A Great Romp of a Grape Stomp
By R.J. Cohn
It’s sloppy and sticky, gooey and gummy, yet merry participants dressed in white gowns while jumping up and down in wooden vats of grenache grapes during the 13th annual Great Crush Festival at AZ Hops and Vines in Sonoita.
More than anything, the barefoot grape stomp gave them a hands-on — or feet-on — immersion into the ancient process of early winemaking, connecting them directly to the fruit, the land as well as a thick pile of toe jam that took a lot of rinsing from a nearby hose to clear away.
Also known as foot treading or pigeage – a French winemaking term for the traditional stomping of grapes in open fermentation tanks – more than 250 Arizonans from Phoenix to Sierra Vista merrily stomped and clomped over thick clumps of purple grapes, breaking open their skins to release juice and color while hopefully keeping the seeds intact.
Wine aficionados will tell you that stomping grapes with your bare feet provides more flavor over the wine’s flavor profile.
But AZ Hops and Vines co-owner Megan Stranik has turned the method of maceration once used in traditional winemaking into an annual house party filled with music, food and the vineyard’s wine that could rival the Roman grape stomping festivals of the Maenads, the female followers of Dionysus, the god of winemaking.
“We haven’t gotten rich yet from growing grapes and producing them into wine, but we’re definitely having a heck of a good time,” said Stranik, who purchased the 10-acre property fronting State Route 82 with her sister in 2011 before opening the following year after planting 8,000 vines. “Even though we have 10 varietals that yield six tons of grapes a year that fill 300 cases, it’s always a challenge growing grapes in Arizona.”
Along with her sons, Stranik said she and her sister Shannon Zouzoulas are constantly replacing their grape vines.
“We now have 6,000 producing vines and 2,000 that are growing,” she said. “It's constant work, but it’s a total blast working with your kids. I never get tired of this.”
Neither do the annual partygoers and grape stompers, who have been returning for the Great Crush Festival that never disappoints for more than a decade, leaving those wearing white-gowns and togas berry-stained from a half-ton of grenache grapes the vineyard turns into a red wine and two varieties of rose.
“I fell in love with wine before I started this, but I had to learn everything about it from growing to producing by volunteering at wineries in the area in 2007,” said Stranik. “They were thrilled to help me, steered me in the right direction, and it’s been a labor of love ever since.”
Arizona Hops & Vines
To learn more about the winery, visit their site below where you can get the most out of their calendar of events, the blog, or online store front! What are you waiting for? Get hoppin'!
Barking Up the Right Tree
By R.J. Cohn
Photos by Monique Vargas
If your wonder dog no longer has that lean, sleek look or the same vim-and-vigor he came into the world with, it might be time to get his canine juices flowing by letting him run wild on a dog-powered treadmill.
Like the three mobile canine treadmills Stephen Zetich operates in a 12-foot-by-6-foot retrofitted trailer he drives to your house to get Fido into tip-top shape in half-hour sessions that will not only shed some weight but make him feel like a healthier pet.
Three years after he rolled out his novel Run Dogz Run, Zurich’s mobile treadmill business is not only running in high demand among dog owners whose work or health prevents them from exercising their beloved pets on a daily basis.
His doggie workout program has provided the answer they were searching for, and with 25-plus clients per week – 90 percent which are longtime repeat customers – it seems to be barking up the right tree.
If dogs could write testimonials, Run Dogz Run’s website would be overflowing with dogs penning superlative reviews, gushing with praise from those who have lost weight and got their mojo back.
Like the 110-pound Pit Bull Terrier that started on the treadmill two years ago. Since then, he’s shed 30 pounds and now weighs 80 pounds.
While the response from his human clients has been overwhelmingly positive, it’s the dogs who Zetrich says can’t wait until he pulls his colorfully-designed trailer into their driveway.
“They absolutely love the treadmill once they get adjusted to it,” he said. “Some are so excited that they meet me at the door when I pull up, barking because they can’t wait to get on it. A few are looking out the window when they hear the truck coming, and a couple run right into the trailer before I get them onto the treadmill. They can’t wait for their workout and are happy to see me. It's like they’re saying, ‘My friend is here, it’s workout time!’”
Inspired when he and his wife, Codi, saw celebrity dog trainer Ceaser Millan exercising dogs on a human treadmill on his Dog Whisperer TV show, the couple saw what an important – yet neglected – training tool a dog treadmill was for pets not getting enough or any exercise.
When they saw no one in Cochise County was offering a canine treadmill business, they went all in. Their fees are half the price of those operating the same service in cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas.
“Dogs want to have a task, and they want to work,” said Codi Zetrich. “It increases their stimulation; they behave better and become better pets.”
Zetrich’s treadmill workouts consist of a half-hour session that eventually allows many dogs to run close to 2 ½ miles with water breaks along with chew toys while they run. It’s rare for most dogs to jump onto the treadmill and just take off.
“At first, most can’t go a half hour straight,” said Zetrich, who owns three dogs. “Maybe 5 to 10 minutes initially trying to figure out what this strange thing is that’s moving beneath them. They’re scared at first, mentally stressed, and many claw at the treadmill.”
But thanks to Zetrich’s patience and coaxing, most get the idea, and when it kicks in, not only do they run; they build up speed and start having the workout of their lives.
“You begin to watch them exude more confidence and agility, regardless of breed,” said Zetrich. “Sometimes it takes them three sessions to lose their fear and get into running on a treadmill, building up speed. Australian Shepherds like ours take to it immediately, and she runs at an 18 miles-per-hour clip. I had a dog that went from 1.1 to 2.7 miles-per-hour in seven weeks.”
For some dogs, all the coaxing and patience sometimes doesn’t always pan out. But that’s what makes Zetrich special when it comes to working with frightened dogs. He wants them to succeed regardless of how long it takes.
“It took one dog four months to even get onto the treadmill,” he said. “He had to build trust in me. Now he goes for a 2-mile session from a tenth of a mile when he first started. Anyone can put a dog on a treadmill. It’s winning their trust and seeing how much they enjoy this that fuels me.”
It’s not just the Zetrichs who embrace the benefits of a treadmill for dogs. Professional dog trainers are also on board with them.
Certified Professional Dog Trainer-Knowledge Assessed Pamela Johnson can’t say enough about dogs exercising on them.
“Treadmills can be a great way to get your dog a full-body workout, without the impact,” said Johnson, a dog trainer for more than 20 years.
“Though it’s important to walk our dogs, treadmills provide a safer, cleaner and a more rigorous, complete workout,” he said. “It gets their minds and bodies working in such a positive way. Plus, once they get into the rhythm of this, they’re having a blast.”
Creating Healthier Dogs
For more information click the link below or call Stephen Zetich at 520-369-3072.
Yaqui Hideout: Pearce's Lavender Farm & Bed and Breakfast
Great Pyrenees dogs, Marshal and Miss Kitty keeping cool while waiting to greet their next guest.
"The Palomino Room"
Mural by Sandy Lee inside the walls of Yaqui Hideout
Mural inside the walls of Yaqui Hideout by artist Deb Warner
Mural inside the walls of Yaqui Hideout by artist Sheri Lynn from Wings of Pearce
Mural inside the walls of Yaqui Hideout by artist Doug Quarles
The front gate waiting to welcome you into the lavender farm
Pearce's Hidden Gem
By Larry Scott
It’s a sort of walled compound. Patrick said, “When you arrive at the blue bench, text me, and I’ll come out and unlock the gate.”
I found the blue bench, parked nearby, and sent Patrick a text. Sure enough, he came out and let me in. Not your typical B&B, I’m thinking.
Inside Yaqui Hideout, the walls are high, covered with murals by local artists, more of which can be viewed at https://www.exploredouglas.org/pearce-murals/.
“The walls are not there to protect against wild buffalo or foreign invasion,” Patrick jests. “They do provide welcome protection against the wind.” To me, it suggests a sort of near-east ambiance.
Certainly, it creates the perfect environment for astronomy buffs. The location, in the desert just off Kansas Settlement Road, is remote — quiet, and peaceful. Where the night sky is black and the stars clear and bright — as at Chiricahua Astronomy Complex in the Turkey Creek area nearby. The courtyard walls block any man-made light from the surrounding region.
Exactly right for setting up your telescope to look deep into space. And, when you finish taking in the wonders of heaven, in the early hours of a new day, your guestroom is right there — a few yards away.
Birders particularly love the location, in the flight path of the Sandhill Cranes and other birds between the Willcox Playa and Whitewater Draw. It's a world-class birder’s paradise. Looking to the South, more than 300 species of birds have been identified over recent years.
From out front near the Blue Bench, one can look back up the road, directly into the awesome cliffs and rock formations of Cochise Stronghold — a dream destination for hikers, photographers, birders, and (crazy) mountain climbers.
Yaqui Hideout also provides the perfect refuge for folks who just need an escape from the rat-race. With only three guest rooms available it’s never overcrowded; generally, there are no more than six guests on the property at once.
While partners Patrick and Bob have no aspirations to run a theme park, there are certainly attractions.
Kids of all ages love the Great Pyrenees dogs, Marshal and Miss Kitty. And those crazy donkeys, Ravioli and Cannoli. There are also sheep, but they aren’t particularly interested in socializing — a bit skittish, actually. And the owls in the barn — look but please don’t disturb.
There’s a Basket Weaving Studio, where Bob does his thing! His baskets incorporate hand dyed reed and various weave techniques, which make for colorful creations. He sells baskets and teaches basket weaving and loom skills at local arts and crafts festivals as well as to guests and friends of Yaqui Hideout.
Bob teaches locally and at guilds — Basket Artisans of Arizona, Bisbee Fiber Arts Guild, and at Missouri Basket Convention. Twice, he’s competed at the World Wicker and Weaving Festival in Poland.
Yaqui Hideout is also known as a Lavender farm. Lavender is an aromatic evergreen plant that is native to the Mediterranean region, including the countries France, Spain and Italy. While the fragrance of dried lavender is wonderful, it’s more than just a pretty fragrance - some claim health benefits — that the oil and calming scent can help reduce stress and improve sleep.
At Yaqui Hideout, guests enjoy a continental breakfast which includes Lavender Scones or muffins, fresh-baked with the just enough culinary lavender to wow - but not overwhelm - one’s tastebuds. Amazing!
Photos courtesy of Yaqui Hideout Lavender Farm
Enjoying the Hideout
Visit Yaqui Hideout for the perfect desert getaway, where you can experience the beauty of southeast Arizona.
Enjoy local lavender, honey, basket weaving, and picturesque views while you stay at the delightful bunkhouse style bed and breakfast.
If you enjoy “birding” you can see the owls, hawks, roadrunners and many other varieties of birds year-round. During the winter see and hear the Sandhill Cranes fly overhead.
Horse owners vacationing or traveling can bed down their animals and themselves on the same property. The lodging and horse paddocks are within the 4-acre compound enclosed by a 10ft wall.
For more information, check out Yaqui Hideout Lavender Farm, Bed & Breakfast, Basket Weaving in Pearce.
Phone 520-222-6122 or email: Info@YaquiHideout.com
Sky Island School of Nature & the Arts Seeks to Enrich Kids’ Education
By R.J. Cohn
For parents looking for a more innovative approach to their children’s early education, the Sky Island School of Nature and the Arts may offer the curriculum they’ve been seeking, one that stimulates curiosity while nurturing the joy of education.
Combining nature-based classes with core subjects, the K-5 private school in Hereford provides an educational experience that’s different from traditional education; it encourages hand-on projects while connecting students with nature and the arts, which the school’s director says has the ability to enrich them mentally, emotionally as well as physically.
“We’ve found that this is something families are looking for,” said owner/director Heather Heredia, an arts education teacher who has been teaching for 13 years. “Parents want an environment that fully engages their child, reduces behavioral issues and fosters emotional regulation. We’ve been working around the clock to get everything ready. We’re really excited because we feel the school has so much to offer.”
Spread across nearly three acres at the base of the Huachuca Mountains thick with cottonwoods and a wetlands area, Heredia and her husband purchased the school this summer from the Arizona Arts Academy. Complete with an outdoor amphitheater, an indoor pool, dance studio, six classrooms and a culinary arts cottage, Heredia already had more than a dozen students enrolled in July. The school plans to have six full-time and six part-time teachers when it opens in August. She anticipates having 75 students – 15 for each grade level – by 2026.
“Since word has gotten out about the school, everything has been moving very quickly,” said Heredia, who taught at the American Leadership Academy and at every school in the the Sierra Vista Unified School District as a substitute teacher. “We want to inspire a child’s creativity and curiosity through project-based learning, and make education exciting and fun instead of stressful. At least 50% of parents we’ve talked to about our approach love this concept.”
Along with basic subjects, the school will immerse students in hands-on courses like theater, dance, music, culinary arts, swimming, yoga, field sports and agriculture, where they’ll learn to grow vegetables, milk goats and collect eggs from chickens. They’ll also learn Spanish and explore the outdoors with daily nature hikes throughout the property.
“I saw first-hand how my two children thrived in a nature-based preschool at the Conscious Child Preschool & Learning Center,” said Heredia. “It was an empowering, healthy learning experience, and I want to bring that experience into the lives of K-5 students.”
Since Sky Island School of Nature and the Arts is a tuition-based private school, parents can access Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), a school voucher program that allows students to receive public funds to pay for private school tuition, homeschooling or other qualified educational expenses. It allows parents to choose the best educational setting for their children instead of being limited to an assigned public school.
Heredia said the ESA program will pay 100 percent of the school’s tuition.
“This is a school where we want children to ask questions about everything they see and learn and make their early education as enriching and stimulating as it can possibly be,” said Heredia. “At Sky Island School, they’re going to connect with nature and their peers and have a real sense of accomplishment through the arts. What’s not to like about this?”
For more information
To get in contact with Sky Island School of Nature & the Arts
- visit their site
- email info@skyislandschool.org or
- call 520-222-9459.
Family-owned Dos Cabezas Coffee Co. Keeps Willcox Buzzing
Brewed for Success
By R.J. Cohn
If you’ve missed being inside a real coffee house with a veranda-style porch and a soft couch across from a brick fireplace that you can sink into, then you haven’t stepped into the Dos Cabezas Coffee Company in Willcox.
It’s not just the historic 110-year-old Harry Saxon House – added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 – that draws customers to Dos Cabezas for outstanding brewed coffee, a host of espresso drinks, or a strawberry-lime scone at 6 a.m. seven days a week.
It’s the genuine, small-town charm delivered to everyone who walks in with an engaging smile and real-time conversation by the five members of the ever-busy Finley family who keep Dos Cabezas hopping, making the coffee house the hub of a ranching, agricultural community.
There is something for everyone with Dos Cabezas' large menu
But not before struggling through their first year in a business they had to learn on the fly, even though Dos Cabezas was the only coffee house in town at the time. It was not just about learning how to make caramel cartwheel and pistachio dream lattes; it was learning to run a business, dealing with profit margins, inventory, payrolls, developing a marketing plan, and a customer base.
“It was a rough road at first,” said Ashley. “We opened in April, a slow season, not knowing how we were going to make the next rent check. We love this community because it’s our home, and we wanted to keep this open as a place for everyone to come for coffee in a comfortable, historic house with two big couches where they could enjoy being with friends. We realized we had some work to do. Our first year felt like one big, hot mess.”
But the tight-knit Finley’s regrouped, got their family dynamics in order and made it work.
“After the first year, we decided not to have employees and run the business as a family,” said Chloe Finley. “We’re a strong, close family. We refocused and turned things around.”
Suddenly they had a business that was beginning to flourish, and the buzz in the Willcox about the coffee shop on South Haskell with the big, white metal coffee sign in front of the Saxon House that went out of its way to make you feel like family was quickly spreading.
“We wanted to make sure that everyone who walked in was cared for with a personable touch they can’t get anywhere else,” said Ashley. “We really mean it when we say good morning, how’s it going. We wanted to talk to our customers and hear how things are going in their lives. It’s what neighbors in a community do.”
The Finley's downhome friendliness didn’t go unnoticed.
Last year, the community voted Dos Cabezas as number one in the Herald Review’s ‘Best Of’ in customer service.
Since then, their clientele has grown steadily. They have three major morning rushes, created a massive menu board of practically every latte drink imaginable, along with dozens of tea selections – even prickly pear – and a variety of smoothies and Italian sodas.
Dos Cabezas Coffee Co Family
From left: Jake, Jasper, Ashley, Chloe and Baby Annaleigh, and Dakota.
Even more impressive, Ashley starts baking Dos Cabezas’ pastries at 4 a.m. each day with homemade delights like pecan pie cookies, lemon-poppyseed scones, cheesecake smores and chocolate croissants along with breakfast burritos.
“We literally had to learn everything on the seat-of-our-pants from day one,” said Ashley’s son Jasper, who had only a shred of experience as a barista years ago. “It was a lot of a lot of trial and error, but now it feels like we're a smooth, well-oiled machine. We feel we’re a big part of this community, and we’re behind everything that’s local.”
The Finleys still have more irons in the fire for Dos Cabezas. They’re working on outfitting a coffee trailer for local events and adding a line of deli sandwiches to their menu. They also hope to purchase the historic Saxon House in the near future.
“We’ve got a long way to go yet,” said Ashley. “But we’re loving every minute of it, especially balancing our lives with a coffee shop that’s open seven days a week. It’s a challenge, but we’re getting the hang of it just fine.”
Enjoy a sweet treat or something for breakfast with freshly made pastries.
By Larry Scott
ICU in the sky!
“We serve people during what may be the worst time of their lives. We truly care - and we connect with family members. Later, we wonder - and hope - for a good outcome. In time, sometimes, people share - and we know. That can be a good feeling!” -
Sarah Baumann, CFRN
“It can be hard, but we give the patient 100 percent. And then, we must turn the page and get our minds ready for the next call - whatever it is. That patient also gets 100 percent.” - Rose Jones, Flight Nurse
- - - - -
In August, Arizona Lifeline celebrated its 30th anniversary in Cochise County. While I’ve seen their helicopters fly over many times, I never had the opportunity to meet the people. Finally, it’s happening. And, naturally, I wonder what sort of people they are…
My first contacts are Shane Clark, Program Director, and Greg Featherston, Business Development/Outreach Manager - himself, a former Flight Paramedic. Definitely a great source of information, and the sort of guys I love to connect with personally.
Greg and I met several times with on-duty crews based in Saint David and Douglas. I learned a flight crew consists of three members: Pilot, Flight Nurse and Flight Paramedic. There are also aircraft maintenance technicians.
Members are highly skilled in caring for patients suffering from severe illnesses and traumatic accidents. In extreme cases, they perform emergency surgical procedures normally done by a trauma team at a big-city hospital.
The helicopter brings advanced skills to our communities that might otherwise not be available. It’s an ongoing process. “While our team is highly trained, the process never ends.” Greg explained. “The company we work for spends tens of thousands a year in continuing education and skills training. Pilots often have a military background. But this is not an entry-level job. As one pilot noted, “It can be fairly difficult because we are often awakened in the middle of the night to fly with night- vision goggles - something not a lot of people do.”
Typically, the Saint David team is requested daily from hospitals, medical clinics, or on- scene emergency responders. Safety is really big. Most of the time, here in Cochise County, the weather is fine, and it’s safe to fly. Or the weather is such that we don’t fly. But there are times when it’s a judgment call. Is it safe - or not?
Destination hospitals vary according to the patient’s needs. Perhaps he or she has suffered head injuries and needs a neurosurgeon. Or a trauma surgeon, or cardiothoracic surgery. And there’s ‘bed availability.’ Hospitals stay full these days, typically 95 percent to 100 percent capacity. So there’s always a team in the background locating the right doctor - and an accepting bed.
While treating and transporting patients is their primary mission, community interaction is ongoing. Members are regularly involved, conducting training at medical facilities, fire department and EMS providers.
In early April, I attended a training simulation exercise at St. David High School football field, in which law enforcement, fire department and ambulance crews worked together, responding to a staged catastrophic auto accident and the attendant chaos. The event went well, with teams working together smoothly. Of course, everyone was fascinated by the helicopter and crew. And a clear message to students as to what can happen with substance abuse and carelessness.
In Dan’s story, (sidebar) he describes his personal experience with the ARIZONA LIFELINE team several years ago. While the outcome was positive, he became aware of what we might call ‘grim reality.’
Air ambulance is a mind-boggling expensive reality. My on-line searches suggest a typical medical helicopter costs millions of dollars. Ongoing maintenance and operating costs are high. There are highly-trained teams, with ongoing schooling. And, of course, the operating facilities.
Bottom line: Typical cost of service seems astronomical for most of us. Unfortunately, many patients are unaware of their financial responsibilities related to air ambulance transports. And the call for Air Ambulance is usually made by medical staff who judge it necessary to save a life.
ARIZONA LIFELINE is our local air-ambulance service provider and also a participating provider in the AirMedCare Network. Dan’s membership in the AirMedCare Network ensured he and his wife had zero out-of-pocket flight expenses.
The AirMedCare Network extends across 38 states with aircraft located in over 320 locations. Membership provides coverage for everyone that resides in the household for $99 a year. Senior household plans are available for $79 per year.
For more information contact our local Membership Sales Manager:
Nancy E. J. Tucker at 928-294-9023 or AMCNRep.com/nancy-tucker