Business, Cultural, Education, Government, Local, News

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Everyone Counts!

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It’s already August (!!) which means that we are getting closer to the due date for the 2020 Census. The due date for the 2020 Census has now been changed to September 30, 2020. This means that if you have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, now is the time to do so!

Currently only 41.9% of Coconino County residents have filled out the 2020 Census.This is worrisome because this can result in a SEVERE under count if more of our community members do not respond. The Census is important because it ensures that Coconino County receives federal funds for things like Public Safety, Schools, Roads and Infrastructure, Medicare and Medicaid, and more! 

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Family, Government, Health, Local, News

District 5 Supervisor Lena Fowler’s Weekly Update

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Thank you for taking COVID-19 seriously. The sacrifices you’re making during this time – closing of businesses, cancelling of gatherings and social distancing from those you love are not in vain. These are incredibly important as we are doing all we can to slow the spread and flatten the curve. Remember Coconino County to mask up!

Although many county offices are closed to the public, we are still working for you. I am still working for you. I am excited to continue my work with, and for, the residents of Coconino County District 5. I am please to share this weekly e-blast with you to provide you with a weekly update on my efforts, the latest COVID-19 information, and share resources from other community partners resources. We are in this together.

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Business, Government, Home, Local, News

National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation August 1 – 31

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Flagstaff’s Mayor Coral Evans is joining mayors across the country in challenging their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Residents are encouraged to pledge online at mywaterpledge.com.

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Business, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News

UPDATED! NEW Online Art Classes through Sedona Arts Center

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Sedona Arts Center’s Online Classes and Workshops are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but are unable to travel. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.

Our classes are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Visit us online to learn more about all of our online classes!

Read more →

Business, Entertainment, Events, Government, Local

Flagstaff Convention & Visitor’s Bureau — Find virtual events with Flagstaff 365 Happenings

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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.

Read more →

Business, Cultural, Education, Finance, Local, News, Youth

CCC’s TRIO program receives $1.3 million grant

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The Coconino Community College TRIO Student Support Services program received a $1.3 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant, which will be distributed over a five-year period, is the third such grant CCC has received since 2010.

“This is a big deal because our priority is first-generation students, students with disabilities and low-income students,” said Jessica Laessig, TRIO project coordinator at CCC. “This grant is important to be able to help these students who need it the most on our campus.”

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Business, Family, Government, Local, News

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — How high should we go?

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How high should we go? That’s the question raised by The Hub and other new and proposed 60-plus foot buildings. For over a year, the City Development Department has been working to develop a new zone—Neighborhood Community Commercial (NCC)—that would reduce height limits on new construction from 60 feet to 45 feet in areas north and west of Downtown, Southside, and Sunnyside. 

This is an important and complex issue, involving the effort to balance neighborhood integrity, city character, and high density. Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is following the discussion closely and will make recommendations. 

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Local, News

Sedona Arts Center — In-Person Classes at Sedona Arts Center

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Ceramics For All Levels
with Dennis Ott
Beginning August 24, 2020
The Sedona Arts Center’s ceramic department operates free from the constraints of grades and benefits from the talents of its ceramic faculty and assistants as well as nationally recognized guest instructors. This combination allows our department to offer flexible and diverse programming in both traditional and contemporary techniques.

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Business, Education, Government, Health, Local, News

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County currently has a response rate of 41.8% for the 2020 Census

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If you have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, please do so!

In times of crises, communities need funding, data and representation in order to support their people, and respond to the challenges. Coconino County needs your support to make sure we able to tackle the challenges we face today, and for the next ten years.

By filling out the 2020 Census, you’re helping to make sure that our community continues to receive federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid and support for the health centers we rely on to serve our people. Billions of dollars in federal aid come into our state each year for these programs, and completing your Census ensures that we continue to receive our share.

It also ensures that you are represented in government at the local, state and federal levels, and that the data collected helps your elected representatives to make informed decisions.

Make sure your voice is heard and your community is supported for the next decade. Respond today at www.2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.

I count. You count. Together we can make a difference for Coconino County.

Read more →

Business, Education, Government, Health, Local, News

Certified Nursing Assistant program returns to CCC in Page

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The patient beds are made. Medical supplies are at the ready. The mannequins are prepped for receiving care, and the instructor is ready to teach. 

Now, what’s left is the students.

After a seven-year hiatus, the Certified Nursing Assistant program is returning to Coconino Community College in Page.

“This program is important for CCC to support the Page community,” said Kay Leum, executive director of Extended Learning at CCC. “The opportunity to go through the course here in Page, whether students want to go straight into the workforce in the area or to continue studies for a nursing degree, offers so many benefits.”

Read more →

Business, Commentary, Cultural, Family, Government, Local, News

LULAC Says Shortening Census Period Hurts Latinos

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Sindy Benavides, National Chief Executive Officer of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) issued the following statement about the Administration’s decision to end the self-reporting window and door knocking operations one-month earlier for the 2020 Census.

“It is simply inconceivable that we can achieve a full and accurate count by these actions at the time we need it most during a pandemic that is disproportionately impacting Latinos. This is yet another tactic from the Trump Administration to make our community invisible with an incomplete enumeration, which impacts critical funding, representation, and redistricting. Instead of ramping up its work, the Census Bureau cites the COVID-19 pandemic as the reason for deciding to cut short the two most critical aspects of the census. First, there is the self-reporting phase and that is followed by community outreach to contact individuals and families who for one reason or another have not done so.

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Business, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News

Coconino County Parks & Recreation — County Fair update, AZT Babbitt Ranch trail segment dedication, and more

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On Saturday, August 1, the Arizona Trail Association (ATA) held a dedication for the Babbitt Ranch Segment, Passage 35. The small, private event was not open to the public due to COVID-19. Coconino County Board of Supervisor Art Babbott (District 1) and Coconino County Parks and Recreation staff attended the event.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Family, Government, Local, News

Statement from U.S. Census Bureau Director Steven Dillingham — Delivering a Complete and Accurate 2020 Census Count

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The U.S. Census Bureau continues to evaluate its operational plans to collect and process 2020 Census data. We are announcing updates to our plan that will include enumerator awards and the hiring of more employees to accelerate the completion of data collection and apportionment counts by our statutory deadline of December 31, 2020, as required by law and directed by the Secretary of Commerce. The Census Bureau’s new plan reflects our continued commitment to conduct a complete count, provide accurate apportionment data, and protect the health and safety of the public and our workforce. 

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Cultural, Education, Government, Local, News

CCC double-times English for veterans

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Veterans who have served their country return to civilian life and often want to begin a college career.

They’ve lived a little life after high school. They have common experiences from being in the military. And they, typically, have very specific goals when it comes to what they want from their education.

To that end, faculty at Coconino Community College, with input from colleagues at Northern Arizona University, created an English composition course at CCC this fall that will allow veterans, in class among other veterans, to complete the requirements of the year-long course in a single semester.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News, Youth

Award-winning CCC alum encourages educational path

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Barely getting by at a dead-end job, April Sandoval left an abusive husband and decided to try her hand at college. 

Sitting in the parking lot of Coconino Community College in 2002, she forced herself to go inside and attend her first class. She thrived and quickly received her associate degree. She then went on to get two bachelor’s degrees and a master’s degree.

Now, Sandoval, Assistant to the President and the District Governing Board at CCC, can add another feather in her cap on her road to success. She was chosen this week to receive the Pacific Region Professional Board Staff Member Award for 2020 from the Association of Community College Trustees.

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Business, Education, Events, Local, News

Local First ARIZONA — Independents Week 2020 Sept. 1-30, 2020

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A little later in the year than usual, Indie Week XXL will bring you a whole month to attract new customers through an extra-long special edition of Independents Week! Stay tuned for details on a new #IndieWeekAZ consumer action card (bingo style), Shop Arizona marketplace, and as always, a rallying call for support of independent Arizona businesses.

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Business, Government, Local, News, Travel

Upcoming overnight closures on Interstate 40 at Winona bridge east of Flagstaff Aug. 11-12

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The Arizona Department of Transportation is advising drivers to plan for overnight closures on Interstate 40 – about 16 miles east of Flagstaff – as work continues on the Winona bridge rehabilitation project. 

ADOT reminds drivers to slow down and observe posted speed limits and other construction signs while the following restrictions are in place:

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Business, Government, Local, News

ECoNA Flagstaff Welcomes New Retail & Service Businesses

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Even before the coronavirus, brick-and-mortar retailers and service providers faced challenges. E-commerce has put pressure on the sector for years. The pandemic, along with its related economic fallout, just accelerated the issue for many traditional stores. The result is that many have gone into Chapter 11 and may not be coming back. 

Which is why it’s been rewarding to see a series of new businesses opening their doors this summer in Flagstaff. Their arrival here is the result of concerted recruitment efforts, sometimes over a period of several years, by the City of Flagstaff’s Economic Vitality team and the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Family, Home, Local, News, Youth

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Coconino County Residents Count: Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!

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Coconino County currently has a response rate of 41.6% for the 2020 Census.

If you have not yet filled out the 2020 Census, please do so!

In times of crises, communities need funding, data and representation in order to support their people, and respond to the challenges. Coconino County needs your support to make sure we able to tackle the challenges we face today, and for the next ten years.

By filling out the 2020 Census, you’re helping to make sure that our community continues to receive federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid and support for the health centers we rely on to serve our people. Billions of dollars in federal aid come into our state each year for these programs, and completing your Census ensures that we continue to receive our share.

It also ensures that you are represented in government at the local, state and federal levels, and that the data collected helps your elected representatives to make informed decisions.

Make sure your voice is heard and your community is supported for the next decade. Respond today at www.2020Census.gov or call 844-330-2020 for English or 844-468-2020 for Spanish.

I count. You count. Together we can make a difference for Coconino County.

Read more →

Business, Cultural, Government, Local, News

Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences provides a pilot project to beautify traffic signal cabinets

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Artists, graphic designers, illustrators, and photographers are wanted to create designs for traffic signal cabinets in two locations:

The northeast corner of North San Francisco Street and East Butler Avenue
The northwest corner of East Cedar Avenue and North Gemini Avenue
The idea to beautify the city’s traffic signal cabinets was brought to the city of Flagstaff’s Beautification, Arts & Sciences Program by community member Gaylene Soper, who supported the initiative with funding for a demonstration project.

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, Youth

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Does the support stop when difficult conversations arise?

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Community healing is not something someone (the savior) does to another (the needy).  Community healing is what happens when we internalize that we are all one, that the choices of the past mingle with the experiences of the present and none of us are free from the consequences of our actions -both individual and collective. 

Sadly, some non-profits are reporting lost donors because they decided to address social justice and equity issues (or in some cases just comment) due to the current events transpiring in our nation.  Quite frankly, this has angered me and further exemplifies how ingrained inequity is in each facet of our society.  More than equity- it shows how voice, control and power work throughout systems and perpetuate problems year after year.  I am pleased to report that the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth (CCC&Y) has not experienced this situation.  Through all of this, our membership has steadily increased.

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Business, Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Health, Local, News

Aug. 9 is the deadline to to enter the #MaskResponsibly Art Contest!

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The Please Stay, Play Distance & Mask Responsibly Art Contest is hosted by the Flagstaff Arts Council in collaboration with the City of Flagstaff and Coconino County. This contest promotes creativity while social distancing, reflection on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and drives awareness of important public health guidelines. 

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Government, Local, News, Youth

Flagstaff Convention & Visitor’s Bureau — Find virtual events with Flagstaff 365 Happenings

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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.

Read more →

Business, Education, Government, Local, News, Youth

CCC completes remote delivery conversion for fall courses

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Coconino Community College has finished converting Fall 2020 courses to remote delivery. With modifications complete, students may register (https://www.coconino.edu/registration) right away for the best class selection.
 
These changes to the course schedule and delivery options were necessary to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff during COVID-19.

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Business, Cultural, Entertainment, Family, Government, Local, News

Coconino County praises passage of Great American Outdoors Act

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Coconino County applauds todays’ enactment of the Great American Outdoors Act which establishes the National Parks and Public Land Legacy Restoration Fund to address over $507 million deferred maintenance needs in Arizona. This landmark legislation also permanently funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), a critical funding tool for Coconino County. 

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Cultural, Health, Local, News, Opinion

Bilingual report — Gina Santi Photography Images of the Month – August 2020

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During these past few COVID-19 pandemic months I have desperately missed the human side of being a photographer. I miss the huge privilege of having unique insights into the worlds of so many different people. Being quarantined with limited options on travel and work means having to search for new forms of stimulation and creative outlets, in order to spark the fire of my creative and personal energies.

Fortunately, photography in itself is also a therapeutic art form, one that provides many creative outlets in order to stay positive: embracing new skills, sharing experiences and knowledge with a strong and supportive virtual community, or going through boxes of old negatives and slides in order to complete that digitalizing project that has been on the back burner for so long.

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Business, Education, Family, Food, Government, Health, Local

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Flagstaff Family Food Center Needs Volunteers!

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Calling all volunteers!

Flagstaff Family Food Centers needs your help this week! They need 20-25 volunteers per day from Wednesday through Sunday to help at their Kitchen and Food Bank. You can find more information and sign up for a shift at www.hotfood.volunteerhub.com.

*They have policies and procedures in place to keep their volunteers and community safe, including mask wearing, physical distancing, and frequent hand washing and sanitizing.* Please share widely!

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Business, Cultural, Education, Local, News

Sedona Arts Center — Painting For All Levels Online! with Gretchen Lopez on Aug. 7

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Sedona Arts Center’s Online Classes and Workshops are perfect for students who are interested in taking one of our educational opportunities, but are unable to travel. These learning opportunities provide a well-rounded experience in various visual art mediums.

Our classes are live online learning experiences with one-on-one interaction between student and instructor. Visit us online to learn more about all of our online classes!

Read more →