There are two ways to participate in the Flagstaff Regional Plan Scenario Choosing. Almost 200 people have participated so far and we are waiting to hear from you and people you know who make Flagstaff an amazing place.
Important: Please Attend Regional Plan 2045 Scenario Choosing Workshop Open House this Saturday, Dec. 2, 9:00-11:00 am at Flagstaff High School Commons
Stroll throughout Downtown Flagstaff to see and purchase paintings, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and more! 6:30 p.m.
North Rim transitions to winter operations; Hwy. 67 closed at Jacob Lake
Beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, November 30, the North Rim was closed to all vehicle traffic for the winter. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open on May 15th, 2024 (subject to change).
As in years past, the North Rim campground will be available for winter camping and is accessible via hiking inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing 45 miles from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained in advance through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center.
Several experts from NAU contributed to the Fifth National Climate Assessment, a report that synthesizes the research and expert opinions of hundreds of scientists from throughout the country. The report breaks down the research by region and topic and addresses land and resource managers, policymakers and the general public, with the goal of educating Americans about how they are experiencing the effects of climate change and the steps we must take to mitigate effects in the future. “It is imperative that our society and our various communities continue to learn and discuss the impacts of climate change on our regional and national communities,” said ITEP director Nikki Cooley, who co-authored a chapter on human health. “The report brings together a large group of people who work every day in their fields that are affected by increasingly disastrous events such fire, flooding, drought and more.”
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.
Measuring biodiversity across the U.S.—with space lasers
Diverse ecosystems support the web of life and in the process, provide food, water, medicine and materials for humanity. But the butterfly effect tells us all things are connected. So, when biodiversity loss threatens the foundation upon which we live, what does that mean for the future of Earth and humanity? NAU research professor Chris Hakkenberg is taking a necessary step to finding a solution to biodiversity loss: mapping and measuring biodiversity across the U.S. using NASA’s space-borne lidar.
Flagstaff College, Terra BIRDS, & Flagstaff Foodlink invite you to a special zoom presentation!
John Ikerd, Ph.D.
“Food as a Public Utility”
November 28th (Tuesday)
6 p.m. (AZ Time)
Join the Giving Tuesday global movement and support your local nonprofits!
Your end-of-year donation will go directly toward supporting F3’s on-going work as we continue to be fully integrated into the decision-making processes of our community, educating and advocating for a livable, sustainable, affordable, and climate resilient Flagstaff.
F3 attends all City Council meetings and we speak directly to Council about important policy and on-the-ground decisions that relate to our Focus Areas.* We seek accountability and transparency from our local local leaders through meeting with city staff and individual council members and we participate in local and regional planning efforts including the development of the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045, which will be a major focus of our work in 2024.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct large pile burns tomorrow through Friday in two different areas about two miles north of Munds Park or 13 miles south of Flagstaff.
The Horse Park pile burn is comprised of approximately 1,200 acres of slash piles just north of Munds Park, near Forest Road 700.
The Willard Spring pile burn consists of four acres worth of forest debris and grass within Willard Spring pit just west of Interstate 17 near the Willard Springs exit.
Smoke may impact areas such as Mountainaire, Kachina Village and I-17 around the pile burns but is forecast to move toward the north/northeast through the day.
STEM is more important to our community – and our world – than ever before. Hardly a day goes by when STEM is not in the headlines: artificial intelligence, climate change, space exploration, breakthroughs in medicine, and much more.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there are nearly 10 million workers in STEM occupations and this total is projected to grow by almost 11% by 2031, more than two times faster than the total for all other occupations.
(Nov. 28) is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. You don’t have to wait until tomorrow! Make a donation today to support Sedona Arts Center…
Your support is critical to growing and sustaining MNA’s work. In 2023, we:
Opened three new exhibitions;
Welcomed nearly 2,000 students on school visits;
Shared the MNA collections with hundreds of members of the public;
Provided over 200 researchers with in-depth access to collections;
Hosted numerous educational events that connect visitors with the art, science, and culture of the Colorado Plateau through authentic experiences;
And so much more!
On Giving Tuesday, we come together to support the causes that matter most to us.
This year, I’m asking you to join us and create more opportunities for our communities in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache County to step up for our youth by supporting not only our children, but those who take care of them as well.
An underlying aspect of many of the programs we manage or fund is about being a partner to the parents and guardians who are raising the next generation.
Holiday Sale in our Gallery!
10% OFF Any Purchase in our Gallery* November 24 Through December 31, 2023 *Get 10% off any purchase of $100 or more in our Uptown Art Gallery through December 31, 2023! Current SAC Members receive an additional 5% off.
*Excluding Bronze Sculptures and Special Exhibitions. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax (an almost a 10% savings!)
Use coupon code HOLIDAY10 at checkout when shopping online.
(discount not available for workshops, classes or special exhibitions
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
CCC&Y partners are taking an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by being part in the annual GivingTuesdaymovement on Nov. 28, 2023.
CCC&Y partners who are participating in our GivingTuesday promotional effort include:
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation — Donation link
Flagstaff Festival of Science — Science in the Park — Donation link
We believe GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for our mission: “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
Wishing everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a fantastic GivingTuesday celebration.
We couldn’t do it without you.
We are United in Purpose 365 days a year, and together we are stepping up for youth and our community in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties. We are promoting early childhood education, positive youth development and the safety and security of our friends and neighbors in our local communities.
This Thanksgiving we are more grateful than ever for your friendship, partnership and support.
Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday,
Liz, Christine & Elaine
We have so much to be thankful for here in this beautiful land of the red rocks.
Mostly I am thankful for all of you who make it possible for us to do this amazing work on behalf of more than 1,000 artists throughout this state and nation. If not for you, Sedona Arts Center would not exist.
While we are working hard to bring workshops, classes, exhibits, programs and events to you throughout the year, we continue to need your support. Now more than ever.
As a thank you, we are offering a 10% discount in our Gallery Shop from November 24 through December 31.
And please be sure to check out our Contemporary Surrealism exhibit up now through November 30 (it’s received fantastic reviews) and stay tuned for Celebrate Sedona on December 6 – which will be a holiday dance party -and the opening of the Big Gay Art Show.
On behalf of all of us at Sedona Arts Center,
I’d like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving
and wonderful holiday season.
Again, thank you.
Warmly,
Julie A. Richard
CEO
SEDONA — Coconino National Forest is seeking public input and comments on proposed trail enhancements at specific locations within the Red Rock Ranger District that would add approximately 39 miles of non-motorized trails and re-route and naturalize other trails.
The proposed locations fall within and near the communities of Sedona, Village of Oak Creek and Cornville and would include 24.42 miles of non-motorized trails, adopting 14.8 miles of user-created routes, and naturalizing 10.14 miles of user-created trails. The specific locations include the Turkey Creek System, Bell Rock Area Bypasses, Cornville School Trail, Doe Mesa Loop, Hardline Trail, and Scheurman Trail Connector.
These proposals are the result of years of planning after a strong public demand for improved and enhanced trailhead access, options, and experiences.
FLAGSTAFF — Spanish language and English learning students at Coconino High School celebrated el Día de los Muertos with their second annual shoebox ofrenda competition. The winners were selected this week with students and others voting throughout the month.
“This contest is an innovative way for our students to express their creativity and learn about the cultural significance of Día de Los Muertos/Day of the Dead,” said teacher Francy Solarte. “As a school committed to fostering cultural awareness and artistic expression, we are enthusiastic about providing our students with such opportunities.
“The Day of the Dead Mini altar contest is a competition where students create beautiful and meaningful altars using a shoe box,” Solarte said. “They can pay tribute to a family member, pet, or person who has contributed to society. They also write an altar dedication in Spanish and their home language. This is an interdisciplinary project between Spanish classes and English Language Learners classes. We exhibited the mini altars at the library starting November 2nd and we closed with a parent night on November 8th. The school community and parents had the opportunity to visit the exhibition and vote for their favorites.”
FLAGSTAF — The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County invite residents to participate in Scenario Choosing Open Houses for the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045. These open houses are centered around how the region should approach growth to address uncertainties and opportunities that may lie ahead. This is a once-a-decade opportunity to shape the future of our community.
The open houses will be available in both an online and in-person format. To participate in the open house virtually, visit bit.ly/scenariochoosing from Nov. 16, 2023 to Jan. 19, 2024. Information on the in-person open houses is provided below. Attendees may sign up in advance for childcare at in-person events at flagstaff.az.gov/RegionalPlan2045.
The need for programs that encourage physical health have never been more essential for our region’s youth than now.
According to the United Health Foundation, only 16.8% of Arizona children between the ages of 6 and 17 are physically active for an hour a day. The latest report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation indicates that 31% of children 10 to 17 in the state are overweight or obese.
Part of stepping up for our youth includes ensuring our kids make healthy choices – from the foods they eat to putting down their devices for a while and getting active.
Theatrikos Presents A Crazy Interactive Musical for Christmas Based on the most popular form of theatre in the UK, done for the first time in Arizona, A Christmas Carol: A Twisted Musical Comedyruns November 24—December 17 A Christmas Carol Tickets…
InterTribal Economic Summit recap
Last week, the park hosted the Emergence Summit, the second Grand Canyon InterTribal Economic Summit. More than 60 participants were in attendance including Tribal vendors, tour operators, entrepreneurs, partners, and park staff. The purpose of the summit was to discuss ways the park and its many partners can best work together to improve economic benefits for the park, private companies, Tribal partners, nonprofit partners, and the surrounding communities.
Keynote speaker Natasha Hale (Navajo and Saudi Arabian and pictured above), cofounder of Change Labs, offered lessons from her 15 years of experience supporting Native entrepreneurs and economic equity on the Colorado Plateau.
“To move past these wrongs, we still have to keep talking about them. But I think we’re all eager to move past it,” said Hale. “That’s what Emergence is about – we want to be able to co-manage these lands, but we also want to be able to have access to that economic power.”
You can learn more about the summit from Grand Canyon Trust’s website here.
Join us for the exhilarating kick-off to the winter season as Arizona Snowbowl unveils its slopes for Opening Day! 9 a.m. Friday, Nov. 17.
Honoring our elites
Two students in the Class of 2023 were awarded the President’s Prize, NAU’s highest honor for undergraduates, and more than 20 other students were recognized as Gold Axe winners or Distinguished Seniors at a ceremony Tuesday night. The awards, which recognize excellence in the classroom, in research and in life, are one of the highlights of the year for senior leadership; in a video presentation, President Cruz Rivera said he always appreciates the opportunity to brag about the students and experience the sense of joy and accomplishment felt by the award winners and their families, friends and mentors who have supported them throughout their collegiate career.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
CCC&Y partners have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by taking part in the annual GivingTuesday movement on Nov. 28, 2023.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth wants to support your effort by providing links to your organization and donation pages in our upcoming weekly e-newsletters.
CCC&Y partners who are participating in our GivingTuesday promotional effort include:
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation — Donation link
Flagstaff Festival of Science — Science in the Park — Donation link
Still time to join our GivingTuesday spotlight effort.
We believe GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for our mission: “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
FLAGSTAFF — Now through Dec. 18, the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Flagstaff Foodlink are surveying the greater Flagstaff region to better understand community members’ experiences with the local food system. Input from all community members is needed to improve food access and distribution, agricultural opportunities, and more. Flagstaff Foodlink is offering a gift card raffle to those who complete the survey!
(Paul) Long, who is from New Mexico, comes from a line of medicine men and is a medicine man himself. Growing up, his father taught him to be balanced—to know and practice the traditional beliefs and way of life but also to understand western life and education.
GRAND CANYON, AZ — During the early morning on Thursday November 9, 2023, our water system did not provide adequate levels of chlorine in the water being used from Roaring Springs.
As a result, our water was not disinfected as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requires. Therefore, our water system violated a treatment technique standard for maintaining adequate disinfection for water delivered to customers from Roaring Springs. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this situation. After this problem was identified, Operators immediately notified the State Drinking Water division and Grand Canyon started the process to identify the source of the failure. The source was identified, and adequate chlorination was restored on Friday morning, November 10, 2023.
Rock Your Mocs Week November 12-18
As part of Native American Heritage Month, next week is Rock Your Mocs Week, when Indigenous people across the country show their cultural pride by wearing traditional moccasins.
Moccasins are not always worn in public by Indigenous people. They hold special significance and are most often worn for ceremonies and other cultural events. During Rock Your Mocs Week, the National Park Service encourages Indigenous employees to take pride in their heritage by wearing moccasins. A flyer for this week can be found here.
Grand Canyon National Park is proud to celebrate Native cultures and traditions by helping to share their rich histories and ongoing contributions to our park and our country.
So rock those mocs!
FLAGSTAFF — A variety of Native American Heritage Months will be presented at Northern Arizona University.
There is a QRcode at the bottom that goes to our website for all events https://nau.edu/indigenous/events
We are looking to fill about 45 more volunteer positions for our Stuff The Bus food drive on Saturday and Sunday, November 11th and 12th. If you are interested, click this link to sign up today!
https://hotfood.volunteerhub.com/vv2/…
The shifts we have available are:
COCONINO COUNTY — CCC&Y partners have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by taking part in the annual GivingTuesday movement on Nov. 28, 2023.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth wants to support your effort by providing links to your organization and donation pages in our upcoming weekly e-newsletters.
We believe GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for our mission: “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
Individuals and for-profit organizations throughout Northern Arizona are looking for an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of families in the region and as stated by the founders of GivingTuesday: “Generosity is uplifting, generative, equalizing, and connecting.”
So if you are a member partner of CCC&Y, please send your information, donation links, stories and photos to Frank X. Moraga, outreach coordinator, at frank@coconinokids.org
We would love to include you in our growing list of GivingTuesday participants this year.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – In celebration of Native American Heritage month, Grand Canyon National Park is proud to announce the release of a new podcast series focused on Indigenous perspectives and the people who have called the canyon home since time immemorial. On November 3, 2023, the park released seven episodes of “Grand Canyon Speaks.”
During the summer of 2023, park staff created an interpretive program called “Grand Canyon Speaks,” which features live in-person conversations between park rangers and members from the 11 traditionally associated tribes of Grand Canyon. The program is one of many parkwide efforts to include Tribal members, voices, and culture in public outreach and education. Over 1,500 park visitors from all over the world attended the live events.
Message from Mary –
November is Native American Heritage Month, an opportunity to spread awareness of Indigenous history and contemporary Native issues. At the Museum of Northern Arizona we share and celebrate the Indigenous peoples of the Colorado Plateau year-round, both in our exhibitions and through special programs. This month we have a panel discussion about Indigenous foods with a Diné chef and a performance by a group of young Native dancers who have earned international recognition. Both programs are rooted in tradition while being contemporary and relevant – an appropriate reflection of Indigenous peoples and culture today.
A visit to the Museum is always a good way to learn about Native American Heritage, this month and year-round.
Culinary Class: Holiday Side Dishes
The holiday season is quickly approaching! Time to spend time with friends and family, start thinking about defrosting the turkey, and cracking out the side dish recipes. This special holiday focused culinary class will teach you how to make a variety of classic Thanksgiving side dishes such as mashed potatoes, stuffing, mac and cheese, and grilled brussels sprouts.
This cooking class will be held on November 19, noon-3:00 p.m., at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall in Flagstaff, AZ. It will be taught by our incredible culinary instructor, Willa McAuliffe.
The cost for this program is $25* for Adults (18 and older) and $15* for Youth (8 – 17 years old).
Pre-register here.
The USGS Open House is now re-scheduled for Sunday Nov. 5 from 1-4 pm! Explore interactive displays and activities related to geography, biology, hydrology, planetary science and mapping! Free to the public!
Located at the USGS Flagstaff Science Campus: 2255 N Gemini Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.
FLAGSTAFF — Winter parking restrictions will begin on Nov. 1 and will remain in effect until April 1. During this time, parking on city streets and alleyways is prohibited from midnight to 7 a.m.Winter parking restrictions allow the City to thoroughly plow the streets during snow events and remains in effect even if it is not snowing to aid in street sweeping.
When: Oct. 31 or Nov. 1
Where: Along Fort Valley Road 1 mile west of Basecamp at Snowbowl
Why: As part of a Northern Arizona University project to burn a small piece of land on a five-year rotation to further study prescribed fire. This area was last burned in the fall of 2018.
Size: 3 acres
Method/ type of burn: Broadcast and maintenance
Duration: 1 day
Smoke impacts: Light smoke impacts may be felt on Highway 180.
Closures/ restrictions: None
Friday, October 27, 5–7pm
Awards Night Celebration
& Reception
Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Rd
This is the big night! Join us as we celebrate an amazing week of the 19th annual Plein Air Festival. Best of Show and final awards will be presented by our special judge, Tim Newton. Tim is the publisher of Western Art & Architecture magazine and is also Chairman Emeritus of the famed Salmagundi Club.
Patron’s Circle members can arrive at 4pm for a preview and chance to purchase before the reception opens to the public. VIP parking included. To become a Patrons Circle Member click here: https://sedonaartscenter.org/donate/
Trick or Treat Trail, Heritage Square
Explore downtown while Trick or Treating at local businesses to enjoy crafts, photo ops, and fun in Heritage Square! 4 p.m.
Learn More
Students from Holbrook High School and Joseph City High School are helping our communities better understand the needs of youth in Navajo County.
The two students are participating in an internship that was created through a partnership between United Way of Northern Arizona, the Center for the Future of Arizona, and the Work-Based Learning Alliance.
The six-week program is asking the students to conduct an analysis of current issues facing youth in northeast Arizona.
Halloween Carnival at Grand Canyon School October 28
Grand Canyon School and the High School Student Council will be hosting the All Hallows Halloween Carnival on October 28 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be a haunted house, activity booths, and games for all ages. Be sure to wear your costume!
If you are interested in having a booth there, you can contact rrobertson@grandcanyonschool.org.
Justice Armfield is a guest presenter in Introduction to Disability Studies. From the front of the classroom and in small-group discussions, he talks about living with a disability and how it affects his life—and how it doesn’t. Armfield has Down syndrome, he loves Pink and the Smashing Pumpkins, he enjoys travel and public speaking and he brings a valuable experience to the classroom: “I teach people about what it is like to live with Down syndrome. I want to help people see that a disability is a difference, but not a limitation to living a happy, healthy life with a purpose.”
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Regional Resilience Project (FRRP), a coalition of community-based organizations, local government agencies, and regional partners, has received notice of $1 million in grant funding from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This funding will support three resilience hub pilots in Flagstaff. A resilience hub is a community-serving facility that supports residents, distributes resources, and reduces carbon pollution while enhancing the quality of life every day and in times of crisis. Each resilience hub will be managed by a separate community organization, serving a distinct part of the community. The FRRP will launch three pilot resilience hubs with the Flagstaff community:
COCONINO COUNTY — The last day of 2023 operations for the Willard Springs Green Waste Site will be this Saturday, Oct. 28.
Willard Springs will be closed throughout the upcoming Winter season, which runs each year between November 1 and March 31, so that Coconino County can reopen the station for green waste-only disposal on Friday, April 5, 2024. It will then be open for the summer season on Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024.
COCONINO COUNTY — Our Weekly Update will be a taking a short break next week. We will return on Nov. 8.
Until then, please explore our website to view a variety training opportunities and resources that we have available:
We provide educational resources so that community members are informed, energized, and ready to come together to solve problems, impact policy, and create solutions that allow every person to realize their full potential. Learn more here
CCC&Y board members, coalition members and community volunteers attend our committee meetings. These are opportunities to share information, learn about community partners, support mission efforts and become involved. Learn more here.
Attend our monthly Coconino Prevention Council Zoom meetings (10 a.m. the first Thursday of the month). Share information about your local organization. Send an email to virginia@coconinokids.org to receive an invitation.
North Rim Atoko Point prescribed fire
If you were near the rim or in the canyon this week, you probably noticed smoke on the North Rim and below the rim.
This is a prescribed burn in the Atoko Point unit, which is on the eastern edge of the Walhalla Plateau. Park fire staff are working with the Kaibab National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management to treat this unit and others, for a total of about 1,700 acres. They plan to continue burning through October 31.
Smoke impacts are anticipated along Cape Royal Road, the North Rim developed area, and the inner canyon from Bright Angel Point to Clear Creek. Fire plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of the land, and prescribed burns are carefully planned and only initiated under very specific conditions.
The saw must go on
NAU Logging Sports athletic captain Adeline Jones had been preparing with her teammates for the Choptober competition in Colorado for months. She was set to compete in five events—the pole climb, obstacle pole, single buck, Jack-and-Jill and horizontal chop—against athletes from throughout the western U.S. Then, just two weeks before the competition, she had a bouldering accident that left her with the temporary inability to use one of her arms. With nothing to lose, she decided to compete in the single buck event, sawing a wood cookie off a large log with a 5.5-foot saw, one-handed.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is hosting two flooding community meetings this fall to discuss ongoing infrastructure projects, flood modeling, winter preparations and short-term mitigations, as well as answer questions from residents.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coaltion for Children & Youth wants to remind everyone that we have a variety of free webinar training programs on our website to help parents and families during the upcoming back to school season.
Our growing library of on-demand webinars is designed 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.
