Category: Business

United Way of Northern Arizona — A Change is Coming

A Message from Carol Dykes

It is with mixed emotions that I send you this message, because change – even when it’s welcome – often isn’t easy.

Earlier this week, I let the Board of Directors of United Way of Northern Arizona and the amazing staff of this organization know that I plan to retire by the end of this year.

The exact timing isn’t set – I plan to offer what assistance I can as the Board searches for my replacement, and will continue for however long is needed to ensure a smooth transition for my successor.

Even though it’s still several months off and even though I’m truly looking forward to the next chapter, I have to admit it’s hard to imagine my life after UWNA. I’ve been a proud member of this organization for 24 years. (I met my husband through a workplace campaign, for goodness sake.) It has been a profound pleasure to work alongside you as together we have improved community conditions, responded to emergencies, and made the future a brighter place for so many in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties.

Allstate donates $10,000 to the Flagstaff Family Food Center and hosts three events throughout June

The Flagstaff Family Food Center, guided by its mission of “Neighbors Feeding Neighbors, Every Day,” distributed just under 8 million of pounds of food in 2021 at an average of 153,000 pounds of food a week.

The Allstate Foundation extends its Good Hands in support of the most extensive and wide-reaching emergency food assistance programming in Northern Arizona with a donation of $10,000 and three unique events throughout the month of June.

Neighborhood distribution of food boxes: June 10th, 1-4pm, CCC 4th street parking lot.

Dinner service: June 18th, 3:30-5:30pm, FFFC Kitchen; 1903 N 2nd St.

Food Drive: June 29th, 1-5pm, Cedar Safeway, 1500 E. Cedar Ave.

Arizona Dept. of Housing — Governor signs HB2610 paving way for more affordable housing

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey this week signed HB2610 into law removing the arbitrary cap on the size of affordable housing apartment communities constructed by non-profits wanting to qualify for a property tax exemption. The new law encourages more construction of larger affordable apartment communities across the state that rent solely to income-eligible tenants.

“We are committed to growing our state’s affordable housing inventory and this law helps by eliminating an unnecessary barrier to development,” said Arizona Department of Housing Director Tom Simplot. “By removing this burdensome regulation, non-profits can build larger affordable housing communities and still receive the tax break they need for these projects.”

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — June 6-10, 2022

Cultural Demonstration Program resumes in-person at Desert View 

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Cultural Demonstration Program has resumed in person. The Cultural Demonstration program provides an opportunity for visitors and community members to interact with Tribal artisans from Grand Canyon’s Traditionally Associated Tribes – and for them to share their history and crafts, along with the skills, knowledge, and efforts involved in creating each craft. This series is made possible with grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy and ArtPlace America.

On Thursday June 9 and Friday, June 10, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Gerald Lomaventema, Hopi silversmith and Jerrel Singer, Diné painter, will be demonstrating their arts at the Desert View Visitor Center shade structure, just north of the main parking lot. For more information on the Cultural Demonstration Program, please visit the park’s website here. 

Below are the two demonstrators’ profiles: 

Gerald Lomaventema is a traditional Hopi silversmith. He is known for one-of-a-kind silver overlay masterpieces, with designs inspired by nature and Hopi culture. 

Jerrel Singer, a Diné Painter, originally from Tuba City, is an abstract landscape artist. His work captures the light, colors and shadows of the Diné Nation and the Desert Southwest. 

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Summer of Festivals

…Here’s just a small sample of the festivals and events coming up this month that will help bring visitors (and their dollars) to our region.

Flagstaff Blues & Brews (tomorrow and Saturday, June 11). In just a few short years, this event has grown to become the state’s largest blues festival. Two days of terrific music, plus local and regional microbrews, as well as wine and hard cider. Food vendors and arts and craft tents round out the event, returning this year to the grounds of Continental Country Club.
Made in the Shade Festival (Saturday, June 11) – Another popular festival that features music and scores of different brands of beer. Proceeds from this day-long festival at the Pepsi Amphitheater go towards helping Sun Sounds of Arizona provide reading and information access services to those with disabilities.
Pride in the Pines (Saturday, June 18) – For more than 20 years, Pride in the Pines has been a party with a purpose, a celebration of the LGBTQ2S community that promotes cultural diversity and human rights for all by fighting discrimination of any kind. This year’s headliners are Brita Filter from RuPaul’s Drag Race and Grammy-nominated Latin artist Gina Chavez.
Flagstaff Folk Festival (Saturday, June 18 & Sunday, June 19) – The Museum Club will showcase the best in folk and acoustic music with more than 70 acts on two stages.

CCC Community Education — Free Summer Lectures Coming Up – Register Now!

Storytelling – FREE
Monday June 13, 2022 at 2:30pm

Learn some easy tips and tricks for dynamic storytelling in this lecture with Larry Hendricks, a lifelong storyteller and professional writer! Participants will be encouraged to write and share their own stories.

Learn more and register here

Lecture held at CCC Fourth St Campus, Flagstaff.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — Stage 2 Fire Restrictions in place

Coconino County is in Stage 2 fire restrictions. For parks and natural areas managed by Coconino County, the following restrictions apply:
• No camping allowed outside of campground area.
• All campfires are prohibited.
• No charcoal/wood grills and liquid fuels and/or liquid petroleum gas fire rings.
• Smoking prohibited outdoors.
• No vehicle parking and/or driving on grassy, forested, and unimproved/undeveloped areas.
• Chainsaws and other small, motorized equipment are prohibited by park users.

Opportunity for community input on Thorpe Park Annex draft designs – Saturday June 11

The City of Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Events Division, Southwest Decision Resources, and Wheat Design Group invite the Flagstaff community to review and comment on three (3) draft design concepts for the future of the Thorpe Park Annex Parcel.  These three draft designs were developed based on key stakeholder interviews, robust online community survey results, and an on-site initial design session April 30th. 

Supporters for a Thriving CCC — Thank you for the support!

Thanks to all of you, the voters of Coconino County, Coconino Community College’s (CCC) Proposition 438 passed by a wide margin in the May 17th election! This means Coconino Community College will add critical programs and continue to provide training for our first responders, construction engineers, and service technicians. The increased funding also means more students will be served including veterans, IT professionals and teachers in Flagstaff, Williams, and Page to further CCC’s reach into our County. Your YES vote made the difference!

Coconino Chronicle (June 3, 2022)

Welcome to the Coconino Chronicle, keeping you informed on the latest news from Coconino County. Published monthly, typically on the first Friday, the Chronicle makes sure you are in-the-know about recent happenings, upcoming events and services available to you as a resident of the County.

Questions? Comments? Please email us at chronicle@coconino.az.gov.

Arizona sets record for affordable housing tax credit award dollars

The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) this week announced it has awarded $30.1 million in federal 9% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to 16 affordable housing projects, including 7 in rural communities. The all-time record amount comes after a reengineered process of awarding tax credits and implementation of the new State Tax Credit program.

“This new process reduced the burdensome regulatory framework for allocating these highly-coveted tax credits and has led to increased developer interest in building affordable housing in Arizona,” said ADOH Director Tom Simplot. “The State Tax Credit program is fulfilling its goal to stimulate the construction of new affordable housing in our state.”

Free event at 6 p.m. June 1 at Sedona Arts Center

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
4–6pm at Sedona Arts Center
Music: Mother Road Trio
Food: Old Crow BBQ
Celebrate Sedona engages the local community while celebrating and featuring local and regional arts, food and drink! Held in the upper parking lot of Sedona Arts Center, Celebrate Sedona is a bi-monthly celebration of the beauty and diversity of our community’s music, food, drink, and artistry.

The event takes place from 4 pm – 6 pm on the first Wednesday of every other month featuring local musicians, food trucks, wineries, and live demonstrations by local artists

Theatrikos Reopens Concessions, Foreigner in AZ Daily Sun, summer theatre camps and other theatre news

Theatrikos Reopens Concessions and Opening Night Receptions June 2022 Membership Concessions Reopen With relaxed covid safety protocols, we’ve reopened concessions and we’re back to doing opening night receptions. During the pandemic, we did some upgrades, too. We removed the old library…

Voters approve tax reset for CCC

Coconino County voters have approved an increase in funding for Coconino Community College.

On Friday, during a special session, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors certified the May 17, 2022, election results for CCC’s request to increase the primary property tax levy to support the college.

“On behalf of Coconino Community College, I would like to thank the voters and the many community members who worked hard to help the ballot initiative be successful,” said CCC President Colleen A. Smith, Ph.D. “Because of them, we can continue our good work moving into a bright future serving students throughout Coconino County.”

The election saw 20,947 ballots cast, which was about 23 percent of the registered voters in Coconino County. Of the ballots cast, the vast majority were submitted by mail. About 64 percent voted in favor of the tax reset for the college.

Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez District 2 Newsletter — 12th Edition

Sup. Vasquez volunteering at the Tunnel Fire recovery events hosted by United Way of Northern Arizona. Thank you to all that have spent time and energy to give back to the community during this difficult time.

In this edition…

Message from Jeronimo
Tunnel Fire
Event Highlights
Service Positions Open in District 2
Services and Programs
And more!

Coconino County enacts Stage Two Fire Restrictions

In coordination with our partners at the State and Federal partners, Coconino County will elevate to Stage 2 restrictions on Thursday, May 26th at 8:00AM. For more information about the most current restrictions please visit the following link.

Have questions about the “dos and don’ts” during fire restrictions? Like…does the County’s Wildfire Defense Ordnance apply to private property? (Sneak peek-YES! It applies to all property in unincorporated areas, not including federal, state, or tribal lands.)Learn more at https://www.coconino.az.gov/Docum…/ View/51210/FAQs-2022-04

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 23-27, 2022

Northern Arizona transitions to Stage 2 Fire Restrictions this Thursday, May 26

Due to increased fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park, as well as the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests will elevate to Stage 2 fire restrictions beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 26. Under Stage 2 restrictions, building or maintaining an outdoor fire of any kind is prohibited as well as smoking.

Additionally, operating or using any internal combustion engine such as chainsaws, wood splitters, weed eaters, generators, welders, or any other devices that can cause a fire are prohibited. This prohibition does not include street legal vehicles. Exception for locals and contractors: Permits for work with these devices can be granted through the GRCA hot work permit process managed by GRCA Structure Fire. For more information and to submit a hot work permit, either see this attached flyer or fill out this online form.

More information on fire restrictions and fire danger ratings, please visit the park’s fire information page here.

Sedona Arts Center — SAVE THE DATE! plus workshops and more!

The Tailgate Paint Out is a first-of-its-kind, tailgate style event, focused on artists that have never been to one of our events in the past or are emerging artists. Artists and Observers will be participating together in the sublime environment and stunning beauty that is Sedona. Sedona Arts Center has roots going back 60+ years to the founding of Sedona, and what better way to experience it, than sharing it with your fellow community members. If you haven’t been to, or visited recently, this is a great opportunity to get to know it again.

City of Flagstaff announces Memorial Day closures

Flagstaff City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed May 30, 2022, in honor of Memorial Day. City Hall offices will reopen May 31 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Memorial Day include: 

Grand Canyon Implements Stage 2 Fire Restrictions May 26

U.S. Department of Interior National Park Service Grand Canyon National Park P.O Box 129 Grand Canyon, AZ 86023 Contact: Office of Communications 928-638-7779 www.nps.gov/grca For high resolution photos visit Grand Canyon’s Flickr Site. Grand Canyon News Release For Immediate Release May 25,…

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Remote Workers Meet Today (May 25) at 928NOW

Are you a free lancer, contractor, or corporate employee working remotely? You are cordially invited to the first meeting of 928NOW, open to any online worker who lives in Northern Arizona.

This networking event will take place TODAY from 4:30 pm – 6 pm at Mother Road Brewing (7 S. Mikes Pike St., Flagstaff).

This will be an opportunity to get to know other online workers and identify what this segment of our workforce needs to be successful. We look forward to seeing you!

DATE: Today, Wednesday, May 25

TIME: 4:30 to 6 pm

LOCATION: Mother Road Brewery

City of Flagstaff will enter Stage 2 fire restrictions on May 26

The City of Flagstaff will enter Stage 2 fire restrictions on Thursday, May 26.

The City of Flagstaff is currently in Stage 1.

The City of Flagstaff cooperates with local, county, state, and federal fire management agencies to ensure a coordinated effort is made in fire restrictions actions across jurisdictions.

Congestion tips for visiting Grand Canyon National Park this Memorial Day weekend

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park this Memorial Day weekend should expect long lines and full parking lots. Traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with the longest wait times between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots, especially near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, will reach capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus lines will be long.

Visitors should follow these tips in preparing to visit the South Rim:

Grand Canyon National Park and Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps receive National Park Foundation grant for Native Conservation Corps

The National Park Foundation (NPF) recently announced its fiscal year 2022 investment in service corps programs across the country, including support for a Native Conservation Corps. This program provides opportunities to Indigenous youth for career shadowing in natural resource stewardship and protection, along with recreational experiences at multiple National Park Service (NPS) units including El Malpais National Monument, El Morro National Monument, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and Grand Canyon National Park.

Installation has begun on Museum Fire flood area siren alerting system

The City of Flagstaff (City) and the Coconino County Flood Control District (District), with significant financial support from the AZ Depart. of Forestry and Fire Management, have begun installing a siren alerting system to help warn residents of imminent flooding in neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar. Four elevated high power speaker arrays will be installed throughout the Grandview Homes and Sunnyside neighborhoods and will emit alarm sounds and voice messages when rain thresholds are triggered within the Museum Fire burn scar.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — Overland Expo WEST returns to Fort Tuthill County Park, May 20-22

Overland Expo WEST returns to Fort Tuthill County Park this weekend, May 20-22. Visit their website for event info, including tickets and where to park.

As a heads up, the park’s horse stables are closed from May 16-25. While the trails, disc golf course, and the bike park will be open during the event, parking will be severely limited. The entire parking lots next to the bike park and disc golf course are being utilized by the special event and we cannot guarantee any parking spaces at this time.

If you choose to visit the park this weekend, we suggest that people walk or ride their bike into the park to use the open facilities. You could also use this as an opportunity to explore new (to you) places in Northern Arizona this weekend.

CCC 2022 Summer Learning Series | Register Now!

CCC invites you to join us for our free classes will be held in-person at our Fourth Street Campus and virtually.

We welcome you to join us in June and July to learn about topics such as astronomy, history, art, health, and more!

Browse the current lectures and click the link below to see our most updated list of free summer lectures today!

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 16-20, 2022

Desert View Groundbreaking Ceremony and Inter-tribal Working Group meeting  

On Tuesday, May 17, we held a ceremony at Desert View to celebrate the near completion of the initial phases of work being done at Desert View to turn it into the park Inter-tribal cultural heritage site. 

Members of the Inter-tribal Working Group, Grand Canyon Conservancy, park staff and other partners attended a short celebration of the accomplishments to date. James Uqualla from the Havasupai Tribe, offered a blessing for the work and the efforts for all who have been involved. 

In addition to Superintendent Keable, Theresa McMullan from GCC offered words of support, along with individual Working Group members. The Working Group will continue its efforts to develop the exhibit plan for the Desert View Welcome Center and has begun work on the next strategic plan. 

NAU News — Developing future Diné public health leaders starts with early, culturally significant exposure

Successfully guiding Diné youth toward health and public health professions begins with two important ideas––start students in a program in high school and cultivate in them a love and understanding of their own cultural, strength-based assets.

Researchers from Diné College and Northern Arizona University explored these findings and other lessons in their recently released publication, “Engaging Native American High School Students in Public Health Career Preparation Through the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program.”

The publication examines the Indigenous Summer Enhancement Program (ISEP), a one-week summer training program that exposes Native American high school students to public health careers and mentorship in Tsaile, Arizona.

Patrice Horstman — May 2022 District One Newsletter

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Tunnel Fire
Tunnel Fire Follow-Up
Stage One Fire Restrictions
Be Prepared for Wildfire
Community Wildfire Defense Program–A Proactive Vison
Museum Fire Flood Mitigation/Sediment Reduction Update
County Supervisors Association Elects Western Interstate Region
Representatives
Havasupai Visit
Flagstaff Shelter Services Housewarming
Community Events: Ms. Cleo’s Tea Party
Congratulations Graduates!
SMILE
Contact Us

Museum of Northern Arizona — Signs of summer – Thirsty Thursdays & plant sales

What is it about the Colorado River that captivates people? Every photograph in the newest exhibition at the museum is a reminder of how strongly people respond to that river. For some, a trip down the Colorado River changed their life forever. Actress Katie Lee went on a river trip and then dedicated her life to singing and speaking for the river. When photographer Eliot Porter took his first river trip he was so overwhelmed he missed photos opportunities, but returned again and again to portray the incredible colors and intimate details of the canyon.

Solar co-op launches for Northern Arizona residents to go solar together

Second co-op in the region launches following the state’s most successful co-op Local city, county officials throw support behind project. Information meeting set for Tuesday, May 24.

FLAGSTAFF — The Cities of Flagstaff and Sedona, and Coconino County have partnered with nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to launch the second Northern Arizona Co-op. The co-op will help residents go solar.

This co-op follows the launch of the first Northern Arizona Co-op in 2021. That group reached 225 member households and is Solar United Neighbors’ most successful co-op in Arizona to date. The second Northern Arizona Co-op provides a new opportunity for residents to take advantage of the area’s plentiful sunshine.

“The City of Flagstaff is making great strides to uphold our commitment to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, but we know that we can’t do it alone,” said Flagstaff Vice Mayor Miranda Sweet. “The solar co-op represents the ‘what’s possible’ when we work together to create solutions, collectively.

City of Flagstaff hosts volunteer cleanup day on May 21 in areas impacted by Museum Fire flooding

The City of Flagstaff is hosting a volunteer cleanup day in areas downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar on Saturday, May 21. Volunteers will be assisting with clearing debris and litter from public infrastructure around Ponderosa Park and the Grandview Homes neighborhood. 

Supporters for a Thriving CCC — Proposition 438 supports Coconino Community College on Tuesday, May 17 ballot!

Only one more day untilwe know if CCC’s Proposition 438 passed, and so we’re doing ONE LAST PUSH!

Donating to the campaign: It’s not too late to donate for the first time, or even the second time. We have to raise more to give it everything we’ve got in these last days. You can donate on our website www.yesforcoconino.com or send a check made out to Supporters for a Thriving CCC, and send to Supporters for a Thriving CCC, 1600 W University Ave, Suite 206, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

Voting Yes: If you haven’t already sent in your early ballot, please dig it out of that pile that you made for later consideration, and take it to a ballot drop box, or take it to the polls on May 17. Or vote early at one of the Early Voting locations. Or go to the polls on May 17 and vote in person.

To learn the location of the Ballot Drop Box locations, Early Voting locations, Polling Place locations and other useful information here are some things you can click on:

Informational Pamphlet Early Voting Locations
Check the Status of your Early Ballot Ballot Drop Box Locations
Polling Place Locations Navajo Nation Ballot Drop Off Locations
Live Ballot Counting Video Stream
We greatly appreciate everything many of you have already done by donating, endorsing, phone banking, going door to door, tabling, advising us, or helping in other ways!

This is crucial for our county!

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — May 9-13, 2022

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We continue to register Low at the community level, and we have been at this level since early March.

The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County is now High, which has increased from Substantial as of Thursday, May 5. COVID transmission in the county is continuing to rise and although we have relaxed mask mandates and other mitigation strategies in the park, we are reminded that the pandemic is not over.

As we continue to make decisions about park operations, we want to emphasize that we are considering the current transmission status and trajectory of cases nationwide. We want to acknowledge and recognize that there is a lot of information being shared by agencies, and some are conflicting. Our goal is to share pertinent information with you and also to use the best data to make decisions about park operations.

City of Flagstaff Grant funding available for historic preservation with May 25 deadline

The City of Flagstaff has seven $10,000 matching grants available for historic property owners under its Historic Façades and Signs Grant program. The grants are available for both privately owned residential and commercial properties. Properties must be at least 50 years old and meet the criteria to be eligible for historic preservation. Funding is available on a 50/50-match basis, with up to $10,000 per property. Applications must be received by May 25.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Milestones, Workforce Program Focus of Economic Development Week

This is Economic Development Week, an annual event created by the International Economic Development Council to increase awareness of local efforts to promote economic vitality, highlight programs that create jobs, and celebrate entities that improve the quality of life in communities everywhere.

Which makes this the perfect week to note some important milestones being reached by northern Arizona businesses and organizations. In Flagstaff, this year is the 10th anniversary of two very popular businesses, Flagstaff Xtreme and Mother Road Brewing Co. It’s also the 20th anniversary of the latest iteration of The Orpheum as a entertainment venue.

USFS on-forest sediment reduction project underway in Museum Flood Area

A Coconino County Flood Control District (District) project to reduce on-national forest sediment production and transport above and below Mt. Elden Estates is underway.

The U.S. Forest Service Museum Fire Sediment Reduction Project broke ground in late April and is expected to be completed this fall.

Funded by the U.S. Forest Service, the $3.5 million project includes grade stabilization and watershed restoration work to reduce sediment production and transport. Without a reduction in these very high levels of sediment, any expansion of the floodwater conveyances within the City of Flagstaff will not be effective at reducing the level of floodwater impacting homes. 

Sedona Arts Center — The Big Workshop Email

Painting For All Levels: ONLINE!
with Gretchen Lopez
June 3, 2022
From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.

Tusayan Route Shuttle Bus “Park and Ride” begins May 28

Starting Saturday, May 28, the National Park Service (NPS) will offer shuttle bus service between the Grand Canyon National Park Visitor Center and the gateway community of Tusayan, Arizona. The Tusayan Route will run at 20-minute intervals between 8 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. daily through September 9, 2022.

Summer can be very busy at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. During busy periods, visitors can expect up to two-hour wait times at the South Entrance Station between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and parking lots can reach capacity as early as 12 p.m. Riding the shuttle from Tusayan can help visitors avoid entrance station lines and parking frustrations and reduce vehicle congestion in the park.

Sandbags available for residents impacted by Museum Fire flooding

The City of Flagstaff and the Coconino County Flood Control District are helping residents in neighborhoods downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar prepare for the 2022 monsoon season by placing pallets of new sandbags and trash bins throughout neighborhoods, which residents can use to repair their sandbag walls. Materials will be available from May 13 through July 1, 2022.

The NAU Review — A record-breaking run, a new view of CO2, Flagstaff 🚲 Month and an NAU Online grad heads to law school

Nur sets NCAA record in 5,000-meter run
 

Competing with some of the world’s fastest 5,000-meter runners, the stage was set for Abdihamid Nur and Nico Young to make history at Friday night’s Sound Running Track Meet in San Juan Capistrano, California. And make history they did—the pair of Lumberjacks quickly moved into the top five and held their spaces, eventually finishing in first and second. Nur finished with an NCAA record-breaking time of 13:06.32, and Young finished at 13:11.30, the third-fastest collegiate time in history. 

Creative Flagstaff — NightVisions & DRC Grand Opening May 21

NightVisions: Cultural Interpretations of the Night Sky is an international juried art exhibition at Coconino Center for the Arts that seeks to explore and celebrate our deep connections with the night. In its 8th iteration, we are excited to expand upon the exhibition concept in honor of the legacy of Flagstaff astronomer Carolyn S Shoemaker (June 24, 1929 – August 13, 2021) and her collaborations with husband and geologist Eugene Shoemaker (April 28, 1928 – July 18, 1997), with the inclusion of archival astronomical elements alongside the work of contemporary artists.

Coconino County — Coconino Chronicle

Welcome to the Coconino Chronicle, keeping you informed on the latest news from Coconino County.

We’ll be publishing each month, typically on the first Friday, to make sure you are in-the-know about recent happenings, upcoming events and services available to you as residents of Coconino County.

Questions? Comments? Please email us at chronicle@coconino.az.gov.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 2-5, 2022

Fire restrictions remain in Stage 1 for Grand Canyon

Fire restrictions for the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, as well as the Town of Tusayan, will be in effect beginning today Thursday, May 5. Under these restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove fire, except within a developed recreation site, or improved site is prohibited on these lands. Additionally, smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building. Smoking is also prohibited in all federal buildings. 

Grand Canyon National Park will remain in stage 1 fire restrictions, as we do year-round, which requires that campfires always be in a designated fire ring within a maintained campground. Inner canyon users can use gas cook stoves, but campfires and other open fires are never allowed below the rim. River users should continue to follow the conditions of their permit regarding fires along the Colorado River.

Attention Flagstaff’s Arts & Culture Community: May 5 Stakeholder Meeting on city-wide Festival Concept

Please join us on May 5th in the main gallery of Coconino Center for the Arts. The steering committee of the city’s Dark Sky Arts and Ideas Festival (working title) along with hired consultants from Canary Studio will present on a proposed concept and potential naming for the city-wide festival.

As stakeholders, we want your input and feedback on festival branding, your needs for participation, and feedback on the proposed concept. Your input is important as we move forward with festival planning.

The NAU Review — ‘A transformative public health leader’, understanding asteroids, a third straight for women’s tennis and so much more

When you’re undocumented, you don’t always feel like you have a voice. Alexandra Samarron Longorio wanted to make sure undocumented students did. The first-generation college student took on an undergraduate project that shared stories of Arizona’s undocumented students, and as a master’s of public health student and a senior research coordinator for CHER, she studied how hotel practices and policies affect the health of Latina immigrant housekeepers. She also helped establish Aqui Entre Nos—Just Between Us, a CHER initiative focused on wellness and health for hospitality workers, in collaboration with hotel housekeepers, CHER researchers and other MPH students.

North Rim of Grand Canyon to reopen May 15 for 2022 season

The North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Sunday, May 15 at 6 a.m. to mark the official start of the 2022 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2022 seasonal operations on this date.

Visitor services, including the campground, Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore and the Backcountry Information Office will open at 8 a.m. Information on daily Park Ranger programs will be available at the Roaring Springs Overlook Kiosk through October 15. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, shower and laundry and the gas station, will also open May 15. The lodge dining room will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner with reservations required for dinner service. The last day of the 2022 season for most commercial services will be October 15, 2022.

United Way of Northern Arizona — TUNNEL FIRE: Crisis Response Fund Update

Northern Arizona University, Nestle Purina, Suddenlink and OneAZ Credit Union are leading the way in providing funds to help those who have been impacted by the Tunnel Fire. Together they have contributed $45,000 to the United Way of Northern Arizona Crisis Response Fund.

These funds will be used to help people impacted by the fire meet immediate needs and offer assistance as they rebuild and recover. The blaze, which as of last night was 89% contained, has destroyed more than 100 structures, including 30 homes northeast of Flagstaff.

City of Flagstaff to enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions on May 5

The City of Flagstaff will enter Stage 1 Fire Restrictions at 8 a.m. on May 5, 2022.

Under Stage 1 Fire Restrictions,

The sale or use of consumer-grade fireworks is prohibited.
The use of charcoal and wood-fired BBQs are prohibited in City parks and open spaces.
Charcoal and wood-fired BBQs are still allowed at private residences and private campgrounds within city limits.

Fire restrictions to begin May 5 on Kaibab and Coconino National Forests

Beginning Thursday, May 5 at 8:00 a.m., Stage 1 fire and smoking restrictions will be in effect on the Williams and Tusayan Districts (aka “South Zone”) of the Kaibab National Forest and the entirety of the Coconino National Forest.

Under Stage 1 restrictions, fires, campfires, charcoal, coal, and wood stoves are prohibited, except within a developed recreation site. Smoking is also prohibited, except within an enclosed vehicle, building or a developed recreation site. Fireworks are always prohibited on all national forest and state lands.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 25-29, 2022

A burst of fushia in the inner canyon this week (NPS Photo/D. Yurcik)

This year’s fire season is off and running in the Southwest with four Type 1 Incident Teams already deployed for fires in the region. Earlier this week our wildland fire seasonal staff arrived and began fire training and annual pack tests continued through this week (see photo above). 

In the coming weeks, park managers will be coordinating with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests to assess fire restrictions and determine if the park will need to transition to fire restrictions in the near future. As of Thursday, 4/28, the Tunnel Fire north of Flagstaff, was at approximately 19.075 acres with 43% containment. More information on the Tunnel Fire can be found by visiting the Tunnel Fire Inciweb site here.