Business, Commentary, Cultural, Government, Local, News

Coconino County Board of Supervisors proclaimed Aug. 15 in honor of former County Manager Steve Peru

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FLAGSTAFF — April 15, 2025 marks Steven Bonilla Peru Day! The Coconino County Board of Supervisors on Aug. 12 proclaimed this day in honor of former County Manager Steve Peru. Over 35 years at the County, he served twice as the County Manager and held a variety of leadership roles including Finance Director, Elections Director, Clerk of the Board and Deputy County Manager.

Peru was also awarded the inaugural Medal of Merit, an award recognizing outstanding and meritorious contributions to the people of Coconino County.

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Commentary, Government, Local, News, Opinion, Politics, Seniors, women, Youth

Indivisible Northern AZ announces ‘Rapid Response: Fight The Trump Takover’ from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16 at Flagstaff City Hall

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Trump told Texas Republicans to gerrymander the state to add congressional seats to the map.  It’s a power grab pure and simple. 

Texas is a test case and just the beginning. Trump and his enablers are deliberately working to steal the 2026 election (and beyond) by rigging the electoral maps in their favor well into the future. 

This is disenfranchisement for the 21st century.

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Business, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Woods Fire (east of Oak Creek) at 50 percent containment

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SEDONA — Firefighters working on the Woods Fire have been successful in suppressing and securing the perimeter around the wildfire, achieving 50% containment and will transition to a local Type 4 organization tomorrow morning.

A more accurate mapping of the wildfire located 2 miles east of the Village of Oak Creek puts it at 59 acres. It has been determined to be a lightning-caused fire.

High humidity provided favorable conditions for firefighters, allowing use of natural landscape and human-made barriers to keep the fire within its existing footprint.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Finance, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety, Seniors, women, Youth

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Aug. 11-15, 2025

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Brighty prepares for his journey to the South Rim, where he will be stored in the park’s Museum Collections until a decision is made on his future. Whether he will be restored to his former appearance or replaced entirely is still under consideration. (NPS Photo)

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Business, Cultural, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Dragon Bravo Fire Aug. 15th Update

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Highlights: Yesterday, containment of the Dragon Bravo Fire increased to 56%. More containment was gained on the Wahalla Plateau, Point Imperial and on the most northern tip of the fire. The National Weather Service Office in Flagstaff has issued a flash flood watch in the fire area between 10am and 8pm today. With safety being the top priority, crews will be ready to adjust to potentially dangerous weather conditions that may develop. To receive flash flood warnings on your cell phone or satellite device via the Grand Canyon River Alerts system. Text GCRIVERALERTS to 928-707-7842.

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Business, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Government, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

City of Flagstaff Beautification – Arts & Sciences News & Opportunities

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Apply for a Beautification in Action Grant
Artists, local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and community groups—this is your chance to transform Flagstaff’s shared spaces. The City of Flagstaff, through the Beautification and Public Art Commission, is accepting Beautification in Action (BIA) grants of up to $8,000 for creative projects that add character and beauty to our community. Eligible projects must be in publicly accessible locations and can include murals, sculptures, community or pollinator gardens, decorative benches, neighborhood pathways, and more.

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Cultural, Education, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Sedona Arts Center — Creative Aging Classes for 55+

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Tap into your creativity, make new friends, and explore a variety of art forms in this engaging six-week sampler class just for adults 55 and older. Whether you’re brand-new to art or returning after years away, our professional teaching artists will guide you through storytelling, drawing, painting, art journaling, and mixed media in a fun, supportive environment.

No experience necessary! Caregivers are welcome. If registering yourself plus your loved one, please contact Bernadette directly.

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Cultural, Entertainment, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Your Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra Season Starts Now—Concert Tickets + Sippin’ with the Symphony

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Single tickets for FSO’s Season 76 are now available! Whether there’s one concert you can’t wait to experience, or you’re planning a year of music, now is the time to reserve your seats.

If you’ll be joining us for more than one performance, a subscription is still one of the best ways to enjoy the season—offering discounted pricing, exclusive benefits, and the flexibility to make Season 76 your own. Full season and flexible packages are still available.

Subscriptions start as low as $129 for a three-concert package. Learn more about each concert on our website and secure your seats today.

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Business, Education, Events, Family, Finance, Health, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

United Way of Northern Arizona — Will We See You There? Last chance to register for kickoff!

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Join us on Tuesday, August 26th at High Country Conference Center for a buffet breakfast and an inspiring panel discussion on youth mental health, spotlighting collaborative efforts to give adolescents the tools and resources they need to thrive.

Deadline to register is 5 pm tomorrow!

The kickoff marks the official beginning of our annual campaign to raise $1.2 million to fund efforts to increase youth opportunity, healthy communities, financial security and community resiliency in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Government, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Coconino County Center for the Arts — Announcing CCA’s Fall Concert Season!

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We are thrilled to launch our fall concert season with an diverse array of local favorites and acclaimed touring artists, offering something for every music lover.

Listed below are the first concerts of the season, and we’ll be announcing even more performances and dates in the weeks ahead. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Coconino Center for the Arts for another season of unforgettable live music!

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Cultural, Education, Family, Local, News, women, Youth

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Back-to-School events concluding, but see upcoming Fall events. See our resource listing

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COCONINO COUNTY —
Back-to-School events in Coconino County — including fall enrollment, freshman orientations for parents and students, meet the teacher events, school supply distributions and youth sports physicals — will soon conclude, but local organizations are already planning for a variety of youth events this upcoming Fall.
Please check with individual school districts, health care providers and other organizations to confirm times, dates, other information below.
The Coalition will continue to update this resource list. If you have a program you want us to include, please send an email to frank@coconinokids.org. Thank you. (Updated Aug. 12, 2025)

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Business, Commentary, Education, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

United Way of Northern Arizona to present 2nd Literacy Fair on Aug. 16, inaugural Youth Leadership Conference on Oct. 2

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We are very excited to announce two upcoming events designed to promote literacy and leadership skills for our youth.

Later this month, we’ll hold our 2nd Literacy Fair, building on the success of the first one we held with the Literacy Center in February.

Then in October, we’ll have our inaugural Youth Leadership Conference for dozens of 9th graders in northern Arizona. Kristen Strauss, our Manager of Youth Programs & Education Initiatives, has all the details about both events below.

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Business, Commentary, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — NAH releases new strategic plan

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The public learned this week that Northern Arizona Healthcare (NAH) discussed their five-year priorities during a meeting held last Thursday with city and county leaders in Flagstaff. There, NAH announced the completion of a 2030 strategic plan.

Many thanks to KNAU Arizona Public Radio and the Arizona Daily Sun for covering the meeting and publishing online stories yesterday and today to inform the public of this recent information. The Arizona Daily Sun article can be viewed in PDF form here and here.

Both news stories indicate that NAH continues to evaluate five sites for a new hospital location, including an expansion of their current building on Beaver Street. NAH indicates they do not plan to build a “medical village” at the selected site as was their previous plan.

Additionally, NAH stated that Flagstaff Medical Center is not a community hospital any longer, but rather is considered by NAH and others as a regional referral center.

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Business, Cultural, Local, News, Technology

Coconino Center for the Art to present ‘Coffee with Digitals’ on Aug. 15

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Date: Friday, August 15
Time: 10 – 11:30AM
FREE: Registration required

Start your morning with fresh coffee and fresh ideas at Coffee with Digitals.

Coffee with Digitals is a casual gathering that celebrates the vibrant intersection of art and technology. Hosted by Chris Johnson, Professor of Visual Communication at NAU, this monthly meetup invites artists, educators, and community members to connect around emerging digital practices—from animation and AR to AI and 3D modeling.

This month, Chris is joined by special guest James Peters, an Emmy Award–winning animation artist with nearly 30 years of experience. James has worked on iconic series such as Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys, Futurama, and Rick and Morty, and has contributed to both Marvel and DC animated properties, including Young Justice—a show that redefined the standards of studio animation.

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Business, Entertainment, Events, Finance, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Discover treasures: August Sale at Sedona Art Center Gallery Shop

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Our Gallery showcases the largest selection in Sedona of artwork by local artists. If you are seeking a rare piece of fine art, a gift of exquisite jewelry, appreciate stunning photography, or looking for a lovely keepsake from your visit to Sedona, the Arts Center has it all and more. Sedona Arts Center is a 501(c)3 organization that offers all purchases without sales tax – almost a 10% savings.

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News

City of Flagstaff opens applications for Sustainability Grants

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FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and Sustainability Commission announce the opening of applications for the Flagstaff Sustainability Grants Program. The annual funding opportunity, formally know as the Neighborhood Sustainability Grant Program, will accept applications from Aug. 15 through Sept. 30, 2025. The competitive grant program provides funding up to $7,500 for sustainability projects that strengthen community partnerships and environmental stewardship within Flagstaff city limits. Eligible applicants include community groups, nonprofits, individuals, and businesses with projects that address key sustainability priorities. Priority focus areas include energy, community health and climate resilience, food, transportation, and waste.

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Business, Finance, Government, Local, News

Coconino County Treasurer’s Office moves downtown

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COCONINO COUNTY — Starting Monday, Aug. 18, the Coconino County Treasurer’s Office will be back in downtown Flagstaff for in-person services at 110 E. Cherry Ave. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The current location at Flagstaff Mall, 4650 N. N. US Hwy 89, will be open until Aug. 18.

“Having one office downtown with in-person services helps streamline our processes and will make doing business with the Treasurer’s Office simple and convenient for residents,” Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar said. “We will now have a one-stop-shop for employees, meetings, partner agencies and residents.”

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Business, Education, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Workshops and Classes at the Sedona Arts Center

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Discover something new, deepen your creative practice, or reignite your artistic passion with one of our upcoming workshops at Sedona Arts Center. Here are just a few exciting classes you can sign up for now—and you’ll find our full lineup of workshops and events online at SedonaArtsCenter.org. Join us in the studio and be part of a vibrant community of artists and learners in the heart of Sedona.

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Cultural, Entertainment, Events, Family, Local, News, Seniors, Veterans, women, Youth

Popular all-female Mariachi Rubor returns to headline Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada on Aug. 9, 2025

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FLAGSTAFF — To celebrate and recognize Flagstaff’s Hispanic roots, Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces invites the public to attend its 10th annual “Flagstaff Summertime Tardeada — Mariachi and Folklórico Festival” from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, 224 S. Kendrick St., Flagstaff.

The event is FREE, open to the public and has drawn upwards of 400 visitors in past years. 

Entertainment for this year includes the opening music of Cumbre, followed by a dance performance by Ballet Folklorico de Colores — Flagstaff, the return of the popular all-female Mariachi Rubor, with closing dance music by New Destiny.

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Business, Cultural, Government, Local, News

Coconino County elected officials Sarah Benatar, Jeronimo Vasquez help pass resolutions that form national policy

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COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Treasurer Sarah Benatar and District 2 Supervisor Jeronimo Vasquez attended the National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual Conference to help pass important resolutions that could lead to changes both nationwide and locally.

NACo represents county officials from across the United States and provides counties a platform to advocate for policy changes at the federal level. 

“As the manager of all county monies, I am concerned about fiscal policies that would impact federally awarded funds from reaching the county,” Treasurer Benatar said. “These funds help pay for the necessary services for constituents including maintaining public transportation and roads, operating public schools, enforcing building codes and providing public safety.”

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Business, Education, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

CCC Community Education September classes: Stained Glass, Meeting Facilitation, Poetry, Sign Language

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Stained Glass Workshop

Saturday, Sept. 6 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

or

Sunday, Sept. 7 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn the fundamentals of stained glass art and create your own art piece to take home! This workshop fills up quickly – if full, add yourself to the wait list to receive advance notice of future workshops.

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Commentary, Cultural, Education, Family, Government, Health, Local, News, women, Youth

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Registration now available for 2025 CCC&Y Conference

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COCONINO COUNTY —  The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth is proud to present our most exciting and groundbreaking event yet — “Coherence Rising: Inner Alignment as the Catalyst for Systematic Change” on Tuesday, Sept. 9 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff.

Join us in a beautiful setting that reminds us the universe is infinite and so is our potential.

We are joined by not one, but two amazing and powerful keynote presenters who share their expertise, gift for inspiration and profound insights. 

In her morning presentation “Cohere. Connect. Conduct,” guest speaker Iyo Affo will weave together storytelling, science, spoken word and systems change to spark transformation within organizations and communities. Affo, a Culturalist and Trauma Specialist, will draw on personal experiences, neuroscience and the power of collective healing to talk about how self-healing communities and systems change can be the foundation for lasting transformation.

“It is such an honor that both of these women are crafting their presentations specific to this moment in time, this audience, and this venue for truly unique and beautiful experiences,” said Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of CCC&Y. “Yes, I am the host, but I am an eager participant- I cannot wait to be a part of this!”

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Business, Government, Health, Local, News, Public Safety

Tim Carter appointed Coconino County Emergency Management Director

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Carter is a Certified Emergency Manager with a master’s degree in emergency management and homeland security. He has more than 13 years of service with Coconino County and more than two decades of public safety experience.

“Tim has demonstrated leadership in disaster response, hazard mitigation, stakeholder engagement and public outreach,” Coconino County Manager Andy Bertelsen said. “He is a strong leader who excels in interagency coordination, and we are fortunate to have him on our team.”

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

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) — Action Alert: Flagstaff Regional Plan available for review: Public hearings scheduled

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The Public Hearing Draft of the Regional Land Use Plan 2045 (Draft Regional Plan) was recently released by the City of Flagstaff online (PDF here; this is a large file and may take some time to download). A take home hard copy of the Draft Regional Plan can be requested by emailing Elsa Erling at elsa.erling@flagstaffaz.gov.

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Business, Commentary, Cultural, Entertainment, Family, Local, News, Seniors, women, Youth

Coconino Center for the Arts — Sponsor a Theater Seat Today – Help Us Reach Our Goal!

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We’re thrilled to share that we’re so close to reaching our goal to purchase brand-new seats for the Coconino Center for the Arts theater—but we need your help to get us across the finish line!

The current seats have been in use for over 40 years, and it’s time for a much-needed upgrade. With our concert season fast approaching, our goal is to have all seats sponsored by September 27 so the new seating can be installed in November. The photo below shows the modern, more comfortable seats we’ll install with your support.

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