The NAU Review — Protecting global supply chains, a marathoner’s Olympic dreams and a modern twist on Mozart

We all remember the empty shelves that marked the early days of the pandemic and the high fuel prices that accompanied the war in Ukraine. Access to food, water, energy and other supply chains is critical for the U.S. economy and the well-being of the American people, yet the infrastructure that keeps the supply chain moving is at risk—not only from world events but also from hackers or terrorists. NAU is building on its FEW-Viewtechnology, a groundbreaking project that maps the entire U.S. supply chain, to reduce these risks through data science and technology.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Dolly Parton Imagination Library Hits Major Milestone

Here are two statistics that should make you proud to be a United Way of Northern Arizona supporter, courtesy of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library (DPIL).

Last month, the Imagination Library passed a remarkable milestone with 200 million books gifted to children since its inception in 1995!
Then there’s this fun factoid – 1 in 10 children under the age of five in the United States receives Imagination Library books. That’s a lot of Little Engines that Could and Llama Llamas in Red Pajamas.

Running for two: Balancing motherhood with marathon training to cross the finish line

Mom, mental-health advocate, and self-described vintage curator, Callee Torrey is no stranger to the art of juggling. This mama can now add marathon runner to her title. Even more impressive, running the 26.2 miles for the first time all the while having to balance breastfeeding her baby. She literally stopped at mile 13.1 to breastfeed her baby and still managed a respectable time of (6:02) hours. She is unstoppable. This month’s HERstory is a celebration of motherhood and a testament to the strength and resilience of women.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y provides variety of free online training including ‘Thriving Families’

COCONINO COUNTY —
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth provides a variety of free online training programs for parents, caregivers and all community members.

Our free Thriving Families webinar is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to the topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness. It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.

With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals. Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.

Sedona Arts Center — Check out our Summer Youth Programming!

This summer Sedona Arts Center is launching Gallery 928, a unique art apprenticeship program for teens ages 15 to 18. Based on Chicago’s infamous Gallery 37 summer public art program started in the 1980s, students will be hired to apprentice with master artist Leonardo Beltran to create a public art mural for Sedona Arts Center.

This job opportunity is open to 12 artistic teens interested in expanding their skills and knowledge in the public art field as well as learning other art mediums and techniques. In partnership with Yavapai College, the students chosen to participate in the program will receive 4 free college credits. Students will also be paid a stipend of $500 from Sedona Arts Center for their participation. Gallery 928 is designed to provide participants with the knowledge and desire to consider a future as a professional artist.

The NAU Review — Celebrating Giving Day, opening the EDLC, discovering Irish heritage, learning ASL and studying the impacts of stress

Focusing on the future: NAU celebrates opening of Early Learning and Development Center 
On Monday, NAU celebrated 30 years of feasibility studies, task forces, promises to students, faculty and staff and a commitment to a bolder and brighter future for all Lumberjacks with the opening of the Early Learning and Development Center. This facility will set the gold standard for early childhood education for the NAU and Flagstaff communities. Amid the university and community leaders who attended the ribbon cutting, there were other VIPs—the NAU education graduates who will work at the ELDC, the student-parents who received life-changing grants to enroll their children in the center and even a few of the children who will attend.

Flagstaff stormwater rate increase effective April 1

The City of Flagstaff has adopted a new stormwater rate, equivalent to a 12 percent annual increase, effective April 1, 2023. The current rate will increase from $3.74 per equivalent rate unit (ERU) to $4.19 per ERU, then increase by 12 percent annually through 2028. Funding from the rate increases will be used to create enhanced flood mitigation and flood risk reduction through improved infrastructure and maintenance services.

Lane closures planned on Beaver St and Butler Ave for fiber installation starting April 1

Beginning April 1, the City of Flagstaff and its contractor, Network Cabling Systems, will be installing fiber-optic line in the Southside area of Flagstaff between Aspen Ave and Butler Ave. There will be lane closures from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Beaver St and Butler Ave, as well as mobile flagging operations along Phoenix Ave and Mikes Pike St. Work is expected to be completed by May 1.

This project will enable better traffic signal management on Butler, higher internet speeds at the Visitor’s Center, and future expansion of low-cost, high-speed internet access for the Flagstaff community.

The NAU Review — Celebrating HSI and inclusion work, Indigenous Youth Media Workshop and Rima Brusi answers our questions

Creating inclusive spaces: policing and education at NAU
Luis A. Fernandez, professor and chair of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, is also the Hispanic-Serving Institution Advisor to the Provost at NAU currently researching the impact of the Black Lives Matter movement on policing and how to create a more balanced approach to community safety while working to support Latinx students and increase their access to education. Fernandez aims to create inclusive spaces that promote safety, inclusivity and opportunity for all students.

Consulado de México en Phoenix — 15th edition of the Consular Newsletter on Economic and Tourism Affairs

I am sharing with you the 15th edition of the Consular Newsletter on Economic and Tourism Affairs of the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix.

#ArizonaThrives features an article from Arizona’s Secretary of State, Adrian Fontes, who points out the interdependence and common interests between Mexico and Arizona.

Construction of the Beulah/University Realignment project in Flagstaff to begin the week of April 3

The City of Flagstaff and its contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction,are set to begin Phase 1 of the Beulah/University Realignment Project the week of April 3, 2023.

Phase 1 of the project includes extending present-day Beulah Boulevard northward to present-day University Avenue, with a roundabout constructed at the new intersection. Present-day University Avenue will then be realigned, east of the new roundabout, to match up with University Drive. In addition to this work, Phase 1 includes stormwater infrastructure improvements and sewer and water pipe-upsizing along University Drive, between Knoles Drive and Milton Road, and within the Milton/University intersection.

Coconino County Responds to Damaged Road in Doney Park Neighborhood

(On March 24) water flows compromised the culvert at the Rio de Flag crossing of Slayton Ranch Road. These river-like flows caused a portion of the roadway to collapse at this location.

At approximately 7 a.m., a Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) school bus drove over the area and broke through the roadway surface. According to FUSD officials, no students were on board the bus at the time and there were no injuries reported to the driver. Coconino County Public Works is assisting FUSD with the recovery of the school bus.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — March 20-24, 2023

Rockfall frequency increases; flash flood warnings remains in effect throughout Northern Arizona

Recent storm impacts have created near impassable road conditions throughout much of Coconino County, especially in flooded roadways adjacent to creeks. Although these areas are limited within park boundaries, please be aware of the increased likelihood of rockfall and flash flood activity within the inner canyon as temperatures rise and active snowmelt occurs.

This week there were three reported sizeable rockfalls along the Bright Angel Trail reported by staff at the Backcountry Information Center. The trail remains passable to hikers. It is likely these events will occur on a routine basis in the coming weeks/months.

If you observe an active rockfall along a trail, please notify Grand Canyon dispatch as soon as possible at 928-638-7805. If you have a camera or phone, photos of the rockfall can be helpful to staff on Trails and the Backcountry Information Center.

For a more comprehensive list of backcountry trail updates, visit our park website here.

District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman — February/March 2023 District 1 Newsletter

In This Issue
Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Short Term Rentals
Hearing on Coconino County Fair Fees
BOS Adopts New Fort Tuthill Management Plan
Upper Rio de Flag Watershed Forest Restoration
County Receives $10.9 Million State Funding for
Flood Mitigation
County Comprehensive Plan and Flagstaff
Regional Plan Explained
Community Meeting on Proposed Forest
Restriction Plans and Emergency Preparedness
NACo Legislative Conference
Fort Valley Gets Its Sign!
Fort Valley Community Meeting on Rain and
Snow Melt
Valle It Is!
County Parks and Recreation Receives Arizona
Forward Environmental Excellence Award
Congratulations to Jim Driscoll, Western States
Sheriff of the Year!
Community Events

CCC students received All-Arizona Academic Scholarship

Two Coconino Community College students – Maize Pratt and David Cassidy – have been recognized for the prestigious 2023 Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-Arizona Academic Team Scholarship.

The scholarship provides free tuition for 60 credit hours at the recipient’s choice of one of the three state universities: Arizona State University, University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University.

A transplant from the west coast, Pratt came to Sedona, Arizona for a mindfulness-based program.  

“Having gone to four previous community colleges, I was looking at CCC to save some money before going to NAU,” Pratt said.

Pratt said he plans to use his new scholarship money toward a Business Management degree from NAU and is currently exploring different career paths through internships.

More Art Classes and Workshops to Explore at the Sedona Arts Center!

Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years.  Click here to see all of our classes and workshops

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — Public Meetings (March 22) for Proposed Fair Fees

Coconino County Parks and Recreation is inviting you to attend presentations to learn more about the proposed Coconino County Fair fee updates.

The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 22 beginning at 6:00 PM through Microsoft Teams. We expect these presentations to last approximately 1 hour including the Q&A. You can learn more, RSVP to those meetings, and provide comments at coconinocountyfair.com/feeupdate. The public may also post comments and questions to the Fair’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CoconinoCountyFair.

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

CCC&Y shares this free online opportunity to ease some of the daily stress during this busy time of year.

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

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

Watch Webinar – Managing Adult Emotional Responses, Part One

Watch Webinar –  Helping Children Manage Their Emotions, Part Two

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

March 2023 Hispanics Hunting and the Outdoors (HECHO) Newsletter

March is Women’s History Month, and HECHO honors the leadership and contributions of women in conservation. Elevating their voices is essential to our mission. From Indigenous women in Oak Flat fighting for environmental justice and Latinas working in the wilderness to safeguard wildlife for future generations to many other female conservationists are an example of courage, resiliency, and strength.

Here are their stories and other important news about our efforts across the Southwest.

Sincerely,
Camilla

STEM City Flagstaff — STEM Celebration 2023–Register Today!

Your organization is invited to join us once again for this unique STEM Event!

Register Today! 

2023 STEM Celebration Registration 

STEM City and its partners are pleased to sponsor this community-wide event

to engage children and adults in the broad range of

STEM opportunities throughout northern Arizona.   

Hands-on activities, demonstrations and conversations excite participants,

expose the community to STEM educational and career opportunities

and celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community.” 

We hope you will participate in this once-a-year celebration of STEM in our community.  

NAU Review — World Water Day, learn about NAU students’ Super Bowl activities and a look at NAU en Español

What sustainable freshwater management looks like in Arizona

World Water Day is an annual United Nations observance day held on March 22. The day highlights the importance of freshwater and the need for sustainable management of freshwater resources—a pressing issue for all. Abe Springer, professor of ecohydrogeology in the School of Earth and Sustainability, shared his expertise with The NAU Review, giving insights on the critical importance of sustainable freshwater management and why it is essential to ensure a healthy future for our planet.
Read the blog

Check out the Galleries at Sedona Arts Center!

NOW FEATURING:
Ed Buonvecchio, Mary Heyborne, Casey Cheuvront, and Sue Horine

Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. The Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.

Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library celebrates Women’s History Month with ‘Spotlight on Dolores Huerta’

. . . As much as Dolores Huerta was Cesar’s right hand she could also be the greatest thorn in his side. The two were infamous for their blow out arguments an element that was a natural part of their working relationship. Dolores viewed this as a healthy and necessary part of the growth process of any worthwhile collaboration. While Dolores was busy breaking down one gender barrier after another, she was seemingly unaware of the tremendous impact she was having on, not only farm worker woman but also young women everywhere.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — March 13-17, 2023

Grand Canyon Trails Update and Flash Flood Safety 

Possible flash flood and rockfall activity this week and throughout the next month  

Increased precipitation and seasonal snow-melt may lead to enhanced flood risk along creek drainages in the inner canyon. Backpackers and hikers should be especially aware of elevated flows in rivers, creeks, washes, and low water crossings. Low water crossings may become impassable due to flooding or flood damage. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y 2023 Legislative Position

To CCC&Y members and participants,

In lieu of taking individual positions on bills this year: CCC&Y has had a voice at the table for many advocacy positions that support our partners and others to advocate for the well-being of children and families in our State.  We also continue sharing action alerts and updates from our trusted partners so that you can stay informed and utilize the Request to Speak system to show your support or opposition.

Many of the bills are evolving so quickly that an organization with our limited resources would risk doing you an injustice by taking a formal position that may need to change multiple times in this current climate.  However, please know we are at the table and will continue to voice concerns and support during this session.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Coconino County Officials Remember Navajo President Peterson Zah and State Senator Jack Jackson Sr.

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors and the County Manager’s Office were saddened to hear of the recent passing of two Navajo lawmakers who made lasting contributions to the Navajo Nation and Arizona over their long careers of public service.

Former Navajo Nation President Peterson Zah passed away Tuesday evening at the age of 85. Zah served as Chairman of the Navajo Nation from 1981 to 1987. In 1985 he worked with the Council to create the Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund, an investment that continues to provide financial stability and public benefits to the Navajo community today. 

“President Zah was guided by love for his family and for the people,” said Supervisor for District 4, Judy Begay. “We’ve lost a truly wonderful soul whom we all loved and were inspired by his wisdom, advocacy, and leadership.”

Ramada Rentals Now Available at Coconino County Parks

The Coconino County Parks & Recreation Department is now offering ramada rentals for the 2023 season. Ramadas are available seven days a week for full or half days. Rental rates range from $46 to $114.

Ramadas are perfect for gatherings of many sizes, with the smallest ramada serving up to 20 people and the largest up to 125. They may be used for birthday parties, reunions, get-togethers, and other gatherings. 

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — March Sanity Film Series — ‘Stewart Udall & the Politics of Beauty’ on March 15

As Secretary of the Interior from 1961-1969, Stewart Udall led the fight for environmental legislation, championed racial and social justice, and shaped our national park system. This is an uplifting documentary on the power of a single individual and proud Arizonan to accomplish visionary change. Watch the trailer here.

Grand Canyon National Park prepares for $208 million multi-year repair to Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water for local community and millions of park visitors

The National Park Service (NPS) is preparing for a multi-year $208 million rehabilitation of the Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) and related upgrades to the associated water delivery system within the inner canyon and South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park. This critical investment will ensure the park is able to meet water supply needs for the next 50 plus years, supporting 6 million annual visitors and approximately 2,500 year-round residents.

Initial activity in late spring and summer 2023 will focus on establishing construction infrastructure and staging areas in the Grand Canyon Village Area on the park’s South Rim. The NPS does not anticipate restrictions or closures in 2023 that would impact visitors. The TCWL replacement is projected for completion in 2027.

Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – March 2023

Saints play a significant part in Naples’ institutions. The devotion to these saints – who alleviate pains or defend against the diseases- echoes a delicately masked polytheistic system which dates back to the foundation of the city by the Greeks about 3,000 years ago.

Naples’ agnostic fervor to idols is nowhere more epitomized than in the memorial to Argentinian soccer player Diego Armando Maradona inside Bar Nilo in Naples’ Quartiere Storico. Created from plaster and painted in blue and white -the club colors-, the altar is buried in Maradona memorabilia. Its centerpiece is a strand of Maradona’s “miraculous” hair exhibited inside a revolving, clear box. It has become a site of pilgrimage for Maradona fans all over the world, elevating the footballer to the status of a saint.

The basis for this worship is the fact that Maradona steered Naples to its single two Italian league championships in 1987 and 1990, and also the 1989 UEFA Cup. Naples had never won anything substantial before Maradona’s coming to the team, and he was treated as a redeemer by a city known for its poverty, and social struggles.

Fulbright teaching assistant Pamela Espíndola shares culture, language with CCC students

She may be half a world away from her home in Argentina, but Pamela Espíndola is at Coconino Community College doing what she loves:

She’s teaching students Spanish.

“My job here is to work as a cultural ambassador and to help with the courses to have students learn a foreign language,” she said.

Espíndola is a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant for Spanish courses taught at CCC, and she is the fourth one that the college has been graced to receive said Katie Schwartz, Spanish faculty at the college who supervises the FLTAs.

“This is a big deal for CCC because we can’t pay to help with living expenses,” Schwartz said, adding that the organization, International Institute of Education, helped create a grant with the U.S. Department of Education to make a Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant for CCC a reality. In fact, the first FLTA at CCC shared having such a positive experience at the college that all the subsequent FLTAs have been possible. CCC’s FLTAs have come from Argentina, Columbia and Mexico so far.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — March 6-10, 2023

Grand Canyon Trails Update

Trails into Grand Canyon remain snow-packed and icy. As many of us know, rain, snow, and ice can increase the risk of rockfall on backcountry trails. Foot traction and trekking poles are strongly recommended for those planning to hike into the canyon in the coming weeks. 

In the wake of the highest snow accumulations in decades, it is imperative hikers demonstrate the highest level of preparedness for evolving and extreme winter weather conditions. On most trails, expect snow packed and icy trails for roughly the first three miles, with some sections retaining drifts of snow. Every hiker needs to evaluate not only their individual level of skill and preparedness, but that of their group as a whole, for extreme winter conditions.

On the North Kaibab Trail, staff reported conditions below the Coconino Overlook are virtually impassable. Hikers should expect deep snow above Redwall Bridge and mountaineering conditions above Supai Tunnel. Hiking is not recommended in the upper North Kaibab Trail at this time. Conditions may improve as temperatures warm this week, but given the volume of snow, expect travel on the North Kaibab to remain very challenging for some time.

For a more comprehensive list of backcountry trail updates, visit our park website here.

The Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) Q&A: Coconino County Manager Steve Peru

Steve Peru became Coconino County Manager for a second time in 2021. He was originally hired by the County after graduating from Northern Arizona University in 1979 and had a storied 32-year career that culminated in becoming County Manager in 2006. He retired in 2011 and went on to positions at W.L. Gore & Associates, United Way of Northern Arizona and Coconino Community College before returning to County Government in 2021. Below is an excerpt from our recent interview with him. You can see the full conversation here.

Sedona Arts Center — NOW SHOWING! 42nd Annual Juried Members Exhibition

42ndAnnual
Juried Members Exhibition and Sale
March 6–31, 2023

Sedona Arts Center’s 42nd Annual Juried Members’ Show, our community’s largest and longest-running group exhibition of visual art in Uptown Sedona is now showing! Free to the public and all the works are for sale, with no sales tax included.

Visitors will find everything from painting and watercolor to metal, wood, jewelry, and fiber art. A focus is also placed on drawing, mixed-media, photography and digital art. The Members’ Show is steeped in tradition and remains open to all current Arts Center members, whether seasoned professionals or new and emerging artists.

The show is open 10am – 5pm Monday through Saturday, and 12 – 5pm on Sunday in our Special Exhibitions Gallery.

Opening Reception / Meet the Artists
Friday, March 10 from 4 to 6pm

March at the Museum of Northern Arizona

March certainly arrived like a lion. Beautiful as all this snow is, I’m looking forward to some more lamb-like weather and eventually some spring flowers. While we may not see those flowers until April or May, we have lots to look forward to at the Museum this month, including fun activities for kids during spring break next week. It’s another example of our efforts to broaden our engagement with visitors and the community, as identified in our Strategic Plan.

This is also the final month for the exhibition Baje Whitethorne Sr: Náátsʼíilid/Rainbow Light, which has been nominated for a Viola Award in Visual Art. If you haven’t seen it yet, come in to enjoy a burst of vibrant color by one of Flagstaff’s preeminent artists. Then come back on March 25 for a closing event to celebrate Baje and this marvelous exhibition, which was curated by another Viola honoree – Alan Petersen.

Board of Supervisors Approves Proclamation Designating March as Women’s History Month

“Coconino County is proud to join the nation’s celebration of Women’s History Month,” the proclamation reads. “The 2023 theme ‘Celebrating Women who Tell our Stories’… is a tribute and recognition of women, past and present who have been active on all forms of media telling stories that have significantly impacted our communities in areas of social justice, labor rights, gender, human and political rights.” 

The NAU Review — Our women influencers, Pi day reflections, using degrees to help those in need and an All-Steinway School designation

The women who shaped us
March 8 is International Women’s Day, and it has been a global celebration since 1911, recognizing the many contributions women have made to society. To honor the day, The NAU Review asked the women of NAU to reflect on a historical female figure who inspired them. From trailblazers like Ruth Bader Ginsburg and visionary writers like Octavia Butler to other figures with whom you may not be familiar—this is a list you don’t want to miss. And despite their different influences, these historical figures all have one thing in common—they fully embody and represent the month’s themes, whether it be environmental consciousness, cultural influences, equal representation, self-identity or equity. Their stories remind us that we’re all in this together, fighting for gender equality and celebrating the countless ways women have shaped our world.

Read the story

Innovation grants awarded to four concrete production projects

A coalition of cities and counties in the Western United States has awarded $389k in funding to four projects that fight climate change by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the production of concrete. The 4 Corners Carbon Coalition — a partnership of Boulder County, CO, Flagstaff, AZ, Salt Lake City, UT, and Santa Fe, NM — pools resources to provide grants to accelerate carbon dioxide removal (CDR) project deployment and business development in the Four Corners region.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Parents & Students Give KinderCamp™ High Marks

Participants in last year’s KinderCamp™ program – and their parents – gave the early childhood education program high marks in a survey conducted by AZ OnTrack.

The survey was completed by 50 children who were part of the KinderCamp program at Kinsey Elementary School in Flagstaff last summer. More than 80 parents also participated in the survey. AZ OnTrack is the state’s initiative to help children catch up from learning losses caused by the pandemic.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Your membership, donations support the work of CCC&Y

COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.

The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.

When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.

CCC&Y is building an inclusive movement of people dedicated to transforming and healing our communities.

Through leadership, education and advocacy. By becoming a member you add your name to an expansive list of individuals, families, businesses and organizations who are igniting collective action that creates better lives for children and families.

Please visit Membership Options

Make an Online Donation 

Remember, CCC&Y is a non-profit organization with a 501(c)(3) status-so your contributions are tax deductible eligible. Please consult your tax professional. ​​​​​​​

Grand Canyon National Park Announces Tips for Spring Break Travel and Shuttle Bus Schedule

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park can expect long lines and full parking lots during the spring break season, which spans from early March through mid-April. As a result of increased visitation, traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with wait times of up to one to two hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots begin reaching capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus wait times may be prolonged.            

The NAU Review — Research using NASA’s ECOSTRESS, tracking indigenous plants and Arizona’s new flat tax explained

NAU has received a $600,000 grant from NASA for a three-year project led by Teki Sankey to study the impact of forest restoration treatments on drought resilience in Arizona’s forests using NASA’s ECOSTRESS satellite. The team of researchers will focus on Arizona’s forests including Ponderosa pines and will validate their findings with field measurements of canopy and soil moisture. The project aims to determine if forest treatments result in water benefits for the entire ecosystem and will advance the development of satellite-based remote sensing methods for rapid detection of drought stress in vegetation.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Our board leadership

To fulfill its mission of improving lives by mobilizing communities to make lasting positive change, United Way of Northern Arizona has always depended on its volunteer Board of Directors to direct its efforts.

The Board is comprised of 25 individuals representing the diversity of the region it serves. The Board sets and monitors policies, reviews the budget, and ensures United Way’s accountability to all donors.

Recently, the UWNA Board elected its officers for the 2023 year.

Flagstaff Airport construction notice

The Flagstaff Pulliam Airport Terminal Lot entry and exit lanes will close for construction beginning this week. A temporary entrance and exit will be available for customers, and additional parking is available in the Overflow Parking Lot across Pulliam Drive.

Work will continue through June 2023 and is part of the airport’s implementation of a paid parking system. Airport patrons are asked to follow the traffic control signage in the construction area and park only in designated parking spaces.

Sedona Arts Center — Call for Artists — 19th Annual Sedona Plein Air Festival

Sedona Arts Center invites you to be one of the master artists painting in the Shangri-La of the Southwest! Sedona is a sublime and stunningly beautiful environment steeped in art history. Sedona Arts Center dates back 65 years to the founding of Sedona’s identity as an ‘art colony.’ Our community’s iconic and wonderfully creative event—Sedona Plein Air Festival—is a week-long celebration of extraordinary landscapes, world-renowned artists, unique workshops, and wonderful free events from October 20 through 28, 2023!

Click here for more information

Extreme Snow Loads Creating Danger of Roof Failure

Significant snowfall and resulting snow loads have caused several roofs to collapse within the Flagstaff area. The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County are encouraging residents to check structures for signs of damage or stress. These signs can include:

Sagging ceiling tiles or boards, ceiling boards falling out of the ceiling grid, and/or sagging sprinkler lines and sprinkler heads
Sprinkler heads deflecting below suspended ceilings
Popping, cracking, and creaking noises
Sagging roof members, including metal decking or plywood sheathing
Bowing truss bottom chords or web members
Doors and/or windows that can no longer be opened or closed
Cracked or split wood members
Cracks in walls or masonry
Severe roof leaks
Excessive accumulation of water at nondrainage locations on low slope roofs

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Feb .27-March 3, 2023

Grand Canyon National Park experienced its eighth busiest year ever in 2022 with 4,732,101 visits. Last year’s visitation was more than 200,000 above the previous year at a 4.5% increase. Grand Canyon also went from the fourth most visited national park to the second most visited. (#1-Great Smoky Mountains National Park).  

Visitation to Grand Canyon reached its highest level ever with approximately 6.4 million visits in 2018. Although 2022’s reduced visitation lessens the stress on the park’s resources, park operations still rely on the revenue from all income sources. Fewer visitors translates to reduced revenue for park programs. Federal Lands Recreational Enhancement Funds (aka FLREA), transportation fees, and concession franchise fees are still reduced compared to pre-pandemic years. Funds from these sources support many programs across the park and park managers continue to work on programming costs with these smaller revenue projections in mind for this fiscal year. 

March 2 Meet & Greet with CCC’s new president has been rescheduled

Due to considerable snowfall amounts in the Flagstaff region, the Meet and Greet event for Coconino Community College President Dr. Eric Heiser originally scheduled for tonight, Thursday, March 2, will be rescheduled for a later date in April.

Dr. Eric Heiser has scheduled Meet and Greet events throughout Coconino County in communities that CCC serves in order to listen to what matters most to the residents of those communities when it comes to what they need from their community college.

Future events scheduled for March 8 in Flagstaff, April 4 in Williams and April 13 in Page.

The NAU Review — DART=success!, Hip Hop National Champions, expanding nursing and celebrating Women’s History Month

Remember DART, NASA’s attempt to redirect an asteroid? Results are in. It worked.
After ramming a spacecraft into a small asteroid last fall, researchers knew almost immediately that the mission had worked—that the impact changed the asteroid’s orbit. A new study authored by Cristina Thomas found that the orbit changed by a whopping 33 minutes, suggesting that the momentum of the ejected material was a significant contributor to the change. The study is published in Nature alongside three other articles detailing findings from this groundbreaking NASA mission.

City of Flagstaff facilities to open noon Thursday, March 2 due to inclement weather

Update: all City of Flagstaff administrative offices and non-essential facilities will now open at 12 p.m. (noon) Thursday, March 2. Opening of these facilities had originally been scheduled for 10 a.m. today but is being extended to 12 p.m. (noon) due to significant inclement weather and poor road conditions. Facilities will close at their normally scheduled times. This includes City recreation centers, libraries, and the Flagstaff Visitor Center.

City of Flagstaff — Temporary suspension of residential trash and recycling collection service

Due to poor road conditions and limited accessibility related to recent snowfall, the City of Flagstaff’s Solid Waste section has temporarily suspended residential trash and recycling collection services for Thursday, March 2. At this time, commercial trash and recycling containers continue to be serviced, where accessible.

The Solid Waste section will attempt to collect trash and recycling from both Thursday and Friday residential customers on Friday; however, some services may be postponed until Saturday. Service may be delayed for the next two to three days.

Residents are asked to wait to place their carts out for service until 6 a.m. the morning of service to allow for more efficient snow clearing operations. Please place residential carts in front of snow piles, on the curb, or at the end of cleared driveways to facilitate access. Carts placed on or behind snow piles will not be serviced due to accessibility issues.

Flood Control District Board Approves Two Essential Funding Sources for County Flood Mitigation

At this week’s special session of the Flood Control District Board of Directors they approved acceptance of two new Federal grants that will enable the District to immediately proceed with the first phase of long-term flood mitigation projects.

The Schultz-Pipeline Flood Area is defined as the neighborhoods downstream of nine major watersheds damaged by the Schultz Wildfire in 2010 and the Pipeline Wildfire this past year. The District, along with several engineering partners, have determined that without extensive on-forest and neighborhood mitigation measures, the risk of life-threatening floods affecting our communities will only increase. 

“The priority of local government is the health and safety of our citizens, and our citizens’ lives and homes were severely impacted this past monsoon season by the nine watersheds compromised by two major wildfires,” said Chair of the Board Patrice Horstman. “We want to thank Senators Kelly and Sinema and former Congressman Tom O’Halleran for their strong support with securing this unprecedented funding. Without it, the District and County would have likely had to cut other services to provide flood mitigation.”

Sedona Arts Center — More Art Classes and Workshops to Explore!

Sedona is surrounded by a magical landscape of red rock formations and high desert hills with beautiful Oak Creek meandering through it all. Come experience the Shangri-La of the Southwest, a beautiful learning environment with Art Colony roots going back nearly 100 years.

Click here to see all of our classes and workshops

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — We All Need Someone to Lean On

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y), sees you! We see all the ways you support folks in your neighborhood and our community! You are helping to “bring back the village,” and you’re doing great! 

Let’s face it, life can be challenging, and too often, we are collectively stressed. Stress is normalized. We can acknowledge that some stress is good for us, keeping us thinking and maybe even providing us a boost to take necessary action. However, maintaining health requires that we offer ourselves opportunities to decompress. CCC&Y hopes you gift yourself with time to reconnect with yourself and those closest to you. 

During this winter season, CCC&Y invites you to cozy up with some tea and a warm blanket and take a few mindful moments to recognize and honor your inner self and notice your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. (“Mindfulness for Parents and Professionals”). If our opportunity for Mindfulness feels supportive to you, we invite you to share it with others. 

Coconino County Parks & Recreation March 2023 Update

Book Corner

Blustery weather makes for the perfect time to curl up with a good book! 50 Things to do in the Urban Wild by Clare Gogerty is a book to get the creative juices flowing by giving you ideas for how to connect to your local area. Although written in the United Kingdom, the book is applicable to people living anywhere, including the diverse landscapes of Coconino County. Topics include how to create a leaf journal, how to identify trees in winter, cloud spotting, city hiking, and restoring natural habitats. Get inspired to enjoy your local trail system, nature, and wildlife. Maybe you can even learn skills that you can enter in the Coconino County Fair, with topics including growing plants and incorporating nature in art!

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Celebrating Education in Northern Arizona

Workforce development is a topic we often turn to when we talk about the critical needs of northern Arizona businesses, but often that discussion focuses on post-secondary education, internships, and job training.

The fact is that creating tomorrow’s workforce goes back much further, starting in elementary, middle, and high school. Which is why we are so happy that there are several upcoming events that celebrate our local educators.

It starts this Thursday with the annual STEMMY Awards being given out by Flagstaff STEM City to honor students, teachers and organizations who are STEM leaders in the greater Flagstaff community. Last year, Audrey Baird of Flagstaff Arts & Leadership Academy took top honors for STEM educator.

Thursday’s ceremony will be from 6 to 7 pm at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

CCC Community Education announces March Courses: Finance | Survival | Gardening | First Home | Grant Writing | Crochet | Comet Talks

Financial Literacy

Thursday, March 2, 9, 23. (UPDATED)
5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Learn about setting up your household budget, credit, loans, interest rates, mortgages, and saving for your future goals.

Financial Literacy – Learn more and register! (more events)

The NAU Review — Who pays the price for carnivores, celebrating TRIO and the PBC and two Jacks teams bring home a 🏆

Developing countries pay the highest price for living with large carnivores

Farmers who raise livestock depend on the health and safety of those animals. When large predators threaten their wellbeing, it can financially devastating for them—the effects of which can be felt for years. Human-wildlife conflict has been highlighted as one of the globe’s most pressing human development and conservation dilemmas, and NAU’s Duan Biggs was determined to take a deeper look into this matter. He worked with researchers from throughout the world to study how the lives of those living alongside these large predators are impacted, and why developing countries were the one to suffer most.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Proposed Hospital Relocation and Opportunities for Community Action

In This Issue:

The Proposed Hospital Relocation
Action Alert: Urge the City to Stop Banking with Wells Fargo 
“Big Shift” Funding and Personnel Priorities 
Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045 
Action Alert: Beulah & University Realignment Project Open House
In Memoriam: Freda Van Houten 

F3 hit the ground running in January and there’s a lot to report to our members. This newsletter contains important information, updates, and opportunities for community action.

Bilingual update — Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) gives you the chance to pay less for your internet

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) gives you the chance to pay less for your internet:

Up to $30 per month for broadband services purchased by eligible households and up to $75 per month for households located on Tribal lands.
One-time discount of up to $100 on purchasing a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if you contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.
Applications are now available. Only one monthly internet service discount is allowed per household.

United Way of Northern Arizona — UWNA to Coordinate Emergency Volunteers for City of Flagstaff

United Way of Northern Arizona has signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Flagstaff to provide coordination of volunteers during “emergencies, disasters or special events” as determined by City officials.

The agreement is similar to one that UWNA has had with Coconino County since 2010 in the aftermath of the Schultz Fire.

UWNA will use Volunteer Hub as the management website for volunteers for both the City and County. The website includes the Volunteer Service Agreement that volunteers for the City need to complete before engaging in any volunteer work.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Feb. 20-24, 2023

Highway 67…plowed?!

Last week, North and South Rim Road Crew staff successfully plowed 30 miles of Highway 67, from Jacob Lake to the North Rim boundary, for administrative use. A team of three including John Venn, Brandon Alberta, and John Root completed the operation over the course of one week.

The primary objective of road clearing was to provide for a diesel fuel supply for the back-up generators on the North Rim. After a series of powerful snow storms this winter that knocked out power service, this backup fuel source is critical to support the staff and continuity of operations. Additional objectives included the ability to provide emergency ingress/egress to and from the North Rim, as well as improving safety for residents by allowing administrative traffic in motor vehicles instead of snowmobiles.

Thank you to the North Rim staff who continue to weather repeated storms and impressive snow removal operations!

The NAU Review — Super Bowl dreams, Garcia Family Honors Scholars Program impact, A Long Christmas Ride Home and Notes from the President

Super Bowl 2023: For these student reporters, it doesn’t get better than this
When sophomore Ava Nichols enrolled at NAU with a dream of becoming a sports reporter, she knew that in addition to the Final Four and annual spring training, Arizona was set to host the Super Bowl. Just the thought of being in the same state as such major sporting events made her that much more excited to move out west. She never expected, however, that she would be one of five NAZ Today students selected to cover Super Bowl Media Week. And if that wasn’t enough, she was also given a game day media pass, giving her field access to cover the game—something most career reporters can only aspire to.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y seeks to connect community with help through variety of resource guides

COCONINO COUNTY — Whether it’s connecting families with local representatives from the Coconino County Health & Human Services’ Women’s, Infants and Children (WIC) program, to helping foster care families learn about potential scholarship programs for their youth, resource guides provide a valuable assistance to residents throughout Coconino County and Northern Arizona.

To spread the word about these valuable information options, CCC&Y has compiled a listing and link to a variety of resource guides throughout the region including CCC&Y’s created Page/Fredonia and Tuba City resource guides and the recently updated Williams Area Community Resource Guide.

Do you have a new or updated resource guide you would like to add to our listing posting? Please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org

Warming Station Opens at Sinagua Middle School as Power Outages Continue in Coconino County

With many Arizona Public Service (APS) customers in Coconino County without power due to high winds and downed trees, the American Red Cross has opened a warming station in Flagstaff at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E Butler Ave in Flagstaff.

People needing to utilize the station may bring a bag or backpack of personal items; pets are allowed only with dog kennels or cat carriers, and owners must provide pet food. 

The NAU Review — A winning big idea, collaborating on water research and the President’s Achievement Awards

Innovative ideas, collaboration take center stage at Jacks Big IDEA 

Students from a variety of disciplines recently participated in the third annual Jacks Big IDEA competition, which challenged them to develop innovative solutions to real-world issues like food waste and water scarcity. Teams had three days to develop a prototype, then present it to a panel of judges comprised of NAU experts. The competition helped the students foster creativity, practice problem-solving skills, network and build teamwork and leadership skills. The winning team, SafeCom, developed a prototype for a nearly indestructible phone case that could help rescue workers find people in the aftermath of natural disasters when Wi-Fi and cellular service are down. The team won the grand prize and will compete against schools worldwide for a grand prize of $5,000.

New Final Flood Maps Issued for Oak Creek Canyon in Coconino County

On September 21, 2022, Coconino County announced that updated digital flood hazard maps for the portion of Oak Creek Canyon in Coconino County would become effective March 21, 2023.

The flood maps are known as Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs). They show the extent to which areas recently re-mapped in Coconino County’s portion of Oak Creek Canyon are at risk for flooding. These flood maps are used to help determine flood insurance and building requirements. They replace maps that were based on studies more than 30 years old. Note that the flood maps for the portion of Oak Creek Canyon in Yavapai County are still being finalized.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Nationally Recognized Leader Liz Archuleta Chosen as New President & CEO

Liz Archuleta, highly accomplished and nationally recognized leader, and former Coconino County Supervisor who has been serving as a presidential appointee in the Biden-Harris Administration as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture senior leadership team, has been chosen to be the new President & CEO of United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA).

“We are thrilled to have such a highly respected and accomplished leader as Liz join us,” said UWNA Board President Mike Kelly. “Her ties to UWNA and commitment to our program of work go back to 1997. During that time, she’s championed many efforts at UWNA. She’s been a Board chair, led an annual campaign and a capital campaign, been the chair of the Summit Society, and spearheaded a special 50th anniversary drive to support the KinderCamp program.”

2023 County Spelling BEE Winner and Runners-up Announced

Cheryl Mango-Paget, County Superintendent of Schools, would like to announce Coconino County’s 2023 Spelling BEE winner is Calliope Hill from Montessori School of Flagstaff.

Calliope was determined the winner upon spelling the word “trilby” correctly after battling through the last few rounds with runner up Ember Evans from Flagstaff Christian School and third place winner, James Janik from Mount Elden Middle School. Congratulations Calliope Hill on winning the 2023 County Spelling Bee! You should be incredibly proud knowing your efforts and skills paid off and contributed to your recent achievement. Calliope Hill received $250 from the Flagstaff Rotary Club and will move on to compete in the State Spelling Bee on March 18, 2023.

Grand Canyon National Park Weekly Wrap-up: Feb. 13-17, 2023

Cultural Demonstrator this weekend at Grand Canyon Visitor Center

On Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 17, 18, and 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., stop by and meet Zuni fine art painter, Anthony Gchachu. He will discuss how he conceptualizes and executes his paintings.

Watch him work and learn how Zuni culture and art have influenced his unique painting style that uses layered acrylic paints to create texture, depth and movement to generate emotions.

This series is made possible with grants from Grand Canyon Conservancy. 

Board of Supervisors Approves Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan

At their February 6, 2023 special session, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan.

In the fall of 2022, the public was able to provide comment on the draft of the Fort Tuthill County Park Management Plan, which were factored into the final draft. The plan’s table of contents include the natural environment of the park, cultural resources and history, public use and facilities, and long-range planning. These topics address issues as varied as dark skies, weed control, emergency use, water conservation, preserving open spaces from damage, and preserving historic structures.