As the Independence Day weekend approaches, Coconino County reminds residents and visitors that the use of fireworks is prohibited by current fire restrictions issued by the Coconino County Board of Supervisors.
This is a year of constantly evolving changes for all of us, including MNA. After months trying to reimagine the annual summer festivals celebrating Indigenous arts and culture in a way that they could safely continue, we have determined that we must cancel the festivals completely. We make this decision with heavy hearts, recognizing that these festivals are important to the community, and particularly to the artists. We initially hoped that we would be able to reschedule the festivals to a single larger event in September. We now know that it is unlikely we can hold a large gathering in September, even if it was going to be outdoors and dispersed. Sad as we are to make this decision, we will now turn our energy to finding other ways to help the Native artists market themselves and to allow our members to support the Native populations.
Sánchez Meador, currently a professor in the School of Forestry, is a trusted expert among ecologists, scientists and land managers for his high-impact research in forestry and ecological restoration and innovative approach to science delivery and communication.
It’s been more than a month since our last bulletin on how coronavirus is affecting the regional economic landscape. Since that time, we’ve gone from cautious reopening to reversals as COVID-19 cases spiked in Arizona. Here’s the latest:
#1. Governor Doug Ducey hits the ‘rewind’ button on reopening with select business closures until at least July 27. Back in early May, the governor accelerated the state’s reopening, citing positive trends in coronavirus infection rates. By mid-May, the statewide stay-at-home order expired and within days of that, cases of COVID-19 began to spike.
CCC&Y has agreed to partner with Heal Historical Trauma to become a historical trauma certified agency, which will include providing training to the non-profit organization during a full day level-one certification program.
“The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth is one of few organizations ready to declare their commitment to serving communities of color with such vigor and determination. It is with extreme pride and excitement that I welcome our partnership as we work as one to create a world filled with love and equity that honors diversity and embraces all colors, shades, races, ethnicities, levels of ability and gender fluidity,” said Iya Affo, founder of Heal Historic Trauma.
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
Coconino County Offices closed in honor of Independence Day
Coconino County Calls on All to Wear Face Coverings
Coconino County Emergency Fire Ban includes fireworks
DDD Virtual Town Hall Meeting
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
Enroll today in American Heart Association First Aid and CPR Classes at Coconino Community College in Page with instructor, Fran Thomas.
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
The Flagstaff City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2020-21 budget at their meeting on June 16, 2020, which includes plans to fully fund the city public safety pensions plans. The city has entered into contracts for the issuance of Certificates of Participation debt to address the city’s unfunded pension liability.
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors adopted the Fiscal Year 2021 budget during its public meeting on June 23. The budget, effective July 1, focuses on service delivery and response to the COVID-19 pandemic and responsible financial planning in light of declining revenue.
“The Board of Supervisors spent considerable time over this year weighing priorities and deliberating this year’s budget,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Coconino County is financially strained from a dramatic loss in state and local sales tax as we continue to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The County has demonstrated great fiscal responsibility in this budget to meet the service needs of our community during these challenging times.”
All Coconino County offices will be closed Friday, July 3 in observance of Independence Day.
While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed on Friday, July 3, records will remain open with limited staff from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Please dial 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency dispatch number or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices.
City of Flagstaff administrative functions will be closed Friday, July 3 in honor of Independence Day. The administrative functions of the city will re-open Monday, July 6, 2020.
New Bilingual Statewide Program Accessible via 2-1-1 Arizona
In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) and the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and made possible by Federal Emergency Management Agency Grant funding, Crisis Response Network (CRN) announces that the new Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program was launched on June 22, 2020, to provide 100% free and confidential support and connections to resources for Arizona residents impacted by the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Accessible via CRN’s existing 2-1-1 statewide information and referral phone number, the Resilient Arizona Crisis Counseling Program is a bilingual (English and Spanish), federally-funded program that will connect callers to crisis counseling providers in their area throughout the state of Arizona.
FREE INTRO NIGHT
Note: The first meeting is an evening orientation talk with Stuart Shils that will be open to the public: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I NOTICE JACK NICHOLSON?
Thursday, July 23, 4:30 – 6:00 pm (Arizona time)
The workshop itself will be three lively mornings exploring the relationship between drawing and observation, examining how close and clarified observation can hone our visually analytical minds, regardless of what it is we are looking at.
Coconino County District 3 Supervisor, Matt Ryan was elected as Chair of the Rural Transportation Advocacy Council (RTAC). RTAC is a coalition of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO) and Council of Governments (COG) from Arizona’s thirteen rural Counties. MPO’s and COG’s advocate for transportation policy at the State and Federal level.
In our last newsletter, we announced that Sakenya McDonald, a longtime TLC volunteer, would be sharing her thoughts regarding racial injustice and equality. Her thought-provoking piece is below. Thank you, Sakenya, for allowing TLC to share your voice and for allowing us to serve as an ally for our communities of color.
The Director’s Office of Community Engagement (OCE) at the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) continues to successfully engage with our community partners throughout our programmatic divisions. In continuing this effort, this event will provide the most recent updates from DES’ Senior Leadership about the success of the Virtual Office model across the agency. It will also provide an opportunity to bring information to our statewide Community Partners regarding DES’ efforts to serve Arizonans in a Virtual Environment, how it is tracking the staff productivity, and the importance of this model. During this virtual session, our Director will be sharing his vision of consistent dialogue and a call to action.
Virtual reality, 3-D printers, Raspberry Pis and Micro:bits.
His passion is getting people – young and not so young – interested in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).
Jeff Jones, longtime fixture at Coconino Community College, was awarded the honor of STEM Community Leader of the Year by STEM City during the eighth annual Flagstaff STEMmy Awards, which were held virtually on June 17. He was a co-winner of the award with Samantha Gorney from Lowell Observatory.
Magic and Dreams Online Exhibition & Sale
Through June 30, 2020
This year the Sedona Arts Center is celebrating ‘The Year of the Woman’ by creating special exhibitions for women artists like Magic and Dreams a juried exhibition that features the work of women artists in Arizona.
Coconino County health officials announced upcoming closures to the Fort Tuthill specimen collection site.
The site, located at 2446 Fort Tuthill Loop, Flagstaff, will be closed on Friday, July 3 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The specimen collection site will also be closed on Thursday, July 2 due to activities scheduled at the park.
Flagstaff’s dining establishments quite literally give “flavor” to our community. They play important roles as employers and are vital not only to our tourism sector, but as a part of the everyday quality of life we enjoy here as residents.
That’s evident by the loyalty our community and local leaders have shown to restaurants during COVID-19. You could find long lines for takeout at many establishments and increased requests for deliveries.
But even with that support, the road to recovery for this sector has been, as one restaurateur put it, “slow and stressful.”
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
Madison Olson, a senior at Williams High School, received a $500 scholarship from the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth. Our Prevention Council created our annual Child Abuse Prevention Essay contest so that Williams High School Seniors could describe what the community can do to help prevent and respond to child abuse and childhood trauma.
Her winning essay focused on bullying, the lasting impact that bullying can have on individuals throughout their lives and prevention options.
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Flagstaff art, science, faith, education, and culture organizations sign a pledge affirming their commitment to the health and safety of patrons, staff, visitors, and residents during the coronavirus pandemic. The pledge is a result of a taskforce spearheaded by leaders from Lowell Observatory, Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, City of Flagstaff, Kinney Construction Services, and Flagstaff Arts Council. The pledge, an introductory video, and a list of supporting organizations is available here.
The City of Flagstaff Planning and Zoning Commission will hold public hearings for the Southside Community Specific Plan on Wednesday, July 8 and 22, 2020. All documents and public meeting information will be available online at www.flagstaff.az.gov/southsideplan.
For small businesses affected by COVID-19, APS is offering help through a special Customer Support Fund. Current customers on the Extra Small or Small Business Plans who are two months or more past due on their APS bill can receive a bill credit of $1,000. Credits are available to qualified customers until the fund is depleted.
The 2020 Museum Flood Preparedness and Mitigation Guide is being mailed to Museum Flood area property owners and residents this week.
Created by the Coconino County Flood Control District and the City of Flagstaff, the Guide contains important information about safety and preparedness during the coming monsoon season in the Museum Flood area.
Staffing limitations due to the ongoing public health emergency are resulting in delays to some Arizona Department of Transportation Motor Vehicle Division customer service operations.
Some customers have contacted MVD worried that registration tabs have taken longer than expected to be sent via the U.S. Mail. Even if there is such a delay, once a first-time registration or a renewal has been paid, the customer’s accurate status is updated to the MVD database accessible to law enforcement. Customers may also wish to keep their receipts after making payment.
Coconino County issued a proclamation last evening on June 19 requiring residents and visitors to wear a face covering when not able to physical distance themselves from other persons. The proclamation, effective on Saturday, June 20 at noon, applies to all private lands in the unincorporated areas of the County. The County proclamation does not affect areas within cities or towns in the County or on federal, state or tribal lands.
“Wearing a face covering when around others is one of the single most effective ways to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community,” said Coconino County Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Each of us can help to prevent COVID-19 transmission by wearing a face covering when we cannot physically distance from others. Please do your part and model best practices by putting on your face covering when you are out in public and around other people. This is one thing we can do to take care of ourselves and neighbors.”
FLAGSTAFF — Nearly 100 people attended the Flagstaff’s historic Black Community’s 65th Annual Juneteenth Community Celebration on FACEBOOK LIVE! on Saturday, June 20. The event, hosted by Flagstaff Mayor Coral Evans, Bernadine Lewis, Khara House, Ricardo Guthrie and Shawn Johnson, was presented by the Coconino County African American Council, in partnership with Flagstaff’s Southside Community Association.
A 20-minute Juneteenth video featuring highlights from past celebrations is available on the Coconino County YouTube page at https://youtu.be/8YMpOcSEjoo
The Flagstaff City Mayor, Coral Evans has updated the Emergency Proclamation issued March 16 to include the requirement to wear face coverings in public places where social distancing is not possible. This proclamation is effective starting June 20, 2020 at 8 p.m. and will continue until further notice, unless repealed or revised by the Mayor or authority is preempted by the Governor of the State of Arizona under paragraph 7 of his Executive Order 2020-40.
Join in a virtual Juneteenth 2020 Celebration on Saturday, June 20th at 2pm hosted by the Southside Community Association and the Coconino County African-American Advisory Council. We may be physical distanced, but we are connected for equality, liberty and justice for all!
To learn more about this important holiday, click the video below.
Since 2007 Coconino County has been assisting eligible county residents with itsBasic Business Empowerment (BBE) training (www.coconino.az.gov/bbe) and Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grants (www.coconino.az.gov/ida) opportunity. The 9-week, summer 2020 BBE training (session 2) is scheduled to be held 6-9pm, Tuesdays, Aug. 4th through Sept. 29thonly online via a 9-week Zoom Web-based video conferencing format. Coconino County currently contracts facilitation for its BBE training from the Coconino Small Business Development Center which provides additional resources for our BBE participants.
A recent report from Save the Children further proves how location can profoundly affect a child’s prospects in this country, and why it is vital that we continue to Step Up for Our Youth in northern Arizona.
The report, called “The Land of Inopportunity,” is a part of the nonprofit’s annual evaluation of how children are faring around the globe. This year, however, Save the Children added a powerful tool that allows regions to see how they measure up – an online interactive map ranking U.S. counties by how well they prioritized and protect children.
The ranking is determined by four factors that “end” childhood: poor education, malnutrition, teenage pregnancy and early death due to ill health, accident, murder or suicide.
Doctoral student Schuyler Borges is leading a project studying hot springs structures in Antarctica, comparable to features on Mars, that may be evidence for life on the Red Planet since microorganisms facilitate the production of similar hot spring structures on Earth.
Join CCC Community Education for their Virtual Summer Learning Series of free, educational webinars led by professionals in their fields.
Register once and receive special access to all of the one-hour sessions.
CDC recently updated many of the guidance documents available on their website. These can be accessed on the Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) guidance webpage: https://www.coconino.az.gov/2374/Guidance
During this pandemic, many are asking for the support needed to care for their tribal communities. Here are a list of links and contacts for anyone who wishes to donate to Navajo Nation, Ute Mountain Ute, and Southern Ute tribes:
Includes list of various tribes seeking donations; www.indigenousmutualaid.org/directory
COCONINO COUNTY — The following statement regarding the death of George Floyd can be attributed to Sandra Diehl, Coconino County Public Defender and Erika Arlington, Coconino County Legal Defender.
“A police officer killed George Floyd. That officer was the spear tip of the American Criminal Justice System. It is easy to say that police brutality has no place in this system. But when a system authorizes law enforcement to use lethal violence against the people over $20 or cigarettes or a toy gun or while they’re asleep in their beds, it is incumbent on those working within that system to examine how their own actions propel the inexorable grind of the machinery of justice. When people of color talk about “systemic racism” they are not just talking about police violence. They are talking about the courts too. Mass incarceration and mass disenfranchisement require prosecutors, judges, and lawyers, including public defenders.
Read the entire media release HERE
Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today a new wildfire smoke forecast — the first state wildfire smoke forecast of its kind in the country — to provide Arizona communities with early and ongoing information about potential air quality impacts so they can make informed decisions for their health.
Designed to support, and in cooperation with U.S. Forest Service (USFS) wildfire air resource advisors and Arizona Department of Forestry and Fire Management (AZDFFM) staff, ADEQ’s air quality meteorologists will provide a wildfire smoke forecast when Arizona wildfires have the potential for extended air quality impacts to communities as determined in coordination with federal and state land managers.
Join us on Facebook Friday, June 19th at 4:00pm for a free Studio Tour with Stuart Shils. He’ll be interviewed by Chuck Spence, Vice President of our Board of Directors. We will be looking at how Stuart’s work has evolved from the past into the present and discussing the unique content that he brings to his popular workshops. Stuart will be teaching a virtual workshop “Re-framing the Ordinary” July 17th and 18th. (see below under Online Classes)
CCC&Y has created Mindfulness for Professionals and Parents, an hour-long free webinar that highlights the importance mindfulness holds for both individuals and for those we are working with. Participants said:
“I felt better immediately at the beginning of the training!”
“Mindfulness is an important part of daily operations! We need to remember to take time for ourselves. I love the acronyms and will share with my NAU students!!!!”
“I found the training to be very relevant at this time in our lives.”
CCC&Y has multiple reasons for focusing on mindfulness as a strategy in our community. We know the benefits it has for overall mental and physical health. We know that it is a useful strategy to help with both substance abuse prevention and child abuse prevention. Further, as Ruth King notes,
“When we are unconscious of how we affect each other, we are more likely to cause harm. However, when nonharming is at the forefront of our awareness, it becomes an anchor, a way of reminding us, moment to moment, to pay attention- to live mindfully.”
In an effort to address how we treat each other and ourselves we invite you to explore more on this topic. Let’s all work toward healing together!
Discover Flagstaff publishes Flagstaff 365 Happenings on a weekly basis to highlight local events happening in and around Flagstaff. It is distributed throughout Downtown Flagstaff, displayed in kiosks and storefronts, and also available at the Flagstaff Visitor Center. Below are some highlights. For a complete printable pdf list of events click below.
Recent acts of violence against Black people have left us sad and angry. We recognize that these high-profile events are the latest in the long history of brutality against people of color in our nation. We must all be part of the solution to stop the killing, marginalization, and repression based solely on the color of a person’s skin.
Black lives matter. It’s not enough for us to make a statement about what we believe. We must use our platform in the world to take action.
Evacuations in the Jacob Lake area continued throughout the weekend and are continuing today in areas threatened by the Mangum Fire Burning on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.
Coconino Community College is continuing to award funds to qualified students from the federal CARES Act stimulus package.
About $100,000 is being awarded to qualifying students for the summer semester.
In This Newsletter:
A Note from Supervisor Archuleta
Quote of the Day
Coconino County Sheriff Orders Evacuation of Jacob Lake
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
The COVID-19 Specimen Collection Site in Fredonia, AZ scheduled for Monday, June 15 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. has been cancelled due to the Mangum Fire.
The fire is burning west of the Jacob Lake area and grew to over 10,000 acres Friday. Coconino County Health and Human Services will work to reschedule testing in Fredonia once the fire is contained.
All playgrounds, basketball courts, ramadas (including picnic tables and barbecue grills), and restroom facilities managed by Coconino County Parks & Recreation remain closed at this time.
We encourage you to engage in responsible physical and social distancing when recreating outdoors. Parks, natural areas, and trails managed by Coconino County are open for public enjoyment; this excludes Louise Yellowman County Park.
The Coconino County Health and Human Services has issued a new weekly report entitled COVID-19 Coconino County Weekly Update.
The report, which includes a COVID-19 situation summary, key takeaways, demographic and geographic information, hospitalizations and testing data related to Coconino County residents, is updated each Wednesday morning at 10 a.m.
The First Things First Navajo Nation Regional Partnership Council will host a virtual forum, designed to give participants – especially parents and caregivers of young children – an opportunity to increase their awareness of relevant early childhood topics. A panel of experts will discuss parenting in the time of coronavirus and social distancing and cover the following topics:
• comfort during stressful times
• early childhood activities at home
The DLR Group will be holding a virtual meeting to collect information from the community regarding the design & building of our new Killip Elementary School and Community Learning Center from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 18
Graduation is one of the most important moments in a student’s life: it marks the transition from one stage in their educational life to another. It is a moment of pride for a student as well as for family members, who watch with a sense of satisfaction as a diploma is handed to their child.
From the perspective of cultural anthropology, graduation rituals transmit many emblematic messages: the importance of effort, hard work, perseverance, and social conscience, for example. They are also important agents of cultural diffusion through the communication of expectations and patterns of behavior and performance.
At the United Way of Northern Arizona, we Step Up for Our Youth because we believe in the power and potential they have. Recent events, however, have shown how far we need to go to create a world in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect, enjoys a level playing field, and receives equal justice under the law.
A mix of racism, prejudice and privilege threatens future generations unless it is dealt with now. In this, as in so many things, children will learn from what we choose to do – or the actions we fail to take. To Live United, we need to act on the values we hold dear by helping our youth understand what racism is and how to combat it. In this way, we ensure a better and more equal future for our community and our children.
We are getting closer to launching our Saturday morning conversation via FB live. The title will be: Let’s Talk Salud, Dinero y Amor, and we will test a bilingual approach. As of now, this talk will start at 7 am, and will feature community members, leaders, and experts. The graphic for this offering is not ready; do find attached those being used for the other three virtual offerings. Very much looking forward to this conversation. Participants will be able to engage by providing comments and questions. We are working on preparing a phone number for those who want to join by phone.
Our radio show this week addressed Seguro Social: Jubilación Temprana (1). Don’t miss our new weekly series on nutrition and wellness.
As of June 12, 2020 the Coconino County Detention Facility in Flagstaff has 6 confirmed COVID-19 positive inmates. There are currently no staff members COVID-19 positive. Since the last media release from May 5th, we have had a total of 22-inmates confirmed COVID-19 positive and 11-Detention Staff members confirmed COVID-19 positive. We have no staff or inmates currently in our Page Holding Facility COVID-19 positive. All our staff who were positive completed the necessary number of self-quarantine days recommended by Local, State Health Departments and CDC (Center for Disease Control) guidelines and have returned to work. All of them experienced little to no health issues. The inmates who tested positive also had no significant health issues nor require medical care outside of the facility. Of those 22-inmates, 12-of them were already confirmed positive prior to arrest and10-inmates were tested while in the facility.
In This Newsletter:
Quote of the Day
Coconino County enacts Stage Two Fire Restrictions
Take precautions to protect yourself from wildfire smoke
CCC to Host “Virtual” Fourth of July Parade
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
New COVID-19 Weekly Report Available
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
COVID-19 Testing Information
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!
The Coconino County Board of Supervisors voted today to enact Stage Two Fire Restrictions effective immediately.
The ordinance applies to private lands in unincorporated areas, which are private lands outside of cities and towns.
The Board enacted a campfire ban in late April to protect the health and safety of firefighters during the COVID-19 pandemic and reduce the impact of poor air quality on those suffering from or at risk of COVID-19.
