FLAGSTAFF — On Nov. 4, voters will decide on three local ballot measures: Question 1, from the Flagstaff Unified School District, seeks to continue a budget override. Question 403, from Coconino County, seeks a sales tax increase for future county…
Category: educacíon
Commentary / Comentario: The season of nutritional health
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ While this is the season for cultural events, it is also the time to start thinking about proper nutrition as students return to school and we prepare for the dreaded sweet and fat-laden holiday season. The…
Local / Locales
The Hispanic / Latino population of Northern Arizona University grew by 10 percent during the fall of 2014 compared to a year ago, university officials reported in a media release. According to unofficial enrollment figures released during the last week of…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Survivors benefits
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Many people might not know that Social Security offers Survivors Benefits. These benefits, which function as a kind of life insurance, can provide family income after the breadwinner dies as…
August cover story / Portada: Another challenging year for education
Officials seek to balance state budget cuts with creative options to improve education to meet state college, career and life-readiness standards By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ On what promised to be another toasty summer day in Flagstaff, children and…
Local / Locales
Northern Arizona University has been awarded a three-year research grant to promote academic success among young Spanish-speaking English learners, university officials reported in a media release. The grant, awarded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Educational Sciences, will…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Retirement benefits – Part 2
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona In this article I will continue our conversation regarding retirement benefits, describing retiring at full retirement age and delaying retirement to a later age. We have stated that full retirement age ranges…
Guest commentary: Summer ideal time to prepare for Kindergarten success
By First Things First / Guest contributor While most students think of summer as a break from learning, for young kids entering kindergarten, summer is the ideal time to instill the skills that will make the transition to school smoother.…
Bilingual report: Friends of Flagstaff’s Future to present 2014 City Council Campaign Forum on July 24
FLAGSTAFF — Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) will present a forum for City Council and Mayoral Candidates at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 24 at Flagstaff High School, 400 W. Elm Ave., Flagstaff. The forum will give voters an opportunity to get to know…
July cover story / Portada: Education top issue for Hispanics
Higher tuition at NAU, CCC, cuts in programs at community college level pose challenges for first-generation students By Star Hunter / AmigosNAZ Immigration reform may lead in the headlines, but it’s not the top issue for Hispanics. According to Pew Research…
Commentary / Comentario: Bringing excellence to education
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The ideas were almost bouncing off the walls, courtesy of giant Post-it notes and magic markers. • Convincing parents of the value of education from the minute their children make their first appearance in…
Health / Salud: Public Health and you – Picnics, barbecues and food safety tips
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Marlene Gaither / Coconino County Environmental Health Program manager Summer is the season for picnics and cookouts, but these outdoor activities can present food…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: Retirement benefits – Part 1
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona Social Security provides several benefits, including retirement, disability and survivor benefits, among others. Regarding beneficiaries, some relatives of the eligible person (spouses, former spouses, children and even parents) could also…
Local / Locales
The City of Flagstaff has entered Stage 2 of Fire Restrictions, officials reported in a media release. As a result: No permits are issued for open burning within the City of Flagstaff; use of charcoal barbecue grills is prohibited throughout…
Health / Salud: Vaccinations: An important way to protect children
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Michelle McKay, RN, BSN / Coconino County Public Health Services District Immunization Program manager Through advances in medicine and vaccinations, potentially deadly illnesses and…
Finances / Finanzas: Social Security: What is it?
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona The United States has two main retirement-related programs, namely Medicare and Social Security. The first provides access to medical care, while the second provides an economic benefit. This article will…
May cover story / Portada: Teens get ready for tough job market
Classes on filling out job applications, interview techniques prepare youth for competitive summer job season By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ It looked like a typical classroom with adult speakers talking in front of a group of teens. But…
Commentary / Comentario: A education in redevelopment
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Developers of a proposed student housing project near downtown Flagstaff most likely expected relatively smooth sailing when they first approached city staff with their proposal last summer as they sought to re-zone the seven-acre…
Local / Locales
Market on the Move, a program where community members can get up to 60 pounds of fresh produce for a $15 donation, is coming to Flagstaff on Wednesday, May 7 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Community…
Health / Salud: The Affordable Care Act: Closed door, opened door
By David Parra / Associate state director — AARP Arizona After six months of opportunity to obtain health coverage through the new health insurance marketplace created by the Department of Health and Human Services, as part of the Patient Protection…
Bilingual report: First Friday Art Walk comes to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church & Cultural Center on May 2
FLAGSTAFF — First Friday Art Walk comes to Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church & Cultural Center from 6:15 to 9 p.m. Friday, May 2 at 224 So. Kendrick St., Flagstaff. Visit the basement to see works by local artists…
Bilingual report: ‘Southside Celebration of History and Culture’ to be held May 2 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — The “Southside Celebration of History and Culture” will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, May 2 at the South Beaver School Gym, 506 So. Beaver St. A collaboration of Northern Arizona University’s College of Social & Behavioral…
April cover story / Portada: Immigration awareness events return to NAU
Activities expand to entire month of April at the university By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ During an interview last year, Robert Neustadt said it would be up to the students to decide if they want to carry on “Immigration…
Local / Locales
A group of Northern Arizona University researchers focused on sustainable practices, geography and earth sciences found something unexpected during their work in Central America: the effects of drug trafficking are leaving deep scars on a sensitive landscape. They call the…
Bilingual report: NAU to present César Chávez Celebration March 28 through 31
FLAGSTAFF — The Northern Arizona University College of Social & Behavioral Sciences’ Civic Service Institute presents a César Chávez Celebration starting with a “César Chávez Blood Drive” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, March 28 at the Du Bois —…
Bilingual report: NAU’s Theatre Department to present Federico Garcia Lorca’s ‘The House of Bernarda Alba’ in Winslow from March 28 through April 6
WINSLOW — Northern Arizona University’s Theatre Department will perform Federico Garcia Lorca’s “The House of Bernarda Alba” from March 28 through April 6 in a rare, site-specific performance on the grounds of the historic La Posada Hotel and Gardens, 303…
March cover story / Portada: Health-care enrollment deadline nears
March 31 is the deadline for signing up under the Affordable Care Act By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The days are counting down until the end of the open enrollment period on March 31 for the Health Insurance Marketplace…
Commentary / Comentario: Si se (something)!
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ The first time I saw him was during a march for farmworkers rights in the early 1980s. I was a novice community college photojournalism student and we had decided to cover his protest march…
Local / Locales
The City of Flagstaff reports that the Army Corps of Engineers has allocated $1.6 million for the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project. “We have worked tirelessly to secure funding for the Rio de Flag flood control project. Part of…
Vacations / Vacaciones: How to have a safe spring break experience
By Metro Editorial Services (MS) Each spring millions of students from high school and college embark on a pilgrimage to a vacation locale of their choice and proceed to kick up their heels and relax. For some students, the vacation…
Coconino Community College joins Arizona in celebrating adult literacy
Feb. 9-15 proclaimed as Arizona Adult Literacy Week FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College is joining others across Arizona to celebrate Arizona Adult Literacy Week, Feb. 9-15, as proclaimed by Gov. Jan Brewer, the college reported in a media release. “It…
SB1070 policy meeting to be held Feb. 6 at Killip Elementary
FLAGSTAFF — A community meeting to discuss a change in the Flagstaff Police Department’s policy on SB1070 will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 6 at W.F. Killip Elementary School in the Sunnyside Neighborhood of Flagstaff. The meeting will include…
Commentary / Comentario: An opportunity to talk
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ For community policing, it’s a fine balance between gathering information to investigate crimes and maintaining trust with a segment of society that previously viewed law enforcement in other places with suspicion, if not downright…
Health / Salud: WIC: Celebrating 40 years of strengthening families
Editor’s note: The following commentary is provided by the Coconino County Public Health Services District. By Lorraine Ornelas / Coconino County Public Health Services District WIC program manager The Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) has helped millions of the nation’s…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 19 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A health care information night, with information presented primarily in Spanish, will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 at Restauración en Cristo Congregation, 624 S. O’Leary St. (en Spring Hill Baptist Church), Flagstaff. Have you had trouble…
Bilingual report: ‘Health Care Information Night’ to be held Nov. 21 in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — A bilingual health care information night will be presented from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Killip Elementary School Library, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Have you had trouble getting health insurance? How does the…
GED adult education classes to begin again at Killip Elementary School. Orientation meeting set for Nov. 7
FLAGSTAFF — GED adult education classes will begin again at Killip Elementary School, the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council Industrial Areas Foundation reported in a media release. “Thanks to the work of Killip staff, parents, and NAICL leaders, adult education is up…
Coconino County voters deny CCC’s request for override
Seven-year $4.5 million override would have helped maintain College’s core missions FLAGSTAFF — Coconino County voters on Tuesday, Nov. 5, denied Coconino Community College’s request to fund a seven-year $4.5 million override, the institution reported Wednesday in a media release. The…
Bilingual report: Coconino Community College officials await results of Nov. 5 election
FLAGSTAFF — Coconino Community College held its final informational open house at Coconino High School on Oct. 30. The session was designed to answer questions about the college’s finances and the upcoming override initiative on the Nov. 5 election ballot.…
“2013 Coconino County Community and Family Vitality Survey” now available in Spanish
FLAGSTAFF — The Laboratory for Applied Social Research (LASR) at Northern Arizona University is conducting a survey to better understand the community’s “capacity to live, grow, and develop with a purposeful existence.” It was announced this week that the survey will…
Bilingual commentary: Residents begin first of many battles
By Roxana Cardiel De Niz and Anamaria Velasco Ortiz The community at Arrowhead Village Trailer Park in the center of Flagstaff is on the verge of being destroyed over a student housing development. This project is one that Landmark Properties,…
Commentary / Comentario: Making the case for ethnic studies
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ As he surveyed the room, Sean Arce hit the play button and the video kicked in on the screen. Students, high school students, could be seen on the video rushing to sit and chain…
October Cover Story / Portada: A celebration of culture, families
Celebraciones de la Gente returns to Museum of Northern Arizona on Oct. 26-27 By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ As Armando Gonzalez and Theresa Thomas tell it, about a dozen years ago Flagstaff’s Latino community seemed on the verge of…
Local / Locales
The Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) is helping young adults and teens to quit using tobacco products by utilizing “The CIGNAL,” Arizona’s latest effort to curb tobacco use, county officials reported in a media release. Modeled after the…
Commentary / Comentario: CCC plays a critical role in educating first-generation college students
By Patricia A. Garcia / CCC District Governing Board member As an elected official on the governing board of Coconino Community College, I believe it is critical for CCC to continue to be able to fulfill its core functions. As a…
Education / Educacíon: Nov. 5 property tax vote critical to college
Coconino Community College seeking funding to maintain existing programs By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ When educators first started to talk about opening a community college in Flagstaff, they envisioned an overall enrollment of about 500 students the first year.…
Folklorico dance groups from Oaxaca perform locally courtesy of Ballet Folklórico de Colores — Flagstaff, sponsors
FLAGSTAFF — Ballet Folklórico de Colores — Flagstaff presented a free performance by Grupo Folklorico de Oaxaca Asociación Civil, directora Teresa Ochoa, and Compañía de Danza Regional de Puebla, director Jorge Armando Castenada, on Sept. 19, 2013 at Sinagua Middle School Auditorium…
Sunnyside celebrates 10th annual Fiesta de Independencia
Click on the image to see a slideshow from the 2013 Fiesta de Independencia. Pause on photo to see a caption. AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — Sprinkers going off in the early afternoon almost watering the public address system and…
Area residents enjoy the outdoors with return of Camp Moreno
Click on the image to see a slideshow from Camp Moreno at Sunset Crater. Pause on photo to see a caption. AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — A brief rain and hail storm hit the O’Leary Group campground at Sunset Crater…
Bilingual report: ‘Deferred Action Application Drive’ to be held Sept. 28
FLAGSTAFF — NO DREAM DEFERRED will present a “Deferred Action Application Drive” on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff. Held in collaboration with Arizona DREAMers in Action. Contact 810-373-2691 if you have questions about…
Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) to hold special meeting on Sept. 18
FLAGSTAFF — The Coconino County Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) will hold a special meeting to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the under renovation Our Lady of Guadalupe Cultural Center — “The Basement,” 224 So.…
CollegeAmerica Fall Resource Fair draws crowd
Click on the image to see a slideshow from the CollegeAmerica Fall Resource Fair AmigosNAZ staff report FLAGSTAFF — The first impression that something was going on at the CollegeAmerica campus on east Route 66 were the two radio remote…
Commentary / Comentario: Starting school off right
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ It was Aug. 21, nearly one month after the start of school and the annual W.F. Killip Elementary School open house was in full swing in the Sunnyside neighborhood of Flagstaff. It seemed like…
Local / Locales
Following a thorough review and input from community stakeholders, the Coconino County Public Health Services District (CCPHSD) will continue to offer dental clinic services for the public, Coconino County officials reported in a media release. The CCPHSD Dental Clinic offers…
Commentary / Comentario: Dealing with floods; back-to-school issues
By Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Archuleta / Coconino County District 2 Supervisor Coconino Flood Mitigation: It’s a sunny day in Flagstaff and the soft crunching of sand is heard along with the humming of truck engines and the chatter of volunteers at…
Health / Salud: Help make your child’s school healthier
Por Metro Editorial Services (MS) Because children spend most of their time in classrooms, schools are an ideal setting for healthy behaviors to be taught and modeled. Therefore, parents are speaking up and getting involved in an effort to improve…
Cover Story / Portada: Sunnyside continues to build a strong community
Organizers say much work remains to keep area heading in right direction By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Maybe it’s a case that success breeds complacency — that the hard work has already been done and there is no urgency…
Commentary / Comentario: Youth and our future
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ We must provide all young people with the tools they need to succeed in school along with career opportunities so they can become a key part of the region’s vibrant economy. Part one of…
Commentary / Comentario: Hispanics + education = ?
By Frank X. Moraga / AmigosNAZ Less than half (47 percent) of Coconino County students were ready for kindergarten, according to the “Coconino Community Education Report 2013” released in May by the United Way of Northern Arizona and a host…