“Eilise Fisher’s combined experience as a small business owner and project manager for Arizona’s WIOA Rapid Response Program gives her a full-circle understanding of the workforce system from the perspective of both an employer and an administrator,” Coconino County Board Chair and District 1 Supervisor Patrice Horstman said. “She also has a fantastic track record working at the city, county and state level so we are excited to welcome her back to the Coconino County team.”
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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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:
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.
Council to Review Citizen Petition
to Prohibit Discrimination in Housing
Based on Source of Income
The City Council vote on a text amendment to Flagstaff’s zoning code (PZ-26-00018) will not take place this Tuesday, April 7 as scheduled on the Council Agenda .
F3 has learned that instead of voting this week, a presentation to City Council about data centers is currently scheduled for the April 21 council meeting, with a first vote on the text amendment scheduled for the May 5 council meeting.
As with all dates on the Council Working Calendar, these dates are subject to change until the final Council Agenda is released the Friday before the council meeting.
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.
NEXT PLANNED STEPS BY ORGANIZERS — Coalition-wide Mass Call on Tuesday night, national day of economic disruption on May 1, 2026
By MosaicNAZ.org
FLAGSTAFF — A crowd rivaling a previous anti-Trump administration rally packed into downtown Flagstaff on Saturday, March 28, 2026 for the NO KINGS III protest around the Flagstaff City Hall.
They were part of a national protest that topped 8 million this year.
That number exceeded the 7 million protesters nationwide for the No Kings II rally on Oct. 18, 2025, with Flagstaff’s protest on Saturday exceeding 4,000-plus protesters in October. The actual number of protests worldwide also grew on Saturday, with more than 3,300 events registered this year, up from the more than 2,700 last October.
Organized nationally by Indivisible and the 50501 Movement, planned locally by Indivisible Northern Arizona and supported by a variety of local groups, opponents of the Trump administration crowded the sidewalks from Wheeler Park and Humphreys Street (video) along Route 66 around the curve to Milton Road, filling the grassy area up to the Flagstaff City Hall sign.
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.
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.
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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.
FLAGSTAFF — The Flagstaff Fire Department and the City of Flagstaff Public Works Division are facilitating the placement of roll off dumpsters in neighborhoods around the City to allow residents to dispose of pine needles near their homes. This project follows the success of last year’s initiative. The Flagstaff Fire Department recommends that residents remove excess pine needles from their yards and areas near their homes to lower the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Beginning April 1, Grand Canyon National Park will implement Stage 3 Water Restrictions due to a break in the water pipeline along the North Kaibab Trail. Until park staff repair the break and water in storage tanks reaches sustainable levels, the park will remain in conservation mode.
GRAND CANYON, Ariz. – Effective immediately, Grand Canyon National Park is implementing water conservation measures on the South Rim following a break in the pipeline along the North Kaibab Trail. As a result, water is currently unable to be pumped to the South Rim.
All park residents and visitors are required to conserve and reduce water usage wherever possible in homes, hotel rooms and campgrounds.
Water conservation measures include:
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.
Yesterday, March 25, the Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-3 in favor of recommending the adoption of Proposal #2 to City Council as an amendment to the city zoning code. This proposal specifically excludes land use for data centers except as ancillary to another primary land use.
City Council is scheduled to discuss and vote on the proposed zoning code amendment at the Public Hearing scheduled during their next meeting on April 7. Both Proposal #1 and #2 are currently included in the Draft Council Agenda located online here.
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:
Action Alert
F3 encourages you to submit your written comments to the Planning and Zoning Commission at CDPandZCommission@flagstaffaz.gov or make verbal comments in person to the Planning and Zoning Commission at their meeting starting at 4:00 on Wednesday, March 25 at the City Hall Council Chambers. More information and F3’s position are detailed below.
Data Centers
City staff recently identified that Flagstaff currently doesn’t have the regulatory framework to address land use by data centers should such a request be received in the future. The City of Flagstaff has not received any requests for data centers to date.
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.
FLAGSTAFF — This week’s tentative prescribed fire plans have been modified due to unseasonably warm and dry weather.
Several projects located around Flagstaff – including the Flagstaff Urban Interface Mount Elden, Campbell Mesa and Mountainaire projects – have been postponed.
Prescribed fire plans will always be postponed or canceled if current and predicted weather plans do not align with forecasts outlined in the burn plan.
Projects are always listed and updated on InciWeb at inciweb.wildfire.gov.
Planned projects at this time include:
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — Starting in early-April, the City of Flagstaff (City) and their contractor Eagle Mountain Construction will begin channel improvements within a section of Fanning Wash, between Steves Boulevard and Linda Vista Drive (as shown in the map). This work includes the removal of vegetation and trees as needed, as well as slope and channel enhancements to improve channel capacity for this section of the Fanning Wash. This project is part of the “5-year Stormwater Capital Improvements Program” and is scheduled to be complete in summer 2026. This project is the first of three planned improvements in Fanning Wash that, once complete, will mitigate flooding risk in this area. Note that the channel will remain naturalized upon completion of this project.
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.
Friday, March 20
Arvel Bird with Wild World Fiddle
Charly’s Pub & Grill
A unique Celtic Fusion concert featuring Arvel Bird and Wild World Irish Fiddle, blending soaring Native and Scottish-inspired violin with Irish and Latin-rooted fiddle and guitar in a high-energy, rhythm-driven live experience.
7 p.m.
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.
Registered voters in the City of Flagstaff will be asked to vote on whether to ratify or not ratify the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 in a special election held on May 19, 2026. The special election will be a vote-by-mail only election. There will be no polling places on election day.
Did your household receive this card in the mail? If so, a member of your household is registered to vote in the May special election.
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
FLAGSTAFF — With favorable predicted weather conditions, the Coconino National Forest is planning to conduct several prescribed burns next week in areas around Flagstaff to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires.
The following prescribed burns are pending approval and as weather conditions allow:
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.
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
FLAGSTAFF — Join Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez and members of the Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) for a film screening of A Song for Cesar! The film aims to educate generations old and new about civil rights activist Cesar Chavez’s legacy of impactful, peaceful protest.
The inaugural Cesar Chavez Film Screening will be held on Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m. at Coconino Center for the Arts.
A Song for Cesar, a documentary film by Abel Sanchez and Andres Alegria, presents a unique view of the life and legacy of Cesar Chavez and the farmworker movement.
100 Years of Interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park On March 6, 1926, the first issue of Grand Canyon Nature Notes was published, marking the beginning of NPS interpretation at Grand Canyon National Park. The bulletin was created by…
2026 Ramada Reservations
for the Summer Season
Ramada reservations for the 2026 summer season began on March 2. Ramadas are great for your events like school graduations, birthday parties, and celebrations of life.
Reserve online.
FREDONIA — The Kaibab National Forest is planning prescribed fire operations on the North Kaibab Ranger District as early as March 17, 2026, pending all required approvals. The four possible units, totaling 6,136-acres, are in the Jacob Lake vicinity and north of U.S. Route 89A, east of Forest Road 248 and west of Forest Road 487. Fire managers will look for opportunities to implement this burn from March 17 to May 15, as weather conditions allow. A broadcast burn is when fire is applied across a defined area or boundary to reduce overgrown vegetation to help protect local communities, infrastructure and natural resources from wildfires. This is a maintenance burn, which refers to a low to moderate intensity prescribed fire conducted to keep surface fuels reduced and continue to build a fire resilient ecosystem.
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
Registration is open for community partners to table at the Flagstaff Early Childhood Fair from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 11, 2026 at W. F. Killip Elementary School.
In celebration of the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s “Week of the Young Child,” https://www.azaeyc.org/connect/woyc/, we invite you to participate in the fair.
Please click here to complete this application to participate as a vendor. Each vendor must provide an interactive activity related to S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). Vendors set up at 8:30 a.m.
Applications are due by 03/30/26. You may direct any questions to kfarretta@azhs.gov We look forward to your participation in this community event.
Thank you to W. F. Killip Elementary School for hosting this free event for community partners to share resources and families to attend.
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FLAGSTAFF — The League of American Bicyclists has honored the efforts of Flagstaff to build better places for people to bike with a Silver-level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC) award. The award recognizes Flagstaff for its commitment to creating transportation and recreational resources that benefit residents of all ages and abilities while encouraging a variety of transportation choices.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and its partners have launched a process to update the Greater Flagstaff Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The City received a grant in 2025 to update the Plan and hired SWCA Environmental Consultants to lead the update. The primary goal of this effort is to develop an actionable plan that communities can use to feel empowered in protecting themselves, their loved ones, and their property.
Data centers house the computer servers that run our increasingly digitized world. These centers can be stand alone facilities or portions of a building used to house computer systems, servers, networking equipment, and other infrastructure used for the storage, processing, management, or distribution of digital data. The construction of data centers is on the rise across the US.
The City of Flagstaff will be discussing proposed changes to the zoning code for data centers starting this week. The first meeting will be a work session with the Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00. This meeting will be the start of a discussion and the city would like to hear from the public as well as commissioners.
GRAND CANYON — The National Park Service is seeking public comment on an environmental assessment and a programmatic agreement for water system improvements at Grand Canyon National Park. The improvements are part of a proposed Great American Outdoors Act Legacy Restoration Fund project called Rehabilitate the North Rim and Roaring Springs Utility Systems.
The work would create a more reliable water system to meet supply needs at the North Rim and within the inner canyon between Supai Tunnel and Cottonwood Campground for a projected lifespan of up to 75 years. The existing North Rim water system is past its design life.
Proposed improvements include:
New Podcast Episode Highlights North Kaibab Trail Recovery and the Work Ahead
A new podcast episode of the Grand Canyon Hiker Dude Show was released this week featuring Trails Supervisor Adam Gibson, offering an in-depth look at the condition of the North Kaibab Trail following the Dragon Bravo Fire and outlining what recovery efforts may look like through 2026 and beyond.
COCONINO COUNTY — Every six years the Coconino County Community Development Department in partnership with the Building Safety Advisory Board (BSAB) leads the process of adopting new and updated building codes.
It is important to update building codes to address emerging safety risks, improve energy efficiency, incorporate new material and technology and to maintain a high Insurance Services Office rating.
Indigenous STEM Project
Registration is now open for the OIE Indigenous STEM Project (ISP)! All events are free! Registration is required.
FLAGSTAFF — During the March 3 meeting, the Flagstaff City Council received information about protocols to be utilized during interactions with federal agencies. These protocols include a directive on the use of City property by outside agencies, a notice to guide City employees if federal law enforcement personnel visit a City workplace, and a form for members of the community to report concerns. Staff also reiterated that the Flagstaff Police Department does not enforce federal immigration laws but also cannot interfere with or prevent lawful federal activities.
