the nation), will also come into play. All of these efforts will count toward a waste diversion goal of 92% this year. As a comparison, in 2015 - the last time Arizona hosted the Big Game - the goal was 73%. Parry is confident that goal will be met thanks to the programs her team has put in place.
In addition to these efforts, the committee is also working with local food banks and agencies to get leftover food to those who need it, and partnered with Mesa company ElectraMeccanica in January to reduce the environmental impact of official host committee business as it’s conducted around the Valley. ElectraMeccanica presented the committee with 10 custom-wrapped, all-electric SOLOS to help employees and volunteers easily navigate crowded city streets and limited parking options, while saving on fuel costs and reducing carbon emissions.
Additionally, the host committee has been hard at work providing grants for various local nonprofit organizations, including Ability360, which received funding for a new truck and trailer that will transport adaptive sporting equipment to its clients around the Valley, and also to Vitalant, which received a donation for a mobile blood donation unit. For more information on Super Bowl Host Committee events and efforts, visit www.azsuperbowl.com.
IIt isn’t nicknamed the “Greenest Show on Grass” for no reason. The WM Phoenix Open is getting ready to tee off once again, and this eco-friendly event is getting an even bigger sustainability upgrade over years past.
Since 2013, WM has taken a zero-waste approach with the Phoenix Open through recycling, composting, donations, and reuse efforts. For 2023, cutting the carbon footprint remains a priority. According to Lee Spivak, senior manager of WM Sustainability Advisory Services, the difference will be noticeable.
“Fans on [the] course will not see a trash bin anywhere. Instead, everyone places items in either a recycle or compost bin,” he says. “Zero waste begins with ‘Recycling Right,’ which means placing only bottles, cans, paper, and cardboard in recycle bins, while keeping food, liquid, and plastic bags out of recycling bins.”
With plastic waste becoming a growing global concern, the WM team will aim to reduce plastic waste generated by the tournament. Spivak shares, “New for this year, fans can refill their water bottles for free at the WM Green Scene located in the tournament’s Fan Zone.”
And while incredibly important, these hefty green initiatives aren’t the only ones in play. Spivak notes those working on the event are committed to managing and reducing the
environmental impact from all tournament activities and collaborating with various Valley partners to lend a hand. For him and his team, it’s much bigger than just garbage.
“For the last 12 years, the tournament has purchased 100% renewable electricity from Arizona Public Service, and [uses] generators that are not plugged into the grid [and] run on biodiesel, which emits fewer emissions than diesel fuel,” he notes. “Most
WM trucks used to haul tournament materials run on compressed natural gas, emitting less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of diesel.”
Tournament officials have also partnered with food vendors to reduce food waste throughout the four-day affair by delivering unused food to local schools and charitable organizations throughout the Valley. They will also continue to invest in water conservation through various efforts, like recovering water from onsite kitchens and bars for use in tournament port-apotties. Additionally, all public handwashing stations have been replaced with hand sanitizing stations.
The tournament is widely known as one of the biggest sporting events each year, and there could be even more national attention in 2023 due to the NFL’s biggest game being played in Arizona on the same weekend. Spivak says that from a sustainability perspective, this is a good thing. “More fans will mean an increase in recycling and compost materials, which necessitates additional workforce to keep the tournament a zero-waste event. More fans also mean added opportunities to engage and educate about the importance of being more sustainable in our daily lives.”
Fans looking to get in on the eco-friendly action are encouraged to stop by the interactive area in the FanZone, where they can learn about recycling, zero waste, water conservation, and much more. There, they can also meet with WM Ambassadors, ask questions, and play educational games.
Visit www.wmphoenixopen.com/sustainability for more information about WM’s sustainability commitment to the tournament and the Valley of the Sun.
Resiliency is in Travis Shumake’s DNA. I met him in December 2012 when we were thrown together to plan the New Year’s Eve grand opening of a swanky Downtown Phoenix rooftop bar. He was tall and attractive with a quick wit and boyish charm that made his 6-foot-4-inch frame seem less intimidating. He was smart and carried himself with a confidence that was steady but not boastful - he knew who he was as a person - something that I, at six years his senior, wasn’t really sure of myself at the time.
What I also learned about Travis throughout the marathon-like grind and inevitable challenges we experienced setting up for that event, is that he was a person who intuitively knew how to roll with the punches; how to adjust, reposition, and move forward, as I imagine one does when faced with the behaviors, negative attitudes, and prejudices synonymous with coming out as a teen in the early 2000s.
Fast forward through the next 10 years in which he and I lost touch, to this last year as I quickly began to learn of his unusual journey following our successful planning endeavor all those years ago. Week after week, multiple updates began steadily pinging my LinkedIn account, illustrating that the path he charted for himself is truly as unique as he isconsisting of an impressive nonprofit fundraising career that includes three years at the Clinton Foundation and
a present position with the Sigma Chi Foundation. Perhaps most prominently, as of last year, Travis is now the first openly gay drag racer to enter the National Hot Rod Association (NHRA).
The son of NHRA title-winning racer Tripp Shumake and Arizona Drag Racing Hall of Fame Inductee Susie Shumake, Travis has always had a plan to follow in his dad’s footsteps. He first raced shifter karts with his dad at North Phoenix’s PKRA, and in the late 90s would run practice drills in the garage with his dad and girlfriend, NHRA funny car driver Paula Martin. But after his father’s sudden passing in 1999, Travis notes, “my family and I just kind of became fans.”
When COVID hit in 2020 and Travis found himself with a little more cash in his bank account, he decided to pursue his lifelong dream. Much like his dragster, the process
was fast. His racing resume includes a whirlwind six-month process of attending professional driving school and a head-turning 319.26 mph-pass in a Nitro Funny Car which covered the race track in 3.96 seconds. He obtained four NHRA racing licenses and earned his stripes in a massive crash at 300 mph, absorbing 18 lateral G’s to the chest - which netted
involvement at the event, the church referred to him as “a Sodomite reprobate…who comes fully equipped with a rainbow colored vehicle… racing to perdition like the New Testament’s swine over cliffs.” Protesters gathered outside the venue for three days, donning signs with large block letters that read “F*** Doom Nations” and “Fear God and Keep His Commandments.”
Undaunted by their presence, Travis made his national debut under the Randy Meyer moniker, qualifying for his first-ever national event in a rainbow-colored 4,000-horsepower dragster sponsored by Visit Topeka and Pride Kansas.
“You know you’ve made it when you’ve been protested by the Westboro Baptist Church,” he jokes.
two broken ribs and a medevac off the race track. In April of last year, Travis made his NHRA debut in the Top Alcohol Dragster category, winning hard-fought battles to procure his own funding and sponsorships. He put his top-tier fundraising skills to work - this time for himself.
His steady self-assuredness and unwavering dedication to his life-long dream was put to the test once more in August 2022, when he appeared in his first national event at Topeka’s Heartland Motorsports Park. There, his presence was protested by none other than the notoriously homophobic Westboro Baptist Church.
The group rose to infamy in 1998 during its protest of the funeral of Matthew Shepard, a gay University of Wyoming student who died after being savagely attacked and left for dead in a vicious hate crime. Members at the funeral carried signs that read “God Hates F***” (also featured in the church’s heinous URL) and “AIDS Kills F*** Dead.” Having sent out a press release to organize a protest of Travis’
Strangely, he’s not wrong. Within the next 60 days, the church also protested against Michael Bublé for having a gay uncle ahead of his concert in Kansas City, Mo., and picketed outside a Paramore concert in Bonner Springs, citing the band’s “feverish” pursuits of “success, pride, lust, fame, and fortune.”
Travis brushes the severity of the protest aside.
“Visit Topeka signed on as my first major sponsor in an effort to show the country how welcoming and diverse the heartland can be. Those protestors aren’t a reflection of Topeka and certainly didn’t ruffle my feathers.”
But his natural animation and high energy slow in this moment to share a meaningful reflection.
“One of my closest relationships in racing is with a favorite mentor of mine, Del Worsham. And one of the most inspiring things he said to me was after I hit the wall and ripped his funny car in half during a testing pass in Las Vegas. He said, ‘You know, everyone’s worried about you coming out of this wreck and how you’re gonna feel. All eyes are on you, and people are talking about you. I told my wife that you’ve probably dealt with that your whole life, and you were meant to be resilient in these situations
because of what you’ve gone through as a gay man. I told her that I assume you’re gonna be just fine.’ Wow. Such a wise thing to say.”
As we continue our discussion about the protest, he points out the diverse history of the NHRA - one that includes female, Black, and Hispanic drivers that spans several decades, making it the most inclusive of all motorsports divisions. Still, the absence of an openly gay driver until now raises questions about the sport’s culture.
“There have been gay race car drivers, plenty of them. I’m not the first. I’d say I’m the 53rd,” he laughs. “Historically, the prevailing attitude is that it's not a big deal, and you should just keep it to yourself. Someone once posted online that if I’m special for being gay, then he was special for being circumcised. For all of the LGBTQ+ people involved in the sport who aren’t comfortable coming out because of this implied ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ mentality, it is a big deal.”
From Travis’ perspective, he found that the protest had the opposite effect of the church’s intention. It brought to the surface long-buried conversations within the industry and provided representation for a demographic of fans that –until just a couple of months earlier – didn’t see people like themselves in the sport.
“It gave people an excuse to come up to me to not only offer their support, but share that my being there meant something to them,” he said. “Like a gay old couple walked up, sunburned in their drag racing t-shirts and said, ‘We've been out here for 50 years. This is awesome.’”
Then there’s the camaraderie being created behind the scenes with Travis and fellow drivers, crew members, and sponsors connected to various teams that are not yet comfortable going public with their LGBTQ+ status.
“It was weird at first to get encouraging notes in my DM’s from people across motorsports saying they were looking forward to meeting me at some point.”
he says. “It took time for me to understand that some were gravitating towards me because I felt safe to them or made them comfortable with whatever they were going through. Some are facing their own hesitations and fears about coming out, and others are processing news of someone close to them that recently came out. We have a ton of allies out there who just needed a reason to raise their voices. Despite it being a very diverse and welcoming space, there is certainly so much room to grow.”
He likens his recent entry into the NHRA to Bubba Wallace’s entry into NASCAR.
“When Bubba came onto the scene, his presence stirred up a lot of stuff - and with it, relationships were challenged and broken behind the scenes because certain people didn’t believe he should be there. A change like this can fracture a sport if you let it. Now, Bubba is a household name and people are talking about his driving, not his race,” he said. “It’s
the same for me currently. Some people celebrate my presence, while others detest it, and there are some relationships that have been impacted. I’m cognizant that my presence has an effect behind the scenes and can affect other people - but I can’t hide or be afraid of the conversations that people are having. In turn, I’ve got to have my own. All of these are crucial to determining who I want to align myself with for the long run.”
For Travis, driving for the winningest team in Top Alcohol Dragster history can come with a unique set of challenges. With a team of six drivers and only two dragsters, he is constantly jockeying for seat time. His opportunities to competebased on an ever-evolving combination of seniority, sponsorship dollars, and “home track” location - can change from season to season. For 2023, he was confirmed for just three of more than 25 racesdown two from last year - after two of his senior teammates secured primary funding for the majority of the season.
“Life has a way of moving us forward in different ways that perhaps we weren’t prepared for or planning on,” he says. “Last season I was able to secure sponsors for every race that the car was available to me. I’m ready to raise more money and bring additional dollars, sponsors, and eyes to our sport.”
He confides, “It’s time to start building my own team.” This move would make him not only the first openly gay driver in NHRA history, but the first openly gay owner of a professional American motorsports team.
When asked what it would take to own his own team, Travis shares that the real renaissance of the NHRA has come in the last few years and focuses more on the financial restructuring of the sport more than anything else. The league has seen a change attributed to individual team owners operating on far smaller
budgets than what was thought to be required to compete in the sport.
“The bigger teams - the ones with a lot of money and multiple semi-trucks - can spend upwards of $100K to operate one dragster for one race weekend,” he notes. “I know a handful of independent teams that can operate for much less and do it well. They may not put a new engine in after every round - but they can make it work by taking care of their parts and racing smart. Of course, I’d love to do it all one day with a big budget, but that doesn’t mean I can’t do it for less.”
His plan for the 2023 season is to graduate up a class, from Top Alcohol to Top Fuel - a move that requires yet another license and takes him from operating a vehicle with 4,000 horsepower to one that will require him to tame 11,000 wicked little ponies. Just two weeks after winning Athlete of the Year at the Compete Sports Diversity Awards in Las Vegas, Travis proudly put a deposit on a dragster that will propel his dreams forward.
“I'm a proud millennial lifetime renter, and the first asset I'm gonna own in life is a Top Fuel dragster,” he says, amused. “It’s bananas. If you know of anyone looking to raise eyebrows and go halfsies on a professional race team, let me know!”
He shares that although he didn’t plan to own a team this early in his career, the freedom it brings greatly
Travis with fellow NHRA drivers Jasmine Salinas and Julie Nataas. Photo courtesy of Shumake Racingoutweighs the financial hardship and hustle that comes with the territory.
“My dad got paid to drive, whereas in my first season, I was raising every sponsorship dollar that got me on the track for those five events,” he said. “I’ll still be doing that next season, but having the freedom to wholly align myself with products, companies, and people that want to be on the right side of motorsports history is incredibly empowering.”
Travis also notes that along with this new freedom comes not only the responsibility of continuing to create conversations about LGBTQ+ involvement in the sport, but to attract new fans and implement initiatives that do right by the environment.
Travis admits, "The truth is, there isn't enough being done to offset the consequences that our sport has on the environment. There are a host of teams that are open to ideas and genuinely want to do better - they just don't know how."
He continues, “When I’m driving someone else's car, I can’t dictate that we plant 100 trees to offset the carbon emissions burned by the semi truck on the way to the track, or come up with my own initiatives to balance the pollution created by my dragster. But with my own team, I'll have the ability to explore what being more environmentally friendly looks like in drag racing and share that knowledge with other teams.”
If there's anything I've learned about Travis' journey, sometimes it only takes one person to lead the charge in order for others to follow.
Currently, the NHRA is testing electric dragsters that exceed 200 mph and are engineered by the sport’s rear engine dragster pioneer, Don Garlits.
According to Travis, “These additions may scare people who think that electric dragsters mean the end of drag racing as we know it. I disagree. I think it amplifies what we are doing and opens exciting opportunities to attract new fans, manufacturers, and sponsors to our sport.”
Presently, Travis intends to spend the first half of the 2023 season earning his Top Fuel license and learning the intricacies of the 330 mph nitromethane-fueled dragster he will soon call his own. With the help of current sponsors Sheetz Convenience Stores, Grindr, and Envision Rise, he plans to make his Top Fuel debut in the fall.
Although he dreamt of running on his dad’s home track in next month’s NHRA Arizona Nationals — the finale event to be held at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park before it’s torn down later this year - he’s going to sit this one out with the prospect of bigger and better things on the horizon. He’s going to do the thing that I observed him doing best all those years agoadjust, reevaluate, and roll with the punches. For more information about Travis, visit www.travisshumake.com.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF PHX BEER CO.
Ingredients
1 1/2 oz fresh arugula
1 1/2 oz green kale
1 1/2 oz shallot vinegar
4 oz sautéed mushrooms
2 oz roasted red bell pepper
4 oz roasted Brussels sprouts
1 oz shredded carrots
1 fresh basil leaf
Directions
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat the red peppers and Brussels sprouts in olive oil and salt. Roast the red peppers for 15-20 minutes or until the skins are very dark and have collapsed. Leave the Brussels sprouts in for an additional 10-15 minutes.
In a bowl, mix the arugula, kale, and carrots, then add the shallot vinegar until fully incorporated. Transfer greens and carrot mixture to a salad bowl, then place bell peppers and roasted Brussels sprouts on top. Garnish it with the basil leaves.
RECIPE AND PHOTO COURTESY OF PEDAL HAUS BREWERY
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
½ cup breakfast potatoes, cooked until crispy
4 artichoke hearts, halved
2 tablespoons cremini mushrooms, quartered
2 tablespoons diced bell peppers and onions
1 tablespoon pico de gallo
1 cup whipped eggs
½ cup arugula
1 teaspoon sliced chives
2 tablespoons jalapeño cream cheese (recipe below)
½ avocado, charred fruit-side down on grill
1 tablespoon grated white cheddar cheese
Directions
Heat butter in a nonstick pan and sauté potatoes, peppers, mushrooms, and artichokes together until hot. Add pico de gallo and eggs and gently stir until completely mixed. Add arugula and chives and fold together just until arugula begins to wilt. Remove from heat.
Spread cream cheese across one side of a serving bowl from the center up and around one side. Place scrambled egg mixture in a neat pile in the center of the bowl, then place avocado on top. Grate cheese over the entire dish to finish.
Jalapeño Cream Cheese
2 cups whipped cream cheese
½ cup diced jalapeño
Directions
Fold both ingredients together until smooth.
For more recipes and food-related articles, visit www.greenlivingmag.com/savor
In southern Arizona, Mission Garden honors the cultural tapestry that forms Tucson’s celebrated culinary heritage
BY REBECCA L. RHOADESTThe Tohono O’odham people call it “S-cuk Son” — meaning “at the base of the black hill.” In the protected valley, the Santa Cruz River once flowed freely, converging with the Rillito River and enriching the dry Sonoran soil. Stately saguaros stand guard on the desert floor while majestic mesquite trees provide shade from the hot summer sun. For more than 4,000 years, both native and non-indigenous crops thrived in the fertile floodplains.
Today, the region at the base of Sentinel Peak is known as Tucson, and it’s one of the oldest agricultural sites in North America.
For thousands of years, the Hohokam, ancestors of the Tohono O’odham people, cultivated this land, growing corn, beans, and squash and harvesting
desert plants. Archaeological records show that maize was grown here as early as 2590 B.C. — almost 5,000 years ago.
As the centuries progressed, additional influences arrived, merging with and adding to the Indigenous cultures. Spanish missionaries brought with them
fruit trees, wheat, grapes, and olives. Mexicans introduced chiles and chapalote corn. And, in the 1800s, Chinese settlers arrived, bringing produce such as strawberries, artichokes, and melons.
With the development of commercial farming, many of these crops disappeared from everyday cuisine. Mission Garden in Tucson is working to revive them, while educating the public on Arizona’s long agrarian history and culinary diversity.
Situated in the eastern foothills of Sentinel Peak, just west of Interstate 10, Mission Garden is a four-acre agricultural museum that was founded in 2012 and recently celebrated its 10th anniversary. The land on which it is located was once the garden of Mission San Agustin, an 18th-century Spanish colonial mission that is no longer standing.
The crops grown here tell a story of Tucson’s gastronomic roots. “The original idea was to create a place that represented the origins of Tucson, and how it became what it is now,” says Jesús García, education specialist at the nearby Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum and vice president of the board of Friends of Tucson’s Birthplace, the nonprofit organization that oversees the Garden. “There is a series of cultural layers that is very important to understanding the city.”
The Garden comprises distinct agricultural plots that represent the diverse groups who have lived and farmed in the Tucson Basin over time. “The archaeology reveals an incredibly complex and rich culture of people living in this area,” García notes. “It takes you back through 4,000-and-beyond years of human occupation and cultivation.”
The foraging of cactus fruit, jojoba nuts, and mesquite pods by the desert’s earliest dwellers was replaced
by rudimentary irrigation, which brought about the domestication of corn, beans, squash, and cotton. More complex watering systems increased the harvest. Tepary and lima beans became a staple of early diets, while dipper gourds were used as bowls and tools.
Two O’odham gardens reflected changes to the tribal communities that followed the arrival of Spanish missionaries. Native plants, such as huñ (60-day corn), i’hug (devil’s claw), and onk’i:wagi (salty greens) gave way to wheat, root crops, leafy vegetables, and fava and garbanzo beans.
“The missionaries and Spanish colonists really revolutionized agriculture here,” says Kendall Kroesen, outreach coordinator for Mission Garden. “Native American crops grew during the summer, but a lot of the plants introduced by the first Europeans grow well in winter, as well. Their arrival introduced yearround agriculture.”
Assistant gardener Maegan Lopez has been with Mission Garden for five years. As a member of the Tohono O’odham tribe, she has a strong cultural connection to the garden.
“A lot of the introduced foods were quite a blessing, but they also came with people who had new ideas, new religions, and new forms of government. The Tohono O’odham had to yield to so much change,” she explains.
“The humanity and identity of the O’odham drastically changed because of the colonization. Our agricultural practices are fused with the modernization of this country.”
For many visitors, and even for locals who stop by the Garden for the first time, the amount of crops that flourish in Arizona is eye-opening. The desert is often thought of as a barren landscape where only cacti and tumbleweeds are found.
“People just don’t know the history,” Kroesen says. “The Sonoran Desert is very rich in biodiversity. This is partly because we’re lodged between the Mojave Desert to the west, which gets mostly winter rainfall, and the Chihuahuan Desert to the east, which gets summer rain. We get some of each. That means that plants don’t have to go nine months with no water, which is great for agriculture.”
Many of the crops grown at Mission Garden are considered heritage or heirloom crops. These cultivars were grown prior to the mechanization of farming. For example, white Sonoran wheat is considered to be the oldest wheat in the Americas. It was introduced in Arizona by Jesuit missionary Father Eusebio Francisco Kino in the late 1600s. Droughttolerant and fungusresistant, the wheat was well-adapted to the region’s arid environment, but by 1975, the grain was commercially unavailable.
“The concept of commercial and industrialized agriculture has created transgenic crops that are fitted to produce large quantities with the least amount of input,” García explains. “Bringing heritage fruits and vegetables back creates diversity. They are as natural and as close to the source as possible without processing. We have a diversity of wheat, citrus, grapes, pomegranates — everything.”
Reintroducing ancient crops is not only good for health, but it also revives cultural values connected to the plants.
Lopez notes, “These are the seeds and foods of my ancestors. They’re about memory. They’re about taste and feelings and sensations. It’s going back to the simplicity of your senses and how strong they are.”
The recent pandemic saw consumers become more interested in knowing where their food comes from and in growing it themselves. Increasing temperatures and frequent severe weather events are also raising awareness of the need for more locally sourced and regionally adapted foods.
“According to climatologists, Tucson is one of the fastest-heating cities in the U.S.,” Kroesen says. “A few years ago, we had three days in the summer where temperatures hit 115 or 116 degrees, and we’re probably going to have more of those extreme heat events in the future.”
To help promote sustainable and innovative agricultural practices, Mission Garden is planning to create Tomorrow’s Garden. “The idea is to examine how people grow crops, or what will be the best way to grow a garden in Tucson in 2050 with even scarcer water, hotter temperatures, and more extreme weather events,” Kroesen explains.
The Garden is exploring modern technologies such as hydroponics (the growth of plants without soil) and agrivoltaics (farming with solar panels). Plans are still underway for Tomorrow’s Garden, and Kroesen hopes development will begin in 2024.
For García, Mission Garden as a whole is Tomorrow’s Garden. “Just think about it for a moment. The fact that we are bringing back these crops, that we’re bringing back the cultural values associated with them — it all comes together,” he says. “Once you cover all the cultures leading up to today, it is very obvious that the knowledge we have and continue to acquire takes us into the future.”
Sun City Farmers Market - Seasonal
Thursdays, Oct 6 - May 25, 9am - 1 pm
16820 N. 99th Ave., Sun City 85351
Carefree Farmers Market - Year round
Fridays, Oct - May 9am-1pm;
Jun - Sep 8am-11am
1 Sundial Circle, Carefree 85377
Downtown Chandler Farmers Market - Seasonal
Saturdays, Oct 1 - May 27, 9am-1pm
3 S Arizona Ave, Chandler 85225
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market - Seasonal
Saturdays, Oct 1 - May 27, 8am - 1pm;
Jun 3 - Jun 24, 7am - 10am
3806 N. Brown Av, Scottsdale 85251
Roadrunner Park Farmers Market - Year round
Saturdays, 8am - noon Oct 1 - May 27
Jun - Sep 7am - 10am
3502 E. Cactus Rd, Phoenix 85032
Ahwatukee Farmers Market - Year round
Sundays, Oct 2 - May 28, 9am - 1pm
Jun 4 - Sep 24, 8am - 11am
4700 E. Warner Rd., Phoenix 85044
Farmers Market on High Street - Seasonal
Sundays, Oct 2 - May 14, 10am - 1pm
5415 E. High Street, Phoenix 85054
Ocotillo Farmers Market - New
Sundays, Oct 30 - May 28, 9am - 1:30pm
*Call for Summer Schedule
2577 W Queen Creek rd, Chandler 85248
Verrado Farmers Market - Seasonal
Sundays, Nov 6 - June 25, 9am to 1pm N. Market Place & W. Main St., Buckeye 85396
Arizona Community Farmers Markets has been creating and coordinating farmers markets in Metro Phoenix and across the Valley for more than 33 years.
Many of our farmers markets serve as local hubs for their communities, bringing together neighbors to shop and meet up on a weekly basis. Our Roadrunner Park Farmers Market has served the communities of Northeast Phoenix for over three decades.
Our mission has always been to provide local farmers, growers and other agricultural producers with stable venues that offer them the opportunity to engage directly with customers and grow their business.
We support local micro-businesses from value-added food producers and products, to local artisans and crafters.
Our farmers markets are where folks come to enjoy what neighborhood gathering places are about - slowing down, discovering new, delicious fresh foods, and getting to know the folks responsible for bringing them to your table.
TThis Valentine’s Day, plan a little something special with lovey-dovey cocktails made from eco-friendly spirits. While there are quite a few on the market, these are a few of our favorites.
Chinola Passion Fruit Liqueur is handcrafted from distilled spirits and fresh passion fruit on the remote Samaná Peninsula in the Dominican Republic. Named after the Dominican passion fruit, which locals pronounce as chee-noh-lah, the liqueur balances the fruit’s unique tartness with natural sweetness and tropical essence. The company is committed to authenticity and sustainability practices, including the use of non-GMO passion fruit; crop rotation with turmeric, pineapple, and plantains; and using
honeybees to assist with fruit pollination. They also growe only a fraction of the fruit and then sharing agricultural best practices with local farmers who are responsible for the majority of the crops that are then purchased back. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Chinola has partnered with Vesta Chocolate to create limited-edition Chinola bonbon and ganache chocolates made with Dominican cacao. While Chinola follows
a vine-to-bottle approach using fresh passion fruit and no additives in each bottle, Vesta takes a beanto-bonbon approach using organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar to produce artisanal chocolate. The single-origin collection features Vesta’s signature 66% chocolate bonbons and dark chocolate ganache with a caramel filling made with Chinola liqueur. Once bitten, the bonbons burst forth with bright and juicy Chinola, including subtle notes of citrus and spices. www.shopchinola.com; www.vestachocolate.com
Eco-friendly rum producer Don Q is a leader in environmentallyfriendly production practices. Based in Puerto Rico, the spirits company has invested significant time, knowledge, and resources to develop a wastewater reclamation program. By connecting a series of self-contained processes into an innovative cycle of wastewater treatment and energy harvest, the distillery is able to maximize its production capacity while also protecting the vibrant ecosystem of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean Sea. www.donq.com
For an easy Valentine’s Day cocktail, try the Chismosa Royale
Ingredients
4 oz Brut Champagne
3/4 oz Chinola
1/4 oz Grand Marnier
1 dash Angostura Bitters
Garnish
Use a channel knife to curl a four-inch orange peel.
Pour Chinola, Grand Marnier, and Angostura Bitters into a Champagne flute. Top with chilled Champagne. Garnish with orange peel.
Based in Colorado, femalefounded craft rum brand Montanya has an impressive list of sustainability initiatives. For starters, the distillery, barrel room, warehouse, and tasting room are 100% wind-powered. The company works with Terrapass to offset carbon production through programs that plant trees, install innovative renewable energy (like photo-voltaic solar grids), and capture methane from landfills. Montanya also installed a biodigester that processes organic waste into gray water that can be used to fertilize gardens. In addition to printing on recycled stocks using soy inks, Montanya prints labels and case boxes on FSC certified paper. Moreover, the company became certified Plastic Neutral through a partnership with rePurpose Global that funds the collection and processing of nature-bound plastic. The tasting room and office are LEED-certified, and Montanya has eliminated all plastic from its packaging and tasting room. www.montanyarum.com
BY MISTY MILIOTO
Nashville, or Music City as it is known, is a place where not only songwriters and performers flourish, but also a destination where visitors can relish in creativity. Whether that means discovering new artists at one of many musical venues, checking out a museum, trying a top chef’s inspired dish at a happening restaurant, or shopping at unique small businesses, Nashville is a city that has it all. Here’s a look at what to discover now.
Located in the heart of downtown’s dynamic SoBro (South of Broadway) area, the brand new Four Seasons Hotel Nashville is just steps away from the city’s music, sports, and entertainment districts. The luxury hotel features 193 guest rooms, 42 suites, 144 residential units, Mimo Restaurant and Bar (an Italian concept led by Executive Chef Aniello Turco), an indulgent spa with six treatment rooms, a fitness center designed in partnership with celebrity trainer and Four Seasons Global Fitness Advisor Harley Pasternak, a hair and nail salon, and a rooftop pool that overlooks the Cumberland River and Riverfront Park. Chicago-based architectural firm Solomon
Cordwell Buenz designed the environmentally advanced 40-story glass tower, with interior design by West Palm Beach, Florida-based Marzipan and St. Louis-based HOK. 100 Demonbreun St., 615.610.5001, www.fourseasons.com/nashville
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center (a Marriott Bonvoy property) is a destination in and of itself. With nine acres of airy, indoor garden atriums, the sprawling property features 50,000 tropical plants, rare international blooms, and towering palms (with 20 full-time horticulturists on staff), 11 restaurants and bars, the stunning Relâche Spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, retail shops, and 2,712 guest rooms and 176 suites. The property also is home to SoundWaves,
the city’s premier aquatic attraction. 2800 Opryland Drive, 615.889.1000, www.gaylordopryland.com
Opened in 2022, Hotel Fraye Nashville is located in the city’s buzzy Midtown neighborhood just steps away from Music Row, Vanderbilt University, and downtown Nashville. The 200-room hotel features Gathre, a signature ground-floor restaurant; Eddie Ate Dynamite, a swanky rooftop bar and lounge offering live music nightly; a cabana-clad pool; and an oversized fitness center. The chic guest rooms feature industrial accents like high concrete ceilings, exposed brick, and uniquely curated furniture. Glamorous chandeliers and funky light fixtures vary by room, while public spaces and guest rooms boast graffiti murals, fashion editorial-style photography, and abstract art pieces. 1810 Broadway St., 615.321.1007, www.hotelfrayenashville.com
Part of the city’s new Broadwest mixed-use development, Conrad Nashville is a 13-story luxury retreat ideally situated in the heart of Midtown. Designed by New York-based Champalimaud Design, the hotel features 234 guest rooms (including 24 suites) with floor-to-ceiling windows, local artwork throughout, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a spacious terrace pool, three food and beverage concepts, and more. Book one of the signature King Wellness Rooms, which include a Peloton bike, an Echelon Reflect Fitness Mirror, air purification machines, and a customized aromatherapy bathroom amenity. Or, book one of the one-, two- or three-bedroom Grand Suites, which range in size between 2,105 and 3,008 square feet, featuring a theater room and stunning views of Music City. 1620 West End Ave., 615.327.8000, www.hilton.com
Located in Nashville’s charming Germantown neighborhood, Henrietta Red is a great place for vegetable-forward dishes, daily cava and oyster happy hour, and natural wines and craft cocktails. Led by Nashville-native and chef Julia Sullivan, Henrietta Red was named one of GQ’s Best New Restaurants in
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. Photo courtesy of Gaylord Opryland ResortAmerica in 2018. The same year, Sullivan was named one of the Best New Chefs by Food & Wine. 1200 4th Ave. N., 615.490.8042, www.henriettared.com
Award-winning chef Deb Paquette is the brainchild behind the globally-inspired restaurant, Etch. In addition to two private dining rooms, the restaurant features a full bar and a chef’s bar where guests can interact with Paquette (the first woman in Tennessee
to qualify as a certified executive chef). Try the Argentinian beef with fried potato salad, zucchini fresca, greens, and rojo and verde sauces. 303 Demonbreun St., 615.522.0685, www.etchrestaurant.com
Independently owned and operated craft brewery Tennessee Brew Works offers high-quality craft beer that pays homage to the land, traditions, and culture of Tennessee. In fact, the brewery introduced the state’s first all-Tennessee grain beers in 2018 with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Try the all-Tennessee grain State Park Blonde Ale, which benefits the TSP Conservancy for the preservation of the state’s 57 State Parks. 809 Ewing Ave., 615.436.0050, www.tnbrew.com
Nelson's Green Brier Distillery, opened in 1870 by Charles Nelson, was one of the nation’s most prolific whiskey producers when it closed in 1909 during Prohibition. In 2014, two young descendants of Nelson (brothers Charlie and Andy Nelson) reopened the distillery to continue the family’s legacy. Check out the modern-industrial distillery space in Marathon Village and try the awardwinning small-batch Belle Meade Bourbon, the limited edition Belle Meade Bourbon Sherry Cask Finish, and Nelson’s Green Brier Tennessee White Whiskey. 1414 Clinton St., 615.913.8800,
www.greenbrierdistillery.com
A popular downtown Nashville restaurant, Black Rabbit pays homage to the storied past of the historic Printer's Alley neighborhood in which it resides. Reminiscent of the early 1900s speakeasies that permeated the area, Nashville chef Trey Cioccia’s cocktail bar and restaurant attributes its name to a bygone New York cocktail bar. In addition to the gorgeous space with
Photo courtesy of EtchTwelve years ago I had an awareness. I felt whole. My five bodies (physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and energetic) were together, breathing as one. I had healed my childhood trauma.
I share my experience, strength, hope, education, and healing through highly developed personal intensives. These intensives are personalized treatment plans that will help you gain clarity of thoughts, behaviors, and triggers. Bring your five bodies together and change your life by experiencing true freedom.
16-foot ceilings, exposed brick, and original hardwood flooring, Black Rabbit boasts a large bar, spacious banquettes, a living room area, and an adjacent patio with openair seating. Try the half-chicken with mole, kale, quinoa, jalapeño, radish, pickled onion, and carrot, and don’t leave without the skillet cookie dessert. Black Rabbit also hosts several weekly events and live entertainment. 218 3rd Ave. N., 615.891.2380, www.blackrabbittn.com
Located 50 miles southeast of Nashville in Shelbyville, Nearest Green Distillery honors the world’s first-known Black master distiller, Nathan “Nearest” Green. He is credited with perfecting the Lincoln County Process, a requirement of Tennessee Whiskey that involves filtering the whiskey through—or steeping it in— charcoal chips. Nearest Green Distillery’s portfolio is the most-awarded American whiskey or bourbon of 2019, 2020, and 2021, with more than 380 awards and accolades since the brand's 2017 launch, including 46 Best in Class honors. The 323-acre property also features Philo + Frank’s (the world’s first non-alcoholic speakeasy), Barrel House BBQ (try the Grilled Cheese on Crack), the Family Tasting Room, the Single Barrel Warehouse (where the rarest of Uncle Nearest’s whiskey ages before being bottled), the Bottling House, an expansive retail area, and more. 3125 US-231, Shelbyville, 931.773.3070, www.unclenearest.com
JACK DANIEL'S DISTILLERY
Lynchburg, home to Jack Daniel’s Distillery, is located 70 miles southeast of Nashville in the hills of south central Tennessee. The distillery, registered by Daniel in 1866, is the first registered distillery in the United States and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The distillery tour includes the barrelhouse (holding more than 20,000 barrels of whiskey), the rickyard (where cords of hard sugar maple wood are
burned to make the charcoal for the Lincoln County Process), the underground cave spring (the source of the iron-free water used to make the whiskey), Jack Daniel’s first office (including the infamous safe that caused a leg injury that eventually led to Daniel’s death), and the White Rabbit Bottle Shop (a reconstruction of a saloon that Daniel operated in Lynchburg before Prohibition). 133 Lynchburg Hwy., Lynchburg, 931.759.6357, www.jackdaniels.com
Nearest Green Distillery. Photo by Stacy Preston
ABLE
This sustainable company offers high-quality leather goods, handmade jewelry, apparel, denim, and shoes. ABLE prioritizes quality and longevity, while using the most eco-conscious materials that stand the test of time and wear. Here, leather goods are upcycled from discarded animal hides, and the majority of ABLE’s
sterling silver jewelry is made purely from recycled silver. The company uses sustainable denim and donates denim scraps to the government for housing insulation, while ABLE’s partners use a 100% recycled, closed-loop water system. The company also is moving toward 100% recyclable packaging materials and tags. Additionally, women comprise more than 90% of the staff, and the company partners with vendors around the world that provide women with safe and dignified jobs. 5022 Centennial Blvd., 615.250.7216, www.ableclothing.com
NISOLO
Nisolo, a local company that offers fashionable and eco-friendly shoes, bags, wallets, belts, socks, and jewelry, operates under the Nisolo Sustainability Framework. This standard works toward building an ethical fashion ecosystem that uplifts people and the planet, starting with the pursuit of 100% living wages that cover the basic needs of people within supply chains, and 0% net carbon footprint through the reduction and offsetting of carbon emissions. In a bold move to provide transparency to consumers and be accountable to the planet, the company also includes a sustainability facts label with its products to help consumers make better choices and invite likeminded brands to strengthen their approaches to sustainability.
1803 9th Ave. N., 615.953.1087, www.nisolo.com
Newly opened in January 2021, the National Museum of African American Music is the only museum dedicated to preserving and celebrating the more than 50 music genres and styles created, influenced, or inspired by African Americans. Anchoring the new
Photo courtesy of ABLE
downtown mixed-use development Fifth + Broadway, the immersive museum combines history and interactive technology through its many expertly curated collections. 510 Broadway, 615.301.8724, www.nmaam.org
Follow the neon signs along Lower Broadway, Nashville’s main drag, to find free live music 365 days a year. Bars owned by big names in country music include Jason Aldean’s Kitchen + Rooftop Bar, Miranda Lambert’s Casa Rosa, Alan Jackson’s AJ’s Good Time Bar, and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row.
A must-visit for any trip to Nashville, the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum features stateof-the-art galleries, archival storage, education classrooms, retail stores, the nearly 800-seat CMA Theater, the legendary letterpress operation of Hatch Show Print, and the Taylor Swift Education Center. The newest major exhibition, Western Edge: The Roots and Reverberations of Los Angeles CountryRock, on view through May 2025, traces the Los Angeles-based communities of visionary singers, songwriters, and musicians (such as the Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, the Eagles, and Linda Ronstadt) who, between the 1960s and 1980s, created and shaped the musical fusion of country-rock. Other temporary exhibitions include Bill Anderson: As Far as I Can See (through March 2023), Chris Stapleton: Since 1978 (through May 2023), and Martina McBride: The Power of Her Voice (through July 2023). 222 Rep. John Lewis Way S., 615.416.2001, www.countrymusichalloffame.org
The Listening Room Cafe has all the makings for a fun night out to enjoy dinner and a live musical performance together. This Nashville hotspot features local Nashville and East Tennessee bands, as well as national acts, and up-and-coming and number-one songwriters performing top hits as they were originally envisioned by the writers themselves. Pair a show with dinner and drinks ($15 food and beverage minimum per person) or dine sans the show inside the venue’s front bar and dining
room. Try the meatloaf sandwich or the smoked barbecue platter. 618 4th Ave. S., 615.259.3600, www. listeningroomcafe.com
Nothing says Nashville like a night at the Grand Ole Opry, the country’s longest running radio show. The show began as a simple radio broadcast in 1925 and today is host to new country music stars, superstars, and legends. The Opry has had six homes throughout its 90-plus years and now resides at the Grand Ole Opry House (with seating for 4,400 fans). 2804 Opryland Drive, 615.871.6779, www.opry.com
For more information, visit www.visitmusiccity.com.
Photo courtesy of The Listening Room Cafe
BY ANGEL FUCHS
Originally from California, Killorn moved to Colorado in 1987 to attend art school at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
“I'm all over the board as an artist,” Killorn said. “Graphic design, painting, murals, sculptures. Everything I do is repurposed; I haven't bought a canvas in years.”
Living in Colorado, Killorn embraces mountain life and loves exploring the hills of
Salida, the small town he calls home. Up in those mountains, he feels inspired to create. Using biodegradable paint, Killorn began painting dead trees in 2003, adding his special brand of flare and vibrancy to the rugged Colorado landscape.
“I've always felt connected to nature, particularly trees. They have character, and they speak to me,” he said. “I wanted to bring these dead trees back to
life. I painted the trees anonymously, and nobody knew who was doing it. People would ask me if I had seen the painted trees up in the hills – they had no idea it was me. It was a mystery.”
The painted trees of Salida attracted a lot of attention, and the community loved the art and color he brought to their mountain town. “There was a group of ladies who held meditation classes around them,” he recounted.
Eventually, the secret got out that Killorn was the mystery artist behind the painted trees. Soon, he found himself being hired to bring new life to expired trees in other parts of the country. In April 2022, the Arizona Biltmore commissioned him to paint three trees that had died on the grounds of the famed luxury resort.
“The drought had killed these huge trees and instead of cutting them down, they reached out to me,” he said. “What an opportunity!”
Those painted trees were so well received by guests and visitors that the resort invited Killorn back last month
to paint two more. Stoic, statuesque, and massive in size, the trees presented a huge undertaking for the one-man Killorn crew. Painting the trees where they stand, he worked to create his masterpieces around various obstacles, sometimes perching on ladders and lifts to reach heights of up to 40 feet. The process for all of his tree projects involves a great deal of preparation, including the removal of the bark and sanding of the trunk. He uses only biodegradable materials, and he paints and seals the trees by hand. It's a labor of love with truly beautiful results.
Killorn named his Arizona Biltmore painted tree art installation “Treasures in Heaven,” inspired by a favorite Bible verse, Matthew 6:19: “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
For more information about Killorn and his art visit www.curtiskillorncreations.com.
BY TYLER BUTLER
FSince 2014, Footprint - a materials science company - has been creating disruption in well-established industries, and is currently known for its breakthrough technology that developed high-quality sustainable alternatives to plastic and polystyrene foam.
With a major focus on changing the food packaging industry to keep plastic away from our food, founders Troy Swope and Yoke Chung have worked with their teams to develop plant-based replacements for plastic and styrofoam cups, lids, frozen food trays, produce cartons, quick-service clamshells, and much more.
For years, Footprint focused on the supermarket industry, solving issues like keeping food fresh on shelves or in the freezer case. Today, Footprint has created even more turnkey solutions for supermarkets, building on the learnings of its first projects to scale and maximize impact. To date, Footprint products have led to a global redirection of 61 million pounds of plastic waste from entering the air, earth, and water.
Most recently, Footprint has become a household name in Arizona through its sponsorship of the
Phoenix Suns Arena, translating into the creation of a massive sustainable event space, and even making it the nation’s first plastic-free arena. The arena itself serves as an innovation lab for Footprint’s cuttingedge technology and product development, which has transformed the sports and entertainment experiences at the arena. At Footprint, visitors enjoy their food and drinks in sustainable packaging developed by the company - its plant-based fiber technology is used in all trays, cups and utensils. The implementation of the products in this type of environment allows Footprint to assess customer response to Footprint’s technology, creating a phenomenal testing ground for the innovations shaping our future.
Footprint Co-Founder and CEO Troy Swope shared, “At Footprint Center, we are changing the way fans enjoy their favorite sports and entertainment
events. We are committed to transforming the experience so fans can enjoy their food in sustainable packaging, while also reducing waste and minimizing environmental impact. We are proud to be a leader in this industry and look forward to continuing to make a positive difference through our partnership with Suns Legacy Partners.”
These changes to Footprint Center are producing tangible results with a positive environmental impact. By replacing plastic plates and bowls with Footprint's plant-based fiber products over the last year, Footprint Center has saved enough energy and CO2 emissions to charge the cell phone of every Footprint Center attendee between now and 2060, drive around the Grand Canyon 2,650 times in a gasoline-powered passenger vehicle, or recycle 102 tons of waste.
The magnitude of this impact is getting attention outside of Arizona. Just last year, Footprint was recognized among Fast Company’s top 2022 Brands That Matter, landing itself in an exclusive category of just 18 companies doing business with the community in mind, recognized for the “unique ways they are taking their consumers, their immediate communities, and the health of the planet into account.”
The Business Intelligence Group also recognized Footprint recently, naming it among its 2023 BIG Innovation Award winners. Companies receive this recognition for their commitment to culture, products, and people. Footprint was highlighted as a good corporate citizen that is outpacing many of its competitors.
“These recognitions are a testament to the entire Footprint organization that is helping transform industries through our plant-based fiber solutions,” Swope said. “Thanks to our team of scientists, engineers, tooling and manufacturing experts, and a number of collaborative customers, we are helping companies transition away from single-use plastics and creating a healthier planet and people.”
Footprint’s evolving legacy is serving as a point of pride for the Valley. Footprint’s innovative spirit has led to new plant-based fiber products that outperform plastic, all while keeping costs in line with industry expectations. Locally and globally, Footprint is creating a brighter future for our planet, highlighting that eco-innovation in business and humanity is more than important, it is critical.
Join Footprint and its foundation in taking the pledge to quit plastic. By 2050 there will be more plastic in our ocean than fish. The time is now to quit plastic. Take the pledge, enter to win a free t-shirt, and learn how we can save the planet together. www.pledge2050.org
LLegacy EV has the “parts and smarts'' for electric vehicle conversion. The Tempebased company was established in 2019 by Rob Ward and Mavrick Knoles. The company is Ward’s brain-child from 2017, which emphasizes the pair’s passion for sustainability and has even grown to include his love of classic cars.
At first, the goal was to be a parts distributor, with the intent to make aftermarket E-mobility parts more accessible. The problem was collecting all the parts at once to build an electric vehicle motor or convert a gas-powered car to an EV.
Now Legacy EV works with manufacturers to integrate their systems into one cohesive kit that is supplied to builders or fleet owners, providing an easier way to convert vehicles.
“We’re really focused on helping other people build the cars,” Knoles said. “So we are the parts warehouse. We call ourselves the parts and smarts – we get other builders the parts that they need to do the conversions themselves.”
The company works with several Valley shops including Vintage Iron and Pauly’s Classic Car Corner. Vintage Iron plans to debut an electric El
Camino, while Pauly’s is working on a Chevrolet C-10. Both shops are certified by Legacy EV, who provided the standards training course. Once a shop is authorized, they join Legacy’s authorized installer network. When customers approach Legacy about building a car, one of the shops gets the job.
There’s new enthusiasm for restoring classic cars with electric motors, and classic car enthusiasts who like the sound of a big block engine don’t have to worry too much. Knoles said high-performance classic cars aren’t totally quiet; there’s just a different hum.
“It still is a really fun sound,” he said. “We started saying it’s like listening to an a capella band because you’re just hearing tires screech when somebody’s out there doing really cool performance things in their car. What I’ve grown to really appreciate since starting Legacy is the hum that the different electric
motors make. And you can really hear there’s a different type of performance in these different systems, which is really fun.”
Ward has loved classic cars since he was 12 years old. As for Knoles, he drove his first EV in 2014. Electric vehicles in Arizona are allowed to drive in the carpool lane, and Knoles wondered if it was really that efficient to allow the exemption. It was, he discovered. Combining their interests expanded the enthusiasm for electric classic cars, while still honoring their history.
And whether it’s the classic car or sustainability aspect that draws people in, Legacy EV is certainly propelling the future of electric vehicles forward. Since the company started, the two co-founders have focused largely on education.
“People really want to learn how to work with these systems safely,” Knoles said. “We’ve really grown our education team to help bring that to light.”
The company’s education team works with colleges and high schools in and outside of the Valley by training instructors first, then giving them the curriculum to teach the courses. Just getting started on the program is the East Valley Institute of Technology. Legacy’s first collegiate partnership was the Carroll Shelby Automotive Program at Northeast Texas Community College. Ward and Knoles would like to expand to 30 more schools next year, he said.
The company also offers its own training course online and in-house. Up to 20 people from anywhere complete five online modules at their own pace, and then come to Tempe for a week-long in-person training program. To date, over 100 people have completed that program, and it continues to be in demand. This month’s session was sold out, and there’s a waiting list for March.
The future of a career in electric vehicles is bright, Knoles said.
“I think right now, we have a lot of mechanics all over the country that are really wondering what their jobs will look like in the next 10-15-20 years,” he remarked. “And I don’t think that the existence of EV technology will mean that they can’t continue to do the work that they’ve been doing. I think it just means we need to up-skill those current mechanics.”
The next generation hot rodder might look a little bit different than today. Knoles points out that a lot more technicians are sitting in the car on their
laptops programming torque curves and setting acceleration maps.
“We see a lot of excitement in the younger generation. They’re looking forward to getting to build really cool things with sustainable technology,” he added. “And that is super exciting that you can do it with a tech degree, not necessarily a four-year college degree.”
Just how beneficial is converting gas motors to electric? Knoles gives the example of a school bus. New electric buses are fairly expensive, but also big polluters, especially in the smelting and mining process. A single bus weighs about 13,000 pounds. For every one pound of steel that’s mined, there are
nearly two pounds of carbon emitted. That equates to 26,000 pounds of carbon emissions.
However, converting an existing bus from gas to electric saves about six-and-a-half years of emissions and a lot of money. Knoles said it’s under $200,000 to convert, plus about 12 years of savings in operation costs. It’s difficult for school districts to purchase new electric buses because of the cost (about $350,000 to $450,000), and while there are incentives, they often don’t cover enough of the cost.
The enthusiasm for electric vehicles hasn’t wavered in the classic car realm, nor for newer cars. Classic cars are the more popular candidate because people have improved them as asset-grade vehicles. And while newer vehicles are a little harder to convert, it is by no means impossible. A 2019 Ford F-150 was just converted to electric, Knoles said.
“We’re seeing people who come from software or tech backgrounds that don’t necessarily want to drive a Tesla,” Knoles explained. “This idea of upcycling their existing vehicle or being able to drive a classic car with a really cool modern powertrain is way more exciting.”
She Said: This was my kind of exercise! Kicking back while also working up a sweat. It's the lazy way, sure, but sometimes you just need an easy way to detox and burn calories after a long day at work. John and I were snug in the tall, cabinet-like sauna, but we had enough room to be comfortable. We got to choose the lighting, which supposedly had additional healing influences, like improved energy and circulation. We opted for violet, to “reduce inflammation.” Five minutes in, and I was relaxed and ready to take a nap. I couldn't help it - it was warm and cozy with wood paneling and soothing purple lights surrounding us. Obviously, something was working. But after a while with no sweat, I had to wonder if any other benefits were happening. Finally after about 11 minutes, I started to “glisten.” By the time 20 minutes rolled around – which felt like an eternity without something to read, watch, or listen to (glad I had John to chat with!) – I was ready to step out of that oven. I did love that it was a dry sauna, and I didn’t have to deal with steam that's hard to breathe in. I felt good afterward and slept well that night. Would I do it again? Definitely. But I'd bring a book to pass the time.
Looking for a way to turn up the heat this Valentine's Day? You quite literally can, in an infrared sauna made for one or two. Imagine burning calories, sweating out toxins, and reducing inflammation while just sitting in a closet-sized box, reading, listening to music, or watching a movie. Sounds too good to be true? Maybe it is, but we had to try it out!
HeHe Said: I was on board with this idea almost immediately. The thought of spending 30 to 40 minutes in a 150° infrared sauna during the coldest month of the year sounded amazing, especially with the memory of last month’s icy cold therapy fresh in my mind. This sauna has colored light therapy, so the lady at the center gave us a quick spiel about it – red increases circulation, green relaxes your nerves, blue whitens your teeth, and orange gives you superpowers or something…I don't know, I wasn't really buying it. After that we undressed down to our skivvies and jumped in the hot box. The heat inside was less intense than a normal sauna but it felt more penetrative, like it was heating me all the way to my core. All my stress and muscle tension started to melt away pretty quickly, so I felt nice and relaxed by the time I started to perspire. After about 35 minutes, I was sweating profusely and feeling a little too much like a rotisserie chicken, so it was time to get out. I took a quick shower, and I walked out of that place feeling laid back and loose. I slept like a baby that night. This was a really nice experience for us up here in the cold Pacific Northwest – I would probably like it a lot less in the Arizona summer.
The world’s largest horse show of its kind returns to Arizona this month with the Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show. Featuring 2,400 horses with best-in-class riders, competitions and exhibitions, it’s a spectacle you won’t want to miss! www.scottsdaleshow.com/shows/ scottsdale-arabian-horse-show
Concert season in the desert has arrived and Arizona Music Fest has something for everyone. Whether an orchestra, pop musicians, or rock ‘n roll affair, be sure to snag a seat to your favorite shows now through late Spring. www.azmusicfest.org
Many investors are becoming increasingly interested in a portfolio involving environmental causes that align with their personal values. Held at 12 p.m., this 30-minute free webinar presented by Better Money Decisions will cover how to make an environmental impact using an investment portfolio, and why it is becoming a trend one should care about. www.tinyurl. com/4hhaacn6
Former NFL players Jim McMahon and Kyle Turley bring this charity golf tournament to the Valley, presented by cannabis brand Revenant, Cannabis Talk 101, and Fairchild Events. The star-studded affair will be held at the Anthem Golf and Country Club and registration will open at 9 a.m. Proceeds will benefit The Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, a national nonprofit with a mission to help former NFL players and their families in desperate situations. General registration starts at $100 and $500 for VIP registration. www.winningticket.com/gridiron-greats-celebritygolf-classic
Take a stroll through Old Town Cottonwood with your main squeeze for the annual Sip and Stroll event this Valentine's Day. Local restaurants and tasting rooms will provide complimentary bites paired with wine and beer samples to round out the culinary experience. Tickets are $50 and come with a collectible event glass. Purchase tickets at www.oldtown.org/sipstroll.
February 18
Off the Vine Arizona Wine Festival
Wine, food, art, and live music! Check out Off The Vine Arizona Wine Festival in the beautiful Oro Valley this February. This event will provide an array of Arizona’s best wines from 25 vineyards and wineries, while serenading guests with different live music throughout the day. Located on the historic Steam Pump Ranch, this event is an annual favorite for wine lovers across the state. www.offthevineaz.com
An official event of the Tucson Gem Show, this event will bring the finest collection of American Indian art and crafts directly from Native American artists to the public. This show features 40 artists that change throughout the gem show’s two-week time frame. Mesmerizing shows from talented tribal dancers are also featured on the weekends.
www.usaindianinfo.com/events/expo/arts-expo
January 28 - February 12
Also a part of the Tucson Gem Show, this truly special exhibit highlights African jewelry, beads, tribal art, beaded bags, figurines, and more. Exclusive fashion shows from New York designer Soro Bis will also be featured.
www.tucsongemshow101.com/africanartvillage
For those who love a great movie, look no further than the Sedona International Film Festival. The festival will be celebrating its 26th anniversary and showcasing independent films from around the world. More than 140 films have been selected to leave guests with a memorable experience. www.sedonafilmfestival.com
Sustainability and business wrapped into one! GreenBiz is the optimal opportunity for those looking to take advantage of all the great resources sustainable business leaders have to offer. There will be more than 150 featured speakers for topics ranging from academics to corporations. This year’s event will be held at the JW Marriott Camelback Inn. www.greenbiz.com/events/ greenbiz/2023
Marriage and domestic partnerships bring many changes to your life – and your finances. In addition, LGBTQ couples and families may have different priorities and challenges that require careful planning. Whether your family includes one or two parents with kids, individuals or a couple, or grandparents wanting to provide for and assist future generations, you’ll want to review your state’s laws and how to best plan for your needs.
Mark Morales First Vice President - Investment Officer20551 N. Pima Rd. #200
Scottsdale , AZ 85255
Direct: (480) 419-2016
mark.morales@wellsfargoadvisors.com
https://home.wellsfargoadvisors.com/mark.morales
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