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.
Saturday, May 9, 7:30 pm
S.E. Willis returns with Roger Smith, Frank Manhardt (Freaky Frank) and Donny Roberts. If you missed his last standing room only show at CCA now is your chance!
This show will be more eclectic, not so Blues focused, with more Americana and even Country elements. We’re having a party 60 years in the making and we’re inviting you to come out and see what a lifetime of experience playing American music can achieve. Let’s have some fun!
GET TICKETS
Members save 10% on tickets!
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 — The City of Flagstaff announced on Thursday, April 9 that it has received confirmation that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement – Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO) has signed a lease for office space at 1585 S. Plaza Way in Flagstaff. The property is near the former Suddenlink/Optimum customer service building.
Two City of Flagstaff Police Dept. patrol units could be seen parked in front of the location on Thursday evening.
Keep Flagstaff Together, a project of the Catch Fire Movement, has stated on its Facebook page to “Stay away from 1585 South Plaza Way, Suites 150 & 160. Call 928-395-6330 to request witnesses for support and to record a suspected encounter with immigration law enforcement.”
Please see:
• Arizona Daily Sun — City of Flagstaff, Flagstaff Police Department announce ICE has signed lease for South Plaza Way office space
• Great Circle Media — ICE Enforcement And Removal Operations Signs Lease For Office Space In Flagstaff
• KNAU — Flagstaff activists claim ICE office to open on Plaza Way
• Coconino County Sheriff’s Office — U.S. Immigration and Customs Presence in Coconino County (March 26)
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.
Join us for our monthly community gathering! DOORS OPEN at 5:00 pm and the meeting will begin promptly at 5:30.
We will continue our candidate forum series with CD2 Candidate Jonathan Nez. Learn about his platform, followed by Q & A.
The Protect Ed petition will be discussed.
There’s lots to talk about and I expect a packed meeting and registration is required.
Please bring a non-perishable food donation to benefit Flagstaff Family Food Center. Our neighbors need our help.
Registration is required so that we can have enough chairs set up.
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.
“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.
READ MORE
‘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:
Because of you, we surpassed our goal for Arizona Gives Day.
Together, you helped raise $5,700 for Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra—unlocking the full $5,000 matching gift and bringing the total impact to $10,700.
This result is a reflection of what can happen when a community shows up with collective intention and generosity.
We are deeply grateful for your belief in our work, and we look forward to sharing our Season 76 finale concert with you on April 17.
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.
Targeting cost hurdles in forest restoration
As the West faces increasingly destructive wildfires, land managers rely on mechanical thinning to reduce hazardous fuels and restore forest health. But one obstacle continues to slow this work down: Thinning costs are notoriously difficult to estimate from one project to the next. A new study from ERI aims to address the uncertainty around those numbers and the concerns that outdated cost estimates may be holding critical restoration projects back.
It’s Arizona Gives Day!
DONATE NOW TO SUPPORT
SEDONA ARTS CENTER TODAY
Make your Arizona Gives Day donation now:
👉 www.azgives.org/sedonaartscenter
Or call Sedona Arts Center at 928-282-3809
and we’ll help you set up your contribution.
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.
Council to Review Citizen Petition
to Prohibit Discrimination in Housing
Based on Source of Income
Tomorrow, April 7, is Arizona Gives Day, a single day when thousands across our state come together to build a better Arizona by supporting the organizations that shape our communities.
Your choice to support Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is part of that collective effort, an expression of what you believe our community needs and values.
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.
FLAGSTAFF — Denova Collaborative Health, Arizona’s largest outpatient behavioral health provider, celebrated the expansion of access to behavioral health and primary care services in Northern Arizona with the grand opening of a new clinic in Flagstaff on March 31, 2026.
The clinic, at 555 W. Forest Meadows St., Suite 18, celebrated with a ribbon cutting hosted by the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and public tours of the facility, which is located across the street from the Kohl’s Flagstaff Department Store
The new 1,818-square-foot clinic offers both in-person and virtual care, providing psychiatric services, therapy and primary care in a coordinated setting designed to improve access to timely healthcare for residents of Flagstaff and surrounding communities.
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.
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.
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
Tickets are now available for MNA’s annual fundraiser and Flagstaff’s premier summer party, the Party on the Plateau! Our 2026 event celebrates the Route 66 Centennial and the Museum’s Wagon Road to Mother Roadexhibition.
I hope you will join us for an evening of fun and celebration, including a happy hour on our patio in the pines, dinner next to the Rio de Flag canyon, and fundraising activities that will support MNA’s mission all year round.
If you can’t make it to the Party but would still like to contribute to MNA’s success, your donation today will support our mission – and our Party on the Plateau fundraising goal! Thank you.
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.
This April, spring into service
Ready to put those paid community engagement hours to use? NAU’s Center for Service and Volunteerism is hosting its first Spring Into Service Challenge from April 1-22, bringing fresh volunteer opportunities, fun events and a recognition party with prizes and fun.
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.
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.
The Marvelous Wonderettes is not just a show, it is a full experience. From the moment you walk into the Doris Harper-White Playhouse, you are transported to prom night in 1958, surrounded by music, energy, and the unmistakable feeling that something special is happening all around you. Four incredible performers take you on a journey through love, friendship, and growing up, all set to the songs you know and love. You will find yourself laughing, reminiscing, and maybe even singing along before the night is over.
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:
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.
