COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County’s annual winter parking restrictions has ended on April 1. Winter Parking Ordinance 2022-06 prohibits vehicles, trailers, and storage containers from being parked in County-maintained rights-of-way at all times during snow season, which runs annually from November 1 through April 1.
Theatrikos is proud to bring Ken Ludwig’s divine farce, The Gods of Comedy, to the Flagstaff stage. The play is a comedic whirlwind of divine intervention and scholarly chaos, centered around a young woman who invokes the gods of Ancient Greece to save her love life. As the gods step in, hilarity ensues in the form of screwball deities, a lost manuscript of a Greek tragedy, and uproarious predicaments.
Coconino County Public Works will reopen the Willard Springs Green Waste Site on Friday, April 5, 2024 for free green waste-only disposal all season long to support residents’ efforts to clean up their properties for wildfire season.
Residents will be allowed to dump acceptable green waste such as pine needles, branches, leaves, and brush free of charge with no load limits on Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. through the end of the season on Saturday, October 26, 2024.
Also see: Arizona Daily Sun — Gallery: 16th annual Viola Awards
FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores won the “Excellence in the Performing Arts Award” at the 2024 Viola Awards held on March 23, 2024 at the Orpheum Theater. The event was presented by by Creative Flagstaff.
More than a 100 guests celebrated the 42 finalists across 10 categories at the event.
Ballet Folklórico de Colores of Flagstaff was recognized for its “Paseo Navideno: A Christmas Journey Through Mexico” performance held at the Orpheum Theater on Dec. 9, 2023.
We are all aware of the crucial role the bioscience sector plays in driving innovation, economic growth, and improving healthcare outcomes in Arizona. We hope you will join us next month for a virtual update on Arizona’s Bioscience Roadmap.
The Flinn Foundation, which originally commissioned this long-term strategic plan more than two decades ago, will host the free Zoom session from 12 – 1:30 p.m. on Monday, April 22. You can register to attend HERE.
Spring Break is here!
As Spring Break continues for the next several weeks, we can expect long lines and full parking lots throughout the South Rim. As a result, 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 will be prolonged.
Thankfully, our fees program is fully staffed and have been working diligently towards expediting wait times by moving traffic into specific lanes. Visitors with pre-paid passes are still encouraged to go to Lane 1 to reduce wait times in line.
Conscious Aging
Monday, April 8, 15, 22, 29
1:30 to 3 p.m.
The class will focus on the philosophy and skills needed to become a wise elder through life review and harvesting, finding meaning and purpose, and leaving a legacy.
Aging – Learn more and register!
• Easter Champagne Brunch, Little America Hotel
• Easter Champagne Brunch, Doubletree by Hilton Woodlands Restaurant
• Easter Egg Hunt, Flagstaff Elk’s Lodge
• More events
For César Chavez Day on March 31, professor Monica Brown shares the impact of the labor leader’s work and his groundbreaking partnership with fellow organizer Dolores Huerta.
Read the blog
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff City Council recently approved $3.33M in Rental Incentive Bond Program awards, which will be leveraged by other funding sources and result in 139 affordable rental units being constructed in downtown Flagstaff by the Foundation for Senior Living. The San Francisco Square Apartments will serve seniors earning up to 80% of the area median income and the Aspen Lofts Apartments will serve individuals and families earning up to 60% of the area median income. This funding was created by the passage of Proposition 442 by Flagstaff voters in 2022, which authorized the use of general obligation bonds for the creation of rental and ownership opportunities for residents of Flagstaff.
“The arts are a $13.5 million industry here in Sedona providing jobs and attracting cultural tourists who spend more and stay longer than the average tourist. According to the recently completed Arts & Economic Prosperity 6 study which was led by Sedona Arts Center, our tourists rank 2nd in spending among all 373 study regions in the US.
The arts add so much to our quality of life, and yet, we still struggle to support our programs, exhibits, events and school. Please consider supporting Sedona Arts Center this AZ Gives Day with a generous investment in our work. Thank you.”
FLAGSTAFF — Mountain Line is launching a comprehensive community outreach initiative aimed at planning the future of transit in Flagstaff.
As the community’s 10-year transit tax approved in 2016 that funds the city’s bus system approaches expiration, Mountain Line wants to engage the community in dialogue and decision-making about a potential extension and increase of this funding source in the November 2024 election.
Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 4. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.
The CCC&Y Prevention Council has its roots in our long history of child abuse prevention, our most recent work with substance misuse prevention and our overall commitment to understanding the protective factors, resiliency research and assets our community needs to thrive.
Some examples include:
Planning for previous Child Abuse Prevention Conferences
Engaging in multiple projects with International Child Welfare expert, Kevin Campbell
Developing a library of recorded webinars
Initiating the PAWS community arts and education project
“After receiving valuable community feedback regarding the 2022 ordinance, we brought together our public safety partners and the Coconino County Attorney’s Office to take a critical look at ways to improve the ordinance. Together, we proposed changes that place emphasis on preparedness, such as creating defensible space, while maintaining the requirements needed to help reduce the likelihood of wildfires,” said Tim Carter, Deputy Director of Coconino County Emergency Management.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation, are working to finish Phase 1 of the Beulah/University Realignment Project. The final portion of Phase 1 includes crossing Milton Road with new water and sewer utility infrastructure, which is scheduled to begin in early April 2024. In order to safely install new utilities across Milton Road, lane closures will be required.
Countries throughout the world have committed to conserving 30% of the Earth’s land and sea by 2030, but questions remain about how such conservation efforts will be implemented and monitored without causing harm to Indigenous peoples and local communities. In a recent publication, researchers at NAU proposed a win-win solution: offer direct payments to those in target areas in the Global South in exchange for their help monitoring and validating conservation data via mobile apps. This mechanism could improve both the quality of the data collected and the economic conditions of local communities.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and their contractor, Banicki Construction, will start construction on the Schultz Creek Drainage Improvements at US Hwy 180 in April. The project will include the installation of a new concrete box culvert under US Hwy 180 and is scheduled to be substantially complete by July 1 to help mitigate flooding before the 2024 monsoon season. Final project activities such as repaving of the highway and re-establishing nearby landscaping will be completed by Aug. 1.
Introduction to Encaustic Painting
with Helene Farrar
April 4 – 5 : Thursday: 10am – 4pm, Friday: 9am – 4pm
Drip, pour, drag, layer, heat, and incise! Investigate the ancient medium of encaustic painting in this very hands-on workshop using pigmented wax, and a heated palette! Explore a rich variety of marks and surfaces while doing image transfer, etching, and collaging in this seductive medium.
Flagstaff College/Communiversity has partnered with seven local organizations to begin a community-wide conversation on food security in Flagstaff.
TerraBirds
Flagstaff Foodlink
Just Cultivation Coalition
Northern Arizona Rural Foods Pathways Project
Northern Arizona Climate Change Alliance
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future
The City of Flagstaff’s Office of Sustainability
A local group, Flagstaff First (FF), has petitioned Council to amend the Flagstaff’s Carbon Neutrality Plan (CNP) to prioritize fire, flood and drought. Many community members told the Council in December and January to not amend the Plan. We need to speak again this Tuesday because FF’s petition is scheduled to be formally considered by City Council this Tuesday, March 26. Council will be deciding whether to or not to amend the CNP.
The community needs to respond to this threat by sending emails to City Council and/or speaking at the Council meeting this Tuesday and asking council members to reject the action requested in the FF petition.
Event also served as launch of CHAC’s Covid-19 History Project
FLAGSTAFF — After a several-year delay due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council’s (CHAC) finally celebrated it’s sixth annual César E. Chávez Community Breakfast on Friday, March 22, 2024 at American Legion Post 3 in Flagstaff.
The event, which drew nearly 100 guests and local dignitaries, was highlighted by guest speaker Cesar L. Chavez, grandson of the civil rights and farm labor leader, and son of Anthony Chavez, Cesar’s youngest son.
Cesar, who was born and grew up in the farm worker movement, spoke about legacy of the late farm leader and shared personal memories including joining his grandfather to picket lines and demonstrations in the Central Valley plus cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego. They went on hikes together in the mountains surrounding UFW headquarters at La Paz.
Five of the most epic climbing films from around the world showing in the Downtown Crag as part of Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival 22nd Anniversary! 7 p.m.
“The safety of everyone who uses Lake Mary Road remains a top priority for County leadership and for our community,” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Board of Supervisors. “We would like to thank all of the stakeholders who participated in the process that helped make this resolution a reality.”
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is set to begin work on the Cinder Lake Landfill Access Road Improvement Project. The project will reconstruct Landfill Road to improve safety, optimize travel conditions and provide stormwater enhancements and is scheduled to be complete by September 2024.
Come celebrate Cesar Chavez Heritage Week by taking advantage of the many activities taking place at NAU and in the Flagstaff area!
We’ll be making not one, but two major announcements at next week’s Annual Campaign & Community Impact luncheon, and we hope you will be with us when we share the exciting news about how we will expand efforts to Step Up for Our Youth.
But time is running out to register for this event and be among the first to find out about these ground-breaking developments.
Our Annual Campaign & Community Impact Luncheon will start at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 27 at Little America Hotel. Tickets are $50 / $375 for a table of 8.
The deadline to register is end of business today, March 21.
The Bright Angel Trail is anticipated to reopen Monday, April 15 following a 4 ½ month closure.
Contract work is currently on schedule and no delays are anticipated at this time. As a reminder, the trail closure remains in effect for the Plateau Point Trail through March 14, 2025.
More information on the Transcanyon Waterline project can be found on the park website here.
A variety of virtual health and welfare resource networking meetings are held each month in Coconino County. The meetings offer health professionals and representatives from a variety of governmental and non-profit organizations the opportunity to share information on upcoming programs and events that benefit the educational, health and welfare needs of children, youth and families throughout the region.
The following is a listing of some of those meetings.
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s STEMMY Awards Ceremony. The evening was full of celebration, innovation, and dedication to advancing STEM education and awareness within our beloved community. A special thanks to our esteemed keynote speaker, Dr. David Engelthaler for joining us.
Highlighting excellence across various sectors, the STEMMY Awards showcased individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to STEM education and awareness.
Watercolor and Ink for the Traveler
with Casey Cheuvront
March 27 : 11am – 4pm
Watercolor is a popular, flexible medium, and suitable for anyone that travels and would like to capture the beauty of their surroundings. In this workshop we will explore watercolor basics, using a journaling/sketchbook approach. We’ll cover the basics of composition, value, brushwork and color relationships, experiment with color mixing and ink drawing, and finish by working with the living landscape to create sketchbook paintings that can stand on their own or serve as inspirational notes for later studio works. At the end of the workshop, you should have begun a sketchbook of your own that you can carry virtually anywhere, which will allow you to record your travels, and your progress in this medium. Suitable for beginners a
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Deputy Manager and Flood Control District Administrator Lucinda Andreani testified to the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs on the federal response to the threat of wildfire and post-wildfire flooding. …
“I can tell you firsthand: The scale of these crises rapidly overwhelms the capacity of local governments,” Andreani said during her opening remarks. “While there are opportunities for federal support, much must be done to improve the accessibility, immediacy, and effectiveness of the federal response to the wildfire crisis.”
State leaders recently called upon health sciences researcher Dierdra Bycura to analyze firefighter recruitment and retention across Arizona. Working with experts from the Franke College of Business, Bycura published a report showing that most firefighters in the state are satisfied with the profession, but some say they struggle with mental health and large call volumes. The report’s findings could influence future state policies.
“Since 2022, post-wildfire flooding impacts from the Pipeline Fire have severely impacted the interstate travel corridor of Highway 89, the Navajo Nation road system, and surrounding communities. It is imperative that we continue to construct flood mitigation infrastructure in this area to reduce the threats to our community and regional economy” said Jeronimo Vasquez, Chair of the Coconino County Board and Supervisor for District 2. “Thanks to the Congressionally Directed Spending funds recently secured by Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema, we now have more resources to make this much needed infrastructure a reality.”
On Tuesday, March 19th, the Flagstaff City Council will consider a proposed zoning code amendment to allow residential dwellings on lands zoned as “Public Facility.”
We would like to share with you the letter that F3 sent last week to city council members and staff regarding our concerns with the proposed amendment and our support for the addition of a Conditional Use Permit requirement.
It is hard to overstate the importance of apprenticeship programs in today’s economy, where numerous industries have identified a persistent “skills gap” in the workforce.
The State of Arizona’s Office of Economic Opportunity recently announced it is working to expand registered construction and trade apprenticeship programs with grants from its BuildItAZ initiative, but time is running out to apply for these funds.
IN THIS ISSUE
• HELLO FROM SUPERVISOR HORSTMAN
• WILDFIRE CRISIS REPORT: PRIORITIZING THE
UPPER RIO
• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS RESOLUTION
REAFFIRMS OPPOSITION TO URANIUM MINING
NEAR THE GRAND CANYON
• PARKWAY SEDIMENT BASIN/MUSEUM FIRE
• FLOOD MITIGATION COMPLETED!
• PRIMARY DATE MOVES TO JULY 30th
• ELECTIONS WAREHOUSE RIBBON-CUTTING
• URGING VOTER APPROVAL OF THE
EXPENDITURE LIMIT INCREASE FOR
COCONINO COUNTY
• SUPERVISORS ATTEND NACo LEGISLATIVE
CONFERENCE IN D.C. AND ADVOCATE FOR
COCONINO COUNTY FEDERAL PRIORITIES
• SUPERVISOR HORSTMAN ATTENDS FIRST
MEETING OF 2024 BLM/RAC
• GRAND CANYON FOOD PANTRY: HELPING
COMMUNITY, WITH ONE BAG OF GROCERIES
AT A TIME
• COCONINO COUNTY BEGINS CONSTRUCTION
ON YOUTH BEHAVIORAL RESOURCE CENTER
• PUBLIC MEMORIALS IN COUNTY PARKS
• TUSAYAN AWARDED SMART GRANT FROM
ARIZONA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FLAGSTAFF — As part of the Spruce Wash Improvements Projects, a full road closure will be required on E Linda Vista Drive between N Paradise Road and N Adrianne Way for the Linda Vista Crossing Project. Access will be maintained through the closure for emergency vehicles, bikes, pedestrians. This closure will be in effect from March 2024 into spring 2025 and will allow for crews to remove and replace the existing culverts that cross E Linda Vista Drive. The City will also be removing and replacing sections of water and sewer mains and installing new storm drains within the roadway.
A hilariously divine farce filled with screwball deities, carnal complexity, conspicuous consumption, madcap mayhem, a touch of romance, and lots of laughs.
View this email in your browser March 18th, 2024 Connect with your community Adult & All-Ages Events Book Clubs Youth Events Technology Help To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, please call 928-213-2331 (Downtown Library) or 928-213-2348…
FLAGSTAFF — NAU Dept. of Comparative Cultural Studies will present “Disrupting mining in Honduras: Hegemony, territorial struggles, and contradictions of the neoliberal mafia-state” with Nate Edenhofe at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21 at Liberal Arts 136.
Anti-mining movements have put extractivism on the defensive in Honduras.
Why did mining production fail to expand in Honduras despite some of—if not the— most aggressive pro-extractive reforms on the continent?
Both existing theories of extractivism and social movements have difficulty explaining this outcome.
FLAGSTAFF — The public is invited to attend the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council’s (CHAC) sixth annual César E. Chávez Community Breakfast from 7 to 9 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2024 at American Legion Post 3, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff. Doors open at 6:45 a.m.
Cesar L. Chavez, grandson of the civil rights and farm labor leader and son of Anthony Chavez, Cesar’s youngest son, Cesar was born and grew up in the farm worker movement. He accompanied his grandfather to picket lines and demonstrations in the Central Valley plus cities such as Los Angeles and San Diego. They went on hikes together in the mountains surrounding UFW headquarters at La Paz.
Cesar presently oversees network functions such as musical and educational programming, and traffic (commercials and public service announcements) for the Cesar Chavez Foundation’s extensive English- and Spanish-language communications network.
“We look forward to this opportunity to gather with the community after our long hiatus,’” said CHAC Chair Patricia Garcia. “At this year’s breakfast, we will kick off a year-long project to collect and preserve information about the experiences and contributions of the Hispanic community of Coconino County during the pandemic.”
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County voters that will be unable to go to their polling location on Election Day, March 19 may vote at an emergency early voting location on Saturday, March 16; Sunday, March 17; or Monday, March 18.
Voters taking advantage of emergency early voting will be required to complete a form stating that they have an emergency and need to vote an emergency early ballot. They do not need to disclose the specifics of their emergency.
Voters with non-health related emergencies, such as having to be out of town on Election Day, may also cast an emergency early ballot.
The emergency early voting locations are:
• Coconino County Recorder’s office, 110 E Cherry Ave, Flagstaff
• Coconino County Voter Services office, Flagstaff Mall, Between JCPenney & Planet Fitness, 4650 N US Highway 89, Flagstaff
• Alta Edison Native American Outreach Center, 78 Main Street, Tuba City
“We are dedicated to enhancing the travel experience for all visitors to FLG. This project has been carefully planned to minimize inconvenience to travelers. By scheduling the bulk of the work at night, we aim to ensure smooth operations without impacting departures or arrivals. Moreover, the terminal sprinkler project underscores our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all passengers for years to come. Additionally, travelers can anticipate a refreshed terminal interior with newly painted walls, updated wayfinding signage, new lighting and more,” stated Airport Director Brian Gall.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Public Works Department, in conjunction with Yavapai County, closed Stoneman Lake Road between I-17 and Lake Mary Road on noon, March 14 due to a multi-day winter storm that is forecast to impact the region starting tonight.
This closure is necessary for public safety due to the possibility of whiteout conditions from drifting heavy snow. When drifting occurs, visibility becomes limited and there is an increased difficulty for County snowplow operators to keep the road clear of snow. Stoneman Lake Road will remain closed until weather conditions allow for the County to safely reopen it.
Latest ‘Behind the Scenery’ Podcast available
On Sunday, the latest episode of the Behind the Scenery podcast aired on Apple podcasts and the park’s website.
In this episode, Canyon Interpretation staff interview Gerald Lomaventema, an award-winning silversmith, a mentor to young Hopi artists, and a runner. He’s also the great grandson of Olympic medalist Louis Tewanima. Louis won silver in the 10,000 meters in the 1912 Olympics and set an American record that stood for decades. He was also a spiritual leader in his community.
In this episode of the Behind the Scenery podcast, Gerald talks about his art, his cultural connections to Grand Canyon, and running and Louis’s legacy in the Hopi community. This episode is available on Apple podcasts and the park website.
This year Women’s History Month has particular resonance for United Way of Northern Arizona both because of the makeup of our small and mighty staff and because of this year’s theme: Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.
Worldwide, three out of four United Ways are led by women, but UWNA’s staff is entirely female.
I am honored to lead a team that includes Christine Pierce, our Campaign and Operations Manager; Elaine Hebestreit, our Administrative Assistant; and Tempy Wessel, who recently joined us as our Northeast Representative.
Additionally Carol Dykes and Sybil Smith continue to assist us with community engagement, managing volunteer efforts and crisis response.
Shamrock Shuffle, Downtown Flagstaff, Saturday, March 16
Get ready to Shake your Shamrock in Downtown Flagstaff! We are celebrating St. Paddy’s Day at some of our favorite bars and restaurants with this St. Patrick’s Day themed bar crawl! 2 p.m.
Learn More
FLAGSTAFF — Altice USA and Networx Cabling Systems will be working in the Southside neighborhood and West Flagstaff to install new fiber-optic line. The work is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 18 and is expected to be completed by Sunday, March 31.
NOW FEATURING:
Nancy Foo,
Lili Anne Laurin,
and Amy Light
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.
One confirmed and one probable case of measles has been reported in Coconino County. Coconino County Health and Human Services is actively conducting disease surveillance and identified five public locations where people may have been exposed to measles.
Individuals who were at the following locations at the listed dates and times may have been exposed and should monitor for measles symptoms and contact their healthcare provider if they develop symptoms:
Thank you to everyone who attended this year’s STEMMY Awards Ceremony. The evening was full of celebration, innovation, and dedication to advancing STEM education and awareness within our beloved community. A special thanks to our esteemed keynote speaker, Dr. David Engelthaler for joining us.
Highlighting excellence across various sectors, the STEMMY Awards showcased individuals and organizations who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to STEM education and awareness.
Editor’s note: Part of a continuing series of profiles of board members and staff of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — As per Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth’s Mission statement, “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
For CCC&Y, it takes a variety of individuals to build that inclusive movement of people dedicated to transforming and healing our communities — volunteer board members, organizational and individual members, supporters and partners, and staff members.
To promote the work of CCC&Y, the Coalition has been assisted for nearly a decade by Outreach Coordinator Frank X. Moraga. Frank has worked at the Coalition since December 2014, staffing a variety of outreach events and community resource meetings from Flagstaff to Leupp, Williams, Tusayan, the Grand Canyon, Tuba City, Page and Fredonia. He currently facilitates the monthly Tuba City Community Resource meeting. He also produces the Coalition’s weekly e-newsletter.
Community members are invited to celebrate 20 years of the Sustainable Building Program. The community inspired program, which began in 2003, came out of a desire from county residents for an easier path to building sustainably.
They also saw a need for more community education and awareness about sustainable building practices, methods, technology, and innovations. The program evolved into a free certification program allowing homeowners and builders to participate in a third-party certification based on points achieved for building sustainably. The benefits of participating include:
Distilling the Landscape in Sedona
with Ben Hamburger
March 16 : Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Simplifying what you see is a necessary component of observational painting. But it can also be used as a liberating constraint to explore design, composition, and color. During this class, you will focus on distilling your surroundings into compositions that convey both the essence of the landscape around us and our individual artistic voices. We will begin by focusing on selection and composition exercises before moving on to full color paintings. Discussions on theory and demonstrations will be followed by painting time with guidance by the instructor and group critique. Beginner and experienced plein air painters are welcome, however, this class is a class for people with some substantial painting experience. While demos will be provided in oil paint, both oils and acrylic painters are welcome.
This $10,000 grant is designed to enhance civic participation and engagement on college campuses by encouraging students to serve as elections board workers. The grant will support poll worker recruitment efforts through activities like National Poll Worker Recruitment Day and Help America Vote Day.
FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Recorder’s Office wants to remind early voters that voted early ballots must be received no later than 7:00 pm on Election Day, March 19. Early voters should put their voted early ballot in the mail no later than Tuesday, March 12 to ensure that the ballot is received in time to be counted.
Voted early ballots may be dropped off in one of the ballot drop boxes located throughout the county or at an early voting site. For a list of ballot drop boxes and early voting sites go to: www.coconino.az.gov/elections and select Ballot Drop Box Locations or Early Voting Sites.
FLAGSTAFF — On the third anniversary of the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the City of Flagstaff continues work on allocating ARPA funding to support a variety of local causes and initiatives.
Allocations of ARPA funds to date include $2.4M to congregate care, housing assistance, job training, mental health, and substance abuse services, $3M to education assistance and early learning programs, and $1.4M to local non-profits and small businesses. The information below provides a small sampling of some of the ARPA funding that was allocated by the City to its community partners.
The strength of any nonprofit organization largely depends on the people who are willing to give their time and talent to ensure its success. United Way of Northern Arizona has always been fortunate in having leaders who embraced our goals of stepping up for our youth and our community.
At the Annual Campaign and Community Impact Celebration on March 27 (register here), we will install four new members to the UWNA Board of Directors. These remarkable people bring a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives that will augment an already exceptional board.
A Holocaust survivor whose story continues to inspire. A seamstress who made state history. A librarian (Delia Ceballos Muñoz) who shed light on Flagstaff’s long-overlooked early Hispanic and Latine settlers. To celebrate Women’s History Month, we’re sharing a few stories about Lumberjack teachers, leaders and alumnae who made history by breaking glass ceilings, advocating for their communities and accomplishing remarkable things.
On Friday, March 1, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines for respiratory illness, to include Covid-19. The CDC is updating its recommendations for Covid-19 to bring them in line with its advice for other kinds of respiratory infections, including influenza and RSV.
People who test positive for Covid-19 no longer need to routinely stay away from others for at least five days. The CDC now says people who have Covid-19 should stay home until they’ve been fever-free without medication for at least 24 hours and their symptoms have been improving for 24 hours.
However, the CDC still does recommend that people take additional precautions for an additional five days to lower the risk of spreading the virus. These precautions include improving ventilation indoors, masking, and limiting close contact with others.
Don’t miss the chance to celebrate the vibrant creativity of our community’s young artists. 11 a.m.
Learn More
COCONINO COUNTY — The National District Attorney’s Association (NDAA) recently recognized Coconino County Attorney Bill Ring as the recipient of the 2024 Distinguished Prosecutor of the Year Award.
The Distinguished Prosecutor of the Year Award is presented annually by the NDAA, which is the oldest and largest professional organization representing criminal prosecutors across the country. Ring was selected from 22 other nominees from prosecution agencies nationwide. This honor is bestowed upon an individual who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, integrity, and excellence in the field of prosecution.
FLAGSTAFF — The community is invited to participate in the selection of the Flagstaff Police Department’s next police chief at an upcoming meet and greet. The public meet and greet is scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 at 5 p.m. in City Hall Council Chambers at 211 West Aspen Avenue or via Microsoft Teams.
The meet and greet will begin with each of the five candidates for Police Chief providing an introduction about themselves, including their previous education and experience, and how it relates to the police chief position. After all introductions have been completed, there will be a few questions answered by each candidate prior to an opportunity for participants to mingle with the candidates. Information about each candidate is listed below.
Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is excited to announce that Dr. Michael Madsen has accepted the role of Chief Medical Examiner following the retirement of Dr. Lawrence Czarnecki.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors appointed Dr. Michael Madsen as the Chief Medical Examiner pursuant to A.R.S. 11-592 beginning March 2, 2024, for Coconino County during the March 5, 2024, Board meeting.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, extends her heartfelt congratulations to the outstanding educators selected as finalists for the prestigious Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year awards.
The winner in each category will be revealed at the 11th annual Coconino County Teacher of the Year Awards event on Thursday, April 25, 2024, commencing at 5 p.m. at the High Country Conference Center.
COCONINO COUNTY — CCC&Y member partners have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by taking part in the annual Arizona Gives Day on April 2, 2024.
Arizona Gives Day is an annual giving movement uniting nonprofits, big and small, new and established, with all missions and backgrounds, to celebrate and increase philanthropy in Arizona through online giving, said AZ Impact for Good, which runs the program. The event helps raise awareness about the critical role Arizona nonprofits play in our community and inspires people to give generously, creating a thriving and stronger Arizona for all.
So if you have registered by the Arizona Gives Day deadline of Feb. 28, 2024, be sure to contact the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth so we can support your effort by providing links to your organization and donation pages in our upcoming weekly e-newsletters.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) published the 2024 Coconino County Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) on March 5, 2024.
The chna is a comprehensive evaluation, conducted every three years, to gain a deep understanding of the health status, risk factors, causes and concerns of poverty in our communities and available resources within Coconino County. The main goals of this assessment are to understand community health; identify health disparities; create a path for improvement; and reduce barriers.
In this edition…
• Supervisors Oppose the Pinon Plain Uranium Mine
• County Awarded $7.7 million NRCS Grant to Protect Residents from Flood Damage
• Supervisor Vasquez Testifies on Transportation at Arizona Capitol Board Members Travel to Washington, DC to Advocate for Coconino County
• District 2 Events and Activities
Upcoming Events And More!
Learn about the contributions women have made to the world at campus events throughout the month of March. In partnership with other campus organizations, the Commission on the Status of Women has invited a diverse set of speakers to talk about the stories and accomplishments of women from both the past and the modern day.
FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Flood Control District (The District) and the Coconino National Forest have announced a new Upper Rio De Flag Watershed restoration plan to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire and post-fire flooding.
“It’s been proven that forest restoration — including mechanical thinning and prescribed fire — is an effective tool to reduce wildfire spread and severity,” said Coconino County Forest Restoration Director Jay Smith. “The completion of forest restoration in Upper Rio De Flag Watershed will provide a multi-generational benefit to our region.”
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County’s contractor is preparing to break ground on the second phase of a project to improve travel lanes and shoulders along Lake Mary Road.
The $1.7 million Lake Mary Road Mill & Fill Project: Phase 2 includes the milling of existing pavement and the subsequent installation of 1.5” Polymer Modified Asphalt Concrete along the travel lanes and road shoulders of two sections of Lake Mary Road totaling approximately 3.6 miles.
Distilling the Landscape in Sedona
with Ben Hamburger
March 16 : Saturday, 9am – 3pm
Simplifying what you see is a necessary component of observational painting. But it can also be used as a liberating constraint to explore design, composition, and color. During this class, you will focus on distilling your surroundings into compositions that convey both the essence of the landscape around us and our individual artistic voices. We will begin by focusing on selection and composition exercises before moving on to full color paintings. Discussions on theory and demonstrations will be followed by painting time with guidance by the instructor and group critique. Beginner and experienced plein air painters are welcome, however, this class is a class for people with some substantial painting experience. While demos will be provided in oil paint, both oils and acrylic painters are welcome.
The City of Flagstaff’s Regional Plan is a vision for the future of our community. It is a policy guide and serves as the general plan for the city as mandated by state law. The Regional Plan addresses a range of topics and outlines current conditions, the community’s vision for the future, and a series of goals and policies that will bring us to realization of this future vision.
2023 Park Profile and statistics now available
Last week the NPS released its 2023 visitation statistics. Service-wide, the NPS welcomed 325.5 million visitors in 2023, an increase of 13 million or 4% over 2022.
Grand Canyon National Park experienced its eighth busiest year ever in 2023 with 4,733,705 visits. Last year’s visitation was only 1,600 more than the previous year with a less than 1% increase from 2022. Grand Canyon once again ranked as the second most visited National Park in the National Park Service system behind Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Visitation to Grand Canyon reached its highest level in 2018 with approximately 6.4 million visitors.
Plan on joining us as we celebrate our collective community impact and share some exciting news that will further our efforts to step up for our youth in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.
Our Annual Campaign & Community Impact Luncheon will start at 11:30 am on Wednesday, March 27 at Little America Hotel.
Tickets are $50 / $375 for a table of 8.
New Student Orientation is now Lumberjack Welcome—an immersive experience that takes place the week before school starts and connects new students with resources and support that will help them in the first few weeks of school and for the entirety of their Lumberjack career. It’s an important piece of NAU’s commitment to helping 100,000 people earn high-value NAU credentials by 2035, preparing them to succeed in the always-changing Arizona workforce.
Stroll throughout Downtown Flagstaff to see and purchase paintings, jewelry, woodwork, ceramics, and more! 5 p.m.
View this email in your browser Art Workshops and Classes in March 2024! CERAMICS CLASSES: Ceramics: Pottery Wheel for Beginners with Neil Kennedy March 2 – April 6 Saturdays, 9am to 12pm CERAMICS – POTTERY WHEEL FOR BEGINNERS : SIGN…
FLAGSTAFF — Members of the public are invited to submit applications for community garden plots starting on Friday, March 1. Returning gardeners will have priority until April 1 to secure their plots from the previous season. The remaining available plots will be offered to new gardeners on a first-come, first-served basis. New gardeners who do not have access to growing space at home or those who qualify for SNAP benefits will be given priority for remaining available plots through the application process.
In Gods of Comedy, a young woman calls on the gods of Ancient Greece to save her love life—but it’s not the gods of love who show up to help. Theatrikos favorite playwright Ken Ludwig (Lend Me A Tenor) is back with a hilariously divine farce filled with screwball deities, carnal complexity, conspicuous consumption, madcap mayhem, a touch of romance, and lots of laughs.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY —
Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 7. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.
The CCC&Y Prevention Council has its roots in our long history of child abuse prevention, our most recent work with substance misuse prevention and our overall commitment to understanding the protective factors, resiliency research and assets our community needs to thrive.
Some examples include:
Planning for previous Child Abuse Prevention Conferences
Engaging in multiple projects with International Child Welfare expert, Kevin Campbell
Developing a library of recorded webinars
Initiating the PAWS community arts and education project
COCONINO COUNTY — Two recent pre-wildfire studies from the Coconino County FCD confirm there is a significant wildfire and post-wildfire flood threat in the Upper Rio De Flag Watershed above Flagstaff, with potential to cause substantial economic impacts to the region.
We asked faculty and staff: Which Black musicians inspire you? What prominent Black figure, living or dead, would you want to have dinner with? What’s your advice for future generations? Read and watch their thoughtful answers to these and more questions in this multimedia story, part of a university-wide celebration of Black History Month.
The Board of ECoNA had a robust, wide-ranging conversation with Senator Mark Kelly recently that covered infrastructure improvements in northern Arizona, possible strategies for addressing our chronic housing shortage here, and the senator’s profound disappointment that the border security bill that was negotiated in Congress did not garner enough support to pass.
Earlier in the day, Senator Kelly had presided over a field hearing of the Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee at City Hall, which focused on a progress report from local officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Rio de Flag Flood Control project.
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raices & the Museum of Northern Arizona: 20th Annual Celebraciones de la Gente has been selected as a 2024 Viola Awards Finalists for the Excellence in Collaboration category by Creative Flagstaff.
The winners of the category will be announced on March 23, 2024 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Flagstaff.
The 20th anniversary annual Celebraciones de la Gente — Día de los Muertos / Day of the Dead festival was held Oct. 21, 22 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The event, a partnership between Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and the Museum of Northern Arizona, featured the return of the the ever-popular InTlanextli Tlacopan Aztec Fire Dancers, Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff, El Charro Bohemia, sugar skull and other workshops, and the display of nearly two dozen ofrendas/altars in the historic Jaime Golightly Courtyard.
As an All of Us scholar, NAU junior Cecilia Perez pursued a research project on the understudied topic of endometriosis in women of color. The disease that causes severe pelvic pain and menstrual bleeding is widely believed to affect mostly white women—but Perez’s research shows it touches the lives of racial and ethnic minorities at similar rates.
Read the story
FLAGSTAFF — Two Coconino Community College students, Grace McCullough and Carly Miller, have been nominated for the All-Arizona Academic Team as part of the All-USA Scholarship competition sponsored by Phi Theta Kappa.
Each year, the Arizona Board of Regents provides tuition scholarships to exceptional Arizona resident community college transfer students, based on outstanding academic performance and community service.
Students are nominated by their community college and submit their applications directly to the Phi Theta Kappa International Honorary organization. Scholarships cover resident tuition at any Arizona state university.
The Train Depot Bridge project is nearing completion and will officially reopen to the public on Friday, February 23. This project was a collaborative effort between the Grand Canyon National Park Special Projects Crew and the Trail Crew. Both crews worked together as a team, successfully rehabilitating this old bridge in the historic district of the South Rim Village. This bridge will serve visitors in accessing greenways, bus stops, and the train depot for many years to come.
Celebrate craft beer at any of Flagstaff’s 8 breweries, with discounts, events, and more! Various times.
When school started last year, the EdWeek Research Center (part of the publication Education Week) conducted a survey, asking high school students the following question: In the past year, what, if anything, has had a negative impact on your mental health?
Here was the statistic that pulled me up short: only 16% of the respondents said “Nothing.”
That means 84% had experienced enough stress and anxiety – about everything from school to the future of our planet – that it had a detrimental effect on their mental health.
“The creation of the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument forever protects almost a million acres of land around Grand Canyon from future uranium mining. However, existing mining permits remain in effect,” District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman said. “The Pinyon Plain mine is extracting ore and threatens the very existence of the Havasupai people and their homeland.”
COCONINO COUNTY — The 2023 Controller of the Year Awards recently recognized Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar as the winner of Controller of the Year for the Government Category.
Benatar has served as Treasurer of Coconino County since being appointed in 2014, winning reelection in 2016 and 2020, and was the youngest County Treasurer in Arizona. She serves the County as an officer of the Arizona County Treasurer’s Association and as past President of the Arizona Association of Counties (AACo). She is a voice for rural communities, advocating for her constituents by serving on the board and as Treasurer of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), and as president of the National Association of Hispanic County Elected Officials (NAHCO).
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.
Spring registration has opened for some groups.
The spring schedule is posted on our website. The registration date is listed next to each group on the schedule so please double check your correct registration date. The spring season registration will be on February 21 and 22. We will be staggering the registration to reduce the congestion of many people logging in at once. Registration for the Upper Level groups (Middle and High School), push bike, 4-5 years, and 5-6 year old groups will be at 6:00am on February 21. The registration for 1st-5th grade groups will be on February 22 at 6:00am. Registration on February 21st will be locked for all groups with a registration date of February 22nd so please only log in on the date of your group.
The spring waitlist will be posted on the registration page at 6:30am on February 22.
— Gina Santi is a freelance photographer born and raised in Venezuela and currently based in Tempe, Arizona. She earned her master’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from Northern Arizona University and has participated in various events in Northern Arizona, including the annual Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Visit http://www.ginasantiphotography.com for more information.
