FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff’s Stormwater Section will begin restoring Cheshire Pond in the Cheshire Park area, north of the Museum of Northern Arizona, in November. The restoration project is expected to take several months and will be complete in 2026. During this time, the area will be closed off and access via the FUTS trail will be limited.
Alex Rupert, Suzy Allan,
and Tom Yazzie
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. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.
Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar joined Illinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs and Flagstaff Family Food Center Food Bank and Kitchen CEO Ethan Amos to discuss the impacts of the federal government shutdown on SNAP recipients in Coconino County.
“In Coconino County, where 18 percent of residents live in poverty, SNAP-authorized stores redeem more than $500,000 in benefits annually, making the stakes significant for local economies and small businesses,” said Treasurer Benatar.
Flagstaff Family Food Center Food Bank and Kitchen CEO, Ethan Amos, expressed that the situation is unprecedented. Food banks are already stretched and cannot fill the gap left by SNAP’s suspension.
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. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.
FLAGSTAFF — Cedar Avenue will close to all traffic between West Street and Fourth Street on Tuesday, November 11, to allow crews to safely perform roadway striping along the new asphalt pavement. With colder temperatures and potential moisture in the forecast, this closure allows us to expedite roadway striping to ensure the road is safe, open and clearly striped for the upcoming winter. Detour routes will be in place along Dortha Avenue and Linda Vista Drive. Access to businesses and Monte Vista Drive will be provided via the many north/south roadways between Dortha Avenue and Cedar Avenue. Please follow the marked signage and travel safely.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Mayor and City Council have named Joanne Keene as the new City Manager. Keene will begin in the role effective Nov. 4 and was selected after participating in an open and competitive recruitment process.
Mayor Becky Daggett said “Joanne is a proven leader with deep roots in Flagstaff. The City Council was unanimous and enthusiastic in our belief that she is the right person to lead our City. Her selection from a pool of 34 qualified candidates speaks to her track record, skills, and new ideas about the future direction of our City. Please join me in welcoming Joanne to this new role”.
We’re delighted to announce that Creative Flagstaff has been awarded the competitiveNational Endowment for the Arts’OurTown Grant to support urban and rural engagement in multidisciplinary arts programming throughout Coconino County, Arizona, which will provide arts access to diverse communities through creative placemaking. This partnership between Coconino Center for the Arts and Coconino County will provide leadership to broaden arts and cultural programming to reach urban and rural communities county-wide, through:
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff is hosting a food drive at City facilities around town to help provide food and other essential items to community members in need this holiday season. Demand is especially high this year due to the federal government shutdown and disruption of federal food and nutrition benefits.
To participate, drop off non-perishable items from now until Dec. 31 at one of the following locations:
COCONINO COUNTY — Due to the shutdown, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will end for more than 8,000 Coconino County families on Nov. 1, 2025. The loss of these benefits will result in families losing access to critical monthly food assistance, leaving food banks and nonprofits to fill the gap.
With household budgets stretched thin, food pantries and community programs are anticipating continued increased demand. To help address these needs, Coconino County is mobilizing resources to sponsor a community food drive. Those with the ability to help are asked to donate.
From painting and ceramics to photography and mixed media, Sedona Arts Center offers workshops for every skill level — both in-person and online. Join us and be part of Sedona’s creative heartbeat.
COCONINO COUNTY — The Criminal Justice Coordination Council (CJCC) Citizen’s Academy offers a unique chance to delve into the people, processes and programs that shape justice in our community. Engage with judges, the Clerk of the Courts, adult probation officers and Flagstaff City officials to gain insight into the intricacies of the criminal justice system.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations through Nov. 6, pending all required approvals. Coconino National Forest estimates this work to begin Tuesday and continue throughout the week as weather conditions allow. Coconino National Forest uses prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
For National STEM Day on Nov. 8, hear from four students in each of the four areas—science, technology, math and engineering—about what drew them to their majors and what they hope to do once they enter the workforce.
With Thanksgiving just around the corner, we want to express our heartfelt thanks to the volunteers, staff and community who make our parks thrive. Your time, energy and passion help create spaces where people can connect, play and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors. As we look ahead to the holiday season, we are especially grateful for each of you and the difference you make.
Join us in Downtown Flagstaff for a FREE, fun, and safe way to spend Halloween for the entire family! 4 p.m. Free.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 3 Water Restrictions and Stage 2 Fire Restrictions beginning Oct. 31, 2025, in response to limited water availability and construction activities associated with the ongoing Transcanyon Waterline Replacement Project.
A temporary interruption in water pumping is scheduled for Nov. 4 through approximately Nov. 18 to allow crews to replace and test a critical pipeline segment. This work is part of a multi-year effort to modernize the park’s aging water delivery system, expected to be completed in 2027.
View this email in your browser October Wrap Up: Halloween & More! 👻 The Haunted Ice House 👻 Halloween Night – This Friday! Get ready for a spooky night at the Haunted Ice House! 📍 Historic Ice House 201 E…
Final Days: 30% Off Myrna Harrison Originals
– Ends This Friday, October 31 –
Own a piece of Southwest art history before the sale ends.
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations next week, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to begin next Tuesday and continue throughout the week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the Tusayan Ranger District beginning Friday, October 24, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the weekend and may begin operations on the Williams Ranger District next week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
By celebrating Native American Heritage Month at NAU, “we honor our living presence, our resilience and the strength that continues to guide our peoples forward,” said Sheena Hale, director of the Center for Native American and Indigenous Futures. Browse this November’s events.
Recently, ECoNA and our regional partners took Northern Arizona’s story of opportunity and innovation to two major industry event – SEMICON West and ICSC@Western – reaching decision makers who can help shape our region’s economic future.
This was the first year the SEMICON West was hosted in Phoenix, underscoring Arizona’s growing leadership in the semiconductor and advanced manufacturing sectors.
WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the Tusayan Ranger District beginning Friday, October 24, pending all required approvals. We estimate this work to continue through the weekend and may begin operations on the Williams Ranger District next week as weather conditions allow. We use prescribed fires to help reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
Prescribed fires planned for the area include:
We would like to keep you informed about a recent development impacting the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. Baker & Taylor, a U.S. – based company that supplies books to schools, libraries, and bookstores – including the Flagstaff Public Libraries – has gone unexpectedly out of business after a failed merger. Baker & Taylor plans to fully cease operations by January 2026.
FLAGSTAFF — Asphalt paving operations along sections of Cedar Avenue and West Street (as shown in the map) are set to take place the week of October 27. Work will occur along half of the roadway at a time, with the other half used to maintain one lane of traffic in each direction. Access to side streets and driveways may be temporarily restricted during asphalt paving operations; however, our crews will work diligently to restore access as soon as the new asphalt has been placed and conditions allow. Following asphalt paving operations, crews will return to perform utility valve and manhole adjustments and striping operations. This work is highly weather dependent and subject to change.
Autumn Elevated Eats & Music Series
Arizona Snowbowl
Autumn Elevated Eats & Music Series brings golden aspens, mountain dining, and live country music to Arizona Snowbowl this fall. 3:30 p.m.
Learn More
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff will begin demolition of the former Montalvo Fire Station Two, located at 2230 E. Spruce Avenue, on Oct. 27, 2025, with work scheduled for completion by Nov. 11, 2025. The demolition, performed by Loven Contracting, Inc., marks the first major step toward construction of the Montalvo Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Community Center.
COCONINO COUNTY — WIC recipients that rely on the Arizona Department of Health Services WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program will not go hungry in Coconino County due to the federal government shutdown.
“Good nutrition in the first years of life provides the foundation for a lifetime of health and learning,” said Patrice Hortsman, District 1 Supervisor and Board Chair. “The WIC program is vital for our most vulnerable residents and I’m proud that Coconino County can offer this temporary assistance.”
WIC is a federal program that provides healthy food for low-income pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers and young children. About 1,900 children in Coconino County count on WIC for daily nutrition.
Coconino County’s Nov. 4 Jurisdictional Election has begun.
Early voters that are on the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) and have not received their ballots by Wednesday, Oct. 15 should call the Recorder’s Office at 928-679-7860 or 800-793-6181 to check their voter registration status and mailing address.
On Thursday, October 9, the Flagstaff City Council voted to adopt the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 with a list of Conditions of Approval and an Errata document.
The Conditions of Approval and Errata direct staff to make several edits to the plan. City Council discussed and modified the recommendations by the Planning & Zoning Commission, which first reviewed and refined these lists. Click the links below to access these documents.
The Kaibab National Forest of the USDA Forest Service is hiring! We are looking for dedicated individuals to support fire operations. These positions are vital to wildfire preparedness and disaster response across federal and state agencies.
Jobs include dispatchers, equipment operators, fire engine operators, fire prevention specialists, forestry aids and technicians, handcrew members, helitack crew members, hotshot crew members, prescribed fire and fuels specialists, smokejumpers, and more.
F3 is happy to report that on October 9 City Council unanimously chose to reject two Conditions of Approval that would have had negative impacts on the Core Priorities of the Regional Plan and render the Plan out of compliance with Flagstaff’s 2021 Carbon Neutrality Plan.
Your action in response to F3’s October 5th Action Alert resulted in the City receiving 80 letters of concern from the public about these two issues! Many thanks to NAZCCA and Dara Marks Marino for sending alerts to their contacts as well.
View this email in your browser Join us for more Fall Festivities Spanish Conversation Group October 20th at the Historic Ice House You’re invited to Spanish Conversation Group with Culture Connection AZ 📍 Historic Ice House 201 E Birch Ave,…
From ceramics and painting to photography, encaustics, and more — our upcoming classes and workshops offer something for every artist. Whether you’re just starting out or ready to expand your skills, join us in the studio or online and be part of Sedona’s creative community.
FLAGSTAFF — With the arrival of 2025 Tax Notices, the Coconino County Treasurer’s Office is warning residents about the potential for fraudulent websites that falsely claim to accept property tax payments.
Residents should be on the alert for sites that don’t end in .gov, require unusual forms of payment like gift cards or wire transfers or that charge additional processing fees.
“We want to ensure that taxpayers know the only safe and secure way to pay their property taxes is directly through the County’s official channels,” said, Sarah Benatar, Coconino County Treasurer. “Using these channels can prevent financial loss and identity theft.”
FLAGSTAFF — At last week’s Council meeting, Mayor Becky Daggett proclaimed September 15 to October 15, 2025 as National Hispanic Heritage Month in Flagstaff. This month celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx communities, integral to Flagstaff’s past, present, and future.
The partial reopening will include Highway 67 to the W1 road, (approximately at mile marker 11), and the Cape Royal Road, providing access to both Point Imperial and Cape Royal. Additionally, Fire Point and Swamp Ridge will reopen. These areas will be open daily from official sunrise to official sunset. No overnight use is permitted on the North Rim with the exception of Swamp Point and Fire Point. Open areas will remain accessible through Nov. 30, 2025, or until the first major snowfall, whichever occurs first.
Earlier this month, R. Glenn Williamson, founder and CEO of the Canada Arizona Business Council (CABC), spoke to the ECoNA Advisory Council about the unique relationship between Arizona and Canada and the pressures it is currently facing.
For northern Arizona, the relationship is significant. Canadian companies employ more than 300 people in Coconino, Navajo, and Yavapai counties, with another 2,600 jobs impacted by exports to Canada.
Statewide, Canada remains Arizona’s largest foreign direct investor. Additionally, an estimated 1 million Canadians visit the state each year, while about 100,000 Canadian “snowbirds” live in Arizona for part of the year. Combined, they contribute $2.4 billion to the local economy.
That impact is impressive – but not without pressure
When voters in Flagstaff resoundingly rejected Proposition 480, they did more than simply block a development plan. They issued a clear, community-wide statement: we want our hospital to stay where it is. The Northern Arizona Healthcare(NAH) proposal to abandon the long-established Flagstaff Medical Center (FMC) campus and build an entirely new facility on the outskirts of town was not what this community wanted. And it still isn’t.
“The life of one of our community members tragically ended last Saturday and my heart goes out to everyone this individual personally touched. Several members of city and police leadership and I met with family and friends to express our heartfelt sorrow and share our condolences. I was touched by their expressions of love for this individual. I know I speak for the entire city council as I convey our sympathies for this tragic loss.” – Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett
Discover the joy of working with clay at Sedona Arts Center!
Our ceramics program welcomes all levels to explore, experiment, and create in a supportive community. With guidance from studio manager Ben Roti, instructors Lolo Howe and John Post, plus visiting guest artists, you’ll gain hands-on experience in both traditional and contemporary techniques. Join us for a class or workshop and see where your creativity takes you!
FLAGSTAFF — The Arizona Department of Transportation, City of Flagstaff and FANN Contracting are proud to announce the completion of the Fourth-Lockett Roundabout Project. With the project finished, the roundabout is now open to both pedestrian and vehicular traffic! Please be patient as you and your fellow motorists and pedestrians get used to the new roundabout, and follow the marked signage and striping to get to your destination. Please remain alert as crews install final fencing and perform clean-up operations over the next few weeks.
Building bikes for local children, a fun-filled block party and casino night and a record-making football game that included a Hail Mary pass in the final seconds of the first half—Lumberjacks know how to do Family Weekend right! NAU Social was out over the weekend to capture all the fun.
Our 2025 Virtual Auction to benefit the Museum of Northern Arizona is now open! This year’s auction includes exclusive experiences with MNA experts and beautiful, authentic jewelry and accessories.
View the auction online here! All bidding for this auction will take place online. If you are in need help or have any questions, please contact us at development@musnaz.org or call 928-774-5211 x 285. This auction will be open until Tuesday, September 30, 2025, at 12:00 pm.
WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
at SAC
✨ Spark your creativity with upcoming classes and workshops at Sedona Arts Center! From ceramics and painting to photography, encaustics, and more, there’s something for every artist and learner — whether you’re beginning a new journey or expanding your practice. Join us in the studio or online, connect with fellow creatives, and be part of a vibrant community in the heart of Sedona.
• NAU Office of Inclusion announces September calendar of events on Sept. 16, 19, 24, 26
• More details to come — NAU Hispanic Heritage Month Football game to feature halftime performance by NAU’s Mariachi Los Madereros on Sept. 26
• NAU Hispanic/Latine Heritage Month Tailgate Party to be held at Walkup Skydome on Oct. 4
• Coconino Community College to present course on ‘Exploring Flagstaff’s Latino Heritage and Community’ with Eva Barraza on Oct. 9, 16, 23 and 30
Each year, the Festival features 10-days of engaging events and programs, all free, for the community to enjoy and celebrate the wonders of science! This year’s theme is “Harvesting Knowledge”! Various Times.
Learn More
FLAGSTAFF — As part of the City’s annual Road Repair and Street Safety (RRSS) program, lane closures are scheduled on N Highway 89 between N Country Club Dr and old Rte 66 for overlay removal and pavement marking. The work is schedule to take place from Monday, Sept. 29 – Wednesday, Oct. 1 between the hours of 5 a.m. – 5 p.m. Drivers in the area should expect delays.
FLAGSTAFF — The City Council of Flagstaff voted unanimously on Sept. 16, 2025 to authorize the City Attorney to take all actions necessary to ensure that the City’s regional water resource at Red Gap Ranch is not impaired by helium exploration operations, including if necessary the filing of a new suit. The City is unaware of active helium exploration near Red Gap Ranch at this time and the City will continue to protect its vital resources if needed.
At Theatrikos Theatre Company, we believe theatre is more than performance; it’s a catalyst for creativity, confidence, and community. And now, we’re one step away from building something extraordinary for Flagstaff.
This year, we launched a $30,000 capital campaign to transform a commercial building into a state-of-the-art rehearsal and education studio; a vibrant, dedicated space for year-round theatre education. We’ve raised $22,000 so far, and now we have thrilling news:
An anonymous donor has stepped forward to MATCH every dollar donated; up to our final $8,000!
NAU is celebrating Hispanic and Latine Heritage Month through Oct. 15 with games, discussions, a dance party and more, and all Lumberjacks are welcome! Browse a full calendar of events created by the Office of Inclusion.
park your creativity with upcoming classes and workshops at Sedona Arts Center! From ceramics and painting to photography, encaustics, and more, there’s something for every artist and learner — whether you’re beginning a new journey or expanding your practice. Join us in the studio or online, connect with fellow creatives, and be part of a vibrant community in the heart of Sedona.
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces honored District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez for his long support of local Hispanic community during a ceremony held on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025 at Mayan Winds Coffee Emporium.
Vasquez was presented with an award signifying all the “Barrios de Flagstaff.” The award was created by long-time Nuestras Raíces Armando Gonzales.
Pickin’ in the Pines
Pepsi Amphitheater
Join us for 3 days of music, jamming, camping, workshops, band contest, community dance, kids activities and more in the cool pines of Flagstaff, AZ. 9 a.m.
The underlying belief embodied by the supporters of United Way of Northern Arizona is that strong communities are built when we come together to learn, share, and act.
We had a chance to do just that recently at the kickoff breakfast for our Annual Campaign to raise $1.2 million.
Donations to the Annual Campaign will help ensure all who live in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties can thrive.
Significant progress continues on the Dragon Bravo Fire, which is now 86% contained at 145,504 acres with 617 personnel assigned.
Today at 6 a.m., the Kaibab National Forest reopened approximately 96,000 acres of national forest lands on the North Kaibab Ranger District. This step was made possible thanks to extensive suppression repair work, including hazard tree removal and safety improvements along roads and trails. While more areas are now accessible, several roads remain closed. For the latest road status, maps, and closure information, visit the Kaibab National Forest Alerts page.
