Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Communications Issue #2

What a season! Up high, the Peaks are cleared of snow welcoming the coming summer sun; down below, the fruit trees are blossom-filled and mountain irises are quietly opening their wings. Nature’s breath, thank goodness, is as close and intimate as ever.
 
Still, social isolation is hard. There’s just no good substitute for gathering in a coffee shop or sharing a meal with friends. The need to be in a common space with one another is so strong that it feels like a magnetic force. 

But physical distancing doesn’t have to mean social distancing! Below are some links to local projects of mutual aid and solidarity in action, as well as ideas from other communities.

Let’s create the change we want to be! Stay healthy!
The Board of Friends of Flagstaff’s Future

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Resiliency/mindfulness training helps during these challenging times

It is not easy to write this message.  I, just like many of you, have found myself filled with many emotions ranging from deep sadness to raw anger.  Many of us around the Nation are trying to find our voice, our place- ideas for how we can make a positive impact.  CCC&Y has a long history of advocating for and working toward justice and equity for our community.

I was scheduled to present the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) / resiliency training live this week for a school district.  I was re-struck, while speaking with these educators, by how relevant the work of CCC&Y is- even during current times.  I felt gratitude for this connection and all of you who further this work.

If you have not done so already, I would invite you to visit our webinar on ACES.  It will help you to gain personal insight into what happens to people, what we do to people and how society can choose to make trauma worse or better for folks.  That insight then becomes sharable.

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Replacement Sandbags are Coming to Your Neighborhood

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
Replacement Sandbags are Coming to Your Neighborhood
Fourth County COVID-19 Testing Blitz collects 341 tests
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
AZDHS COVID-19 Website 
AZ COVID-19 Testing Blitz
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!

Banjo picking for CCC scholarships for underserved Native Americans

It started off as a project to meet the requests of fans of his performances on the train.

It ended up as a labor of love to help underserved Native Americans attend college.

Banjo Billy Smith, a regular performer on the Grand Canyon Railway before the COVID-19 outbreak, has started the Banjo Billy Scholarship for Underserved Native Americans at Coconino Community College.

Museum of Northern Arizona — June at the Museum

As I pass the one year mark as Director here at MNA, I look back on a memorable and sometimes challenging year. From the Museum Fire last year to a Pandemic in 2020, our staff, volunteers and members have demonstrated resilience, imagination, flexibility and their passion for MNA. After many weeks working from home, some of the museum staff are now gradually and gratefully returning to their offices, after undergoing training to further enhance their safety while at work. From increased cleaning and socially distanced meetings to wearing masks when together, we are adjusting to new ways of working safely. We will be equally cautious reopening to the public. We are currently planning so that you can come and experience the museum in a safe and enjoyable way. To see some of the changes we are putting in place, I invite you to join the virtual tour of the museum on June 18, as we continue to bring the museum to you, until you can come to us. I look forward to that day. It is the people of MNA, all of you included, who make this museum the remarkable place it is. Thank you for being a part of MNA, and for helping to make my first year here such an enjoyable and rewarding time.

CCC’s Myers lives passion for getting students into construction trades

Hammer. Saw. Drill. Tape Measure. Level.

His teaching tools are a bit different from a typical community college faculty member, but his skill at using those tools and his passion for sharing that knowledge helps students quickly enter the workforce and find meaningful careers.

As a result, Ken Myers, Construction Technology Management faculty at Coconino Community College, is being recognized as Arizona’s Career and Technical Education Post-Secondary Educator of the Year.

Sedona Arts Center Reopens June 5

The Sedona Arts Center will be re-opening its Fine Art Gallery and live in-person classes to the public in early June with a Covid-19 protocol of: ongoing sanitation, social distancing, following government guidelines, and wearing face masks in our indoor public spaces. June 5th is the opening day for our Fine Art Gallery come see the exhibition from 10am – 5pm!

CCC advisors get job done ‘virtually’

Charlotte Willin appeared on the computer screen via a Zoom video conference with her Coconino Community College advisor Mitch Driebe.

Willin, a student at Northern Arizona University, wants to knock out Physiology & Anatomy 2 during the summer while she is at home in Long Beach, Calif. Her goal is to become an Occupational Therapist.

“I didn’t want to forget anything,” Willin said to Driebe.

Her reason for taking the five-week session at Coconino Community College: It ‘s very affordable.

Willin joins hundreds of other students filling out their class rosters for summer and fall “virtually” with advisors at CCC. The college began offering the service following the campus closures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Local First Arizona Announces Additional $425,000 in Donations for Small Business Relief Fund From Rural Partners and Local Banks

Small businesses across Arizona have lost federal dollars to larger companies in urban areas — that is no secret. Lack of access to SBA-partnered community banks limited opportunities for many. Local First Arizona is proud to join forces these three partners to distribute grants — not loans — to businesses across the state.

Coconino County Statement on Statewide Curfew Order

Coconino County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman, Sup. Liz Archuleta issued the following statement after the announcement of statewide curfew.

“Gov. Ducey has announced a statewide curfew for all of Arizona every night this week. The curfew begins at 8pm and will lift each morning at 5am. Coconino County encourages all persons to comply with the Governor’s order and limit any travel during curfew to essential needs for work or public health or safety.”   

Coconino Volunteer & Decorated Vietnam War Vet Billy Weldon Wins America’s Favorite Crossing Guard

Safe Kids Coconino County, led by Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS), and Safe Kids Worldwide are proud to recognize Billy Weldon as the winner of the 2020 America’s Favorite Crossing Guard contest.

After tens of thousands of votes from appreciative supporters that earned him a spot as one of the top five finalists, Weldon was named the winner by a panel of judges because of his exceptional impact on his community and his commitment to the safety of the students. 

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — CCHHS offers businesses reopening plan review and guidance 

Facilities across Arizona have reopened or are in the process of making reopening plans following the expiration of the Arizona stay-at-home order. The State of Arizona announced that criteria for entering Phase 1 of the phased reopening approach outlined in the Guidelines for Opening Up America Again have been met. The guidelines, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, state that a downward trajectory of documented COVID-19 cases within a 14-day period is one criterion for entering Phase I.

Helping CCC art students fearlessly explore

Color. Form. Aesthetics.

To him, art is a conversation between the artist and the world – an assertion he repeats to his students. And they appreciate him for it.

Art Faculty Jeff Roth has been selected as the 2020-21 Coconino Community College Part-Time Faculty of the Year. Roth, who has been with CCC for three years, teaches Art Appreciation, Drawing 1, Life Drawing 1, Life Drawing 2, Digital Photography 1 and Mural Painting.

NAU News — NAU, Coconino County collaborate to measure business sentiment during COVID-19 pandemic

The Economic Policy Institute is administering a survey that is designed to measure business sentiment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impacts of local and state government pandemic restrictions on local businesses. It is the first survey to provide rolling data specific to northern Arizona.

CCC CARES Act grants available for fall

Did you know that you might qualify for money to go to college this fall?

But you will have to apply quickly for federal financial aid.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, the federal government has approved funds through the CARES Act to help U.S. citizens attend college.

Coconino Community College has received a share of this money and will distribute it for the Fall semester to students and prospective students who qualify.

Bilingual report — Coconino County schedules fourth COVID-19 Testing Blitz on May 30

Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) is participating in the Arizona COVID-19 Testing Blitz on Saturday, May 30.

This is the fourth Testing Blitz hosted by CCHHS as part of the statewide initiative which aims to test up to 60,000 Arizonans for COVID-19.

Testing will be held at Coconino County Health and Human Services, 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff, AZ 86004 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Drive through testing and walk up testing will be available.

CCC’s Friedman shares big ideas in the world of the small

Doug Friedman’s passion for the subject gives him the ability to make the world of microscopic organisms accessible – and fascinating – to his students.

As one of his students stated, “Doug showed me this passion for Microbiology I did not know I had. It’s a fascinating subject. I never had an instructor who made me think outside the box so frequently. He is exactly what college professors should be doing.”

Friedman was selected by students and colleagues as the 2020-21 Full-Time Faculty of the Year at Coconino Community College.

FUSD High Schools to hold graduation procession on May 29

Flagstaff Unified School District (FUSD) high schools, Coconino High School, Flagstaff High School, and Summit High School, will hold graduation processions on Fourth Street in Flagstaff, Arizona on Friday, May 29, 2020.  The event will include an opportunity for graduates to be recognized while still ensuring necessary social distancing measures. 

“We are very proud of the accomplishments and efforts of FUSD’s senior students over many years.” said Superintendent Michael Penca. “They are graduating under extraordinary circumstances in which they have demonstrated persistence, patience, and compassion for others.  While we all wish we could hold our traditional ceremony, we know this event will be a special celebration for our seniors, their families, and our entire community.”

United Way of Northern Arizona COVID-19 Fund Assists Essential Workers with Child Care

Throughout this crisis, we have celebrated essential workers – those brave souls who have faced the threat of coronavirus on an almost daily basis so that everyone else could safely stay at home practicing social distancing to stem the pandemic.

But what happens to essential workers with small children? Who is there to take care of their sons or daughters while they were busy taking care of the rest of us.

Due to COVID-19, more than 80 percent of licensed child care centers in Flagstaff were forced to close. Those that remained open had to operate far below capacity, collecting less revenue while simultaneously facing greater operational expenses.

That is why the United Way of Northern Arizona recently provided grants through its COVID-19 Fund to both the Flagstaff Family YMCA and the Association for Supportive Child Care (ASCC).

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

Click here for the entire e-newsletter   This Week’s Virtual Highlights 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,…

District 2 Supervisor Liz Archuleta — Face coverings required in Coconino County Court buildings/Revestimientos faciales requeridos en los edificios del Tribunal del Condado de Coconino

In This Newsletter:

Quote of the Day
Face Coverings Required in Coconino County Court Buildings
ACDL: The Impact of COVID-19 and Special Education
COVID-19 Daily Dashboard
AZDHS COVID-19 Website
AZ COVID-19 Testing Blitz
Don’t forget to fill out the 2020 Census!
Stay Connected with Us!

City of Flagstaff announces Coconino Estates Improvements Project

The city of Flagstaff began the Coconino Estates Improvements Phase I Project on May 26, 2020. The entire Project is anticipated to be complete in the Fall of 2022. Typical work hours are from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Thursday with occasional work on Fridays. The work will start on the Navajo Road portion of the project from Fort Valley Road to the east side of the Hopi Drive intersection. Improvements include replacing the existing water, sewer, and roadway infrastructure. Additionally, sidewalks will be installed within city right-of-way along both sides of Navajo Road.