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.
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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.
As we prepare to welcome a new year, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra wishes to express our deep gratitude for the moments we shared in 2025. Together, we experienced uplifting and artistic performances, impactful collaborations, and collective enthusiasm that inspired us every step of the way.
Whether you attended a concert, supported one of our outreach programs, or simply shared your love of live orchestral music with others, you helped make this year one of connection and joy.
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:
Check out our 2026 Catalog of Workshops and Classes now online…
Discover hands-on workshops in painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and more. Whether you’re just beginning or expanding your skills, Sedona Arts Center offers a welcoming place to grow creatively.
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
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!
This special section highlights the outstanding achievements of Arizona teachers and schools in 2025. These accomplishments reflect not only individual talent but also the collaborative spirit that drives educational success across schools and classrooms serving Native American students. (Note: This is not an exhaustive list and is presented in no particular order. Some achievements may be missing due to reporting timelines or limited availability of information.)
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.
View online Did you know the Flagstaff Festival of Science is the longest-running, entirely free science festival in the world? Fondly known as the Best 10 Days of the Year, it’s made possible by donors who believe science should be…
As the year comes to a close, all of us at Sedona Arts Center want to say thank you. Your support—whether through attending exhibitions, taking classes, supporting our artists, or simply believing in the importance of creative expression—makes this place…
COCONINO COUNTY — Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, announces 2026 Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year nominees. This year, there are 26 nominees for Teacher of the Year and 15 nominees for Rookie Teacher of the Year.
The Coconino County Teacher of the Year Program is designed to honor and celebrate teacher excellence. The objective is not to designate a singular “best” teacher, but rather to recognize and highlight exceptional teachers who have inspired a passion for learning in their students and have distinguished themselves in their profession.
COCONINO COUNTY — With 2026 rapidly approaching, we want to find out what hopes, dreams, goals or (if you are willing to share) resolutions you may have for the coming year.
Maybe it’s setting a personal physical or mental health goal? Maybe it’s achieving a family or professional goal? Maybe more vacation travel, carving out more personal time or spending more time with friends and loved ones?
Imagining a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community starts with all of us and your dreams and goals feed back into the collective.
We want to know so we can include your thoughts when our newsletter returns on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, following our two-week newsletter break starting Dec. 17. And please let us know if you want us to share your comments anonymously with all our newsletter subscribers.
Maybe it’s too early to think about setting goals for the coming year. Instead, you can tell us what you are most proud of that you have done in 2025, be it a personal or professional accomplishment. For the Coalition, one of the things we are most proud of is our collaboration with our community partners on a variety of resource events throughout the year. (See photos).
Comet Talk – Finding Santiago: Indians, Immigrants, and the Meaning of Birthright Citizenship
Monday, Jan. 26 | 6 to 7 p.m. | Free
Hear the story of the origins and development of the legal doctrine known as birthright citizenship from the perspective of three unique individuals.
Santiago – Learn more and register!
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.
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.
COCONINO COUNTY — In 2025, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, a local non-profit in service for more than 50 years, was able to be a founding supporter to the Voices Unheard movement because of the support we receive. (Please see elev8voices.info for details.)
We were able to respond when approached by the community for urgent needs when many others were not able. As a membership organization, our members are the first line of support that we receive, and it is crucial for this vital work that we do.
If you were able to attend Voices Unheard, you know how powerful, emotional, healing, educational and impactful that it was- how important it was to honor our community and their stories. And our members really helped us to be a part of this important work.
If you are interested in supporting our work to ignite collective action that creates better lives for children and families- Your membership is more than a dollar amount- it lends your name to a mission and a movement.
More than 2,600 students graduate in two ceremonies at the Skydome on Friday. Read on for everything you need to know, including parking and traffic patterns and how to get up-to-the-minute updates.
We’re excited to bring you the latest highlights, updates, and opportunities from across our vibrant STEM community. Each month, you’ll receive a newsletter that celebrates local innovation, showcases upcoming events, and connects Flagstaff to the broader national STEM landscape.
From hands-on activities and inspiring student projects to professional development and community partnerships, our goal is to keep you informed and engaged in the many ways STEM continues to shape our schools, city, and future.
Thank you for being part of our mission to make Flagstaff a hub for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Together, we’re building curiosity, creativity, and opportunity for learners of all ages.
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.
Discover hands-on workshops in painting, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and more. Whether you’re just beginning or expanding your skills, Sedona Arts Center offers a welcoming place to grow creatively.
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.
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.
Lumberjacks bring the Mother Road to Macy’s
NAU’s Lumberjack Marching Band just made history as the first college band from Arizona to perform in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade! See photos from the band’s trip to New York City, where they entertained locals in Central Park, braved the rain during a dress rehearsal and repped the Mother Road with a rendition of “Route 66.” Plus, watch a cute video clip of Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett cheering them on from the sidelines.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
COCONINO COUNTY — We imagine a world where every person lives in peace and is supported by a thriving, resilient community.
The purpose of CCC&Y is bold and your help is needed.
When you become a member of CCC&Y, your financial contribution helps cultivate and strengthen well-informed communities by providing education and resources, bringing stakeholders together, building new systems of communication and more.
Each week, the Coalition produces a weekly newsletter where we share partner news and events in our blog section and links to community resource meetings.
For families in Northern Arizona, we share information on variety of family-friendly events throughout the county, recent and upcoming information through our stories and photographs to food security, education, health and other programs. We also share links to a variety of resource guides in Northern Arizona.
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.
Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4. 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 or to receive a Zoom link to our next meeting.
The Coconino County Accommodation District has been awarded a $500,000 School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP) federal grant to enhance safety at Ponderosa High School in Flagstaff and Tse’ Yaato’ High School in Page.
The award is part of a $682,471 safety project, supported by a $182,471 district match, that will deliver modern, integrated security improvements. The project, “Safer Coconino County Accommodation Schools,” advances federal SVPP goals by addressing critical safety needs through evidence-based technologies and practices.
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.
Predicting the fate of tropical forests via (rainforest) tea leaves
Researchers at Northern Arizona University and the Smithsonian went to the top of a Panamanian rainforest to simulate heat death in leaves and measure the effects on surrounding leaves. The results were encouraging: Tropical forests may be less sensitive to climate change than originally feared.
BECOME A MEMBER Exhibitions Concerts & Events Workshops Just a Reminder We’re taking some time to make things shine! The gallery will be CLOSED through Dec 2 for facility improvements, including new wall-to-wall carpeting and contemporary seating in the theater.…
As we wrap up the 40th Anniversary of Coconino Center for the Arts, we are reflecting on how this deeply supportive community has shaped our organization over the years. Now, we are building on our historic legacy with responsiveness and flexibility to keep the organization relevant and sustainable for the next 40 years. We are grateful for your prior participation and contributions that have helped lay the foundation for our work today!
We are entering the next chapter with exciting new developments. We want to give you the first opportunity to support these new initiatives through naming and sponsorship where Creative Flagstaff recognizes you, your business, or a loved one as a core part of our legacy. We invite you to consider the ways that your interests align with our needs:
We have exciting news to share! Thanks to an anonymous group of donors, your donation to MNA between now and December 31 will be doubled – doubling your impact as we prepare for big things in 2026.
With your help, MNA is poised to share our mission with more people than ever, expanding our work to create new exhibitions and educational programs, plus increasing access so that more people can visit the museum. The impact of your gift today will be doubled as you support:
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New exhibitions in the coming year, including an expansion of MNA’s katsina doll display, plus three new exhibitions in our rotating galleries.
Programs to encourage more visitors to MNA, such as discounted admission of $10 on Sundays for Northern Arizona residents; subsidies for school field trips; and free admission for local college students.
Longstanding MNA traditions such as the Heritage Festival of Art & Culture, plus new initiatives including Indigenous demonstrations, interactive activities, and tours and talks related to rotating exhibitions.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff has been awarded the prestigious Dark Sky Place of the Year award from DarkSky International. This recognition follows more than six decades of intentional stewardship of the City’s night skies, beginning when Flagstaff created the world’s first outdoor lighting ordinance in 1958. Following a proposal from the Flagstaff Dark Skies Coalition to create the program, Flagstaff was designated the world’s first International Dark Sky City on Oct. 24, 2001. Today, Flagstaff remains the largest such community by population and proves that cities can enjoy economic growth while conserving the nighttime environment for its residents and visitors.
Serving as both a legendary perreo and a platform to showcase up-and-coming talent in the reggaetón and Latinx scenes, the collective is determined to break the boundaries of latin music and push the culture forward. 9 p.m
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Together Through the Shutdown
A message from Superintendent Ed Keable
As Grand Canyon National Park resumes normal operations following the lapse of appropriations, I want to extend my sincere gratitude to the entire Grand Canyon community—residents, partners, and local organizations—who stood together during an exceptionally difficult time.
This government shutdown placed real strain on families, employees, and businesses here at the Grand Canyon. Yet even in the most challenging moments, the strength of our community was unmistakable.
Grand Canyon Conservancy (GCC) played an extraordinary role throughout the shutdown, offering steady support when it was most needed. Their generosity provided community dinners, essential funding to sustain key park projects, and donations that directly supported local services relied on by many during this period. GCC’s commitment to this community is deeply appreciated, and we thank them for continuing to show up for Grand Canyon residents.
Paws in training
Karen Sealander, a professor in the Department of Educational Specialties, brings her dog to work every day, though not strictly for puppy snuggles. For more than 20 years, she has helped raise service dogs in training as a volunteer puppy raiser for the national nonprofit Canine Companions. From teaching them how to sit in a classroom full of people to training them to stay when an NAU food bot blocks their path, her work has infused NAU with a happy helping of puppy love.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
With a variety of program service changes affecting nonprofit and governmental agencies, it is vital that organizations maintain communications and partner with each other to better serve families and youth at this time of uncertain funding support.
To aid in that effort, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth maintains this listing of virtual and in-person health and welfare resource networking meetings held each month in Coconino County and Northern Arizona.
The meetings offer health professionals and representatives from a variety groups the opportunity to share information on upcoming programs and events that benefit the educational, health and welfare needs of children, youth and families throughout the region.
The following is a listing of some of those meetings. Please check with individual meeting group coordinators for updated times, dates and meeting links. Please send any updates to frank@coconinokids.org
We’re excited to bring you the latest highlights, updates, and opportunities from across our vibrant STEM community. Each month, you’ll receive a newsletter that celebrates local innovation, showcases upcoming events, and connects Flagstaff to the broader national STEM landscape.
From hands-on activities and inspiring student projects to professional development and community partnerships, our goal is to keep you informed and engaged in the many ways STEM continues to shape our schools, city, and future.
Thank you for being part of our mission to make Flagstaff a hub for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Together, we’re building curiosity, creativity, and opportunity for learners of all ages.
Meet the Gold Axe winners
This year’s class is composed of 23 Gold Axe winners, including two President’s Prize winners, and 10 students who were honored as Distinguished Seniors of their colleges. See who won and what President Cruz Rivera said about their accomplishments.
FLAGSTAFF — Spanish language and English learning students at Coconino High School celebrated el Día de los Muertos/Day of the Dead with their fourth annual shoebox ofrenda / altar competition.
Parents and students had the opportunity to view the ofrenda, ceramic sugar skulls, La Catrina images and other artworks during a celebration on Nov. 3, 2025. The winners were selected recently with students and others voting throughout the month, said teacher Francy Solarte
The event included a performance by Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff and food prepared by students from the CHS Culinary Arts Level III and Baking and Pastry class.
Winners from the 2024 competition were recently at a special ofrenda by Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces at the recent Celebraciones de la Gente at the Museum of Northern Arizona.
The Showgirl Era: A Swiftie Takeover (Nov. 14)
The Orpheum Theater
SWIFTIES UNITE! It’s time to Shake it off and celebrate Taylor Swift’s new album ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ with a night of dancing through the eras, one drag queen at a time. 8:30 p.m.
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WORKSHOPS & CLASSES
✨ Create. Learn. Connect.
From painting and ceramics to photography and mixed media, Sedona Arts Center offers workshops for every skill level — both in-person and online. Join us and be part of Sedona’s creative heartbeat.
November, GCC invites the Grand Canyon community to come together for weekly complimentary dinners ac Plaza Bonita and Maswik cafeteria. Community members will\ receive complimentary meals for themselves and their families for as long as supplies last.
The Festival Fête auction will remain open for just 36 more hours, so register, place your bids and support a good cause!
Your participation helps fund STEM education opportunities in Flagstaff through the development of science programming for youth in Flagstaff! Make an impact today and at the same time, win some amazing items such as unique experiences, valuable services, gift cards, body treatments, local art, and cool products!
