Category: Education

Police academy OK’d by CCC governing board

The Coconino Community College District Governing Board approved agreements to begin a police academy and to start working on a partnership among community colleges in northern Arizona to share resources in order to better serve students.

During the Aug. 17 meeting, CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland presented an Oct. 3, 2022, start date for the first police academy at the college after possible program approval by the Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training Board. The police academy will start off as non-credit, but after curriculum approval, the program will give recruits credits to apply toward associate and higher degrees.

Southerland then shared information with the board on an agreement in the works with Northland Pioneer College, Mohave Community College and Yavapai College to share resources to better serve students in northern Arizona. Among the items discussed would be the sharing of courses and other services to extend a more robust level of service to students in the region. Talks are ongoing and intergovernmental agreements are planned for the near future.

Sedona Arts Center — Check out these specially selected art workshops!

his one day class will incorporate beads and/or found objects to create two beautiful and unique pendants. Participants will learn how to utilize a non-toxic epoxy clay to embed objects and beads into a metal pendant tray. Proper placement of beads, design, and composition will be explored. Several examples of finished pendants and necklaces will be provided for reference.  This is a fun and inspirational class that can be used as a spring board for the creation of many types of jewelry and collage work. The class is appropriate for all skill levels.

Museum of Northern Arizona announces opening of new exhibit looking at history of MNA archaeologists working in Glen Canyon

This weekend we open a new exhibition looking at the long history of MNA archaeologists working in Glen Canyon. The artifacts and information from initial surveys of Glen Canyon in the late 1950s continue to reveal new information and MNA archaeologists recently returned to the same locations to see how the sites have changed. All this reinforces the importance of the museum as a place where artifacts are cared for and continue to be studied. MNA Archaeologists in Glen Canyon complements the photography show in the Lockett Gallery, The Great Unknown: Artists at Glen Canyon. 

MNA was started by community members who recognized how important it is to have a museum preserving and sharing information about the Colorado Plateau, and that community connection continues through our members and donors. You can help support the museum by participating in the virtual auction that is taking place right now. And if you aren’t yet a museum member, consider becoming one today in time to attend the upcoming Member Appreciation Day this Saturday.

The NAU Review — The year ahead, National Aviation Day and helping children see

At the inaugural University Convocation Monday, President Cruz Rivera discussed with faculty and staff the highlights of Academic Year 2021-2022 and shared NAU’s three overarching goals for the next academic year: defining the New NAU System, differentiating NAU Online and developing a strategic enrollment management plan that will expand the number of people to whom an NAU education is available.

Grand Canyon National Park Ranger Della Yurcik Receives the 2022 Harry Yount Award

Della Yurcik, Backcountry Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park, has been selected to receive the 2022 National Park Service (NPS) Harry Yount Award for excellence in the field of rangering. The Harry Yount Award annually honors a NPS Ranger who consistently excels in the performance of duties that serve park visitors and protect the natural, historical and cultural resources of parks. The award is named after the nation’s first park ranger and is the highest honor that can be bestowed on a park ranger today.

CCC Auto Tech program on hold in search of qualified faculty

The curriculum is set. The syllabi are prepared. Classroom space is ready, thanks to the generosity of a local auto dealership.

Unfortunately, the cost of living in Flagstaff has made the process of hiring a full-time faculty member for the Coconino Community College Automotive Technology program a challenge. As a result, CCC’s Automotive Technology program is being forced into a holding pattern until a full-time faculty member can be found.

“We know this program is critical to supplying the trained automotive technicians our community needs, and there has been strong interest from students, employers and community members,” said Dr. Nate Southerland, CCC Provost. “CCC remains committed to the success of our Automotive Technology program and is grateful for those who have made their facilities available to the College to help us deliver the program.”

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — How can you help families and children locally?

COCONINO COUNTY —
As CCC&Y celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, we are committed to:
Our Mission: We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families
Our Vision: We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community
To help us continue and expand our mission in 2022, please consider supporting the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth through your individual, family, student or group membership
By becoming 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.

Students studying trades at CCC get $15K boost from Desert Financial Foundation

During a recent tour, Coconino Community College students Nick Bartek and Erika Acuna showed employees of Desert Financial Credit Union and Foundation Board Members around the Fourth Street Campus. This location is where most of the college’s Career and Technical Education courses are taught, which gives students the skills needed to garner well-paying jobs quickly.

Bartek plans to continue his education at Arizona State University to study sustainable building practices. Acuna is working on her requirements to become a registered nurse.

“I learned so much here,” Bartek told the group. “I got the hands-on experience I needed, and I can’t thank CCC enough.”

“I’m the first generation in my family to go to college,” Acuna said, adding that she chose CCC because it was smaller, affordable, and offered her the space to excel in her studies.

Community celebrates renaming county park for former District Supervisor Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta

Under often Monsoon storming skies, more than 100 community members gathered at the now former Sawmill Multicultural Art and Nature County Park to rename the park for former District Supervisor Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta.

Sheltered under the large canopy, well-wishers gathered to hear speeches from members of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors, local officials, friends, and most movingly family members of Archuleta on Aug. 13.

The event also included live music, park tours, children’s activities, a book signing, and recognition of the new amenities at the park, including a new mural design.

Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces to present 7th annual Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada on Aug. 20

Free event, which has drawn upwards of 400 guests, provides cultural education to community, honors all veterans in region. Mariachi Mass to be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on Aug. 21.

FLAGSTAFF — To celebrate and recognize Flagstaff’s Hispanic roots, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present its 7th annual “Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada — Mariachi and Folklorico Festival” from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 224 S. Kendrick St., Flagstaff.

United Way of Northern Arizona — A Busy Summer for Volunteers

It’s been a non-stop summer for United Way of Northern Arizona volunteers as we worked together to help with post-fire recovery efforts, prepare for the increased possibility of flooding, and even help out at a couple of this year’s KinderCamp™ events.

Before we take a look at the work done – and a few upcoming events – we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone for their hard work so far this season.
The Numbers So Far: More than 1,500 Volunteer Hours

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides variety of free training webinars for families, community organizations

COCONINO COUNTY —
Coconino County has endured a number of challenges in recent years, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the resulting physical closures of schools, daycare centers and afterchool education programs and the switch to a more virtual world.
As we return to some semblance of normal, challenges still remain for families, youth, educators and organizations.
Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth wants to help. As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary on Oct. 27, 2022 at the High Country Conference Center, we want to remind the community of our growing library of on-demand webinars, to help the public gain the tools they need to provide trauma-informed care, tips to help strengthen family protective factors, examine the effects of historical trauma and adverse childhood experiences, address issues such as bullying and the support to adults and youth through the use of mindfulness practices.

Check out these creative workshops at Sedona Arts Center!

Get ready to loosen up, challenge your skills, and have fun with Bold Brush Painting Advanced….

Feel the rhythm and movement of the strokes and how big brushes can say so much with so few strokes!  We’re going to approach more complex and challenging subjects, such as architecture, café and city scenes, plus the landscape.  Learn to paint the negative space into the positive shapes of your subject, the key is learning to observe more and paint more in less time!!!

So, hold onto your hats, as we approach Bold Brush Painting from a higher level!!!!

Prerequisite- you need have taken the first “Bold Brush Painting” workshop, and have painting experience.

The NAU Review — A winning Welcome Week, empowering students and illustrating the invisible war of chronic pain

Calling all students: Kick off your Lumberjack experience at Welcome Week!

Whether you’re new to NAU or returning after a summer away, start the year off right with a host of fun Welcome Week activities, including concerts, ice cream socials, club fairs, the NAU Letters photo for the Class of 2026 and more. Get involved. Get connected. Get ready for a great year!

STEM City Flagstaff — Ten Years Down the Road

August marks the 10th Anniversary of STEM City
and Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community.”
STEM City was conceived out of a shared community vision to recognize, celebrate,
and expand the tremendous human and capital assets in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) that exist in Flagstaff.
Now, ten years later, STEM City is proud to have facilitated:
–Nine annual community-wide STEM Celebrations
–Annual STEMMY Awards recognizing numerous STEM Students, Teachers & Organizations
–Direct student engagement in STEM learning through classroom partnerships
with local experts in the fields of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math.

We’ll celebrate this 10th Anniversary with various events throughout the coming months
to revitalize Flagstaff’s well-earned designation as “America’s First STEM Community.”

CCC’s first Summer Bridge program achieves goals

Nevaeh Talkalai, gaze strong, spoke to her peers so that they might get to know her and she them.

“I’m urban Native,” she said. “I took pride in being Navajo after a racism event and created an anti-racism coalition. I was born in Fort Defiance and lived mostly in Window Rock growing up.”

She recently graduated from Northland Preparatory Academy in Flagstaff and plans on attending university in Michigan. Her goal: To be an advocate and a counselor for Native Americans.

Talkalai was among more than 40 students participating Coconino Community College’s inaugural Summer Bridge program, created as part a larger program devoted to “Strengthening Indigenous Student Success.” The purpose of the SISS program is to improve the success of Native American students attending CCC.

Sedona Arts Center Volunteer Fair & Appreciation next week

You’re invited to come to the Sedona Arts Center and learn about Volunteer Opportunities for this coming year. We have a fun program planned, and we’ll be honoring the people who have generously given their time and enrgy to help make things happen here!  

For those of you who have volunteered this past year, we want to say Thank You and show our appreciation! 

If you haven’t had an opportunity to volunteer this past year, we welcome you to come and see what’s new this year and celebrate with us. Maybe something will sound interesting and fit into your schedule, and you will be able to sign up for particular events or other volunteer opportunities. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — Lowell Observatory Aims for the Stars as Pacesetter for UWNA

While many companies and organizations Step Up for Our Community through their workplace campaigns for UWNA, some take an extra step by becoming Pacesetters; they hold their workplace fundraisers in the month prior to the official annual campaign to help jumpstart it.

One of the most successful at this is Lowell Observatory, where typically 25% to 30% of the 163 employees participate in the Pacesetter campaign each year.

The person responsible for this pre-campaign effort at the observatory is Mattie Harrington. She’s the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director Jeff Hall; Director of Philanthropy Lisa Actor; and the observatory’s Sole Trustee, W. Lowell Putnam IV, the great-grandnephew of its founder, Percival Lowell.

The Pacesetter fundraising outreach is conducted primarily via email, she said, with her sending out a communication to the staff once a week reminding them of the work UWNA supports in early childhood education, youth development, and crisis response.

City hosts event celebrating National Navajo Code Talkers Day on Aug. 14

The City of Flagstaff will celebrate National Navajo Code Talkers Day with an event on Sunday, Aug. 14 from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the NACET Conference Room (2201 N. Gemini Rd.). Members of the public are welcome to attend. The event will feature a variety of speakers, including a Navajo Code Talker family member, a Pat Tillman scholar and youth advocates. An honor walk/ run hybrid 2K event will also be held at 9 a.m. at Buffalo Park.

Applicants Sought for the Fredonia Moccasin Governing Board Vacancy

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for Fredonia Moccasin School District #6.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment.  Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 8-12, 2022

On Thursday, August 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated the Coconino County Community Level to LOW. People may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask.

Please note that this standard is flexible depending on conditions in Coconino County. It is possible that we may return to a mask requirement under this guidance if conditions in Coconino County returns to a HIGH community level.

Updates on local community levels for Coconino County will be posted and updated on the main nps.gov/grca webpage under the ‘Alerts’ section. This information will be updated weekly on Thursdays by the CDC.

We will keep employees, our stakeholders, and the public informed of any new developments as soon as they become available. For those wishing to post this signage outside of buildings and in workspaces, please see the attached signage.

Watch California Condors take their first flights in the wild during the 27th annual public condor release, in-person and live-streamed! on Sept. 24

The Peregrine Fund and Bureau of Land Management at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument are hosting a celebration on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 24 by releasing captive-bred California Condors at 1 p.m. MDT (noon MST, northern-Arizona Condor Time) to take their first flights in the wild. The event will be held in-person at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument for anyone interested in traveling to the area, and it will be live streamed via The Peregrine Fund’s YouTube Channel.

The Arizona-Utah California Condor conservation effort is a cooperative program by federal, state, and private partners, including The Peregrine Fund, the Bureau of Land Management in Utah, the Bureau of Land Management’s Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Grand Canyon and Zion National Parks, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, and Kaibab and Dixie National Forests among many other supporting groups and individuals.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides a variety of options to help families, community members

COCONINO COUNTY — As we prepare to celebrate our 50th anniversary on Oct. 27, 2022 at the High Country Conference Center, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth continues to connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.

Discover Flagstaff — Enjoy family concerts, cultural events and more this weekend with Flagstaff 365!

Family Pops Concert by Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Pepsi Amphitheater at Fort Tuthill Park. This festive outdoor event includes a program of exciting animal-themed music, face-painting, and an instrument “petting zoo” where they can pick up an instrument, learn how to hold it, and even try playing it! 3-5 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 13.

The NAU Review — The footsteps of Holocaust survivors, favorite books of book lovers and a Lumberjack on ‘American Ninja Warrior’

The Holocaust means something different when you stand in the gas chamber at Auschwitz or the tunnels underneath Langenstein. For 20 Arizona public school teachers, how they teach the Holocaust will be changed forever after spending 17 days in Germany and Poland, learning about the Holocaust where the atrocities happened and how those nations and their people grapple with this difficult history in the present. NAU’s Martin-Springer Institute, with the help of several generous donations, led the once-in-a-lifetime educational journey.

Back Family of Dr. Nat White establishes fellowship with CCC Foundation

If it hadn’t been for the caring of a gifted teacher, Dr. Nat White might not have gone to graduate school and ended up an astronomer at Lowell Observatory.

He hadn’t been known for good grades during his educational journey, but his astronomy teacher, after watching White fix a telescope and love doing it, got him to be considered for a graduate program, and if he did all right in his coursework, the graduate program would consider him.

“His stepping out of the box to get this waif pointed in a direction that was useful made a difference in my life,” Dr. White said, and the rest has been his history.

Interim president selected for CCC

The District Governing Board for Coconino Community College has selected Dr. Christal M. Albrecht to serve as Interim President while the search for a permanent president is underway.

Dr. Albrecht and her husband are in the process of establishing a temporary residence in Flagstaff and will be on campus in the next two weeks. Dr. Albrecht is recently retired after serving seven years as the president of Alvin Community College in Alvin, Texas.

“The Board found her experience, educational philosophy and enthusiasm met our exceptionally high expectations set by the legacy of Dr. Colleen Smith,” said Board Chair Dr. Nat White, adding that the selection was made after the Board reviewed the qualifications of four highly experienced candidates suggested by the Association of Community College Trustees, the college’s search consultant.

“I am honored to be selected as the interim president at Coconino Community College,” Dr. Albrecht said. “I can’t wait to get started. Although I will be with the college only a few months, my goals are to exceed the Board’s expectations and to ensure a smooth transition for the next president. Go Comets!”

Arguments Sought ‘For’ and ‘Against’ Coconino County Jail District Tax Extension

Coconino County’s jail system is administered and operated through a Jail District (District) by the Coconino County Sheriff, who is delegated by Arizona Revised Statutes as keeper of the jail. The District is currently funded by a half-cent excise tax, which expires in 2027. The Coconino County Board of Supervisors serves as the Jail District Board of Directors. 

On the upcoming General Election ballot, the District Board of Directors will ask Coconino County voters to extend the existing Jail District tax for maintaining and operating Coconino County jails for 25 years until 2052. 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 1-5, 2022

Native American Heritage Days take place this weekend on North Rim

The 27th Annual North Rim, Native American Heritage Days will take place on the grounds of Grand Canyon Lodge, this Friday, August 5, through Sunday, August 7.

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 region. Starting around 9:30 a.m. each day, special programs will be presented by tribal members on a variety of subjects, including, astronomy, cultural connections, and Native American music and dance performances. A variety of cultural artisan demonstrations will also be taking place, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.

Some of this year’s demonstrators will include:

Richard Graymountain from Southern Paiute – Basket Weaving
Jessica Lomatewama – Hopi – Katsina Carving and Basket Weaving
Henry Nez Dine (Navajo) – Silversmith Jewelry making
Duane Maktima – Hopi/Laguna Pueblo – Silver Jewelry/metalsmithing
Leann & Tavavee Shearer “Kaivavich” Kaibab Paiute – traditional clothing creation
Lyle Harvey Dine Navajo – Loom Construction/Weaving

A full flyer of all the Heritage Days Demonstrators is available here.

Heritage Days began in 1993 as “Paiute Days” which celebrated the Paiute, the tribe most associated with Grand Canyon’s North Rim. In 1997, the event was expanded to include all 11 of Grand Canyon’s Associated Tribes with cultural ties to the canyon.

The schedule for each day is available on the Park’s website and mobile app, by clicking on the “calendar” button. A full flyer on the event is also available here.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Providing an Alternative Route to Homeownership

Becoming a homeowner in Flagstaff has never been easy, but this year the barriers have been particularly high, with the median average price of a single-family home well above $700,000 by this summer. 

Combine that with hikes in mortgage rates and overall inflation pressures, and it was a triple whammy that dashed the dream of homeownership for many who live and work in northern Arizona.

Public, nonprofit, and private entities are working together to give some relief by producing starter homes through Habitat for Humanity of Northern Arizona (HFHNA) that are small-scale, affordable, and meant to create equity quickly for homeowners.

The group is currently building the first of these homes in Flagstaff’s South Side, but it is likely the effort will grow exponentially in the next five years under a plan to build at least 40 of the units at the new Timber Sky development on West Route 66.

“The escalation of home prices has closed the window for a huge amount of middle-class people,” said Eric Wolverton, Executive Director of HFHNA. “This isn’t about serving the poorest of the poor. We are looking to create workforce housing.”

Don’t Delay in Reserving Your Free Tickets! Flagstaff Festival of Science Keynote Tickets are Open for Reservation

This year’s Festival theme is “Pyramids to The Peaks,” with world-renowned Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass appearing live to deliver the W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote presentation on Friday, Sept. 23, in NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium. The evening also features a local dance performance; an annual tradition celebrating the theme of this year’s Festival with the NAU Community Music and Dance Academy.

Audiences will delight in a journey with legendary Dr. Hawass into the vast and mysterious kingdom of Egypt’s ancient world. Where great pyramids dot the landscape and monuments to the gods tower into the sky, eventgoers will retrace extraordinary discoveries of hidden tombs, immense riches and the life and death of King Tut.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Why Pacesetters Are So Important

If United Way of Northern Arizona’s annual fundraising campaign is the “big game,” then the Pacesetters host the tailgate party.

Technically, Pacesetters are those organizations and businesses that hold their workplace fundraising efforts on behalf of UWNA in the month prior to the official start of the annual campaign. Collectively, they give the campaign a head start, set the tone, and are pivotal to its ultimate success.

But their importance goes beyond the money they raise. Much like the tailgaters who gather in the parking lot before a game or concert, Pacesetters build up energy for the big event. They are the superfans who get everyone excited about what’s coming up.

We are so grateful to our Pacesetter partners, the businesses and organizations that value the role of UWNA as a convener driving real, measurable results in improving our community. They lead the effort to Step Up for Our Community so together we can expand early childhood education, ensure that our youth are more resilient, and help our friends and neighbors with basic needs in times of crisis.

Our month-long Pacesetter effort starts Monday, August 15, and we are looking for additional businesses and organizations that would like to be part of this endeavor as we launch our annual campaign.

The NAU Review — Sustainability, coloring and a record fundraising year!

Championing sustainability

Northern Arizona University’s commitment to sustainability largely manifests itself in the work and dedication of its environmental student groups and sustainability staff. Their efforts have lately culminated in the proposed Climate Action Plan, facilitated by Abraham (Avi) Henn, NAU’s manager of sustainability.

Local Business Owner Teaches CCC Students Apartment Maintenance Skills

The Certified Apartment Maintenance Technician (CAMT) program at Coconino Community College prepares students by teaching them about performing maintenance tasks, locksmithing, OSHA 10, product repair, customer service and safety in the workplace. 

The CAMT program helps students refine their apartment maintenance skills and gets them ready for their future career. Not only do the CAMT program instructors teach students from textbooks but also from personal experience and real-life scenarios in the newly renovated shop at the Fourth street campus. They can teach the students wiring, plumbing, construction, and HVAC by reproducing scenarios in the lab. 

“The book is great, but it is always great to have that on-hand experience,” said Mark Crawford Roanhorse, a CCC electrical instructor and CCC alum who received his construction management degree in 2008. “It’s nice to see the shop remodeled. Now we have state-of-the-art equipment for students to learn with.”

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Action Alert: Petition Signatures Needed to Stop School Voucher Expansion

The Arizona Legislature voted this June to pass universal ESA vouchers. This impacts public education in the state by diverting over $1 billion away from public schools. The Legislature defied the will of 1.5 million Arizona voters who overwhelmingly rejected this dangerous voucher expansion in 2018 through Prop 305. 

Arizona voters have one chance to stop this bill from going into effect – a referendum of HB2853 (Universal ESA Voucher Expansion): “Stop Voucher Expansion.”  The Arizona Constitution allows voters the right to determine whether a law can go into effect via a referendum. 

In order to stop the Voucher Expansion, 118,823 valid signatures must be collected before September 24, 2022. This will put the law on hold until the November 2024 election, when AZ voters will be able to eject these destructive universal ESA vouchers.

Consulado de México en Phoenix — 12th edition of the Consular Newsletter on Economic and Tourism Affairs

Summertime in Phoenix is the opposite of cities like Chicago and New York, where residents cannot wait for the temperatures to climb above freezing to get outside to enjoy their parks and al fresco dining. In Phoenix and the Southwest, we seek refuge from the extreme summer heat and head indoors or to the pool. Tourist season ends soon after spring training and doesn’t pick up again until the fall.

But that does not mean that business grinds to a halt. We continue to strengthen the Arizona–Mexico connection, as you will learn in #ChooseMexico when you read about the Space Project Partnership between the Mexican Space Agency and the University of Arizona (p.3).

Coconino County Leads Effort to Bring Starlink to Navajo Nation Students

Coconino County has been leading the effort to bring high-speed broadband internet with SpaceX’s Starlink to students in grades K-12 on the Navajo Nation.  

Coconino County began conversations with SpaceX when District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler and Coconino County’s Chief Information Officer Matt Fowler both met with the company in 2019. This resulted in securing accounts for the county to utilize SpaceX beta technology to make internet accessible to rural areas of Northern Arizona. Coconino County successfully became an early customer, purchasing and launching Starlink beta internet in a 45-household trial on May 6, 2021.

Theatrikos — August Newsletter: Crazy singing nuns, education for kids, celebrating 50 years and more

As we emerge from the pandemic, this is the first time some of our cast has been on stage in quite some time. “It’s exhilarating to be back on stage. Although the pandemic is far from over, it reminds me of how resilient the art community is in Flagstaff,” said Caitlin Burd, who plays Sister Mary Amnesia. 

Mark Hanson, who plays Sister Mary Hubert, said, “Performing for me is like church. And with this show, Nunsense, we expect to do the same for you.” Tianna Cox, who plays Sister Mary Leo, said being back on stage is, “good for my soul.”

Susan Chastain, Reverend Mother, has been on our stage for many shows. “Being on stage for this show is so much fun,” she said. “The audience is sure to get lots of laughs.”

Nunsense opened to standing ovations and runs now through August 14.

Coconino Schools Superintendent Announces Request for Nominations for 2023 Awards

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, is proud to announce a request for nominations for the 10th Annual Teacher of the Year, Fifth Annual Rookie Teacher of the Year, and Second Annual Lifetime Achievement Award.

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, is proud to announce a request for nominations for the 10th Annual Teacher of the Year, Fifth Annual Rookie Teacher of the Year, and Second Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Coconino Community College — Dietrich Sauer Open House Memorial Aug. 13

An Open House Memorial Service to remember and honor the life of beloved friend and colleague Dietrich Sauer will be Saturday, Aug. 13, from 1 to 3 p.m., at Coconino Community College,
2800 S. Lone Tree Road.

Everybody is welcome to attend who knew and appreciated this Duran Duran-loving, Star Trek-obsessed, self-professed nerd of the highest order. He was an amazing, one-of-a-kind person who positively impacted the lives of all who he met. He was a loving husband, devoted son, nurturing son-in-law, caring father and amazing friend. There will be no formal service with speakers, but for those who cannot attend the memorial, the event will be streamed. Details to follow.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — July 25-29, 2022

Community level HIGH–masking requirement indoors remains in place 

As of Thursday, July 28, Coconino County remains in High Community Level and masking requirements will remain in place at least until Thursday, August 4. 

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. In Arizona, 10 counties are in High. Across the United States, 42% of counties are in High, 38% of counties are in Medium, and 20% are in Low. Due to the High Community level, masks are required indoors within all government facilities, vehicles and shuttle busses, as well as commercial facilities operating within the park. 

Applicants Sought for Williams School District Governing Board Vacancy

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for Williams Unified School District #2.

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for Williams Unified School District #2. 

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district. 
 
Applications can be downloaded at this address: http://www.coconino.az.gov/schoolboardapplication

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides variety of free online training including ‘Thriving Families’

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.

A very special thank you to all of our partners who help get this information out to our community!

Flagstaff Chamber Foundation supports scholarships at CCC

Coconino Community College student Grace Abell works at a preschool in Flagstaff, and her goal is to become an elementary school teacher.

“It’s never really been a question,” Abell said. “It’s all I’ve ever really wanted to do.”

She said she remembers turning 5 years old and bringing her younger sister into the picture.

“Ever since she could sit up, I made her my student,” she said and laughed. “I’ve always had the desire to be a teacher of children.”

Abell is making that goal a reality with the help of scholarships she has received from the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Foundation in collaboration with the Helios Education Foundation. In the last two years, the Chamber/Helios partnership has awarded $13,500 in scholarships to CCC students.