Support the Visual Arts in Prescott - Milagro Arts Center

Courtesy of our business membership in Local First Arizona, I just learned about an exciting visual arts center opening in Prescott - the Milagro Arts Center. They have a Kickstarter campaign open until January 30, 2016. 

You can learn more about the plans for the arts center at the Milagro Arts Center blog. 

Since the Spore Consulting, LLC "Commensal Fund" is a bit dry this year, we're being selective about the charities and non-profit organizations we support with 10% of our profits. We just signed up as an official backer ($75) of the Milagro Arts Center Kickstarter Project! We're looking forward to receiving our supporting membership (and t-shirt) when the project is fully funded.

If you scroll down on the Kickstarter information page for Milagro Arts Center, you'll see their "What We Believe" statements and the "Milagro Manifesto." Some of the statements of Milagro's "What We Believe" resonate with what we believe at Spore Consulting:

• #1 - We believe that art makes our lives better.
• #2 - We believe that curiosity, creativity and innovation shape the world.
• #3 - We believe in being respectful, humble and kind.
• #5 - We believe in attention to detail.
• #6 - We believe in finding the balance between the heart and the head.
• #9 - We believe that everyone is an artist.
• #14 - We believe in building safe supportive spaces to take creative risks, to collaborate and inspire.

If these statements also resonate with you, and you want to support the creative arts in Northern Arizona, please join us and become an official backer of the Milagro Arts Center! 

In the vein of visual arts, here's one of our latest pieces of art to end the year - this is Jamie the selkie (as a seal) and his sister Fiona, from The Secret of Roan Inish (1994).

Fiona and Jamie the selkie from "The Secret of Roan Inish" (1994).

Some of the other charities and non-profit organizations we've supported over the last 12 months with 10% of our profits are:

• Local First Arizona - business membership ($35)
• American Industrial Hygiene Association, Arizona Local Section - membership ($25)
• St. Joseph's Foundation - donation ($100)
• Doctors Without Borders - donation ($150)
• Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica - donation ($55)

Industrious Hygienist Holiday Safety Tip #1: Dogs do not mix well with fireworks.

This is Shadow, my 3.5-year old Alaskan Malamute. 

Shadow at 6 months.

Just kidding, this is Shadow. I just wanted to show a picture of him as a puppy. He's ginormous now. 

Shadow on a walk in Prescott Valley - controlled burn in the background.

Shadow is not a fan of New Year's Eve. He hates fireworks. New Year's Eve and Independence Day rank as his least favorite holidays. Some tips for a pet-friendly New Year's party here.  

My end of year cartoon (doubled as a holiday card for clients, colleagues, friends, and family):

The Industrious Hygienist and Shadow enjoy New Year's Eve together. 

We'll be spending New Year's Eve cuddled up in bed, with Shadow alternating between spastic races around the house and cowering next to us in the bedroom. Fun times in the Bliss household!

Wishing all my loyal readers a safe and fulfilling 2014. 

The Industrious Hygienist's Favorite Holiday Safety Tips: CDC/NIOSH

In honor of the holidays, the Industrious Hygienist would like to share her favorite holiday safety tips from recognized authorities. Today's tips are from the CDC and NIOSH.

This year, CDC/NIOSH has posted a "Wishes for Workers" campaign where you can post your wishes for occupational health and safety improvements. The Industrious Hygienist will think on this and post something thought-provoking. Or at least interesting.

The Industrious Hygienist's favorite wish from a CDC representative:

• "All of our nation’s emergency response workers are prepared and trained to respond effectively and safely to any disaster."
• CDR Lisa Delaney MS, CIH, Associate Director, NIOSH Emergency Preparedness and Response Office

CDC/NIOSH also developed a "12 Ways to Health Holiday Song" which can be sung to the tune of, you guessed it, "The Twelve Days of Christmas."

Download the audio podcast of the song here. 

The Industrious Hygienist's favorite pieces of the song are:

• The fifth way to health, said the CDC to me
  BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.
• The tenth way to health, said the CDC to mePractice fire safety, monitor the children, get your vaccinations, get exams and screenings, fasten belts while driving, BE SMOKE-FREE, don't drink and drive, manage stress, bundle up for warmth, and wash hands to be safe and healthy.

In 2011 the Industrious Hygienist wrote a three-part comic of the "12 Days of Christmas: Preparation for the Holidays Industrious Hygienist (IH) Style!" If you want to read it again, part 1 is here, part 2 is here, and part 3 is here. 

Last year's CDC/NIOSH blog post about safety for Santa was probably my favorite post from CDC/NIOSH so far. Highlights below.

• Going down the world's chimneys (when applicable) would definitely be considered a confined space entry - CDC/NIOSH has a topic page for confined spaces
• Are Santa's suits fire-resistant?
• Since his elves are super-busy leading up to the holidays, maybe Santa should consider NIOSH's research on shift work and sleep deprivation
• Hefting that bag of toys for all the good girls and boys is likely strenuous - Santa should evaluate his lifting technique using the NIOSH Lifting Equation

No worries, the Industrious Hygienist is working on her holiday/New Year card that will be posted before the end of the year. Look for more tips from FEMA, NFPA, NSC, and others in the days to come.

New Manga! Re-branding The Industrious Hygienist

Hiyo, loyal readers! Per the request of several of you, I bring you a new manga of the Industrious Hygienist. I haven't had a chance to learn my Anime Studio software or Bamboo Splash tablet yet, so this one is old-fashioned, hand-drawn goodness. 

I was going for spunky, but she turned out a little sassy. :)

The Industrious Hygienist - latest character art (manga) for rebranding!

Hope you like it - next time I get another four to six hours of free time, I'll draw another action-oriented and funny manga. This one only took about three hours. I'm trying to re-brand the Industrious Hygienist into the hero of the manga rather than the "person who things happen to" in the manga. As always, eternal thanks to Hiromu Arakawa for creating Fullmetal Alchemist and the style of manga I imitate. Wish me luck!

Doce Wildfire Evacuations - video and update

This video is courtesy of The Daily Courier - it describes the areas planned for evacuation and the emergency relief efforts by the American Red Cross - Grand Canyon Chapter for evacuees of the Doce Fire. Per the American Red Cross: "Red Cross volunteers have set up cots and blankets for overnight stays, and evacuated residents can come to the shelter for meals, snacks, water and coffee. Evacuated residents also can receive aid from Red Cross nurses and mental health volunteers."

A press release from the U.S. Forest Service about the Doce Fire explains that the fire is still 0% contained and that the Southwest Area Type I Incident Management Team led by Tony Sciacca will be taking over management of the fire today.

Residents in Williamson Valley and possibly Chino Valley have been put on notice that evacuations may be needed in their areas. So far there have been no reported injuries or structures lost. 

The Industrious Hygienist will be following the progress of the fire via the Yavapai County Emergency Management - Regional Alert website. 

Residents of the Prescott area can sign up to receive notification information for this and future regional alerts from the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.  Messages can be received by phone, text or email. Click here to learn more and sign up for the Emergency Notification System.

For more Doce Fire information, call (928) 777-5682. 

Doce Fire in Prescott National Forest

Who: Residents of west Prescott, Arizona

View of the smoke from the Doce fire in Prescott, AZ from my backyard.

What: The Doce Fire

Where: Reportedly started near the Doce Pit (sometimes called the Dosie Pit) in the Prescott National Forest 

When: Today

Why: The source is unknown according to The Daily Courier, but was likely human-caused. No lightning strikes were reported in this area and the U.S. Forest Service has no reports of fallen power lines in this area.

Here in the Prescott area, we're experiencing high winds (as usual) and low humidity (also as usual). The Daily Courier and KPHO report approximately 250 firefighters are on the ground.

There have been evacuations for several hundred homes in the area, but it appears the fire is spreading closer to more densely populated areas in west Prescott. So far it's at 5,000 acres and spreading. The American Red Cross has set up a shelter at Yavapai College along East Sheldon Street for evacuees. I was reading through the comments on The Daily Courier article and was heartened by the outpouring of offers to help take in pets and livestock, or help get the elderly or ill from their houses. 

Mighty Spouse and I are looking into what we can do and how we can help evacuees this week. This would be terrifying to experience first-hand.

Wildfiretoday.com is also covering the fire from an engineering and forest preservation perspective. 

View of the smoke from the Doce Fire in west Prescott, AZ from my front yard.

It's intriguing that this occurred during Emergency Preparedness Week in National Safety Month. Mighty Spouse and I have our emergency kits prepared and ready - we repacked them before we moved up here from Phoenix. We have enough food, water, entertainment, money, and pet supplies/carriers to last three days if needed.

Fore more information about personal and family emergency preparedness, visit the FEMA website, ready.gov. The basic recommendations are:

1.) Be Informed - Do you know what hazards and emergencies you could face?
2.) Make a Plan - Do you know how to contact your loved ones? Do you have an evacuation plan? Do you know the best routes from home to work to where your family will gather?
3.) Build a Kit - For at least 72 hours of survival, and don't forget medications or your pets' needs. 
4.) Get Involved - Volunteer, be part of the community planning process, join a Citizen Corps. 

More updates on the fire and how you can help in future posts.