A team of scientists, including Chad Trujillo of the Department of Astronomy and Planetary Science, has collected enough observations to determine the planetoid’s orbit based on its slow motion across the sky.
All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed Monday, Feb. 15 in
observance of Presidents’ Day.
The COVID-19 testing site at Coconino Community College on Lone Tree in Flagstaff will be open for saliva testing during typical hours of 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. The NAU Union Fieldhouse saliva testing site will operate from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Flagstaff city administrative functions will be closed in observance of Presidents’ Day on Feb. 15, 2021. City administrative functions will reopen on Feb. 16 with regular hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. City Hall remains closed to the public due to COVID-19.
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Deadline: 12:00 AM on February 19, 2021
Northern Arizona in winter has a lot going for it. The skiing and snowplay. The striking vistas of white-capped mountain peaks against a brilliant blue sky. The beer.
Actually, we enjoy our locally made potent potables all year long, but February is a special time as the state celebrates Arizona Beer Week, extended for a month this year due to the pandemic.
There are close to a dozen craft brew manufacturers from Williams (Grand Canyon Brewing Company, Historic Brewing Company) to Winslow (the RelicRoad Brewing Company), with the biggest concentration in Flagstaff. Some are standalone and others offer taprooms or restaurants.
Only those with a vaccine appointment, Flagstaff Snow Park/Flagstaff Extreme Adventure Course Ticket, or business at Luke Air Force Base may access Fort Tuthill.
Fort Tuthill County Park will be closed to the public this Friday, Feb. 12 through the end of the day Monday, Feb. 15, with the exception of those who have a scheduled COVID-19 vaccination appointment, a valid Flagstaff Snow Park/Flagstaff Extreme ticket, or official business at Luke Air Force Base.
Snow finally fell, like a sparkling blanket of hope laid across the landscape. Precipitation in any form is welcome after the driest year on record and we dare to dream that this is a harbinger of things to come – more rain, more vaccines, more ability to gather together. At the same time, we realize a single snowfall won’t end a drought. Nor will the other problems we face disappear quickly.
We are planning for this year with the same creativity, caution, and resilience that got us through last year, ready to continue adapting as we go along. This means many of our annual events are being planned to take place in new ways, and often we set a date closer to the event to assess the current conditions and make a final decision on whether we can go forward or not. Keep reading this newsletter and following us on social media to stay informed.
The Board of Supervisors will be considering a long-term debt proposal in Coconino County.
The long-term debt will be used to fund all or a portion of the County’s unfunded liabilities with respect to the Arizona Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.
The total estimated financing cost will be $24,001,952, consisting of an estimated principal amount of not to exceed $18,075,000 and total estimated interest of $5,926,952.
Imagine a community in which the effects of childhood trauma are clearly understood, the impact of inequitable experience is acknowledged, and people are aligned toward creating equitable access to assets and protective factors that support positive life outcomes. This hour-long free training — “Igniting Collective Action: Moving Beyond (Adverse Childhood Experiences)” — explores the roadmap to creating change at the community and system level by using the findings of both leadership research and today’s thought leaders.
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
Coconino County’s Statement on the Passing of Albert Hale
Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council Black History Month Essay Contest!
Coconino County Supports the Outdoors and Trails
AZ Court Help’s FREE Legal Talk Series
Boletín consular – Consulado De México
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Supervisor Horstman, County Manager Jayne, and Interim Director of Health and Human Services Musselman and I joined forces for an in-depth Facebook Live last week about the COVID-19 vaccine. They discussed why vaccine is limited, how we distribute vaccine to rural communities, and what we can do now to protect ourselves and others. Watch the full piece HERE.
The city of Sedona is looking for feedback on Plan Uptown, a public outreach effort that will result in a plan that guides new development, redevelopment and city projects in the Uptown commercial area.
Feedback from this Plan Uptown initiative will be folded into in the Uptown Community Focus Area (CFA) Plan, an addendum to the voter-approved Sedona Community Plan that serves as a guide for future development of this area. The Community Plan goals include improving traffic flow, walkability, housing diversity and environmental stewardship, and the CFA plan looks at how those goals can be achieved in Uptown.
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
African Diaspora Advisory Council Accepting Entries for its Black History Month Essay Contest
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
Additional COVID-19 Testing Options
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!
As some of you may already know, Dr. Ann Beck recently passed away unexpectedly. For those of you who didn’t have the opportunity to meet Ann, she was the Executive Director of The Literacy Center for over a decade. Ann passionately believed in education and literacy for all. Her commitment to TLC’s mission is why our organization is thriving today. For those of you who knew Ann, you already know that her energy, her drive, and her unwavering commitment to education were an incredible asset to the Flagstaff community.
Coconino County has opened registration for an additional 1,100 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for a special extended-hours vaccination event Feb. 12 – 16 at the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site. The County has been allocated these additional doses from the State of Arizona due to the high performance of Coconino County and partners at administering vaccine to the public.
Those interested in scheduling an appointment can visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine and navigate to the SPECIAL REGISTRATION – Fort Tuthill, Flagstaff First Dose link. Individuals without internet access or those who require assistance can call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300. Seniors aged 65 and over who need scheduling assistance will be placed on the County’s senior assistance list. The Information Line hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Religion is a difficult concept to define when we try to be inclusive of all human societies. We can say that religion is observable and measurable, that it is a cultural expression, and that it plays a definite role in society. As cultural anthropologists we can only attempt to describe and understand what people believe and do in regard to the sacred and supernatural, not judging whether those beliefs and actions are based in an objective truth or not.Take Arthur, for example, an 83-years old resident of Bisbee, Arizona. He has lived frugally in solitary in the hills of that town for 30 years and has spent his life building, with his own hands and using only indigenous materials, shrines to worship a wide variety of beings: Martin Luther King, Che Guevara, the Virgin of Guadalupe, Buddha, Quan-Yi, departed relatives and friends… The shrines have become increasingly popular, with dozens of people visiting them every day to pray, meditate, take pictures of what Arthur labels his ashram, or to simply be.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors met on Feb. 4 to hear from the public and decide upon next steps to fill the District 2 vacancy following the resignation of former Supervisor Liz Archuleta.
After hearing from several members of the public and reviewing approximately 75 emails from residents, the Board decided upon process to fill the vacancy.
Fort Tuthill County Park is open and free for passive slow play recreation. There is no dedicated sledding hill however.
Flagstaff Snow Park, which is located in Fort Tuthill County Park, makes snow in a dedicated area with tubing runs. Their website has more information and a link to purchase tickets, which are required to recreate in this area of the park.
For other sledding and snow play areas in and around Flagstaff, the City of Flagstaff publishes a winter recreation map and operates a winter snow play information line at 1-844-256-SNOW.
Coconino County’s three Diversity Councils recently elected new leaders. Officers for the Councils are elected for two-year terms by their fellow members.
Chairman Matt Ryan expressed his gratitude for the leadership of the Councils, “Our Diversity Councils have a long legacy of serving our community and advising and advocating to the Board of Supervisors on issues and policies that impact our diverse community. These newly elected leaders will work closely with the Board as we tackle significant challenges in the year ahead from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thank you to the officers and members of our Councils for their dedication to helping us grow a brighter future for Coconino County.”
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
Coconino County Diversity Councils Elect Leaders
County Superintendent of Schools to host 2021 Spelling BEE
COVID-19 Vaccine Update
Get Tested for COVID-19
NEW COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
NEW COVID-19 Weekly Report
Have Questions? Call the COVID-19 Information Line
Stay Connected with Us!
Coconino County has opened an additional 200 COVID-19 vaccination appointments for the week of Feb. 8 – 12 at the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site.
interested in scheduling an appointment can visit coconino.az.gov/covid19vaccine and navigate to the SPECIAL REGISTRATION – Fort Tuthill, Flagstaff First Dose link. Individuals without internet access or those who require assistance can call the Coconino County COVID-19 Information Line at 928-679-7300.
With dreams of becoming a pop star and also changing the world, Guadalupe Hernandez found herself pursuing a bachelor’s in early childhood education and early childhood special education.
Coconino County Vice-chairwoman Lena Fowler issued the following statement, on behalf of the Board of Supervisors, regarding the passing of former Navajo Nation President and Arizona State Legislator Albert Hale.
“We are all deeply saddened and humbled by the passing of Albert Hale, former President of the Navajo Nation and Arizona State Legislator who represented much of Coconino County. Albert was a colleague and friend to many of us and his loss leaves a deep void in our hearts. Navajo people knew him simply as Ahbihay, his grandmother’s name for him. He believed in the Navajo traditions and championed the rights of Native people and tribal sovereignty.”
In Dec. 2020, the Flagstaff City Council approved a Short Term Rental (STR) ordinance, outlining several new regulations for these property types. The ordinance requires all STRs in the community to register so the city can better monitor and track complaints as well streamline enforcement efforts.
The full ordinance can be found at https://www.codepublishing.com/AZ/Flagstaff/ in the City Code (Chapter 3-12). All STRs must be registered with the city by Feb. 7. Property owners and operators of STRs who have not received notice can contact ShortTermRental@flagstaffaz.gov to register the property.
Coconino County congratulates District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta for her appointment with the Biden-Harris Administration. Supervisor Archuleta resigns from the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening.
Coconino County congratulates District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta for her appointment with the Biden-Harris Administration.
“I am very honored to take this next step in public service. Serving the people of Coconino County has been a treasure. As I leave the Board of Supervisors, my heart will always remain with the community I call home and which has been so good to me,” said Supervisor Archuleta.
District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta has resigned to take position with the Biden-Harris Administration.
“I am very honored to take this next step in my public service. Serving the people of Coconino County has been a treasure. As I leave the Board of Supervisors, my heart will always remain with the community I call home and which has been so good to me,” she stated in a media release Tuesday evening. …
Chairman Matt Ryan expressed the County’s congratulations and gratitude to Supervisor Archuleta. “Coconino County has made tremendous progress over the last 24 years because of Supervisor Archuleta’s leadership and passion for public service. She has served as Chair during our most difficult times, including the current pandemic. We will miss our colleague and friend, but we are happy for her transition to a new level of public service. We know Liz will bring her energy, innovation, and steadfast commitment to public service to the federal government. On behalf of all of Coconino County we thank you Supervisor Archuleta, for your tremendous commitment and dedication to serving our County,” expressed Chairman Ryan.
This pandemic is challenging for all of us. CCC&Y has a weekly virtual meeting for parents and caregivers to connect and share resources. We have also launched “Creativity Calling,” specifically for youth! This monthly virtual opportunity provides youth a chance to share their thoughts and feelings through the arts. We are seeking youth to share their music, visual art, poetry, dance, theater, or cultural sharing!
Each month four youth will have a 10-minute spotlight.
Last spring semester, when classes began at Coconino Community College, students were busily passing through the halls of our campuses on their way to classes. Their attention was on their studies and on achieving their educational goals.
Then, just before Spring Break, the world started to take notice of the virus that was making its way across the globe – COVID-19. The world went on lockdown to try to halt the spread of the virus. Safety measures were put into place at CCC. Our halls and classrooms grew quiet. Faculty and staff, dedicated to delivering a quality, affordable education to students, worked long hours to offer classes online and through Zoom videoconferencing to keep the machinery of education moving so students could keep working toward their goals. Events were canceled, or they were held “virtually” in the digital world. A new kind of normal developed. Some of our students decided to wait until they could rejoin their fellow students and faculty in the classroom. Many of our students adapted to taking classes virtually, even if that was not what they preferred.
This spring, our halls and classrooms are still mostly quiet. All classes, except for ones that absolutely require an in-person component, continue to be online and through Zoom. Big events like the Commencement and Nurses Pinning ceremonies will again be virtual this May. Our signature fundraising event for the CCC Foundation, Palette to Palate, which supports the Fine Arts Department at CCC, will reimagine itself as a virtual event this April.
Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Click here to see all our online learning opportunities
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
The Park has reopened after closure over the weekend to the public due to vaccine administration interruptions.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors proclaimed February as National Black History Month.
Coconino County recognizes the rich and diverse history of the African Diaspora, a people who shaped continents all over the world.
Coconino County takes pride in the diversity of its residents and recognizes the many contributions of the past generations of our African Diaspora to our lumber and sawmill industries, and notably in the present generation of entrepreneurs, educators, artists, authors, scientists, athletes, community leaders and public servants.
Fort Tuthill was closed effectively Jan. 30 to the general public with the exception of those who have a scheduled vaccine appointment, a valid Flagstaff Snow Park ticket, or official business at Luke Air Force Base. The public traffic on Jan. 30 for those wishing to use the park for non-ticketed snow play is severely disrupting vaccine administration and traffic flow. Those without a vaccine appointment, a valid Snow Park ticket, or business on the Air Force Base will not be allowed to enter the Park.
Jiyoung Lee comes from South Korea, and Jose Landaverde comes from El Salvador. Kaoru Pierre comes from Japan, and Aurora Silleni comes from Italy. There’s Victor Parra from Mexico and May Henao from Colombia.
They may have come from all over the world, but they have one thing in common: They’re all taking classes with the Adult Education program at Coconino Community College to improve their English language skills.
“It’s college and career preparation,” said Jennifer Dennis, Adult Education instructor at CCC, of the class, which is an advanced English language-acquisition class. “A lot of our students have been through university in their home country.”
The Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public library will launch a new, online catalog for physical and online library materials on Feb. 1, 2021. The catalog was developed in response to requests for a more streamlined and straightforward navigation approach to accessing library materials and services. Patrons can access the new catalog by visiting www.flagstaffpubliclibrary.org. Video tutorials demonstrating how to access your library account and how to place a hold can be found at www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hvt_CP80kI8 and www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKQqeGG5Adc. Call (928) 213-2330 with any questions.
Coconino County is bringing you a new series, called the “In the Coconi-KNOW” on Facebook Live today at 12 noon.
Our team will discuss the latest County updates, news and of course, give you a look at the COVID situation in Coconino County. Tune in on the Coconino County Facebook page at noon today!
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors has appointed Cheryl Mango-Paget as Coconino County Superintendent of Schools effective immediately.
Mango-Paget has served as the Associate Superintendent for Coconino County since 2012, holds a certificate to teach in schools in the state of Arizona, and holds Arizona administrator and superintendent certifications. Mango-Paget has classroom experience as a teacher and administrator, and expertise and passion for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math Education (STEM).
Throughout the month of February, the NAU community is invited to a variety of virtual events that celebrate and recognize the achievements and vital role of African Americans in U.S. history.
Grain or barley. Hops. Yeast. Water.
Like the chords of a great blues tune, the ingredients to make beer are simple and few, but they are infinitely interchangeable for a complexity of experience that borders on heavenly.
Beginning Feb. 16, Coconino Community College Community Education will be hosting the non-credit course, “Northern Arizona Home Brew Academy,” led by Flagstaff-based Brewmeister Adam Harrington, owner of High Altitude Homebrew Supply and Bottle Shop.
“I love teaching what I know,” Harrington said. “It seems daunting, but it’s actually pretty easy.”
The Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public Library and East Flagstaff Community Library’s curbside services will not be available Feb. 1 -2 for a library software update.
Phone in reference services and placing holds on library materials will still be available.
One of Flagstaff’s oldest institutions, Lowell Observatory, is working with the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to draft revised bill language to address the management and development of Section 17, located immediately adjacent and west of the existing observatory campus on Observatory Mesa. Once the bill language is written, Lowell plans to ask Senator Kelly and Congressman O’Halleran to draft legislation through the Legislative Counsel.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors heard the message clearly at Tuesday’s board meeting: Coconino County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts are hampered by the lack of available vaccine doses.
Coconino County Interim Health and Human Services Director Kim Musselman informed the Board that the County and medical partners have capacity to administer approximately 1,300 doses of vaccine daily but give fewer than 400 doses each day due to the lack of supply.
Coconino County will only administer COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which currently includes the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. There are similarities and differences between the two:
Pfizer is for those ages 16 years and older, and requires 21 days between doses.
Moderna is for those ages 18 years and older, and requires 28 days between doses.
Both are safe and effective.
Both require two doses.
Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, recently sat down with KAFF Country for a recent Pete’s Community Cafe interview on childhood trauma issues impacting youth and families in the region and the use of techniques to promote healing, growth and build resiliency.
During the interview, Watahomigie discussed how CCC&Y tackles the issue through a variety of online training programs on its https://coconinokids.org/prevention/ webpage.
Twenty-five years in a row and counting.
Coconino Community College received recognition for its financial responsibility to the public by being awarded the Certificate of Achievement in Financial Reporting for its 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. The award is issued by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada.
“Receiving this recognition for 25 years is an amazing accomplishment,” said CCC’s Executive Vice President Dr. Jami Van Ess. “First, I want to thank the District Governing Board for their dedication to being good stewards of public funds.”
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Flagstaff was selected to receive a grant of approximately 17,000 new children’s books to help local families promote reading and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The donation was from The Molina Foundation as part of its Book Buddies 2020 program to promote literacy and is one result of the partnership between LAUNCH Flagstaff and Read On Arizona. Flagstaff’s receipt of this large number of new books and ability to provide them to local children and families is a result of the strong collaboration between community literacy organizations.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board voted Wednesday to name Dr. Nathaniel White as its next Chair.
“It has been a pleasure to work under the calm, steady leadership of Governing Board Chair Patty Garcia and with my dedicated Board members for the past several years,” White said. “It is an honor, and I look forward to being a part of the Governing Board and the CCC family as we optimistically move ahead in 2021.”
As the United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) grows in its commitment to Step Up for Our Youth, it’s important to ensure that the work we do aligns with our three core areas of focus: early childhood development, positive youth development, and supporting families in need.
With that in mind, we’ve been working diligently to transition the Volunteer Income Tax Assistant program to trusted partners so that thousands of local tax filers who have relied on VITA services in the past will continue to have access to them.
We are pleased to announce that United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona (UWTSA) and Northland Free Tax Assistance (NFTA) will be coordinating efforts to provide VITA services this year in our region. We are grateful to these two organizations for continuing our work so that northern Arizonans will keep receiving the tax refunds and credits they are entitled to.
Due to an increase in snowfall, vaccination appointments at Fort Tuthill in Flagstaff for today, January 25, from 1 p.m. and onward are cancelled.
Those with cancelled vaccine appointments will be contacted directly via email to reschedule. If you have a vaccination appointment scheduled up to and including 12 p.m. today, your appointment still stands and we are expecting you to arrive. Coconino County intends to operate the vaccination site tomorrow, Jan. 25, as usual. If additional weather conditions impact, the public will be notified and those with appointments will be provided rescheduling instructions.
Community members are preventing type 2 diabetes together with the FREE PreventT2 lifestyle change program offered by North Country HealthCare. 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.
Trash and recycling collections for both residential and commercial businesses is suspended for Monday, Jan. 25, 2021 due to worsening weather and road conditions. Solid Waste personnel will be redeployed to assist with snow operations. Trash and recycling collection will resume when conditions are safe.
The Coconino County COVID-19 testing site located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff will move to a new location effective Saturday, Jan. 23.
The move to the new site at Coconino Community College (CCC), 2800 S Lone Tree Rd. will allow the County to expand vaccine administration at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout the County when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.
With significant 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 the upcoming snow events. Snow operations will continue 24 hours a day through the winter event. First priority roadways for treatment are main arterials, major hills, downtown and school and transit routes. All other streets are considered second priority areas.
The Coconino County COVID-19 testing site located at Fort Tuthill County Park in Flagstaff will move to a new location effective Saturday, Jan. 23.
The move to the new site at Coconino Community College (CCC), 2800 S Lone Tree Rd. will allow the County to expand vaccine administration at Fort Tuthill County Park and at mobile sites throughout the County when additional doses of the COVID-19 vaccine become available.
The findings of the study, of which assistant professor Jason Ladner was a lead author, may also explain how previous exposure could partially account for differences in severity between old vs. young patients.
