After a catastrophic fire hit California’s Big Basin State Park in 2020, thousands of acres of redwoods that had been burned appeared dead. New research from NAU shows that many of these ancient trees have survived, drawing on massive carbon reserves to fuel new growth. The research team’s models indicate the sprouting trees are using carbon they captured 50 to 100 years ago—some of the oldest carbon reserves ever measured.
There is still time to participate in the Flagstaff Regional Plan Scenario Choosing! Over 350 people have contributed so far and we are waiting to hear from you and people you know who make the Flagstaff Community special.
FLAGSTAFF — The annual Point in Time Count (PIT) willtake place starting Jan. 24 throughout the City of Flagstaff.This count documents the number of unsheltered people experiencing homelessness at a single point in time and isconducted across the country.
Local data collected during the annual PIT Count measuresprogress at local and national levels related to preventingand ending homelessness. Information gathered from thesurveys can help raise awareness about the challengesfaced by people who are experiencing homeless in thecommunity. Data is also shared at the local, state andnational level to determine funding for homeless servicesthroughout Coconino County. This count is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
As a young person, Bill Carter went to the Balkans with $200 in his pocket and a yearning to do good. Decades later, that youthful impulse is still paying dividends: The NAU professor of practice recently collaborated with Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and the band U2 on the documentary film “Kiss the Future,” about the bloody Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s and U2’s efforts to raise awareness of the conflict. A free, public pre-screening and discussion of the film will take place on campus on Tuesday, Jan. 23.
CCC&Y, Coconino County and the City of Flagstaff continue to make progress meeting the goals of “The Reimagine Community Project,” a mental model change program ensuring trauma-informed and resilience information is understood at the City and County levels and enacted as policy change.
CCC&Y was one of four organizations in Arizona to be selected in April 2023 for the Vitalyst Health Foundation’s System Change Grant. The goal of the project is to improve patient engagement, treatment adherence, health outcomes and provider and staff wellness.
During a Zoom presentation in December 2023, CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie presented a draft webinar presentation for city leaders to receive feedback.
The webinar included an overview of “The 10 ACES,” (Adverse Childhood Experiences),” and how the effects of childhood trauma adversely affects individuals in their adult lives. Those 10 ACES include — physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical neglect, emotional neglect, mental illness, divorce, substance abuse, violence against mother, having a relative who has been sent to jail or prison.
By understanding how both ACES and ongoing stress affect individuals, including oneself, the training is expected to improve customer service for community members and self-care and support to County and City employees.
As we begin 2024, I’m looking forward to working with our state’s early childhood stakeholders – including parents and caregivers, child care and health providers, state and non-profit agencies, educators, businesses, philanthropists, faith organizations, policymakers and elected leaders – as partners in addressing children’s school readiness.
To help with those efforts, I am pleased to announce that First Things First has published the latest edition of Building Bright Futures – our biennial assessment on the status of Arizona’s youngest children. You can read more about the report on our latest blog.
The new report provides insight into the challenges facing young children in Arizona and details the need for continued work to ensure the future stability of child care in our state’s post-pandemic landscape.
FLAGSTAFF — The Point in Time is right around the corner and we need volunteers!
The Point in Time or PIT count is a HUD requirement for COC’s nationally. The count provides a snapshot of those experiencing homelessness at a single point in time. It is an opportunity to collect some basic data used to measure homelessness on a national, state and local level. Data is used for system and program planning and to measure progress in ending homelessness.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission are pleased to announce this year’s Neighborhood Sustainability Grant recipients. The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant program is an annual grant opportunity for Flagstaff individuals, organizations, and businesses to continue or implement new community sustainability projects. This year, 13 of an impressive 31 applicants received grant funding in amounts ranging from $2,150 to $7,500.
FLAGSTAFF — Fire managers on the Coconino National Forest plan to take advantage of winter weather conditions by conducting pile burns on both the Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) and Mogollon Rim Ranger District (MRRD) this week.
The FRD has multiple pile burn projects planned between Monday, Jan. 8 and Friday, Jan. 12.
Want to stay up to date with park information, including road closures?
Sign up for Everbridge notifications!
The Everbridge platform sends real-time texts, emails, and/or calls to park employees, residents, and community members.
NPS Everbridge notifications are distributed for incidents impacting public safety, means of travel, work conditions, utility interruptions, and significant park-wide incidents.
Below are examples of incidents that may require notifications:
Yesterday, lawmakers from the Senate and House’s Health and Human Services Committees debated whether and for how long the Department of Child Safety should be allowed to continue, as part of the agency’s sunset review. While authorized to recommend continuation for up to 10 years, the Committee voted yesterday to endorse continuation for just 4 years, with two members voting against the continuing of DCS at all.
Children’s Action Alliance provided public comment in support of continuation, noting the progress the agency has made since its inception 10 years ago in clearing a significant backlog of investigations, increasing supports for kinship foster parents, and strengthening services for young people as they transition from foster care to independence. CAA also acknowledged that there is much work to be done.
Coconino County is ready for the inaugural snowstorms of 2024, the first of which hit northern Arizona late Wednesday and is forecast to continue through Thursday.
Public Works crews have been working through the night to keep County roads open and passable during the storm and the Facilities Management team is preparing County buildings for cold and icy conditions.
According to the National Weather Service a second, stronger snowstorm with higher snowfall accumulations is forecast for the region starting early Sunday.
This storm has already created hazardous travel conditions due to slick, snow covered roads and periods of reduced visibility. Mountain travel delays are expected, and motorists are advised to plan trips accordingly or delay travel if necessary. Very cold and potentially dangerous temperatures are forecast following this storm.
For up-to-date regional weather information please visit www.weather.gov/fgz/WinterWeather. For updates on highway conditions please visit www.az511.gov.
FLAGSTAFF — As winter embraces Flagstaff, the City is introducing its new Snow Hero Program to increase safety and accessibility to our neighborhoods. The program assists Flagstaff community members in need of help clearing their sidewalks of snow and ice by matching them with a Snow Hero Participant. The City is looking for community members to serve as Snow Heroes this winter.
The Snow Hero Program is a community-driven effort to support sidewalk snow and ice clearing throughout Flagstaff. As a Snow Hero, you will be matched with a nearby neighbor who has registered for assistance. Your role will be to clear snow and ice from the sidewalk(s) adjacent to their property within 48 hours following a snow event.
WILLIAMS — Fire managers will be conducting prescribed pile burns throughout the winter season as conditions safely allow. Winter is often the ideal time for crews to burn piles of slash and woody debris left over from forest thinning projects because colder temperatures and snow help moderate fire behavior and keep it from spreading beyond the piles. Approximately 5,000 acres of piles on the Tusayan and Williams ranger districts and 2,500 acres of piles on the North Kaibab Ranger District are slated for burning this season.
Are you a parent with an intellectual disability?
Join our Advisory Board
We are looking for parents with intellectual disabilities (ID) to make this project even better by joining the Advisory Board. We will meet twice before July 2024 for about an hour. You will be given $150 for each meeting you attend.
We are working to improve access to high-quality parenting support for parents with Intellectual Disabilities (ID).
View this email in your browser With the end of the year in sight, it’s so fun to reflect on the amazing journey we’ve had. We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who supported FLYRS in…
2023 is almost over, and it’s time to reflect on what an exciting year it has been. We are so happy to have you all a part of FLYRS as we reached greater heights than ever before. With nearly 1000 youth served this year, we have worked further toward our mission of developing resilient, caring, and growth oriented youth through cycling. Thanks to your support, we have been able to strengthen our community by providing an ecosystem of bike-centric programs, events, and opportunities.
Check out this short reel of some fun moments from 2023.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
We want to wish you all a very Happy 2024.
We are so thankful for the support you have shown CCC&Y over the years. We are looking forward to continuation of our Trauma-Informed systems work with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County under the “Reimagine Community” program and we are excited to expand our webinar offerings in the coming year. We will be having guest presenters, new outreach, more prevention and more healing!
We are hoping to count on you for support!
If you need to renew a membership, would like to make a donation, would like to give the gift of membership during the holiday season etc….please visit https://coconinokids.org/contribute/
P.S.,
Change is coming in 2024 for our popular News website and our weekly e-newsletter. Our News website is currently under construction and will eventually merge with our main website this year.
As part of that move, our regular weekly e-newsletter is also transitioning to a fresh look for 2024.
And we want your help!
Please CLICK HERE to submit your suggestions to help us better design a weekly e-newsletter that better meets your needs in 2024.
Thank you to everyone who has already provided some great suggestions for our newsletter. Very much appreciated.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Solid Waste Section has published the 2024 schedule for bulky waste collection, which is provided to all single-family households within Flagstaff city limits. Bulky waste collection will continue to be performed in five geographic sections throughout the City once every five weeks per the map and schedule that can be downloaded at flagstaff.az.gov/DocumentCenter/View/77841.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct pile burns throughout this week in three locations near the City of Flagstaff.
The Horse Park pile burn consists of approximately 2,000 acres of slash piles just north of Munds Park, located 13 miles south of Flagstaff near Forest Road 700. Crews plan to burn Wednesday, Jan. 3 through Friday, Jan. 5.
Crews will burn a small pile located at the Mormon Lake Work Center, 2 miles south of Flagstaff, on Thursday, Jan. 4.
Crews will also burn about 10 acres of hand piles at the Flagstaff Hotshot Ranch site, located roughly 7 miles northwest of the City of Flagstaff, on Friday, Jan. 5.
Grand Canyon Residents, Partners, and Community Members,
As a reminder, rodenticides (rodent poisons) are prohibited in Grand Canyon National Park and in all park residences. Recently, a bobcat in the South Rim Village was found deceased as a result of high levels of rodenticide poisoning.
These poisons cause harm to wildlife, pets, and humans and can contaminate the environment. Keeping residences and buildings sanitary, uncluttered, and consistently setting snap traps is the most effective way to control rodents.
Free rodent clean-up kits are available for check-out that will help you safely address rodents in your home or workplace.
FLAGSTAFF — “Humor Healing,” featuring James Junes and Talibah Begay, will be held at at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 at Ardrey Auditorium at Northern Arizona University.
Event is free, no tickets needed, and parking is in P13 lot behind Ardrey. The cost for parking is $3/hour and attendee may purchase the permit at the drive-up kiosk upon entering campus via the Riordan Road off Milton Road.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is hosting an informational meeting about the current drinking water, wastewater, and reclaimed water rate study on Monday, April 8 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. at the East Flagstaff Community Library (3000 N Fourth St). The meeting will be a drop-in style event where attendees can learn more about the rate study and see how proposed rate changes will affect their water bill. Attendees can also ask questions of City staff and provide feedback.
Kick off the day by joining a community litter clean-up led by Arizona Conservation Corps (AZCC), which will take place from 9-10 a.m. before the community celebration. Volunteers should arrive at the meeting location by 8:45 a.m. A light breakfast will be available for volunteers. For more information and to register for the event, visit Flagstaff.az.gov/EarthDay.
We are excited to partner with the Flagstaff Hazardous Products Center, Coconino County, Flagstaff Police Department, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), Ponderosa Medical Waste Services, Elevated Shredding, and Westech Recyclers to put your waste in the right place.
FLAGSTAFF — Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona will host a fun day of dog-centered events at its annual PAWS-4-HOPE fundraiser on Saturday, May 4, at Bushmaster Park in Flagstaff. Money raised by the event, which will include three dog walking…
COCONIO COUNTY —The Coconino County Board of Supervisors approved the implementation phase of the Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) Youth Behavioral Health Project (YBHP) at their December 12, 2023, regular meeting.
The YBHP, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will offer preemptive behavioral healthcare for youth utilizing a hub and spoke youth-based and youth–led model. YBHP facilities and services will provide emotional, physical, and social support services for youth aged 12-18.
As a result of the Board’s approval, CCHHS will move forward with the final planning and construction of an innovative, youth behavioral resource center facility in Flagstaff, and begin planning for services in outlying communities including Page, Williams, Tusayan, and Fredonia.
In an effort to protect forest roads from damage, the Coconino National Forest has started closing forest roads in the Flagstaff Ranger District (FRD) for the winter and will continue closing roads over the course of the coming weeks across the forest in higher elevations.
While the FRD has closed forest roads north of Interstate 40 along U.S. Highway 180 and U.S. Highway 89, many forest roads currently remain open due to low levels of snow and precipitation.
Seasonal road closures on each district of the Coconino NF occur at different times each year and depend on weather forecasts and road conditions.
Forest visitors are encouraged to check forest road statuses prior to any excursion by visiting the Coconino NF’s Forest Roads Status web page.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is proud to provide a treecycling service during the month of January to assist with the proper recycling of Christmas trees. Collected trees will be mulched and used in City landscaping projects or as alternative daily cover at the Cinder Lake landfill.
Curbside pick-up will be provided by the City’s Solid Waste Collections program to single-family households located within City limits that regularly receive bulky waste collection service from Jan. 2 through Jan. 12 (pending weather conditions). Trees must be placed on the curb by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 2.
FLAGSTAFF — In four short months, the Community Assistance Teams’ (CATs) People at Work (P@W) initiative has removed over 3,500 cubic feet of litter from Flagstaff streets, employed dozens of unsheltered community members, and provided nearly 12,000 hours of community service. P@W is partially funded through the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office’s Engage, Empower, Elevate (E3) grant program. E3 was developed in response to a two-fold challenge in Flagstaff; the record high number of persons that are unsheltered or at risk of being unsheltered and the ongoing challenge of keeping Flagstaff litter-free.
A recent survey of students from Holbrook and Joseph City High Schools illustrates some of the mental health concerns of teens in Navajo County.
According to the survey, which was administered by two students at the high schools, a majority of the teens interviewed indicated they frequently feel anxious and under pressure in school and work.
About half felt they had someone to talk to about their concerns. Most relied on music, exercise, sleeping, or time alone as ways of coping with the stress they feel.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is asking community members to take its Community Rail Safety Survey to provide input on rail safety. Questions include preferred solutions to reduce risk at roadway rail crossings as well as preferred educational and enforcement solutions to improve safety. To take the survey, visit surveymonkey.com/r/COFDMWeb.
The City of Flagstaff and BNSF are partnering to develop a Community Rail Safety Plan in conjunction with design and construction of several large civil works projects along the Flagstaff rail corridor (comprising the Lone Tree Overpass and Downtown Mile projects). This plan will help address areas of risk and identify mitigations to improve safety throughout Flagstaff.
Portions of the North Kaibab trail, between Manzanita and Supai Tunnel, will be closed beginning at sunrise on Monday, December 18 and ending at sunset on Sunday, December 24. Closures will be in effect from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. to allow for contractors to install seismic survey nodes in Roaring Springs Canyon.
Work crews will be installing survey nodes in highly technical terrain above the trail, which may result in inadvertent and unpredictable rock fall onto the North Kaibab Trail. These survey nodes are small, wireless sensors that will be able to detect and record seismic activity in the area.
For the latest trail updates, please visit the park’s Critical Backcountry Updates page.
The number of unhoused individuals in Arizona jumped almost 25 percent between 2020 and 2022 as safe, affordable housing disappeared throughout the state. This is a thorny, multifaceted issue, and one that health sciences researcher Sara Shuman is tackling as part of a federal effort to better understand and address homelessness throughout the nation. With a focus on health equity, Shuman and her team will document the needs and experiences of people living in encampments and evaluate the strategies used to manage homeless encampments in Yuma, Pima and Maricopa counties.
In order to step up for our youth, we need to make improving access to childcare a top priority.
According to a report released just this week, the lack of adequate childcare in Arizona is costing the state $4.7 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue each year.
The analysis, conducted by ReadyNation with major funding by the Helios Education Foundation, shows that not having accessible, affordable, and high-quality childcare is adversely impacting parents, businesses, and taxpayers.
As 2023 draws to a close, we hope you will
make a donation in support of the work we
have done this year and will continue in 2024.
F3’s Community Impact!
*F3 brought citizens’ questions & concerns about the
hospital move to the City beginning in February. F3
joined the no campaign & is a big reason why Prop 480
was voted down by 72% of the voters!
*F3’s 2023 Voter Guide to the City’s Propositions
played a significant role in educating residents of the
meaning & impact of the 19 Charter amendments.
Researchers from the Ecological Restoration Institute and School of Forestry are part of a national effort to create consistent and accurate models to predict different aspects of forest health. The National Scale Volume Biomass models are an innovation in forest biometrics introduces advanced models for accurately predicting the size and carbon-storing capacity of American forests, playing a key role in combating climate change and guiding sustainable forest management efforts.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth would love to wish you a happy and joyful holiday season.
During the next few weeks our regular weekly e-newsletter will be taking a break as we look to give it a fresh look in the coming year.
And we want your help!
Please CLICK HERE to submit your suggestions to help us better design a weekly e-newsletter that better meets your needs in 2024.
Read More
There are two ways to participate in the Flagstaff Regional Plan Scenario Choosing. Almost 200 people have participated so far and we are waiting to hear from you and people you know who make Flagstaff an amazing place.
Important: Please Attend Regional Plan 2045 Scenario Choosing Workshop Open House this Saturday, Dec. 2, 9:00-11:00 am at Flagstaff High School Commons
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County is ready for the first snowstorm of the 2023-2024 winter season, which is forecast to hit Northern Arizona late Wednesday and continue into Saturday.
Public Works crews are geared up to keep County roads open and passable during the storm and the Facilities Management Department is preparing County buildings for cold and icy conditions.
The National Weather Service in Bellemont has issued a Winter Weather Advisory beginning Thursday at 5 p.m. through 5 a.m. Saturday. According to the advisory, total snow accumulations between 2 and 8 inches are expected, with snow falling as low as 5000’ and hazardous impacts occurring above 7000’.
North Rim transitions to winter operations; Hwy. 67 closed at Jacob Lake
Beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday, November 30, the North Rim was closed to all vehicle traffic for the winter. State Route 67 and all services on the North Rim are expected to re-open on May 15th, 2024 (subject to change).
As in years past, the North Rim campground will be available for winter camping and is accessible via hiking inner canyon trails from the South Rim or by hiking, cross-country skiing, or snowshoeing 45 miles from Jacob Lake. To camp at the North Rim during the winter months, visitors need a backcountry permit, which can be obtained in advance through the South Rim Backcountry Information Center.
FLAGSTAFF — The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposes to provide federal financial assistance under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to the City of Flagstaff (sub-applicant), located in Coconino County, Arizona, to upgrade an existing concrete box culvert (proposed action). Pursuant to Executive Order 11988 (Floodplain Management), Executive Order 11990 (Protection of Wetlands), and FEMA’s implementing regulations at Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 9, FEMA hereby provides interested parties with a notice of its final decision and an explanation of the alternatives that were considered.
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.
Measuring biodiversity across the U.S.—with space lasers
Diverse ecosystems support the web of life and in the process, provide food, water, medicine and materials for humanity. But the butterfly effect tells us all things are connected. So, when biodiversity loss threatens the foundation upon which we live, what does that mean for the future of Earth and humanity? NAU research professor Chris Hakkenberg is taking a necessary step to finding a solution to biodiversity loss: mapping and measuring biodiversity across the U.S. using NASA’s space-borne lidar.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Ranger District plans to conduct large pile burns tomorrow through Friday in two different areas about two miles north of Munds Park or 13 miles south of Flagstaff.
The Horse Park pile burn is comprised of approximately 1,200 acres of slash piles just north of Munds Park, near Forest Road 700.
The Willard Spring pile burn consists of four acres worth of forest debris and grass within Willard Spring pit just west of Interstate 17 near the Willard Springs exit.
Smoke may impact areas such as Mountainaire, Kachina Village and I-17 around the pile burns but is forecast to move toward the north/northeast through the day.
We couldn’t do it without you.
We are United in Purpose 365 days a year, and together we are stepping up for youth and our community in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties. We are promoting early childhood education, positive youth development and the safety and security of our friends and neighbors in our local communities.
This Thanksgiving we are more grateful than ever for your friendship, partnership and support.
Warm wishes for a wonderful holiday,
Liz, Christine & Elaine
FLAGSTAFF — On Tuesday (Nov. 14), the American Conservation Experience (ACE) was awarded a large America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) grant to conduct important watershed improvement and invasive species management work for up to four years on Coconino National Forest.
The $1,755,900 grant included a grant amount of $1,404,700 with matching funds of $351,200 and will employ two specialized six-person crews to perform the work.
The crews will remove and treat invasive species on 1,000 acres as well as deliver 15 miles of instream and riparian restoration. They will do this through the removal of failed culverts, channel stabilization, installation of rack or log structures and the reduction of non-functioning flow diversion features.
FLAGSTAF — The City of Flagstaff and Coconino County invite residents to participate in Scenario Choosing Open Houses for the Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045. These open houses are centered around how the region should approach growth to address uncertainties and opportunities that may lie ahead. This is a once-a-decade opportunity to shape the future of our community.
The open houses will be available in both an online and in-person format. To participate in the open house virtually, visit bit.ly/scenariochoosing from Nov. 16, 2023 to Jan. 19, 2024. Information on the in-person open houses is provided below. Attendees may sign up in advance for childcare at in-person events at flagstaff.az.gov/RegionalPlan2045.
Coconino County Emergency Management recently assisted the State of Hawaii in response to the August wildfires on the island of Maui.
As a result of the devastating wildfires that impacted Lahaina and Upper Kula on Maui, officials in Hawaii have been coordinating response and recovery efforts with local and federal partners. Through this coordination, Hawaii activated the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). EMAC is an all-hazards, all disciplines mutual aid compact that allows states to share resources and provide assistance to one another during times of disaster.
As a signatory to EMAC, the State of Arizona received requests from the State of Hawaii for trained subject matter experts to assist with disaster operations.
InterTribal Economic Summit recap
Last week, the park hosted the Emergence Summit, the second Grand Canyon InterTribal Economic Summit. More than 60 participants were in attendance including Tribal vendors, tour operators, entrepreneurs, partners, and park staff. The purpose of the summit was to discuss ways the park and its many partners can best work together to improve economic benefits for the park, private companies, Tribal partners, nonprofit partners, and the surrounding communities.
Keynote speaker Natasha Hale (Navajo and Saudi Arabian and pictured above), cofounder of Change Labs, offered lessons from her 15 years of experience supporting Native entrepreneurs and economic equity on the Colorado Plateau.
“To move past these wrongs, we still have to keep talking about them. But I think we’re all eager to move past it,” said Hale. “That’s what Emergence is about – we want to be able to co-manage these lands, but we also want to be able to have access to that economic power.”
You can learn more about the summit from Grand Canyon Trust’s website here.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
CCC&Y partners have an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of individuals and programs throughout Northern Arizona by taking part in the annual GivingTuesday movement on Nov. 28, 2023.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth wants to support your effort by providing links to your organization and donation pages in our upcoming weekly e-newsletters.
CCC&Y partners who are participating in our GivingTuesday promotional effort include:
Arizona Friends of Foster Children Foundation — Donation link
Flagstaff Festival of Science — Science in the Park — Donation link
Still time to join our GivingTuesday spotlight effort.
We believe GivingTuesday is a perfect fit for our mission: “We ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families.”
FLAGSTAFF — A prescribed burn will be conducted by the Flagstaff Fire Department on Observatory Mesa on Wednesday, Nov. 15. The burn will target approximately 168 acres. Resources on scene will include two type 6 engines, one type 3 engine, two utility task vehicles with water pumps, the Bear Jaw Wildland Crew and the Flagstaff Fire Department Wildland Crew.
Residents and visitors can expect smoke to be visible in the area. Smoke is expected to drift in a north/ northeast direction during the day over the Coconino Estates neighborhood and the area north of the hospital. At night, smoke is expected to settle in and around Thorpe Park. The Observatory Mesa FUTS trail will be closed between Road 515 and Road 515A. Recreators should avoid the area.
FLAGSTAFF — Now through Dec. 18, the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Flagstaff Foodlink are surveying the greater Flagstaff region to better understand community members’ experiences with the local food system. Input from all community members is needed to improve food access and distribution, agricultural opportunities, and more. Flagstaff Foodlink is offering a gift card raffle to those who complete the survey!
(Paul) Long, who is from New Mexico, comes from a line of medicine men and is a medicine man himself. Growing up, his father taught him to be balanced—to know and practice the traditional beliefs and way of life but also to understand western life and education.
GRAND CANYON, AZ — During the early morning on Thursday November 9, 2023, our water system did not provide adequate levels of chlorine in the water being used from Roaring Springs.
As a result, our water was not disinfected as the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) requires. Therefore, our water system violated a treatment technique standard for maintaining adequate disinfection for water delivered to customers from Roaring Springs. As our customers, you have a right to know what happened and what we did to correct this situation. After this problem was identified, Operators immediately notified the State Drinking Water division and Grand Canyon started the process to identify the source of the failure. The source was identified, and adequate chlorination was restored on Friday morning, November 10, 2023.
Editor’s Note — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces and www.AmigosNAZ.com wishes to thank District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vazquez and the Coconino County Board of Supervisors for their support of the 20th annual Celebraciones de la Gente, held Oct. 21, 22 at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Attending the closing ceremony, above, was Supervisor Jeronimo Vazquez and family. Your continued support was very much appreciated.The 2023 Celebraciones de la Gente was also supported in part by the Arizona Commission on the Arts which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and APS. Celebraciones presented in partnership with the Museum of Northern Arizona.
Also — Message from Jeronimo
Board Opens Application Portal to Fill District 3 Supervisor Vacancy when Supervisor Matt Ryan Retires
District 2 Highlights
Coconino County Services and Programs
Community Events & Resources
And more!
Rock Your Mocs Week November 12-18
As part of Native American Heritage Month, next week is Rock Your Mocs Week, when Indigenous people across the country show their cultural pride by wearing traditional moccasins.
Moccasins are not always worn in public by Indigenous people. They hold special significance and are most often worn for ceremonies and other cultural events. During Rock Your Mocs Week, the National Park Service encourages Indigenous employees to take pride in their heritage by wearing moccasins. A flyer for this week can be found here.
Grand Canyon National Park is proud to celebrate Native cultures and traditions by helping to share their rich histories and ongoing contributions to our park and our country.
So rock those mocs!
FLAGSTAFF — Firefighters continue to work on containing the Maid Fire on Apache Maid mountain just southeast of Interstate 17’s Stoneman Lake exit and are hopeful to reach full containment within the next several days.
The Maid Fire is currently 55% contained on the northern and eastern flanks of Apache Maid mountain, and firefighters continue to work on containing the western and southern sides of the 942-acre wildfire.
Firefighters are utilizing a full suppression strategy, and all burnout operations have been completed. As containment increases, resources will move to a monitor and patrol status in the coming days.
Fire behavior has largely been moderate but continues to smolder in remaining heavy dead and down fuels, and limited pockets of leaf litter. Occasional increases in intensity are observed as the fire creeps into available fuels.
FLAGSTAFF — Mogollon Rim Ranger District fire managers have cancelled today’s Sawmill Project southwest of Mormon Lake due to unfavorable wind conditions that would negatively impact powerlines, the highway, and surrounding communities.
The 3,000-acre Sawmill project was originally scheduled to be completed over the course of the week from Nov. 6-9 but was modified to focus attention on a smaller 1,000-acre section today as winds and conditions were forecasted to keep smoke away from powerlines and surrounding communities. With the change in today’s conditions, this project will be postponed till a later date when conditions are more appropriate.
The Forest Service’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy aims to increase prescribed fire and other treatments across the landscape to improve forest resiliency for generations to come.
