Category: Cultural

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 9-13, 2024

In recognition of September as Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, we are excited to share a new promotional video featuring Joshua Stegemeyer, Arizona Department of Health Services Suicide Prevention Program Manager.

This video emphasizes the crucial role of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 support for those experiencing mental health crises or suicidal thoughts. Residents of Grand Canyon, AZ, can call or text “9-8-8” to connect with trained crisis counselors who offer immediate, compassionate help at no cost. For those who prefer, support is also available via chat at 988lifeline.org/chat.

For our community living at Grand Canyon, this information is particularly relevant as it ensures that help is always accessible, regardless of time or location. The 988 Lifeline offers specialized support for a wide range of individuals, including those in remote areas like ours. By promoting awareness of this vital service, we can help ensure that everyone in our community knows they have a valuable resource available whenever they need it.

For more details about what happens when you contact 988, please visit azhealth.gov/988.

United Way of Northern Arizona — 3rd Annual Brews & Views to Benefit UWNA on Sept. 28

We hope to see you on September 28 at the Sky Bar at Agassiz Lodge for Brews & Views, Snowbowl’s 3rd Annual Community Fundraiser to benefit United Way of Northern Arizona.

This full day of fun in the mountains will include delicious craft brews from local and nationally known breweries; live music with the Flag5; lots of giveaway prizes; and much more.

Tickets are $40 and all proceeds will be donated to UWNA to help fulfill its mission of improving lives by mobilizing communities to create lasting changes in community conditions.

“Arizona Snowbowl is beyond proud to partner with United Way of Northern Arizona on Brews & Views in order to improve lives and community conditions for people in Northern Arizona,” said Angie Grubb, Marketing Manager at Arizona Snowbowl.

Discover Flagstaff — Pickin’ in the Pines Bluegrass and Acoustic Music Festival, Pepsi Amphitheater Sept. 13-15

Join us for Pickin’ in the Pines, voted “Flagstaff’s Best Festival” for the last 6 years! Live music, camping, jamming, music workshops, band contest, community dance, kids activities and amazing memories made in the pines! Fri-Sat 10 a.m., Sun 9 a.m

Learn More

Bilingual report — City of Flagstaff announces minimum wage for 2025

FLAGSTAFF — Beginning on Jan. 1, 2025, the minimum wage in the City of Flagstaff will increase to $17.85 and $16.85 for tipped workers.

On Sept. 11, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the consumer price index (CPI) numbers for August of 2024. The CPI for August 2024 was 2.5% greater than for August 2023. Accordingly, the minimum wage in the City of Flagstaff will increase to $17.85 per hour on Jan. 1, 2025.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Upcoming virtual System Change Symposium (Oct. 22 or 23) part of trauma-informed and resilience training program with Flagstaff, Coconino County

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth invite you to register for a groundbreaking System’s Change Symposium with national and global speakers on Oct. 22 or 23, 2024.

The virtual community event is free to individuals who work or live in Coconino County, with a small charge to people outside the County.

The Symposium is part of the Coalition’s Reimagine Community — Trauma-Informed System Change grant program focusing on developing a mental model change ensuring trauma-informed and resilience information is understood at the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County levels and enacted as policy change.

The goal of the project is to create awareness of the impacts of trauma and stress on individuals, to recognize how this is impacting team members, the wider community and the system as a whole, and to create a trauma responsive environment that supports staff members, teams and the community.

The Coalition was one of four organizations in Arizona to be selected in 2023 for the Vitalyst Health Foundation’s System Change Grant, which is supporting the Reimagine Community program.

Tourism to Grand Canyon National Park contributed $768 million to local economy in 2023

“I’m so proud that our parks and the stories we tell make a lasting impact on more than 300 million visitors a year,” said National Park Service Director Chuck Sams. “And I’m just as proud to see those visitors making positive impacts of their own, by supporting local economies and jobs in every state in the country.” 

“We’re excited to see how the Grand Canyon continues to drive economic growth in our local communities,” said Grand Canyon Superintendent Ed Keable. “The spending by our visitors not only underscores the park’s allure but also highlights its vital role in supporting jobs and boosting the regional economy.”

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Sept. 2-6, 2024

Water Updates and Transition into Stage 3 Water Restrictions

As many of you may have heard, the park has transitioned to Stage 3 water restrictions as of September 5. This is a significant milestone and a testament to the collective effort and dedication of our community, staff, and partners.

Beginning today, September 5, we will resume overnight accommodations at our park lodges on the South Rim. Reservations are now open, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to these lodges. Your cooperation and commitment to conservation have been instrumental in our progress. Simple actions like limiting showers, turning off faucets, selectively flushing toilets, washing laundry with full loads, and reporting leaks have all significantly contributed to our success in managing water resources.

Sedona Arts Center — Celebrate Sedona this Friday!

Join us for the special opening reception in partnership with the Sedona Heritage Museum of work by Myrna Harrison! Sedona Trolley will transport guests to and from each location. Musicians at Sedona Arts Center provided by Sedona Symphony.  Enjoy beer, wine and food while you view colorful landscapes by the artist. Spread the word…Celebrate Sedona is now held on First Fridays! Bring your friends!

September at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Dear Museum Friends,

As we welcome September at the Museum of Northern Arizona, we find ourselves in a season of celebration.

This month, we proudly mark the Museum’s 96th anniversary! Since opening its doors on September 6, 1928, in a modest two-room space at the Flagstaff Woman’s Club, MNA has blossomed into a leading educational and research institution. For nearly a century, we’ve been dedicated to highlighting the art, science, and culture of the Colorado Plateau, sharing life-enriching knowledge and experiences with visitors from around the world.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Families celebrate variety of educational programs in Coconino County

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — From a student art exhibit to an after school carnival and a host of science workshops and activities, families have the opportunity to take part in a variety of educational programs in September.

As the month opened, families were able to view the 2024 Student Art Exhibit at the 2024 Coconino County Fair

Students from dozens of local public elementary, middle and high schools; charter schools and home-school students submitted a variety of entries, which were displayed at the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds’ Schools exhibit building. Please see photos below.

Upcoming events include the annual FACTS Lights On! Carnival at Bushmaster Park (Sept. 14) and the annual Flagstaff Festival of Science (Sept. 20-29), which includes Science in the Park (Sept. 21) at Wheeler Park in downtown Flagstaff.

Bilingual report — City of Flagstaff announces Neighborhood Sustainability Grants applications now open through Sept. 30

The Neighborhood Sustainability Grant (NSG) Program provides funding for creative projects that enhance community sustainability and promote healthy lifestyles through community partnerships.

The NSG Program for the year 2024 will award a total of $75,000, with maximum grants up to $7,500. The NSG is funded through the Environmental Management Fee. Local organizations, individuals, schools, and businesses whose projects are within Flagstaff city limits are eligible to apply. Applicants are eligible for one grant every other year.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — F3’s City Council Candidate Questionnaire Now Available

All six candidates named on the November general election ballot have answered the questions posed by F3 in our City Council Candidate Questionnaire. Flagstaff voter’s will decide who among the candidates will fill three open seats on City Council.

Eight questions addressing local issues and concernswere crafted by F3’s Board and Director. The candidates were asked to keep their replies to 150 words or less. We thank those who provided us with potential questions for the candidates.

There are many more questions to be asked of the council candidates and we encourage you to attend F3’s upcoming City Council Candidate Forum on September 23 (see below for details) and ask your questions.

View the candidate’s answers here:

The NAU Review — Big news for the marching band + new ways researchers are tackling issues like homelessness and quantum computing

What are you doing on Thanksgiving Day 2025? The Lumberjack Marching Band just found out their plans: performing in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade! The band got the good news during halftime at Saturday’s football game against Lincoln University. There aren’t enough words to express how excited they are, so we got it on video.
Watch the video

United Way of Northern Arizona — Deadline to Register Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast is 3 pm TODAY

Welcome back from the holiday weekend!

Today (September 3rd) is the last day to register for our Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast at High Country Conference Center. We need to hear from you by 3 pm to make sure we save your seat!

Two of our honored guests at the kickoff will be this year’s Annual Campaign Co-Chairs, Northern Arizona University President Dr. José Luis Cruz Rivera and his wife, Dr. Rima Brusi, and we hope you enjoy learning more about them in the profile below.

But before you read it, if you haven’t already registered to join us for the Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast on September 13, please do it now!

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library Week of 9/02/24

View this email in your browser September 2nd, 2024 Connect with your community Library Closures Adult & All-Ages Events Book Clubs Youth Events Friends of the Library Technology Help To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, please…

Discover Flagstaff — Coconino County Fair (Aug. 30-Sept. 2), Flagstaff Art in the Park (Aug. 31-Sept. 1) highlight weekend events

Coconino County Fair, Fort Tuthill County Park — Celebrate 75 years of the Coconino County Fair. 10 a.m.
***
Flagstaff Art in the Park, Wheeler Park — Flagstaff Art in the Park features fabulous art shown by artists, live music, awesome food, kids activities, beer garden and more! 9:30 a.m. Free.

United Way of Northern Arizona — Time is Running Out to RSVP for Sept. 13 Kickoff Breakfast!

Time is running out to save your seat for our Annual Campaign Kickoff breakfast at High Country Conference Center. We are bringing northern Arizonans together so that we can continue Leading the Way in making our communities stronger, more resilient, and a place where our youth can thrive.

The deadline to register for our event is Tuesday, Sept. 3.

Deadline approaching (Sept. 16) for exhibitors to participate in our new Arts & Crafts Vendors Plaza at the 2024 Celebraciones de la Gente

By Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces

The Museum of Northern Arizona and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces invite you to participate in the 21st annual Celebraciones de la Gente, a lively Day of the Dead Festival on Oct. 26, 27, 2024

Exhibitor booths will be open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, Oct. 26 and Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024.

Please click here to download and fill out a vendor application before we are sold out. The deadline is Monday, Sept. 16, 2024. Send the completed application to ctaillac@musnaz.org or call (928) 440-6480

Theatrikos Theatre Co. September Newsletter — The Book of Will Opens October 4!

The Book of Will is a play by Lauren Gunderson that tells the story of William Shakespeare’s friends, Henry Condell, John Heminges and others, who are determined to preserve his work after his death. The play, set in Elizabethan London, takes place three years after Shakespeare’s death, when his plays are being pirated and performed incorrectly.

Grand Canyon Seeks Public Review and Comment on Park Section 106 Programmatic Agreement

GRAND CANYON, AZ. — The National Park Service (NPS) is beginning public review of a programmatic agreement to establish a more efficient process to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) in Grand Canyon National Park. Public comments will be accepted from August 29 – September 28, 2024.

Section 106 requires federal agencies to consider the effects of projects that are carried out, assisted, funded, permitted, or licensed by the federal government on historic properties. If a federal or federally assisted project has the potential to affect historic properties, a Section 106 review takes place.

Havasupai Canyon Flood Recovery Effort

***

By the Havasupai Tribe

GRAND CANYON — Many of you have asked how you can assist the Havasupai Tribe following the effects of last week’s flash flood. The Tribe is so appreciative of the generosity of so many people.

Grand Canyon Caverns Inn can accept donations at any time.

Our focus is on rebuilding and repairing our community and providing supplies for our tribal members.

We thank you in advance for your donation.

Here is a link to the Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/3B3UA7JCYD75G…

Flagstaff Festival of Science — Reserve your keynote tickets!

Reserve your FREE keynote tickets today. The W. L. Gore & Associates Keynote Presentation with Jana Eggers takes place Friday, September 20 at NAU’s Ardrey Auditorium.

Doors open at 6 p.m. followed by an exciting AI-inspired ballet performance at 6:30 p.m. with NAU Community Music and Dance Academy. The performance explores how artificial intelligence can enhance the creative process, and highlights the fusion of human artistry and technological innovation.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Get details on upcoming youth and family events including the 2024 Coconino County Fair Student Art Exhibit

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — While Summer vacation is over for many families in Coconino County, there are still plenty educational and fun activities available for youth in the region, including the 2024 Coconino County Fair Student Art Exhibit (Aug. 30 through Sept. 2).

Students from dozens of local public elementary, middle and high schools; charter schools and home-school students have submitted a variety of entries, which will be displayed in the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds’ Schools exhibit building.

See more upcoming community and back-to-school events below. Please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates of back-to-school information listed below.

The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org. Thank you.

(Updated Aug. 27, 2024)

Supervisor Patrice Horstman — District 1 Summer Newsletter 2024!

IN THIS ISSUE

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
New Coconino County Leadership
BOS Approves 2025 Budget
BOS Canvassed 2024 Primary Election Results
Pipeline / Copeland / Peaceful Way / Government Tank – Flood Control District Update
Pinyon Mine Is Hauling Uranium Ore
Proposition 482 Sustains County Services
Lake Mary Recreation Corridor Just Gets Better
Flagstaff Family Food Center Hosts 2024 Northern Arizona Anti-Hunger Summit
BOS Continues its Leadership at National Association of Counties Conference
Summer Events / Festivities
Upcoming Events

The NAU Review — Welcome back, Lumberjacks! Highlights from move-in, meet the new ASNAU president and don’t miss the welcome back BBQ

LumberSNAPS: Return of the Jacks

The new academic year is already off to an axe-citing start! Last week, the Flagstaff mountain campus buzzed with fresh energy as new students moved into residence halls, gathered at welcome events like Lumberjack Launch and donned matching T-shirts for the annual NAU letters portrait. More beginning-of-the-year fun is ahead this week, including the start of classes, the first football game of the season and the Running of the Freshmen, a beloved Lumberjack tradition.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) F3 Opposes the Pinyon Plain Mine

F3 supports the sovereignty of indigenous tribes and peoples and believes the wishes of Indigenous peoples to close the Pinyon Plain Mine should be honored.

The Havasupai tribe have stated that uranium mining near the Grand Canyon poses real dangers to groundwater in the region. There is a risk of contamination of the ecologically important seeps and springs in the Grand Canyon area, including the Havasupai sole source of water. F3 supports Attorney General Mayes’ demand for an updated Environmental Impact Statement.

F3 also supports the Navajo and Hopi tribes in their efforts to stop the hauling of uranium ore through tribal lands.

BLM seeks nominations for Advisory Committee for Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

PHOENIX – The Bureau of Land Management is seeking nominations for the recruitment of 15 members to serve on the newly established Monument Advisory Committee for the Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni-Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. The committee will provide information and advice to the BLM and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service on the management of the Monument. The 45-day nomination period closes Oct. 4, 2024.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland recently signed the charter establishing the Monument Advisory Committee in accordance with Presidential Proclamation 10606.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 19-23, 2024

Water Conservation and Inner Canyon Water Status

Due to a break in the Transcanyon Waterline, the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park is implementing stricter water restrictions and conservation measures. The North Rim will also begin preliminary conservation efforts. The park will remain in conservation mode until repairs are completed and water levels at storage tanks are restored.

Sedona Arts Center — Check out these Art Classes & Workshops!

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

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — See our Back-to-School, upcoming youth and family event listing here

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY — Back-to-School events are winding down, but there are still plenty of upcoming activities for families and youth in Coconino County including Family Field Day at Page Sports Complex (Aug. 28), the FACTS Lights On! Carnival in Flagstaff (Sept. 14), the Flagstaff Festival of Science — Science in the Park (Sept. 21) and NACA’s Reach Ur Life Community Cultural event for youth and families (Sept. 27).

See more upcoming events below and please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates, other back-to-school information below.

The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org. Thank you.

(Updated Aug. 21, 2024)

Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces celebrates 9th annual Summertime Tardeada on Aug. 10 and Mariachi Mass on Aug. 11

FLAGSTAFF — Threatening skies didn’t keep the crowd away when Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces celebrated its 9th annual “Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada — Mariachi and Folklórico Festival” on Aug. 10 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.

Nearly 400 visitors had the opportunity to enjoy the celebration with performances by the all-female Mariachi Rubor Femenil from Phoenix, Ballet Folklorico de Colores – Flagstaff, with dance music by Soul Persuasion from Phoenix.

Mariachi Rubor Femenil will be performing again in Flagstaff during the upcoming Celebraciones de la Gente Oct. 26, 27 at the Museum of Northern Arizona.

The Tardeada concluded promptly at 7 p.m. with a nearby lighting strike at the end of the Soul Persuasion performance. The Tardeada also included the annual Veterans recognition, games for adults and children, food and the return a classic car show.

This year’s Premier Sponsors were the Cococnino County Board of Supervisors,  the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC). and San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church, with the support of a number of community groups.

United Way of Northern Arizona — How Pacesetters Are ‘Leading the Way’ – and How You Can Join Them

The impact of our Pacesetters – the companies and organizations that fundraise for our annual campaign in the month ahead of our official launch – is truly invaluable.

Their efforts not only lead the way by providing a head start in our fundraising efforts, but they also infuse the campaign with their enthusiasm. Their work generates buzz and builds up anticipation as they rally the community around United Way of Northern Arizona and promote our mission of stepping up for our youth and our community.

If you’ve attended one of our UWNA campaign kickoff events, you know that a big highlight is when the Pacesetters proudly present what they raised, often with oversized novelty checks or other creative displays.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up — Aug. 12-16, 2024

Water conservation measures reimplemented for South Rim

As of August 13, the South Rim has returned to water restrictions. This is in response to a new pipeline break identified between Cottonwood Campground and Manzanita rest area along the North Kaibab Trail. Water conservation measures require all park residents to conserve and reduce water usage whenever possible.

Discover Flagstaff — Mother Road Classic Car Show, City Hall Parking Lot on Saturday, Aug. 17

The Mother Road Classic is a show for cars, trucks and (new this year) motorcycles. Located in downtown Flagstaff, it celebrates Route 66, and classic, vintage, and performance vehicles. It is a charity event, raising money for Flagstaff charities. 8 a.m.

Learn More

Pipeline Fire closure to lift, allowing motor vehicle access in Schultz Pass area once again

FLAGSTAFF — Several roads located in the Schultz Pass area of the Coconino National Forest’s Flagstaff Ranger District will reopen to motorized vehicles tomorrow following a roughly two-year closure due to the Pipeline Fire.

The temporary trail and road closure order for the Pipeline Fire, which has been in effect since September of 2022, will be lifted at 8 a.m. Friday (Aug. 16).

Gates, barricades and signage posted in the area will be modified and removed to reflect the removal of the closure order.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Back-to-School events concluding, but see upcoming Fall events. See our resource listing

By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth

COCONINO COUNTY —  Back-to-School events in Coconino County — including fall enrollment, freshman orientations for parents and students, meet the teacher events, school supply distributions and youth sports physicals — will soon conclude, but local organizations are already planning for a variety of youth events this upcoming Fall.

One of the most recent back-to-school events occurred on Aug. 6 with the ‘Meet the Teacher’ event at Killip Elementary School in Flagstaff.

Student received back-to-school supplies kits with parents receiving family support information from a variety of organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flagstaff, Child & Family Support Services in Flagstaff, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth (CCC&Y), Coconino County Health and Human Services, the Killip Parent Teacher Organization, Native Americans for Community Action (NACA) and North Country HealthCare, just to name a few,

Please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates, other information.

The NAU Review — Sharing all your pun-tastic jokes! Plus, meet the new SAC president + relive NAU Day at the Diamondbacks

Are bird feeders bad?

It’s complicated. A new study authored by NAU alumnus Andrew Abraham and professor of ecology Chris Doughty found that bird feeders are changing the chemistry of local ecosystems and introducing a potentially harmful amount of phosphorus into the environment. Does this mean putting out bird feeders is always bad? Not necessarily, the researchers say—but it does mean we need a better understanding of how different factors interact to change the

SIGN UP for Art Classes & Workshops at the Sedona Arts Center

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

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: August 5-9, 2024

Grand Canyon records second driest, second hottest July on record 

The National Weather Service reports July temperatures at Grand Canyon averaged +3.8° warmer than normal, and the precipitation total for the month was only 0.65 inches – that’s a full inch below normal! The period June 1-July 31, 2024 was the hottest on record for most locations across northern Arizona (including Grand Canyon).

During this period of high fire danger, it is important to take proactive measures to reduce the risk of wildfires and ensure the safety of ourselves and our community. 

Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces to present 9th annual Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada on Aug. 10

Mariachi Rubor Femenil, Soul Persuasion and Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff to headline FREE event. Veterans are encouraged to attend so they can participate in the traditional group photo

FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces will present its FREE 9th annual “Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada — Mariachi and Folklórico Festival, from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10, 2024 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 224 S. Kendrick St., Flagstaff.

The event was launched in 2014 to pay homage to past traditional tardeada and jamaica celebrations in the neighborhood and at the historic church, which was constructed by the local Hispanic community in 1926.

Premier sponsors for 2024 include Cococnino County Board of Supervisors, the Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and San Francisco de Asis Catholic Church, with additional sponsors to date including AmigosNAZ, APS, Barbara Arnold, Dale Crick Purple Hear Chapter No. 793, Duran Family, Flagstaff Findlay Toyota, Guadalupanas, Lozano’s Flagstaff Mortuary, Mama B’s, Mike and Ronda’s The Place, Nackard Pepsi and Nestlé Purina.

August at the Museum of Northern Arizona

Dear Museum Friends,

Welcome August! At the Museum this month, we’re warming up for some end-of-summer fun and an awe-inspiring open house. Please join us this week as we rock to the tunes of Black Lemon for our final Thirsty Thursday of the year. Then, take time for our free Easton Collection Center Open House on August 24. The center is an architectural marvel where the Museum cares for and preserves its vast collection of pottery, weavings, paintings, carvings, jewelry, photographs, and much more. Seeing the Journey murals by Hopi artists Michael Kabotie and Delbridge Honanie (detail shown above) is a delightful experience in itself. The annual open house is an opportunity for all to tour the center, engage with our collections staff and curators, and ask questions about the collections.

Whether a first-time visitor or a regular guest to the Museum of Northern Arizona, you’ll be amazed to see and learn something new about the Colorado Plateau. I hope to see you soon.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona

Coconino National Forest approves construction of new Sedona-area trails

SEDONA — Several miles of new trails are slated for construction in five different areas of the Coconino National Forest’s Red Rock Ranger District (RRRD) following public feedback given during a lengthy planning process.

“The first phase of this project includes trails that we think every type of user will appreciate,” said acting District Ranger Alex Schlueter. “Whether hiking, biking, or riding a horse, there’s a lot to look forward to.”

Work is planned to begin later this summer near both Cornville and Sedona, including the Bell Rock, Cornville Oak Creek Elementary School, Doe Mesa, Hardline Trail and Schuerman Mountain areas.

Museum of Northern Arizona — Your gift today opens minds!

“This is the best field trip I’ve ever been on!” exclaimed a third grader who recently visited MNA as she admired the towering Therizinosaur in the museum’s lobby.

Did you know that in 2023, over 2,000 K-12 students visited MNA for free, thanks to generous philanthropic support like yours? A visit to the museum changes your perspective, regardless of your age. Recent visitor surveys tell us that 96% of visitors surveyed report gaining new insights and understandings from their MNA experience!

The Ceramics Department at Sedona Arts Center

Greetings Potters, Artists, and Friends,

Neil Kennedy is moving!

His last day will be on September 6 at our Celebrate Sedona event from 4 to 6pm at Sedona Arts Center in Uptown Sedona. As many of you know, Neil joined our Sedona Arts Center ceramic department almost 7 years ago. During Neil’s tenure with us, he developed the Tuesday afternoon’s Hand Building and Saturday morning’s Pottery Wheel for Beginners classes. With Neil’s years of ceramic experience and his natural talent as an artist, he has helped build the ceramic department’s programming to what it is today—one of the most active and popular clay schools in northern Arizona.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on Aug. 1 to share your story

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, Aug. 1. 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 Council meets the first Thursday of the month.

Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org to be placed on the agenda.

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.