Celebrate the season at Sedona Arts Center’s Holiday Artist Market, a festive weekend showcasing over 40 artists and makers from Sedona and across Arizona. Discover handmade gifts, fine art, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, ornaments, paintings, and more — all curated for meaningful holiday giving.
December 11th: Stop the Mines! A Conversation with Berta Benally 6pm, Sihasin concert 7:30pm.
December 20th: Shifting Topographies: Extracting the Landscape closing reception & discussion with Tonizhoniani, 6-7pm.
Join us Thursday, Dec. 11th to celebrate the season and the achievements of 2025 at our Holiday Mixer & Open House!
Enjoy coffee and delicious cinnamon rolls from the Kickstand Kafe, plus great conversation with fellow economic development stakeholders in our office in Historic Downtown Flagstaff.
We’d love to see you there! Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 5th.
Friday, November 7, 7:30 pm
Each generation, perhaps once a decade, bluegrass experiences a band or an artist that redefines and recenters the genre itself. Della Mae is one such band.
The GRAMMY-nominated string band was founded in 2010 and over the next decade and a half they’ve demonstrated to the roots music world, once and for all, that a band of all women is not, nor has ever been, a mere novelty. They remain at the forefront of the explosion of women instrumentalists and all-women acts in roots music and their impact is striking and measurable – not just in North America, but around the globe.
View this email in your browser Spanish Conversation Group – December 15th You’re invited to Spanish Conversation Group with Culture Connection AZ Historic Ice House 201 E Birch Ave, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 Date & Time: Monday, December 15, 2025 |…
The Flagstaff premiere of Granite Rapids Moon will be held at Theatrikos in Flagstaff on Wednesday, December 17 at 7:00 pm. And it will be a fundraiser for F3!
This is the first narrative feature film ever to shoot the majority of its footage inside the Grand Canyon, Granite Rapids Moon was made with permission and oversight from the National Park Service, using only the equipment that cast and crew could carry on their backs through 82 miles of hiking.
SHIFTING TOPOGRAPHIES: Extracting the Landscape features projects by Carol Hartman (Red Lodge, MT), Jeff Schmuki (Stateboro, GA), and Klee Benally in memoriam (Diné, Black Mesa, Navajo Nation; Flagstaff, AZ). In a rapidly changing climate, we are witness to and complicit in irreversible scarring of the land. There are eight National Parks and Monuments within a 2-hour drive of Flagstaff that face potential threats to their preservation, due to the proposed federal reopening of protected sacred lands to mining. This timely and relevant exhibition theme—extraction—takes on a markedly different approach depending on the geographical and cultural perspectives of the represented artists.
Dear Friends and Supporters,
As we reflect on 2024, we are filled with gratitude for the incredible milestones Culture Connection AZ has reached this year. Thanks to your unwavering support, we’ve been able to connect our community, celebrate local culture, and amplify voices that have long been overlooked. Our events this year have brought together hundreds of attendees, and we are excited to share with you some of the highlights and successes from the past year.
As 2024 comes to a close, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your support of United Way of Northern Arizona (UWNA). Your generosity reminds us that one person can make a difference – and together, we can drive lasting change in our region.
This year, thanks to donors like you, we’ve celebrated major milestones: tuition-free education for KinderCamp™ graduates at Coconino Community College and Northern Arizona University, a significant boost in children enrolled in the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and efforts to expand Elevate PreK to serve more working families.
Your contributions have also supported nearly 40 other programs throughout northern Arizona, fueling hope and opportunity for thousands.
This recognition celebrates her dedication to serving our community. Sylvia’s humble spirit and remarkable contributions have touched many lives, and we’re so proud to see her hard work acknowledged in this way.
Join us in celebrating Sylvia and her inspiring achievements!
Hello,
As we move into 2025 this week, the Board and investors of the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona extend our warmest wishes for a Happy New Year.
Our region’s economy is ever-evolving, and we’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Together, we will continue to strengthen key business sectors, address challenges facing our communities, and foster a thriving environment for both industries and individuals in northern Arizona.
Thank you for being part of this journey. We look forward to collaborating with you in the year ahead.
Wishing you a successful and fulfilling 2025.
GRAND CANYON, AZ. — Grand Canyon National Park is seeking the public’s input on a proposed fee increase for non-commercial river trips. The proposed change would begin March 1, 2025.
The existing $25 lottery application cost fee would remain the same and the flat rate per-person cost would increase from $90 to $310 for Lees Ferry to Diamond Creek and $0 to $55 for Diamond Creek to Pearce Ferry.
Interested parties can submit feedback online at https://parkplanning.nps.gov/GRCA_River_Trip_Cost_Increase through January 30, 2025. Written comments may also be sent to the following address by January 30, 2025:
Tuesday, December 31
Noon Year’s Eve, Heritage Square.
Ring in the New Year with a FREE, family-friendly daytime celebration! 10 a.m.
Learn More
Organizers plan a follow-up forum in early 2025.
Editor’s note — The first in a series of articles on local immigration rights and information sharing efforts in Coconino County. We encourage community members to provide information on upcoming events, issues and programs by sending an email to fmoraga@amigosnaz.com
By AmigosNAZ.com
While local law enforcement officials stated they do not work for the incoming presidential administration’s immigration program, community members and local immigration officials called for more local law enforcement information on how to protect themselves from potential federal immigration sweeps.
In what promises to be the first of a number immigration information programs in reaction to the potential new federal immigration policies starting on Jan. 20, 2025, members of the Flagstaff community gathered at Killip Elementary School for the “Let’s Talk About the Current State of Immigration” forum on Dec. 3, 2024.
The event, presented by the Northern Arizona Interfaith Council (NAIC), drew more than 150 individuals to the school’s gymnasium, who listened to live presentations by Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly, incoming Coconino County Sheriff Bret Axlund, Flagstaff Mayor Becky Daggett, staff from the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix, plus a virtual presentation from the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix.
COCONINO COUNTY — After conclusion of regular business at the final meeting of the Coconino County Board of Supervisors (Board), the Board took time to recognize, thank, and congratulate six outstanding public servants …
… who will be retiring at the end of 2024, and who spent much of their professional careers in Coconino County.
Sheriff Jim Driscoll leaves Coconino County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) after 50 years, beginning as a Deputy on patrol in 1974, and serving as our Sheriff since 2017. The CCSO will now be led by Chief Deputy Bret Axlund, elected in November.
Biden makes critical last-minute change to help combat USCIS backlogs. More options available. Immigrant farmworkers make our holiday meals possible
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President Biden has just over one month left in office. He can still take decisive action to protect people at risk of indiscriminate immigration enforcement.
Among other priorities, the Council encourages the administration to protect DACA recipients; extend and redesignate Temporary Protected Status for certain countries; and rescind remaining Trump-era immigration regulations.
Read more: Urgent Last Requests for the Biden Administration
Christmas Twilight Tour, Riordan Mansion.
These special guided evening tours will focus on the history behind Christmas traditions and guests will have the special treat of seeing the Mansion decorated for the Holidays. 5 p.m.
FLAGSTAFF — City of Flagstaff Councilmember Khara House has been named among the inaugural recipients of the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Centennial Under 40 Impact Award. The award recognizes and celebrates the achievements of elected officials under the age of 40 from NLC member cities, towns and villages.
The winners were chosen from a competitive pool of nominees and are recognized for their outstanding contributions to public service, governance, and community development. These dynamic leaders are shaping the future of local governance, demonstrating excellence through impactful initiatives, and fostering positive change in their communities.
COCONINO COUNTY — Coconino County Superintendent of Schools Cheryl Mango-Paget is seeking applicants for appointments to four School District governing board positions that will expire December 31, 2028.
The following Governing Boards are now accepting applications for one seat each: Grand Canyon Unified School District; Fredonia-Moccasin Unified School District; NATIVE (Tuba City); and Tuba City Unified School District.
FLAGSTAFF — Flagstaff City Hall will be closed to the public on the afternoon of Tuesday, Dec. 24, all day Wednesday, Dec. 25 and all-day Wednesday, Jan. 1 for the Christmas and New Year holidays. Closures and reopening schedules for other City facilities and services are listed below.
Mini Masterpieces: Palette Knife and Cold Wax Basics
with Casey Cheuvront
January 4, 2025: Saturday, 11am–4pm
Good things come in small packages! Add some dimension to your painting with cold wax and learn the basics of palette knife painting in this one-day workshop. All materials provided. Leave with your own mini masterpiece!
Gallery depth mini panel, palette knife, paint, and cold wax included in the materials fee (paid to the instructor)
Reserve early; limited seating – All levels welcome!
See you in 2025! Wishing you all a joyful holiday season. This newsletter will return on Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025.
The Hope Receiving Center, developed by the Coconino County Juvenile Court, with participation from 12 community partners, was awarded a Summit Award in the Court Administration & Management category at the AACo Annual Conference last week. The project drew praise for its foresight in creating a space where at-risk youth as well as their parents and guardians can access services including formal deflection, truancy response, therapy dogs, and educational programming all designed to keep youth in school and stem the tide of juveniles entering the justice system.
The Stage Buddies program, now in its tenth year, brings the classic Hunchback of Notre Dame to the Theatrikos stage for six performances in February. In this abilities-inclusive program, actors age 15-18 are paired to share a role in the play.
“Coconino County Elections Department remains committed to continuous improvement, transparency, and collaboration in election administration.” said, Eslir Musta, Coconino Elections Director and Assistant County Manager, “This award affirms our county board of supervisors’ vision for free, fair, and accessible elections. We are glad to share our experience advancing the professionalism of the elections field.”
COCONINO COUNTY — As 2024 comes to a close, the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth would like to recognize a very busy but productive year for the organization.
Virtual System Change Symposium
The Coalition presented its first “System Change Symposium”virtual presentation on Oct. 22, 23 that benefitted the more than 200 attendees in Northern Arizona and statewide. In addition, the individual workshops reported a total recorded audience of 69 views to date. Participants were impressed with the diversity and the quality of the information provided.
“I am thinking currently about how I can use a systems change lens to address unemployment and poverty in the organization that I work for, instead of just providing direct career development service to my clients,” said Dylan Wilder of TransIntimate Online Courses.
Give the gift of membership this holiday season!
Looking for a last-minute holiday gift? Consider giving the gift of membership to the Museum of Northern Arizona! By giving the gift of membership you are providing essential support for our exhibitions and educational programs. The recipient of your gift membership will become part of a community that is inspiring a sense of love and responsibility for the beauty, diversity, and cultural heritage of the Colorado Plateau. Click here to learn more about gift membership.
SEDONA — The Coconino National Forest and partners will discontinue the sale of the Grand Annual Pass on Dec. 31, 2024, to simplify pass requirements across the forest, but existing Grand Annual Passes sold through the end of 2024 will be honored at all fee sites through 2025.
ExplorUS, in coordination with the Coconino National Forest, is excited to announce the launch of the new annual Sedona Pass. The annual pass will be sold for $50 starting in January 2025, and will provide visitor access for one vehicle and up to five people per pass to the following day-use sites on the Coconino National Forest.
