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Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park this Memorial Day weekend should expect long lines and full parking lots. Traffic regularly backs up at all entrance stations, with the longest wait times between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Parking lots, especially near the Grand Canyon Visitor Center, will reach capacity by 12 p.m. and shuttle bus lines will be long.
Visitors should follow these tips in preparing to visit the South Rim:

Breaking News:
Arizona Daily Sun — May 19, 2022 — Votes for Proposition 438 lead in initial special election results
Initial results from Coconino County’s May 17 special election show Proposition 438 is almost certain to pass.
If passed, the measure would reset the primary property tax rate for Coconino Community College, raising it to 0.7419 cents per $100 of limited property value. The current rate is 0.4394.

Overland Expo WEST returns to Fort Tuthill County Park this weekend, May 20-22. Visit their website for event info, including tickets and where to park.
As a heads up, the park’s horse stables are closed from May 16-25. While the trails, disc golf course, and the bike park will be open during the event, parking will be severely limited. The entire parking lots next to the bike park and disc golf course are being utilized by the special event and we cannot guarantee any parking spaces at this time.
If you choose to visit the park this weekend, we suggest that people walk or ride their bike into the park to use the open facilities. You could also use this as an opportunity to explore new (to you) places in Northern Arizona this weekend.

June 19th: Serpentine Fire, featuring Tyriq Johnson, and the FSO perform the music of Earth, Wind and Fire!
Part of Flagstaff’s annual Juneteenth celebration (commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S.), this concert is also a great way to celebrate Father’s Day! Bring the whole family to this festive kick-off to FSO’s summer concert series outside at Pepsi Amphitheater.

Exhibition: May 21 – August 27, 2022
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 21
Members and Special Guests Preview: May 21, 5-6 pm
Keynote Lecture by David Levy: May 21, 6 pm
Public Reception: May 21, 6-8 pm
Closing Reception: August 27, 2022, 6-8 pm
NightVisions: Cultural Interpretations of the Night Sky is an international juried art exhibition at Coconino Center for the Arts that seeks to explore and celebrate our deep connections with the night. In its 8th iteration, we are excited to expand upon the exhibition concept in honor of the legacy of Flagstaff astronomer Carolyn S Shoemaker (June 24, 1929 – August 13, 2021) and her collaborations with husband and geologist Eugene Shoemaker (April 28, 1928 – July 18, 1997), with the inclusion of archival astronomical elements alongside the work of contemporary artists. We are honored to announce the co-curator, amateur astronomer and science writer, David Levy; and three renowned artist jurors Laura Camden, Joseph McShane, and Jerrel Singer who reviewed over 250 excellent and diverse works from artists internationally and chose 80 works for the exhibition. Jurors’ awards will be announced at the opening reception.

Desert View Groundbreaking Ceremony and Inter-tribal Working Group meeting
On Tuesday, May 17, we held a ceremony at Desert View to celebrate the near completion of the initial phases of work being done at Desert View to turn it into the park Inter-tribal cultural heritage site.
Members of the Inter-tribal Working Group, Grand Canyon Conservancy, park staff and other partners attended a short celebration of the accomplishments to date. James Uqualla from the Havasupai Tribe, offered a blessing for the work and the efforts for all who have been involved.
In addition to Superintendent Keable, Theresa McMullan from GCC offered words of support, along with individual Working Group members. The Working Group will continue its efforts to develop the exhibit plan for the Desert View Welcome Center and has begun work on the next strategic plan.

Last weekend, proponents of early education gathered to celebrate the first year of Elevate PreK, a pilot program that offers high-quality, full-day, year-round preschool experience at no cost to families.
The program is geared toward 4-year-olds living in households with income between 101% and 250% of the federal poverty level who are not currently enrolled in preschool.
United Way of Northern Arizona is one of the program’s supporters and co-hosted the event.
In addition to offering an evidenced-based curriculum, the program also offers wrap-around services for families so that parents and caregivers get the support they need.
The celebration included a review of Elevate PreK’s progress in its first year conducted by Dr. Caroline Black, an assistant professor of early childhood education at Northern Arizona University. Her study showed that outcomes of the program included growth in students’ social skills, self-control, engagement and vocabulary in the first year.

Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Tunnel Fire
Tunnel Fire Follow-Up
Stage One Fire Restrictions
Be Prepared for Wildfire
Community Wildfire Defense Program–A Proactive Vison
Museum Fire Flood Mitigation/Sediment Reduction Update
County Supervisors Association Elects Western Interstate Region
Representatives
Havasupai Visit
Flagstaff Shelter Services Housewarming
Community Events: Ms. Cleo’s Tea Party
Congratulations Graduates!
SMILE
Contact Us

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth joins other organizations in Arizona in recognizing the month of May as National Mental Health Month, which raises awareness of the impacts of trauma on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families and communities.
“As individuals and leaders in Arizona, we understand we must heal to move forward from the current trauma of COVID-19. We recognize that all individuals not only experience trauma from situations such as a pandemic but also because of ongoing social injustice practices.”

The CDC Community Level tracks a county’s ability to provide health care to COVID patients. We continue to register Low at the community level, and we have been at this level since early March.
The Coconino County Community Transmission looks at the number of COVID cases and positive tests. Coconino County is now High, which has increased from Substantial as of Thursday, May 5. COVID transmission in the county is continuing to rise and although we have relaxed mask mandates and other mitigation strategies in the park, we are reminded that the pandemic is not over.
As we continue to make decisions about park operations, we want to emphasize that we are considering the current transmission status and trajectory of cases nationwide. We want to acknowledge and recognize that there is a lot of information being shared by agencies, and some are conflicting. Our goal is to share pertinent information with you and also to use the best data to make decisions about park operations.

Painting For All Levels: ONLINE!
with Gretchen Lopez
June 3, 2022
From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.

NAU is welcoming back 900 alumni this weekend to get their long-awaited, long-delayed opportunity to put on their cap and gown and walk across the stage. The spring and fall classes of 2020 and the spring class of 2021, who had virtual commencement ceremonies during the pandemic, are returning to NAU this weekend for a special celebration.

The “Rec center open stage” will be held Wednesday, May 18 at the Hal Jensen Recreation Center, 2403 N. Izabel St., Flagstaff.
Speak or showcase your talents. Free entry. Cash Prize.
Click here to enter.
Presented by the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, Building Communities and the City of Flagstaff PROSE (Parks, Recreation, Open Space & Events).

Nur sets NCAA record in 5,000-meter run
Competing with some of the world’s fastest 5,000-meter runners, the stage was set for Abdihamid Nur and Nico Young to make history at Friday night’s Sound Running Track Meet in San Juan Capistrano, California. And make history they did—the pair of Lumberjacks quickly moved into the top five and held their spaces, eventually finishing in first and second. Nur finished with an NCAA record-breaking time of 13:06.32, and Young finished at 13:11.30, the third-fastest collegiate time in history.

NightVisions: Cultural Interpretations of the Night Sky is an international juried art exhibition at Coconino Center for the Arts that seeks to explore and celebrate our deep connections with the night. In its 8th iteration, we are excited to expand upon the exhibition concept in honor of the legacy of Flagstaff astronomer Carolyn S Shoemaker (June 24, 1929 – August 13, 2021) and her collaborations with husband and geologist Eugene Shoemaker (April 28, 1928 – July 18, 1997), with the inclusion of archival astronomical elements alongside the work of contemporary artists.

We hope that you’ll join us this Saturday for our celebration of Elevate PreK’s successful first year. In case you haven’t had a chance to register. please do so here.
Our keynote speaker will be early childhood education advocate Rhian Evans Allvin, the driving force behind the establishment of First Things First.
Educators, business community leaders and experts will also speak to why increasing access to high-quality, year-round preschool education helps not only our children, but our workplaces and communities as well.

The Cinco de Mayo Celebration, dinner/dance will return at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at The American Legion, 204 W. Birch Ave., Flagstaff.
Sponsored by The American Legion Auxiliary and Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces.
Dinner from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with the dance from 7 to 11 p.m. with live music by Cumbre.
Tickets: $20 single / $30 couple. Dinner: $12 combo plate.
Tickets available at The American Legion.

Fire restrictions remain in Stage 1 for Grand Canyon
Fire restrictions for the Coconino and Kaibab National Forests, as well as the Town of Tusayan, will be in effect beginning today Thursday, May 5. Under these restrictions, building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, charcoal, coal or wood stove fire, except within a developed recreation site, or improved site is prohibited on these lands. Additionally, smoking is prohibited except within an enclosed vehicle or building. Smoking is also prohibited in all federal buildings.
Grand Canyon National Park will remain in stage 1 fire restrictions, as we do year-round, which requires that campfires always be in a designated fire ring within a maintained campground. Inner canyon users can use gas cook stoves, but campfires and other open fires are never allowed below the rim. River users should continue to follow the conditions of their permit regarding fires along the Colorado River.

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth will present Historical Trauma with Iya Affo Training & Discussion from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 18.
Click here to register
We know from speaking to the community many have been impacted by injustice and inequity.
A step in our Self-Healing Communities work.
All Welcome!
Raffles & More
With funding support by Vitalyst Health Foundation and the Department of Child Safety Prevention Councils.
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org

Please join us on May 5th in the main gallery of Coconino Center for the Arts. The steering committee of the city’s Dark Sky Arts and Ideas Festival (working title) along with hired consultants from Canary Studio will present on a proposed concept and potential naming for the city-wide festival.
As stakeholders, we want your input and feedback on festival branding, your needs for participation, and feedback on the proposed concept. Your input is important as we move forward with festival planning.

When you’re undocumented, you don’t always feel like you have a voice. Alexandra Samarron Longorio wanted to make sure undocumented students did. The first-generation college student took on an undergraduate project that shared stories of Arizona’s undocumented students, and as a master’s of public health student and a senior research coordinator for CHER, she studied how hotel practices and policies affect the health of Latina immigrant housekeepers. She also helped establish Aqui Entre Nos—Just Between Us, a CHER initiative focused on wellness and health for hospitality workers, in collaboration with hotel housekeepers, CHER researchers and other MPH students.

The 9th Annual Community STEM Celebration is an opportunity for the greater Flagstaff region
to engage with the STEM community– K-12, college and university educational institutions, businesses, government agencies, non-profits, and others.
Hands-on activities, demonstrations and conversations excite participants, expose the community to STEM educational and career opportunities in Flagstaff and celebrate Flagstaff’s designation as “America’s First STEM Community”

A burst of fushia in the inner canyon this week (NPS Photo/D. Yurcik)
This year’s fire season is off and running in the Southwest with four Type 1 Incident Teams already deployed for fires in the region. Earlier this week our wildland fire seasonal staff arrived and began fire training and annual pack tests continued through this week (see photo above).
In the coming weeks, park managers will be coordinating with the Kaibab and Coconino National Forests to assess fire restrictions and determine if the park will need to transition to fire restrictions in the near future. As of Thursday, 4/28, the Tunnel Fire north of Flagstaff, was at approximately 19.075 acres with 43% containment. More information on the Tunnel Fire can be found by visiting the Tunnel Fire Inciweb site here.

Painting For All Levels: ONLINE!
with Gretchen Lopez
May 6, 2022
From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.

In a world defined by cities reaching for the sky, Dr. David Gillette has dedicated his life to looking below the surface at the world that once was. Dave is many things: a paleontologist, a geologist, and a biologist, who studies the history of the Earth through the lens of evolution.
Although Dave is retired, he is still active within the research and outreach community. With his trusty rock hammer, Dave explores the life that once existed on Earth millions of years ago, taking opportunities as they come to him to explore new areas and find new fossils, as well as to share his work with the public.

In April, Broadway League dropped their vaccine mandate for audiences. At their April meeting, Theatrikos’ board of directors decided to follow Broadway’s lead. So, effective with Foreigner, Theatrikos will no longer require vaccination for audience on Friday and Saturday night performances.
All of our cautious safety protocols will remain in effect for Sunday matinees: proof of vaccination requirement, masks, social distancing, closed concessions.

At MNA we look at the land through many lenses. Some are literal lenses – microscopes, binoculars, and telescopes. Many are figurative – mapping data to reveal an otherwise unseen pattern or reconstructing a place in time from remnants that remain.
Art can be another lens to bring the world into focus. The Great Unknown: Artists at Glen Canyon and Lake Powell opens in May, exploring that area through the artistic lens of the photographer. The starting point is Eliot Porter’s striking, nearly abstracted images. Porter’s book The Place No One Knew established the genre of photobooks for environmental causes. Among the other works in the exhibition are the black and white photos by Martin Stupich, where the dam itself dominates the frame, as well as more recent images by Peter Goin that bring attention to what the receding waters of Lake Powell reveal. The Great Unknownhas been drawn from an exhibition of the same name previously on show at the New Mexico Museum of Art, and curated by Katherine Ware, MoA’s Curator of Photography.

The 14th Annual Viola Awards are happening THIS Saturday, April 30th! This year’s event will be one to remember. A limited number of tickets for the event are still available. Don’t wait — get yours today!
This year’s Viola Awards are recognizing 41 finalists across 10 categories. See the full list of finalists on our website. Winners will be announced during the main ceremony on April 30th.
Purchasing a ticket to the main ceremony includes admission to the afterparty which will feature our four Excellence in Music finalists: iiwaa, Tré Orona & Tsoh Tso, WinterHaven, & Tha ‘Yoties.

A Tunnel Fire Community Meeting will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 23, at Sinagua Middle School, 3950 E. Butler Avenue, Flagstaff (parking information below).
This meeting is to provide an update regarding the fire conditions, potential flood risk, and evacuation status.
Representatives from the County, Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Weather Service, and Tunnel Fire Type 1 Incident Management Team will provide information on these topics and be available to answer questions. American Sign Language interpretation will be available at the meeting.

Sign up now—Coconino County Emergency Notifications
When emergencies happen, be the first to know.
The Coconino County Emergency Notification System uses Alerts powered by Rave Mobile Safety’s Smart911 to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions you may need to take to keep you and your family safe.
This service allows you to receive voice, text, and email emergency notifications generated by Grand Canyon Dispatch and public safety officials. More information on this program can be found on the county’s website and a link to sign up can be found here.

Flagstaff and Coconino County adopted the Flagstaff Regional Plan in 2014 and it’s time to start the conversation about what is in store for our community between 2025 and 2045. The Flagstaff Regional Plan 2045 Update process is just getting started. Visit the project website athttp://www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan2045 to watch a snapshot video or to learn more about the process. You can participate right now by taking a survey on your vision for the Flagstaff Region on the Flagstaff Community Forum or by visiting our booth at the Earth Day Celebration this Saturday at Bushmaster Park from 11 am to 2 pm.

10 ways to celebrate Mother Earth
Taking care of this planet means potentially reducing the impacts of climate change, including catastrophic wildfires like the one outside Flagstaff today. Earth Day is tomorrow, and one of the best ways to make sure you are celebrating all year long is by adopting small, consistent changes that can become a part of your everyday life. From learning the ins and outs of recycling and how to conserve energy, here is a list of small, easy ways to give back to the world that gives us so much.

There is still time to register for CCC&Y’s “Mindful Positioning — Seeking Change & Healing” virtual workshop from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 27.
International child welfare expert Kevin Campbell will host the event. Register here.
More than ever- we need to unite with diverse community members in a process designed to gain answers and input. A step in our Self-Healing Communities work.
With funding support by Vitalyst Health Foundation and the Department of Child Safety Prevention Councils
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org
Read More

From the beginning to the experienced student, this one-day class in oil or acrylic will guide and teach students how to approach the painting process with confidence, while exploring the basics of value-pattern, composition and color. Students may work from life and/or photos. Instructor demonstrations and lots of individual attention provided.

The City of Flagstaff’s Sustainability Office invites community members to a celebration of Earth Day 2022. The festivities are scheduled for Saturday, April 23 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Bushmaster Park (3150 N Alta Vista Dr).
This year’s Earth Day event will be one to remember, featuring informational booths, food vendors, live bands, do it yourself activities, a sustainability scavenger hunt and free workshops on home electrification, rainwater harvesting and composting in Flagstaff. For detailed event information please visit https://flagstaff.az.gov/1439/Earth-Day.

On Friday, April 22nd, communities around the world will celebrate the 52nd anniversary of Earth Day. This year’s theme is “Invest In Our Planet.” Coconino County, in partnership with Friends of Coconino County Parks, the City of Flagstaff, Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, and Open Space, and the U.S. Forest Service are partnering to facilitate three cleanup events throughout the community.

We certainly are hoping for April showers to bring May flowers and provide much needed moisture to Coconino County. April is also the month we celebrate Earth Day. Since 1970, April 22nd marks the day that is referred to as the birth of the modern environmental movement. This year’s theme is “Invest in our Planet” and in keeping with that theme and the importance of us all working together to build a healthier and more sustainable planet, Coconino County has a number of “Earth Month” events including litter cleanups, climate action and renewable energy programs. Go to http://www.coconino.az.gov/2884/Earth-Day-Schedule for more information.

Earth Day is next week and there’s no better way to celebrate than participating in a local event. Join Coconino County, the City of Flagstaff, Friends of Coconino County Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service for a volunteer cleanup and an activity afterwards in honor of Earth Day 2022. All cleanups start at 10 a.m. and include a fun outdoor activity. Register at the Sign-Up Genius Links below.
Can’t make it? Invest in yourself and your community by getting outside and making a difference on your own. Tag a picture with #NAZEarthDay22 to be a part of the celebration.
Wed., April 20 cleanup at Highway 180 (Peak View) https://tinyurl.com/et7jdajj
Thurs., April 21 cleanup at Fort Tuthill County Park https://tinyurl.com/yc7t6ykn
Fri., April 22 cleanup at Ashurst Lake
https://tinyurl.com/2s4pmk5v

Grand Canyon and Tusayan April vaccine events
The Coconino County Health and Human Services Mobile Vaccination team will hold its next mobile vaccination event for Grand Canyon and Tusayan on Monday, April 25. The Grand Canyon event will be held at the Rec Center from 9-11 a.m. (see full flyer here) and the Tusayan event will be held at the Tusayan Fire Station from 1-3 p.m (see full flyer here).
As a reminder, the FDA and CDC have approved a second booster dose for individuals who are age 50 or older. They recommend the booster be given 4 months after your first booster.
NPS employees are authorized to take administrative leave up to 4 hours (and 8 hours if traveling) for COVID vaccines, including vaccine booster doses. You may also use this leave to support family members receiving COVID vaccines or booster doses.

President Cruz Rivera honored 48 Gold Axe winners, five President’s Prize recipients and nine Distinguished Seniors for their hard work and commitment to their educations and their careers at NAU. “These students have shown incredible resilience and determination to arrive at this point in their academic and personal journeys, and they all have achieved a tremendous amount to excel in their studies and give back in such meaningful ways,” he told the crowd on Tuesday night. The recipients of the President’s Prize, which is the highest award for undergraduates at NAU, are Maylee Acosta, Matthew Billings, Clarreese Greene, Ariana Kelley and Rachell Krell.

The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has unveiled a free training webinar for parents, caregivers and all community members as part of Child Abuse Prevention Month in April.
This quick overview video is a great starting place for parents, caregivers and community members brand new to topics such as brain development, adverse childhood experiences, resilience and mindfulness. It is a great jumping off place to go deeper in knowledge and support through the rest of our library of webinars.
With thousands of views across our various topics, we are sure there is something for all community members and professionals. Whether you are seeking the best info for your family, your community or a program you work for, get a taste for our research supported prevention and community work.
A very special thank you to all of our partners who help get this information out to our community!
Comments from those who have already seen the training.
“loved the acknowledgment that we can all recognize stressors are high right now”
“realized this was my first mindful breath of the day”
“feels supportive and a great jump off point to learn more”
For more information, contact: coalition@coconinokids.org

The Sedona Arts Center has donated artwork on display for this special fundraiser including birdhouses, bird-themed sculpture, jewelry, paintings and more in our Special Exhibition Gallery for previewing and bidding on Silent Auction items.
Everything has been made especially for this fundraising event that is replacing Loving Bowls for this year.

Southwest Decision Resources, the City of Flagstaff (Parks Recreation Open Space and Events Division), and Wheat Design Group have announced it is conducting a survey through April for the Thorpe Park Annex.
The community survey will continue generating great ideas and continue problem solving.
Click here to take part in the survey.

AZMOM NORTH (Arizona Dental Mission of Mercy) is calling for volunteers for its Summer 2022 Patient Dental Clinic on June 17-18, 2022 at Fort Tuthill Commercial Building, Flagstaff.
Join us this summer with hundreds of other volunteers helping treat patients in under-served populations that need our help in providing dental care.
This is your chance to participate in the largest dental charity in Arizona.