NAU Latin American Studies will present Takkara Brunson and her recently-published book “Black Women, Citizenship, and the Making of Modern Cuba” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23 on Zoom.
Brunson traces how women of African descent were essential participants in the political processes that defined Cuba well before the 1959 Revolution.
The NAU College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, College of Arts and Letters will present as part of its Film Series “Cesar Chavez” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 29 at the Cline Library Assembly Hall.
Join us for an early celebration of Cesar Chavez’s birthday with this free screening. Masks required.
In honor of Cesar Chavez’s birthday (March 31), we present this bio-pic which was named Best Picture by both the American Latino Media Arts and the Imagen Awards. Directed by Diego Luna “Cesar Chavez” chronicles the struggles of the civil rights leader and labor organizer’s inspiring battle to secure a decent wage for farm workers. The Chicago Sun Times called it, “A solid and mostly successful attempt to introduce this important labor leader and civil rights activist to younger audiences, while reminding older folks of the impact Chavez had on this country.”
Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ will hold an in-person job fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 12 at its new second location on Switzer Canyon Road across from Frys.
Interviewing for Donation Attendants, Retail Merchandise Processors, Retail Sales Associates, and Retail Management, both full time and part time!
Goodwill of Central and Northern AZ will hold a virtual job fair at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 13.
Come celebrate our 25th Annual Spelling Bee and support equal access to literacy for all members of our community! We will have raffles, prizes, auctions, games, and more!
Tickets are $55 and cover admission into the event as well as a three-course dinner. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase at the event.
To sponsor the event or a team, or to participate in the bee competition, email director@thinkliteracy.org
Let’s add to the diverse voices at the library! the Coconino County Public Library is looking to expand their Spanish Language Collection.
The Diversity Book Drive, in partnership with the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library. will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 30 at the Flagstaff Public Library Downtown, 300 W. Aspen Ave., Flagstaff.
The City of Flagstaff Parks, Recreation, Open Space and Events Division is partnering with Southwest Decision Resources and Wheat Design Group to collaborate with the Flagstaff community on the future of the 8.5-acre Thorpe Park Annex parcel. On Saturday, April 30, from 12 to 2 p.m., the community is invited to meet with their Flagstaff neighbors and envision the future of the parcel.
From 12 to 12:45 p.m., the community is invited to eat lunch (there will be food trucks on site) and walk around the parcel to learn about initial ideas being generated from the community survey. Participants will also be invited to think critically about compatibility of current uses and future programming on the site.
The Kentucky Derby Fundraiser presented by PNC Bank is back, May 7th at High Country Conference Center.
Enjoy some hors d’oeuvres, a mint julep and much more. There will be live music, a silent auction, live auction and of course watching of the Kentucky Derby. Don’t forget we are giving prizes for Best Dressed and Best Hat!
So grab your hats and get your tickets today! You don’t want to miss the greatest 2 minutes in sports. www.bgcflag.org
The Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library will be celebrating Flagstaff learners of all ages with its Lifelong Learning Celebration and Yearbook Day on Friday, May 20. This all-day, interactive celebration will take place in the Community Room of the Downtown Library (300 W Aspen Ave) and will feature crafts, activities, and community learning resources.
Yearbook activities
The Library maintains local yearbooks dating back to 1924, including Sinagua High School, now known as Sinagua Middle School. While these yearbooks are usually stored in a locked case, the entire yearbook collection will be available for patron browsing in the Community Room from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Patrons of all ages are invited to find themselves, their family members, or well-known Flagstaffians among the old and new pages.
The Library will also be launching a “Library Yearbook” for patrons to fill with remembrances and high school memories spurred by the yearbooks. Patrons are also invited to create one-of-a-kind cards for the graduate in their life with an eclectic selection of card-making materials provided.
In the Library’s Teen Zone from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., 2022 graduates can bring their graduation caps to decorate with provided supplies.
Coconino County’s next Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development Zoom-based training will run 6-9pm, Tuesdays for 9-week running March 29th and go through May 24th. If you are eligible, our Individual Development Accounts (IDA) match saving grant opportunity is also available. This email has information, below and attached, on the benefits of each program and how to sign-up.
Mental health is all around us, but, what exactly is mental health? Mental health is a person’s general sense of emotional, psychological, and cognitive well-being. Everyone has mental health every day, but it’s often ignored unless something is going seriously wrong. The best way to prevent that is to pay attention to your mental health even when you are feeling okay or even good.
Notice how your mental health is always changing. Yesterday might have been a better day than today, and that’s okay. Part of being human is moving with your emotions, and knowing when something isn’t going exactly how you want it to, check in with yourself, and reach out to your friends and family for help when you need to take some time for your mental health or don’t know what to do.
As we celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month, please join us for upcoming events!
The Coconino County Diversity Team will present Pride Month presentations through May 31.
Happy Pride Month! Coconino County is committed to inclusion and visibility for the LGBTQ+ community and we celebrate the contributions and impact made to our community every day.
Stay tune for the latest upcoming events.
On June 10th,the Flagstaff Police Department will be hosting a couple of community meeting events. These meetings are to allow concerned citizens and business owners to meet with consultants who will be making recommendations on a nuisance noise ordinance. The attached flyers outline the dates, times and locations.
Arizona’s largest blues festival, Flagstaff Blues and Brews, announces their impressive lineup for the June 2022 event. The festival starts Friday afternoon, June 10th and runs through Saturday night, June 11th. Named as one of the top 10 most beautiful blues festivals, the Flagstaff Blues & Brews festival has helped launch the careers of many blues artists, including; Karen Lovely, MonkeyJunk, Harlis Sweetwater and Jeremy Bar-Illan.
Also see Juneteenth Concert on June 19 at Fort Tuthill
Come celebrate Juneteenth with music performances, food, games and vendors from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at the Flagstaff Murdoch Center, 203 E. Brannen Ave., Flagstaff.
Hosted by the Coconino County African Diaspora Advisory Council, the Flagstaff Lived Black Experience Project, and the Southside Community Association (SCA).
The Juneteenth celebration commemorates the day Texas slaves learned of the Emancipation Proclamation, granting them freedom. Juneteenth today, celebrates African American freedom and achievement, while encouraging continuous self-development and respect for all cultures.
Join us in supporting literacy at the Drinking Horn Meadery on June 21st @ 6 PM! This fundraiser will involve a fun individual spelling bee competition, a raffle, and mead of course!
Come spell (or watch), drink mead, buy some raffle tickets, and participate in fundraising for the Literacy Center! Proceeds from the raffle and a portion of mead sales will be donated to the Literacy Center.
The winner of this competition will get a sponsored seat on the Drinking Horn Spelling Bee team at the Literacy Center’s 26th Annual Adult Mountain Spelling Bee in April 2023!
There is no cost to participate in this fun spelling bee kickoff event. Just show up at the Meadery June 21st! Must be 21 to attend.
The City of Flagstaff is hosting a community volunteer day in areas downstream of the Museum Fire burn scar on Saturday, July 9. Volunteers will be assisting residents who are elderly or have a disability repair their emergency sandbag mitigation. Please note that this will be the last volunteer day in the Museum Fire flood area as we enter the monsoon season.
The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office is hosting a Fix-it Clinic on Saturday, July 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will be held at the Joe C. Montoya Community & Senior Center, located at 245 N. Thorpe Rd.
Volunteers will be fixing small household appliances, clothing, electronics, jewelry, bicycles and more. Appointments for fixes will be given priority, but walk-ins are welcome. Make an appointment online at: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E4CAFAA28A7FBC43-fixit
This community meeting is specifically targeted towards residents who live on the west side of Flagstaff, including the neighborhoods of Cheshire, Valley Crest, Coyote Springs, Ridge Crest, Coconino Estates, and Rock Ridge Estates. This meeting will not provide information on flooding impacts in Doney Park, Timberline, or other areas east of Flagstaff.
Heritage Days will return to the North Rim within Grand Canyon National Park. After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Heritage Days will be held from August 5 through August 7, 2022. Each day, Heritage Days programs will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. in various locations throughout the North Rim developed area.
Heritage Days provide visitors and staff with the opportunity to experience and celebrate the rich cultural diversity of the Colorado Plateau, Arizona Strip and the Grand Canyon area. This year’s Heritage Days will provide an especially important opportunity to expose visitors to different perspectives of the Grand Canyon.
Representatives from Coconino County and FEMA will conduct a free webinar to inform our community about the new flood risk to our neighborhoods and important information about flood insurance.
Over the past few years, the frequency of wildfires has increased in Coconino County and with that increase comes an increase in the risk of post-wildfire flooding. To help inform property owners about this increased risk and actions they can take to reduce that risk, the Coconino County Flood Control District has provided post-wildfire flood risk and mitigation information.
Coconino County has announced a number of Hispanic, country, other performances for Coconino County Fair Sept. 2 through Sept. 5 including Ballet Folklorico de Colores de Flagstaff, Adolfo Urias and Tropical Del Bravo.
Click here for the entire 2022 Schedule of Events
Buy tickets here
Northern Arizona University and the City of Flagstaff are teaming up for the 5th Annual Community Welcome walk. On Wednesday, September 7, between 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., a small team of volunteers will be visiting homes in neighborhoods near the NAU campus. During the door-to-door “knock and talks” volunteers meet with local and student residents, share tips for safe and respectful living, and encourage neighbors to get to know one another. Community Welcome aims to improve relations between local and student residents renting rooms and homes in the historic La Plaza Vieja and Southside Neighborhoods.
The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Friday, Sept. 9 from 3 – 5 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall for final candidates for the position of City Engineer. The City conducted eight preliminary interviews for the position and has invited three candidates to Flagstaff to participate in the meet and greet event.
The candidate names and brief biographies are included below:
Dr. Maiah Jaskoski, Professor of Political Science at NAU, will present her new book, The Politics of Extraction: Territorial Rights, Participatory Institutions, and Conflict in Latin America” at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21 at Northern Arizona University, Room LA-120.
Presented by NAU Latin American Studies.
Deep-rooted fans who discovered Rodrigo y Gabriela through their 2006 self-titled breakout album have long recognized the Mexicans’ mastery of their instruments. Rodrigo’s shimmering, hummingbird flourishes hovering over Gabriela’s extraordinary engine room rhythm section are a staple for the duo. T
Coconino Community College will present the Free Comet Talk “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” Jim Thorpe, Dwight Eisenhower, and the Battle for the Soul of America, from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 28 at CCC Fourth Street Campus, 3000 N. Fourth St., Flagstaff.
Buildings are pieces of history, and each has a story to tell. That is the theme for this year’s Coconino County Sustainable Building Tour: The Stories Buildings Tell. The public is invited to join this year’s 18th annual Sustainable Building Tour, to be held on Saturday, October 1, 2022, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science, this year’s tour will be held completely in person, the first time in three years, and showcases ten properties throughout the community. The property owners and homeowners who have been certified through the county’s Sustainable Building Program will share their stories; stories about the landscape, anecdotes on the process of building their home, and tales of living in and maintaining their unique properties.
Join Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) as community members ask questions and hear answers from the seven candidates running for City Council: incumbent Austin Aslan, and Lori Matthews (both listed on the ballot), and the five official write in candidates: Kevin Dobbe, Sean Golliher, Deborah Harris, incumbent Khara House, and incumbent Regina Salas.
The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Monday, Oct. 3 from 3 – 5 p.m. at Flagstaff City Hall for final candidates for the position of Water Services Director. The City received 25 applications, conducted 11 screening interviews, and invited four candidates to participate in the meet and greet following preliminary interviews.
The City of Flagstaff will be holding a town hall on October 6, 2022 at 5:00p.m. in the City HallChambers to provide the community an opportunity to hear the results and ask questions of the noise study thatwas requested by the city council. Attendees can join in person in the Council Chambers or virtually via theMicrosoft Teams link below.
The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office and Coconino County Health and Human Services (CCHHS) invite the community to celebrate the opening of the Pathways to Community Program at an Open House and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Thursday, October 6 from 1 – 3 p.m. at 951 E Sawmill Road, Flagstaff, AZ.
The Pathways to Community Program is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and CCHHS, in collaboration with many community partners. This new program brings community and legal resources together in one physical space to support those being released from incarceration as they return to the community.
The Coconino Community College District Governing Board is pleased to announce that they have selected three finalists for the presidency of the College. Public forums with each of the finalists are scheduled for the week of Oct., 3, 2022.
“We would like to thank all of the communities served by the College for your continued interest and support in the process to identify our next President,” said Dr. Nathaniel White, Board Chair. “I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all members of the Board Presidential Search Committee for their exceptional work and effort.”
Flagstaff is ready to find solutions to our biggest problems. That’s why MetroPlan is bringing Greater Flagstaff communities together to build our region’s transportation plan, Stride Forward. Stride Forward will guide transportation investments for the next 20 years, and we are building it with your help.
Join us for our next Virtual Public Meeting:
Saturday, October 8 at 9 a.m.
Join Friends of Flagstaff’s Future (F3) at our Annual Meeting and Potluck.
Sunday, October 16th, 3:00-5:00 pm
Outside at Riordan Mansion’s Veranda
409 W Riordan Rd.
Parking is available at Riordan State Park. Backup parking is available in the adjacent NAU parking garage for a fee.
Come learn about F3’s work this year and important issues on which we’ll be focusing in 2023. Meet F3’s Executive Director, F3 Board members, and many community members.
The City of Flagstaff is hosting open house events in October to provide educational information to members of the public on Propositions 441 and 442. Informational materials on the propositions will be available at the events and City staff will be in attendance to answer questions. Details on each event are listed below.
A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, October 27 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park.
The Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to highlight the culture of the traditional Mexican holiday, Día de los Muertos with our concert, “Celebraciones!” in collaboration with the Museum of Northern Arizona/Flagstaff Nuestras Raíses’ “Celebraciones de la Gente” from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 28, 2022.
Joining us for this spectacular celebration of Mexican music and composers will be Flagstaff’s own Ballet Folklorico de Colores, presenting a traditional Mexican folk dance to José Moncayo’s classic Huapango.
Friday, October 28, 2022
Awards Night Celebration –- SAC Special Exhibition Gallery & Theatre – 5:00-7:00pm
Held at Sedona Arts Center’s Special Exhibition Gallery and Theatre Studio in the Art Barn. Fine wine, fine hors d’oeuvres and beautiful art. This is the big event. Artist’s awards are presented throughout the evening recognizing the best work created during the week including Best of Show and merit awards by Festival Judges Susan Lynn and John Caggiano, Artist’s Choice Award, Collectors Choice by ballot and Sedona Arts Center Awards.
The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office and the Flagstaff Police Department invite you to attend a free community Drop-off Day. Join City staff on Saturday, October 29 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Flagstaff Police Department, 911 E. Sawmill Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.
The Sustainability Office is excited to partner with the City of Flagstaff Hazardous Products Center, Coconino County, Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Ponderosa Medical Waste Services, Elevated Shredding, and Westech Recyclers to put your waste in the right place.
Coconino County voters have a critical decision to make on their ballot on Election Day, November 8. Proposition 445 asks voters whether to extend the existing half-cent Jail District Sales Tax (JDST) for an additional 25 years. There will be a series of live-streamed virtual town hall meetings in the coming weeks in an effort to inform the public about the importance of the JDST to the operations of County Detention Facilities and the many in-custody and reentry programs the County provides.
How will Flagstaff address our transportation challenges in the next 20-25 years as we implement the Climate Neutrality Plan and predicted population growth?
Join the F3 Board as they discuss Flagstaff’s Stride Upward Plan and strategy with MetroPlan’s Planning Manager on Thursday Nov. 3 @ 6:00 pm via Zoom.
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz — The City of Flagstaff will host a series of in-person home energy efficiency workshops this winter, with the first workshop scheduled for Wednesday, November 9. Each workshop will provide a quick one-hour demonstration and discussion to help…
The Coconino County Facilities Management Department will host an open house both in-person and virtually on Thursday, November 10 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
The topic will be the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean-up grant application for the abatement of hazardous materials from the old county jail. If awarded, the grant would provide clean-up funds to remove and remediate hazardous materials at the facility. Cleaning hazardous materials such as lead-based paint and asbestos is the vital first step to reuse the building and the site.
Since 2007, over 600 local residents have enrolled in Coconino County’s Building Businesses & Entrepreneurs (BBE) business plan development training. Now we’ve added BBE Support Services Group (BBESSG) presentations, plus new cash assistance and referral incentives each worth up to $500. It’s been said 70% of the U.S. population has dreamed of starting a business but only 10% do, mostly for lack of know-how and capital. BBE training is for those starting and/or expanding a home-based or other micro-business (five or less employees).
Those enrolled for our next BBE training also can participate in noon-hour, Wednesday, June BBESSG presentation via Zoom:
A full closure of Buffalo Park will take place through Thursday, Nov. 17 to allow for construction activities related to the Arizona State Parks Grant for the Buffalo Park Trail Accessibility project. The full closure will include the closure of the parking lot, ramada, restrooms and all other areas within Buffalo Park.
The City of Flagstaff’s Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Events Division and the Flagstaff Downtown Business Alliance are hosting the annual Winter Wonderland and Holiday Tree Lighting event on Dec. 3, 2022 in Heritage Square and on Aspen Ave.
Crafts, hot cocoa, cookie decorating, smores and live music will be available from 3 – 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., Santa Claus will travel on fire truck to Heritage Square to light the holiday tree. All activities are free of charge and the event concludes at 7 p.m.
The City of Flagstaff invites members of the public to attend a meet and greet event on Wednesday, Jan. 4 from 3:30 – 5 p.m. at Public Works Core Services building (3200 W Rte 66) to meet the final candidate for the position of Public Works Director. The City received 10 applications and invited three candidates to interview for the position. The City invited one candidate to participate in the meet and greet event.
Participants may attend in-person or virtually by using this link (Click here to join the meeting). Feedback will be collected athttps://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SN6DGG9.
Due to the cancellation of the Pinecone Drop, the city-sponsored New Year’s Eve fireworks displays scheduled for Friday, December 31 at 10 p.m. and midnight in downtown Flagstaff have been cancelled.
All Coconino County maintained roads are open and passable, although roads remain icy and slick. Coconino County has 15 graders, 12 snowplow trucks, and one loader working to keep the roads clear.
Thank you to Coconino County Public Works, Flagstaff City Government, and Arizona Department of Transportation for working through the night to ensure safe travels this morning. Please check https://www.az511.com/ for the latest road conditions.
Hi Everyone,
Wishing everyone a safe holiday season! As we approach the end
of the year its a time to reflect on the successes of 2021. District 2
has been very busy this year working on various items outlined
below.
American Rescue Plan Funding Process
Redistricting Process
Museum Flood Area Response and Mitigation
COVID Impacts and programs
County Budget Process
A rare opportunity to tour the historic Riordan Ranch at Twilight. Thur.-Fri., Sun.-Mon. 5 p.m.
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is concerned that the proposed design for Lone Tree Overpass, currently under consideration by Council, is overbuilt, provides inadequate protection for pedestrians and bicyclists, encourages an increase in automobile traffic, negatively impacts the Southside neighborhood, and is in conflict with the city’s Carbon Neutrality Plan.
Virginia Watahomigie, executive director of the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth, was presented with the Marcia Stanton Award on Dec. 16 by the Arizona ACEs Consortium at the 8th annual statewide ACEs summit.
The Arizona ACEs Consortium is a collaboration of more than one hundred individuals, state, county, private organizations and professionals from all walks of life, united by a desire to help Arizona’s children. It promotes a greater understanding of the impacts of toxic stress and trauma, and supports efforts to address and prevent them.
“The Marcia Stanton Award was established in 2018 and pays homage to the original leader of the ACEs movement, Marcia Stanton. It is awarded to an individual who displays a commitment, perseverance and dedication to spread the awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences and someone that leads action in their community to decrease the prevalence and effect of ACEs on both children and adults,” said Angie Burleson, executive director of the consortium. “This Award honors excellence in leadership, collaboration and the advancement of the PACEs movement in AZ.”
Despite lingering concerns due to multiple variants of the coronavirus, supply chain issues, and fears that inflation might dampen the recovery, our region had a fair bit of good economic news this past year.
Consider the fact that in 2021, the number of leads that we fielded for businesses interested in locating in northern Arizona increased by 15% over the last calendar year. At the same time, ECoNA’s Business Retention team reports that few businesses closed in the past 12 months and many are looking to expand.
That’s the macro view on our local economy. Zoom in a bit, however, and you’ll see a lot of exciting developments that made 2021 an excellent year for northern Arizona and indicate that 2022 might be even better.
All Coconino County administrative offices will be closed on Friday, December 24 and Friday, December 31 in observance of the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
While the administrative offices at the Sheriff’s Office will be closed, dispatch, patrol and detention will be open. Please dial 911 for emergencies. For non-emergencies, dial 928-774-4523 to connect with the non-emergency dispatch or to leave a message for one of the administrative offices.
Here at Sedona Arts Center we just wanted to say thank you for your commitment to our local nonprofit and all that we do. As we move into a new year, we wish you moments of peace amid the difficulties, connections with family and friends even if they can’t be in person, the warmth of memories from holidays past, and hope for a better future.
Creative Flagstaff is excited to announce that $55,000 in grants have been awarded 13 local organizations through the Innovation & Capacity Project Grant program for fiscal year 2022. These awards are made possible through Creative Flagstaff’s partnership with the City of Flagstaff and BBB Revenues.
Want to help Flagstaff grow sustainably?
Are you concerned about housing, providing multi-modal transportation, climate change adaptation and resilience, open space, and ensuring we have water into the future?
Yes? Please consider running for Flagstaff City Council in 2022.
The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and supporters participated in the annual Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 11 in downtown Flagstaff.
Presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Vora Financial Group, the parade features more than 100 entries.
Hundreds of luminarias surrounded neighborhood homes during the annual Coconino Estates Luminaries and Live Nativity held Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021 north of downtown Flagstaff.
The annual event also included music by local bands, bonfires, food and beverage areas, strollers and hundreds of vehicles cruising the neighborhoods which included Navajo Drive, Beal Road, Aztec Street and other streets.
A 2003 Arizona Daily Sun story said the first Luminaries Celebration was held in 1982.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for an appointment to the Grand Canyon Unified School District #4 Governing Board.
Applicants must reside in the school district and be registered to vote in Arizona. Applicants or their spouses cannot be an employee of the district.
Flagstaff city administrative functions will be closed on Dec. 24, 2021 and Dec. 31, 2021 for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Closures and reopening schedules for other City facilities and services are listed below.
For the last two years, Laurel Malm, the first graduate of a joint program between nursing and ROTC, was on the front lines of health care, working in the COVID ward at Flagstaff Medical Center. Now she’ll take that experience with her into the Army, applying the leadership lessons she learned from ROTC and the need for flexibility, collaboration and focus she’s learned in nursing school.
Severe winter weather has returned to the Grand Canyon this week, so it’s time to offer a few reminders on winter preparedness!
If you haven’t done so already, sign up for the Coconino County Emergency Notifications to receive voice, text, and email emergency notifications generated by Grand Canyon Dispatch and public safety officials.
When Driving: Slow down! Try to keep a nearly full tank of gas in your personal vehicle throughout the winter. Keep an emergency kit in your personal vehicle. Suggested items are extra blankets, water, extra gloves, warm hat, snow pants, snacks, traction devices, jumper cables, flag, flashlight, first aid kit, plastic sheeting, and phone charger. Be prepared for any type of emergency.
At Home: Keep extra food, water, light sources, and blankets available in case of a power outage.
When Walking: Always have the appropriate gear, clothing, and footwear. The potential for slips, trips, and falls increases dramatically in winter. It is recommended that shoe traction devices be worn while walking in icy conditions.
When the pandemic took hold in northern Arizona in the spring of 2020, there were so many unknowns. How severe would the impact of COVID be? When would lockdowns be lifted? How long before we had a viable vaccine?
One thing we did know: Coconino County nonprofits and agencies were going to be hard-pressed to meet the challenges during an unprecedented crisis.
That’s why the United Way of Northern Arizona and Coconino County launched the Social Safety Net Coalition. Its goal was to help those providing basic needs coordinate their efforts to address an ever-evolving situation. Almost two years later, this group continues its impressive, collaborative work.
The Coconino Coalition for Children and Youth (CCC&Y), sees you! We see all the ways you support folks in your neighborhood and our community! You are helping to “bring back the village,” and you’re doing great!
Let’s face it, life can be challenging, and too often, we are collectively stressed. Stress is normalized. We can acknowledge that some stress is good for us, keeping us thinking and maybe even providing us a boost to take necessary action. However, maintaining health requires that we offer ourselves opportunities to decompress. CCC&Y hopes you gift yourself with time to reconnect with yourself and those closest to you.
During this season of reflection, CCC&Y invites you to cozy up with some tea and a warm blanket and take a few mindful moments to recognize and honor your inner self and notice your thoughts, feelings, and sensations. (“Mindfulness for Parents and Professionals”). If our opportunity for Mindfulness feels supportive to you, we invite you to share it with others.
First, youth and young adults were invited to craft creative COVID-19 public health messages. Now, it’s the community’s turn to choose their favorites.
The Arizona Community Engagement Alliance (CEAL) Against COVID-19 Disparities set out to inspire Arizona youth and young adults to showcase their artistic talents through the “It’s Our Turn” contest, asking them to add their unique spin on public service COVID-19 messages, especially around masks and vaccines.
The City of Flagstaff is proud to provide a tree-cycling service during the month of January to assist with the proper recycling of Christmas trees. Residents within City limits can place their tree curbside by 6 a.m. January 3, 2022 and Solid Waste services will pick up trees until January 7.
Residents without a trash pickup service or those living in multifamily housing can also participate by bringing their trees to one of the following 24-hour locations until January 17th:
Old Public Works Yard: 419 N. Mogollon Street
Continental Little League Field: 5700 E. Old Walnut Canyon Road
Jamie Begay, who earned a master’s in public health, has spent her educational career doing outreach and research on public health in Indigenous communities; finding a program that allowed her to specialize in Indigenous health brought her back to her alma mater for a second degree. At no time did this come together more than when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the Navajo Nation particularly hard; she kept busy delivering food, medicine and other necessities to Indigenous communities and checking in with people. The love of community drives Begay. “The value of that experience stems from my appreciation and responsibility I feel for my community. Through that experience, resilience was the foundation of our efforts.”
Souls of Forgotten Objects
Curated by Geoffrey Gorman
Now Showing through December 23, 2021
in the Special Exhibition Gallery at Sedona Arts Center
Open Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm
Exploring the intersection between trash and treasure, Souls of Forgotten Objects brings found or forgotten objects together to create something beautiful. Whether that is an old tree branch, bike tire, cardboard, colorful material, metal or paper, the exhibit takes these found or lost materials and turns them in to magnificent art. Curious, evocative, dynamic or meditative, Sedona Arts Center invited artists to think outside the box, canvas or convention in submitting pieces for this spectacular exhibit.
Coconino County Public Works, in conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), will ignite the annual green waste burn at the Willard Springs Green Waste Station, located 17 miles south of Flagstaff at Exit 326 on the west side of Interstate 17 (I-17), by Tuesday, December 14, 2021 The Willard Springs green waste burn is expected to produce smoke during the ignition period, which will last approximately three weeks. Based on wind and weather conditions, smoke may be heavy at times and visible to motorists on I-17. The Coconino National Forest will post signage on I-17 to notify motorists about smoke and to drive with caution.
When Alondra Angelica Alvarez Ortiz was seven years old, her family moved from Mexico to the U.S. She spent every night thereafter crying herself to sleep—she missed her little hometown of Gomez Palacio, visiting her tia’s snack cart after school and dressing up in a long traditional skirt and bright red lipstick to celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day. She didn’t understand America, with lines down the middle of the roads and lack of people in the back of pickups. She also didn’t understand the “better life” her mother insisted she would have here, for which she sacrificed so much. How could a society so fixated on working and money be better than her simple and carefree Gomez?
The Coconino Hispanic Advisory Council (CHAC) and supporters will participate in the annual Flagstaff Holiday Parade of Lights at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11 in downtown Flagstaff.
Presented by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce and the Vora Financial Group, the parade features more than 100 entries.
Flagstaff is the premier destination for fun wintertime activities in Arizona. Visitors can enjoy numerous winter activities at Fort Tuthill County Park including snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, and playing in the snow. If you visit, park only in designated parking areas; do not park on roadways and be alert for snowplows and pedestrians. Read the Winter Parking Ordinance.
For the first time in two years, NAU will celebrate commencement in the Skydome, with almost 2,800 students completing their degrees and President Cruz Rivera officiating his first commencement as president of NAU. With snow in the forecast, people traveling for commencement are encouraged to sign up for text alerts (by texting “NAU” to 237233) and leave extra travel time.
Winter Road Conditions and Reporting Emergencies
With the first major snow of the season arriving, here are a few reminders on park road conditions and reporting emergencies, especially during periods of inclement weather.
When a road closes in the park, Grand Canyon Dispatch, who are staffed 24 hours a day, receive the notification and immediately will update the road conditions outgoing message. This number should be programmed into your phone if it isn’t already; it is: 928-638-7496. Please do not call dispatch for roads updates unless you are reporting an emergency.
This past April, we lost a man whose unique talents, fearless entrepreneurial spirit and insatiable curiosity left both our community and the business sector a better place. Now, thanks to his family, his impressive collection of business books is available to the public through The Lynn Hagen Business Library at ECoNA.
George “Lynn” Hagen was a serial entrepreneur, the named inventor of 29 patents, and the founder or executive of several notable and pioneering companies. You’ll probably recognize many of the businesses he was associated with: Osborne Computer, creator of the first commercially successful portable computer; Upper Deck® trading cards; and Tagworks®, maker of laser-engraved pet identification tags.
In This Issue
9 December 2021
Hello from Supervisor Horstman
Perrin Ranch Tour
U.S. Forest Service Commitment
Coconino County Redistricting Process
State Congressional and Legislative Redistricting Process
Downtown Flagstaff Holiday Celebration
Winter Snow Play
Upcoming Winter Events
COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing
Contact Us
During this season of giving, we’d like to ask you to consider donating your time (and maybe a few non-perishable items) to the Flagstaff Family Food Center (FFFC), a UWNA partner that has served thousands of our neighbors when they were at their most vulnerable.
The organization, which opened its doors on Christmas Day exactly 30 years ago, has provided meals through its daily hot dinner and sack lunches at its kitchen on North 2nd Street, or through its Food Bank on Huntington Drive.
The Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth has created a series of no cost webinars for professionals, parents and youth, to provide them skills that are needed now more than ever.
“Strengthening Families: Protective Factors —” We hosted this 1.5 hour webinar to ensure we look through a strength-based framework that is evidence-based, supports families and is prevention focused. This is for the community, as well as, professionals.
Trainer
Claire Louge, Prevention Child Abuse Arizona
“I was so surprised that I could use the information in a lot of work that I do and not just with youth and families. It is truly amazing how it related to just every day life. It was great!!” according to one participant.
“Appreciated the new perspective on the the protective factors from the trainer. Good examples and activities,” said another participant.
Rachel Stice works as a dispatcher with the National Park Service at the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
Although she loves her job, she has designs on being a park Ranger. A first step on that journey is to get certified as an Emergency Medical Technician. Luckily for her, Coconino Community College’s Page Center offers an Emergency Medical Service course to help her achieve her goal.
“I work a lot behind the scenes, behind the computer with our Rangers for visitor and resource protection,” Stice said. “Along with that, we have a lot of medical calls in our area.”
With significant snow forecast for northern Arizona in the coming days, the City of Flagstaff would like to provide information regarding snow operations.
The City’s Public Works Division will deploy all available equipment and operators during winter snow events, with operations running 24 hours a day during significant events. First priority roadways for treatment are main arterials, major hills, downtown, school and transit routes. All other streets are considered second priority areas. To begin treating second priority roads, the first priority roadways must be completed and maintained throughout the snow event. Cinders are applied to major hills, signalized intersections, railroad crossings, shaded areas, problem areas and stop-signed intersections. A map of the city which shows first and second priority streets can be found at https://gis.flagstaffaz.gov/portal/apps/storymaps/stories/efeb74300b2d4520b2f30731412c604e
Welcome to the 9th edition of the Consular Newsletter on Economic and Tourism Affairs of the Consulate General of Mexico in Phoenix. With this edition, we close out a very productive year, where we featured the strong relationship between Mexico and Arizona.
The sections in this issue are:
#ChooseMexico emphasizes the vibrant Mexican automotive industry and highlights the presence of Mexico in important international events. The Mayor of Hermosillo, Antonio Astiazarán, explains why the city appeals both to business leaders and residents.
Graduate Eduardo Moreno’s experience in NAU-Yuma’s nursing program encompassed a breadth of experiences—working in the COVID-19 unit during clinicals, educating the community about the stigma behind mental illness and substance abuse and spending a little time in the hospital as a patient. He did it all with the goal of increasing access to affordable and effective health care.
Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget announced interviews of candidates for the Governing School Board Member open seat at Page Unified School District #8.
An advisory committee has been assembled consisting of a district resident, district teacher, chapter official, and two current board members. The Committee will conduct interviews and advise Superintendent Mango-Paget on the appointment. Candidates seeking appointment are Mr. Michael Mangum and Dr. Terry Maurer
The City of Flagstaff will host an in-person Home Energy Efficiency Workshop on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. This continues the Home Energy Efficiency Workshop Series, with the 1-hour informational and demonstration event scheduled to occur approximately once a month throughout the winter. This workshop series is held each winter season to help both renters and homeowners save money, reduce energy use, and make their homes more comfortable during cold weather.
At the free workshop, a licensed contractor from CozyHome will demonstrate simple do-it-yourself energy efficiency upgrades, showing individuals how to weatherize homes and save money on utility bills.
Explicamos el programa del Seguro Social, sus fondos, sus beneficios y sus beneficiarios.
Friends of Flagstaff’s Future is deeply saddened by the loss of Jim Babbitt, one of the founding members of the organization and a member of our formal Advisory Board. Jim’s passion for Flagstaff and his understanding of the how and why of past community decisions were integral to helping F3 understand and respond to local issues during the first 10 years of the organization’s existence. Nat White, of F3’s Advisory Board, described Jim as a quiet friend who understood the importance of Flagstaff’s history and strived to maintain the quality and character of the social and built environment in both word and deed.
Medical anthropologist Lisa Hardy says we all need to get comfortable with questions this season: Are you vaccinated? Do you mask appropriately? Will you wear a mask in my house? This kind of communication prioritizes safety and socializing.
Last week the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, as a “Variant of Concern.” This new variant appears to have originated in the southern part of Africa. However, there have been reported cases in Canada, Australia, Israel, the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Hong Kong, and now the United States (California and Minnesota).
President Biden has added some precautionary measures until we know more about the new variant and has restricted air travel from South Africa and seven other nations in the southern region of Africa.
The best protection against Omicron is getting fully vaccinated — and getting a booster shot as soon as you can. The CDC recommends people follow prevention strategies, such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings and congested outdoor settings, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others.
Thank you for attending events at the Coconino Center for the Arts over the past couple of years. Did you know CCA has a membership program? Memberships begin at just $4.17/month.
Benefits include member’s only pricing to Creative Flagstaff and Coconino Center for the Arts events, concerts, and workshops, invitation to special members-only events, and more. See a full list of membership levels and benefits here. Members help keep gallery admission free and underwrite many of our educational programs and events, keeping our programs accessible and affordable.
We recently began in-person events again. I hope you will consider joining us for an upcoming concert or Flagstaff Shakespeare Festival’s A Christmas Carol (vaccine/test required). Upon joining as a member, we will send a promo code to use for discounts for many of our upcoming events.
Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth (www.coconinokids.org) is working hard to better understand root causes of trauma and promoting tools for resiliency. We know that social connection is a key protective factor for both youth and families.
During Covid, we began a virtual youth open mic. The purpose is to provide a safe space for youth to express themselves through music, art, poetry, theater, dance, photography, or cultural sharing. The event takes place the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. The next event is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 5.
