Category: News

The NAU Review — An astronomical role model, two grad students step into game-changing research opportunities and True Blue Fridays are here!

Malik Bossett discovered his love of science and astronomy all on his own and at an early age. As one of only a few people of color in his high school astronomy club, he realized his passion for science reached far beyond the stars, and he wanted to be the astronomy figure he never had—a Black one. He hopes to introduce kids of color to STEM fields at an early age and continue to diversify a notoriously white field of study. 

New Rec on Wheels Program Brings Play and Fun to Rural Coconino County Communities

Coconino County Parks and Recreation (CCPR) and Health and Human Services (CCHHS) have teamed up to provide Rec on Wheels, a new program that brings recreation opportunities, especially for youth, to the rural and outlying communities in Coconino County.

Events are free to the public and include games, drop-in programming, and even movies. 

Coconino County is the second largest county by landmass in the United States and covers diverse landscapes, regions, and cultures. Rec on Wheels helps connect the distant regions of our county to recreation resources that provide fun, outdoor play, and promote health and wellness. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y offers families with variety of free webinars

As Summer approaches, the Coconino Coaltion for Children & Youth wants to remind everyone that we have a variety of free webinar training programs on our website to help parents and families during the upcoming summer vacation season.

Our growing library of on-demand webinars is designed to help the public gain the tools they need to provide trauma-informed care, tips to help strengthen family protective factors, examine the effects of historical trauma and adverse childhood experiences, address issues such as bullying and the support to adults and youth through the use of mindfulness practices.

CCC graduate will transfer to ASU’s Forensics program in the Fall

FLAGSTAFF — The CCC Commons stands empty. The echoes of cheering and clapping fill the once lively room. It was Friday, May 12, 2023, when CCC graduates walked across the stage, decorated in their finest graduation regalia, proud of their accomplishments and ready to take on the future ahead.

One of the students who graduated this spring is Shelly Foster. After an educational journey spanning about 10 years, she is finally ready to make her next big leap into university territory. However, getting there was not straight or without its challenges. Life has a way of throwing up obstacles, and being a young mom, she was no stranger to having to work hard and make sacrifices to provide for her family.

North Rim to reopen June 2 with limited services available

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open as scheduled, on June 2, with limited visitor services and water conservation measures due to a break in the North Rim water pipeline. A landslide from winter storms destroyed more than 300 feet of the North Rim water pipeline.

The Literacy Center — Thank you to all who donated, participated, and attended the 26th Annual Mountain Spelling Bee!

The Spelling Bee was a success

We could not have had such a successful event without all of you who participated! Congratulations to The Nerdettes: The Cat in the Hat Comes Back for their win! And congratulations to the Mead Hall Marauders for winning the spirit award!

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Communications Issue #29: Quality Healthcare that Fits the Community’s Needs

The concerns that F3 continues to raise with regards to the NAH proposal to relocate the hospital relate directly to providing quality health care that benefits Flagstaff residents as well as the Region.

NAH continues to state that a new greenfield hospital is what’s best for Flagstaff and that a new hospital is needed in order to recruit and retain good doctors. These are questionable statements. While every doctor would like to work in a shiny new building, there are many hundreds of thousands who do not. In fact, many of these doctors work at the highest-rated hospitals in the US that are located in dense cities, such as Johns Hopkins and Mass General. Older hospitals in dense cities cannot always be moved miles away and rebuilt. Instead they are renovated or rebuilt in the same place. 

Theatrikos Theatre Company — Powerful drama Dance Nation opens this Friday. Films launch May 28 with Kinky Boots

Theatrikos brings Clare Barron’s Pulitzer Prize finalist Dance Nation to the Flagstaff stage. An army of competitive dancers navigates ambition, friendship and desire as they plot to take over the world. Our pre-teen heroines, played by a multi-generational cast of women, know that every plié is a step toward finding themselves and unleashing their power.

The actors themselves, not only take the audience on a soul searching journey, but are on this journey themselves. “This play has already been life changing for me,” said actor Linda Sutera. “The audience is going to experience an entertaining, powerful, and beautiful show.”

Sedona Arts Center — FREE LECTURE MAY 17 – Special Exhibition Gallery

View this email in your browser In Our Special Exhibitions Gallery ¡Qué Hermoso! A Special Exhibition NOW Showing Through May 31, 2023! Celebrating Latinx cultural identity and traditions Sedona Arts Center presents, ¡Qué Hermoso! a special exhibition (now showing through May 31!)…

May at the Museum of Northern Arizona

This week Museum members came to see the new Designed to Move exhibition, and I had the joy of watching their delight. In stunning photographs by Taylor James, seeds are enlarged and lustrous. Poppy seeds resemble bumpy planets. The fluff on willow and clematis seeds glows. One young boy shook a seedpod and exclaimed “Dad, it’s nature’s music!”

Indeed, this exhibition reveals the music, art, and engineering within these essential but often overlooked parts of our world. It’s a revelation, and a reminder of how easy it is to take for granted things that enrich our lives.

Flagstaff High School celebrates 2023 Hispanic Convocation

Flagstaff High School celebrated its 2023 Hispanic Convocation with the largest group of students in recent memory on Wednesday, May 10. Nearly 90 students took the stage to receive their colorful sarape sashes from new United Way of Northern Arizona President and CEO Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta, FHS Principal Libby Miller; Assistant Principal Trish Eberlein, Assistant Principal Matthew Barquin and Athletic Director Jeannine Brandel.

Archuleta, who provided the keynote address, urged the students to consider themselves as leaders, envision their successful futures and remember they belong in the room and the conversation as they move ahead in their careers.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 8-12, 2023

This week, prescribed fire treatments began on the Grapevine segment, approximately 0.5 miles south of the Duck on a Rock Overlook along Highway 64 (Desert View Drive). The Grapevine project area totals 865 acres and is bound by the Kaibab National Forest’s boundary to the south and the E4/Long Jim Canyon Road to the north. Following completion of the Grapevine project, crews will initiate ignitions on the Lonetree project area, totaling approximately 926 acres. Ignitions may be complete as early as Friday, May 12, but may be extended through the weekend based on favorable weather conditions. A map of the project areas can be found here.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Booming BioScience Sector

The biosciences continue to be one of the most dynamic sectors in our state’s economy, and northern Arizona had many highlights to share in the latest Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report.

The roadmap is a long-term strategic plan originally commissioned by the Flinn Foundation in 2002 and updated in 2014 with the goal of Arizona becoming globally competitive and a national leader in select areas of the biosciences by 2025.

In fields such as precision medicine, neuroscience, bioengineering, agricultural biotechnology and more, Arizona has become globally competitive because of its deep talent base, the ability to turn research and discoveries into commercial products, and the critical mass of entrepreneurship to turn those products into enterprises.

United Way of Northern Arizona — KinderCamp™ – Helping Families and Pre-Schoolers

Plans are underway now for this year’s KinderCamp™ in northern Arizona, which will give preschoolers the foundational, social and academic skills needed to successfully transition into kindergarten.

However, as you’ll learn below from KinderCamp Coordinator Sara Owen, this effort to Step Up for Our Youth is as much for the parents and families as it is for the kids who will attend this summer.

KinderCamp has been close to my heart since it began in 2005, and I am proud of being one of its earliest supporters. Many thanks to our partners who are making this year’s program possible.

The NAU Review — Recognize NAU’s Class of 2023 and more of its exceptional members in this commencement edition

NAU will celebrate more than 5,200 graduates in four ceremonies May 12-13. The honorary doctorate recipients and commencement speakers are Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Arturo A. Massol-Deyá, executive director of Casa Pueblo; Ty White, the 2023 Arizona Education Foundation Teacher of the Year; and David P. Franke, a principal at Franke & Company. Check out the NAU Commencement website for information about traffic and parking, the clear bag policy and the new bot who can answer your questions this weekend.

CCC&Y provides a variety of options to help families, community members

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth continues to connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.

Flood Control District and Coconino National Forest to Begin Schultz Creek Watershed Restoration

The Coconino County Flood Control District and the Coconino National Forest will begin the first phase of watershed restoration project in Schultz Creek this spring.

This watershed restoration project is an effort to respond to post-fire flooding caused by the 2022 Pipeline Fire, which damaged the Schultz Creek watershed, dramatically increasing levels of flow and erosion in Schultz Creek, which overwhelmed downstream stormwater infrastructure in the City of Flagstaff. The Coconino County Flood Control District (the District) will begin the project the week of May 22, and the first phase of construction is expected to run through June.

Flagstaff Festival of Science Local Science Spotlight: Paleoclimatologist Nick McKay

Northern Arizona University Professor Nick McKay, a climate scientist studying the past global climate, aims to change the way we interpret and gather data. As an associate professor within the School of Earth and Sustainability at NAU, Nick’s teaching and research focus on communicating complex scientific concepts to his students and conducting paleoclimatology research to better understand past climate changes.

The NAU Review — Grad becomes advocacy leader, scouts cook at NAU, a circuitous journey to graduation, extraterrestrial geology, Grad excited for medical school and elevating excellence

Jessica Muniz was inspired by her upbringing to pursue a career allowing her to help others. From immigrating to the U.S. at the age of five to organizing awareness fairs for the LGBTQ+ community, Muniz learned that having access to all types of resources can make a significant impact on someone’s life. Now, Muniz is set to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in social work and pursue a master’s at Arizona State University.

Grand Canyon National Park – Failure to Meet Treatment Requirements

Our water system recently violated a drinking water requirement. Although this incident was not an emergency, as our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this situation.

We are required to chlorinate our drinking water source located at the Roaring Springs cave. On the morning of May 8, 2023, we did not meet one or our treatment requirements to provide sufficient levels of disinfectant due to high levels of turbidity in the drinking water system. Although chlorine residual levels are above the minimum requirement at Phantom Ranch along the Trans-Canyon Pipeline, the levels on the South Rim are below that requirement.

Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park wins Arizona Forward Environmental Achievement Awards

The Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park in Flagstaff has won both the Crescordia Award for Environmental Education and Communication and the Award of Distinction for Art in Public Places at the Arizona Forward Gala on April 29th.

The Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park provides gardens, watchable wildlife, education, and multicultural art to the Sawmill neighborhood community and beyond. Elizabeth Archuleta was instrumental in creating the park to honor the community and the sawmill worker heritage in the area. Ms. Archuleta was the first Latina elected to the Board of Supervisors and served as District 2 Supervisor for 25 years. The site was officially dedicated as a Coconino County Park on June 20, 2003, originally as Sawmill Multicultural Art and Nature County Park. Coconino County Parks and Recreation honored Archuleta’s commitment to our community by renaming the former Sawmill County Park in her honor in August of 2022. 

Flagstaff Pulliam Airport to temporarily close runway for maintenance

The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG) runway will be closed for maintenance from midnight on July 9 until midnight on July 15, 2023. During this time, commercial passenger service and fixed-wing aircraft operations will be unavailable. However, helicopter operations will continue uninterrupted. Pavement maintenance work will be completed in partnership with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Airport Pavement Management System program.

United Way of Northern Arizona — A Time of Transition and Looking to the Future

Many thanks to everyone who has been so warm and supportive during my first month as the new CEO and President of United Way of Northern Arizona. I’ve always been proud of this organization and the work it does.

”Improving lives by mobilizing communities to create lasting changes in community conditions” has always resonated with me. I have been involved with UWNA for over 25 years serving on the Board of Directors, the Community Investment Committee and chairing multiple UWNA campaigns.

My life’s work has been dedicated to building community, promoting equity, and improving lives locally, statewide and nationally. I will continue to bring those values and passion for community to my work at UWNA. As a native of Flagstaff with five generations of my family living in Flagstaff, it is an honor to serve my community through UWNA.

During this time of transition, I want to recognize what has come before me.

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez April – May Newsletter

I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather as the sun begins to shine
more often. As the weather warms, it is important to keep in mind how the
changing weather will also affect the landscape of our district. It is
important to keep in mind what preventative measures we can take as a
community to protect ourselves and our community. April is coming to a
close and I would like to recognize the proclamations we have created as
the Board of Supervisors and county. I would like to honor that April is
Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Child Abuse Prevention Month, and
Earth Month. As we continue with our year, it is important to keep into
consideration the discussion and actions we have taken as both a county
and community to continue the dialogue of the issues we are facing
holistically. That said, I would like to highlight all county employees for
continuing to create discussion and honoring the topics that affect our
community.

Flagstaff annual Cinco de Mayo celebration to be held May 5 at the American Legion

The Flagstaff annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held from 5:30 to 11 p.m. Friday, May 5 at the American Legion — Mark A Moore Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff.

Hosted by the Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, the event includes a dinner ($12) from 5 to 6:30 p.m., and the dance from 7 to 11 p.m.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 1-5, 2023

Tusayan’s first annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on Friday, May 5 at the Squire Resort. The fiesta takes place from 3 to 7 p.m., is family-friendly, free, and open to the community. 

There will also be lawn games, piñatas, a Mariachi band and a variety of authentic Mexican foods for guests to enjoy. The drive-in movie, Coco, will be begin at 5:30 p.m. 

The Cinco de Mayo event is new this year and reflects the town’s goal of offering more activities and recreational opportunities for visitors and residents alike. A full flyer with more details on the event is available here. 

Conference at CCC focuses on sharing ideas among math faculty statewide

Coconino Community College student Horizon Gillson is working his way toward a degree in astrophysics.

So, he jumped at the chance to attend the Arizona Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges conference in Flagstaff on April 7 because the featured speaker was Dr. Gerard van Belle, an astronomer at Lowell Observatory.

“I went to get a grasp on the vast opportunities in astronomy and astrophysics,” Gillson said. “I’m trying to burrow down deeper into what I want to do. That’s why I’m here. It’s a reminder of what’s to come, what’s expected and what I can do. It’s been eye-opening.”

Gillson, currently in a Calculus I class, was notified by his professor of the conference, and he joined dozens of math instructors from community colleges across the state to listen to Dr. van Belle and attend breakout sessions throughout the day.

Prescribed Fire Planned for South Rim of Grand Canyon beginning May 10

Grand Canyon National Park fire managers—working with personnel and resources from Saguaro, Rocky Mountain National Park as well as Dinosaur National Monument, anticipate initiating prescribed fire treatments from May 10-12, on the South Rim, as weather and fuel moisture conditions allow.

On Wednesday, May 10, ignitions will occur on the Grapevine segment, approximately 0.5 miles south of the Duck on a Rock Overlook along Highway 64 (Desert View Drive). The Grapevine project area totals an area of 865 acres and is bound by the Kaibab National Forest’s boundary to the south and the E4/Long Jim Canyon Road to the north. Following completion of the Grapevine project, crews will initiate ignitions on the Lonetree project area, totaling an area of approximately 926 acres. Ignitions may be complete as early as Friday, May 12, but may be extended based on favorable weather conditions.

Check out the Galleries at Sedona Arts Center

NOW FEATURING:
Nancy Bihler, Patricia Bohannon, Khrystyna Kozyuk, & Susan Moody

Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. The Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.

Our Uptown Gallery is open 10am–5pm, Monday – Saturday and 12–5pm, Sundays. We look forward to seeing you at Sedona Arts Center’s Gallery! Call 928-282-3865 for additional information. Sedona Arts Center is located at 15 Art Barn Road in Uptown Sedona.

Our online gallery represents a full spectrum of the diversity of artists represented by the arts center. Visit us today!

CCC Community Education — Community Education: Mountain Bike Repair | DIY-Plumbing, Electrical, Carpentry | Comet Walks | Hot Weather Survival | Cake Pops…& More!

DIY – Mountain Bike Repair

Friday, June 2 and
Saturday, June 3
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Learn essential mountain bike repair skills and what tools you should carry for trail-side repairs.

Mountain Bike – Learn more and register!

Discover Flagstaff — Find spring events this week with Flagstaff 365

Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. “Flag Happs” is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights of the week.

Flagstaff Recycling Update – Residential recycling collection to resume May 8, City takes control of Materials Recovery Facility

The collection of residential recycling carts will resume on Monday, May 8. Residents who normally receive recycling services on Monday should place their carts at the curb by 6 a.m. The City has secured a hauling service to transport the City’s recyclables to a Materials Recovery Facility in the Phoenix area so that collected materials can be properly recycled. This arrangement will be utilized by the City in the short term (several weeks) to allow recycling services to resume on May 8. Future updates will be provided as they become available on a long-term plan for recycling services.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Events & Opportunities for Economic Development Week

Next week is the 8th annual Economic Development Week, created by the International Economic Development Council in 2016 to increase awareness of local efforts to promote economic vitality and highlight programs that create jobs and opportunities for individuals and businesses.

Exhibits Sought for 74th Annual Coconino County Fair

Coconino County will celebrate the 74th Annual Coconino County Fair on Labor Day weekend, September 1 – 4, 2023, at the Fairgrounds at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff, Ariz. County residents are invited to join the fun and tradition by entering a public exhibit. Every year the fair showcases the best recipes, artwork, crafts, collections, livestock, home grown vegetables, flowers, and more to the over 40,000 visitors who attend the fair every year.

The Fair features exhibits from all ages and skill levels and many departments give out special awards and prizes, including ribbons and gift cards for exemplary exhibits. Cash prizes are available in many areas thanks to sponsorship from the Friends of Coconino County Parks. Public, private, charter, magnet, and home schoolteachers are encouraged to save student portfolios to exhibit in the schools building. Any participant who submits five entries or more in one department will receive a complimentary fair admission ticket.

The NAU Review — Grad becomes sustainability star, FUSD middle schoolers visit NAU, an epic journey to graduation and NAU’s first In Memoriam

Sophia Swainson was working as a server when she got a text message that changed her life—a job posting for a student worker position at NAU’s Office of Sustainability. It was a big change, but she took it and never looked back. As she prepares to graduate, she’s looking at jobs in the sustainability nonprofit sector, confident that the perseverance that got her through the challenges of college will help her as she takes on conservation.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Youth experience variety of STEM-related activities during 2023 STEM Celebration

COCONINO COUNTY —
Hundreds of visitors experienced a variety of STEM-related activities and exhibits during 2023 STEM Celebration held Saturday, April 29 at Fort Tuthill.

Presented by Flagstaff STEM City, the 10th annual event featured more 70 indoor and outdoor exhibits offering a variety hand-on activities and demonstrations including robotics, mini rocket launches, a trebuchet catapult launcher, helicopter and heavy equipment displays.

Sponsors included Tgen, APS, Coconino Community College, Coconino County, KSC and the Flagstaff Unified School District.

Some of the exhibitors included Coconino High School and its CocoNuts Robotics Team, Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, W.L. Gore & Associates, Northern Arizona University, Tynkertopia Inc., the Flagstaff Police Dept. Bomb Squad, Grand Canyon Youth, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, the U.S. Geological Services Geology and Biology departments, City of Flagstaff Open Spaces, the Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory, Guardian Air, Mountain Line, the Phoenix Truck Driving School, the Flagstaff Fire Dept., City of Flagstaff Public Works and the KAFF Radio Remote.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation May 2023 Update

FREE Event AWWE Presents: A Bird Walk

Join wildlife experts in this season’s first bird walk! We will meet at Rogers Lake County Natural Area (7 miles SW of Flagstaff on Woody Mountain Road / Forest Road 231, at the first Rogers Lake entrance sign as you arrive at the County Natural Area). Bring your binoculars, sturdy shoes, a sunhat, a notebook and pencil, and perhaps your camera! This event is free, but registration will be required.

Notes: We will hike up to 3 miles. Bring whatever you want for hiking, and dress appropriately for the weather. Bring binoculars and bird guide if you have them – we will have some binoculars for those that don’t.

Coconino County is Offering Paid Summer Internships for Local Teens Interested in Work Experience

Coconino County Health and Human Services and the Coconino County Workforce Development Board are offering Youthworks, a 2023 summer work experience program for teens.

This program provides a unique opportunity for teens aged 15 to 18 to explore career pathways, make connections, and earn a wage.

Youthworks internships run from May 30 to August 1, 2023. The internship is designed to help teens discover what they might want to do in their future career. Participants will earn a wage of $16.80 per hour and work up to 40 hours per week.

Board of Supervisors Approves Updates to Coconino County Fair Fees

At their regular meeting on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve fee changes for the Coconino County Fair, effective starting with the 2023 fair.

The Coconino County Fair ticket prices have not increased since 2008, and the changes reflect growth, increasing costs, and staffing needs. 

The NAU Review — How dog fostering affected one grad’s future, a system that tracks tree stress and a graduate prepares for a career in inclusion

Senior Trevor Geiger is a passionate animal lover who has fostered four dogs through High Country Humane Society. Despite challenges, he persevered with patience and empathy, successfully helping dogs find furever homes while pursuing his studies in biology and chemistry. He finds joy in seeing the progress and transformation of dogs in his care, and his heartwarming experiences with fostering have brought him happiness even when it meant later nights and earlier mornings. For National Pet Foster Care Month, learn more about Geiger’s dedication to animals and his future strengthening the human-animal bond as a veterinarian.

City of Flagstaff Recycling Update – Residential recycling collection services remain paused

The Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) and public recycling drop-off located at 1800 E Butler Ave remains closed, and while the City of Flagstaff continues to evaluate recycling alternatives, the pause on the collection of residential recycling carts will continue until further notice. Residents are asked to not put their recycling carts on the curb as they will not be collected. In the interim, alternative public recycling drop-off locations can be viewed in Google Maps here. However, the City encourages the public to hold their recyclables until further notice.

Theatrikos May Newsletter: Powerful and Poignant Dance Nation Opens May 19

In Dance Nation, an army of competitive dancers navigates ambition, friendship and desire as they plot to take over the world. Our pre-teen heroines, played by a multi-generational cast of women, know that every plié is a step toward finding themselves and unleashing their power. This show, by Clare Barron, was a 2019 Pulitzer Prize Finalist.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — April 24-28, 2023 — Town of Tusayan Cinco de Mayo event on May 5 and more news, events

Tusayan’s first annual Cinco de Mayo celebration will take place on Friday, May 5 at the Squire Resort. The fiesta takes place from 3 to 7 p.m., is family-friendly, free, and open to the community. 

There will also be lawn games, piñatas, a Mariachi band and a variety of authentic Mexican foods for guests to enjoy. The drive-in movie, Coco, will be begin at 5:30 p.m. 

The Cinco de Mayo event is new this year and reflects the town’s goal of offering more activities and recreational opportunities for visitors and residents alike. A full flyer with more details on the event is available here. 

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes visited with County Board of Supervisors and Election Officials

Arizona Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, visited Flagstaff on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 to meet with members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board), County Recorder Patty Hansen, and County Elections staff.

Secretary Fontes has visited or plans to visit all 15 Arizona counties to hear directly from local officials about their present and future needs to prepare for the 2024 election cycle and beyond.

Among the topics covered during the Secretary’s discussion with the Board members and staff were election staff safety, election integrity, and expanding voter access especially to rural and minority communities in Coconino County.

“Elections are bottom-up here in Arizona, counties run our elections,” Secretary Fontes said during his visit. “My office has built a team that reflects that ethos.”

Flagstaff STEM Celebration Coming Saturday, April 29

You’re Invited to the 
10th Annual STEM Celebration!  
Saturday, April 29, 2023 
1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds 

STEM City and its partners are pleased to sponsor

this community-wide event to

celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as

“America’s First STEM Community.”   

Hands-on activities and demonstrations

engage children and adults in the broad range of

STEM opportunities throughout northern Arizona.   

Coconino Community College Student Spotlight: Tami-Shae Brooks

Tami-Shae Brooks is a student at Coconino Community College who moved from Jamaica to the United States as a teenager. She faces challenges such as immigration issues, financial difficulties, and demanding courses, but she also finds support and community at her school. She works hard to balance her academic and personal life, and enjoys hobbies such as mindfulness exercises, yoga, and hiking. She hopes to achieve her career goal of becoming a software engineer.

Tami-Shae Brooks was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a place that has and will always be a home to her. But when she turned 15, her family made the difficult decision to move to the United States. It was a big change for her, and she felt culture shock in her new life in California.

“The transition was very exciting because many people outside of America think of it as the land of opportunity” she said, “however, it was still stressful to adjust.”

City of Flagstaff Residential recycling services paused April 28

 The City of Flagstaff has recently been made aware that the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), at 1800 E Butler Ave, has closed. The MRF is operated by Norton Environmental, Inc. under a contract with the City to process the City’s recyclables. Due to the abrupt nature of this closure, the City does not currently have immediate alternatives in place to manage City-collected recyclables and has decided to pause the collection of residential recycling carts on Friday, April 28 while alternative solutions are sought.

United Way of Northern Arizona — The Hardest Part of Retiring is Saying Goodbye

In just a few weeks, I’ll walk out of the offices at 1515 E. Cedar Ave. in Flagstaff for the last time as the President and CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona, my professional home for the past 24 years.

While I’m looking forward to retirement and am excited about the plans I’m making with my husband for this next chapter in our lives, the truth is it’s hard to say goodbye.

Being part of this organization for almost a quarter of a century has been an incredibly meaningful part of my life and walking away from something like that is never easy.

Flagstaff announces Brian Gall as new Airport Director

The City of Flagstaff is pleased to announce that Brian Gall has accepted the position of Airport Director for the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport. Brian has 16 years of experience in municipal government, federal government, and consulting. Brian currently serves as the Airport Programs Manager at the Flagstaff Pulliam Airport and previously worked for the City of Flagstaff as a Development Engineering Project Manager.

2022 Grand Canyon Drinking Water Quality Report now available

Grand Canyon National Park is required to annually distribute a consumer confidence report for the park’s drinking water. This year Grand Canyon Water Utilities is distributing this report electronically to reduce paper consumption. The purpose is to allow consumers to make educated decisions regarding any potential health risks pertaining to the quality, treatment, and management of your drinking water supply.

The NAU Review — Celebrating professional achievements, Mars mission, Global Advising Week and Devon Randall answers our questions

Did Mars capture an asteroid in its orbit and turn it into a moon? Or does Deimos have a different origin story? Planetary scientist Christopher Edwards is part of an international team examining the two Martian moons as part of the New Emirates Mars Mission; findings announced this week in Vienna, Austria, from the far side of the moon, which previously has not been investigated, tell a new story about Deimos.

Grand Canyon National Park — Annual Turbidity in Drinking Water Notification

Each year in the spring (April – June), Grand Canyon National Park experiences an increase in turbidity in the drinking water. This increased turbidity is caused by the snow melt and by the spring rains recharging the aquifer and the increased water flows through the rock formations to the point of supply for the Grand Canyon National Park Public Water Supply System.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y Celebrates April as Child Abuse Prevention Month with final free ‘Thriving Families’ training on April 26 in Page

COCONINO COUNTY —
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth celebrates April as Child Abuse Prevention Month with its final free “Thriving Families” training on April 26 from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 26 at the Page Unified School District boardroom, 500 S. Navajo Road, Page.

The series “Community Healing Change — Training, Meal & Discussion,” were also presented on April 17 in Fredonia and April 18 at Puente de Hozho in Flagstaff and in partnership with Fredonia Elementary School, Puente de Hozho in Flagstaff and the Page Unified School District.

You can register to attend the live viewing parties where food, discussion and prizes are available.
​​​​​​​
To attend the Page training, register with Penni Case at pcase@pageud.org