In this edition…
Message from Sup. Vasquez
Siren Instillation in Museum Flood Area
Museum Flood Area Crisis Response Funding
Sheriff’s Office Tour
Redistricting Update
Services and Programs
And more!
Message from Supervisor Vasquez
We had a busy and productive 2021!
By the Numbers
Our membership increased to 355 at year’s end, an increase of 255%.
Our revenue increased from a combination of memberships, appeals, and grants.
Other important numbers for 2021 include:
View the SNOW-ometer to check the snow accumulation in Flagstaff, Arizona at various winter attractions: Arizona Snowbowl, AZ Nordic Village, Flagstaff Snow Park and Flagstaff Visitor Center in downtown.
As we celebrate our 50th anniversary of service in Northern Arizona, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth stands ready in 2022 to help connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, training programs for our partners and members, monthly virtual youth open mic sessions, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.
Coconino County is experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases due to the Omicron variant.
If attending an indoor, in-person gathering, masks should be worn.
As COVID-19 transmission increases, Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) advises evaluating the need for large gatherings and postponing in-person meetings/gatherings/events, when possible, until community transmission declines.
CCHHS recommends the following precautions to minimize COVID-19 risk, keep children in school, and our economy open:
She’s all about “big data” and family.
Coconino Community College student Johanna Hawley moved to Flagstaff from her home on the Navajo Nation in order to get the education she needs to satisfy her goal of getting a Computer Science degree and being a data analyst.
“I want to be able to provide for my parents and family,” Hawley said in between classes at the Lone Tree Campus. “My goal is to have my parents retire and me be the breadwinner.”
There’s no doubt that Northern Arizona University plays a huge role in our community. In addition to being Flagstaff’s largest employer, it is the home of thousands of students who live, work and study here.
NAU is also a major player in local philanthropic efforts, including its annual workplace campaign to support United Way of Northern Arizona.
This year, NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera successfully challenged the university’s community to boost its contributions to UWNA, increasing their campaign goal from $25,000 to $35,000.
“NAU stepped up for community and for that I’m grateful,” he said.
Because NAU met the new goal, President Cruz Rivera authorized another $10,000 donation from the Office of the President, making NAU’s total contribution this year $45,000.
Due to the current surge in COVID-19, the annual Point in Time (PIT) Count has been moved to Feb 23-25 throughout the City of Flagstaff from its original date of Jan 25. This count documents the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness at a single point in time and is conducted across the country.
Trained city of Flagstaff and Coconino County employees, social service agencies and volunteers will join mobile outreach teams that will locate individuals, families and youth experiencing homelessness as well as staff booths to conduct surveys at libraries and various locations.
The success of this count is dependent on community volunteers. For more information or to sign up to volunteer, please visit https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eH9qA295buyFeQZ3gDF0Xk3kWP8SrFU_mnUUOqW6mE0/edit?usp=sharing
On Tuesday and Wednesday this week, South Rim fire managers were successful in treating 10 acres of woody debris piles near the South Entrance station. This pile burning will continue over the next several months, as conditions allow, and will take place between the South Entrance Station and Desert View Drive Junction (mile markers 238-240).
Prescribed fire plays a vital role in decreasing wildfire risks to life, resources and property by reducing available hazardous fuels. Fire staff carefully plan prescribed fires, initiating them only under environmental conditions that are favorable to assuring firefighter and visitor safety and to achieving desired objectives.
Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 2 online training will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 1 (MST) and 4 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 (MST).
Members of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will receive 20 percent off both trainings. For members to receive the promo code, contact CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at virginia@coconinokids.org
The sessions are presented by Iya Affo, a Culturalist and Historical Trauma Specialist.
Discounts are also available for those CCC&Y members who have not taken Historical Trauma Specialist Certification LEVEL 1, that focuses on intergenerational trauma and the impact of Epigenetics, cultural dispossession, segregation & displacement of BIPOC.
During the January 11 Council meeting, the City Council approved the City of Flagstaff’s Re-entry Team recommendation to remain in Phase 3 of the City’s Re-entry Plan, with site-specific adjustments made to the Aquaplex pool, City libraries and the Jay Lively Activity Center/ Ice Arena. The Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center will be closed temporarily. All other City operations remain unchanged.
Site-specific immediate adjustments include:
Cutwater presents a Welcome Back NAU Silent Disco live at the historic Orpheum Theater. 9 p.m.
We will begin offering Culinary Classes in early January through the month of April. There are currently three classes scheduled and available for registration. Each class will cover a different cooking skill including tortillas and tamales, pastries, and candy making.
In the first class on Saturday, January 8th, 2022, you can learn the basics of making both tortillas and tamales. More specifically, participants will learn a brief history of tortillas and tamales, what tools you need, and how to make them! You will see the process unfold, then make some yourself.
The next class to be held on January 29th, 2022, will focus on making pastries at home! Pastries are defined as a dough created with water, flour, and fats (such as butter). This class will teach you the basics of pastry making and provide you with specific instruction as to how to make a few fan favorites.
On Christmas Day, astronomers and planetary scientists around the world watched as a telescope 20 years in the making was launched into space. NASA called the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope one of the most exciting developments in astronomy in the 21st century. For the astronomers, planetary scientists and students at NAU, the launch of this massive observatory, and the information it will transmit back to Earth, is an important step in advancing our understanding of the solar system.
Stories & News
Meetings & Events
About Creative Flagstaff
Our Programs
Resources
Support
On the one year commemoration of the January 6th Capitol insurrection, Voto Latino President and CEO Maria Teresa Kumar, issued the following statement:
“Today marks one year since insurrectionists stormed the Capitol in an effort to overthrow the results of a verified, fair and free 2020 presidential election, generating unprecedented chaos and resulting in the deaths of five people. They tried to stymie a peaceful transfer of power. The attempted coup at the Capitol was the most anti-democratic visible display in a larger effort to subvert American elections and partisan attempts to stop eligible voters from casting their ballots.
“The events of January 6th and the profoundly irresponsible actions espoused by twice impeached Donald Trump and his supporters continues to poison faith in American democratic processes and institutions. In the coming days, Congress has an opportunity to safeguard our most precious right to guarantee the thriving American experiment: – equal access to the voting booth for every eligible citizen regardless of color or creed.
Realizing the demand for vaccines is still high in the community, Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team is planning two separate events over two days this week. The County event will have all types of vaccines (first, second, third, and boosters for J&J, Moderna, Pfizer) and will have the pediatric Pfizer doses (first and second) for children ages 5-11-years-old.
One in five students at Coconino Community College is Native American.
Often, the Native American students who arrive at CCC are the first in their family to pursue a college education and may also come from challenging economic situations. As a result, they may face barriers in obtaining a college degree.
In an effort to increase Native American student course success, completion rates and a sense of belonging in the college community, CCC has received a $2.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Called the Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution (NASNTI) grant, the funds will be distributed over a five-year period.
“CCC values the sacred land on which we live and serve and the indigenous peoples who have inhabited it for centuries,” said CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland. “One in five students at CCC is Native American, and we look forward to providing these students with culturally responsive teaching, enhanced support, and interpersonal connections to help them be successful in their studies.”
2021 was an exciting growth year for CCC&Y. We entered the year with a refreshed Mission and Purpose, welcomed a new logo, gained new database software and had our first ever virtual conference. We expanded our work with Building Community and renewed our commitment to building connections and support in the community. Click here to learn more. We provided training, data and voice to community organizations and groups on topics ranging from trauma-informed care to mindfulness.
Our Coconino Prevention Council and Action and Outreach committees were active throughout the year with activities ranging from monthly connection for organizations and prevention services to legislative and policy review.
A very exciting moment in 2021 was when we received the Vitalyst Health Foundation Spark Grant to collect community voice about root causes of Health Concerns in the County. To date we have engaged numerous partners, groups and individuals and have collected information from over 65 individuals through five questions we are asking the community. These have taken place in one-to-one interviews and very small focus groups across the county. This process was designed to be trusting and relationship-based so as to gain accurate and pertinent information about individual experiences.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Fredonia Moccasin Unified School District #6 Governing Board.
Applicants must reside in the school district and be registered to vote in Arizona. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.
We welcome the interest and participation of Flagstaff residents in Youth, Business, and Equity Climate Advisory Groups.
Learn more about each advisory group and how to apply below.
Flagstaff 365 Happenings are pre scheduled by the event holders on the 365 Calendar of events, cancellations may be possible. Please check with the event host before making plans to attend.
As 2021 comes to an end, families throughout Coconino County have faced and overcome a variety of challenges during this pandemic age.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth stands ready in 2022 to help connect families and community members with a number of options, including free educational resources, monthly virtual youth open mic sessions, city resource guides, calendars of upcoming family events and a variety of programs offered by our more than 100 individual and nonprofit members.
in AZ.”
Cancer Support Arizona in Flagstaff is seeking to fill a position.
Candidates sought must:
Demonstrated results in designing, launching, expanding, and improving development programs with wide range of support from the community.
Track record of being resourceful to obtain financial and human support.
Able to learn quickly and proficiently to use multiple technology applications to manage projects,
The City of Flagstaff will provide public comment opportunities for final 10-year Housing Plan on Jan. 27 at the City Housing Commission Meeting and Feb. 15, 2022 at the City Council Meeting.
The Draft 10-Year Housing Plan’s public comment period has officially closed. The community forum garnered 327 responses. Coupling these with the comments received through the presentations and community outreach, there are more than 600 written comments. Housing and Comprehensive Planners are working to review and categorize the comments.
I have spent quite a bit of time and funds wandering to faraway lands. I have admired infinite oceans of impossible blue and have climbed majestic mountains. Up until now, however, I hadn’t contemplated from my bedroom window those tiny dewdrops on the multi-hued green leaves of my mom’s papaya tree.
Slowly the window became my own inner self and I started pondering about the purpose of my life. I found the answer in the twinkle of those dewdrops dancing on the surface of those leaves, also of an impossible green.
Life is jam-packed with enjoyment and magnificence. Muse on the small, often overlooked details: a gentle wind, a summer downpour, a dewdrop on a green leaf in the morning sun… Touch the wind, smell the rain, feel the joy. Live your life with happiness and delight, for you are very fortunate to be who you are.
Peace and love to all this Holiday Season. Namasté
Opens Friday January 14, 2022 from 3pm to 6pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm
Special Exhibitions Gallery in the Historic Art Barn
A ceramic exhibition and sale
featuring work from our advanced students and faculty.
The public is invited to attend a virtual open house on the Utility Scale Renewable Energy Ordinance (REO) Draft on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
The draft ordinance will be available for review and comment on the open house site beginning February 9 through February 16, 2022.
Come celebrate our 25th Annual Spelling Bee and support equal access to literacy for all members of our community! We will have raffles, prizes, auctions, games, and more!
Tickets are $55 and cover admission into the event as well as a three-course dinner. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the event.
To sponsor the event or a team, or to participate in the bee competition, email director@thinkliteracy.org
Let’s add to the diverse voices at the library! the Coconino County Public Library is looking to expand their Spanish Language Collection.
The Diversity Book Drive, in partnership with the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 30 at the Flagstaff Public Library Downtown, 300 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.
The City of Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Events Division is partnering with Southwest Decision Resources and Wheat Design Group to collaborate with the Flagstaff community on the future of the 8.5-acre Thorpe Park Annex parcel. On Saturday, April 30, from 12 to 2 p.m., the community is invited to meet with their Flagstaff neighbors and envision the future of the parcel.
From 12 to 12:45 p.m., the community is invited to eat lunch (there will be food trucks on site) and walk around the parcel to learn about initial ideas being generated from the community survey. Participants will also be invited to think critically about compatibility of current uses and future programming on the site.
The Kentucky Derby Fundraiser presented by PNC Bank is back, May 7th at High Country Conference Center.
Enjoy some hors d’oeuvres, a mint julep and much more. There will be live music, a silent auction, live auction and of course watching of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t forget we are giving prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat!
So grab your hats and get your tickets today! You don’t want to miss the greatest 2 minutes in sports. www.bgcflag.org
The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library will be celebrating Flagstaff learners of all ages with its Lifelong Learning Celebration and Yearbook Day on Friday, May 20. This all-day, interactive celebration will take place in the Community Room of the Downtown Library (300 W Aspen Ave) and will feature crafts, activities, and community learning resources.
Yearbook activities
The Library maintains local yearbooks dating back to 1924, including Sinagua High School, now known as Sinagua Middle School. While these yearbooks are usually stored in a locked case, the entire yearbook collection will be available for patron browsing in the Community Room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons of all ages are invited to find themselves, their family members, or well-known Flagstaffians among the old and new pages.
The Library will also be launching a “Library Yearbook” for patrons to fill with remembrances and high school memories spurred by the yearbooks. Patrons are also invited to create one-of-a-kind cards for the graduate in their life with an eclectic selection of card-making materials provided.
In the Library’s Teen Zone from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., 2022 graduates can bring their graduation caps to decorate with provided supplies.
Mental health is all around us, but, what exactly is mental health? Mental health is a person’s general sense of emotional, psychological, and cognitive well-being. Everyone has mental health every day, but it’s often ignored unless something is going seriously wrong. The best way to prevent that is to pay attention to your mental health even when you are feeling okay or even good.
Notice how your mental health is always changing. Yesterday might have been a better day than today, and that’s okay. Part of being human is moving with your emotions, and knowing when something isn’t going exactly how you want it to, check in with yourself, and reach out to your friends and family for help when you need to take some time for your mental health or don’t know what to do.
As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, please join us for upcoming events!
This community meeting is specifically targeted towards residents who live on the west side of Flagstaff, including the neighborhoods of Cheshire, Valley Crest, Coyote Springs, Ridge Crest, Coconino Estates, and Rock Ridge Estates. This meeting will not provide information on flooding impacts in Doney Park, Timberline, or other areas east of Flagstaff.
Representatives from Coconino County and FEMA will conduct a free webinar to inform our community about the new flood risk to our neighborhoods and important information about flood insurance.
Over the past few years, the frequency of wildfires has increased in Coconino County and with that increase comes an increase in the risk of post-wildfire flooding. To help inform property owners about this increased risk and actions they can take to reduce that risk, the Coconino County Flood Control District has provided post-wildfire flood risk and mitigation information.
Coconino County has announced a number of Hispanic, country, other performances for Coconino County Fair Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 including Ballet Folklorico de Colores de Flagstaff, Adolfo Urias and Tropical Del Bravo.
Click here for the entire 2022 Schedule of Events
Buy tickets here
Northern Arizona University and the City of Flagstaff are teaming up for the 5th Annual Community Welcome walk. On Wednesday, September 7, between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., a small team of volunteers will be visiting homes in neighborhoods near the NAU campus. During the door-to-door “knock and talks” volunteers meet with local and student residents, share tips for safe and respectful living, and encourage neighbors to get to know one another. Community Welcome aims to improve relations between local and student residents renting rooms and homes in the historic La Plaza Vieja and Southside Neighborhoods.
Buildings are pieces of history, and each has a story to tell. That is the theme for this year’s Coconino County Sustainable Building Tour: The Stories Buildings Tell. The public is invited to join this year’s 18th annual Sustainable Building Tour, to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science, this year’s tour will be held completely in person, the first time in three years, and showcases ten properties throughout the community. The property owners and homeowners who have been certified through the county’s Sustainable Building Program will share their stories; stories about the landscape, anecdotes on the process of building their home, and tales of living in and maintaining their unique properties.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) invite the community to celebrate the opening of the Pathways to Community Program at an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, October 6 from 1 – 3 p.m. at 951 E Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, AZ.
The Pathways to Community Program is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and CCHHS, in collaboration with many community partners. This new program brings community and legal resources together in one physical space to support those being released from incarceration as they return to the community.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board is pleased to announce that they have selected three finalists for the presidency of the College. Public forums with each of the finalists are scheduled for the week of Oct., 3, 2022.
“We would like to thank all of the communities served by the College for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President,” said Dr. Nathaniel White, Board Chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Board Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”
A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, October 27 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park.
Friday, October 28, 2022
Awards Night Celebration –- SAC Special Exhibition Gallery & Theatre – 5:00-7:00pm
Held at Sedona Arts Center’s Special Exhibition Gallery and Theatre Studio in the Art Barn. Fine wine, fine hors d’oeuvres and beautiful art. This is the big event. Artist’s awards are presented throughout the evening recognizing the best work created during the week including Best of Show and merit awards by Festival Judges Susan Lynn and John Caggiano, Artist’s Choice Award, Collectors Choice by ballot and Sedona Arts Center Awards.
A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, Nov. 17 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park.
The City of Flagstaff’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Events Division and the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance are hosting the annual Winter Wonderland and Holiday Tree Lighting event on Dec. 3, 2022 in Heritage Square and on Aspen Ave.
Crafts, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, smores and live music will be available from 3 – 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., Santa Claus will travel on fire truck to Heritage Square to light the holiday tree. All activities are free of charge and the event concludes at 7 p.m.
Due to the cancellation of the Pinecone Drop, the city-sponsored New Year’s Eve fireworks displays scheduled for Friday, December 31 at 10 p.m. and midnight in downtown Flagstaff have been cancelled.
Hi Everyone,
Wishing everyone a safe holiday season! As we approach the end
of the year its a time to reflect on the successes of 2021. District 2
has been very busy this year working on various items outlined
below.
American Rescue Plan Funding Process
Redistricting Process
Museum Flood Area Response and Mitigation
COVID Impacts and programs
County Budget Process
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is concerned that the proposed design for Lone Tree Overpass, currently under consideration by Council, is overbuilt, provides inadequate protection for pedestrians and bicyclists, encourages an increase in automobile traffic, negatively impacts the Southside neighborhood, and is in conflict with the city’s Carbon Neutrality Plan.
Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, was presented with the Marcia Stanton Award on Dec. 16 by the Arizona ACEs Consortium at the 8th annual statewide ACEs summit.
The Arizona ACEs Consortium is a collaboration of more than one hundred individuals, state, county, private organizations and professionals from all walks of life, united by a desire to help Arizona’s children. It promotes a greater understanding of the impacts of toxic stress and trauma, and supports efforts to address and prevent them.
“The Marcia Stanton Award was established in 2018 and pays homage to the original leader of the ACEs movement, Marcia Stanton. It is awarded to an individual who displays a commitment, perseverance and dedication to spread the awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and someone that leads action in their community to decrease the prevalence and effect of ACEs on both children and adults,” said Angie Burleson, executive director of the consortium. “This Award honors excellence in leadership, collaboration and the advancement of the PACEs movement in AZ.”
Creative Flagstaff is excited to announce that $55,000 in grants have been awarded 13 local organizations through the Innovation & Capacity Project Grant program for fiscal year 2022. These awards are made possible through Creative Flagstaff’s partnership with the City of Flagstaff and BBB Revenues.
Want to help Flagstaff grow sustainably?
Are you concerned about housing, providing multi-modal transportation, climate change adaptation and resilience, open space, and ensuring we have water into the future?
Yes? Please consider running for Flagstaff City Council in 2022.
Hundreds of luminarias surrounded neighborhood homes during the annual Coconino Estates Luminaries and Live Nativity held Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 north of downtown Flagstaff.
The annual event also included music by local bands, bonfires, food and beverage areas, strollers and hundreds of vehicles cruising the neighborhoods which included Navajo Drive, Beal Road, Aztec Street and other streets.
A 2003 Arizona Daily Sun story said the first Luminaries Celebration was held in 1982.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Grand Canyon Unified School District #4 Governing Board.
Applicants must reside in the school district and be registered to vote in Arizona. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.
