Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — June 6-10, 2022

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We have transitioned to Medium at the community level, as of June 2nd.

The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County continues to be High. All 15 Arizona counties are now in High community transmission.

Total cases in Arizona for the week of May 26 – June 1, was 13,042, which is an average of 1,863 cases per day for the seven-day rolling average. There were approximately 14 new cases reported in the park this past week. That brings the park total up to an estimated 272 cases, and 427 cases for the 86023 zip code, since the beginning of the pandemic.

Have you had your booster?

You might be asking the question, who is eligible to get a booster?

According to the CDC:

Recommended 1 Booster

• Everyone ages 5 years and older should get 1 booster at least 5 months after completing their COVID-19 vaccine primary series.

Recommended 2 Boosters

• Adults ages 50 years and older
• People ages 12 years and older who are moderately or severely immunocompromised

For information on vaccine availability in Coconino County and in your local area, visit the county’s website here or the CDC’s vaccination page.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, the Cultural Demonstration Program has resumed in person. The Cultural Demonstration program provides an opportunity for visitors and community members to interact with Tribal artisans from Grand Canyon’s Traditionally Associated Tribes – and for them to share their history and crafts, along with the skills, knowledge, and efforts involved in creating each craft. This series is made possible with grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy and ArtPlace America.

On Thursday June 9 and Friday, June 10, from 9 AM to 4 PM, Gerald Lomaventema, Hopi silversmith and Jerrel Singer, Diné painter, will be demonstrating their arts at the Desert View Visitor Center shade structure, just north of the main parking lot. For more information on the Cultural Demonstration Program, please visit the park’s website here.

Below are the two demonstrators’ profiles:

Gerald Lomaventema is a traditional Hopi silversmith. He is known for one-of-a-kind silver overlay masterpieces, with designs inspired by nature and Hopi culture.

Jerrel Singer, a Diné Painter, originally from Tuba City, is an abstract landscape artist. His work captures the light, colors and shadows of the Diné Nation and the Desert Southwest.

Grand Canyon fire restrictions and exceptions for local residents

Due to increased fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park, the Town of Tusayan, as well as the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests transitioned to Stage 2 fire restrictions on May 26. Under Stage 2 restrictions, building or maintaining an outdoor fire and smoking are prohibited (see exceptions below).

Additionally, operating or using any internal combustion engine such as chainsaws, wood splitters, weed eaters, generators, welders, or any other devices that can cause a fire are prohibited. This prohibition does not include street legal vehicles.

Exceptions:

• Permits for work with these devices can be granted through the GRCA hot work permit process managed by GRCA Structure Fire. For more information and to submit a hot work permit, either see this attached flyer or fill out this online form.
• For local residents, outside smoking will be permitted in designated areas clear of vegetation and at least 30’ feet from buildings. These areas include sidewalks, parking lots, or large graveled areas and these areas must be equipped with a cigarette disposal receptacle with a lid and dirt and/or sand inside. The receptacle should also be affixed or arranged so that it does not move during high winds.

More information on fire restrictions and fire danger ratings, please visit the park’s fire information page here. The map below from the National Interagency Fire Center shows the wildland fire potential outlook for June 2022.

The 32nd annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 18, 2022, through Saturday, June 25, 2022, on both South and North rims of Grand Canyon National Park. National parks such as Grand Canyon are protective havens for some of the last remaining dark skies in the United States. This is the first onsite event since 2019.

The event is sponsored by the National Park Service, the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association (South Rim), and the Saguaro Astronomy Club of Phoenix (North Rim), with funding from Grand Canyon Conservancy and in partnership with the International Dark-Sky Association.

Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their telescopes and expertise for the enjoyment of park visitors. Numerous telescopes will offer views of planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars, as well as double stars, star clusters, nebulae, distant galaxies—and the Moon, earlier in the week. By day, keep an eye out for solar telescopes pointed at the sun. Weather permitting, expect spectacular views of the universe!

For additional information on the Grand Canyon Star Party visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/grand-canyon-star-party.htm, or contact Rader Lane at 928-638-7641.

The Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff has begun exhibiting “Night Visions VIII,” an international juried art exhibition, now in its 8th iteration. The exhibit is an artistic celebration of our night skies, co-produced with the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition.

From our Interpretation Division, the audience-centered film, Night Requiem, was submitted and accepted into the exhibition. We are pleased to announce that Grand Canyon’s piece was awarded Best of Show! This is the second time we’ve received this honor. A $1,000 donation will be made to the Division of Interpretation and Resource Education soon.

Special thanks for our “dark sky ranger” Rader Lane and GCC for their help and support in creating this piece and their efforts to continue Grand Canyon’s Dark Sky Initiative!

Summer School begans: traffic safety reminders

The official last day for the Grand Canyon Unified School District was Wednesday, May 25. Summer School began in-person Wednesday, June 1 and will continue through June 30, 2022. The hours for summer school will be Monday-Thursday from 7:50 a.m.-2 p.m. each day.

As a reminder, there will still be children traveling to and from the school during this period and many more children out and about in residential areas during the summer days ahead.

Please drive slowly through streets adjacent to the school, including: Albright Avenue, Boulder Street, Coconino Street, and Center Road. As always, drive below the speed limit in residential areas and help keep our children and community safe.

Upcoming external Environmental and Safety Audit

GRCA will have a Third Party External Environmental and Safety Audit in September. A small team has gotten together to send out reminders for important things to look for in your work center to help the park prepare for this audit.

If you are interested in helping with this endeavor or joining the GRCA team, please contact kim_park@nps.gov or christina_ryan-miller@nps.gov.

South Rim District Report Available

See what South Rim Patrol has been up to over the past few weeks by reading the latest South Rim District Report here.

• South Rim District Report for period ending May 28, 2022

Intermountain Regional

Award Winners

Wildlife biologist Miranda Terwillinger and Superintendent Ed Keable, along with facilities management lead Matt Snider,  were recognized by Intermountain Regional Director Mike Snyder for their roles exhibiting excellence in natural resource management.  Science and Resource Management presented awards to Ed and Miranda during their pot-luck lunch on Tuesday, June 8th.  Congratulations!

Blood Drive at Rec Center on June 14

The Rec Center will again be hosting a community blood drive through Vitalant on Tuesday, June 14 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Appointments are strongly suggested, and to schedule, individuals can visit www.donors.vitalant.org with blood drive code: “grandcyn.”

More information on this event can be found in the attached flyer and also through the Grand Canyon Rec Center.

Rotary Club Grant applications open for local non-profits

The Grand Canyon Rotary Club will be awarding grants up to $500 to non-profit organizations that need funding for a program and/or project that will benefit the Grand Canyon/Tusayan communities.

Applicants should send a brief letter describing the program/project by June 30, 2022. Award recipients will be announced at the July 4th community event in Tusayan. For more information on this grant, please see the attached flyer here.

South Rim

Xanterra

• Maswik Lodge Cafeteria, 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
• Bright Angel Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-11 a.m.
• Bright Angel Fountain grab and go, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Burger, breakfast 8:00-10:30 a.m., lunch 11 a.m.- 3 p.m., dinner 4-9 p.m.
• The Arizona Steakhouse, Tuesday-Saturday from 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Fred Harvey Tavern, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Kennel-daily from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Rec Center, daily from 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Effective June 2, hours for the El Tovar Dining Room and Lounge has been adjusted.
• Breakfast, 6:30-10:00 a.m.
• Lunch, 11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Dinner, 4:30-9:30 p.m.
• Lounge, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m.
• Patio (limited menu), 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Delaware North

• Yavapai Lodge Tavern and Patio, 12-10 p.m.
• Yavapai Lodge Coffee Shop, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Canyon Village Market, 7 a.m.-8 p.m., Deli-7 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Camper Services: Laundry and shower hours, 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
• The Yavapai Dining Hall, breakfast, 7 a.m.-10:45 a.m., dinner service will resume beginning Monday, June 13, from 5 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Other

• Grand Canyon Clinic: Beginning Saturday, May 28, the Grand Canyon Clinic will be shifting to its summer hours. After this date the clinic will be open 7 days a week with hours of 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Bright Angel Bikes
• Rental: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Cafe-8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Grand Canyon Visitor Center (GCVC): This week, indoor operations at GCVC will resume. Hours will be daily from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. (see more information above)
• Grand Canyon Conservancy stores (Visitor Center Plaza, Yavapai Geology Museum, and Verkamps) 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.
• Grand Canyon Community Library: The library has resumed construction work and they are planning to reopen to the public in the near future.
• Until the library officially reopens, staff are conducting limited library operations, Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the south side of the building. On Fridays library staff are in Tusayan, providing library services at the Tusayan Town hall from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., including story time, arts and crafts and activities for children at 11 a.m.

Desert View

• Desert View Trading Post Coffee and Ice Cream and Market, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• Desert View Watchtower, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily
• The Desert View Deli,11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Desert View Information Table (staffed by NPS), 9 a.m.-4 p.m. (as staffing levels allow).

North Rim

• North Rim Lodge Dining Room, Breakfast: 6:30-10 a.m., Lunch: 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Dinner: 4:30-9:45 p.m.
• Deli in the Pines, 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
• Roughrider Saloon, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
• Coffee Saloon, 5:30-10:30 a.m.
• North Rim General Store: 7 a.m.-8 p.m.
• North Rim Service Station, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• GCC Bookstore/Visitor Center, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
• Roaring Springs Kiosk information, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

The following closures are in place:

• Maswik South Lodging
• Maswik Pizza Pub
• Kolb Studio
• Xanterra Food Truck

Please visit the Grand Canyon National Park website for a complete list of closures and available amenities.

• Night sky at Desert View. (NPS Photo/D. Pawlak).
• Strong winds lofted dust and pollen into the atmosphere during the afternoon. (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Photo of Jimmy Yawakia, Zuni fetish carver (NPS Photo)
• Photo of Duran Gasper, Zuni inlay jeweler (NPS Photo)
• Two separate vendors at the Tusayan Museum Market on Saturday, May 28 (NPS Photo/M. Quinn)
• Photos of Ed Keable and Sarah Reich near the Bright Angel Trailhead (NPS Photo)