Author: Community Contributor

Sedona Arts Center — Call for Artists. Application deadline is Jan. 20

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Sedona Arts Center Artists of all levels, working in all mediums are invited to enter into our Annual Juried Exhibition & Sale. The exhibition will run from March 6-31, 2024

Monetary awards will be given for First Place/Best of Show Award ($500), Second ($250)  and Third ($150) place.
Honorable mention awards will be awarded at the discretion of the jurors and no monetary amount attached.
People’s Choice Award is announced at the end of the show. No monetary attached.
DEADLINE for submission: January 20, 2024
How to Apply:

43rd JURIED ART EXHIBITION – Apply Online at Cafe – Click Here.

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The NAU Review — Understanding homelessness, community engagement hours well spent and story time with President Cruz Rivera

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The number of unhoused individuals in Arizona jumped almost 25 percent between 2020 and 2022 as safe, affordable housing disappeared throughout the state. This is a thorny, multifaceted issue, and one that health sciences researcher Sara Shuman is tackling as part of a federal effort to better understand and address homelessness throughout the nation. With a focus on health equity, Shuman and her team will document the needs and experiences of people living in encampments and evaluate the strategies used to manage homeless encampments in Yuma, Pima and Maricopa counties.

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Bilingual report — The traditional Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration will be held Dec. 11, 12, 2023 in Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF — The traditional Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration will be held Dec. 11, 12, 2023 in Flagstaff. 

Participants will meet at 5 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at San Francisco de Asis Church, 1600 E. Rt. 66 (Rt. 66 & Ponderosa Parkway), to ride a busy to the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the procession. Participants can also meet at the chapel at 224 S Kendrick St., Flagstaff.

The procession will begin from the chapel to San Francisco de Asis Church at 5:30 p.m.

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CHAC, County Diversity Council to participate in Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights on Dec. 9

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC), the County’s Diversity Council and other supporters will participated in the annual Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 in downtown Flagstaff.

Presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Vora Financial Group, the parade features more than 60 entries.

Please join the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce, Vora Financial, and the Flagstaff Community in celebrating the holidays by participating in the Annual Holiday Parade of Lights!, the chamber reported. With parade floats lighting up Historic Downtown Flagstaff, you won’t want to miss out on the fun and festivities that have become a holiday tradition in Flagstaff.

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Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Please Attend the City Council meeting this Tuesday Dec. 12 at 3 p.m. to show your support of Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan

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Please attend and, if you choose, make a public comment in  support of keeping the Carbon Neutrality Plan in its current form.  

Many thanks to the citizens who attended and spoke at the Nov. 28th Council meeting! Chambers were packed with Carbon Neutrality Plan supporters and the many speakers were passionate about not modifying the Plan.

Flagstaff citizens need to demonstrate our support again this Tuesday.

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Helping to Solve the Childcare Crunch

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In order to step up for our youth, we need to make improving access to childcare a top priority.

According to a report released just this week, the lack of adequate childcare in Arizona is costing the state $4.7 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue each year.

The analysis, conducted by ReadyNation with major funding by the Helios Education Foundation, shows that not having accessible, affordable, and high-quality childcare is adversely impacting parents, businesses, and taxpayers.

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Board of Supervisors Names Top Candidate to Fill District 3 Vacancy in 2024

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FLAGSTAFF — At their regular meeting on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) concluded the District 3 vacancy process by unanimously naming their top candidate to serve the remainder of retiring Supervisor Matt Ryan’s term.

After brief comments regarding the candidates, interviews, and selection process, the Board named Adam Hess of Bellemont to represent District 3. 

“We feel Mr. Hess is the best candidate to hit the ground running in this very short appointment,” commented Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Board and Supervisor for District 2. “His leadership experience from his military service and his desire to return to where he grew up and serve his community will enable him to represent District 3 immediately upon official appointment.”

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 4-8, 2023

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Artist in Residence ‘Pop Up’ Event, Saturday, December 9

On Saturday, December 9, from 2-4 p.m. a pop-up exhibition will feature the work of GCC Artist in Residence, Annie McCone-Lopez and Grand Canyon Summer School children. The event will be held at the Park Headquarters building with an artist talk at 2:30 p.m.

Annie McCone-Lopez will be exhibiting an eight-foot hand painted Mayan codex that represents her take on the water crisis in the Southwest. During her time in residence over the summer at Grand Canyon, McCone-Lopez also worked with Grand Canyon Summer School to create codices based on the same theme. The student codices will be displayed alongside Annie’s.

More information can be found in the attached flyer here.

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Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Support F3’s End-of-Year Appeal

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As 2023 draws to a close, we hope you will
make a donation in support of the work we
have done this year and will continue in 2024.

F3’s Community Impact!

*F3 brought citizens’ questions & concerns about the
hospital move to the City beginning in February. F3
joined the no campaign & is a big reason why Prop 480
was voted down by 72% of the voters!

*F3’s 2023 Voter Guide to the City’s Propositions
played a significant role in educating residents of the
meaning & impact of the 19 Charter amendments.

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The NAU Review — A revolution in forestry, getting to know a professor who earned her doctorate and how PA students are closing the healthcare gap

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Researchers from the Ecological Restoration Institute and School of Forestry are part of a national effort to create consistent and accurate models to predict different aspects of forest health. The National Scale Volume Biomass models are an innovation in forest biometrics introduces advanced models for accurately predicting the size and carbon-storing capacity of American forests, playing a key role in combating climate change and guiding sustainable forest management efforts.

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Coconino County Parks & Recreation — Subscribe today for latest e-newsletter

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Winter Recreation Updates and Safety

Much of Coconino County is a winter wonderland! Parks and natural areas offer great winter recreation opportunities. Strap on your boots, snow shoes, or cross-country skis, and enjoy the trails. Make snow forts and snow people. Have a (safe) snowball fight. Enjoy the beauty of nature in the snow, whether birdwatching or walking in the trees.

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Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Happy Holidays from your friends at CCC&Y

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By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth would love to wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.

During the next few weeks our regular weekly e-newsletter will be taking a break as we look to give it a fresh look in the coming year.

And we want your help!

Please CLICK HERE to submit your suggestions to help us better design a weekly e-newsletter that better meets your needs in 2024.
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The NAU Review — Capturing conversations, getting to know a PT professor and where to volunteer

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Capturing language, one conversation at a time

Between school papers, social media, texts, news reports, speeches, blogs and podcasts, Americans record billions of words in a year. But billions more are lost—the language we use in conversation among friends and family, to the grocery clerk or Uber driver and our walking partners. Researchers in the Applied Linguistics program are leading the creation of the largest-ever corpus of American English conversation, which could change what we understand about this most basic register of language.

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Sedona Arts Center — Celebrate Sedona with the Big Gay Art Show on Dec. 6

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Join us at Sedona Arts Center on Wednesday, December 6, from 4-6 pm for Celebrate Sedona and the opening of our annual exhibition—The Big Gay Art Show! The event is free and will be held in the Theatre Studio and Special Exhibitions Gallery at the Art Barn with free parking in our lower lot.

In addition to the exhibition, attendees will enjoy an evening of festive music by DJ Shondra, food and drinks, door prizes, and a Holiday Market with one-of-a-kind items by CJ Henderson, Denize Katzen, Susan Moody, Victoria Norton, Jillian Sander, Sedona Incense Company and Iris Yang, and entertaining bits and curiosities by Arizona’s Hip Historian Marshall Shore.

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Flagstaff Festival of Science — Local Science Spotlight: Science and Storytelling with Nicole Walker

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Discover the captivating intersection of science and storytelling in the heart of Flagstaff, Arizona as local writer and educator, Nicole Walker, unravels the hidden secrets of the coastal redwoods. In a recent blog post, Nicole tells us about the intriguing exploration of resilience, shedding light on the ability of redwoods to utilize decades-old carbon for rejuvenation after wildfires, a topic inspired by her personal experiences with the annual fire concerns in Northern Arizona.

Visit our website to read the full article!

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County Plows & Facilities Ready for Season’s First Snow

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COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County is ready for the first snowstorm of the 2023-2024 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona late Wednesday and continue into Saturday.

Public Works crews are geared up to keep County roads open and passable during the storm and the Facilities Management Department is preparing County buildings for cold and icy conditions. 

The National Weather Service in Bellemont has issued a Winter Weather Advisory beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. through 5 a.m. Saturday. According to the advisory, total snow accumulations between 2 and 8 inches are expected, with snow falling as low as 5000’ and hazardous impacts occurring above 7000’. 

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Nov. 27-Dec. 1, 2023

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North Rim transitions to winter operations; Hwy. 67 closed at Jacob Lake

Beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, November 30, the North Rim was closed to all vehicle traffic for the winter. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open on May 15th, 2024 (subject to change). 

As in years past, the North Rim campground will be available for winter camping and is accessible via hiking inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing 45 miles from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained in advance through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center. 

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Board of Supervisors Conducts Interviews With District 3 Candidates

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The Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) met in special session (Nov. 29) to continue the process of filling the upcoming vacancy in District 3.

During the public meeting the Board conducted thorough interviews with the five remaining candidates who have applied to fill the vacancy through 2024. Two candidates who did qualify to fill the vacancy removed themselves from consideration prior to today’s session. 

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The NAU Review — A new report lays out the current state of climate change, reserve your tickets for the Presidential Speaker Series and Louie’s Cupboard needs your help

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Several experts from NAU contributed to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a report that synthesizes the research and expert opinions of hundreds of scientists from throughout the country. The report breaks down the research by region and topic and addresses land and resource managers, policymakers and the general public, with the goal of educating Americans about how they are experiencing the effects of climate change and the steps we must take to mitigate effects in the future. “It is imperative that our society and our various communities continue to learn and discuss the impacts of climate change on our regional and national communities,” said ITEP director Nikki Cooley, who co-authored a chapter on human health. “The report brings together a large group of people who work every day in their fields that are affected by increasingly disastrous events such fire, flooding, drought and more.”

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Consolidated Election Results Canvass Approved by Board of Supervisors

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The Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board) met on November 21, 2023, to review and approve the canvass of the 2023 Consolidated Election in Coconino County.

This year, Coconino County Elections and the County Recorder’s Office administered a ballot-by-mail election for seven jurisdictions in the County. 

In preparation for Board approval, Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen, Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget, and Elections Director Eslir Musta presented comprehensive information about this year’s elections operations, voter registration statistics, voter turnout and statistics, ballot drop-off box usage, and signature verification standards.  

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Final Public Notice – Museum Fire Post-Fire Flood Mitigation Cedar Avenue

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FLAGSTAFF — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to the City of Flagstaff (sub-applicant), located in Coconino County, Arizona, to upgrade an existing concrete box culvert (proposed action). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.

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The NAU Review — Measuring biodiversity, Humans of NAU with a former track athlete and giving back this Giving Tuesday

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Measuring biodiversity across the U.S.—with space lasers
Diverse ecosystems support the web of life and in the process, provide food, water, medicine and materials for humanity. But the butterfly effect tells us all things are connected. So, when biodiversity loss threatens the foundation upon which we live, what does that mean for the future of Earth and humanity? NAU research professor Chris Hakkenberg is taking a necessary step to finding a solution to biodiversity loss: mapping and measuring biodiversity across the U.S. using NASA’s space-borne lidar.

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Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Support F3 Today on Giving Tuesday!

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Join the Giving Tuesday global movement and support your local nonprofits!

Your end-of-year donation will go directly toward supporting F3’s on-going work as we continue to be fully integrated into the decision-making processes of our community, educating and advocating for a livable, sustainable, affordable, and climate resilient Flagstaff.

F3 attends all City Council meetings and we speak directly to Council about important policy and on-the-ground decisions that relate to our Focus Areas.* We seek accountability and transparency from our local local leaders through meeting with city staff and individual council members and we participate in local and regional planning efforts including the development of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045, which will be a major focus of our work in 2024.

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Pile burns planned this week north of Munds Park

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FLAGSTAFF  — The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct large pile burns tomorrow through Friday in two different areas about two miles north of Munds Park or 13 miles south of Flagstaff.

The Horse Park pile burn is comprised of approximately 1,200 acres of slash piles just north of Munds Park, near Forest Road 700.

The Willard Spring pile burn consists of four acres worth of forest debris and grass within Willard Spring pit just west of Interstate 17 near the Willard Springs exit.

Smoke may impact areas such as Mountainaire, Kachina Village and I-17 around the pile burns but is forecast to move toward the north/northeast through the day.

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Flagstaff STEM City — Invest in the Future Today

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STEM is more important to our community – and our world – than ever before. Hardly a day goes by when STEM is not in the headlines: artificial intelligence, climate change, space exploration, breakthroughs in medicine, and much more.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are nearly 10 million workers in STEM occupations and this total is projected to grow by almost 11% by 2031, more than two times faster than the total for all other occupations.

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Support Sedona Arts Center on Giving Tuesday

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(Nov. 28) is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow! Make a donation today to support Sedona Arts Center…

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Museum of Northern Arizona — Give the Gift of Learning & Discovery

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Your support is critical to growing and sustaining MNA’s work. In 2023, we: 

Opened three new exhibitions;  
Welcomed nearly 2,000 students on school visits;  
Shared the MNA collections with hundreds of members of the public;  
Provided over 200 researchers with in-depth access to collections;  
Hosted numerous educational events that connect visitors with the art, science, and culture of the Colorado Plateau through authentic experiences;
And so much more!

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Supporting Youth (and Families) on Giving Tuesday

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On Giving Tuesday, we come together to support the causes that matter most to us.

This year, I’m asking you to join us and create more opportunities for our communities in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache County to step up for our youth by supporting not only our children, but those who take care of them as well.

An underlying aspect of many of the programs we manage or fund is about being a partner to the parents and guardians who are raising the next generation.

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Flagstaff Festival of Science — Your support (on Giving Tuesday) nurtures a future scientist!

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This year marks our 35th anniversary, and we’re gearing up for an even better Science in the Park. With Giving Tuesday right around the corner, will you make a contribution towards Science in the Park?

Families get to experience 50 unique science demonstrations—physics, chemistry, and more! What’s more, youth-focused vendors participate at no cost, so every child can join in.

Imagine the impact: your support nurturing a future scientist or STEM professional. Your donation creates ripples of inspiration that last a lifetime.

Ready to be part of something amazing? With your help, we’ll reach our $5,500 goal. The Festival Board has generously offered a one-to-one match up to $1,000! Make your gift online by December 2 and it will be doubled! Or, send us a check to: 2700 S. Woodlands Village Blvd. Set 300 – 284, Flagstaff Arizona 86001!

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Sedona Arts Center — Holiday Sale In Our Gallery Shop!

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Holiday Sale in our Gallery!
10% OFF Any Purchase in our Gallery* November 24 Through December 31, 2023 *Get 10% off any purchase of $100 or more in our Uptown Art Gallery through December 31, 2023! Current SAC Members receive an additional 5% off.

*Excluding Bronze Sculptures and Special Exhibitions. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax (an almost a 10% savings!)

Use coupon code HOLIDAY10 at checkout when shopping online.
(discount not available for workshops, classes or special exhibitions

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Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y Partners ready for GivingTuesday

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By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

CCC&Y partners are taking an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by being part in the annual GivingTuesdaymovement on Nov. 28, 2023.

CCC&Y partners who are participating in our GivingTuesday promotional effort include:

Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation — Donation link
Flagstaff Festival of Science — Science in the Park — Donation link
We believe GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for our mission: “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”

Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a fantastic GivingTuesday celebration.

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Wishing You a Happy Thanksgiving

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We couldn’t do it without you.

We are United in Purpose 365 days a year, and together we are stepping up for youth and our community in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties. We are promoting early childhood education, positive youth development and the safety and security of our friends and neighbors in our local communities.

This Thanksgiving we are more grateful than ever for your friendship, partnership and support.

Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday,

Liz, Christine & Elaine

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Happy Thanksgiving, from your friends at Sedona Arts Center

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We have so much to be thankful for here in this beautiful land of the red rocks.

Mostly I am thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to do this amazing work on behalf of more than 1,000 artists throughout this state and nation. If not for you, Sedona Arts Center would not exist.

While we are working hard to bring workshops, classes, exhibits, programs and events to you throughout the year, we continue to need your support. Now more than ever.

As a thank you, we are offering a 10% discount in our Gallery Shop from November 24 through December 31.

And please be sure to check out our Contemporary Surrealism exhibit up now through November 30 (it’s received fantastic reviews) and stay tuned for Celebrate Sedona on December 6 – which will be a holiday dance party -and the opening of the Big Gay Art Show.

On behalf of all of us at Sedona Arts Center,
I’d like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
and wonderful holiday season.

Again, thank you.

Warmly,

Julie A. Richard
CEO

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Coconino National Forest seeks public input on proposed trail enhancements on Red Rock Ranger District

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SEDONA  — Coconino National Forest is seeking public input and comments on proposed trail enhancements at specific locations within the Red Rock Ranger District that would add approximately 39 miles of non-motorized trails and re-route and naturalize other trails.

The proposed locations fall within and near the communities of Sedona, Village of Oak Creek and Cornville and would include 24.42 miles of non-motorized trails, adopting 14.8 miles of user-created routes, and naturalizing 10.14 miles of user-created trails. The specific locations include the Turkey Creek System, Bell Rock Area Bypasses, Cornville School Trail, Doe Mesa Loop, Hardline Trail, and Scheurman Trail Connector.

These proposals are the result of years of planning after a strong public demand for improved and enhanced trailhead access, options, and experiences.

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The NAU Review — NAU cross country concludes best season, results from the Thanksgiving poll and a free telescope viewing

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Following a historic season, both NAU cross country teams placed second at the NCAA National Championships: the women scored 124 points and the men scored 71 points. Along with being the best team finish in school and conference history, this also is the first time the women have placed three athletes in the top 20. This is the eighth consecutive year that the men finished in the top two at the national meet.

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Coconino NF accepting applicants for 2024 Women in Wildfire Boot Camp

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FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest will host a Women in Wildland Fire boot camp in April of 2024 for individuals interested in exploring a career in wildfire and is currently accepting applications.

Boot camp participants will gain a greater understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of wildland firefighting through sessions conducted both in the classroom and in the field.

Class work will consist of online training modules, where participants will learn about wildland firefighting strategy and safety.

During field training, participants will follow guidelines set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group to explore firefighting as a career in a hands-on way.

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Large grant awarded to improve watersheds, manage invasive species on Coconino NF

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FLAGSTAFF — On Tuesday (Nov. 14), the American Conservation Experience (ACE) was awarded a large America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) grant to conduct important watershed improvement and invasive species management work for up to four years on Coconino National Forest.

The $1,755,900 grant included a grant amount of $1,404,700 with matching funds of $351,200 and will employ two specialized six-person crews to perform the work.

The crews will remove and treat invasive species on 1,000 acres as well as deliver 15 miles of instream and riparian restoration. They will do this through the removal of failed culverts, channel stabilization, installation of rack or log structures and the reduction of non-functioning flow diversion features.

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Coconino High School students celebrate el Día de los Muertos with second annual shoebox ofrenda competition

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FLAGSTAFF — Spanish language and English learning students at Coconino High School celebrated el Día de los Muertos with their second annual shoebox ofrenda competition. The winners were selected this week with students and others voting throughout the month.

“This contest is an innovative way for our students to express their creativity and learn about the cultural significance of Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead,” said teacher Francy Solarte. “As a school committed to fostering cultural awareness and artistic expression, we are enthusiastic about providing our students with such opportunities.

“The Day of the Dead Mini altar contest is a competition where students create beautiful and meaningful altars using a shoe box,” Solarte said. “They can pay tribute to a family member, pet, or person who has contributed to society. They also write an altar dedication in Spanish and their home language. This is an interdisciplinary project between Spanish classes and English Language Learners classes. We exhibited the mini altars at the library starting November 2nd and we closed with a parent night on November 8th. The school community and parents had the opportunity to visit the exhibition and vote for their favorites.”

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City of Flagstaff and Coconino County to host open houses (Dec. 2, 9; Jan. 16) for the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045

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FLAGSTAF — The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County invite residents to participate in Scenario Choosing Open Houses for the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045. These open houses are centered around how the region should approach growth to address uncertainties and opportunities that may lie ahead. This is a once-a-decade opportunity to shape the future of our community.

The open houses will be available in both an online and in-person format. To participate in the open house virtually, visit bit.ly/scenariochoosing from Nov. 16, 2023 to Jan. 19, 2024. Information on the in-person open houses is provided below. Attendees may sign up in advance for childcare at in-person events at flagstaff.az.gov/RegionalPlan2045.

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Healthy Bodies, Healthy Futures

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The need for programs that encourage physical health have never been more essential for our region’s youth than now.

According to the United Health Foundation, only 16.8% of Arizona children between the ages of 6 and 17 are physically active for an hour a day. The latest report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation indicates that 31% of children 10 to 17 in the state are overweight or obese.

Part of stepping up for our youth includes ensuring our kids make healthy choices – from the foods they eat to putting down their devices for a while and getting active.

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Coconino County Seeks Applicants for Commission on Trial Court Appointments

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The Commission on Trial Court Appointment Nominating Committee for Coconino County Supervisorial District 2 is seeking non-attorney applicants for the Trial Court Commission.

For more than 40 years Arizona citizens have benefited from a judicial merit selection and retention system. Merit selection is a way of choosing judges that uses nonpartisan commissions to investigate and evaluate applicants for judgeships. The commissions then submit the names of at least three highly qualified applicants to the Governor. The Governor appoints appellate court judges statewide and trial court judges in Coconino, Maricopa, Pima, and Pinal counties from lists of nominees submitted by the judicial nominating commissions. 

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Theatrikos Theatre Co. — Crazy Christmas Carol opens day after Thanksgiving. Weeknight films Nov 27 and 29

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Theatrikos Presents A Crazy Interactive Musical for Christmas Based on the most popular form of theatre in the UK, done for the first time in Arizona, A Christmas Carol: A Twisted Musical Comedyruns November 24—December 17 A Christmas Carol Tickets…

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Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Advantages of a Thriving Economy

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As Ioanna Morfessis, President & CEO of IO, Inc., recently put it: “Economies don’t remain static; there is no stasis. They either grow and progress or they regress.”

Morfessis and Danny Court of Elliott Pollack & Co. co-authored the recently released Strategic Plan created on behalf of ECoNA to outline a roadmap for the region’s economic future.

Their reporting indicates that Northern Arizona faces a major decision: whether the region’s economy will continue to remain competitive or if anti-growth sentiment will lead to stagnation and possible economic erosion.

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Coconino County Emergency Management Assists the State of Hawaii Response to Maui Wildfires

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Coconino County Emergency Management recently assisted the State of Hawaii in response to the August wildfires on the island of Maui.

As a result of the devastating wildfires that impacted Lahaina and Upper Kula on Maui, officials in Hawaii have been coordinating response and recovery efforts with local and federal partners. Through this coordination, Hawaii activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). EMAC is an all-hazards, all disciplines mutual aid compact that allows states to share resources and provide assistance to one another during times of disaster. 

As a signatory to EMAC, the State of Arizona received requests from the State of Hawaii for trained subject matter experts to assist with disaster operations.

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Nov. 13-17, 2023

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InterTribal Economic Summit recap

Last week, the park hosted the Emergence Summit, the second Grand Canyon InterTribal Economic Summit. More than 60 participants were in attendance including Tribal vendors, tour operators, entrepreneurs, partners, and park staff. The purpose of the summit was to discuss ways the park and its many partners can best work together to improve economic benefits for the park, private companies, Tribal partners, nonprofit partners, and the surrounding communities.

Keynote speaker Natasha Hale (Navajo and Saudi Arabian and pictured above), cofounder of Change Labs, offered lessons from her 15 years of experience supporting Native entrepreneurs and economic equity on the Colorado Plateau.

“To move past these wrongs, we still have to keep talking about them. But I think we’re all eager to move past it,” said Hale. “That’s what Emergence is about – we want to be able to co-manage these lands, but we also want to be able to have access to that economic power.” 

You can learn more about the summit from Grand Canyon Trust’s website here.

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