Cover photo: The final section of new pipeline for the Transcanyon Waterline Project was installed this week just above the River Trail. (NPS Photo)
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
FLAGSTAFF — The Coalition will participate in the 2026 Annual Community STEM Celebration to be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 25, 2026 at the Fort Tuthill Fairgrounds.
THE EVENT, PRESENTED BY Flagstaff STEM City, IS FREE!!!
The Coalition’s display will feature the return of its stomp air rockets, a water bottle rocket display and plenty of informational handouts on the U.S. space program including the recent successful Artemus II journey around the moon.
This year’s STEM Celebration will include the return of the Lunar Legacy Invitational – bringing even more opportunities for hands-on STEM exploration.
The Lunar Legacy Invitational will welcome robotics teams from across the Southwest to celebrate Flagstaff’s rich history in space exploration. Teams will compete in space-themed challenges, earn awards, and explore exciting STEM exhibits—continuing the legacy of innovation in our community.
NAU’s 2026 class of changemakers
At a ceremony on Tuesday, NAU celebrated the 2026 President’s Prize winners, Gold Axe winners and Distinguished Seniors who made enormous positive change as Lumberjacks. “Their impact reaches far beyond campus—into neighborhoods, organizations and communities that are better because of them,” said President José Luis Cruz Rivera. Meet the outstanding seniors.
The Greater Flagstaff Region is hosting a public meeting on April 23 from 5:00-8:00 p, at the Flagstaff Aquaplex for the community to learn about the current process to update the Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
Attendees will be able to visit with staff from local fire departments, talk with subject matter experts, and provide comments to inform the CWPP’s development, as well as learn about wildfire risk reduction recommendations for the forest and for homes.
Our 29th Annual Adult Mountain Spelling Bee Bash was a celebration of literacy and community, and your support helped make this event a huge success! If you joined us, thank you to bringing your energy and making the night so much fun. If you didn’t make it this year, follow this link to watch the video with pictures from the event.We hope to see you there next year!
Beyond this event, your generosity allows us to support adults, families and students throughout the year. The letter below shares one parent’s experience and the powerful difference your support can make in a child’s life.
The Viola Awards are this Saturday, April 25, 2026!
Grab your tickets and get ready to rally with friends, celebrate our incredible arts community, and dance the night away like it’s the ultimate homecoming game.
We can’t wait to see you there, let’s bring the spirit and celebrate together!
There’s a moment that happens just before the lights go down, when the room settles, conversations fade, and a kind of quiet anticipation takes over. Lately, I’ve been sitting in that moment a little longer, taking it in.
Because this year, it feels different.
We opened our season with Clue, and from the very first performance, there was an electricity in the room, laughter that felt shared, immediate, and needed. Then came The Marvelous Wonderettes, and I found myself watching not just the stage, but the audience. People swaying in their seats. Smiling at each other. Singing under their breath. For a couple of hours, nothing else seemed to matter.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff has been informed that Arizona Public Service (APS) may initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) in parts of the Flagstaff area tomorrow, Wednesday, April 22 as early as 9 a.m. Some areas on the east side of Flagstaff may lose power during this PSPS event. Customers who are impacted have been directly notified by APS. If your home is impacted, you should begin preparing for 12-24 hours without power.
To prepare for a PSPS:
“(April 14) the Week of the Young Child proclamation was read at the Flagstaff City Council meeting, recognizing the importance of the early years and their impact on lifelong success,” said Pearl Santillan of First Things First.
“Our PPO Shawn Soumilas, shared powerful remarks highlighting that nearly 4,000 young children in Flagstaff are in their most critical years of development and how access to affordable, reliable child care is directly tied to workforce stability, education, and the overall strength of our community.
“I had the opportunity to briefly close by grounding the moment in the people behind this work recognizing the providers, families, and partners who show up every day to support young children across our region.
“We were proud to stand alongside our Regional Partnership Council members, staff, community partners, and Rebecca Cirzan’s son, Hayden, who even joined me at the podium, a sweet reminder of who this work is ultimately for. Grateful to be part of this work and this community.”
FLAGSTAFF — What brings you joy? Whether it’s cozying up with a new story, learning a new skill, gathering with community or something else, you can find your joy at the Flagstaff City – Coconino County Public Library.
National Library Week, April 19–25, 2026, is a time to celebrate the many ways libraries bring people together, spark imagination, and support lifelong learning. From books and digital resources to job assistance and creative programming, libraries are essential to thriving communities.
Members of the public are invited to attend a series of meetings of the Public Safety Citizen Committee (see schedule below). This Committee is tasked with advising the Mayor and Council on potential ballot measures for the November 2026 election, including funding for Fire, Police, Aircraft Rescue, Wildland Firefighting, and Emergency Management.
The Public Safety Citizen Committee started meeting late last year. F3 is represented on the Committee by Michele James, Executive Director. The Committee has four meetings remaining before its scheduled to submit a recommendation to City Council. The Committee is exploring a potential sales tax increase and a city bond to provide a yet-to-be-determined amount of needed funding that cannot be covered by the City’s General Fund.
FLAGSTAFF — Dora Rodríguez, who nearly perished while fleeing El Salvador and crossing the AZ border in 1980 will give to readings of her memoir, A Daughter of Unforgiving Terrain, . Dora’s survival is credited with helping to spark the Sanctuary Movement. She is a committed humanitarian and an incredibly inspiring speaker.
On Thursday April 23 you have two different opportunities to hear Dora read/present:
@ 4 pm in Liberal Arts 120 at NAU
@ 6 pm in the Coconino Center for the Arts, 2300 N Fort Valley Rd
Please join United Way of Northern Arizona on Thursday, April 30th as we celebrate a year of impact and achievement and the many things we have done – together – to ensure that all can thrive in Coconino, Navajo, and Apache counties.
Our community breakfast will feature a panel discussion highlighting UWNA’s partnership with organizations that serve youth, including representatives from Homeless Youth Connection, Stuck Community Acupuncture, Boys and Girls Club, and the Flagstaff Unified School District.
We’ll also talk about the success of this year’s Annual Campaign and hold our annual meeting, including the installation of Kyla Garrison of Mission Driven Finance as the Chair of the UWNA Board of Directors.
Continued Water Conservation Remains Critical for South Rim Community
As announced in this morning’s news release, the park will begin gradually easing water conservation measures on the South Rim starting Friday, April 17 at 12 p.m., following progress in repairing the South Rim water pipeline and restoring pumping capacity. While this marks an important step forward, the park continues to operate on a constrained, aging, and vulnerable water system. Additional pipeline breaks remain possible, and water use must remain careful and intentional.
2026 OIE Annual Summit
September 8-10, 2026
Registration is now open!
Interested in presenting? Call for session proposals are now open! We hope to see you there! Visit website to learn more.
Vendor and Exhibitor applications closed now.
Support Youth Arts Education & New Interactive Space Hello, After a recent field trip to Coconino Center for the Arts, students in a high school English class for nonnative speakers reflected that it was the best experience of the school…
— Grand Canyon National Park, in northern Arizona, encompasses 278 miles (447 km) of the Colorado River and adjacent uplands. Located on the ancestral homeland of 11 Associated Tribes, Grand Canyon is one of the most spectacular examples of erosion anywhere in the world—unmatched in the incomparable vistas it offers visitors on the rim. Grand Canyon National Park is a World Heritage Site. The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage.
Also see:
• Arizona Daily Sun (subscription) — Gallery: Northern Arizona University students protest outside ICE office in Flagstaff
FLAGSTAFF — More than 100 Northern Arizona University students took part in a march and protest from the campus to the newly-leased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office on Plaza Way, just to the east of Home Depot.
The students, some of whom identified themselves as members of the new NAU Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) organization, carried a variety of protest signs, shouted slogans and held a rally directly across the street from the new ICE office, who officials said may serve as a center for their Northern Arizona operation.
As the students protested, nearly a dozen police vehicles could be seen scattered on both sides of the street to monitor the situation. Most of the vehicles appeared to be Flagstaff Police Dept. units. More unidentified law enforcement units could also be seen directly behind the building at 1585 S. Plaza Way.
What started as a compost project using human stool has turned into an experiment that could open the door for colonizing another planet. Researchers at NAU are simulating the barren soils of Mars and the Moon to turn human waste into resources that will help grow food in space.
Get ready for a hilarious, heartbreaking, and “sort of” Chekhovian experience as Theatrikos presents Life Sucks., opening May 21. Directed by John Forsythe, this bold adaptation of Uncle Vanya tackles life’s biggest questions with modern wit and a healthy dose of fourth-wall-breaking honesty.
We are thrilled to announce an incredible ensemble of local talent bringing this “beautiful mess” to life:
Joel Austin
Andrew Dzeguze
América Fregozo
Leslie S. Jones
Nick Rabe
Vicki Thompson
Audrey Young
By the Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth
FLAGSTAFF — Families braved a last-minute rainstorm and breezy conditions outside to return to Killip Elementary School for the annual “Full STEAM Ahead!” Flagstaff Early Childhood Fair on Saturday, April 11, 2026 in Flagstaff.
Nearly two dozen family-supportive organizations staffed a variety of interactive activity tables related to S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math). The event also provided a variety of resources for parents and providers, dental information and snacks.
We need your help in preventing wildfire severity! The 2026 Firewise Residential Cleanup will occur April 18-26, 2026.
Please pile all pine needles and woody debris along your residential road in an area accessible to vehicles for the crew to pick up. Park staff will begin hauling debris the week of April 27.
Tickets are on sale for the Viola Awards at the Orpheum Theater on April 25, 2026!
This year’s Viola Awards are bringing all the homecoming vibes with our theme:
Homecoming: Look How Far We’ve Come.
Join us for a night of celebration, reflection, and school-spirit–level pride as we honor the individuals and organizations who have helped shape our community and move it forward. Think: a reunion with purpose, a celebration of growth, and a reminder of just how far we’ve come—together.
Last week, 11 graduate students stood in front of an audience and shared their research. That’s par for the course for any researcher. What was different this time? They had only three minutes and one slide to sum up months, or even years, of research. See what students have worked on during their careers at NAU and which students walked away with a cash prize.
Art Classes and Workshops
at Sedona Arts Center
A perfect time to step into something new.
At Sedona Arts Center, creativity is meant to be experienced. Our upcoming classes and workshops — from oil painting and wet concrete carving, to no solder chain making, alternative pottery finishing and iPhoneography — our classes are designed to be welcoming, hands-on, and inspiring.
Whether you’re exploring something new or building on existing skills, you’ll learn from working artists in a supportive environment that values curiosity, craft, and creative joy — all in the heart of Sedona.
FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff Sustainability Office invites community members to join three signature events this spring: the Earth Day Celebration on April 18, Drop Off Day on April 25, and the Fix-It Clinic on May 2.
Earth Day Celebration
The annual Earth Day Celebration will be on Saturday, April 18 at Bushmaster Park from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Listen to live music, attend a free workshop, eat food from a local food truck, and discover dozens of sustainable-minded organizations and activities.
