Coconino County Moves to Include Those 65 and Older in Phase 1b Following ADHS Announcement

The Trump administration announced on January 12, 2021 the plan to release additional doses of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to states to expand vaccinations to individuals age 65 and older.

Moments after sending a news release about the County awaiting guidance from Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) on this matter, ADHS announced the inclusion of those individuals as priority populations within Phase 1b.

City of Flagstaff announces Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures

Flagstaff city administrative functions will be closed in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021. City Hall administrative functions will reopen on Jan. 19 with regular hours of 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library and East Flagstaff Public Library will also be closed on Jan. 18. Both locations will resume curbside hold pickup and phone reference services on Jan. 19. 

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — CCC&Y member says Coalition provides variety of support, education to the community

I have had the blessed opportunity to work with at-risk youth in Flagstaff for over 20 years.  I first learned of the Coalition when I attended the Child Abuse Prevention Conference over 15 years ago. Since then, the Coalition has been such a wonderful resource for me.  They provide support, education, and have helped connect me to individuals and other organizations that advocate for youth.

Not only have I been able to share useful information with my family and friends, but my work circle has also benefited. 

Coconino County Sees High Demand for COVID-19 Vaccine

Approximately six hours after Coconino County moved to allowing priority populations within Phase 1b to make COVID-19 vaccination appointments at its Fort Tuthill vaccination site on Jan. 8, all 1,600 available appointments were booked.

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) and vaccination partner organizations are working to ensure the swift administration of the available COVID-19 vaccine. The community continues to demonstrate a high level of interest in getting vaccinated; however, the available supply of COVID-19 vaccine remains limited. 

Solar co-op launches for northern Arizona residents to go solar together

The city of Flagstaff, city of Sedona, and Coconino County, the nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors (SUN) announced the launch of the Northern ArizonaSolar Co-op to help area residents go solar.

“The co-op will enable northern Arizona homeowners and business owners to join the growing community of people saving money by harnessing solar power,” said Bret Fanshaw, Arizona program director for SUN. “Together, we’re building a movement to create a more sustainable electricity system that directly benefits households and small businesses in the community.”

District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler — Coconino County Swears in Elected Officials in Virtual Ceremony

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony. Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.

“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Moves to Vaccinating Priority Populations Within Phase 1b

Seven days after opening its own COVID-19 vaccination site located at Fort Tuthill County Park to individuals in Phase 1a, Coconino County is opening vaccination appointments at select sites to priority populations within Phase 1b.

Priority populations within Phase 1b include education and childcare workers, law enforcement and protective services, and individuals aged 75 and older.

Vaccination opportunities will open at a later time for other populations in Phase 1b, including essential workers and adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings.

Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – January 2021

Research shows that mentally invigorating activities heighten brain power and help preserve our brains sharp as we age, forging new neural pathways in the process. Facing another birthday and having been cordoned off for the past 10 months, I decided to take a solo road trip to Bisbee, an old mining town of 6,000 or so inhabitants located in southeastern Arizona, United States. I was very pleased to find a welcoming town, somewhat surreal, filled with historic architecture and creative and culturally rich people. With the same purpose I decided to challenge myself with a different approach to my traditional cultural anthropology photography, this time using different subjects and filters to better capture the feeling of the town as I strolled through its winding, narrow streets and alleys.

Sedona Arts Center’s Online Learning Online learning opportunities are perfect for

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. Visit us Here to learn more about all of our online learning opportunities!

Coconino County Moves to Vaccinating Priority Populations Within Phase 1b

Seven days after opening its own COVID-19 vaccination site located at Fort Tuthill County Park to individuals in Phase 1a, Coconino County is opening vaccination appointments at select sites to priority populations within Phase 1b.

Priority populations within Phase 1b include education and childcare workers, law enforcement and protective services, and individuals aged 75 and older.

Vaccination opportunities will open at a later time for other populations in Phase 1b, including essential workers and adults with high-risk conditions in congregate settings.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Neighborhood Meeting and other news

Dear Neighbor,

The purpose of this message is to inform you that the City of Flagstaff’s Open Space Program proposes to file for a Zoning Map Amendment for the McMillan Mesa Natural Area, application number: PZ-20-00063. The application intends to change the existing Public Facilities and Rural Residential Zoning to Public Open Space Zoning for passive recreation and preservation.

On November 8th, 2016, Flagstaff voters voted in favor of Proposition 413 – Campaign for a Greater Buffalo Park. This proposition restricted the use of approximately 300 acres of City-owned property on McMillan Mesa to public open space and passive recreation. The City Council approved the McMillan Mesa Natural Area major plan amendment (Resolution Number 2018-50) on Tuesday, October 16th, 2018. The next step is to amend the McMillan Mesa Natural Area’s existing zoning from Public Facilities and Rural Residential Zoning to Public Open Space.

A second and final meeting to provide interested community members the opportunity to ask questions about the proposal and provide comments will take place on January 13th.

Coconino County Statement on the Invasion of the US Capitol

Coconino County issued the following statement regarding Wednesday’s takeover and illegal invasion of the United States Capitol.

“We are all appalled and distressed at the events on Wednesday at the US Capitol building. Democracy depends on the sanctity and safety of processes and the public square of debate, compromise, and decision-making. Coconino County denounces any seditious effort to subvert the lawful and constitutional duties of any elected official in all levels of government.”

Statement from Mayor Deasy regarding attempted coup

“The attempted coup at the Capitol was both un-American and unconstitutional. I want to be very clear, the actions of this mob of unhinged extremists do not represent the values of America or Flagstaff,” said Flagstaff Mayor Paul Deasy. “We must denounce these actions and the ideologies fueling them in the strongest terms today and each day moving forward. We cannot let this type of behavior be normalized, to do so would constitute a fundamental threat to our republic. I call on our constituents to reject this type of behavior and work together to protect and defend the United States of America and the values we hold dear.”

County Attorney William Ring Statement on Events at US Capitol

Coconino County Attorney William Ring issued the below statement regarding the mob takeover of the United State Capitol in Washington, DC on Wednesday.

“Like many Arizonans, we watched the lawless takeover of our Nation’s Capitol yesterday with stunning disappointment. The purported cause for the protest – that the losing presidential candidate actually won in a landslide – has no basis in fact or law. And there are courts to peacefully settle those disputes. Out of options, the losing candidate lit a match to a mob that invaded the citadel of our democracy. However, with amazing grace the Capitol Police and the Congress put down the violence and finished our Nation’s business, proving our resilience and our confidence in the rule of law.

Discover Flagstaff — Find virtual events with Flagstaff 365 Happenings

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.

ECoNA — Thornager’s Opens Up Kitchen to Food Entrepreneurs

A commercial kitchen that until recently was the catering arm of Thornager’s on Kiltie Lane is finding a new life as an affordable testing ground for food entrepreneurs who do not have access to a fully-stocked professional cookery.

After 30-plus years in catering, including three decades as the owner of Thornager’s, Karen Sorensen was ready to hang up her apron. She even toyed with the idea of selling the Equestrian Estates event venue, but ultimately decided to shut down the catering portion of the her business while continuing to rent out the clubhouse.

Coconino County and partners collaborate on Phase 1 COVID-19 vaccinations

On the morning of Monday, Jan. 4, County public health staff vaccinated the first person against COVID-19 at the Fort Tuthill County Park vaccination site and was fully booked for vaccination appointments throughout the day. As part of the vaccine roll out in Coconino County, Phase 1 partners Banner Health Page Hospital, North Country HealthCare (NCHC) and Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) began immunizing their frontline healthcare staff in late December. CVS and Walgreens are vaccinating long-term care facility residents and staff directly through a CDC program, Pharmacy Partnership for Long-Term Care. The vaccinations administered at Fort Tuthill and through partner organizations marks a major milestone in Coconino County’s effort to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Childhood Inequities, Neglect, Abuse Hidden in Pandemic

Those in the social service industry are worried about our families. Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y) Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie says isolation, depression and anxiety – all conditions that can be made worse by the pandemic – are increasingly having a negative effect on children in Arizona, particularly in rural areas where resources are less available than in larger cities and distances to travel for support are far greater. She’s encouraging individuals and communities to resolve to make a difference in children’s lives in the New Year.
Read more

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Swears in Elected Officials in Virtual Ceremony

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony.

Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.

“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Community Stakeholder Committee on Reclaimed Water

As we look back at the many events of 2020, I am reminded of the importance of participatory action. At both the national and local levels, we made our voices heard about issues of importance this past year, from the presidential campaign, to the BLM movement, to the need for Flagstaff to declare a climate emergency.
These Communications from F3 are designed to make it easier for you to participate in our community. They provide an easily accessible way for you to track what’s going on in Flagstaff and to participate in the discussions and local decisions that affect you. Join us and help make 2021 a year of joyful participation in our Flagstaff community. Happy New Year!

Coconino County Swears in Elected Officials in Virtual Ceremony

On the evening of Monday, Jan. 4, Coconino County swore in elected officials during a virtual ceremony.

Elected officials taking a term in office after winning election in November of 2020 include the Board of Supervisors, the County Constitutional Officers and Superior Court Judge Cathleen Brown Nichols.

“It’s an honor for all of us to serve the residents of Coconino County. Together, we are ready to face 2021 with optimism and action from the most diverse set of leaders the County has ever had,” said Chairwoman Liz Archuleta. “Challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic will continue to face our community and I know that together we will demonstrate the resilience and leadership our County is known for. The immense commitment of our elected officials to community and public service is something our County residents can be very proud of.”

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Elected Officials Swearing-In Ceremony to be held Jan. 4

Coconino County will hold a virtual swearing-in ceremony for elected officials Today, January 4th at 5:30pm. Congratulations to elected officials taking a term in office: Supervisors Horstman, Archuleta, Ryan, Begay and Fowler; Sheriff Driscoll, County Attorney Ring, Recorder Hansen, Treasurer Benatar, Assessor Ruiz, and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lewis.

Join on Zoom//bit.ly/3rbzzJs
Webinar ID: 994 7622 4476
Or Join Via Telephone: 888 788 0099 (Toll-Free)

Oct. 7 — NAU Latin American Studies to present talk on ‘Dancing with the Revolution: Power, Politics, and Privilege in Cuba’

NAU Latin American Studies will present Assistant Professor of History Elizabeth Schwall will talk about her recently published book, “Dancing with the Revolution: Power, Politics, and Privilege in Cuba” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 7 and LA 120 (and simultaneously via Zoom).

The NAU Bookstore will be at the event with copies of the book for sale, and I’m sure Elizateth would be delighted to sign a copy for you!

Jan. 18 — Coconino Board of Supervisors to hold a livestream virtual Special Session regarding the COVID Emergency

The Coconino County Board of Supervisors will hold a Special Session regarding the COVID Emergency at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan, 18, 2021.

The Board of Supervisors’ meeting will be held via webinar technology using Zoom. The live meeting can be viewed via our YouTube stream link at:

Jan. 22 — Virtual Women’s March (+Special Guest Speaker & Social Hour!)

Join us for a social hour & virtual celebration of the power of women coming together to fight for equity and why it is crucial to the climate movement from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22.

Dr. Frances Julia Riemer, educational anthropologist and former Director of Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Northern Arizona University, will be the keynote speaker of the Zoom event. The event will also feature highlighting the contributions of brave women, sharing stories, and an opportunity to empower one another and shape our dreams for a better future for the next generations.