Category: Local

The Flagstaff Oktoberfest is this Saturday, Oct. 2

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 It’s officially time for one of Flagstaff’s favorite events; the Flagstaff Oktoberfest! 

After having to cancel in 2020, The Flagstaff Oktoberfest, will celebrate 12 years on Saturday October 2nd in Wheeler Park, in Downtown Flagstaff.

But the fun doesn’t end with music, food and drinks. As always, we will have all our favorite contests during this event, such as the Hops on Birch Men’s and Women’s Beer Stein Holding Contest, The Frozen T-Shirt Contest, The Vienna Beef Weiner Man Race and Satchmo’s BBQ Brat Eating Contest!

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CCC — Flagstaff issues proclamation for adult education, literacy

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Imagine looking for work and not being able to feel comfortable crafting a cover letter, or even filling out the application.

Imagine the difficulty finding a job to support your family because you didn’t finish high school. Imagine not being able to speak, read and write English well enough to get a job in your field of study, or to fit into your community well.

According to the National Coalition on Adult Basic Education, there are more than 51 million people in the United States with low literacy skills. Additionally, it has been proved time and time again that as literacy skills increase, quality of life for individuals and their families increases.

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Coconino County presents Hispanic Heritage Month program ‘Climate Change and Action,’ a panel discussion at noon Sept. 24

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As Coconino County Diversity Team continue to celebrate, learn, share, and create awareness during Hispanic Heritage Month, we are inviting you to the presentation “Climate Change and Action,’ a panel discussion from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24.

Click here or on image below to join.

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CDC Approves Pfizer COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose for Certain Populations

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sept. 23 approved a single booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine (Comirnaty) in certain populations who received the first two doses of Pfizer vaccine.

The Pfizer vaccine booster dose is approved to be administered at least six months after completion of the primary series of Pfizer (Comirnaty) vaccine in:

persons age 65+ and long-term care facility residents;
persons aged 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions;
persons based on individual benefit and risk who are aged 18-49 years with underlying medical conditions.

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up for Sept. 20-24 — National Public Lands Day and more news

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This Saturday, September 25 will mark the 26th annual Condor Release at the Vermilion Cliffs as part of National Public Lands Day. 

Due to high Covid-19 transmission levels in counties surrounding the condor release site, and to help prevent further spread of the virus, partners hosting the event are strongly encouraging the public to attend the live stream event online. In 2020, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the team took the celebration online with more than 10,000 viewers of the event. Because of that success, the event will be live streamed again this year. 

The programming for the live virtual event will begin at 10:30 am (Arizona time). The release pen will be open at 11 a.m. (Arizona time). 

The virtual event can be viewed here on the Peregrine Fund’s YouTube Channel.

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The NAU Review — Kitchen connection, International Day of Sign Language and notes from the president

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All this week, Lumberjacks have shown up to NAU’s test kitchen, masked and ready to chop, wash, roast, bake and box up delectable meals to go to members of the Flagstaff community. The School of Hotel and Restaurant Management collaborated with the Flagstaff Family Food Center, which closed for a week for renovations, to make sure no one went to bed hungry. Community members, faculty, staff and a lot of students—some with kitchen experience, some without—pitched in to make sure people who needed it got a hot meal made special with Lumberjack love.

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Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Flagstaff’s Active Transportation Master Plan meetings on Sept. 29, Oct. 7, 16, 19

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View this email in your browser Provide Input on Flagstaff’s Active Transportation Master Plan Help guide the City to improve the pedestrian and bicycle environment in Flagstaff The City of Flagstaff has released the draft Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP)…

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United Way of Northern Arizona — UWNA Summit Society Spotlight: Lowell Observatory

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There are many companies and organizations that enable United Way of Northern Arizona to do the work it does to Step Up for Our Community. From large entities like W.L. Gore & Associates and local governments to businesses with much smaller staffs, each is essential to our mission and we are grateful to all of them.

In the history of the Summit Society, and the creation of UWNA as a whole, Lowell Observatory holds a special place, however. In fact, it was the wife of a Lowell astronomer who helped found the United Way in Flagstaff more than 50 years ago.

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Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Flagstaff Festival of Science returns with Science in the Park. More events scheduled this week and more news

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The 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science kicked off this past Friday with the W. L. Gore Keynote Presentation: “When Stones Speak: Decoding the Messages Embedded in Ancient Maya Monuments” with Dr. Jaime Awe of Northern Arizona University.

That event was followed Snook’s Science in the Park, which featured local science and technology organizations with science experiments and demonstrations at Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff. The festival continues through Sunday, Sept. 26.

During the park event, youth had the opportunity to explore life-saving medical devices with innovators and engineers under the W. L. Gore & Associates tents, view the talented athletes from Momentum Aerial as they leap and spin above the ground, with young people exploring the world of magnets at the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth tent.

The 10-day festival features a mix of in-person activities, live streamed webinars and pre-recorded videos. A full listing of events is available by going to scifest.org and clicking on the 2021 digital passport. Events that require a reservation are denoted on the passport. Tickets for most of the events requiring a reservation can be found at flgscifest.eventbrite.com. The EventBrite page also provides a means to register for the live webinars. 

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Goodwill of Central and Northern Arizona announces workshops Sept. 22, Oct. 5, 6, 7, 14, 15

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Below is the schedule of upcoming Goodwill Workshops!  For details on signing up, please call 928-556-5096 or come in the Career Center to register.  Note that our classes and workshops will be offered only Virtually until further notice, and space is limited.

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Lone Tree Overpass Project Sept. 21 presentation postponed

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The presentation on the Lone Tree Overpass Project that was scheduled for discussion at the September 21, 2021City Council meeting has been postponed. It will be rescheduled for Council discussion at the earliest opportunity.

There is a virtual Lone Tree Overpass Project Community Meeting scheduled for Thursday, September 30, 2021 from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. This Community Meeting will go ahead as planned. The City of Flagstaff encourages the public to participate in both online and by phone to provide input on this important project.

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The NAU Review — Native Americans in STEM, a Latinx cookbook, making big data more accessible

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What’s the best way to encourage Native American students to go into STEM fields, including scientific computing? Give them opportunities for hands-on learning and mentoring well before they hit college. That’s the goal of a collaborative program, which will send NAU researchers into K-12 schools throughout the Southwest to create awareness of diverse career opportunities in scientific computing, introduce students to state-of-the-art scientific computing software, allow them to ask questions and gain experience, then bring them to NAU’s campus, helping students see college and STEM careers in their future. The program also centers Native American researchers, giving students mentors who come from the same background and understand their experiences.

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City of Flagstaff to hold Special Council Work Session on alternate response care center on Sept. 25

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The City of Flagstaff is hosting a Special Council Work Session on Friday, September 24th between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. to discuss an alternate response care center. A care center is a proposed component of the City’s Public Safety Alternate Response Model. The purpose of the Model is to engage those in need with the most appropriate services and keep them safe while reducing the amount of contact with the justice system and emergency room, when possible.

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Coconino County presents Hispanic Heritage Month program ‘Clap When You Land’ by Elizabeth Acevedo at noon Sept. 22 and other events this week

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As Coconino County Diversity Team continue to celebrate, learn, share, and create awareness during Hispanic Heritage Month, we are inviting you to the presentation “Clap When You Land” by Elizabeth Acevedo from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22.

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Coconino County presents Hispanic Heritage Month ‘My Life in Peru’ with Patricia ‘Pati’ Wilcox at noon Sept. 20 and other events this week

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As Coconino County Diversity Team continue to celebrate, learn, share, and create awareness during Hispanic Heritage Month, we are inviting you to “My Life in Peru” with Patricia “Pati” Wilcox from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 20.

Click here or on image below to join.

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Coconino County presents Hispanic Heritage Month: My PUERTO RICO Experience – Show N Tell on Sept. 17

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As Coconino County Diversity Team continue to celebrate, learn, share, and create awareness during Hispanic Heritage Month, we are inviting you to our Show N Tell with Keillynée Méndez on Puerto Rico’s culture and customs from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17.

Click here or on image below to join.

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Bilingual report — Sunnyside Neighborhood Association to host 18th annual ‘Fiesta de Independencia’ on Sept. 19 at the Market of Dreams / Mercado de los Sueños

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The Sunnyside Neighborhood Association will host 18th annual “Fiesta de Independencia”  from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19 at the Market of Dreams / Mercado de los Sueños, 2532 E. 7th Ave., Flagstaff.

FREE EVENT! Featuring live music from Los Alambrados, Alena Chavez, and DJ Classik! There will be a piñata for the kids. Come and celebrate Independence! There will be food for purchase at the event.

The Mexican Consulate of Phoenix, AZ will perform the historic “El Grito” at 4:30 p.m.

People who have not been vaccinated are asked to wear masks. Masking in general is encouraged and supported. Social distancing encouraged. Please bring your own chair!

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Flagstaff Festival of Science — Don’t Miss This Year’s Outdoor Fair: Science in the Park! on Sept. 18

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You’ve likely seen them soaring high above canyons and perching in tall pine trees, and now, majestic birds of prey like the Harris Hawk, American Kestrel and Ferruginous Hawk will share Wheeler Park with families as the International Raptor and Falcon Center introduces learners of all ages to these predators of the sky.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18, Science in the Park will feature live animals, microscopic organisms and prehistoric cultures.

Join us at Wheeler Park!

Build a Puebloan wall, create pictographs, play catch with a robot and safely view the sun!

Explore life-saving medical devices with innovators and engineers under the W. L. Gore & Associates tents and maybe even be a heart surgeon for the day!

And, don’t miss the talented athletes from Momentum Aerial as they leap and spin above the ground! Watch these artists demonstrate the laws of physics that keep them up in the air and their audiences on their toes! 

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Meet the 2021 Annual Campaign Leaders

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We are excited to announce that long-time United Way supporters Andy Bertelsen and Susan Hilgart will be leading this year’s United Way of Northern Arizona Annual Campaign, which officially kicks off with a virtual event later this month.

Both Andy and Susan are long-time civil servants with impressive resumes in the public sector.

Andy, who recently became the Interim Water Services Director for the City of Flagstaff after five years as Public Works Director, will be the campaign’s spokesman for Coconino County. Andy is a Summit Society member has been involved with UWNA for 15 years, including several years as Treasurer on the Board of Directors before becoming Vice Chair and eventually Chairman of the Board.

Meanwhile, Susan, the Deputy Director of Human Services and Public Health Improvement for Navajo County, will represent Apache and Navajo counties. Although she only came to northern Arizona from Minnesota a few years ago, she has been involved with United Way organizations for more than three decades.

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City of Flagstaff announces Karen Cooper Flagstaff Urban Trail detour

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As part of the Coconino Estates Improvements Phase II Project, the Karen Cooper portion of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS) will be temporarily closed between Crescent Drive and Lantern Lane while crews install a new sewer main from Crescent into the Rio de Flag sewer main.

A detour will be posted and FUTS traffic will be re-routed down Lantern Lane, near the Ditch Pool, to either the Fort Valley FUTS or along Crescent/Talkington. Re-routed traffic will then link back up with the Karen Cooper FUTS at the Crescent intersection. Please follow the marked signage to get to your destination.

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Profile America Facts for Features — Hispanic Heritage Month 2021

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Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates the culture and contributions of Americans tracing their roots to Spain, Mexico, Central America, South America and the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean. The observance was born in 1968 when Congress authorized the president to issue an annual proclamation designating National Hispanic Heritage Week. Two decades later, lawmakers expanded it to a monthlong celebration, stretching from September 15 to October 15.

Hispanic Heritage Month — like its shorter precursor — always starts on September 15, a historically significant day marking the independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. The designated period is also a nod to those from Mexico and Chile, which celebrate their independence September 16 and September 18, respectively.

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Sept. 13-17, 2021

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On September 9, President Biden issued new Federal COVID vaccine guidance by Executive Order. While we don’t yet know the specifics of implementation, we do know that all federal employees, contractors and partners will be required to be vaccinated. According to the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force, “Federal Executive Branch employees must be fully vaccinated, except in limited circumstances where an employee is legally entitled to a reasonable accommodation. Agencies must work expeditiously so that their employees are fully vaccinated as quickly as possible and by no later than November 22, 2021.” The full document can be viewed here.

The purpose of this and related orders are to protect the American public, since COVID-19 continues to be spread in the US primarily by unvaccinated people, and because unfortunately, not enough people have been vaccinated to generate herd immunity to prevent the virus from mutating into new and more dangerous variants such as the Delta variant.   

Specific guidance will be coming out soon on implementation of the vaccination requirement.   

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The NAU Review — Breaking borders, gearing up for success and online learning day

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Carlos Zavala, a student veteran majoring in finance, joined the army as a way to help him achieve his educational goals. “I came to NAU because of the Veteran Success Center. They were really helpful when I was trying to set up my benefits and made me feel really comfortable. That is the environment I wanted to be in,” he said. Through the VSC, Zavala was able to enroll in a class in which other veterans shared their stories of success, inspiring him to dream bigger than he thought possible.

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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Coconino County Presents ‘Let’s Speak Spanish!!’ with Audra Travelbee online on Sept. 16

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The Coconino County Diversity Team, Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and partners recognize Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of programs designed to educate, share and create awareness.

AZ Culture Connect will present “Let’s Speak Spanish!!’ with Audra Travelbee online” from noon to 1 p.m.

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The Flagstaff Oktoberfest (Oct. 2) is almost here!

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It’s officially time for one of Flagstaff’s favorite events; the Flagstaff Oktoberfest! 

After having to cancel in 2020, The Flagstaff Oktoberfest, will celebrate 12 years on Saturday October 2nd in Wheeler Park, in Downtown Flagstaff.

But the fun doesn’t end with music, food and drinks. As always, we will have all our favorite contests during this event, such as the Hops on Birch Men’s and Women’s Beer Stein Holding Contest, The Frozen T-Shirt Contest, The Vienna Beef Weiner Man Race and Satchmo’s BBQ Brat Eating Contest!

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Federal Major Disaster Declaration impact on Coconino County

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The Federal Major Disaster Declaration announced (Sept 14) by the Biden Administration applies to Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties related to emergency events from July 22-24.

This declaration is a mechanism for the state to recover funds from the federal government for their response efforts. It will have an indirect impact on Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff with a potential for some funding to address flood impacts only to public infrastructure that occurred within this timeframe.

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Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y to present ‘The Science of Childhood Trauma and Why We Should Care’ on Sept. 24 at the 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science

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CCC&Y will present “The Science of Childhood Trauma and Why We Should Care” at 4 p.m. Friday, Sept. 24 at the 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) have a large and costly impact on society. Fortunately, with all that we know about trauma and resilience, including the 50-year longitudinal study in Kuai and the groundbreaking ACEs study, we know there is much we can all do. Community awareness and knowledge are important to begin healing.
Join us for this Flagstaff Festival of Science event Sponsored by the Coalition for Children & Youth.
Trainer: Virginia Watahomigie, M.ADM Executive Director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth.
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Discover Flagstaff — Flagstaff Festival of Science (Sept. 17-26) and more events

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Flagstaff Festival of Science
Friday 17 Plein Air Demonstration at Buffalo Park. 4 p.m.; free.
Friday 17 Stories in Stone with Dr Awe, Ardrey Auditorium. 7 p.m.; free.
Saturday 18 Plein Air Demonstration at Wheeler Park. 10 a.m.; free.
Saturday 18 Snook’s Science in the Park, Wheeler Park. 10 a.m.; free.
Sunday 19 Cultural Cooking Workshop. 1 p.m.; free.
Sunday 19 The State of the Climate. Virtual event. 3 p.m.; free.
Monday-Wednesday 20-22 Bedtime Stories. Virtual event. 7 p.m.; free.
Tuesday 21 Cloud Walk in Buffalo Park. 2 p.m.; free.
Tuesday 21 Intersectional Struggles and Maya Identity Among Western Honduras Indigenous Communities. 5 p.m.; free.

Learn More

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The NAU Review — Celebrating Hispanic and Latina/o/x Heritage Month

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“The overall goal I have for celebrating Hispanic, Latina/o/x Heritage Month on campus is for students who identify that way to know they have a community of support here at NAU,” Vidal Mendoza, assistant director of Hispanic, Latina/o/x Initiatives, said. “Cultural representation is something I valued as an NAU student, and I am sure many students today still feel the same.” Image courtesy of the National Archives.

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In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Coconino County Presents ‘ESPERANZA’ with virtual events on Sept. 15, 16 and 17

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The Coconino County Diversity Team, Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and partners recognize Hispanic Heritage Month with a series of programs designed to educate, share and create awareness.

Please join us, and share with your departments, social media networks, family and friends, as we come together to Engage, Celebrate, Reflect,Embrace, our Cultural Differences while Empowering each other.

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Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Transportation, Trees and Our Local Economy

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The recent ECoNA Advisory Council meeting was proof positive that many of our community’s efforts to make our environment cleaner and safer also serve the needs of our local economy.

The Council heard from representatives of the Northern Arizona Intergovernmental Transportation Authority (NAIPTA), which operates the Mountain Line bus system; the regional MetroPlan organization and a professor with the Ecology Restoration Institute (ERI), an independent research branch of Northern Arizona University.

Voters have always been supportive of NAIPTA and its environmental goals. Back in 2008, NAIPTA received voter approval to begin transitioning from diesel to hybrid buses and now the entire fleet of 29 fixed route buses are hybrid. In 2016, voters renewed extending the transit tax that helps support NAIPTA with an impressive 71% voting in favor of the measure.

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Climate change-themed artwork installed on Mountain Line buses

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Through a collaboration between the City of Flagstaff’s Beautification and Public Art Commission and the Sustainability Commission, Mountain Line recently installed artwork reflecting the theme of climate change and hope on five of its buses. The project accomplishes several goals, including spreading hopeful climate change messaging, beautifying the city’s streetscape and providing opportunity for artists in the Flagstaff community.

Designs by Dana Kamberg, Beau Arenas Ortiz, Kayley Quick, Luke Giles, and Nate Nise were selected by community members and the artists will be recognized at the September 21 Flagstaff City Council meeting. Photos of the designs, along with brief biographies of the artists, can be found at https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/4673/Climate-Change-and-Hope-Bus-Artwork.

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Reservations Required for Keynote Presentation September 17th

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The 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science will explore “Stories in Stone” on September 17-26 in Flagstaff, Arizona. The W.L. Gore & Associates Flagstaff Festival of Science Keynote presentation with Jaime Awe, Ph.D. is FREE and will be held at NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium on September 17, 2021. There is limited seating, and advanced reservation is required. Due to social distancing, the auditorium will be at a quarter of the capacity. The Keynote can also be live-streamed from the comfort of your own home!

Doors open at 6:00 pm. Beginning at 6:30 pm, the Festival presents a ballet dance from the NAU Community Music & Dance Academy. The in-person keynote talk as well as the live stream will begin at 7:00 pm. 

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New Preliminary Flood Maps Issued for Oak Creek Area; Updated Maps Show Flood Risks Have Changed

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Coconino County announced this week that updated, digital flood hazard maps for the Coconino County, Yavapai County, and City of Sedona sections of Oak Creek are available for public review and comment.

These maps, known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs), show the extent to which areas recently re-mapped in Oak Creek and its tributaries are at risk for flooding. This covers the area from Sterling Canyon in Coconino County, through the City of Sedona down to Cornville. Used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements, the new flood maps replace maps that were based on studies more than 30 years old.

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NAU takes part in Hispanic Serving Institutions Week ‘Librito Drive-Bilingual Book Drive’

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… In celebration of Northern Arizona University’s first year of being able to partake in the 2021 National Hispanic Serving Institutes Week, we would like to kick off our 1st annual Librito (Little Book) Drive. Donate a bilingual book (all ages) for the Flagstaff Community…

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Grand Canyon National Park — Wildlife SAFETY REMINDER: Elk Rut Season

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From August to early winter, male elk are in a period known as the rut. During this time they become territorial and will attack 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.

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NAU Celebrates Hispanic, Latina/o/x Heritage Month

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Beginning Sept. 15, Northern Arizona University is celebrating Hispanic, Latina/o/x Heritage Month with a collection of events hosted by NAU’s Office of Inclusion. Through these events, NAU strives to honor the culture, history and diversity of individuals in the Latina/x/o community.

Hispanic, Latina/x/o Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1968 as Hispanic Heritage Week and was later expanded to cover a full month, lasting until Oct. 15, in 1988.

“The most important thing to me about Hispanic, Latina/o/x Heritage Month is recognizing the contributions of my history, culture and achievements that we have brought to this country,” said Vidal Mendoza, assistant director of Hispanic, Latina/o/x Initiatives at NAU. “As a Latina, staying connected with my roots is a huge part of my identity that I own with pride. Unfortunately, identifying as Hispanic or Latina/o/x isn’t necessarily looked upon with a smile or admiration. But even so, I am proud of identifying as a Latina, Mexicana or Chicana. I love my brown skin, rich culture and community. The diversity within our people is so vastly different and beautiful all at once.”

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 6-10, 2021

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National Hispanic Heritage Month kicks off next week 

September 15 to October 15 is celebrated nationwide as National Hispanic Heritage Month. It traditionally honors the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans as we celebrate heritage rooted in all Latin American countries. During this month and throughout the year, we, and our partners, share history, heritage, and accomplishments of Hispanic and Latino Americans of past and present. More information can be found here:
Hispanic Heritage Month – NPS Celebrates! (U.S. National Park Service)

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Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – September 2021

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The state of Baja California Sur in Mexico has a territory of almost 74,000 square kilometers, with 2,220 kilometers of beaches divided between the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of California. It enjoys pollutant-free waters which translates into higher quality and better flavor of its fish products. About 3% of the total population of the state is dedicated to fishing, with a fleet of almost 4,000 small boats and approximately 9,700 fishermen using practically the same fishing gear and techniques that were used 70 years ago.

Despite their important contribution to the economy, Mexican artisan fishermen constitute one of the most vulnerable segments of the population. The precariousness of their living conditions is manifested in their huts made of palm, cardboard sheets or planks, and with a dirt floor; and their villages generally lack the most basic public services such as drinking water, electricity, and sewerage. Their work is especially risky due to the conditions in which they do it since they sail in fragile boats with outboard motors and without navigation instruments. In addition, despite the fact that the fishermen’s trade is learned in the water, some of them cannot swim and do not use life-saving equipment.

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Dean Regas Named Next Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence

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Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) and Grand Canyon National Park are proud to announce the selection of the second Grand Canyon Astronomer in Residence, renowned educator, author, and astronomy expert, Dean Regas. He will live and work at the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park from November 16 to December 8, 2021.

Regas has been the astronomer for the Cincinnati Observatory since 2000 and was co-host of the PBS program “Star Gazers” from 2010 to 2019. He is the author of the books “Facts from Space” and “100 things to See in the Night Sky,” and is a contributing editor to Sky and Telescope Magazine and a contributor to Astronomy Magazine, from which he won the 2008 “Out-of-this-World” Award for astronomy education.

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United Way of Northern Arizona — Our Neighbors Need Your Help

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Monsoon season returned with a vengeance this year, pounding the Museum Fire burn scar and resulted in extensive damage to our community. Just look at the headlines from the past few weeks:

Historic Arizona flooding damages homes, leaves trail of debris
Flagstaff school closed due to flash flood damage
Ducey issues 2nd emergency declaration for Coconino County

In addition to the estimated $1 million in public infrastructure damage (not to mention the Killip Elementary School building being shuttered), much of the burden of this season has been shouldered by residential areas. Many homes were hard hit by flood waters – not once but multiple times – and now have extensive interior damage.

Please consider helping these neighbors by donating to the Crisis Response Fund.

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City of Flagstaff Neighborhood Sustainability Grant and Water Conservation Research Grant

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The City of Flagstaff’s Neighborhood Sustainability Grant and Water Conservation Research Grant are now open for applications through September 30, 2021.

Neighborhood Sustainability Grants can help launch or continue community sustainability projects related to food, waste, resilience, transportation, building energy, public health, or climate action.

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The NAU Review — When resources are sacred, what happens when they’re gone?

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As the climate changes and land, air and water are at risk, Native Americans are threatened in two ways. Many tribal members, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous peoples are seeing their water sources dry up or become toxic and their land become infertile or disappear under rising sea levels, putting these rural communities at greater risk from climate change. But there’s a deeper issue. For these peoples, who consider such resources sacred, their way of life and existence are coming under attack from rising global temperatures.

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Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science offers a ‘Passport’ to a variety of adventures for youth from Sept. 17 through 26

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FLAGSTAFF — From “En Plein Air in Flagstaff’s Open Spaces: Stories in Stone,” at Buffalo Park on Sept. 17, to the return of the “Science in the Park” on Sept. 18 and the “Flagstaff Star Party” at Buffalo Park on Sept. 30, the 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science (Sept. 17-26) provides families with a variety of events to choose from.

Click here to view the entire 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science Passport schedule.

The festival kicks off with the 2021 Keynote presentation — “When Stones Speak: Decoding the Messages Embedded in Ancient Maya Monuments” with Dr. Jaime Awe at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 17. Doors open at 6 p.m.

During the presentation, Dr. Awe will illuminate the Maya culture for audiences at Ardrey Auditorium, Northern Arizona University.

Full program of events to include Science in the Park, presentations, workshops, guided tours all taking place Sept. 17-26. With many programs led by outstanding Flagstaff scientists, Festival-goers will also have the opportunity to learn about other ancient cultures in this year’s archeological-themed festival. 

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Coconino County Parks & Recreation — County Fair this weekend — Su Majestad La Brissa to perform at 8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 5

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This year’s Coconino County Fair is Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-6
at Fort Tuthill County Park Fairgrounds in Flagstaff, AZ.
Thank you to our sponsors Swire Coca-Cola, Findlay Toyota Flagstaff, Friends of Coconino County Parks, Great Circle Media, and KNAU!

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Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces celebrates 2021 Summertime Tardeada

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Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces honored the region’s Hispanic roots by celebrating the return of the sixth annual “Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada — Mariachi and Folklorico Festival” on Saturday, Aug. 21 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church south of downtown Flagstaff

The free event drew a record crowd, according to event organizers, with the entertainment stage featuring Mariachi Herencia de Cuco Del Cid and Nueva Vibra, both from Tucson, Ballet Folklorico de Colores and Alena Chavez from Flagstaff.

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Coconino Community College — The Comet — Local. Affordable. Quality Education

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Local. Affordable. Quality Education.

Our marketing and public relations team at Coconino Community College decided on those words to describe the college because they have meaning, and they help paint a picture for every student we serve concerning what they can expect from us.

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The NAU Review — Who’s to blame for COVID-19? Depends who you ask and more news

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It’s safe to assume American politics has played a significant role in the COVID-19 pandemic, and different ideas about contagion, health behaviors and the actions of governing bodies impacted the spread of the virus and its subsequent effect on our lives. This, of course, was just a theory—until now.

Lisa Hardy, associate professor in NAU’s Department of Anthropology and director of the Social Science Community Engagement Lab, is the lead author on a study that looked at sociocultural responses to the virus and identified differences and similarities in anxiety, fear, blame and perceptions of the country across political divides.

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Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 30-Sept. 3, 2021

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GCC Celebration of Art Kicks off in September

The 13th annual Celebration of Art kicks off this month at Grand Canyon. Beginning September 11th, artists will be coming to the South Rim to paint outside on location for one week. During this time, the public will be able to view the artists as they paint, capturing the ever-changing light and shadows of the canyon.

This year’s event will be a hybrid of on-site and online programming to welcome a wide variety of art enthusiasts. Here is the current schedule of events.

Now through September 18: Interested people can view the online catalog and preview studio paintings. Studio painting intent-to-purchase request forms are available to submit online, and are linked from each painting in the catalog.
September 3-18: There will be an online silent auction featuring specially selected original pieces from each participating artist.
September 11-17: Artists will be painting “en plein air” (or, outside on location) throughout the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park.
September 17: A featured artist will paint outside near Verkamp’s Visitor Center from 3 – 6 p.m.

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Coconino County Offices closed in Honor of Labor Day

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All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed Monday, September 6, 2021, in honor of Labor Day.

While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed on Labor Day, Dispatch, Patrol and Detention will be operating under normal schedules. Please dial 9-1-1 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency Dispatch number or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices. 

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City of Flagstaff announces Labor Day closures

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Flagstaff’s City Hall offices at 211 W. Aspen Ave. will be closed Sept. 6, 2021 in observance of Labor Day. City Hall offices will reopen Sept. 7, 2021.

City of Flagstaff facilities that are also closed on Labor 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.)
Siler Homes Activity Center / Tynkertopia (3330 E. Elder Dr.)

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Applicants sought from Coconino County for the Fredonia Moccasin Unified School District #6

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Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for Fredonia Moccasin Unified School District #6.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment.   Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

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