
2021 Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Parade The 2021 Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Independence Day Parade will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, July 3 in Historic Downtown Flagstaff.

Coconino County is in Stage Three fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas of the county, including on private lands, in coordination with similar actions by the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests and other agencies in the area. Fire restrictions are effective June 23, 2021 at 8 a.m.
Please be careful with fire and follow current fire restrictions. Read more.
PC: “Indiana Dunes Campsite at Night” by Rob Saker is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Summer arrived in a cloud of smoke last Monday, though luckily for us at the museum, we are far from the path of the Rafael Fire and the shifting wind clears the air around us. We are grateful that these increasingly frequent summer fires are not endangering the museum and that we can continue to welcome visitors Tuesday through Sundays with a safe and inspiring indoor visit. I know many of you are eager to get out and about after staying at home for so long and we are pleased to welcome you to MNA.

Our Tuba City office is open but operating remotely, with limited in-person services. When possible, please conduct business by phone or email.
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday | 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Fridays
If you need assistance, please call: 928-283-4518 or email Miranda at mmorales@coconino.az.gov

Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Click here to see all our online learning opportunities

Coconino County Emergency Management (CCEM) activated an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in response to the fires impacting Coconino County. Below is a summation of activities:
The County EOC will remain activated likely through Friday July 2, 2021.
County Call Center hours are 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. until further notice.
For specific fire related questions and updates, call the Rafael Fire Public Fire Information Line at 928.421.4579

Accounting class brought Rhianna Hernandez to Tutoring Services at Coconino Community College.
The first time she took an accounting class, she tried to push through the challenging subject on her own. She ended up dropping the class that first time, but she needed it for her associate degree in Business.
“It was a different language,” Hernandez said. “But my tutor was able to explain it to me where it made sense.”
By the end of the Spring 2021 semester, Hernandez had an “A” in the class, and she said she owes much of that success to the folks in Tutoring Services at CCC. Tutoring Services are available each semester, for free, to all enrolled CCC students.
“All of us at Tutoring Services strive to help students succeed in their courses, whether a student needs one question answered or comes back daily for extra support,” said Kim Shaw, CCC’s Tutoring Coordinator. “Most of our tutors are students as well, so they understand the challenges of the courses they tutor.”

On June 23, due to fire danger, dry conditions, and persistent wildfire activity during a time when firefighting resources are largely deployed, the entirety of Coconino and Kaibab National Forests closed for public safety. This closure will continue until conditions are such that the closure can be lifted.
A full forest closure means that the public is prohibited from entering any part of Coconino and Kaibab National Forests at any time. Only those with private inholdings will be allowed access to their property, as well as personnel providing utility support where necessary, and firefighters performing their duties.

We are excited to host Science in the Park again this year at Wheeler Park!
At this fair, the whole community is invited to a free family-friendly event where science, discovery and play are at the center of an incredible day!
Do you have a business that would like to participate?
At Science in the Park, the whole family gets to experience the joy of science! Register for a booth today at this fun event taking place Sept. 18!
Registration is due in one week, by June 30.

If there is anything good that we can take from the pandemic, it is that it reinforced some things that we can all agree on: the importance of taking care of each other and the power of caring communities to step up in times of crisis and create positive change.
Supporters like you raised tens of thousands of dollars to help those impacted this past year. Your United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA) funneled those funds to where they would do the most good. Because of you, families were able to stay in their homes, feed their families and keep the lights on.
But our work is not over.

The Black Business Expo Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration will be held fro 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 19 at the Murdoch Community Center,
The Community is encouraged to come out and support Black Owned and managed Businesses in our community.
Are you a black owned/manage business or artist and want to participate. Register at southsideflagstaff@gmail.com or call 928-226-7566.

This afternoon President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19 as a federal holiday to commemorate the end of slavery in the U.S. As this date falls on a Saturday this year, it will be observed tomorrow, Friday, June 18. AARP will also recognize this holiday…
Juneteenth commemorates June 19, 1865, when word reached Texas that slaves had been freed — two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It is also known as Black Independence Day, Freedom Day and Emancipation Day.
…the day is seen as a time for reflection and assessment, for focusing on education and achievement, and for self-improvement and for looking ahead to the future. I am so proud that the President has taken this historic step to ensure that Juneteenth will be commemorated across the country for generations to come.

We are so excited to announce that a major initiative from LAUNCH Flagstaff and its partners will begin in a few weeks, and we believe it will be a game changer in filling the gaps that currently exist in high-quality early childhood education.
The program, Elevate PreK, will offer full-day, year-round classes at Kinsey Elementary School, primarily for four-year-olds in lower- and middle-income families currently not accessing preschool services. The classes will be provided at no charge to families under the program.
LAUNCH Flagstaff is partnering with the Association of Supportive Childcare for this effort with support from a wide array of organizations, including the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, the Wharton Foundation, Flagstaff Unified School District and Northern Arizona University.

The summer solstice is upon us, a moment of solar peak in the cycle of Earth’s seasons and a time for annual reflection.
LAUNCH Flagstaff began in 2014 as an ad-hoc gathering of interested stakeholders seeking to improve educational outcomes for our community’s children. With the leadership of the Coconino County Superintendent of Schools and the backbone of the United Way of Northern Arizona funding was secured in 2016 from the Arizona Community Foundation of Flagstaff to initially fund a staff position for the then fledging idea that is now LAUNCH Flagstaff.
I am honored to have been chosen to serve our community in that role and am proud of the work that LAUNCH Flagstaff has accomplished over the past five years.

Stage 2 Fire Restrictions & Extreme Fire Danger
As of June 11, Grand Canyon National Park, along with Coconino County, City of Flagstaff, and the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests have transitioned into Stage 2 fire restrictions. As a reminder, Stage 2 restrictions prohibit any outdoor wood burning and charcoal fires. This does not include liquid petroleum or LPG fueled devices that can be turned on and off such as stoves, lantern, or heating devices. Stage 2 also prohibits outdoor smoking except within an enclosed vehicle.

The Sedona Arts Center’s ceramic department operates free from the constraints of grades and benefits from the talents of its ceramic faculty and assistants as well as nationally recognized guest instructors. This combination allows our department to offer flexible and diverse programming in both traditional and contemporary techniques.

CCC&Y will present “Pride Paint Night,” a LGBTQIAP+ Youth (12-24) only event at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 26.
By Teens, For Teens
A live paint hour filled with conversation.
Paint kits available for pickup at both Flagstaff Library locations during curbside hours.
For more information, call 928-213-2348.

Flagstaff Arts Council is thrilled to announce the creation of the Digital Resource & Education Center located at Coconino Center for the Arts. The Center, proposed to open in January, will offer a lending library of digital equipment and software, training and educational resources, and collaborative space for digital projects.
This significant new program will support Creative Flagstaff’s advocacy and development work as well as support the effectiveness of Flagstaff’s cultural sector of engaging its audience and investors, especially with digital content.
The Center is made possible through the generous support of the Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation which awarded a $100,000 Digital Changemaker Grant in June. Visit the Thoma Foundation website to learn more about their initiatives.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held recently at 583 S Lake Powell Blvd, Page, AZ 86040 as the Coconino Juvenile Court moves into a renovated wing at Tse Yaato High School.
Juvenile Court and Adult Probation have shared an office space in Page for decades. Over the last few years, Adult and Juvenile have planned around each other’s events, programming, court, and conferences to accommodate the limited space. This meant a reduction in the services they were both able to offer their clients. The new location has five offices, which is two more than the current space. This gives the Juvenile Court room to expand the CASA program and outreach. The facility is also only for juvenile court youth and their families and has been constructed in a deliberately softer way in order to be trauma-informed. By being located down the hall from the Alternative School they can also offer support to youth more readily.

Sedona Arts Center is holding a Volunteer Fair on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 4 to 6pm at the Art Barn in Uptown Sedona.
Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. The Center’s Fine Art Gallery promotes the original works of over 100 local and regional artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits, and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year.
This event will provide an opportunity for individuals who are interested in volunteering to apply for particular areas of interest.

Con motivo de la #SEFIME2021 te invitamos a participar en la videoconferencia PROTECCIÓN AL PATRIMONIO y tomar los mejores consejos y estrategias que te ayudarán en el buen manejo de tus finanzas.
Miércoles 16 de junio
11:00 am
Transmisión en vivo en Consulmex Nogales
#EducaciónFinancieraSinFronteras
#FinanzasSinFronteras
#InclusiónFInanciera
#ProtegeTuPatrimonio

During a recent photographic journey to the state of Yucatan, Mexico I noticed with amazement that, amidst the current COVID pandemic, everybody -vendors and customers in stores and markets, tourists exploring the sites, employees in government organizations, and even priests in churches- was wearing face coverings, even in the blazing hot mid-day sun; likewise, the community at large implemented measures to protect its members from being infected with the nasty virus while life went on somewhat as usual. No discussions, no arguments (political or otherwise), no reluctancy.
This was in sharp contrast with the general attitude of community members in my country of residence, the United States, and as a cultural anthropologist wondered about the reason behind these two very dissimilar ways of behaving. Two equally dissimilar cultural concepts came to mind: individualism and collectivism.

On Thursday, June 17 there will be a pop up event from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Tusayan IMAX (no registration needed). More information and the flyer for this event can be found here.
On Friday, June 18 the Grand Canyon Clinic will host a COVID-19 vaccine event. Registration is required ahead of time and the full flyer for the event can be found here. To schedule an appointment for the event or at any other time, call the clinic directly at 928-638-2551.

Due to warm and dry weather conditions and increasing fire danger, Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 2 fire restrictions for the South Rim, North Rim and Inner Canyon beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 11, 2021.
The restriction encompasses the entire park including all campgrounds, residential areas, backcountry sites, and developed recreation sites including: Phantom Ranch, Cottonwood Campground, Indian Garden Campground and the Colorado River corridor.

With almost half of all Arizonans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and new infection rates dropping dramatically, our economy is poised to resurge. Businesses are ready to return to pre-pandemic norms as communities reopen.
There’s only one more thing that’s needed: workers.
There’s disagreement among economists and policy experts on why the national demand for labor seems to be outpacing supply. Lingering concerns about the virus and workplace safety; the scarcity of child care; and federally-enhanced unemployment benefits are the most common culprits cited.
Locally and statewide, however, we are seeing efforts to encourage people back into the workforce and events designed to connect businesses with the employees they need.

I have a new favorite stop on my morning walks across the museum campus to my office – the studio space where young artists are working with master artists Dan and Arlo Namingha as part of our Namingha Institute. MNA has a long history with the Namingha family of artists, and a strong collection of work by Dan, Arlo, and Michael Namingha, which you can now view online.
The ability to browse MNA’s collections online is one of my favorite features of our newly rebuilt website. The address is the same as before – musnaz.org – but the website has many other new features, including easy links to buy ticketsto visit the museum now that we are open six days a week, Tuesday through Sunday, or to sign your kids up for Discovery Summer Camps, which begin June 14.

Stage 2 fire restrictions will begin at 8 a.m., Friday, June 11 across Coconino County. Fire restrictions are to help protect public health by reducing the number of human-caused wildfires.
The County has been in Stage 1 fire restrictions since May 14. The County is enacting Stage 2 restrictions due to forecasted weather and very high fire danger. Restrictions are in coordination with Coconino and Kaibab National Forests and other agencies in the area.

It’s time to start thinking about updating Flagstaff’s Regional Plan. Every 10 years, the City is required to conduct a comprehensive evaluation and update of the Regional Plan. A critical part of the creation of an updated Regional Plan is input from Flagstaff residents about changes in community needs, outside conditions that affect the region, emerging needs (such as equity, carbon neutrality, affordable housing, public health), and emerging technologies, and updating the vision of what the community wants Flagstaff to be in the future. Regional Plans are required to have a minimum 20 year planning horizon.

Our Tuba City office is open but operating remotely, with limited in-person services. When possible, please conduct business by phone or email.
Office Hours:
Monday to Thursday | 10 am to 4 pm
Closed Fridays
If you need assistance, please call: 928-283-4518 or email Miranda at mmorales@coconino.az.gov

Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and Vice President Myron Lizer, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will host an online town hall this evening, Monday, June 7, at 6:00 PM MDT. They will be providing information regarding the USDA Farm Service Agency’s debt relief program for farmers and ranchers.

Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.
Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Click here to see all our online learning opportunities

Sedona Arts Center is holding a Volunteer Fair on Thursday, June 17, 2021 from 4 to 6pm at the Art Barn in Uptown Sedona.
Sedona Arts Center is one of Northern Arizona’s most well-established cultural organizations and serves as the creative heart of Sedona. Founded in 1958, the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization is based in Uptown Sedona and offers year-round classes, exhibitions, festivals, and cultural events that enhance the creative life of the Verde Valley. The Center’s Fine Art Gallery promotes the original works of over 100 local and regional artists and regularly offers special assistance for collectors and art buyers, offers private studio visits, and fosters hundreds of arts education opportunities each year.

The Pioneer Museum in Flagstaff is hiring a Guest Experience Specialist.
This position is responsible for the day to day operation of the museum, managing the front desk admissions. The position will manage the museum purchasing, daily accounting, and gift shop operations under the direction of a supervisor. They are responsible for generating purchase orders, financial reporting, obtaining competitive bids and administering contracts.

VRP Operations: Memorial Day Weekend Report
Rangers were busy this past Memorial Day Weekend with a high volume of calls for Search and Rescue (SAR), Emergency Medical Services, and Law Enforcement incidents.
Many thanks to those who assisted in responding to these calls for service! Photo right: EMS, SAR, and LE personnel use a Sked Stretcher to lift a patient who fell near Mather Point over the weekend. A Sked Stretcher is used in areas that require high angle and/or technical rescue.

The 31st annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held virtually June 5-12, 2021. The park will bring the wonders of the night sky into the virtual realm through a series of live video premieres on Grand Canyon’s official Facebook page.
Each evening from June 5-12, Grand Canyon National Park will premiere two videos at 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. PDT. The weeklong Star Party Speaker Series will feature nine special guest speakers. This year, the event will spotlight on the cultural astronomy of the Grand Canyon region-with speakers who represent some of the 11 traditionally associated tribes of Grand Canyon. Viewers will learn cultural astronomical perspectives from representatives of the Paiute Indian Tribes of Utah, Diné(Navajo Nation), Hopi Tribe, and the Pueblo of Zuni. Additional presentations will focus on the archaeo-astronomy of the ancestral Puebloan peoples of the Grand Canyon region.

With guidance from Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) and consideration of the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on outdoor activities and large events, Coconino County Parks & Recreation will produce the 72nd annual Coconino County Fair as an in-person event this Labor Day weekend, September 3 – September 6, 2021. Last year’s Fair was modified to an all-virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Boy Scouts of America’s Grand Canyon Council (GCC), an independent nonprofit organization chartered by the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) in Ariz., has launched their annual Scouting fundraiser Camp Cards for a Cause. This year, the fundraiser is benefiting Arizona educators.
“Our educators faced an incredible challenge this year, transitioning to distance teaching and learning new technologies all while helping support their students through the pandemic,” said Andy Price, chief executive officer of GCC. “We wanted to show our appreciation.”

Hope is our motivator. Hope fuels our striving for a good life for ourselves and all others. We have to visualize it. What do you hope for yourself, family, neighbors, and community? For me, it is simply feeling connected. Having at least one go-to person that I can know without a doubt, we share genuine and reciprocal care for each other.
Read More

Coconino County is in Stage One fire restrictions in the unincorporated areas of the county, including on private lands, in coordination with similar actions by the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests and other agencies in the area. Fire restrictions are effective May 14, 2021 at 8 a.m.
All of Coconino County parks and natural areas remain under Stage One fire restrictions; charcoal/wood grills are not allowed and no campfires are allowed outside of the campground area, visitors may use liquid gas stoves only on improved surfaces. Please be careful with fire and follow current fire restrictions. Read more.

The NAU Martin-Springer Institute will present “POGROMS AND RIOTS: Anti-Black, Anti-Jewish Massacres” Zoom event at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 30.
Rev. Dr. Robert Turner from Tulsa, Oklahoma will be our guest to commemorate the race massacre in Tulsa one hundred years ago, 1921.
To register, send email to melissa.cohen@nau.edu

Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy announced his intention to rescind the city’s face covering proclamation at the City Council meeting on May 25. The proclamation went into effect June 20, 2020 and will end May 26. Face coverings are still required on public transportation, at the airport and other areas required by federal law. While the face covering proclamation was rescinded, businesses can still require face coverings and social distancing on private property. During the meeting, the City Council also provided direction to lift the capacity limits on outdoor, city owned sports fields effective May 26.

Navajo Nation Information
Wearing a mask in public is mandatory.
All Navajo Nation Tribal Parks remain closed to visitors. This includes: Antelope Canyon – Lake Powell Navajo Tribal Park, Marble Canyon, Coal Mine Canyon, Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Four Corners Monument, and Little Colorado River Gorge.
The Navajo Nation is currently in a Shelter in Place order, which includes daily curfew hours from 11:00 P.M. MDT to 5:00 A.M. MDT.
Specific guidance for the Navajo Nation can be found on the Navajo Nation website.

After a very long pandemic year, the arts scene in Flagstaff is re-emerging, bringing music, performance and visual arts back to eager northern Arizona audiences.
Go to the calendar page of the historic Orpheum Theater and you’ll see there’s already half a dozen shows booked for next month, including two comedians, a mini blues festival (seven hours, five featured performers) and a Pride Party.
Meanwhile, June 4 will mark the formal return of the First Friday ArtWalk (now called ArtWalk FLG). The Viola Awards – Flagstaff’s answer to the Oscars for the arts and sciences community – will hold its ceremony on June 18. Then in July, Theatrikos will be back with an outdoor show at The Arboretum.

xAfter selling out in just 3 days, we have worked with Coconino County Parks & Recreation and Health & Human Services to safely add more tickets to the 13th Annual Viola Awards on Friday, June 18th at the Pepsi Amphitheater.
Tickets for spots on the lawn are now being sold in pods. Each pod can have a maximum of 6 guests. You can purchase tickets now for a pod of 2-6 guests.
Additionally, we have a limited number of fixed seat tickets and sponsorship tables available. All tickets for lawn pods, fixed seats, and sponsorships can be purchased here.
If you have any questions about tickets or the Viola Awards, please email Sarah Downing or call 928-779-7159.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors lifted its Face Covering Proclamation effective June 1, 2021.
During Tuesday’s meeting, the Coconino County Board of Supervisors lifted its Face Covering Proclamation effective June 1, 2021. The rescission of the Proclamation results in masks no longer being required in indoor and outdoor settings in Coconino County. Private businesses still have the ability to require masks. Masks continue to be recommended for unvaccinated individuals in indoor settings. Although no longer required, Coconino County supports an individual’s decision to mask when already vaccinated based upon their own comfort level and preference.

Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park this Memorial Day weekend and through the summer season can expect long lines, full parking lots and crowded conditions.
To make the most of a visit to the park during this time, park rangers recommend the following pro tips:
Pro Tip: Make sure you’re ready for your visit by checking the park website to begin planning your trip. Public health measures are in place including capacity limits, temporary closures and modified operations. As the NPS monitors and responds to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park is working closely with the NPS Office of Public Health to use the latest science to guide decision making. Additional details are available at www.nps.gov/coronavirus.

In partnership with SpaceX, Coconino County is delivering reliable high-speed internet to 45 rural households with the launch of state-of-the-art satellites seen throughout Arizona’s night sky recently.
Coconino County began conversations with SpaceX, an aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk, when Vice-Chair Lena Fowler and Coconino County’s Chief Information Officer Matt Fowler both met with the company in 2019. This resulted in securing accounts for the County to utilize SpaceX beta technology, created to make internet accessible to rural areas of Northern Arizona. Coconino County successfully became an early customer, purchasing and launching Starlink internet in a 45-household trial on May 6, 2021.

F3 needs you to tell City Council that you support the draft Carbon Neutrality Plan. This plan has been written with much knowledge and passion by the Flagstaff Sustainability Program to address our Climate Emergency and outline our strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2030.
Flagstaff needs to reignite the energy and support shown in January 2020 when 300 people and three hours of comments were provided in support of declaring a Climate Emergency. We need your voice! If you are able, comment at the meeting by doing the following:
At least one hour before the meeting on May 25, which begins at 3 pm, send an email to publiccomment@flagstaffaz.gov with the following information.

Coconino County Emergency Management has recently launched a ‘one-stop-shop’ fire restrictions website. This new resource includes links to the County Wildfire Defense Ordinance 2021-02, GIS Mapping specific to restrictions, prohibitions of each of the three Stages of Restrictions, and links to all authorities that issue fire restrictions.
Coconino County Emergency Management will maintain this page with appropriate real-time updates, usually following Monday afternoon fire restriction updates.
Grand Canyon National Park remains in Stage 1 fire restrictions at this time with fire danger on both the South and North Rims as ‘Very High.’ As a reminder, Stage 1 fire restrictions are implemented in the park year-round on both the South and North Rims (all campfires must be in designated fire rings and open flames are never allowed below the rim). For more information on Stage 1 fire restrictions and to view the most updated fire information for Grand Canyon visit the park’s Fire Information and Management Website.
Inquiries regarding fire information can also be directed to our public affairs office at grca_public_affairs@nps.gov.