Flagstaff enters Phase 3 of COVID reopening

The city of Flagstaff will enter Phase 3 of its COVID-19 Reentry Plan on May 17. The move to Phase 3 was predicated on the number of new cases, hospitalizations, and COVID related deaths continuing on a downward trajectory for four or more weeks, the increase in the number of residents vaccinated, the demonstrated ability to follow CDC guidelines, ability to care for the seriously ill and providing testing, monitoring and contact tracing. Under Phase 3, the city will begin a limited reopening of city facilities and amenities. Face coverings are required in city facilities.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: May 3-7, 2021

This week, in multiple interviews with the press, Navajo Nation President Nez announced that the Navajo Nation will be donating PPE to India to help with the surge of cases in the nation: The president said, “We do have a stockpile of masks that were donated as well as what we’ve made. So what we’re doing is we’re going to package that up and send it to our brothers and sisters in India because they’re getting hit hard and we really know how it feels.” The Navajo Nation was once the hardest hit locations in the country. As the Navajo Nation reaches over 50% of individuals fully vaccinated, the nation is looking to give back to communities in need.

Coconino County Education Service Agency Creating a Culture of Educator Appreciation

In honor of Teacher Appreciation week, Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget asks us all to take some time to thank the exemplary educators of Coconino County who have made a difference in the lives of our children. Think of an educator you know who connects with students, helps them experience and understand the world around them, introduces them to subjects in new ways, and inspires them to take agency over their future.   We ask you to take the time to thank these exemplary educators for their work and service to our County’s schools and children.

During Teacher Appreciation Week the Coconino County Education Service Agency would like to congratulate and announce the 2021 Coconino County Teacher of the Year and Rookie Teacher of the Year nominees. 

CCC selects cross country coach

Coconino Community College has hired Flagstaff resident Craig Hunt to be the first coach for the college’s cross country running program, which is slated to begin its first season this fall.

“I’d like to thank Tony Williams and everyone who has helped create the cross country programs at CCC,” Hunt said. “This is an exciting time for CCC and the Flagstaff community, and I am thrilled to lead the way as the inaugural cross country coach.”

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — Collaborative Communities Social Hour This Tuesday

You are cordially invited to attend a special virtual celebration and networking event for business leaders, industry specialists and economic development professionals as we mark Economic Development Week on Tuesday, May 11.

The Collaborative Communities: Statewide Social Hour will be held via Zoom from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. The event is being sponsored by several economic development organizations in Arizona, including ECONA.

Call to take the Flagstaff Housing Survey

Affordable, accessible and decent housing is of critical importance to a community’s health and viability. On December 1, 2020 the Flagstaff City Council declared a Housing Emergency in Flagstaff, prioritizing affordable housing within City operations to create safe, decent and affordable housing opportunities for all community members. The Housing Plan will define the housing emergency in Flagstaff and will provide policies and strategies to reduce it.

Sedona Arts Center — FREE Online DEMO, New Workshops Added and More!

Thank you for choosing to attend a GOLDEN Lecture and Demonstration presented by our GOLDEN Working Artists. The GOLDEN Lecture and Demonstration will be presented in Zoom and will cover a variety of topics on acrylics and acrylic mediums. You will need to register in order to attend the Zoom presentation; please use the provided link to complete your registration. You will also need the *Virtual Lecture Demo Event Code provided below.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — KinderCamp™ Returns This Summer and more news

On a recent Saturday morning, a group of about 20 educators from Flagstaff, Williams and Pinetop-Lakeside met in the gymnasium of Kinsey Elementary School for a special orientation and training session.
 
Typically, rising early to sacrifice your day off for mandatory training doesn’t generate a lot of enthusiasm, but in this case the excitement was palpable. Why?
 
Because KinderCamp™ is coming back.
 
“There was just a buzz in the room,” said Sara Owen, the coordinator for the program that helps preschoolers with the foundational, social and academic skills needed to successfully transition into kindergarten. “People are really looking forward to being part of this again – and having it in person.”

North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park to Open May 15 for 2021 Season

he gate at the entrance to the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park will open on Saturday, May 15 at 6:30 a.m. to mark the official opening of the North Rim for the 2021 season. Grand Canyon Lodge and Grand Canyon Trail Rides will also commence their 2021 seasonal operations on this date.

Services provided by the National Park Service, including the campground and the Grand Canyon Conservancy bookstore, will be available starting May 15 at 9 a.m. The Backcountry Information Office will open at 8 a.m. Grand Canyon Lodge North Rim operations, including lodging, groceries, retail, food and beverage services, and the gas station, will also open May 15. There will be no shower or laundry service available this year. The North Rim Hiker Shuttle will also be unavailable.

Flagstaff & Williams Justice Court Pilots New Online System

Among the many consequences of COVID-19 are its effects on the criminal justice system, including the safety of participants who appear in court.

Flagstaff and Williams Justice Courts are piloting a procedure that allows criminal defendants the opportunity and choice to appear by remote online methods while still being aware of all their legal rights and protections along the way.  

Coconino County Adult Probation Offices Moved to 420 N San Francisco Street Flagstaff

The Coconino County Adult Probation office moved from 222 E Birch Avenue Flagstaff, AZ to their new address at 420 N San Francisco Street Flagstaff, AZ.

“Adult Probation is happy to do our part in the County’s Space Reimagined Initiative which looks for solutions and cost savings as it relates to office space and remote work.  By moving into a smaller office footprint, the Adult Probation Department is committed to reducing the financial burden of the criminal justice system on taxpayers.  The last year provided us an opportunity to learn how to combine virtual and in-person work, thus reducing our need for physical space in an office setting.

City of Flagstaff joins International Code Council for celebration of Building Safety Month

In May 2021, the city of Flagstaff’s Building Safety Section will participate in the 41st annual Building Safety Month, a worldwide campaign presented by the International Code Council, its members and partners to promote building safety. This year’s campaign, “Prevent, Prepare, Protect. Building Codes Save,” will be held virtually this year, raising awareness about the importance of building codes in ensuring safety in the spaces in which we live, work and learn.

Annual NAU President’s Diversity Award recipients announced

The Northern Arizona University President’s Diversity Award recipients have been announced for the 2020-21 academic year. These awards are presented by the Center for University Access and Inclusion and the Office of the President.

The annual awards recognize the work of people and organizations who support and further diversity, equity and inclusion at the university. This year’s awards celebration will be postponed to the fall semester to anticipate the possibility of an in-person event.

Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA) — APS Helping Small Businesses Go Green

APS has launched a new initiative to help small businesses embrace environmental sustainability and win more customers along the way.

The Going Green and Going Smart program is a free, on-demand certificate program that identifies ways businesses can save money on their electric bills by leveraging industry knowledge and best businesses practices.

Designed with smaller brick-and-mortar locations in mind – such as restaurants, offices, stores or warehouses – it teaches businesses how to conduct an energy audit and develop a sustainability plan. Going beyond that, however, it also shows how businesses can use their new energy efficiency to attract new customers.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: April 26-30, 2021

Navajo Nation Moves to Code Yellow

Navajo Nation is moving from Code Orange to Yellow. Changes include the following: restaurants with indoor dining can operate at 25% capacity; restaurants with outdoor seating can accommodate 50% capacity. Navajo Nation casinos are allowed to open at 50% of maximum occupancy but only for Navajo Nation residents, citizens and employees (no visitors and tourists). 

We need your input to make Flagstaff more affordable

The City of Flagstaff’s 10 Year Housing Plan is underway and the Housing Section is asking all members of the community to participate by taking the City of Flagstaff Housing Survey.

The goal of the survey is to garner the most responses and to gather statistically valid housing data from a fair sampling of people.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Creativity Takes Courage. Next CCC&Y Youth Expression event on May 2

Adolescence is a complex and emotional transition from childhood to adulthood. It’s a time of establishing an identity and taking new (hopefully healthy) risks to expand your sense of self and capabilities. It’s a time when peers are of utmost importance, and we crave belonging.

Creativity Calling meets all of these critical needs from expression to connection! The arts are an opportunity to express yourself and interact with the world. Art expression allows us the chance to access our deepest and most authentic selves and reflect. The arts help us regulate our emotions. The arts can be a nurturing social experience. Most significantly, the arts can connect us with our sense of purpose.

STEM City will host virtual STEM nights beginning May 3

STEM City will be hosting virtual STEM nights beginning on Monday, May 3rd with community partner organizations via the groups’ Facebook page, FlagstaffSTEMCity.  Participating organizations are creating science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematic video presentations highlighting their work in the greater Flagstaff community.  The resources will also be made available to area educators as classroom materials to enhance learning opportunities in area schools.

“Unfortunately, we will not be hosting this event in-person this year,” shared STEM City President Mike Thomas.  “We are excited to continue forward with the spirit of this event in a different format, continuing to celebrate STEM in this community, and offer learning opportunities to all that participate.”

Announcing the 2021 Festival of Science ‘Stories in Stone’ from Sept. 17-26

The 2021 Flagstaff Festival of Science will explore “Stories in Stone” on September 17-26 in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Jaime Awe of Northern Arizona University, will kick off the free, 10-day adventure as he shares his passion and important research of the Belize River Valley. Dr. Awe will delight audiences with his vast knowledge of Mesoamerican Cave societies and the collapse of the Maya civilization.

“This year’s Festival of Science, whose theme is Stories in Stone, is a wonderful opportunity for me to share results of my long and ongoing research on Maya civilization, and on the significant information that is encoded in the monuments of the ancient Maya,” says Dr. Awe.  Maya monuments encode important information on how this fascinating civilization viewed their universe, and how they interacted socially, politically, and ritually with their gods and peers. 

Sedona Arts Center’s Online Learning

Online learning opportunities are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but prefer to work at home. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.

Our workshops are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Click here to see all our online learning opportunities

Maine Consolidated Governing Board Vacancies

Applicants sought for the Maine Consolidated School District #10, by Coconino County, for Governing Board Seats for Appointment

Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointment for Maine Consolidated School District #10.

Applicants must be Arizona registered voters and residents of the school district for at least one year prior to the date of appointment.  Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.

HECHO April Newsletter

We hope that you’re enjoying the spring weather and the blossom that often follows! From my vantage point, I can finally see our beloved backyard tree regaining its bright green leaves. It serves as a reminder to me that growth is possible with a little bit of sunshine, time, and patience.

At HECHO, we’re excited to share that a (virtual) seed we planted is also in bloom. We’ve worked hard over the past several months to revamp and reorganize our website, and it is LIVE! We hope that you’ll take the time to explore our new pages, and find the stories that inspire you to continue to advocate for the protection of our prized public lands. On our website, you’ll also be able to read about the recognition HECHO received this month in New Mexico and Colorado, honoring the work we do to ensure that Hispanic culture and perspectives are part of the conservation of our lands and waters.

Latino Outdoors — Yo Cuento: Mapping Migraciones

“Mapping Migraciones” es un proyecto narrativo único de un año de duración de Audubon California con la Sociedad Nacional Audubon y Latino Outdoors que celebra la latinidad, la migración y las historias que nos conectan en las Américas.

Mire nuestro mapa interactivo que utiliza datos de aves migratorias e historias de personas como usted para darnos una imagen completa de cómo las aves y las personas están conectadas a través de la geografía y la cultura. Durante el año, este mapa crecerá para incluir más aves, patrones de migración e historias en todo el continente americano.

Coconino County Teacher of the Year and the Rookie Teacher of the Year Nominations Open

After previously having cancelled, Coconino County Superintendent of Schools, Cheryl Mango-Paget, is pleased to announce the reinstatement of the 9th Annual Teacher of the Year and the 4th Annual Rookie Teacher of the Year Awards.

The COVID-19 pandemic presented multiple challenges for teachers and students over the last year. We have witnessed the strength and ingenuity of Coconino County teachers through these difficult times and would like to acknowledge those who have been exceptionally outstanding in developing inventive curriculum and strategies for supporting student learning during the 2020/2021 school year.

City of Flagstaff drills first water well in 12 years

The city of Flagstaff will soon add a new well to their inventory. Drilling of a second groundwater well at Fort Tuthill County Park began February 22, 2021.

Drilling this well is part of the city’s mid-to-long term water policy and the subsequent ten-year capital plan initiated after the 2002 drought left Upper Lake Mary reservoir nearly dry, resulting in water shortages throughout the city. This is the first of five wells in the plan to add resiliency to the city’s water supply and serve as a safety net against climate change and resulting drought, forest fires or infrastructure failure. Groundwater wells are the core producers of city water, averaging 65% of the city’s potable water supply since 1950. They tap into the C-aquifer at an average depth of 1000 feet below land surface with the bottom of most wells exceeding 2000 feet.