
Saturday, March 11
Anger Management Comedy feat. Reena Calm, Orpheum Theater
Autobiographical and charmingly inappropriate, she’s a jokesmith with a love for wordplay. 7 p.m.
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The women who shaped us
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and it has been a global celebration since 1911, recognizing the many contributions women have made to society. To honor the day, The NAU Review asked the women of NAU to reflect on a historical female figure who inspired them. From trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and visionary writers like Octavia Butler to other figures with whom you may not be familiar—this is a list you don’t want to miss. And despite their different influences, these historical figures all have one thing in common—they fully embody and represent the month’s themes, whether it be environmental consciousness, cultural influences, equal representation, self-identity or equity. Their stories remind us that we’re all in this together, fighting for gender equality and celebrating the countless ways women have shaped our world.
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Participants in last year’s KinderCamp™ program – and their parents – gave the early childhood education program high marks in a survey conducted by AZ OnTrack.
The survey was completed by 50 children who were part of the KinderCamp program at Kinsey Elementary School in Flagstaff last summer. More than 80 parents also participated in the survey. AZ OnTrack is the state’s initiative to help children catch up from learning losses caused by the pandemic.
COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.
The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.
When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.
CCC&Y is building an inclusive movement of people dedicated to transforming and healing our communities.
Through leadership, education and advocacy. By becoming a member you add your name to an expansive list of individuals, families, businesses and organizations who are igniting collective action that creates better lives for children and families.
Please visit Membership Options
Make an Online Donation
Remember, CCC&Y is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) status-so your contributions are tax deductible eligible. Please consult your tax professional.
NAU has received a $600,000 grant from NASA for a three-year project led by Teki Sankey to study the impact of forest restoration treatments on drought resilience in Arizona’s forests using NASA’s ECOSTRESS satellite. The team of researchers will focus on Arizona’s forests including Ponderosa pines and will validate their findings with field measurements of canopy and soil moisture. The project aims to determine if forest treatments result in water benefits for the entire ecosystem and will advance the development of satellite-based remote sensing methods for rapid detection of drought stress in vegetation.
Grand Canyon National Park experienced its eighth busiest year ever in 2022 with 4,732,101 visits. Last year’s visitation was more than 200,000 above the previous year at a 4.5% increase. Grand Canyon also went from the fourth most visited national park to the second most visited. (#1-Great Smoky Mountains National Park).
Visitation to Grand Canyon reached its highest level ever with approximately 6.4 million visits in 2018. Although 2022’s reduced visitation lessens the stress on the park’s resources, park operations still rely on the revenue from all income sources. Fewer visitors translates to reduced revenue for park programs. Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Funds (aka FLREA), transportation fees, and concession franchise fees are still reduced compared to pre-pandemic years. Funds from these sources support many programs across the park and park managers continue to work on programming costs with these smaller revenue projections in mind for this fiscal year.
Due to considerable snowfall amounts in the Flagstaff region, the Meet and Greet event for Coconino Community College President Dr. Eric Heiser originally scheduled for tonight, Thursday, March 2, will be rescheduled for a later date in April.
Dr. Eric Heiser has scheduled Meet and Greet events throughout Coconino County in communities that CCC serves in order to listen to what matters most to the residents of those communities when it comes to what they need from their community college.
Future events scheduled for March 8 in Flagstaff, April 4 in Williams and April 13 in Page.
Remember DART, NASA’s attempt to redirect an asteroid? Results are in. It worked.
After ramming a spacecraft into a small asteroid last fall, researchers knew almost immediately that the mission had worked—that the impact changed the asteroid’s orbit. A new study authored by Cristina Thomas found that the orbit changed by a whopping 33 minutes, suggesting that the momentum of the ejected material was a significant contributor to the change. The study is published in Nature alongside three other articles detailing findings from this groundbreaking NASA mission.
Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops
Book Corner
Blustery weather makes for the perfect time to curl up with a good book! 50 Things to do in the Urban Wild by Clare Gogerty is a book to get the creative juices flowing by giving you ideas for how to connect to your local area. Although written in the United Kingdom, the book is applicable to people living anywhere, including the diverse landscapes of Coconino County. Topics include how to create a leaf journal, how to identify trees in winter, cloud spotting, city hiking, and restoring natural habitats. Get inspired to enjoy your local trail system, nature, and wildlife. Maybe you can even learn skills that you can enter in the Coconino County Fair, with topics including growing plants and incorporating nature in art!
Workforce development is a topic we often turn to when we talk about the critical needs of northern Arizona businesses, but often that discussion focuses on post-secondary education, internships, and job training.
The fact is that creating tomorrow’s workforce goes back much further, starting in elementary, middle, and high school. Which is why we are so happy that there are several upcoming events that celebrate our local educators.
It starts this Thursday with the annual STEMMY Awards being given out by Flagstaff STEM City to honor students, teachers and organizations who are STEM leaders in the greater Flagstaff community. Last year, Audrey Baird of Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy took top honors for STEM educator.
Thursday’s ceremony will be from 6 to 7 pm at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Developing countries pay the highest price for living with large carnivores
Farmers who raise livestock depend on the health and safety of those animals. When large predators threaten their wellbeing, it can financially devastating for them—the effects of which can be felt for years. Human-wildlife conflict has been highlighted as one of the globe’s most pressing human development and conservation dilemmas, and NAU’s Duan Biggs was determined to take a deeper look into this matter. He worked with researchers from throughout the world to study how the lives of those living alongside these large predators are impacted, and why developing countries were the one to suffer most.
The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) gives you the chance to pay less for your internet:
Up to $30 per month for broadband services purchased by eligible households and up to $75 per month for households located on Tribal lands.
One-time discount of up to $100 on purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if you contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Applications are now available. Only one monthly internet service discount is allowed per household.
United Way of Northern Arizona has signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Flagstaff to provide coordination of volunteers during “emergencies, disasters or special events” as determined by City officials.
The agreement is similar to one that UWNA has had with Coconino County since 2010 in the aftermath of the Schultz Fire.
UWNA will use Volunteer Hub as the management website for volunteers for both the City and County. The website includes the Volunteer Service Agreement that volunteers for the City need to complete before engaging in any volunteer work.
Highway 67…plowed?!
Last week, North and South Rim Road Crew staff successfully plowed 30 miles of Highway 67, from Jacob Lake to the North Rim boundary, for administrative use. A team of three including John Venn, Brandon Alberta, and John Root completed the operation over the course of one week.
The primary objective of road clearing was to provide for a diesel fuel supply for the back-up generators on the North Rim. After a series of powerful snow storms this winter that knocked out power service, this backup fuel source is critical to support the staff and continuity of operations. Additional objectives included the ability to provide emergency ingress/egress to and from the North Rim, as well as improving safety for residents by allowing administrative traffic in motor vehicles instead of snowmobiles.
Thank you to the North Rim staff who continue to weather repeated storms and impressive snow removal operations!
Super Bowl 2023: For these student reporters, it doesn’t get better than this
When sophomore Ava Nichols enrolled at NAU with a dream of becoming a sports reporter, she knew that in addition to the Final Four and annual spring training, Arizona was set to host the Super Bowl. Just the thought of being in the same state as such major sporting events made her that much more excited to move out west. She never expected, however, that she would be one of five NAZ Today students selected to cover Super Bowl Media Week. And if that wasn’t enough, she was also given a game day media pass, giving her field access to cover the game—something most career reporters can only aspire to.
COCONINO COUNTY — Whether it’s connecting families with local representatives from the Coconino County Health & Human Services’ Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) program, to helping foster care families learn about potential scholarship programs for their youth, resource guides provide a valuable assistance to residents throughout Coconino County and Northern Arizona.
To spread the word about these valuable information options, CCC&Y has compiled a listing and link to a variety of resource guides throughout the region including CCC&Y’s created Page/Fredonia and Tuba City resource guides and the recently updated Williams Area Community Resource Guide.
Do you have a new or updated resource guide you would like to add to our listing posting? Please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org
Innovative ideas, collaboration take center stage at Jacks Big IDEA
Students from a variety of disciplines recently participated in the third annual Jacks Big IDEA competition, which challenged them to develop innovative solutions to real-world issues like food waste and water scarcity. Teams had three days to develop a prototype, then present it to a panel of judges comprised of NAU experts. The competition helped the students foster creativity, practice problem-solving skills, network and build teamwork and leadership skills. The winning team, SafeCom, developed a prototype for a nearly indestructible phone case that could help rescue workers find people in the aftermath of natural disasters when Wi-Fi and cellular service are down. The team won the grand prize and will compete against schools worldwide for a grand prize of $5,000.
Liz Archuleta, highly accomplished and nationally recognized leader, and former Coconino County Supervisor who has been serving as a presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture senior leadership team, has been chosen to be the new President & CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA).
“We are thrilled to have such a highly respected and accomplished leader as Liz join us,” said UWNA Board President Mike Kelly. “Her ties to UWNA and commitment to our program of work go back to 1997. During that time, she’s championed many efforts at UWNA. She’s been a Board chair, led an annual campaign and a capital campaign, been the chair of the Summit Society, and spearheaded a special 50th anniversary drive to support the KinderCamp program.”
Cheryl Mango-Paget, County Superintendent of Schools, would like to announce Coconino County’s 2023 Spelling BEE winner is Calliope Hill from Montessori School of Flagstaff.
Calliope was determined the winner upon spelling the word “trilby” correctly after battling through the last few rounds with runner up Ember Evans from Flagstaff Christian School and third place winner, James Janik from Mount Elden Middle School. Congratulations Calliope Hill on winning the 2023 County Spelling Bee! You should be incredibly proud knowing your efforts and skills paid off and contributed to your recent achievement. Calliope Hill received $250 from the Flagstaff Rotary Club and will move on to compete in the State Spelling Bee on March 18, 2023.
Cultural Demonstrator this weekend at Grand Canyon Visitor Center
On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 17, 18, and 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by and meet Zuni fine art painter, Anthony Gchachu. He will discuss how he conceptualizes and executes his paintings.
Watch him work and learn how Zuni culture and art have influenced his unique painting style that uses layered acrylic paints to create texture, depth and movement to generate emotions.
This series is made possible with grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy.
At their February 6, 2023 special session, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan.
In the fall of 2022, the public was able to provide comment on the draft of the Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan, which were factored into the final draft. The plan’s table of contents include the natural environment of the park, cultural resources and history, public use and facilities, and long-range planning. These topics address issues as varied as dark skies, weed control, emergency use, water conservation, preserving open spaces from damage, and preserving historic structures.
The public is invited to comment on proposed Coconino County Fair admission fee changes until April 11, 2023.
The proposed recommended fees affect admission prices for adults, seniors, and active-duty military/veterans as well as the parking fee. Youth ticket prices would not change for the 2023 Fair but would change in 2024. Attendees ages 5 years and younger will not be affected by this change The Coconino County Board of Supervisors reviewed the fee changes at the regular meeting on February 6, 2023 and approved a 60-day public input process.
A new review of available climate information from the last 12,000 years takes on an as-yet-unresolved question: whether global average temperature rose for thousands of years before the Industrial Revolution, or whether temperatures peaked around 6,500 years ago and then cooled until global warming reversed the cooling trend 150 years ago. The first option is favored by climate models and the second by paleoenvironmental evidence. The review, led by Regents’ professor Darrell Kaufman and recently published in Nature, reached a likely answer to that question while also highlighting areas of uncertainty in the data and modeling that need to be addressed to ensure climate scientists and global decision-makers are working with the most accurate picture possible.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth provides a variety of free online training programs for parents, caregivers and all community members.
Our free Thriving Families webinar is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to the topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness. It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.
With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals. Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.
Spreading joy, one bun at a time
The School of Hotel and Restaurant Management is reviving a beloved NAU tradition they hope will be a chain reaction of spreading joy across campus and beyond. Show your appreciation to a department, team or group on or off campus by enlisting HRM. They’ll receive a mouth-watering surprise of warm, buttery, freshly-baked rolls. Spark a joyful chain reaction—join the #HRMBunRun movement and taste the happiness of being thanked!
Art Classes & Workshops at Sedona Arts Center
Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years.
Click here to see all of our classes and workshops
Girl Scouts Center Arizona Cactus-Pine presenting its Daisy Launch Summer Box Program.
Is the girl in your life entering Kindergarten in the Fall of 2023?
If so, we know she probably can’t wait to connect with new friends, try new things, and find new adventures. Although Girl Scouts traditionally starts in kindergarten, you and your girl are invited to start early this summer!
COCONINO COUNTY — A Coconino County delegation this week presented long-term plans for flood mitigation and forest restoration to several of Arizona’s representatives in Congress and their staff.
“Our delegation to Washington D.C. had a very productive day of meetings. Supervisors Begay and Vasquez and County Flood Control District management presented Coconino County’s immediate and long-term plans for flood mitigation and forest restoration to several of Arizona’s representatives in Congress and their staff,” county officials reported.
Emergency contact information may be crucial in case of a natural disaster and/or weather closure notification/event, or other crisis situations. The Grand Canyon Public Affairs Office in conjunction with Grand Canyon Dispatch are beginning to implement a solution towards the goal of enhancing information-sharing and keeping our NPS staff, partners, and residents connected and informed.
The Everbridge platform will help us achieve this goal by sending real-time texts, emails, and/or calls. The Department of Interior approved this platform in 2019 and many NPS units already use it for notifications.
‘Something you can use in the real world’
Maliya Peyketewa, a freshman at Greyhills Academy High School in Tuba City, wants to become an app and web developer when she gets older. A virtual after-school coding course offered to STEM students at her school and taught by NAU volunteers is helping her learn one of the computer languages she can use to get there.
COCONINO COUNTY —
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth is focused on root causes and systemic solutions, proactively and boldly taking on challenges with an innovative and inclusive mindset.
We do this by bringing together informed and energized community members to solve problems, impact policy and create solutions that allow every person to realize their full potential.
Click here or on image above to see the full video and learn more about us.
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Want to take on the world’s complex, constantly changing problems? Start with making sure all of the world’s population have the opportunity to engage with the science, technology and engineering that is remaking the world. For International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Feb. 11, The NAU Review talked to some of the many women on our campus who are tackling questions of climate change, ecological diversity, computing, forest health and semiconductors—everything from the tiniest organisms and microchips to the entire universe.
Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards Finalist
We are excited to share that our project is a finalist for the Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards! Our project, Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park: Fostering Hope, Heritage, and Community Centered Environmental Education, honors the environmental education and communication work that Elizabeth “Liz” C. Archuleta County Park and Willow Bend Environmental Center are doing.
In This Issue
Hello From Supervisor Horstman
2023 Brings New Leadership
Arizona’s Inaugural Celebration
Omnibus Bill, An Early Christmas Present for Coconino County
Proposed Short Term Rentals Ordinance
Coconino National Forest Proposed Fire Restriction Changes
US Forest Service Announces Biden’s 2 Year Wildfire Crisis Strategy
Coconino National Forest Proposal for Outfitter and Guide Services in Mount Elden/Dry Lake Hills
Single Mothers in Coconino County Get a Chance at Free Higher Education With CCC
Welcome Aaron Mayville, Coconino National Forest Supervisor
Community Events
Snow transformed the museum campus last month and each day the sculptural spires of ice hanging from the eaves drip, extend, and even bend in the wind. While nature paints the landscape white, within the museum we have art in a full spectrum of colors, from the rich abstract landscapes of Joella Mahoney to Baje Whitethorne’s rainbow-hued skies and cliffs.
Visiting the museum is a warm respite from the cold outside, and I encourage you to visit us to enjoy our galleries and exhibitions. Winter is my favorite time at the museum because the galleries are often quiet and can be experienced at whatever pace a visitor wishes. I love to spend time in front of favorite works of art or displays to really take them in, and sometimes see them from a new perspective.
This week, the National Park Service (NPS) released details on 2023 investments that will improve access and facilities across the country, enhance climate and fire resilience, and further connect people with their national parks.
In the coming years, NPS and federal partners will make investments that will support Grand Canyon’s Shuttle Bus Maintenance Facility, Bus Fleet Replacement and Charging Infrastructure project.
The project aligns with the sustainability and climate change goals of converting the federal fleet to zero emission vehicles. It consists of acquiring 10 new battery electric buses (BEB) and 20 new near-zero emission compressed natural gas buses (CNG) to replace the aging fleet; installing charging infrastructure to support the electric buses, including a solar parking canopy; and replacing an obsolete and undersized vehicle maintenance facility.
Do you know how Black history has shaped the history of Flagstaff and NAU? Through events, panel discussions and guest speakers, NAU commemorates the legacy, heritage and brilliance of our Black community. During Black History Month, learn about the significant contributions of Black Americans to our community and the United States and gain a greater understanding of how that legacy continues to evolve and affect Black and African Americans today.
Estevan Ramirez, a master’s student in archaeology, has made good use of his time at NAU—multiple research trips to Belize to study Preclassic Maya archaeology, restarting the Student Association of Graduate Anthropologists and gaining a greater understanding of the border crisis. In his final semester, he’s taking on new challenges as he prepares for graduate school and a career in anthropology.
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Registration for the City of Flagstaff’s Youth Climate Action Challenge is now open! As part of this year’s event, three unique challenges are open to teams of 4th – 12th graders. Students can participate by implementing a climate action project in their community or by designing wind turbines and solar-powered structures to exhibit their knowledge in renewable energy. The challenges are an opportunity to develop leadership experience and illustrate local climate solutions. Now is the time for students to build their team, register, and demonstrate their leadership in climate action.
This year, Vision & Sound opens at Celebrate Sedona on February 1 from 4 to 6pm, featuring music by Simply Renee and food by Not Your Routine Poutine. This free performance will also have Vision and Sound artists in attendance, artist demonstrations, and more. Free to the Public, food and beverages for sale, 21 to drink. Celebrate Sedona takes place in Uptown Sedona at Sedona Arts Center.
FLAGSTAFF — Ana Roman met and became best friends with Montserrat “Montse” Rodriguez when they worked together at a Flagstaff restaurant. Rodriguez needed help studying for her United States citizenship exam that she was preparing for, and Roman was happy to help.
After Rodriguez passed her citizenship test with flying colors, the two young women continued taking English Language Acquisition for Adults courses in the Adult Education program at Coconino Community College. Successful in their studies, they were awarded a grant that allowed them to take a course at the college free of charge.
They chose ENG 101A, and they both passed their first official college course, and now the two are considering continuing down the college path.
“I was so scared,” Rodriguez said. “We were with students so young, so bright, who spoke English their whole lives. This class has taken me out of my comfort zone. This is a first step.”
Applications open for NAU’s Early Learning and Development Center
The ELDC is integrating programming knowledge from NAU’s College of Education and aims to demonstrate, observe, study and teach exemplary practices in early childhood education, speech-language pathology and other related fields. The ELDC serves children aged 3–5 years old and their families, supporting their intellectual growth, social-emotional intelligence and physical development. Priority enrollment is being offered to NAU student-parents, staff and faculty. Applications for enrollment and financial assistance are currently taking place.
A recently completed United Way of Northern Arizona report on building capacity to help UWNA better address critical needs in Navajo and Apache counties has identified substance abuse/mental health issues, affordable childcare and afterschool programs, and creating a skilled workforce as top priorities for the northeast region.
UWNA retained Phoenix Philanthropy Group to create the report, which was based on interviews with nonprofit leaders, elected officials, economic development directors, healthcare and education professionals, as well as current and past members of the UWNA Board of Directors.
Winter safety tips!
South Entrance Station
We have received multiple reports of park employees and/or residents driving through the south entrance station without stopping. As a reminder, when the bypass lane is closed or inaccessible due to snow, all vehicles are required to come to a full and complete stop when driving through any of the lanes of the entrance station. A failure to stop is not only hazardous but could result in a serious accident to employees who routinely move between booths.
Parking – Safety Concern
Please do not park vehicles on roadways.
Vehicles parked inappropriately compound already hazardous conditions and they impede the plowing of roadways.
Please use designated parking areas.
Vision & Sound creates an educational experience and environment that broadens the understanding and appreciation of African American art, music, film, and literary works for multigenerational and multicultural audiences. We strive to build supportive relationships to encourage cultural equity throughout Arizona and beyond – recognizing that professional American artists of African descent are too often overlooked.
Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email Jan. 26-Feb. 1 This Week’s Highlights Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. “Flag Happs” is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and…