Category: Health

NAU to present ‘Human Rights Across the Americas!’ in-person, Zoom presentation on Dec. 5

On Monday Dec 5 from 11am-12:15pm in the Blome Conference Room (and on Zoom) we are hosting a roundtable discussion with a Human Rights Across the Americas group through the State Department’s international visitor leadership program.  This is a unique opportunity, especially in Flagstaff, to hear from a diverse group of Latin American Human Rights activists! All students, staff, and faculty are welcome and translation will be provided.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y Provides Membership Update and Holiday Giving

We are so excited to be continuing all of the good cheer and celebration that came with honoring our 50th anniversary this year.  As a part of that we welcomed many new sponsors and members- please see here.

Receiving feedback from many of our members, understanding the current economic uncertainties, and demonstrating a strong desire to partner w, trust and support our members- the board approved some creative edits and price adjustments to our group memberships.  Please see here for more information.

Lastly, as the Holiday Season is among us, we thought of a creative way for you to share CCC&Y with loved ones.  This will not only support our Giving Tuesday and Year-End giving….it will strengthen the reach and interconnectedness of the coalition in preparation for our next 50 Years!!!  

You can go to our membership page to purchase individual, family and organization memberships as a gift….just make sure to click the “this membership is a gift” box.

With Gratitude for all of you!!

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.

City of Flagstaff — Applications due by 4 p.m. Dec. 19 for American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to support housing assistance programs

The City of Flagstaff Housing Section (the “City”) is pleased to announce the availability of American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (“Local Recovery Funds”) to support Housing Assistance projects, programs, and services (“Projects”).

Applications Due: December 19, 2022 by 4:00pm

The City is seeking partners for eligible projects for the purpose of providing housing assistance to City of Flagstaff residents. The purpose of the Projects must be to respond to the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic by helping households recover from economic impacts, particularly disproportionately impacted low-income workers and people of color.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y thankful to friends, community partners and organizations dedicated to helping children and youth in Coconino County

As we prepare to celebrate the upcoming holiday weekend, there are many reasons for us to be thankful here at the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth. At the top of that list are the many friends, community partners and organizations who have supported us over the past year in our mission to “… ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”

Our recent 50th anniversary celebrationemphasized the love and support this organization has received over the years as we seek to support the children and youth throughout Coconino County in the face of a variety of economic, health and social pressures facing local families.

For the more than a half-dozen years I have been with the Coalition, I’m thankful for the joy of being with a non-profit organization where each day I get to work in concert with people from all walks of life who are dedicated to serving children and families in the region. They include talented volunteer board members and executive directors and representatives from a variety of organizations who share their time and information during a number of monthly video remote, conference calls and in-person resource meetings, community health and information fairs and back-to-school events.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Nov. 21-25, 2022

As of November 17, Coconino County is now in Medium CDC Community Level. This change is not unexpected. We have seen COVID spikes in the fall for the last two years, and unfortunately, this year this has happened a little earlier than in past years. As a reminder, the CDC and World Health Organization still considers us to be in a pandemic, and that it does not look to be ending anytime soon.

The DOI has set specific guidelines for us to follow based on the CDC Community Level. The primary change for Medium Community Level is to communicate the concerns of spreading COVID and areas where people gather. Therefore, we will post new signs on all building entrances that state that we are in Medium CDC Community Level, and we encourage individuals, regardless of vaccination status, to practice physical distancing from others in indoor common areas. Additionally, all building entrances should have signs stating that masks are optional and to practice physical distancing.

Finally, the best way to protect yourselves and your loved ones is to be vaccinated and boosted. If you have not received the newly developed and distributed COVID bivalent vaccine, we encourage you to do so. These vaccines have been scientifically proven to be safe and to help prevent COVID illness—and, for those that do become sick, the bivalent vaccine helps protect from serious or long-term COVID illness.

The NAU Review — XC champions, tips for hosting Thanksgiving and the importance of shopping small this holiday season

After stellar performances by runners Nico Young and Drew Bosley (who placed second and third, respectively), the men’s cross country team defended their title as national champions, winning for the third consecutive year. The women placed sixth—the team’s best finish since 2007. This is only the fourth time in program history that both teams have placed in the top 10 and the first time that both teams have placed in the top six.

Announcement Regarding the Rural County Alternative Prosecution and Diversion Grant Program

The Coconino County Attorney’s Office, in partnership with Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), is pleased to announce the awarding of $2.1 million by the Arizona Criminal Justice Commission as part of the Rural County Alternative Prosecution and Diversion Grant Program. This funding will be used to support Phase I of a data-driven intervention project which will focus on reducing the occurrence of criminal behavior while also combatting recidivism in our community.

As part of Phase I, our partnership will begin collecting and processing data to identify social determinates of criminogenic behavior across several communities within Coconino County, with a focus on Health as a determining factor.

Grand Canyon National Park seeks public comments on Wetland Statement of Findings

The National Park Service (NPS) is seeking public comment on a Wetland Statement of Findings for the Transcanyon Water Distribution Pipeline project. Public comments on the proposed action will be accepted Nov. 21 until midnight, Dec. 23, 2022.

The proposed Transcanyon Water Distribution Pipeline project is designed to relocate the potable water intake in the park, which supplies the South Rim and Cross Canyon Corridor, from Roaring Springs to an area at Bright Angel Creek near Phantom Ranch. Additionally, the project will replace the water distribution pipeline between Phantom Ranch and Havasupai Gardens (formerly known as Indian Garden), abandon or remove over time 7.5 miles of pipeline from Phantom Ranch to Cottonwood Campground, and reuse 1.5 miles of pipeline for slip-lining a smaller waterline from Cottonwood Campground to Roaring Springs.

Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez District 2 Newsletter — 16th Edition

In this edition…
• Message from Jeronimo
• Short-Term Flood Mitigation Projects
• District 2 Highlights
• Service Positions Open in District 2
ª Services and Programs
ª And more!

Message from Jeronimo

Photo: Jeronimo Vasquez and father Dr. Miguel Vasquez.

Hello Everyone! Happy November! I wanted to give a special
thank you to everyone who came to the community barbeque
and all those who supported the event. I am glad we were able
to come together and spend time as a community. We have
gone through many obstacles this year and it is important to
unite and recognize all we have been through. We have been
able to overcome and remain resilient. We are a community
and together we are stronger. I am here for you all, so please
remember to email me with any concerns you may have that
we can get working on!

Coconino County Amends Winter Parking Ordinance

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved amendments to the County’s annual Winter Parking Ordinance at their regular meeting on Tuesday, November 15, 2022; amendments that will enable the Sheriff’s Office to enhance enforcement during the winter recreation season with the goal of increasing public safety on County roads and rights of way. 

Each year during the Winter season, Coconino County becomes a recreation destination for many visitors from across Arizona, nationwide, and internationally. With numerous natural areas suited for snow play located close to County-maintained roads, rights of way, and private property, Coconino County Sheriff Jim Driscoll believes the added enforcement is necessary to ensure the public’s safety.

City of Flagstaff Snow Play Information

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff invites you to stay and play responsibility this winter. Please view our winter recreation map here or below for more information.  

Bilingual report — Coconino County Board Approves Federal Grant to Create Family Treatment Court

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has unanimously approved receipt of a Department of Justice grant in the amount of $250,000 to create a Family Treatment Court program in the County. 

This specialized court, operated through the County’s Juvenile Court, is a voluntary court-supervised program for parents with an open dependency case in which the state Department of Child Services (DCS) has removed the children from the household. In Coconino County, it is estimated that 85% of family court cases involve a substance abuse allegation, requiring DCS to intervene. 

This federal pass-through grant enables the County to provide substance abuse treatment support and fill a Peer Recovery Support Specialist position to provide lived-experience consultation to program participants. 

“I want to thank our family court. This is another example of how Coconino County keeps families together for the well-being of the whole community,” said District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler. 

United Way of Northern Arizona — UWNA Means Community Impact

Here’s the power of Community Impact:

A woman in Flagstaff is diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, devastating her teenage daughters. Because of you, the family is able to access free support groups and classes to help them cope during treatment and beyond. Ultimately, the daughters help form a support group specifically for children of cancer patients, paying it forward by helping other teens.

A homeless man, wheelchair bound and in bad health, arrives at a shelter in Holbrook. Because of you, the shelter places him in a housing unit for veterans close to a grocery store and gets him connected with community and medical services nearby. There he begins to rebuild his life.

A second-grader at Thomas Elementary School proudly places a sticker in his lesson chart, showing that he has finished reading another book. He eagerly chooses his next book adventure. Because of you, we are able to support the “raising readers” program to foster a love of learning.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y committed to using, sharing evidenced based and informed prevention strategies

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has a long history of utilizing evidenced based and informed prevention strategies. From the 50 year longitudinal study in Kauai that informed resilience research to what is known about the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), CCC&Y has been committed to understanding and sharing this information with the community.

Our 2020 assessment combines national and local data. It sets the stage for a unique road map for using trauma-informed and adverse childhood experience knowledge as a prevention plan. The research field contains much information about the effects of childhood experience on later outcomes, but this report uniquely uses that knowledge, especially what is known about developing resiliency, and puts it to use in the prevention field.

Click here for more information about the prevention frameworks CCC&Y has used; Strengthening Families Protective Factors, Self-Healing Communities, and the Search Institute’s 40 Developmental Assets 

The NAU Review — Expanding A2E to Arizona’s tribes, what to know about NaNoWriMo and a National Recycling Day quiz

President José Luis Cruz Rivera and Vice President for Native American Initiatives Ann Marie Chischilly announced Monday that NAU’s popular Access2Excellence program, which provides a tuition-free education for Arizona students from households with an annual income of $65,000/year or less, will now be expanded to first-time undergraduate students who are members of Arizona’s federally recognized Native American tribes. The program, which goes into effect in Fall 2023, reflects the university’s longstanding commitment to Native American and Indigenous students.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Nov. 7-11, 2022

Honoring our NPS Veterans

Through legislation passed 68 years ago on June 1, 1954, November 11 became Veterans Day—a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

At Grand Canyon, we deeply appreciate our veterans for their military service and their continued service as NPS employees. We are thankful for their sense of comradery, mission focus, and can-do attitude, and we are proud to work beside every veteran on our team. Grand Canyon National Park employs 65 veterans with a combined 294 years of creditable military service.

Many of our veterans have seen multiple deployments and have made countless sacrifices throughout their military service.

CCC becomes Bee Campus USA affiliate

Coconino Community College has joined the ranks of becoming an affiliate of the Bee Campus USA program. The program helps gather the strengths of educational campuses like CCC for the benefit of pollinators, and the college joins other cities and campuses across the country to improve their landscapes for pollinators.

“CCC’s students, faculty and staff are champions for sustainable environmental practices,” said Dr. Christal Albrecht, Interim President. “Becoming a Bee Campus USA affiliate is a natural fit for our college located in beautiful northern Arizona.”

United Way of Northern Arizona — Why They Joined the Summit Society

The purpose of United Way is to do big and bold things.

Taking on the large issues – early childhood education, positive youth development, eliminating the gaps in our social safety net – requires the support of a whole community. Every donation, every volunteer hour, every bit of advocacy is important.

However, we also want to acknowledge that there are people who have an outsized impact because of their unique generosity. They are the members of our Summit Society – individuals and couples who contribute $500 or more annually.

Why do they make this investment in UWNA? Check out what they have to say in this video:

The NAU Review — A veteran’s journey to NAU, Fit it in a Minute with Pete Yanka and NAU Theatre’s Orlando

Former Marine finds a new calling

Tyler Derzay had a plan for his life. It didn’t involve math classes and final exams, and it definitely never included a graduate degree in engineering. Yet, this former Marine, who will graduate next month as the standard-bearer for the College of Engineering, Informatics, and Applied Sciences before beginning grad school, found a journey worth taking. As a Lumberjack, he made connections with professors and at the Veterans Success Center, met his wife and found a new life path that honored his family history as much as his military career did.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Your membership, donations needed as CCC&Y moves toward the next 50 years

Hello everyone. Thank you so much for attending our recent 50th anniversary celebration.

We have heard about so many excellent times, as well as, seen many fabulous pictures!! We greatly enjoyed seeing you — it was amazing!!

Thank you to all of you who became members that night and the following days (you can see the full list of our members and sponsors here https://coconinokids.org/supporters).

If you have not had the chance to become a member yet, please, please do so here https://coconinokids.org/contribute/. 

Your support is greatly needed to help ensure the success of the Coalition, our partners and help aid local families this holiday season and beyond.

As mentioned at the 50th anniversary celebration, it is just not just the funding — which is a tremendous help —it is also adding your name to the mission for change. Please make sure to do so today individual, family, and/or organization!!

To those who donate to CCC&Y instead of becoming members or in addition to becoming members-thank you so very much!!  

Your support is greatly noticed!!

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.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Thank you for helping CCC&Y celebrate its 50th anniversary

Thank you supporters of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth who attended our 50th anniversary celebration on Oct. 27, 2022 at the High Country Conference Center. We had representation of more than 20 organizations, and of course, and more than 200 guests who came out for a gala date night. 

The event was highlighted by the presentation of a special “Caring for Children Lifetime Achievement Award” to local educator Julianne E. Hartzell.

“I just adore Julianne and I’m so excited to honor her in this way,” said Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of CCC&Y. “She has been so very giving with her time, not just to me personally but to the organization as a whole.

“The contributions Julianne has made, and continues to make, have had tremendous impact on the organization and the wider community. We are very fortunate to benefit from her knowledge and giving nature.”

City of Flagstaff — Schultz Creek Detention Basins complete and functional

The City of Flagstaff is happy to announce that the Schultz Creek Sediment and Flood Mitigation Detention Basins are complete and functional. The basins were completed incredibly quickly, with the project being designed, planned, bid and constructed in less than three months, including significant rain delays.

The dedication and hard work of the City’s Stormwater and Public Works divisions, as well as the expertise of Shephard Wesnitzner, Inc, and the commitment of Fann Contracting made such a swift delivery possible. The project was delivered with $2.4M in funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Emergency Watershed Protection Program and a match of over $700,000 from the Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management.

Coconino County Parks & Recreation November Update

Public Comment on Fort Tuthill Management Plan

November 14 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 

November 17 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. 

Coconino County Parks and Recreation is asking for public comment on the Fort Tuthill Land Management Plan DRAFT. A copy of the draft plan is available here, where the public may leave comments. Public meetings will be held on November 14 at 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and November 17 at 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., at the Fort Tuthill County Park Mess Hall. There will also be a virtual option to join through Microsoft Teams. The link will be available at coconinocounty.konveio.com/fort-tuthill-county-park-management-plan-draft, under Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan DRAFT. 

City of Flagstaff snow operations

With snow forecast for northern Arizona in the coming days, the City of Flagstaff would like to provide information regarding snow operations. The City’s Public Works Division will deploy all available equipment and operators during winter snow events, with operations running 24 hours a day during significant events. 

County Plows Ready for Season’s First Snow

Coconino County Public Works crews are prepared to keep County roads open and passable during the first snowstorm of the 2022-2023 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona this week. 

According to the National Weather Service, rain and snow showers are expected across northern Arizona starting Wednesday night and lasting into Friday, with the heaviest expected Thursday morning/afternoon. Minor accumulations are expected down to about 5000 feet with around 4 to 6 inches expected above 6500 feet. 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 31-Nov. 4, 2022

Key Messages-Week of October 31, 2022 Sign up for the Weekly Wrap Up Here COVID Updates Arizona and Local Statistics  As of October 27, the CDC Community Level for Coconino County continues to be Low. In Arizona, 13 counties are in Low…

Short-Term Flood Mitigation Projects Move Forward

FLAGSTAFF — On October 25, the Coconino County Flood Control District (District) Directors approved investing up to $11.5 million in a set of smaller scale flood mitigation projects in the Schultz/Pipeline Flood area. These projects will restore the capacity of some of the existing flood mitigation measures in the area and reduce flood impacts to the Doney Park area through construction of a series of berms near Landfill Road. 

The District Directors received an in-depth presentation regarding the District’s short-term on-forest and neighborhood mitigation projects and staff requested a budget adjustment in the amount of $10.5 million to cover the costs. The funding will come through a loan from the County’s General Fund. After the presentation and clarifying questions from Board members, the budget adjustment was approved unanimously by those present. 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 24-28, 2022

Tamale Sale-GRCA School
Fundraising efforts for 8th grade class underway

The fundraising for the 8th grade trip to Washington D.C. has officially begun!

The vision of the Washington, D.C. field trip is to engage students as citizens in American Democracy. The mission is to provide 8th grade students at Grand Canyon School an opportunity to capstone their 8th grade civics curriculum by engaging with locations that exhibit how people of the past and present change the world through the processes in American Democracy.

For more information, please see the attached flyer here.

Willard Springs Green Waste Site to Close for Winter. Last day of Oct. 29

The last day of 2022 operations for the Willard Springs Green Waste Site will be Saturday, October 29, 2022. 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 Saturday, April 1, 2023.

Compost your dried leaves and pine needles this fall

The City of Flagstaff invites the public to drop off dried leaves and pine needles at three drop-off locations in Flagstaff on Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30.

Bags of dried leaves and pine needles can be delivered to the following locations between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.:

Jay Lively Activity Center (1650 N Turquoise Dr)
Continental Park (5650 E Old Walnut Canyon Rd)
University Highlands Park (3888 S Jewel Dr)

Bilingual report — PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Class in Spanish

North Country HealthCare is hosting a program for individuals at risk of developing diabetes in order to assist you in improving your health as well as reducing the risk of developing diabetes. In the program you will learn methods of losing weight, be more physically active, and manage stress. These small changes in your lifestyle can significantly reduce the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention leads the National Diabetes Prevention Program.

HECHO October Newsletter

It has been an incredible month for HECHO, celebrating public lands policy wins and elevating the voices and visibility of Hispanic leaders in public lands decision-making and advocacy. Our Hispanic Conservation Leadership Council (HCLC) members continue to grow and make a difference in their communities.

On September 28th through 30th, HECHO brought Hispanic leaders from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah to Washington D.C. to advocate on conservation issues, including protecting the Grand Canyon watershed from uranium mining, saving Oak Flat from a copper mine, the resilience of the Colorado River, and making communities whole after the devastating Hermit’s Peak/Calf Canyon wildfire. They met with members of Congress and federal agencies. Read a recap of HECHO’s first advocacy trip.

Bilingual report — It’s that time of year again, time for your annual flu vaccination!

It’s that time of year again, time for your annual flu vaccination! Flu vaccination has many benefits including reducing the risk of flu illness, hospitalizations and even the risk of flu-related death.

Getting a seasonal vaccine is especially important for young children because they are at increased risk of getting severe illness from flu.

Grand Canyon National Park — Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap Up: Oct.10-14, 2022

Flu and COVID vaccines available October 18 in Grand Canyon, October 25 in Tusayan

The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccine Team will be coming to the park on Tuesday, October 18. The event will take place at the Grand Canyon Rec Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The team will also be in Tusayan at the Tusayan Fire Department on Tuesday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

COVID-19 and Flu Vaccines will be available at this event (to include the new COVID-19 Bivalent Vaccine) for those ages 6 months and older. See the attached flyer for the Grand Canyon event here and the Tusayan event here.

The NAU Review — One student’s story of war and survival, calling for donations and testing air quality at the Cocopah Head Start

Surviving refugee camps, abuse and losing loved ones to suicide
Personalized Learning student Aida Sibic grew up in Bosnia and Herzegovina. There, she experienced firsthand the horrors of war, genocide and the trauma that followed. She recently sat down with The NAU Review to discuss her childhood, how she and her family escaped war, what brought her to NAU and her recently published memoir, Luck Follows the Brave.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y presents free webinars on understanding how emotions impact adult and child relationships

We are so excited to announce our newest offering. 

Motivated by a long wait list for behavioral health services, and aware of challenging adult and child emotions causing behavior difficulties, Bethany Camp put this two part training together for CCC&Y to help meeting a wide-spread community need.

First we learn to understand our emotions and then we can understand and respond to the big emotional responses of children.

Watch Webinar – Managing Adult Emotional Responses, Part One

Watch Webinar – Helping Children Manage Their Emotions, Part Two

These videos are meant to help support our community.  Having the tools to take care of ourselves and respond to children, is a great resource.

Read More

Join North Country Health Care weekly class at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays on Preventing Type 2 Diabetes

Community members are preventing type 2 diabetes together with the PreventT2 lifestyle change program offered by North Country HealthCare. The program is free and open to the public! Guided by a trained lifestyle coach, groups of participants are learning the skills they need to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress. 

People with prediabetes — higher-than-normal blood glucose (sugar) levels — are 5 to 15 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with normal blood glucose levels. In fact, many people with prediabetes can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 5 years. 

“One in three American adults has prediabetes, so the need for prevention has never been greater,” said Shannon Williams, diabetes program manager at North Country HealthCare. “The PreventT2 program offers a proven approach to preventing or delaying the onset of type 2 diabetes through modest lifestyle changes made with the support of a coach and one’s peers.”

Bilingual report — New COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine now available

Coconino County Vaccination Locations

Coconino County Testing Locations

FLAGSTAFF — Here is some information on the location and times you can get the vaccine to help protect you against the Omicron variant.

Vaccines are available at the Coconino County Health and Human Services, 2625 N. King St., Flagstaff.

Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. – 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Thursdays, 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fridays, 8:30 – 11 a.m. and 12 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez District 2 Newsletter — 15th Edition

Thank you for your patience as well as the community residents who have
been engaged within the efforts of Coconino County during this past
summer. We have, as a county, experienced historical amounts of floods—
totaling 45 floods. The pipeline fire as well as the tunnel fire have resulted
in the increase and impact of floods during our monsoon season. It has
been taxing for everyone in our community, especially those who have
been directly impacted by the fires and floods through property, emotional,
and physical damage. I want to acknowledge our resilience as a
community as well as the collective efforts that have taken place across
the board. I want to thank our first-responders, county staff, community
volunteers, vendors, and the nonprofit organizations who all came together
to help our community in our time of need.
The county moving forward wants to address two key issues: long-term
mitigation and government funding. We have made strides towards trying
to secure federal funding to best direct our actions towards re-building.
We want to focus on three components: forest restoration, channels, and
highway improvements. We are working very closely together during this
time with our community, and overall county. Please email me your
concerns with as much detail as possible.
Email: jvasquez@coconino.az.gov

Bilingual report — NAU conducting study of Latinx community and COVID-19

NAU Center for Health Equity Research and the Coconino County Health & Human Services are conducting a study on how the Latinx community is dealing with problems after having COVID-19.

This confidential conversation will give us valuable information to help us create healthier communities.

Participants will receive a $10 gift card.

Bilingual report — Participants needed for NAU study: The influence of Native American genetic ancestry in Hispanics in northern Arizona: an investigation of insulin in endothelial function and blood pressure regulation

The Cardiovascular Regulation Laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences at NAU is seeking to recruit individuals of Hispanic background for a National Institutes of Health funded research study.  

What are we studying?

We are specifically interested in how an individual’s genetic make-up influences their ability to process sugar.  We will relate your genetic make-up and ability to process sugar to how your body responds to tests that alter your blood pressure.  Some of these tests include getting images of a vessel in your upper arm, a test where you place your hand in very cold water, a mental math test (subtraction), and an exercise test.

Pew Research Center — Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month 2022

It’s Hispanic Heritage Month, and, as always, Pew Research Center is committed to studying the rich diversity of the nation’s 62.5 million Latinos, from an exploration of U.S. adults who identify as Afro-Latino to a recent report on Latinos’ varied political views. This month is a celebration of not only the diverse origins of U.S. Latinos and the independence days in the countries of their ancestors, but also of the unique and varied experiences of Latinos across the country. We hope you will continue following our work detailing the nuanced lives of U.S. Latinos.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — F3’s 2022 VOTER GUIDE to Propositions

This month’s newsletter focuses on providing information that will be helpful as you prepare for the the upcoming General Election. We provide F3’s 2022 Voter Guide to statewide and local propositions, and information about how to vote for the official write-in City Council candidates. Lend your voice to community decisions by attending local meetings in October that are outlined below, and check out the upcoming workshop on socially-responsible investing.

The NAU Review — DART watch party, the Community Expo and a podcast about podcasts

On Monday, at 4:13 p.m. (Arizona time), more than 7 million miles away, NASA’s DART mission successfully slammed into the asteroid Dimorphos, making history as the first step toward a possible future planetary defense strategy that includes redirecting asteroids on a collision course with Earth. Cristina Thomas, assistant professor in the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science and team lead on the DART mission, along with Jason Wilder, vice president for research, were at mission control in Laurel, Maryland, to witness the historic moment unfold.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Providing Safety & Security

Why should you donate to United Way of Northern Arizona during our annual campaign?

Because when people struggle to meet basic needs – like food, shelter, and safety – everything else becomes more difficult.

Fueled by your financial support, UWNA and its network of partners work with families and individuals so they can move from day-to-day existence to planning for a positive future.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y’s Virginia Watahomigie; Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget named 2022 Women Achievers of Arizona by Arizona Capitol Times

Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of CCC&Y, and Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget have been selected as 2022 Women Achievers of Arizona by Arizona Capitol Times.
They join 20 other individuals who will be honored at the 2022 Women Achievers of Arizona luncheon to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at the Phoenix Art Museum, 1625 N Central Ave, Phoenix
Click here for ticket information.
The 2022 Women Achievers of Arizona celebrates the accomplishments of top women in numerous fields, the publication reported.Amidst a challenging year, these leaders persevered and excelled. Their collective work helps Arizonans today and prepares the state for a flourishing future. The Achievers will also be profiled in a special edition of the Arizona Capitol Times.

GRCA Wildlife Safety Reminder: 2022 Elk Rut Season

From now through fall, male elk are in a period known as the rut. During this time, they become territorial and may become aggressive if approached or threatened. Please do not approach elk, stay a safe distance of 100 feet (30m) away, and never water or feed them for any reason.

The NAU Review — The search for a Valley Fever vaccine, being a tourist in your own town and reducing gastric cancer rates on the Navajo Nation

Is Valley Fever the next epidemic? In Arizona, where the fungal disease thrives, it’s a major health concern—one that’s increasing as climate change leads to hotter, drier regions nationwide. It’s critical enough that congressional leaders gave the National Institutes of Health a mandate to develop a Valley Fever vaccine in the next decade. Paul Keim, executive director of the Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, is leading a $7.5 million collaborative effort with the University of Washington School of Medicine to develop that vaccine, with PMI professors Bridget Barker and Erik Settles playing key roles in the research.

Buffalo Park closure scheduled for Sept. 27 – Sept. 28

A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Sept. 28 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.

Bilingual report — North Country Healthcare presenting 3rd annual ‘Well Woman Health Check Screening Event’ on Sept. 23, 24

Hello! We wanted to spread the word about an amazing event happening here in Flagstaff on Saturday September 24th between 8am-12pm. It is the Well Woman Healthcheck Screening Event Hosted by North Country HealthCare.

Various services will be offered at the event such as preventative screenings, health insurance navigation, health education resources, and connection to providers as well as follow-up care. We want to highlight in particular the breast and cervical screenings that will be offered at no-cost.

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Hola! Quisieríamos anunciarles un evento increíble que tendrá lugar aquí en Flagstaff el sábado 24 de septiembre entre las 8 de la mañana hasta las 12 de la tarde. Este evento es el Well Woman Healthcheck organizado por North Country HealthCare.

Se ofrecerán varios servicios en el evento, como exámenes preventivos, navegación de seguros médicos, recursos de educación para la salud y conexión con proveedores. Quisieramos enfatizar en particular los exámenes de senos y los exámenes cervicales que se ofrecerán sin costo alguono.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 19-23, 2022

National Public Lands Day this Saturday, September 24

This Saturday, September 24th marks Public Lands Day and a Fee Free Day on all NPS lands.

The public is invited to celebrate National Public Lands Day at 1 p.m. (Mountain Daylight Time) September 24 by observing the release of captive-bred California condors into the wild at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument.

The event also will be live streamed via The Peregrine Fund’s YouTube channel beginning at 12:30 p.m. (MDT). Viewers can set a reminder to join the release, which is scheduled for 1 p.m. (MDT) noon local time in northern Arizona (Mountain Standard Time) but ultimately depends on when the birds choose to leave their release pen. There will be a picture-in-picture set up with a camera trained on the release pen; videos and interviews with condor biologists and conservationists who work with these massive birds will be included. Viewers also will be able to have their questions answered live by the team.

The historical California Condor population declined to just 22 individuals in the 1980s when the greater California Condor Recovery Program was initiated to save the species from extinction. As of May 2022, there were 113 condors in the rugged, canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah. The total world population of endangered California condors numbers more than 550 individuals, with more than half of them winging across the skies of Arizona, Utah, California and Mexico.

United Way of Northern Arizona Annual Campaign Begins Today (Sept. 22)!

Step Up for Our Community and be part of the movement that is continuing to make positive, lasting changes in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties by donating today to the United Way of Northern Arizona.

Together we can:

Improve early childhood development through education initiatives like KinderCamp™ and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.
Encourage positive youth development to ensure strong and resilient teens.
Help our neighbors in times of emergency by providing basic needs for safety and security.

The NAU Review — How to get involved, NAU’s secret garden and Notes from the President

When Michelle Gardner arrived at NAU as a freshman, she didn’t know a single person. She wanted to make friends but had no idea how to meet people. Then, she attended the Welcome Week Club Fair and learned about New Student Government. She didn’t have a particular interest in government, but the people at the booth were nice, so she decided to get involved. The rest is history. She went on to join the Honors program, work for The Lumberjack newspaper, serve as an orientation leader, teach HON/NAU 100 and even host a radio show on KJACK—making countless friends and even more memories that shaped her entire college experience. Nearly two decades later, she now serves as the director of the Office of Leadership & Engagement and helps ensure all Lumberjacks have access to finding their own “home” or community. She has simple advice for students: GET INVOLVED—it will change your life.

Participants needed for NAU study — The effect of e-cigarette use on residential PM2.5 concentration, inflammatory markers, and endothelial function

The NAU Cardiovascular Regulation Lab would like to invite you to participate in a research study about e-cigarettes. We are seeking both student e-cigarette users and student non e-cigarette users. The purpose of this study is to compare the air quality, blood vessel function, and inflammatory markers between e-cigarette users and non-e-cigarette users. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Purchase CCC&Y 50th Anniversary celebration tickets by Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 to gain extra benefits

Purchase tickets by Friday, Sept. 30, 2022 to gain extra benefits including extra drink ticket.

Purchasing a table by Sept. 30 will also allow you to nominate someone to be recognized in our program. This is a great way to showcase your organization both as a table holder but also a team member and their work!

Super Bonus: Organization members are able to honor a person (they will honor two people with their table purchase). It is not too late to become a member organization but it must be done by Sept. 30 for this particular benefit.

So whether individual tickets or tables, membership or not, make sure to join us and take advantage of extra goodies when done before Sept. 30.

Please help us celebrate the stars in our community who helped make this last 50 years such a success – and come help us get the next 50 years off to a great start!

We are encouraging cocktail fancy attire, or culturally traditional dress, or your celebratory take on the evening.  However, this is not required.  Your attendance is more important than a dress code!

Coconino County Parks & Recreation September Update

Thank you! 

Thanks to all the workers, volunteers, superintendents, sponsors, partners, vendors, entertainers, exhibitors, contractors, and attendees of the 2022 Coconino County Fair.

More than 42,000 people visited over Labor Day weekend.

If you were inspired by this year’s event, please start thinking about a project you might want to enter next year. From gardening to collecting, there are many opportunities to be part of the Fair. See you at the County Fair next year!

Grand Canyon National Park Will Ease Water Restrictions

Water delivery to Grand Canyon National Park’s South and North rims has been restored and the park is beginning a phased approach to easing water restrictions. The amount of water in reservoir tanks is increasing daily and once sustainable levels are reached the park will continue to ease water restrictions.

The following operational changes will be in effect beginning on Tuesday, September 20:

Fifty-eight Bison Successfully Relocated from Grand Canyon’s North Rim

On September 11, Grand Canyon wildlife managers successfully relocated 58 bison from the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. All bison were transferred to the Intertribal Buffalo Council, who transported the animals to the Iowa Tribe of Oklahoma and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota.   

Since reduction efforts began in 2018, park staff have removed 203 bison from the North Rim with 182 transferred to eight different American Indian tribes through an agreement with the InterTribal Buffalo Council.    

United Way of Northern Arizona — Strategic Plan for Northeast AZ Underway

United Way of Northern Arizona is in the process of developing a plan to bolster our work in northeastern Arizona and support our nonprofit partners in Navajo and Apache counties. 

The strategic plan being developed is similar to a process we went through several years ago in the greater Flagstaff region, which allowed us to refocus our efforts on the most critical needs in Coconino County.

A special Task Force has been assembled for this project and is being led by Eric Scott, Human Resource and Risk Manager for Navajo County and a member of the UWNA Board.