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As we approach the end of the year, we wanted to share a snapshot of what’s been happening at United Way of Northern Arizona — and invite you to be part of what comes next.
In 2025, our community came together in powerful ways to support children, families, and individuals across Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties. Through collaboration with nonprofit partners, educators, service providers, and caring neighbors, we made meaningful progress on some of the challenges facing northern Arizona.

FLAGSTAFF — Thank you for supporting the Literacy Center this year. We wanted to let you know that as the year comes to a close, your support helps makes a lasting difference. Your generosity ensures that adults and children in our community have access to tutoring, classes, and immigration legal services that open doors to learning, belonging, and opportunity. Every day, we see lives transformed–parents gaining confidence in English, children discovering the joy of reading, and families finding stability and hope. These successes are possible because people like you choose to invest in our learners.
As the only privately funded adult education center in Northern Arizona, The Literacy Center relies on charitable giving to provide one-on-one tutoring, ESL and GED classes, youth reading programs, and immigration legal services at little to no cost.

Wednesday, December 31
Noon Year’s Eve
Downtown Flagstaff
Heritage Square will be buzzing from 10:00am–1:00pm with crafts, games, face painting, axe throwing, pinecone decorating, a live DJ, a photobooth, and more family-friendly fun, all leading up to a magical Noon Pinecone Drop with a sparkling apple cider toast to welcome 2026. 10 a.m. Free.
Learn More

Season’s Greetings!
As we wrap up 2025, we reflect with deep gratitude on the 36-year journey of the Flagstaff Festival of Science and the many lives changed because of supporters like you.
Each year, the Festival shines a spotlight on the incredible research, innovation, and discovery happening right here in our community. Through more than 100 free events—lectures, field trips, hands-on activities, and school programs—we connect people of all ages to the excitement of science.

Dear Friends,
There’s still time for a year-end donation to ensure arts engagement for youth at Coconino Center for the Arts.
Creative Flagstaff has been awarded a $15k grant from the Robert Lehman Foundation toward our $30k initiative to expand educational programs and build permanent infrastructure for youth access to the visual arts at CCA, which includes:

All of us at United Way of Northern Arizona wish you and your loved ones a joyful and peaceful holiday season. May this time be filled with meaningful moments, safe travels, and time spent with the people who matter most.
We are deeply grateful for your continued support and partnership. Together, we will keep strengthening our communities and creating opportunities for youth, families, and neighbors across Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties in 2026 and beyond.
Happy Holidays and best wishes for the New Year!
Liz Archuleta and the UWNA Team

Coconino County’s Administrative Center, Attorney’s Office, Superior Court and Health and Human Services (CCHHS) office and clinic will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25 and Thursday, Jan. 1 in observance of Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
On Thursday, Dec. 25, Animal Services will be available for emergency calls only from 7 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Calls will be dispatched through 911. For non-emergency matters please call 928-679-8756 and leave a message and an Animal Services Officer will return your call the next day.

Stonehenge is a world-famous prehistoric monument in Wiltshire, England, built around 5,000 years ago, which features strategically arranged standing massive stones in a circular pattern. On the winter solstice, December 21, the sun sets to the southwest, aligning without a glitch with the central axis of the monument, indicating the arrival of the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

As FLYRS heads into its 10-year anniversary next year, we’re gearing up for our most impactful season yet—and we need your help to get there. Only about half of our annual budget comes from program fees, which means nearly 50% of our operating costs must be raised each year through donors, sponsors, and grants. This year, 221 youth participated in our school-based programs at no cost, made possible entirely through fundraising. These programs give kids resilience, confidence, mentorship, and a healthy community at a time they need it most. As we approach this milestone year, your support is what keeps these opportunities accessible to every young rider—no matter their family’s financial situation. A donation today strengthens the path into our next decade of impact. We have a goal to reach $15,000 dollars by the end of 2025! We are almost there!

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff City Hall and all other non-essential City facilities will be closed to the public on the afternoon of Wednesday, Dec. 24, all day Thursday, Dec. 25 and all-day Thursday, Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Year holidays. This includes the City’s recreation centers, public libraries, the Visitors’ Center, the Cinder Lake Landfill, the Hazardous Products Center, and the Materials Recovery Facility (Recycling Center). Two exceptions are the Joe C Montoya Community & Senior Center, which will close at 1 p.m. on Dec. 24 and the Jay Lively Activity Center, which will close at 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and will be open with regular programming and operating hours on Jan. 1.

Lodging Reopens as Transcanyon Waterline Work Continues
As 2025 comes to a close, overnight lodging on the South Rim has resumed and some water restrictions have eased. This progress comes after park water utility crews successfully completed complex repairs to the existing pipeline and resumed pumping water without identifying additional breaks.
Hotels operated by Xanterra—including El Tovar, Bright Angel Lodge, and Maswik Lodge—as well as Delaware North’s Yavapai Lodge and Trailer Village, are now welcoming overnight guests, with reservations open. While water storage is improving, the park will continue operating under enhanced water conservation measures until storage tanks reach adequate capacity. Dry camping remains in effect, campground spigots are still turned off, and fire restrictions continue across the South Rim and inner canyon.

This holiday season, I wanted to take a moment to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our community. Your partnership, collaborative spirit, and generosity are what make northern Arizona so special and why we make this region our home.
I’d also like to invite you to consider a gift to United Way of Northern Arizona that will not only help support our youth and families but also give you a break on your taxes.
There are many ways to give and each has its benefits.

COCONINO COUNTY — County Attorney’s Office (CCAO), County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), and Flagstaff Police Department (FPD) announce the launch of a Violent Offender Program, an initiative to identify, track and respond to individuals who repeatedly engage in violent conduct.
The Violent Offender Program establishes a unified, countywide strategy to ensure violent offenders are recognized early and prosecuted with heightened oversight to prevent further harm.
“Violence in our community requires a proactive, collaborative response,” Coconino County Attorney Ammon Barker said. “The Violent Offender Program strengthens the partnership between our offices and ensures that people who demonstrate a pattern of violence are identified quickly and handled with the seriousness they warrant. Our goal is straightforward, protect the public and prevent future victims.”

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park is announcing Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL) construction closure-related work for 2026.
Rockfalls occurred along a section of the River Trail in August, causing a 50-foot section of the trail to collapse and triggered the need for additional assessments and work to rebuild the trail.

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Senior Deputy City Manager Shannon Anderson will receive the Credentialed Manager designation from the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) in January 2026. Anderson joins over 1,300 local government management professionals currently credentialed through the ICMA Voluntary Credentialing Program.
ICMA’s mission is to advance professional local government through leadership, management, innovation, and ethics by increasing the proficiency of appointed chief administrative officers, assistant administrators, and other employees who serve local governments and regional entities around the world.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will reopen hotels on the park’s South Rim beginning Wednesday, Dec. 17 and will begin easing some water restrictions.
Park water utility crews successfully completed complex repairs to the Transcanyon Waterline last week and resumed pumping water without identifying any new breaks. The park will continue to operate under enhanced water restrictions until the water storage tanks have adequate capacity to return to routine water conservation practices.

WILLIAMS — The Kaibab National Forest will soon be offering fuelwood permits for the 2026 season. On the Williams and Tusayan Ranger Districts, the Forest Service will begin issuing permits January 5, 2026
On the North Kaibab Ranger District only, permit sales and firewood collection will run from May 1 through December 31, 2026.

Workplace fundraising is truly the beating heart of our Annual Campaigns, and they simply wouldn’t be possible without the incredible dedication of Workplace Campaign Coordinators.
These champions inspire their colleagues, organize creative events, and help share the message of what it means to Live United.
From the government and education sector to businesses of all sizes, their leadership ensures that our community continues to come together to support youth opportunity, healthy communities, and meeting the basic needs of our neighbors in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Beautification, Arts & Sciences program has announced the completion of two public art projects at Cleo Murdoch Park and the Murdoch Community Center.
“Rustle,” an 8-foot-high weathering steel artwork located at Cleo Murdoch Park, adjacent to the Murdoch Community Center, was designed by artist Beth Nybeck. The sculpture incorporates words and phrases contributed by the community into its leaf-like form. Symbolizing both nature and the interconnected stories that define the neighborhood, the artwork celebrates the Southside, its history, and its people.

For the past four years, the city of Flagstaff has been leading transformative work in an attempt to address two City Council-declared emergencies: the critical need for approximately 8,000 more housing units by 2031, while also striving to achieve carbon neutrality by the end of this decade.
Much of the work to address these issues is coming out of the city’s Planning and Development Services Division, led by Director Michelle McNulty in partnership with the Housing and Sustainability Divisions.

Good news—Phantom Ranch (reopened Dec. 11)! Crews repaired the damaged section of the Transcanyon Waterline and began pumping water again on December 8. South Rim water tanks are slowly refilling, and if that progress continues, we expect to reopen South Rim lodges in the near future.
All existing water and fire restrictions remain in effect. This includes:
• No overnight lodging inside the park
• Dry camping only (no spigot access at Mather Campground)
• No outdoor wood or charcoal fires
• Continued conservation measures for residents and employees

F3 believes that there are too many concerns and questions at this time for the City Council, in good faith, to approve an amended contract with Flock. There is ample evidence around the country of misuse of the data and extremely lax security measures to protect people’s privacy. We will be urging the City Council, as we did prior to the Flock discussion in October, to stand against this type of surveillance, cancel the contract with Flock and remove all cameras leased by the city. Please read our summary of the issue below and consider writing or speaking to the council in opposition.

As 2025 comes to a close, we reflect with deep gratitude on the extraordinary community that keeps Theatrikos Theatre Company thriving. This year, your support fueled bold productions, empowered local artists, and ignited creativity in students across Flagstaff. Your generosity has been the heartbeat of our success, fueling our passion and determination. As we prepare for another incredible year, we invite you to join us in shaping a vibrant future for our community.

Two unforgettable creative journeys
— Ireland and Maine await.
There’s something transformative about leaving home and creating art in a place that speaks to you. Our Field Expeditions are built around that experience — pairing extraordinary instructors with landscapes that shape the work itself.
Each journey is fully curated, intentionally timed, and deeply immersive. With expert instruction, supportive staff, and local partners who know their region intimately, these trips aren’t tours — they’re creative retreats rooted in place, meaning, and discovery.

Many of you have already given to MNA’s year-end matching campaign – thank you! Your support is critical to sustaining MNA’s mission, and for that we are very grateful.
If you haven’t yet made a year-end gift to MNA, there’s never been a better time. Your donation before December 31 will be doubled through a matching fund created by a group of generous anonymous donors.
A gift to MNA is an investment in learning and discovery. Your generosity supports our many programs and exhibitions for visitors of all ages, connecting them to the art, science, and culture of the Colorado Plateau region.

Making medicine better for all
As an undergraduate at NAU, Ashley Martinez took a chance and reached out to a faculty member who looked like her. A few years later, she’s thriving as a graduate researcher whose work could contribute to more effective and sustainable drugs, better vaccines and more. Martinez’s work continues thanks to the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, one of the most prestigious awards in the nation.

South Rim Water Update – December 2, 2025
Grand Canyon National Park continues to address the significant breaks along the Transcanyon Waterline (TCWL). As announced, additional water restrictions and a temporary suspension of overnight guest lodging on the South Rim will begin Saturday, December 6.
This short-term measure will help conserve limited water supplies while repairs continue. The park remains open for day use, and overnight lodging in Tusayan and other gateway communities is unaffected.

Thank you for your support on Giving Tuesday!
If you missed us on Tuesday, you can still support our work through the end of the year by becoming a member/renewing your membership, purchasing gifting memberships for friends and family, or giving an end-of-year donation.
We are actively growing our membership with a goal of 500 members. Our collective voices carry more weight with decision-makers, leading to greater influence as we advocate for a livable Flagstaff.

Welcome to the Coconino County Planning and Zoning Newsletter!
This newsletter keeps residents, stakeholders, and community partners informed about policy updates and long-range planning efforts across the County. This includes updates to the Zoning Ordinance, Area Plans, the Comprehensive Plan and its amendments, public engagement opportunities, and other important Planning and Zoning initiatives.

Our annual Holiday Gallery Sale is here! Enjoy 10% OFF any purchase in our Fine Art Gallery now through December 25, 2025.
Get an additional 10% off purchases of $100 or more in our Uptown Gallery Shop through December 25 — and current SAC Donors receive an extra 5% off their purchase.
Excludes bronze sculptures and special exhibitions. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, SAC offers all gallery purchases without sales tax, an additional savings of nearly 10%.
Find meaningful, handcrafted gifts while supporting local artists and Sedona Arts Center’s creative mission.

COCONINO COUNTY — Small businesses, community stakeholders and residents impacted by the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires are invited to help shape recovery priorities through a series of nine community recovery listening sessions during the week of Dec. 8.
Coconino County contracted AC Disaster Consulting to develop a Long-Term Recovery Plan to address the impacts of the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires. This plan will include economic/tourism, health/social and natural/cultural resource recovery initiatives for the county, local jurisdictions, Tribal Nations and Grand Canyon communities.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Grand Canyon National Park will implement additional water restrictions on the South Rim starting Saturday, December 6, due to a series of significant breaks in the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the canyon for use in the park. Since mid-November, the park has faced challenges with water supply, and currently, no water is being pumped to the South Rim.
While the park remains open to visitors, the following measures will be enacted for the foreseeable future:

During this season of togetherness and reflection, we are grateful for you—our friends, members, donors, and visitors who make the Museum of Northern Arizona such a special place. This year brought inspiring moments—from unveiling Collecting in a Changing World and exploring the stories behind Wagon Road to Mother Road, to welcoming curious hands at our Touch Tables and gathering for Twilight Thursdays and our Heritage programs. Your support helps us celebrate the stories, art, and cultures of the Colorado Plateau every day.

We’re excited to launch The Connected Communities Monthly Challenge! This special campaign invites our supporters to build $400 per month in steady, sustaining gifts. And here’s the exciting part: when we reach this goal, an anonymous donor will contribute an additional $5,000 to amplify your impact.

This Giving Tuesday, Creative Flagstaff is rallying our community to support a major initiative for Youth Arts Engagement & Accessibility at Coconino Center for the Arts. Thanks to a generous commitment from the Robert Lehman Foundation, we’re already halfway to our $30,000 goal—and with your help, we can bring this transformative space to life.

Single Tickets are now available for our 2026 Season! This is your opportunity to select the performances you are most looking forward to and secure the seats you love.
Our upcoming season features a dynamic lineup of productions that celebrate storytelling at its best. From heartfelt dramas to uplifting comedies, each show offers something unique, and we’re thrilled to share these experiences with you.
We look forward to welcoming you into the theatre for another season of memorable moments, inspiring performances, and the shared joy of live arts.

Friday, December 5th, 7:00 PM
Saturday, December 6th, 7:00 PM
Sunday, December 7th, 2:30 PM
The Stargazer Winter Cabaret is a joyous blend of showtunes, dancing, live music, and acting to celebrate the holidays and help us reflect on the true meaning of the season, spreading love. This fully produced family friendly show is perfect for all ages and will feature songs from Wicked, Hamilton, Anastasia, White Christmas, Moana, and more!

Every ten years, Coconino County embarks on an update of the Comprehensive Plan, which is the official policy document that guides development in the unincorporated areas of the County.
After a nearly three-year process that included input from County residents engaged through dozens of public meetings, public hearings and event appearances, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors adopted Envision 2045 at their meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025.
The plan’s core priorities reflect the values, vision, needs and topics identified during public outreach which include:

On behalf of the leadership of the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona, I want to express our sincere appreciation for you and for the communities we proudly serve.
Local businesses, government partners, and dedicated individuals make ECoNA’s work possible, and each of you plays a vital role in sustaining a thriving northern Arizona.