What started as a compost project using human stool has turned into an experiment that could open the door for colonizing another planet. Researchers at NAU are simulating the barren soils of Mars and the Moon to turn human waste into resources that will help grow food in space.
Get ready for a hilarious, heartbreaking, and “sort of” Chekhovian experience as Theatrikos presents Life Sucks., opening May 21. Directed by John Forsythe, this bold adaptation of Uncle Vanya tackles life’s biggest questions with modern wit and a healthy dose of fourth-wall-breaking honesty.
We are thrilled to announce an incredible ensemble of local talent bringing this “beautiful mess” to life:
Joel Austin
Andrew Dzeguze
América Fregozo
Leslie S. Jones
Nick Rabe
Vicki Thompson
Audrey Young
We need your help in preventing wildfire severity! The 2026 Firewise Residential Cleanup will occur April 18-26, 2026.
Please pile all pine needles and woody debris along your residential road in an area accessible to vehicles for the crew to pick up. Park staff will begin hauling debris the week of April 27.
Last week, 11 graduate students stood in front of an audience and shared their research. That’s par for the course for any researcher. What was different this time? They had only three minutes and one slide to sum up months, or even years, of research. See what students have worked on during their careers at NAU and which students walked away with a cash prize.
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center
A perfect time to step into something new.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our upcoming classes and workshops — from oil painting and wet concrete carving, to no solder chain making, alternative pottery finishing and iPhoneography — our classes are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring.
Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office invites community members to join three signature events this spring: the Earth Day Celebration on April 18, Drop Off Day on April 25, and the Fix-It Clinic on May 2.
Earth Day Celebration
The annual Earth Day Celebration will be on Saturday, April 18 at Bushmaster Park from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Listen to live music, attend a free workshop, eat food from a local food truck, and discover dozens of sustainable-minded organizations and activities.
Registered voters living in the City of Flagstaff will decide in a special election in May 2026 whether to ratify the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045.
F3 is offering two workshops this month where you can learn more about the Regional Plan 2045, ask questions, discuss, and view future growth illustration maps. See dates and locations listed on the flyer above.
In preparation for the election or a workshop, start by reading the Regional Plan basics and Frequently Asked Questions found on this page. Visit the city’s Regional Plan Page to read the Plan itself and view policy maps.
FLAGSTAFF — On a cool, breezy afternoon in April, dozens of individuals gathered on the lawn of the Coconino County Courthouse for the annual Field of Hope Dedicationpresented by the Exchange Club of Flagstaff.
Following a presentation by local dignitaries on April 3, 2026, those in attendance took part in the solemn ceremony (video)of placing of 113 white Prevent Child Abuse flags (video)representing the 113 children who died in 2025 (video) due to neglect or abuse in Arizona. The ceremony (video) also included the ringing of a bell (video) by members of Girl Scout Troop 4668 for each child remember during the event.
Save the Date—Town of Tusayan Cinco de Mayo Celebration on May 5
On Tuesday, May 5, the Town of Tusayan will be hosting its annual Cinco de Mayo Celebration from 4:30-9 p.m. at the Squire Resort in Tusayan. Mexican food and music will be featured as well as pinatas for kids, a face painter, balloon artist, a dive-in movie and indoor and outdoor pool, as well as a drone light show.
More information can be found in the attached flyer here.
This Week’s Highlights
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. “Flag Happs” is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights of the week.
PROGRAMMING NOTE:
SATURDAY LECTURE CANCELLED
We wanted to share a quick update regarding this weekend’s programming.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the Art History Talk: The Many Faces of Friendship with Brandelyn Andres (April 11) has been cancelled.
We appreciate your understanding — and we hope you’ll still join us for one of the upcoming classes and workshops below.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
FLAGSTAFF — The community is invited to attend the annual “Full STEAM Ahead!” Flagstaff Early Childhood Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026 at W. F. Killip Elementary School.
Held in celebration of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s “Week of the Young Child,” (https://www.azaeyc.org/connect/woyc/), the event is sponsored by Flagstaff STEM City, W.F. Killip Elementary School, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) and Mountain Line.
More than two dozen family-supportive organizations are expected to present a variety of interactive activity related to S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). The event will also provide a variety of resources for parents and providers, dental resources, snacks and more information.
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‘Honey, life is just a classroom’
English professor Kim Hensley Owens is meeting NAU students where they are with the class ENG 399: Taylor Swift and the Rhetoric of (Almost) Everything. By delving into Swift’s lyrics, persona and fame, students learn the art of persuasive language, gaining foundational skills that will serve them well in any career.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff has named Jennifer Stasinopoulos as the new Library Director for City and County Services. She will begin this role effective April 12, 2026.
Economic Vitality Director Heidi Hansen said “Jennifer has over a decade of library leadership experience and has had great success overseeing library city services since 2024. She is ready for this next step with directing both the city and county library district. She was selected from a pool of 27 qualified candidates and participated in a rigorous recruitment process, including a screening interview, an in-person panel interview, and a community meet and greet. I am excited to have Jennifer in this new role, I know she will do wonderful work.”
There are moments in the life of an organization when recognition feels larger than the award itself, when it reflects not just a single achievement, but an entire community’s belief in the power of the arts. We are deeply honored to share that Theatrikos Theatre Company has been selected as the recipient of the 2026 Governor’s Award, one of Arizona’s highest distinctions for arts and culture organizations.
Presented in partnership with Arizona Citizens for the Arts and the Arizona Commission on the Arts, this award recognizes cultural leadership, sustained community engagement, and a deep alignment with the values that strengthen Arizona’s creative landscape. To be chosen from across the state is both humbling and affirming.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will implement additional water conservation measures on the South Rim starting Saturday, April 11, due to a series of significant breaks in the 12½ mile-long Transcanyon Waterline that supplies water from the inner canyon for use in the park. Since mid-March, the park has faced challenges with water supply, and currently, no water is being pumped to the South Rim.
While the park remains open to visitors, the following measures will be enacted for the foreseeable future:
Dear Museum Friends,
Spring is a time for growth and renewal. I invite you to make a visit to the Museum of Northern Arizona a part of your Spring, as I most certainly will.
Our exhibitions and programs focus on expanding knowledge and inspiring creativity focused on the very special part of the world that is the Colorado Plateau. Many of our visitors tell us they come to the museum to learn something new, to be inspired, and to connect to heritage and community. Hearing that from our visitors makes my heart sing, and inspires our staff in their efforts to bring life-enriching experiences to our communities.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
Pine & Peaks Post | April 9, 2026
Welcome to your go-to source for everything Parks & Recreation!
From exciting events to seasonal programs, we’ll keep you in the loop.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and its contractor, Loven Contracting, Inc. are set to begin construction of the Montalvo Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Education Community Center located at 211 E. First Avenue the week of April 20. Construction is anticipated to be completed by late 2026.
This redevelopment and community enhancement project represents an exciting step forward in providing educational opportunities and community space for Flagstaff residents. The new facility will serve as a hub for learning, innovation, and connection.
Tomorrow is Arizona Gives Day — and we want to tell you about 2,138 reasons it matters.
Through United Way of Northern Arizona’s partnership with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, 2,138 children in Coconino, Navajo and Apache counties received more than 11,000 carefully chosen, age-appropriate books in 2025 alone.
That’s 2,138 kids growing up knowing that stories belong to them.
PHOENIX — Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs announced (on March 39) that Steve Peru and Dr. Michele Halyard have been appointed to the Arizona Board of Regents.
“On behalf of the Arizona Board of Regents, we appreciate Gov. Hobbs’ selection of two highly respected leaders in Dr. Halyard and Mr. Peru,” said ABOR Chair Doug Goodyear. “Their complementary backgrounds will add important perspective to the board’s ongoing work for Arizona’s students and public universities.”
Steve Peru brings more than three decades of experience in Arizona local government, education and nonprofit leadership. He served Coconino County in progressively senior roles, including community resources coordinator, elections director, deputy county manager and county manager.
As county manager, he served as the chief administrative officer for Coconino County, supporting a workforce of more than 1,200 professional, technical and administrative staff while leading county operations through major public health, emergency response and organizational challenges. Most recently, he served as special assistant to the county manager for strategic projects and partnerships.
FLAGSTAFF — Each year we hold the Field of Hope Dedication on the County Courthouse lawn the first Friday of April, Child Abuse Prevention Month.
During the ceremony, the audience is invited to help install Child Abuse Prevention flags, one for each child that died as a result of abuse or neglect in Arizona the previous year.
Grand Canyon Water Update – April 2, 2026
The park is currently under Stage 3 water restrictions as crews continue work to restore pumping following a recent break.
Utility staff and contractors completed a key pipeline repair earlier this week. Flushing is expected to resume today (Thursday), with re-pressurization beginning early tomorrow (Friday). If successful, water sampling will follow, with results expected within 24 hours. The current estimate for restoration of service to the South Rim is late Saturday or early Sunday.
been an incredibly busy time at the Arts Center—and we’ve all felt it!
We’ve officially wrapped Vision + Sound 2026, and it was a tremendous success. Through exhibits, performances, and programs across Sedona, Buckeye, Goodyear, Peoria, and Tolleson, we reached approximately 73,000 people.
We concluded Vision + Sound here in Sedona with our Symposium, held in partnership with the ASU Center for the Study of Race + Democracy, titled Facing the Future: The Arts and the Power of Community. This year’s Symposium may have been our best yet. It served as a powerful reminder of the importance of our work and gave us all renewed energy to truly “face the future.” Our keynote speaker, Brett Cook—an extraordinary artist from California—has led impactful residency programs that have transformed communities and touched millions of lives. It was an honor to experience his work and witness his vision firsthand.
When NASA turns to an NAU geologist
Kristen Bennett, NAU’s newest planetary scientist, is one of just 10 scientists selected by NASA to lend her expertise on the first crewed mission to the Moon since the 1970s. When astronauts on the Artemis IV mission land on the Moon and venture out onto its surface, that’s where Bennett and her colleagues come in: “We’ll help them figure out which direction to walk, which rocks to take as samples and how many to take,” she said.
Help create Flagstaff’s first-ever map of riparian plants!
Last fall, we began to map the the willows, sedges, box-elders, and cottonwoods that provide a shady, cool habitat for rare members of the Flagstaff community–amphibians, reptiles, mammals, and invertebrates.
With the arrival of Spring, we can continue the project. Members of the team will work with renowned conservation biologist Dr. Paul Beier.
May 2, 9, 16
10:00-12:30
Thank you for your continued engagement in art, science, and culture. At Creative Flagstaff, we keep you informed about what’s coming up — exhibitions, performances, events, and opportunities — but we tend to overlook sharing our recent accomplishments, both public-facing and behind-the-scenes. And, we have a lot to share! We’re launching this quarterly newsletter to help acquaint you with the faces behind our organization, with personal accounts from staff members each newsletter. We hope you enjoy learning more about us, and we invite you to become involved.
Yours, Julie Comnick
Executive Director, Creative Flagstaff & Coconino Center for the Art
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, April 2, 2026.
Our featured presentation is on Northern Arizona Care and Services After Assault (NACASA) — Victim Witness Services Northern Arizona.
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.
READ MORE
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Health and Human Services Youth Center along with Northland Family Help Center are looking for youth 14-17 who would like to participate in a Youth Advisory Council (YAC).
The application deadline has been extended to May 15, 2026. Click here to apply.
This council will work collaboratively with other participants and community partners to help guide the development of programming and activities for Coconino County Health and Human Services NEW Youth Center and Northland Family Help Center.
Dr. Alice Christie, Ph.D., is the Founder and Executive Director of Tynkertopia, Inc., a nonprofit STEAM community center in Flagstaff, Arizona, and the visionary behind its expansion into TynkerSpace, a workforce-focused MakerSpace for teens and young adults.
Volunteers are needed for the Northern Arizona Book Festival April 9-12, 2026. Whether you have loved a past event or just want to see the behind-the-scenes choreography, this essential work will connect you to Northern Arizona’s literary community. What does volunteering look like? From moving chairs and helping at check-in, to pointing attendees toward the right room and occasionally solving a “literary emergency,” your availability will be matched with your interests.
The Northern Arizona Book Festival is supported by the City of Flagstaff Bed, Board & Beverage (BBB) tax fund.
Monday, April 20th is the deadline to register to vote in the special election on the Flagstaff Regional Plan.
To register to vote or check the status of your registration: Click here to visit the Coconino County Voter Registration website.
Did your household receive this card in the mail? If so, a member of your household is registered to vote in the special election on the Regional Plan.
CALL TO ARTISTS
The Face of Diversity: The Big Gay Art Show
Exhibit Dates: June 5 – June 28, 2026
Opening Reception: June 5, 2026 | 4:00–6:00 PM
Location: Sedona Arts Center, 15 Art Barn Road, Sedona, AZ
Deadline to Apply: April 17, 2026
Notification: April 24, 2026
A vibrant juried exhibition celebrating creative expression by artists from the rainbow communities and their allies. Open to artists of all backgrounds, levels, and mediums — bringing diverse voice and energy to the visual arts scene.
FLAGSTAFF — One of the commitments we made to our community is that we would inform you if we received information on the presence of ICE in our community. We recently became aware that ICE is looking at space to station agents within the City of Flagstaff. We are unaware of the final location or the status of a lease or purchase.
Archaeology Hike
Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve
In celebration of Arizona Archaeology & Heritage Awareness Month, Flagstaff PROSE and Neil Weintraub will host a guided hike of Picture Canyon Natural & Cultural Preserve and its archaeology! 1:30 p.m. Free.
Grand Canyon National Park will reopen the North Rim for the 2026 summer season beginning at 6 a.m. on May 15, marking an important step in recovery following the Dragon Bravo Fire. Visitors will once again be able to access iconic scenic drives and the North Kaibab Trail will also reopen for foot traffic, though stock use is suspended and trail work will continue throughout the season.
NPS Trail Crew operations on the North Kaibab Trail are scheduled to begin around April 10, with multiple crews working throughout the season to clear rockfall and complete trail rehabilitation projects. Hikers should expect possible delays or temporary closures as this work progresses.
We hope you’ll join us virtually for an opportunity to find out the state of the bioscience sector in Arizona during the annual Arizona Bioscience Roadmap progress report from the Flinn Foundation.
The online presentation will take place from 12 – 1 pm on Wednesday, April 8th. It will come just seven months after the launch of the state’s new long-range strategic plan to guide bio innovation and impact through 2030. You can register to attend HERE.
The report will examine the state of bioscience from two perspectives:
As we prepare for our Annual Meeting and Community Impact Breakfast next month, I’ve been reflecting on what we accomplished together in 2025, and I have to say that the stories and statistics coming across my desk have genuinely moved me.
Because of you — your generosity, your trust, your belief in our region’s children — United Way of Northern Arizona spent the past year stepping up for youth in ways that will shape this community for years to come.
Let me share a few highlights:
Red wigglers are quietly burrowing through yesterday’s leftovers, turning scraps into something richer than waste. Learn how NAU is benefiting from vermicomposting, reducing landfill waste and helping the environment in an efficient, odor-free and space-friendly way.
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.
READ MORE
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. — Grand Canyon National Park will welcome visitors back to the North Rim for the 2026 summer season beginning at 6 a.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026.
All paved roadways within the park will reopen, including Highway 67, Cape Royal, and Point Imperial Roads. These scenic drives provide access to many of the North Rim’s iconic viewpoints, including Point Imperial, Cape Royal, Roosevelt Point, Walhalla Overlook, and Angels Window. Vehicles over 22 feet in total length are not permitted on the Cape Royal and Point Imperial Roads due to tight turns, limited parking, and narrow roadway conditions.
Every spring, Health Careers Week at the College of Health and Human Services lets students explore the multitude of health degrees NAU offers—and the many roads they lead to. In celebration of Health Careers Week, four inspiring CHHS alumni shared what they wanted to be when they grew up and how those interests evolved into unique, high-impact careers in the health sector thanks to NAU.
This program offers members of the community the chance to learn more about the criminal justice system by engaging with judges, the Clerk of the Courts, adult probation officers and Flagstaff City officials.
2026 OIE Annual Summit
September 8-10, 2026
Registration is now open!
Interested in presenting? Call for session proposals are now open! We hope to see you there! Visit website to learn more.
Vendor and Exhibitor applications now open – visit website to apply 2026 OIE Annual Summit | Arizona Department of Education
FLAGSTAFF — Thousands of local residents and visitors are expected to take part in the national NO KINGS III protest from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2026 at the Flagstaff City Hall, 211 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.
Some past events at the Flagstaff City Hall have exceeded more than 4,000 protesters.The event is being organized nationally by Indivisible and supported locally by Indivisible Northern Arizona.
“There are 3267 events worldwide, 78 of which are in Arizona!,”Indivisible Northern Arizona reported Friday.
Some other Arizona cities that have already scheduled events include Anthem, Casa Grande, Chandler, Cottonwood, Goodyear, Maricopa, Phoenix, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, Sedona, Show Low and Tempe, according to the national protest map created by Indivisible.
Groups move swiftly nationwide to remove images, honors for César Chávez, while others promote access to sexual assault and mental health counseling services
By Frank X. Moraga • www.AmigosNAZ.com ©2026
COCONINO COUNTY — Flagstaff joined other cities nationwide in canceling or renaming their annual César Chávez celebrations in light of the sexual assault allegations linked to the late farm labor leader.
For Coconino County, the cancellation included what would have been the 8th annual Community Recognition Breakfast, which was scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2025.
A new Hispanic community recognition event is scheduled for later this year.
In Arizona, actions have included the cancellation of the Tucson César Chávez March, while legislation is quickly moving forward to cancel César Chávez Day.
Since early this month, cities across the nation either canceled or renamed their celebrations ahead of the labor leader’s birthday on March 31, 2026. Their actions followed news of a potential explosive story by a national publication that was first reported by the San Antonio Express-News on March 6, 2026. The reports focused on revelations of a “sensitive matter” involving Chavez.
Those reports were confirmed when an extensive story by the New York Times was published on March 18 detailing allegations of years of sexual abuse by Chavez of minors and sexual assault incidents involving farmworkers rights labor leader Dolores Huerta. Huerta confirmed those assaults in the story.
Inner Canyon Update: Week of March 16
This week, an Extreme Heat Warning is in effect through Sunday below 4,000 feet, including Phantom Ranch. Visitors are advised to avoid strenuous hiking during the hottest part of the day (10 a.m.–4 p.m.), and to drink plenty of water and eat regularly.
As of Thursday morning, drinking water is now ON at 1½-Mile and 3-Mile Resthouses along the Bright Angel Trail. Many thanks to the Water Utilities team for their hard work in restoring these critical water sources during extreme conditions. You can find the latest updates on water availability across the rim and inner canyon on the park’s Key Hiking Messages webpage.
Following the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires, which devastated more than 200,000 acres on the Kaibab Plateau, Coconino County hired AC Disaster Consulting to develop a long-term recovery plan for small businesses, community stakeholders and residents impacted. The process included nine public listening sessions held across Coconino County in December and a community survey that helped shape the final plan.
FLAGSTAFF — The Downtown Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library window replacement project is set to begin on March 23. Interruptions to library operations will be kept as minimal as possible and the library will remain open during construction.
There may be changes to some scheduled programs while the community room, youth services, and adult services areas are under construction. For those who are sensitive to dust or noise, the East Flagstaff Community Library will remain open during this time and holds from the Downtown location can be sent there for pick up.
Connecting the classroom to the field
Students in the NAU Global Health Field School program traveled to Peru and Malawi to put their coursework to use real-world settings and work on public health interventions aimed at addressing health disparities in underserved communities. The goal was to provide an immersive academic program that prepares students to understand global health systems and connect with patients in unfamiliar environments
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our classes and workshops — from iPhoneography and oil painting to sculpting, stained glass, ceramics, and pottery for teens and beginners — are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring. Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
The year is 3035, and humanity has been given one last chance to start anew on one of Jupiter’s moons. Champions from different disciplines will argue that their area of study is the most indispensable for Europa’s new civilization. You choose who survives. The Great Survival Debate is back at NAU, bringing together knowledge, craft and talent for a night of fun and mischief.
Next weekend, the stage will come alive with imagination, music, and the joyful energy of young performers as Theatrikos Theatre Company’s Education Department presents its newest TheatriKids and Stage Buddies production, Seussical Jr.
This year’s production will be performed at Coconino High School, marking an exciting partnership between Theatrikos and the school. The collaboration provides young performers the opportunity to perform on a larger stage while strengthening the connection between local arts organizations and the educational community.
Reading-action Group: Mass Surveillance & Data Collection
Starts March 31st
Reading-action Group: Octavia Butler’s
Parable of the Sower
“The book everyone should read now…”
Starts April 4th
