By Shawn Thomas / Coconino County Public Health Services District Policy Analyst Have you ever run late for work? Perhaps to make up time, you began eating your bagel, applied last minute touches to your hair or makeup, fiddled with your…
Category: Commentary
Finance / Finanzas: Medicare — Introduction
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona This article offers an introduction to Medicare and is the first in a series of articles on this subject. What is Medicare: Medicare is a federal health insurance program for persons who are…
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future reminds community of opportunity for year-end donations
“Today is the last day of 2014 and thanks to the support of our members what a year it has been!,” Friends of Flagstaff’s Future reported in a media release. “We compiled a year-end review for you on our Facebook page. Please…
Guest commentary: Share holiday blessings with a Flagstaff family in need
By Egle Rucci / Village Land Shoppe Inc. My name is Egle Rucci, Realtor ® at Village Land Shoppe Inc, and together with Teresa Bolen at Prime Source Lending, we are pledging to sponsor families in need in our community this year…
Bilingual commentary: Helping young kids beat the holiday blues
December is crowded with activity and excitement, which can all be fun for young children, but may also have some unintended consequences: behavior changes. Toddlers and preschoolers can experience a myriad of emotions, including: anticipation of special activities and events;…
Guest commentary: Babysitter or an educator?
A tour of the Kith and Kin Project in Flagstaff By Cynthia Pardo / First Things First “Hay muchas cosas que devemos a aprender, como, escuchar a nuestros hijos, involucrarlos en todo para que aprendan a desenvolverse major,” said Ms.…
Commentary: Turning a dream into reality
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Wanted: Individuals wanting to turn their hobbies or dream into a thriving business. Requirements: Willing to take part in weekly small-business training sessions and willing to give time and effort to help other would-be…
Health: Food preparation safety key to successful holiday meals
By the Coconino County Public Health Services District As the holidays approach and families across the county make plans for gatherings, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is stressing the importance of making food safety part of the…
Guest commentary: Like all skills, gratitude is best learned young
As Thanksgiving approaches, it is the perfect time to teach young children a very important life lesson: gratitude. Barbara Lewis, author of What Do You Stand For? For Kids, teaches us children as young as 2 are aware that other…
City of Flagstaff provides tips on flying from Flagstaff’s Airport during the holidays
FLAGSTAFF — The holidays often mean travel and air travel could mean longer lines, and crowds. The staff at Flagstaff’s Airport would like to make your travel plans as easy as possible with a few helpful tips, the City of Flagstaff…
Analysis: NAU helps fight student hunger
By Tony Salazar / AmigosNAZ intern Every year in America the price of higher education continues to rise at astronomical rates. This year alone for an incoming freshman at Northern Arizona University one can expect to pay about $25,000 as…
Commentary: La Plaza Vieja begins to define itself
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ When a developer proposed to build a multistory student housing project in the heart of Flagstaff’s La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood, local residents were a bit perturbed. How would the project affect the character of…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Beneficiaries (breadwinner and dependents)
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona In this article I will present a review of Social Security beneficiaries (the breadwinner and dependents) — who is eligible for what benefit, at what age, and the benefit amount.…
Commentary: Yes, our national nightmare is almost over. Voting Day is here
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The 2014 election season is rapidly coming to a close. Soon the repetitive television attack advertisements will cease and the growing forest of campaign signs on street corners will disappear — at least until…
Commentary: Join Unafraid Educators during National Educators Coming Out Day on Nov. 12
Hello, My name is Laura Longoria I am a student wanting to go to back to school, I am undocumented and unafraid. I want to thank all of you for all your support. With your support it gives me power…
Guest commentary: At Halloween, protect kids’ teeth. Prevent school absences
Did you know that tooth decay is among the most common health issues affecting young children, and that dental disease is one of the leading causes of school absence? The Arizona Department of Health Services estimates that almost half of…
Guest commentary: Full Circle Trade & Thrift is doing wonderful work in our community
By Roxana Cardiel De Niz / NAIC Interim Organizer In October, Full Circle Trade & Thrift’s proceeds will help support Flagstaff’s immigrant families. Northern Arizona Interfaith Council is part of a coalition of nonprofit organizations (Beacon Unitarian Universalist Congregation, the Northern Arizona…
Guest commentary: Tips for taking the fear out of Halloween for young kids
Halloween can be a fun time of year, but for infants, toddlers and preschoolers – who often can’t distinguish between fantasy and reality – scary experiences can ruin the holiday and create long-term fears. Below are tips for minimizing anxiety…
Commentary / Comentario: Full Circle to aid Dreamers
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Since its founding in 2013, Full Circle Trade and Thrift has awarded more than $150,000 to help creative, collaborative and results-oriented nonprofits in Flagstaff. Located at the corner of South Beaver Street and Phoenix…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security — Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Another important benefit offered by Social Security is Supplemental Security Income, commonly known as “SSI”. SSI, though administered by the Social Security Administration, is not funded by Social Security taxes…
Commentary / Comentario: The season of nutritional health
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ While this is the season for cultural events, it is also the time to start thinking about proper nutrition as students return to school and we prepare for the dreaded sweet and fat-laden holiday season. The…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Survivors benefits
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Many people might not know that Social Security offers Survivors Benefits. These benefits, which function as a kind of life insurance, can provide family income after the breadwinner dies as…
Commentary / Comentario: Poore Clinic opens in Sunnyside
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Even with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, obtaining quality health care continues to be a challenge for many people. Whether it’s transportation issues due to a shortage of accessible neighborhood clinics, problems…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Retirement benefits – Part 2
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona In this article I will continue our conversation regarding retirement benefits, describing retiring at full retirement age and delaying retirement to a later age. We have stated that full retirement age ranges…
Guest commentary: Summer ideal time to prepare for Kindergarten success
By First Things First / Guest contributor While most students think of summer as a break from learning, for young kids entering kindergarten, summer is the ideal time to instill the skills that will make the transition to school smoother.…
Commentary / Comentario: Bringing excellence to education
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The ideas were almost bouncing off the walls, courtesy of giant Post-it notes and magic markers. • Convincing parents of the value of education from the minute their children make their first appearance in…
Health / Salud: Public Health and you – Picnics, barbecues and food safety tips
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Marlene Gaither / Coconino County Environmental Health Program manager Summer is the season for picnics and cookouts, but these outdoor activities can present food…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Retirement benefits – Part 1
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Social Security provides several benefits, including retirement, disability and survivor benefits, among others. Regarding beneficiaries, some relatives of the eligible person (spouses, former spouses, children and even parents) could also…
Commentary / Comentario: Thank you, Firefighters!!!
By Frank X. Moraga and Star Hunter / AmigosNAZ The banners near the freeway onramps at Kachina Boulevard seem to say it all. “THANK YOU FIREFIGHTERS! From Coconino County & the Communities of Oak Creek, Kachina Village, Mountainaire, Forest Highlands…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: What is it?
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona The United States has two main retirement-related programs, namely Medicare and Social Security. The first provides access to medical care, while the second provides an economic benefit. This article will…
Commentary / Comentario: A education in redevelopment
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Developers of a proposed student housing project near downtown Flagstaff most likely expected relatively smooth sailing when they first approached city staff with their proposal last summer as they sought to re-zone the seven-acre…
Health / Salud: The Affordable Care Act: Closed door, opened door
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona After six months of opportunity to obtain health coverage through the new health insurance marketplace created by the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Patient Protection…
Commentary: ‘National Day of Action’ on April 5 — Calling for an end to deportations
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Saturday, April 5 could go down as one of the low-lights for the Obama Administration regarding its handling of immigration. On that day, the administration is expected to deport its 2 millionth person, according…
Commentary / Comentario: Si se (something)!
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The first time I saw him was during a march for farmworkers rights in the early 1980s. I was a novice community college photojournalism student and we had decided to cover his protest march…
Commentary / Comentario: An opportunity to talk
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ For community policing, it’s a fine balance between gathering information to investigate crimes and maintaining trust with a segment of society that previously viewed law enforcement in other places with suspicion, if not downright…
Commentary / Comentario: Leadership project earns award
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Congratulations are in order. It began as a way to get students involved in creating the leaders of tomorrow. Known as the Manifesto Project, the effort launched in early 2013 was recently presented with…
Commentary / Comentario: Celebrating the season
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The holidays have always been a special time to be thankful for what we have, give to those who need a hand and celebrate the season in music and culture. One of my most…
Bilingual commentary: Residents begin first of many battles
By Roxana Cardiel De Niz and Anamaria Velasco Ortiz The community at Arrowhead Village Trailer Park in the center of Flagstaff is on the verge of being destroyed over a student housing development. This project is one that Landmark Properties,…
Commentary / Comentario: Making the case for ethnic studies
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ As he surveyed the room, Sean Arce hit the play button and the video kicked in on the screen. Students, high school students, could be seen on the video rushing to sit and chain…
Flagstaff City Council approves resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform
Supporters hope 6-1 vote will spark other cities in Arizona to follow their lead FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council, by a vote of 6-1, approved a resolution supporting comprehensive immigration reform during a meeting held on Oct. 1 at…
Commentary / Comentario: County government in action
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The strangest thing Cynthia Seelhammer has seen so far in her brief tenure at Coconino County is the organization’s timesheets. They are churned out on a dot-matrix printer complete with those old-fashioned sprocket hole…
Commentary / Comentario: CCC plays a critical role in educating first-generation college students
By Patricia A. Garcia / CCC District Governing Board member As an elected official on the governing board of Coconino Community College, I believe it is critical for CCC to continue to be able to fulfill its core functions. As a…
Commentary / Comentario: Starting school off right
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ It was Aug. 21, nearly one month after the start of school and the annual W.F. Killip Elementary School open house was in full swing in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Flagstaff. It seemed like…
Commentary / Comentario: Dealing with floods; back-to-school issues
By Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta / Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Coconino Flood Mitigation: It’s a sunny day in Flagstaff and the soft crunching of sand is heard along with the humming of truck engines and the chatter of volunteers at…
Travel / Viajes: Spain pilgrimage draws seekers
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer Discovery is what I love most about traveling. When I have a tentative agenda, I have time to stumble upon new places. Once on foreign soil, I seek out events or…
Commentary / Comentario: Time to enjoy upcoming summer events
By Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta / Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Make sure to make the most of your summer by going out and enjoying what our county has to offer! Here are some fun and healthy events for all ages.…
Travel / Viajes: Extend your summer
By Stacey Wittig / Vagabonding Chica – Travel Writer When the long-anticipated Cars Land opened in June 2012 at Disney California Adventure Park, avid fans waited six to seven hours to experience new, exciting rides at the 12-acre theme land.…
Commentary / Comentario: Hispanics + education = ?
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Less than half (47 percent) of Coconino County students were ready for kindergarten, according to the “Coconino Community Education Report 2013” released in May by the United Way of Northern Arizona and a host…
Commentary / Comentario: Seeking to diversify representation
Editor’s note: This profile serves as a introduction to Second District Supervisor Elizabeth “Liz” Archuleta, who will be writing a regular column on issues and events impacting the local Latino community. By Martin Montes de Oca / Guest contributor When…