The Coconino County Board of Supervisors recently proclaimed November to be Native American Heritage Month.
Coconino County embraces 22 Native American tribes in Arizona, and takes pride in the six tribes calling Coconino County home; whose economic contributions, foods, medicines, remedies, art and literature are vital contributions to American life and endeavors.
We are dedicated to preserving and promoting Native American culture in the community, education and workforce.
All children and families bring unique talents, skills and gifts to the educational experience.
Multiple social influences affect a child’s educational success, many of which exist outside our educational systems.
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen released the following helpful information for the November 3 General Election.
Who is eligible to vote: All registered voters
Deadline to return voted early ballot: November 3, 7:00 pm
Locations to drop off voted early ballots:
Given the news reports out there that the many have not turned in their mail-in ballots, it’s time to remind them about the election of 2016.
YES, EVERY VOTE COUNTS!!!, whether you live in Miami or Flagstaff, Detroit or Page, Scranton or Williams.
Nov. 3 is creeping up fast. If you have a ballot, fill them out ASAP and drop them off at OFFICIAL BALLOT BOXES. It’s too late to use the U.S. Post Office.
Otherwise, plan to take advantage of in-person early voting on Friday, Oct. 30.
Coconino County voters who may have health concerns or worry about contracting the COVID 19 coronavirus may participate in emergency early voting at several locations across the county on Saturday, October 31 and Monday, November 2.
Museum of Northern Arizona presents recordings of Sugar Skull livestream workshop, “Day of the Dead Decoded: Ofrendas 101” and virtual view of ofrenda / altar in the Colton Community Garden
While we can’t enjoy a traditional Celebraciones de la Gente, members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, the Museum of Northern Arizona and Coconino County have been busy with a number of virtual Día de los Muertos projects.
Leaders in the technology industry say that cloud-based computing is not only the future, but it is already here.
Coconino Community College has joined other colleges across Arizona in a statewide effort to increase access to cloud computing education in schools. On Thursday, the Arizona Commerce Authority announced the initiative, with the support of Amazon Web Services, Inc., which has a goal to train and certify 5,000 students in the state for entry-level cloud computing careers by June 2022.
Events include a movie screening of “Gather,” followed by a facilitated conversation; a virtual Stew Fest; a conversation with NAU Elder Lorenzo Max; resources for first-generation students; and more. All of the NAU community is invited to participate in the virtual events.
Coconino Community College Nursing student Wes Grove put a bandage on Pauline’s arm after he gave her a flu shot.
“I didn’t feel a thing,” she said in a Brooklyn accent. Although her face was mostly hidden by a mask, her eyes squinted and suggested a smile.
Pauline was one of a line of people waiting in their cars for their annual flu shots available during a number of clinics through the Coconino County Department of Health and Human Services. CCC Nursing students will be helping out every other Saturday.
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Sometimes as adults, we make things too complicated when they really are quite simple. Like why it’s so important to Live United.
That’s why we asked our friend (and United Way “spokes-kid”) Priah to break it all down and show how your donation to our Annual Campaign changes lives and makes our community stronger.
She has props. She has costumes. She thinks she needs a latte, but we’re not so sure we agree.
Take a break and enjoy this video!
Vote early in person: Early voting is available up until Friday, October 30 at these locations: Early Voting Sites. Please note that some locations are closed on Fridays.
NOTE: New Voter ID requirements for voting early in person are now in effect. See ID Required to Vote In Person for list of acceptable ID.
How can I return my voted early ballot?
Return your early ballot in any of the following ways:
Mail your ballot no later than Tuesday, October 27, 2020
Drop your ballot off at one of these Ballot Drop Box Locations or Drive-Up/Drop-Off Locations on the Navajo Nation.
Deliver your ballot to any early voting location in the county prior to Election Day, during the hours the site is open.
Deliver your ballot to any polling place or vote center in the county on Election Day between 6 am to 7 pm (local time).
See also Tips on Returning Your Early Ballot…
It’s hard for some Arizonans to imagine. But there are communities all over the state where families can’t get internet, or even reliable phone service. Most of us can’t picture going through life without that, but for many, it’s a daily reality. Driving to the top of a hill to get cell service; hour-long bus rides to get to school; roads that are virtually unpassable in the winter. And for those on tribal communities the challenges might be even more basic – many households lack running water or electricity, or both.
As you cast your ballot this year, keep them in mind. These are some of our most vulnerable populations and they need the support and resources that both government and nonprofit groups provide.
Whatever your concerns are, they can be reflected in your vote. For rural communities in Arizona, there are resources and support, but at times, the resources available aren’t always reflective of the community’s immediate needs. During the pandemic, as teachers often do, many teachers continue to use their personal devices and other self-purchased tools to make it through this year.
Message from Mary –
Fall is in the air and the oak and aspen trees around the museum are turning gorgeous colors. This is the time of year when we would normally be preparing for Celebraciones, but of course we are not able to have such a large gathering this year. Instead, we’re celebrating Dia de los Muertos with two beautiful community ofrendas. One is in the museum building courtesy of Flagstaff Nuestras Raices and the other in our Colton Community Garden. I hope you’ll come see them.
As the colder weather and shorter days bring us inside, the museum offers many experiences to enjoy indoors, whether by signing up for the Docent Training program, embarking on a virtual trip through the Grand Canyon with geologist Wayne Ranney, or coming to visit the museum. The staff and I look forward to seeing you at MNA, online or in person.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
We’ve hired a new Executive Director! Michele James has lived and worked in Flagstaff for over twenty years and brings her knowledge of Flagstaff and love of the community to her new leadership position.
With a background in both science and art, including a master’s degree in Sustainable Communities (NAU) and a bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology & Technical Journalism (Colorado State University), Michele has spent two decades doing advocacy work on northern Arizona ecosystems.
Michele has been a wildlife biologist with Grand Canyon National Park and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, a research coordinator for NAU’s Fossil Creek restoration, a species conservation program manager with the Grand Canyon Trust, and a stakeholder with the Flagstaff Forest Partnership. Most recently, she has been on the NAU faculty, teaching interdisciplinary courses related to sustainability, climate change, art as an advocacy tool, and civic engagement.
Artist Panel Discussion: “The Process of Art”
LIVE, Online Event! Wednesday, October 28, 2020 | 5 pm
In the midst of the festival week each artist will each be discussing one of the paintings they have completed thus far in the festival during a panel discussion by the artists on Wednesday October 28th at 5pm Arizona time. The theme, “The Process of Art ” allows artists to focus attention on any aspect of the process, from the discovery of subject matter to composition, to brushwork and color choices. The public is invited to participate in this live-broadcast meeting which will end with a Q&A session. Links to all streamable content can be found on both the festival and Arts Center’s websites.
Friday, Oct. 23 is the Last Day to Request An Early Ballot by Mail for Nov. 3 General Election
Last spring, we shared our new mission, to foster creative opportunity, with you. Since then, this mission was tested as we worked to support Flagstaff’s creative sector through one of the most challenging years on record. We know that you support our mission and vision, in order to continue our work, we need your help.
What do W. L. Gore & Associates, Wells Fargo, Northern Arizona University, Kinney Construction, Nestle Purina, the City of Flagstaff and Navajo County all have in common?
They are a handful of the companies and organizations that have lent their best and brightest to serve on the United Way of Northern Arizona Board of Directors.
This year we are proud to say that we have 100% participation by our 22-member board in this year’s Annual Campaign.
Earlier this month, guests from all over the word attended CCC&Y’s presentation of Kevin Campbell’s “Self-Healing Communities — A Continued Conversation.”
The presentation is now available on CCC&Y’s Prevention webpage at Self-Healing Communities with Kevin Campbell. The free program also includes presentation slides and Self-Healing Communities Data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
“As a testament to Kevin’s international work we had participants from England, Canada, the Netherlands, Belgium, Texas, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Arkansas, and of course, all over Arizona,” said Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of CCC&Y. “This piece is an argument for moving away from treating individuals, community members and families as the “recipient” of services, from medicalizing unlivable lives, from not acknowledging systems of injustice and a move toward the scientifically-based call to action of participation, truth and community healing.”
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
I find it difficult to believe, but we are halfway through the Fall semester here at Coconino Community College.
Although the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the way we deliver courses at the college, our students have continued to make progress toward achieving their educational dreams a reality.
Some of our students have also told us, frankly, that as soon as it is safe to do so, they would like to see a return of in-person classes at CCC. We are listening, and we are planning, if it is safe to do so in the Spring semester, to offer a percentage of our courses in-person to help those students who thrive in a face-to-face setting. Social distancing, face coverings and other health measures will continue to protect students and instructors. If all in-person classes that students are interested in fill up, I invite them to take advantage of CCC’s new “waitlist” feature to save a place in line if a seat in an in-person course opens.
This year the Sedona Arts Center’s most popular annual event, the Sedona Plein Air Festival will be a first of its kind—an all-woman-event—in celebration of the Arts Center’s “Year of the Woman.” The Arts Center has explored a variety of themes in past Plein Air Festivals, from Art and Wine, to Native American Culture, to a Figurative Salon complete with a speakeasy! This year, due to global circumstances, the Arts Center decided to hold the festival entirely online, available to anyone with access to an internet connection.
The Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) is hosting a free, virtual Democracy in Action Voter Town Hall this Monday, October 19 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council (ADAC) is hosting a free, virtual Democracy in Action Voter Town Hall this Monday, October 19 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Town Hall will feature Coconino County Recorder Patty Hansen presenting on the elections calendar, voting options and procedures, what documents are required to vote and other resources for residents of Coconino County. The event is not a candidate debate but rather an opportunity for residents to learn about safeguards to ensure their right to vote and the voting process is secure.
For the month of October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Victim Witness Services for Coconino County is doing a Campaign for Healthy Relationships throughout Coconino County. While it is important to recognize that domestic violence is a real problem that people deal with daily, we also want to recognize a way to prevent it is by knowing about and striving for healthy relationships.
To continue our video series, the next video has been posted https://youtu.be/UP_UuVrMTWw. We will continue releasing these videos every Monday and Friday of the month.
Why give to the United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) during the annual campaign? Because in this extraordinarily challenging year, your help is needed more than ever.
“United Way stepped up for our community as we’ve all dealt with the consequences of COVID-19,” says UWNA Board Chair Janet Dean in the video below. “Now we ‘re asking you to step up and help United Way during our annual campaign.”
SUSTAINABILITY TOOLS TO LIVE BY: Tips and Tricks during COVID-19. i.e. recycling, gardening, electric vehicles, with Amanda Acheson, Coconino County Sustainability Manager, will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15.
North Country HealthCare and Coconino
County Health & Human Services Williams
COVID-19 Testing Event
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
The Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance (FDBA) is pleased to announce a new Small Business Grant Relief Program to help small businesses as they continue to face the financial impact related to COVID-19. The first round of this program has contributions totaling $30,000, provided by the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County and Northern Arizona University.
Coconino County and the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) are offering a number of interactive events throughout the month that are open to the public. We invite you to join! See below for a calendar of events taking place this month!
October 9, 2020 Coconino County Government ELIZABETH C. ARCHULETA Supervisor, District 2 Special Edition Supervisor Liz Archuleta; (928) 679-7152; larchuleta@coconino.az.gov Theresa M. Munoz, Executive Assistant; (928) 679-7162; tmunoz@coconino.az.gov In This Newsletter: Quote of the Day Doney Park Timberline Fernwood Community Survey…
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, learn how University Admissions has expanded and grown recruitment resources for students with Spanish-speaking families by offering bilingual events, fliers and other recruitment materials. SEE MORE NAU NEWS HERE
The Coconino County Recorder’s office has mailed 65,300 early ballots to registered voters for the upcoming November 3 General Election. Early voters that are on the Permanent Early Voting List (PEVL) and have not received their ballots by Tuesday, October 13 should call the Elections Office at 928-679-7860 or 800-793-6181 to make sure there is not a problem with their voter registration status or mailing address.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tommy Lewis is seeking applicants for appointment to seven school districts.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Tommy Lewis is seeking applicants for appointment to seven school districts which include: Coconino Association for Vocations, Industry, and Technology (CAVIAT) Education District in Flagstaff (1 seat), Fredonia (1 seat), Page (1 seat); Fredonia-Moccasin USD #6 (2 seats), Maine Consolidated USD #10 (3 seats); Tuba City USD #15 (1 seat) and N.A.T.I.V.E. (1 seat). The County plans to fill these positions prior to December 24, 2020 so the appointees can start their duty on January 1, 2021 as new board members.
If you are currently a member of the Sedona Arts Center, thank you! You enhance the creative atmosphere of Sedona and we appreciate you very much!
If you are not currently a Sedona Arts Center member, or if you used to be a member but aren’t now, please consider joining at any level.
Questionnaire webpage provides voters opportunity for one-stop information. Deadline for candidates to submit written answers extended to Oct. 9
Candidates for elected office through Coconino County and statewide are addressing youth education and child welfare issues with Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s Candidate Questionnaire Webpage.
CCC&Y is once again providing its one-stop webpage featuring information from candidates impacting the county.
The Coalition sincerely appreciates candidates’ willingness to run for public office. Please know that the Coalition has gratitude for your public service and the sacrifices this requires.
The Coalition has created the short, attached questionnaire so that voters in Coconino County may understand how candidates will respond to issues related to children & youth. Voters will have access to the Coalition’s website to compare and contrast candidate responses.
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
They both are dedicated to the healing touch in a time of greatest need.
Sisters Teneesha and Lakeesha Todacheene of the Page area have their sights on becoming nurses, and thanks to the Coconino Community College Foundation, they can afford to pursue their dream.
“I always dreamed of becoming a nurse, and my ultimate goal is to become a nurse practitioner,” Lakeesha said. “I’ve always been inspired to help people.”
Taking classes on our campus in Uptown Sedona affords the opportunity not only to explore the arts, but also to meet new neighbors and immerse yourself in the Sedona arts community. Ongoing instruction is available in painting and ceramics and members receive a 10% discount.
Coconino County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance remains in effect due to dry conditions throughout the County. The open fire ban has been in place since earlier this spring due to dry conditions and lack of monsoon rains.
The County does wish to clarify that the ordinance and the fire ban do not apply to open fire maintained indoors in a fireplace for providing warmth. As temperatures drop overnight, the open fire ban does not apply to keeping residences warm and safe through controlled open fires in fireplaces or wood stoves.
Persons needing utility assistance for electric, gas, wood, water and propane (100 gallons or more) are asked to call Coconino County Health and Human Services, Community Services at 928-679-7453. Income eligibility requirements apply. Rental assistance is also available. Visit https://coconino.az.gov/149/Social-Services for more information.
Citizens may register to vote by October 5th online or print off a voter registration application at www.coconino.az.gov/elections.
The voter registration deadline for the November 3, 2020 General Election is Monday, October 5, 2018.
To register to vote, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by Election Day, reside within Coconino County and have no felony convictions, unless civil rights have been restored.
Coconino County and the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) are offering a number of interactive events throughout the month that are open to the public. We invite you to join! See below for a calendar of events taking place this month!
Candidates for elected office through Coconino County and statewide are addressing youth education and child welfare issues with Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s Candidate Questionnaire Webpage.
CCC&Y is once again providing its one-stop webpage featuring information from candidates impacting the county.
Coconino County’s Wildfire Defense Ordinance remains in effect due to dry conditions throughout the County. The open fire ban has been in place since earlier this spring due to dry conditions and lack of monsoon rains.
Registration continues for CCC&Y’s presentation of Kevin Campbell’s “Self-Healing Communities — A Continued Conversation,” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020.
… Superintendent Dr. Tommy Lewis would like to formally announce the winner of the 2020 Coconino County Teacher of the Year is Kristin Patterson, Flagstaff Junior Academy. The 2020 Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence winners are Lynn Patton, Mount Elden Middle School and Todd Van Hoesen, Haven Montessori. The 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year winner is Ashley Curtin, W.F. Killip Elementary. The 2020 Rookie Teacher of the Year Ambassadors for Excellence are Tessa Alexander, Williams High School and Langley Vannoy, Sinagua Middle School.
Drills whir. Circular saws throw up dust. The instructor works to be heard over the noise.
“This helps you cut in a straight line with a circular saw,” he says, sawdust in his hair.
The Coconino Community College Construction Technology students are starting simple by building tool boxes, but by the end, they will build a 5-foot by 8-foot shed that will contain everything necessary for the building of a house.
Even epic exhibitions must end. After an amazing year, “The Force Is With Our People” exhibition is in its final month. This exhibition of Native art inspired by Star Wars opened last October to a gallery packed with museum members, Stormtroopers, Ewoks, and Tusken raiders. It went on to receive national and international attention and was recognized with a Viola Award for Excellence in Visual Arts. If you still haven’t seen “The Force Is With Our People” or were meaning to come see it again with friends, I encourage you to come before it closes on October 25.
The Census Bureau has received a slight extension for the 2020 Census and will complete their counting efforts on October 5.
Coconino County urges all residents to complete the Census which can be done in less than 10 minutes. The Census can be completed in a variety of ways, including online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by calling 1-844-330-2020.
The current self-response rate in Coconino County is 45.6% as of today, while the rest of Arizona is at 63.2%.
Registration continues for CCC&Y’s presentation of Kevin Campbell’s “Self-Healing Communities — A Continued Conversation,” from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020.
“The starting point for Self -Healing Communities is the recognition of the connection between how we live individually and together. We have built social welfare and health systems on the ideas of needs and services. This approach located problems and solutions within individuals obscuring the need to address structural factors. Our “helping” systems often reflect this view, increasingly defining power imbalances as personal imbalances, resulting in the medicalizing of inequitable experience rather than organizing and supporting people to live socially, environmentally and economically secure lives without depending on systems.”
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Sedona Arts Center’s Online Workshops are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but are unable to travel. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Visit us online to learn more about all of our online classes!
Beginning in October, the monthly Artwalk returns with a fresh new website and look. The revamped event is the result of a new partnership between the Artwalk’s longtime producer, Flagstaff Arts Council, and Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance.
There are just five days remaining to complete the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau will complete their counting efforts on September 30.
Coconino County urges all residents to complete the Census which can be done in less than 10 minutes. The Census can be completed in a variety of ways, including online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by calling 1-844-330-2020. The current self-response rate in Coconino County is 45.2% as of today, while the rest of Arizona is at 63.2%.
The year 2020 will go down as one of the most challenging years this nation has faced. A continuing pandemic, large nationwide demonstrations for civil rights, a contentious election campaign season — all during a time when the nation was attempting to complete the 2020 Census
Now, there is word that the Sept. 30 deadline to complete the Census may be pushed back to its original Oct. 31, 2020 pandemic-altered deadline: Please see — CNN — Federal judge orders nationwide 2020 census counting to continue through October 31.
But since the ruling is subject to appeal, and nothing else appears predictable during 2020, it would be best to continue to fill out those Census forms as quickly as possible.
The deep reds, oranges, purples and blues evoke a taste of dust, a dry feeling, a sense of expansiveness.
The art of Coconino Community College alum Jerrel Singer sings a heartfelt song of his Navajo Nation home of Gray Mountain and Cameron and what home means to him.
“Mostly, they’re places people don’t see much of the time because they’re literally driving by to get somewhere else,” Singer says.
Don’t Miss the Final Events of the 2020 Flagstaff Festival of Science This Weekend!
Last Chance to Celebrate the Superpowers of Science
Hello, Festival Fans!
The 31st annual Flagstaff Festival of Science is nearly over, with a full week of activities come and gone, but there are still many events coming up this weekend to help you to indulge your curiosity and satisfy your yearning to learn!
There are just seven days remaining to complete the 2020 Census. The Census Bureau will complete their counting efforts on September 30.
Coconino County urges all residents to complete the Census which can be done in less than 10 minutes. The Census can be completed in a variety of ways, including online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by calling 1-844-330-2020. The current self-response rate in Coconino County is 45.2% as of today, while the rest of Arizona is at 63.2%.
