Category: Local

Community concludes 2024 Hispanic Heritage Month with variety of events

From a print making demonstration by Southern California artists visiting Flagstaff, to an Ofrenda 101 cultural education session for county employees and an information display at a local library, the community found a number of ways to celebrate the end of Hispanic Heritage Month in Coconino County.

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The HeArt Box gallery in downtown Flagstaff presented “Sendero Gráfico: Southwest Route” with Los Angeles artists Daniel González and Pável Acevedo on Oct. 15.

The artists displayed and sold a variety of their print work during the event, many which touched on Day of the Dead and the Mexican graphic art tradition. They also demonstrated their ink screen making talents, with patrons purchasing an array of clothing featuring their artwork.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Register NOW! for CCC&Y’s System Change Symposium, a virtual community experience on Oct. 22 or 23

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — With less than a week to go, the time to register is NOW! for the Coconino Coalition of Children & Youth’s “System Change Symposium” Zoom presentation. Participants can choose Oct. 22 or Oct. 23 to attend the Virtual Community Experience.

The event will provide details on What is System Change? Why Do We Need It? How Do We Make It Happen?

It will also provide information on How do we come together for true change? How do we address root cause issues and create positive outcomes, health and thriving for all?

The System Change Symposium includes such presenters as:

• Kevin Campbell, an American Child Protection, Health Care Innovator and co-founder of Pale Blue with Elizabeth Wendel, MSW, LSW, will help viewers understand the human toll and outcomes of current systems and give us practical ideas for making change now.

• David Martinez III of Vitalist Health Foundation, who will talk about “What is Systems Change and Why They Fund It”

• Iya Affo, founder of Heal Historical Trauma, who will provide examples of policy, systems and inequity

• Andrea Meronuck of Northland Family Health Center and Pearl Santillan of First Things First, who will provide information on mindfulness, self compassion and/or mental health models

• Dr. Sandra Solano, founder of Integro, who will talk about HeartMath, trauma and use for systems change work

• and a message from Flagstaff Mayor, Becky Daggett

READ MORE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 14-18, 2024

Grand Canyon Hosts Successful Indigenous People’s Day Events
On Indigenous People’s Day hundreds of people watched dance performances at two locations. On the canyon rim, in front of Hopi house Crown Dancers from the White Mountain Apache, danced as the clouds cast mood lighting on them. Participants watched as the boys performed dances intended for blessing and healing. Their crowns represented four mountains that are sacred to the Apache and each dancer called “angelic beings”, spirits who lived on the mountains, to come into the crowd.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — View Art in Person this Sunday! F3’s Native American Art Auction

This Sunday Oct. 20th is your chance to view the auction items for sale in F3’s Native American Art Auction. Many beautiful Native American rugs, baskets, pottery, jewelry, and paintings have been donated to F3 by Martha Blue and Oliver (Ollie) W. Johnson. This is an important fundraiser for F3.

All the art items can be viewed in person from 2:00-5:00 pm at Restoration Bodyworks, 222 E. Birch Ave, Suite 2, Flagstaff.

Sedona Arts Center — Don’t miss these Sedona Plein Air Festival Events!

Saturday, October 19, 10am – Noon
Main Street Paint Out
Stroll up and down Uptown Sedona on 89A, from Sedona Arts enter to the Pink Jeep Café, and watch artists paint their surroundings in real time. This event will be
judged by artist Bruce Aiken, an acclaimed Grand Canyon and American Southwest painter. Awards and artworks sale begin at 12:30 p.m. at Sedona Arts Center.

City of Flagstaff — 60-Day Public Review – Regional Plan 2045

The 60-Day Public Review for the DRAFT Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan is here, and we need your help! Your feedback on the proposed content is crucial to bringing our community’s vision to life. Your comments will directly shape the final plan and what appears on next year’s ballot. All comments from the public review period are due on Thursday, December 19, 2024, at 5 pm. 

Sedona Arts Center — The BIG School Email!

Into the Night: A Nocturne Plein Air Workshop
with Krystal W. Brown
October 28–30: Monday – Wednesday

Painting nocturnes is one of Krystal’s favorite things to paint and so is giving you the tools and techniques to create successfully…no matter the time of day. You will learn from Krystal how to choose the best sight, set up, and process to paint nocturnes from life which will help you carry the last rays of the day into the night in your work. You will effectively learn how to remove the “Fear Factor” from any nighttime scene in a way that fits in with your unique creativity and skill set.

Coconino National Forest accepting applicants for Women in Wildland Fire program

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest is now accepting applicants for next April’s Women in Wildland Fire training camp.

Women in Wildland Fire camp participants will gain a greater understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of wildland firefighting in a supportive and educational environment.

Upon completion of the program, participants will receive the beginning qualifications needed to start a career in wildfire, whether it be as a firefighter or a supporting role.

City of Flagstaff — Full closure of portion of Zuni Drive scheduled for reconstruction project

FLAGSTAFF — A full closure of Zuni Drive between Leupp Drive and Lone Tree Road will begin on Wednesday, Oct 23 for two to three weeks as part of the City’s annual Road Repair and Street Safety Program. While it was previously communicated that this project would reduce Zuni Drive to a single lane with flagging operations, it has since been updated to a full closure. During this time, motorists will need to detour around the area utilizing Lone Tree Road, JW Powell Boulevard and Lake Mary Road. Pedestrians and cyclists will need to detour through the work zone utilizing a portion of the Bow and Arrow Trail.

Coconino National Forest seeking additional public input for Red Rock Trails Access Plan Phase II

SEDONA — After input from the public, community leaders, and user groups, the Red Rock Ranger District is releasing the Red Rock Trails Access Plan Phase II for additional public comments, from Oct. 16 to Nov. 14.

The plan proposes trail enhancements, including adding approximately 31 miles of new non-motorized trails and re-routing and naturalizing other trails, within the Turkey Creek area of the Coconino National Forest. This area is located in the Village of Oak Creek in Yavapai County.

Members of the public can view the recent Scoping Letter and associated maps on the project webpage at https://tinyurl.com/RedRockAccessPhaseII.

Sedona Arts Center — THIS FRIDAY! 20th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival

Sedona Arts Center presents the 20th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival Nation’s top plein air painters featured in week-long event starting October 18, 2024.
 
More than 20 renowned plein air artists from across the country will capture Sedona’s extraordinary landscapes during Sedona Arts Center’s 20th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival October 18-26, 2024. The week-long event features artist demonstrations, paint outs, juried art competitions and more.

St. Mary’s Food Bank — Help Us Make a Difference This Holiday Season – Volunteer Opportunities Available!

As the holiday season approaches, St. Mary’s Food Bank is preparing for our annual **Holiday Food Distributions** across several locations, and we need your help to make these events a success! Your support will ensure that families in our community receive the nourishment they need during this special time of year.

Prescribed burn planned on Coconino National Forest this week

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest plans to conduct the following prescribed burn project, beginning tomorrow for the next two days.

UBC 2 (Upper Beaver Creek) Project

Dates: Oct. 16-17
Location: 16 miles southeast of Munds Park, near Stoneman Lake. 
Size: 500 acres.

Reminder — Coconino County Board of Supervisors to read proclamation at 6 p.m. Oct. 15 honoring life of CHAC founding member Miguel Vasquez

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will read a proclamation at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 honoring life of Miguel Vasquez, who passed away on Sunday, Oct. 6.

Vasquez Ph.D, Professor of Anthropology (Emeritus) Northern Arizona, was a founding member of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC).

A native of San Francisco, he recently retired as an applied anthropologist who worked with Latino, Mayan, Native American, African American, and disabled adult communities for almost 50 years. He was recognized as an NAU President’s Distinguished Teaching Fellow. In his 32 years at NAU, he taught nearly 12,000 students at the undergraduate and graduate levels, according to his biography on the county’s CHAC website.

The NAU Review —Timber. Check out Flagstaff’s logging history, photos of NAU through the decades and our progress to carbon neutrality

‘¡Presente!’ One person’s Hispanic heritage story

Assistant professor Marco Cabrera Geserick believes Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month is a time to remember that “we are here, we have been here, we will be here.”

Sedona Arts Center announces passing of Dennis Ott

It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague, Dennis Ott. Dennis passed away peacefully at home on Saturday evening. To say that he will be missed is an understatement.

A beloved, award-winning instructor and head of our Ceramics Department for 30+ years, Dennis served on the board and was Chair two separate times. He felt so strongly about the future direction of the Arts Center that he recently rejoined the board to help as much as he could.

Dennis has been a leading and valuable contributor to the greater Sedona community, taking on Loving Bowls which provided funds to several organizations for 15 years. Dennis has touched countless lives over the years, including all of ours. Dennis has been Sedona Arts Center’s biggest cheerleader and most committed advocate. He was always there to provide a hug or words of encouragement when times were overwhelming or tough. He had a way of always making everything better.

2024 Flagstaff Festival of Science presents The Festival Fête — Ticket sale closes Oct. 21

Ticket sales will close for The Festival Fête on October 21. Please reserve your tickets today to be a part of this dynamic celebration that includes a costume party, science experience stations, auction, raffle, DJ, guest speaker, catered dinner, Photo Booth and more!

The Festival Fête takes place on the evening of Saturday, October 26th at the Coconino Center for the Arts. This benefit celebration honors 35 years of the Flagstaff Festival of Science!

This is your LAST CHANCE to purchase tickets! Don’t delay!

Coconino National Forest accepting applicants for Women in Wildland Fire program

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest is now accepting applicants for next April’s Women in Wildland Fire training camp.

Women in Wildland Fire camp participants will gain a greater understanding of the challenges and responsibilities of wildland firefighting in a supportive and educational environment.

Upon completion of the program, participants will receive the beginning qualifications needed to start a career in wildfire, whether it be as a firefighter or a supporting role.

The program consists of a combination of online and field training. During online training modules, participants will learn about topics such as wildland fire behavior, firefighting strategy and safety, and the wildland fire job application process.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Bidding Begins Today for F3’s Native American Art Auction

F3’s Native American Art Auction begins online today! This is an important fundraiser for F3. Now is the time to bid on the many beautiful Native American rugs, baskets, pottery, jewelry, and paintings donated to F3 by Martha Blue and Oliver (Ollie) W. Johnson. Access the auction here: https://onlinefundraiser.events/F3NativeAmericanArtAuction.

F3 would appreciate if you would forward this email to your friends and neighbors. Thank you!

Discover Flagstaff — Sendero Gráfico: Southwest Route with Daniel González and Pável Acevedo, The HeArt Box on Oct. 15

Tuesday, October 15
Sendero Gráfico: Southwest Route with Daniel González and Pável Acevedo, The HeArt Box.

Sendero Gráfico is a one day only event with Southern California printmakers, Daniel González and Pável Acevedo. Come shop artwork from 4-7pm, followed by a special presentation on Day of the Dead and the Mexican graphic art tradition.

Voting Early? Be Sure to Understand Prop. 482

COCONINO COUNTY — Early voting in Coconino County began Oct. 9 and early ballots have been mailed.

Since there are many elected offices and propositions to vote on this year, remember to vote on both sides of the ballot, and find your local propositions toward the bottom of the ballot. Local ballot initiatives have the most direct impact on communities because counties, cities, and towns provide essential services like law enforcement, road maintenance, healthcare, and disaster response to residents. 

Coconino County — Early Voting Has Started for Nov. 5 General Election

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Recorder’s office has mailed over 64,800 early ballots to registered voters for the upcoming November 5 General Election.  Early voters that are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and have not received their ballots by Wednesday, October 16 should call the Recorder’s Office at 928-679-7860 or 800-793-6181 to make sure there is not a problem with their voter registration status or mailing address.

Registered voters that are not on the AEVL may request an early ballot be mailed to them by calling the Recorder’s Office, sending a written request to Coconino County Recorder’s Office, 110 E. Cherry Avenue, Flagstaff, AZ, 86001, or submitting an on-line request.  The deadline to request an early ballot to be mailed to a voter is October 25. 

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Oct. 7-11, 2024

Fire managers from the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service, who are part of the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, have delayed the previously planned prescribed burns on the North Kaibab Ranger District and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The timing of these operations will now depend on favorable weather conditions, resource availability, and the status of the National Preparedness Level, which is currently at Level 5.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — The Power of Workforce Visualization

How can a community better plan for its workforce needs?

Given the increasing complexity of our economy and the difficulty of obtaining reliable data, it can be challenging for policymakers, businesses, and educators to plan for future growth.

That challenge is being addressed by the Arizona Education and Workforce Visualization Project, part of the Arizona State University / Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence.

The director of the Decision Center, Dr. Joe O’Reilly, will be presenting on the tools from the visualization project at an upcoming meeting of ECoNA’s Advisory Council.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Important Voting Information and F3’s Guide

F3 believes strongly in civic engagement and we hold the vision that community members should participate fully at every level of decision-making. F3’s strives to provide voters with information to assist in making decisions regarding our local elections by providing our Candidate Questionnaires for City Council and, new this year, the Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) School Board.

F3 has also produced our election year “Voter’s Guide to State and Local Propositions 2024.” This Guide will assist voters in understanding the three city and county propositions on the ballot, as well as the 13 state propositions.

United Way of Northern Arizona is hiring

To better serve our communities and Lead the Way in improving lives in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties, United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) is hiring for three key positions.

These positions will be open until filled and the application review process for all three will begin this Monday, October 14.

We would appreciate your help in spreading the word. If you or someone you know would be a great fit for one of these roles, please check out the job details below and feel free to forward this email to potential candidates!

City of Flagstaff hosts Indigenous Peoples Day celebration event on Oct. 14

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff will host an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Monday, Oct. 14, 2024. The event, titled “Reflecting | Honoring | Resilience: Voices for Land and Community”, will take place from 9a.m. to 2p.m. and will feature presentations and cultural shares through songs and dances. Lunch will be served to attendees. The event will be held at the Elks Lodge (2101 N San Francisco St.) A schedule of the event will be posted on the City’s website.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — FBN publishes ‘Promoting a Healthy Community through Trauma-Informed Systems Change’

Editor’s note — The Flagstaff Business News published the following guest contribution on Oct. 4, 2024 by Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett written with support of CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie.

By Becky Daggett • Guest contribution to the Flagstaff Business News

During the post-wildfire flooding of 2021, I witnessed interactions between people who were worried, tired and angry. Residents, volunteers and staff were all scrambling to protect homes, find solutions and bring relief to those impacted. We were all doing our best during a time when nobody’s best seemed good enough. As my time as a city councilmember and then mayor has progressed, I’ve gotten to know many city staff and I see how difficult and stressful their jobs often are.

Most would agree that people seem to be experiencing unprecedented levels of stress. This stress can sometimes result in negative – and at times, angry – interactions between people. What some of us don’t realize is that there are past situations and circumstances that can lead us into these negative interactions.

The Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y) has been supporting child well-being for more than 50 years in our community. Through child abuse prevention efforts, including education about Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES), CCC&Y has galvanized support, education and awareness to support our community  … Since 2016, CCC&Y has tried to get this information into the hands of greater numbers of our community because the effects of childhood trauma are experienced not only individually, but also by the community. We all have a role to play in the healing. Further, the effects are not limited to childhood. …
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Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie approached me about a three-year change grant they were about to apply for through Vitalyst Health Foundation and we discussed getting the city involved in their project. Believing that the project had the potential to make lives better for people across our community, I enthusiastically agreed to discuss the opportunity with our city manager. He agreed, as did leadership from Coconino County. …

Read the entire guest contribution here in the Flagstaff Business News​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

City of Flagstaff offices closed on Indigenous Peoples Day

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed on Monday, Oct. 14 in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. City Hall offices will reopen Tuesday, Oct. 15 from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Indigenous Peoples Day include:

East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N. Fourth St.)
Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library (300 W. Aspen Ave.)
Hal Jensen Recreation Center (2403 N. Izabel St.)
Joe C. Montoya Community and Senior Center (245 N. Thorpe Rd.)
Hazardous Products Center (6770 E Landfill Rd.)

The NAU Review — NAU’s 100th Homecoming is around the corner! Plus, breakthroughs in hearing loss science and student-led speech disorder intervention

Get ready for NAU’s 100th Homecoming!

This year’s Homecoming festivities are set for Oct. 14-19, and that means it’s time to dust off your blue and yellow flannel and get ready for a week of nonstop fun! We’re marking this important anniversary with some of the Lumberjack community’s favorite traditions, including the Homecoming parade, the ASNAU carnival, a delicious chili cook-off and a special pre-game tailgate. Browse all these events and more, plan out your week and get pumped to celebrate a century of NAU school spirit! 

Sedona Arts Center — CALL TO ARTISTS (Updated Dates)

Application Deadline: October 11, 2024

This two-day Holiday Artist Market held December 7-8, 2024 will feature approximately 25 artists from Sedona and the surrounding towns and cities.
Who should apply: Artists and makers, 18 years and older, who create beautiful and functional works are welcome to apply, however space is limited and preference will be given to Sedona Arts Center Artist Members first to fill the limited slots.

Community invited to take part in online conversation on Oct. 11 to support health and wellbeing of Latina mothers in Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF — The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) at Northern Arizona University is inviting Flagstaff community members who are either Latina mothers or are individuals who have a strong connection with the Latina mother community in Flagstaff to a special conversation event.

CHER is hosting a small group discussion that will occur online through Zoom that will focus on how NAU researchers and community members can work together to better support the health and wellbeing of Latina mothers in Flagstaff. (See attached flyer.) We have reserved online space for up to 6 participants for this event.

Prescribed burns planned on Coconino National Forest week of Oct. 7

FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino National Forest plans to continue work on several prescribed burn projects this week that will help restore healthier conditions to the fire-adapted ponderosa pine forests of northern Arizona.

Prescribed burns will be canceled if weather conditions – such as temperature, wind or humidity – do not meet the criteria outlined in the burn plans.

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library Week of 10/7/24

View this email in your browser October 7th, 2024 Connect with your community Upcoming Library Closures Adult & All-Ages Events Book Clubs Youth Events Friends of the Library Technology Help To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability,…

City of Flagstaff — Inner Basin Waterline repair project complete after wildfire damage

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and the Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger District are proud to announce the substantial completion of the Inner Basin Waterline repair project. The project repaired an important water pipeline that delivers two to four million gallons of water per day to Flagstaff that was damaged by post-wildfire flooding from the 2022 Pipeline Fire.

Theatrikos Theatre Co. October Newsletter ~ 2025 Season Recently Announced!

The Book of Will —October 4 – 20

Without William Shakespeare, we wouldn’t have literary masterpieces like Macbeth, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. But without Henry Condell and John Heminges, we would have lost nearly all of Shakespeare’s plays forever! After the death of their friend and mentor, the two actors are determined to compile the First Folio and preserve the words that shaped their lives. They’ll just have to borrow, beg, and band together to get it done. Amidst the noise and color of Elizabethan London, The Book of Willfinds an unforgettable true story of love, loss, and laughter, and sheds new light on a man you may think you know. “As I was preparing for the character, what really struck me was the amount of loss he had experienced in his life. He had nine children with his wife and only three made it to adulthood. I imagine the words of Shakespeare helped him process, understand and survive all of that grief. He couldn’t allow the words that had meant so much to him to be lost to time and it drove him to preserve the words which immeasurably influenced the world in which we live more than 400 years later.” Said Kyle Cawood who plays Henry Condell.

Book of Will runs through October 20.

Blue Stem Prescribed Fire Complete, Rx Burns Continuing on Williams Ranger District This Week

WILLIAMS — Fire managers have successfully treated 6904 acres on Tusayan Ranger District last week completing the Blue Stem Rx Fire Project and are moving back to the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project located just north of the City of Williams and Interstate 40, south of forest road 124, between Airport Road and the west side of Highway 64. 

Improving weather conditions have re-opened the opportunity for crews to return working in the local areas near Williams and Spring Valley. Plans are in place to begin ignitions on approximately 1500 acres of the Pronghorn and Cataract units of Three Sisters project on Tuesday October 8, and then move to the 4200 acre Marteen East Rx Fire Project later this same week. This project is located north of Spring Valley, west of forest road 144, and east of Laws Spring.

Coconino County Voter Registration Deadline Is Oct. 7 for General Election

FLAGSTAFF — The voter registration deadline for the November 5, 2024 General Election is Monday, Oct. 7, 2024. 

To register to vote, an individual must be a U.S. citizen, 18 years old by Election Day, reside within Coconino County and have no felony convictions, unless civil rights have been restored.

Registered voters who have moved, changed their name or wish to change their political party affiliation must re-register. 

October at the Museum of Northern Arizona — Please join us for the 21st Annual Celebraciones de la Gente

Dear Museum Friends,

As the vibrant colors of autumn arrive, we invite you to the Museum of Northern Arizona for a month of colorful events and cultural experiences.

Please join us for the 21st Annual Celebraciones de la Gente held with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces on October 26 and 27. The weekend festival honors the spirit of Día de los Muertos with remembrances, Latino art, mariachis, food, and a gathering of community. You’ll especially enjoy a meander through the Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard on Saturday evening to experience the traditional ofrendas (altars) glowing against the night sky.

Voter registration deadline for the General Election is Monday, Oct. 7th

COCONINO COUNTY — The voter registration deadline for the General Election is Monday, Oct. 7th. That is the last day to register to vote or update your voter registration! Register to vote online at servicearizona.com

Also, visit the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC)’s 2024 Elections Available for the Community webpage for information in English and español.

United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) to launch Literacy Fairs

United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) is in the planning stages of a new effort to increase the reading skills of young children through Literacy Fairs that target children who are below proficient reading levels.

The two fairs, the first of which will be held prior to the Thanksgiving holiday, are being made possible by a grant from Read On Arizona, the state’s early literacy initiative. One fair will be for second graders, while the other will focus on preschoolers.

UWNA is partnering with key local organizations to identify and reach out to students who may benefit from these fairs. The events will not only provide access to community resources, but also offer interactive workshops aimed at equipping families with practical literacy strategies.

“The workshops will focus on making literacy development fun and accessible, showcasing activities that can easily be integrated into everyday life—whether at home, in the park, or even in the car,” said UWNA President & CEO Liz Archuleta.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 30-Oct. 4, 2024

Beginning October 8, fire managers from the National Park Service and US Forest Service will initiate prescribed burns on the North Kaibab Ranger District and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. These operations, part of the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, will continue into December, depending on weather and fuel conditions.

Targeted areas for burning include Highway 67 near Jacob Lake, the Telephone Hills area, Demotte, and portions southwest of Forest Road 22 on the North Kaibab Ranger District, as well as areas near the North Rim Developed area and Cape Royal in the park.

Residents and visitors may notice smoke during ignition operations, especially along Highways 89A and 67. The Cape Royal Road will be closed from sunset on Oct. 13 through Oct. 18 while the road to Point Imperial will remain open.

A total of 25,371 acres on the North Kaibab Ranger District and 4,347 acres on the North Rim will be treated to reduce hazardous fuels and maintain the ecosystem’s natural fire processes. Fire managers will coordinate with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to mitigate potential smoke impacts.

Coconino National Forest — Resources responding to small wildfire in Schultz Pass area north of Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF — Resources are responding to the Hollow Fire, a roughly 1.5-acre wildfire located in the Schultz Pass area 5 miles north of Flagstaff.

Resources responding to the incident include two engines.

Firefighters are currently working to suppress the fire using adjacent trail systems as holding features.

Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim to Begin Day-Use Operations on Oct. 16, 2024

GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim will begin day-use operations on October 16, 2024. Grand Canyon Lodge will close, and no overnight accommodations, including camping, will be available to visitors. Those exploring the North Rim on or after October 16 should plan to be self-sufficient, bringing enough food and water for the day.

Available services will include a self-serve gas station that accepts only credit and debit cards for as long as State Route 67 remains open. After October 31, water will be available only at the North Rim Administration Building. The entrance gate on State Route 67 will close at sunset on November 30, 2024, or after the first major snowstorm, whichever comes first.

New Leadership Announced in the Coconino County Attorney’s Office

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Attorney’s Office has initiated a succession plan that includes the resignation and reassignment of County Attorney Bill Ring.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting today, Ring’s resignation was accepted, and he was appointed Chief Civil Deputy Attorney, while Chief Deputy County Attorney Ammon Barker was sworn in as interim County Attorney, and Senior Criminal Attorney Michael Tunink was appointed Chief Deputy County Attorney. All actions were approved by the Board of Supervisors.

North Kaibab and North Rim Grand Canyon Fire Managers Begin Fall Prescribed Fire Operations

FREDONIA — Beginning Oct. 8, National Park Service and USDA Forest Service fire managers, working together as the North Zone Interagency Fire Management Program, anticipate initiating prescribed burns on the North Kaibab Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest and the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Fire managers will be assessing weather, fuel moistures, and other conditions for opportunities to conduct burns safely and effectively into December.

Units targeted for spring burning are along Highway 67 near Jacob Lake, west of the Telephone Hills area, and in the vicinity of Demotte, and southwest of Forest Road 22 on the North Kaibab Ranger District, and along Highway 67 near the North Rim Developed area and the Cape Royal area within Grand Canyon National Park.

Coconino National Forest Fall 2024 Partnership Newsletter

… In my short time on the Coconino National Forest, the extreme diversity of what our forest has to offer has been amazing to experience. From low deserts and our world-renowned Red Rock Country to the remnants of an ancient volcano that stands as Arizona’s tallest peak to the Mogollon Rim that runs for hundreds of miles across central Arizona, the Coconino is an amazingly diverse forest unlike any that I have worked on.

Sedona Arts Center — NEW Online Crash Course just added!

iPhoneography ONLINE Crash Course
with Kelli Klymenko
October 11: Friday, 9am–2pm Arizona Time

In this workshop you will learn the basic concepts of Nature Journaling and overview and practice of illustration and watercolor.  Ed and Julie are both experienced hikers and began Nature Journaling many years ago while living in Phoenix. They have honed their process, focus and skills over the years and will share with their students a fun way to enhance their outdoor and hiking experience while creating a journal documenting their travels.

This one-day workshop will involve an up to 2.5 mile hike at a location in Sedona to be determined. 

Community invited to comment on draft Stormwater Management Design Manual

The Stormwater Management Design Manual has been developed to assist in the design and evaluation of public and private stormwater management facilities within the boundaries of the City of Flagstaff. The manual establishes stormwater management policies, design procedures, and design criteria for conducting hydrologic and hydraulic studies, designs, and evaluations. Revisions include updating outdated terms and conditions from the existing 2009 Stormwater Management Design Manual. 

Public surveys begin on the Kaibab National Forest

The National Visitor Use Monitoring (NVUM) survey is conducted every five years and provides an estimate of how many people recreate on the forest, what activities they engage in while there, and how satisfied people were with their visit. Economic impact to the local economy is also captured in the survey. This information is useful for forest planning as well as local community tourism planning.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on Oct. 3 to share your story

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 3. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.
The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.
Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org​​​​​​​ to be placed on the agenda.
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READ MORE​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The NAU Review — Celebrate OUTober and Disability Pride and Heritage Month + peruse pics from Family Weekend

Join the NAU community in a series of celebrations and conversations this month that shine a spotlight on the diversity and vibrancy of gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and other queer members of the Lumberjack community.

“What stands out about NAU’s LGBTQIA2S+ community is its incredible resiliency, determination and ability to occupy spaces that were never originally meant for us,” said Souksavanh Keovorabouth, a Diné who identifies as Two-Spirit and an assistant professor of women and gender studies and applied Indigenous studies. “It is vital for NAU to celebrate and recognize this community because we represent a diverse array of experiences and identities that enrich the university culture.”

Community invited to share guiding ideas for new Flagstaff City logo

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff invites the community to take a short survey to share ideas for a new City logo. The survey will ask respondents about broad concepts that will serve as inspiration for the design of a new logo, as it is crucial to the City that the logo design represents the history, culture, and values of the Flagstaff community as a whole. This survey is the first of several opportunities for the community to provide direct feedback on the logo project. To access the survey, visit flagstaf.az.gov/logo. The deadline to complete the survey is Oct. 25, 2024.

Three Sisters Rx Fire Postponed, Crews Move to Blue Stem Rx Project on Oct. 2

WILLIAMS — Unfavorable weather arriving to the local area overnight has persuaded Fire Managers to temporarily delay treatments on the Three Sisters Prescribed Fire Project until conditions improve that are more suitable for meeting project objectives.

Crews will shift operations to the 6900 acre Blue Stem Rx Project located on the Tusayan Ranger District located south of the Coconino Rim near Russell Tank and the Bucklar Ranch. There will be a temporary detour on approximately 7 miles of the Arizona Trail from forest road 310 to the Moqui Stage Station. Trail users will be diverted to forest roads 311 and 301 along the west side of the burn area, and are asked to follow designated routes posted along the trail until the detour is lifted. Operations are expected to last 3-4 days.

2023 Grand Canyon Drinking Water Quality Report now available

Grand Canyon National Park is required to annually distribute a consumer confidence report for the park’s drinking water. The purpose is to allow consumers to make educated decisions regarding any potential health risks pertaining to the quality, treatment, and management of drinking water.

To view the entire report, click on the button below. If you have any questions or comments about this report or your public water supply, please contact the GRCA Water Utility team at 928-638-7898.

Flagstaff water conservation program named 2024 EPA WaterSense Partner of the Year

FLAGSTAFF — On Thursday, Sept. 26, the City of Flagstaff Water Conservation Program was named 2024 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense Partner of the Year. Awards were conferred at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas, Nev.

WaterSense and its more than 2,000 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, and other organizational partners make it possible for consumers and businesses to save water, energy, and money by producing and promoting water-efficient products, homes, and programs. Since 2006, WaterSense partners have helped save 8.7 trillion gallons of water and $207 billion on consumer utility bills.