Author: Community Contributor

April 12 — Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ holding in-person job fair in Flagstaff

Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ will hold an in-person job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at its new second location on Switzer Canyon Road across from Frys.

Interviewing for Donation Attendants, Retail Merchandise Processors, Retail Sales Associates, and Retail Management, both full time and part time!

April 23 — Join us for the 25th Annual Mountain Spelling Bee!

Come celebrate our 25th Annual Spelling Bee and support equal access to literacy for all members of our community! We will have raffles, prizes, auctions, games, and more!

Tickets are $55 and cover admission into the event as well as a three-course dinner. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the event.

To sponsor the event or a team, or to participate in the bee competition, email director@thinkliteracy.org

April 30 — CHAC, Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library present Diversity Book Drive

Let’s add to the diverse voices at the library! the Coconino County Public Library is looking to expand their Spanish Language Collection.

The Diversity Book Drive, in partnership with the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 30 at the Flagstaff Public Library Downtown, 300 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.

April 30 — Thorpe Park Annex community design meeting

The City of Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Events Division is partnering with Southwest Decision Resources and Wheat Design Group to collaborate with the Flagstaff community on the future of the 8.5-acre Thorpe Park Annex parcel. On Saturday, April 30, from 12 to 2 p.m., the community is invited to meet with their Flagstaff neighbors and envision the future of the parcel.

From 12 to 12:45 p.m., the community is invited to eat lunch (there will be food trucks on site) and walk around the parcel to learn about initial ideas being generated from the community survey.  Participants will also be invited to think critically about compatibility of current uses and future programming on the site.

May 7 — Flagstaff Boys and Girls Club Fundraiser returns

The Kentucky Derby Fundraiser presented by PNC Bank is back, May 7th at High Country Conference Center.

Enjoy some hors d’oeuvres, a mint julep and much more. There will be live music, a silent auction, live auction and of course watching of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t forget we are giving prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat!

So grab your hats and get your tickets today! You don’t want to miss the greatest 2 minutes in sports.  www.bgcflag.org

May 20 — Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library hosts Lifelong Learning Celebration and Yearbook Day

The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library will be celebrating Flagstaff learners of all ages with its Lifelong Learning Celebration and Yearbook Day on Friday, May 20. This all-day, interactive celebration will take place in the Community Room of the Downtown Library (300 W Aspen Ave) and will feature crafts, activities, and community learning resources.

Yearbook activities

The Library maintains local yearbooks dating back to 1924, including Sinagua High School, now known as Sinagua Middle School. While these yearbooks are usually stored in a locked case, the entire yearbook collection will be available for patron browsing in the Community Room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons of all ages are invited to find themselves, their family members, or well-known Flagstaffians among the old and new pages.

The Library will also be launching a “Library Yearbook” for patrons to fill with remembrances and high school memories spurred by the yearbooks. Patrons are also invited to create one-of-a-kind cards for the graduate in their life with an eclectic selection of card-making materials provided.

In the Library’s Teen Zone from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., 2022 graduates can bring their graduation caps to decorate with provided supplies.

Through May 24 — Registration is now open for Spring Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) Training

Coconino County’s next Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development Zoom-based training will run 6-9pm, Tuesdays for 9-week running March 29th and go through May 24th. If you are eligible, our Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grant opportunity is also available.  This email has information, below and attached, on the benefits of each program and how to sign-up.

Through May 31 — Celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is all around us, but, what exactly is mental health? Mental health is a person’s general sense of emotional, psychological, and cognitive well-being. Everyone has mental health every day, but it’s often ignored unless something is going seriously wrong. The best way to prevent that is to pay attention to your mental health even when you are feeling okay or even good.

Notice how your mental health is always changing. Yesterday might have been a better day than today, and that’s okay. Part of being human is moving with your emotions, and knowing when something isn’t going exactly how you want it to, check in with yourself, and reach out to your friends and family for help when you need to take some time for your mental health or don’t know what to do.

As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, please join us for upcoming events!

June — Coconino County Diversity Team to present ‘Pride Month’ event

The Coconino County Diversity Team will present Pride Month presentations through May 31.

Happy Pride Month! Coconino County is committed to inclusion and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community and we celebrate the contributions and impact made to our community every day.

Stay tune for the latest upcoming events.

June 10 — Flagstaff Police Dept. invites pubic to ‘Coffee With A Cop’ gathering

On June 10th,the Flagstaff Police Department will be hosting a couple of community meeting events. These meetings are to allow concerned citizens and business owners to meet with consultants who will be making recommendations on a nuisance noise ordinance. The attached flyers outline the dates, times and locations.

June 10 through 11 — Award Winning New Orleans Musician, Anders Osborne, Headliner for Arizona’s Largest Blues Festival

Arizona’s largest blues festival, Flagstaff Blues and Brews, announces their impressive lineup for the June 2022 event.  The festival starts Friday afternoon, June 10th and runs through Saturday night, June 11th.  Named as one of the top 10 most beautiful blues festivals, the Flagstaff Blues & Brews festival has helped launch the careers of many blues artists, including; Karen Lovely, MonkeyJunk, Harlis Sweetwater and Jeremy Bar-Illan.

June 18 — Celebrate Juneteenth at the Flagstaff Murdoch Center, June 19 at Fort Tuthill

Also see Juneteenth Concert on June 19 at Fort Tuthill

Come celebrate Juneteenth with music performances, food, games and vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Flagstaff Murdoch Center, 203 E. Brannen Ave., Flagstaff.

Hosted by the Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council, the Flagstaff Lived Black Experience Project, and the Southside Community Association (SCA).

The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the day Texas slaves learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, granting them freedom. Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures. 

June 21 — Join The Literacy Center for a fundraiser at Drinking Horn Meadery

Join us in supporting literacy at the Drinking Horn Meadery on June 21st @ 6 PM! This fundraiser will involve a fun individual spelling bee competition, a raffle, and mead of course! 

Come spell (or watch), drink mead, buy some raffle tickets, and participate in fundraising for the Literacy Center! Proceeds from the raffle and a portion of mead sales will be donated to the Literacy Center.

The winner of this competition will get a sponsored seat on the Drinking Horn Spelling Bee team at the Literacy Center’s 26th Annual Adult Mountain Spelling Bee in April 2023!

There is no cost to participate in this fun spelling bee kickoff event. Just show up at the Meadery June 21st! Must be 21 to attend. 

July 9 — City hosts community volunteer day in areas impacted by Museum Fire flooding

The City of Flagstaff is hosting a community volunteer day in areas downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar on Saturday, July 9. Volunteers will be assisting residents who are elderly or have a disability repair their emergency sandbag mitigation. Please note that this will be the last volunteer day in the Museum Fire flood area as we enter the monsoon season.

July 16 — Do you have a household item in need of repair? Don’t trash it, fix it for free at the Fix-it Clinic!

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office is hosting a Fix-it Clinic on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center, located at 245 N. Thorpe Rd.  

Volunteers will be fixing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, jewelry, bicycles and more. Appointments for fixes will be given priority, but walk-ins are welcome. Make an appointment online at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CAFAA28A7FBC43-fixit 

Aug. 4 — Pipeline West Community Meeting

This community meeting is specifically targeted towards residents who live on the west side of Flagstaff, including the neighborhoods of Cheshire, Valley Crest, Coyote Springs, Ridge Crest, Coconino Estates, and Rock Ridge Estates. This meeting will not provide information on flooding impacts in Doney Park, Timberline, or other areas east of Flagstaff. 

Aug. 5-7 — Heritage Days returns to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park

Heritage Days will return to the North Rim within Grand Canyon National Park. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heritage Days will be held from August 5 through August 7, 2022. Each day, Heritage Days programs will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in various locations throughout the North Rim developed area.

Heritage Days provide visitors and staff with the opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona Strip and the Grand Canyon area. This year’s Heritage Days will provide an especially important opportunity to expose visitors to different perspectives of the Grand Canyon.

Aug. 22 — Free Webinar — Understanding Risk and Flood Insurance

Representatives from Coconino County and FEMA will conduct a free webinar to inform our community about the new flood risk to our neighborhoods and important information about flood insurance.

Over the past few years, the frequency of wildfires has increased in Coconino County and with that increase comes an increase in the risk of post-wildfire flooding. To help inform property owners about this increased risk and actions they can take to reduce that risk, the Coconino County Flood Control District has provided post-wildfire flood risk and mitigation information.

Sept. 2-5 — Coconino County announces Hispanic, country, other performances for Coconino County Fair

Coconino County has announced a number of Hispanic, country, other performances for Coconino County Fair Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 including Ballet Folklorico de Colores de Flagstaff, Adolfo Urias and Tropical Del Bravo.

Click here for the entire 2022 Schedule of Events

Buy tickets here

Sept. 7 — Community Welcome event connects NAU student residents with their Flagstaff neighbors

Northern Arizona University and the City of Flagstaff are teaming up for the 5th Annual Community Welcome walk. On Wednesday, September 7, between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., a small team of volunteers will be visiting homes in neighborhoods near the NAU campus. During the door-to-door “knock and talks” volunteers meet with local and student residents, share tips for safe and respectful living, and encourage neighbors to get to know one another. Community Welcome aims to improve relations between local and student residents renting rooms and homes in the historic La Plaza Vieja and Southside Neighborhoods.

Sept. 9 — City hosts meet and greet event for City Engineer candidates

The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Friday, Sept. 9 from 3 – 5 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall for final candidates for the position of City Engineer. The City conducted eight preliminary interviews for the position and has invited three candidates to Flagstaff to participate in the meet and greet event.

The candidate names and brief biographies are included below:

Sept. 21 — NAU Latin American Studies presenting ‘The Politics of Extraction: Territorial Rights, Participatory Institutions, and Conflict in Latin America’

Dr. Maiah Jaskoski, Professor of Political Science at NAU, will present her new book, The Politics of Extraction: Territorial Rights, Participatory Institutions, and Conflict in Latin America” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Northern Arizona University, Room LA-120.

Presented by NAU Latin American Studies.

Sept. 23 — Rodrigo Y Gabriela at Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park

Deep-rooted fans who discovered Rodrigo y Gabriela through their 2006 self-titled breakout album have long recognized the Mexicans’ mastery of their instruments. Rodrigo’s shimmering, hummingbird flourishes hovering over Gabriela’s extraordinary engine room rhythm section are a staple for the duo. T

Sept. 28 — Coconino Community College to present Free Comet Talk ‘The Greatest Game Ever Played’

Coconino Community College will present the Free Comet Talk “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, and the Battle for the Soul of America, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at CCC Fourth Street Campus, 3000 N. Fourth St., Flagstaff.

Oct. 1 — Coconino County to Hold 18th Annual Sustainable Building Tour

Buildings are pieces of history, and each has a story to tell. That is the theme for this year’s Coconino County Sustainable Building Tour: The Stories Buildings Tell. The public is invited to join this year’s 18th annual Sustainable Building Tour, to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science, this year’s tour will be held completely in person, the first time in three years, and showcases ten properties throughout the community. The property owners and homeowners who have been certified through the county’s Sustainable Building Program will share their stories; stories about the landscape, anecdotes on the process of building their home, and tales of living in and maintaining their unique properties. 

Oct. 1 — Friends of Flagstaff’s Future to present City Council Candidates Forum

Join Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) as community members ask questions and hear answers from the seven candidates running for City Council: incumbent Austin Aslan, and Lori Matthews (both listed on the ballot), and the five official write in candidates: Kevin Dobbe, Sean Golliher, Deborah Harris, incumbent Khara House, and incumbent Regina Salas.

Oct. 3 — City of Flagstaff hosts meet and greet event for Water Services Director candidates

The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Monday, Oct. 3 from 3 – 5 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall for final candidates for the position of Water Services Director. The City received 25 applications, conducted 11 screening interviews, and invited four candidates to participate in the meet and greet following preliminary interviews.

Oct. 6 — City of Flagstaff announces town hall for Noise Study Results

The City of Flagstaff will be holding a town hall on October 6, 2022 at 5:00p.m. in the City HallChambers to provide the community an opportunity to hear the results and ask questions of the noise study thatwas requested by the city council. Attendees can join in person in the Council Chambers or virtually via theMicrosoft Teams link below.

Oct. 6 — Community Invited to a Celebration of the Pathways to Community Program

The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) invite the community to celebrate the opening of the Pathways to Community Program at an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, October 6 from 1 – 3 p.m. at 951 E Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, AZ.

The Pathways to Community Program is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and CCHHS, in collaboration with many community partners. This new program brings community and legal resources together in one physical space to support those being released from incarceration as they return to the community. 

Oct. 6 — Public forums for CCC presidential finalists

The Coconino Community College District Governing Board is pleased to announce that they have selected three finalists for the presidency of the College. Public forums with each of the finalists are scheduled for the week of Oct., 3, 2022.

“We would like to thank all of the communities served by the College for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President,” said Dr. Nathaniel White, Board Chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Board Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”

Oct. 8 — Virtual meetings will Address Flagstaff’s Transportation Future

Flagstaff is ready to find solutions to our biggest problems. That’s why MetroPlan is bringing Greater Flagstaff communities together to build our region’s transportation plan, Stride Forward. Stride Forward will guide transportation investments for the next 20 years, and we are building it with your help.
Join us for our next Virtual Public Meeting:

Saturday, October 8 at 9 a.m.

Oct. 16 — You’re Invited to F3’s Annual Meeting

Join Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) at our Annual Meeting and Potluck.

Sunday, October 16th, 3:00-5:00 pm
Outside at Riordan Mansion’s Veranda
409 W Riordan Rd.

Parking is available at Riordan State Park. Backup parking is available in the adjacent NAU parking garage for a fee.

Come learn about F3’s work this year and important issues on which we’ll be focusing in 2023. Meet F3’s Executive Director, F3 Board members, and many community members.

Oct. 21, 24 — City of Flagstaff hosts Proposition 441 and 442 open house events in October

The City of Flagstaff is hosting open house events in October to provide educational information to members of the public on Propositions 441 and 442. Informational materials on the propositions will be available at the events and City staff will be in attendance to answer questions. Details on each event are listed below.

Through Oct. 27 — Buffalo Park closure scheduled

A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, October 27 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park. 

Oct. 28 — Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra and the Museum of Northern Arizona/Flagstaff Nuestras Raíses present ‘Celebraciones’ concert

The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to highlight the culture of the traditional Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos with our concert, “Celebraciones!” in collaboration with the Museum of Northern Arizona/Flagstaff Nuestras Raíses’ “Celebraciones de la Gente” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.

Joining us for this spectacular celebration of Mexican music and composers will be Flagstaff’s own Ballet Folklorico de Colores, presenting a traditional Mexican folk dance to José Moncayo’s classic Huapango.

Oct. 28-29 — Sedona Arts Center — Don’t miss these Sedona Plein Air Festival Final events!

Friday, October 28, 2022
Awards Night Celebration –- SAC Special Exhibition Gallery & Theatre – 5:00-7:00pm
Held at Sedona Arts Center’s Special Exhibition Gallery and Theatre Studio in the Art Barn. Fine wine, fine hors d’oeuvres and beautiful art. This is the big event. Artist’s awards are presented throughout the evening recognizing the best work created during the week including Best of Show and merit awards by Festival Judges Susan Lynn and John Caggiano, Artist’s Choice Award, Collectors Choice by ballot and Sedona Arts Center Awards.

Oct. 29 — Properly dispose of batteries, lightbulbs, medications and more at Drop-off Day

The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and the Flagstaff Police Department invite you to attend a free community Drop-off Day. Join City staff on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Flagstaff Police Department, 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

The Sustainability Office is excited to partner with the City of Flagstaff Hazardous Products Center, Coconino County, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Ponderosa Medical Waste Services, Elevated Shredding, and Westech Recyclers to put your waste in the right place.

Nov. 2 — Coconino County to Host Virtual Town Hall to Explain Proposition 445 – the Jail District Sales Tax

Coconino County voters have a critical decision to make on their ballot on Election Day, November 8. Proposition 445 asks voters whether to extend the existing half-cent Jail District Sales Tax (JDST) for an additional 25 years. There will be a series of live-streamed virtual town hall meetings in the coming weeks in an effort to inform the public about the importance of the JDST to the operations of County Detention Facilities and the many in-custody and reentry programs the County provides. 

Nov. 3 — Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Virtual Q&A Flagstaff’s “Stride Forward” 2045 Transportation Plan

How will Flagstaff address our transportation challenges in the next 20-25 years as we implement the Climate Neutrality Plan and predicted population growth?

Join the F3 Board as they discuss Flagstaff’s Stride Upward Plan and strategy with MetroPlan’s Planning Manager on Thursday Nov. 3 @ 6:00 pm via  Zoom.

Nov. 10 — Coconino County Facilities Management Department to Host Open House Ahead of EPA Grant Application

The Coconino County Facilities Management Department will host an open house both in-person and virtually on Thursday, November 10 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

The topic will be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean-up grant application for the abatement of hazardous materials from the old county jail. If awarded, the grant would provide clean-up funds to remove and remediate hazardous materials at the facility. Cleaning hazardous materials such as lead-based paint and asbestos is the vital first step to reuse the building and the site.

Through Nov. 15 — Enroll now for Fall Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) Training

Since 2007, over 600 local residents have enrolled in Coconino County’s Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development training. Now we’ve added BBE Support Services Group (BBESSG) presentations, plus new cash assistance and referral incentives each worth up to $500. It’s been said 70% of the U.S. population has dreamed of starting a business but only 10% do, mostly for lack of know-how and capital. BBE training is for those starting and/or expanding a home-based or other micro-business (five or less employees).

Those enrolled for our next BBE training also can participate in noon-hour, Wednesday, June BBESSG presentation via Zoom:

Through Nov. 17 — City of Flagstaff announces final Buffalo Park closure

A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, Nov. 17 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park. 

Dec. 3 — City of Flagstaff Winter Wonderland and Holiday Tree Lighting Event

The City of Flagstaff’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Events Division and the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance are hosting the annual Winter Wonderland and Holiday Tree Lighting event on Dec. 3, 2022 in Heritage Square and on Aspen Ave.

Crafts, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, smores and live music will be available from 3 – 6 p.m.  At 6 p.m., Santa Claus will travel on fire truck to Heritage Square to light the holiday tree. All activities are free of charge and the event concludes at 7 p.m.

Jan. 4 — City hosts meet and greet event for Public Works Director position

The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at Public Works Core Services building (3200 W Rte 66) to meet the final candidate for the position of Public Works Director. The City received 10 applications and invited three candidates to interview for the position. The City invited one candidate to participate in the meet and greet event.

Participants may attend in-person or virtually by using this link (Click here to join the meeting). Feedback will be collected athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SN6DGG9.

Coconino County provides latest road conditions

All Coconino County maintained roads are open and passable, although roads remain icy and slick. Coconino County has 15 graders, 12 snowplow trucks, and one loader working to keep the roads clear.

Thank you to Coconino County Public Works, Flagstaff City Government, and Arizona Department of Transportation for working through the night to ensure safe travels this morning. Please check https://www.az511.com/ for the latest road conditions.

District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez — District 2 Newsletter 7th Edition — Wishing everyone a safe holiday season!

Hi Everyone,
Wishing everyone a safe holiday season! As we approach the end
of the year its a time to reflect on the successes of 2021. District 2
has been very busy this year working on various items outlined
below.
American Rescue Plan Funding Process
Redistricting Process
Museum Flood Area Response and Mitigation
COVID Impacts and programs
County Budget Process

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Action Alert: Lone Tree Overpass Design Flawed

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is concerned that the proposed design for Lone Tree Overpass, currently under consideration by Council, is overbuilt, provides inadequate protection for pedestrians and bicyclists, encourages an increase in automobile traffic, negatively impacts the Southside neighborhood, and is in conflict with the city’s Carbon Neutrality Plan.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie honored with the Marcia Stanton Award by the Arizona ACEs Consortium

Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, was presented with the Marcia Stanton Award on Dec. 16 by the Arizona ACEs Consortium at the 8th annual statewide ACEs summit.

The Arizona ACEs Consortium is a collaboration of more than one hundred individuals, state, county, private organizations and professionals from all walks of life, united by a desire to help Arizona’s children. It promotes a greater understanding of the impacts of toxic stress and trauma, and supports efforts to address and prevent them.

“The Marcia Stanton Award was established in 2018 and pays homage to the original leader of the ACEs movement, Marcia Stanton. It is awarded to an individual who displays a commitment, perseverance and dedication to spread the awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and someone that leads action in their community to decrease the prevalence and effect of ACEs on both children and adults,” said Angie Burleson, executive director of the consortium. “This Award honors excellence in leadership, collaboration and the advancement of the PACEs movement in AZ.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — 2021 Economic Highlights

Despite lingering concerns due to multiple variants of the coronavirus, supply chain issues, and fears that inflation might dampen the recovery, our region had a fair bit of good economic news this past year.

Consider the fact that in 2021, the number of leads that we fielded for businesses interested in locating in northern Arizona increased by 15% over the last calendar year. At the same time, ECoNA’s Business Retention team reports that few businesses closed in the past 12 months and many are looking to expand.

That’s the macro view on our local economy. Zoom in a bit, however, and you’ll see a lot of exciting developments that made 2021 an excellent year for northern Arizona and indicate that 2022 might be even better.

Coconino County Offices Closed for Winter Holidays

All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.

While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed, dispatch, patrol and detention will be open. Please dial 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency dispatch or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices.

Sedona Arts Center — Happy Holidays From our Family to Yours

Here at Sedona Arts Center we just wanted to say thank you for your commitment to our local nonprofit and all that we do. As we move into a new year, we wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they can’t be in person, the warmth of memories from holidays past, and hope for a better future.

December Updates from Creative Flagstaff — Announcing $55,000 in awards to 13 local organizations

Creative Flagstaff is excited to announce that $55,000 in grants have been awarded 13 local organizations through the Innovation & Capacity Project Grant program for fiscal year 2022.  These awards are made possible through Creative Flagstaff’s partnership with the City of Flagstaff and BBB Revenues. 

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Consider Running for 2022 City Council!

Want to help Flagstaff grow sustainably?

Are you concerned about housing, providing multi-modal transportation, climate change adaptation and resilience, open space, and ensuring we have water into the future?

Yes? Please consider running for Flagstaff City Council in 2022.

CHAC, supporters participate in Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights

The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and supporters participated in the annual Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 11 in downtown Flagstaff.

Presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Vora Financial Group, the parade features more than 100 entries.

Luminarias light up the season during the annual Coconino Estates Luminaries and Live Nativity celebration

Hundreds of luminarias surrounded neighborhood homes during the annual Coconino Estates Luminaries and Live Nativity held Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 north of downtown Flagstaff.

The annual event also included music by local bands, bonfires, food and beverage areas, strollers and hundreds of vehicles cruising the neighborhoods which included Navajo Drive, Beal Road, Aztec Street and other streets.

A 2003 Arizona Daily Sun story said the first Luminaries Celebration was held in 1982.