The NAU Review — Cheers to the Class of ’24! Meet the grads, plan your commencement journey + leave a ‘congrats’ for the Lumberjack in your life!

Get ready to celebrate our incredible graduates at NAU’s Fall 2024 commencement! Over 2,400 outstanding new Lumberjacks are set to make their mark on the world—but first, they’ll mark this milestone with their loved ones and mentors in two unforgettable ceremonies at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome on Friday, Dec. 13. Whether you’re a student, family member or NAU employee, we’ve got all the info you need to make the most of this special day, from getting there to parking and navigating campus.
Read our commencement guide

Museum of Northern Arizona — Make Your Year-End Gift to MNA Today!

Why support MNA today?

Because in a world that’s increasingly filled with replicas, virtual experiences, and even artificially created images and videos, museums matter more than ever.

Because nothing can replicate the experience of this place. The bubbling fountain in the Golightly Courtyard surrounded by the life zones of the Colorado Plateau.
The anticipation of walking into a new exhibition, or the quiet communion of sitting with an artwork or object in one of MNA’s intimate galleries. The exhilaration of watching a traditional Indigenous dance performance – not on your phone, but live and in person.

Art Works and classes at the Sedona Arts Center

Intuitive Abstract Painting
with Casey Cheuvront
December 15: Sunday, 11am–4pm

This workshop focuses on intuitive, instinctive mark-making and painting, allowing student painters to work without preconceived plan or design, and permitting intuitive elements to occur naturally through the creative process.

We will begin with a brief review of basic art principles, a brief demo, and move into materials management and hands-on painting.

City of Flagstaff announces preliminary work to begin for the Cedar Avenue Crossing Project

FLAGSTAFF — Lane shifts are set to begin along Cedar Avenue. The City of Flagstaff and contractor, Eagle Mountain Construction, are beginning work on the Cedar Avenue Crossing Project. The project involves replacing the box culvert underneath Cedar Avenue, between Grandview Drive and Monte Vista Drive.

Fire Managers Planning for Prescribed Fire Operations on the North Rim this Week

GRAND CANYON, AZ.— Fire managers at Grand Canyon National Park are preparing to conduct a prescribed burn operation on the North Rim this week, which will begin on Tuesday, December 10. These operations will help reduce hazardous fuel loads, improve forest health, and restore natural fire regimes. The burns are expected to occur over several days and will coincide with prescribed burns planned on the North Kaibab Ranger District.

Burn Operations Schedule:

Prescribed Fire Planned on North Kaibab Ranger District

FREDONIA — Fire managers are expecting to conduct a prescribed fire operation on the North Kaibab Ranger District this week. The Telephone Hill Unit is located approximately 14 miles south of Jacob Lake adjacent to State Route 67, which has closed for the winter season. Fire Managers are focusing ignition around the Pleasant Valley Cabin area of the unit to reduce hazardous fuel loads around the cabin and State Route 67 corridor, the operation is expected to affect about 700 acres in that vicinity. Operations could begin as early as Tuesday, December 10, and are expected to be completed in 2-3 days, coinciding with prescribed fires planned on Grand Canyon National Park’s North Rim.

Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library — Happening at Your Library Week of 12/9/24

View this email in your browser December 9th, 2024 Connect with your community Adult & All-Ages Events Book Clubs Youth Events Friends of the Library Technology Help To request a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability, please call 928-213-2331…

Additional Water Restrictions Implemented at the South Rim

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.

Updated: Luminarias to light way for annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration on Dec. 12, 2024 in Flagstaff

FLAGSTAFF — Luminarias will once again light way for the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 12, 2024 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Flagstaff.

The Celebration begins on Wednesday, Dec. 11 when participants meet at 5 p.m. at San Francisco de Asis Church, 1600 E. Rt. 66 (Rt. 66 & Ponderosa Parkway), to ride a busy to the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the procession. Participants can also meet at the chapel at 224 S Kendrick St., Flagstaff.

The procession will begin from the chapel to San Francisco de Asis Church at 5:30 p.m.

The procession will take a brief stop at the Flagstaff Fire Dept. Station 2, 1701 E. Ponderosa Parkway, for coffee and other drinks and sweets, and to watch a dance by Los Matachines de San Francisco de Asis before proceeding up to the church for another performance at 7 p.m. by Los Matachines, an Apparition Reenactment and the Consecration to the Virgin Mary. (There will be no Mass on the 11th).

A Mass will be held at 6 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 12 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, where participants will be greeted by the glow of more than 100 luminaries surrounding the chapel placed by members of Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, who will also present the breakfast in the church’s basement following the Mass.

See more photos here.

United Way of Northern Arizona — The Economic Case for High-Quality Preschool Programs

United Way of Northern Arizona recently convened a meeting of more than 50 business and community leaders, elected officials, and early childhood education experts to discuss how strategic investment in early childhood programs can help support our local workforce and the economic health of our region.

Among the items discussed was the benefit of programs like Elevate PreK, the highly successful initiative that provides free, year-round, high-quality preschool education to 4-year-olds.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Dec. 2-6, 2024

Resume Workshop Series at Albright Training Center

Albright Training Center is hosting a series of resume workshops designed to help individuals apply for and compete for jobs with the National Park Service. Led by Paul Ganas and Dalirca Matos, Human Resource Specialists for NPS, these sessions will provide valuable insights into building strong resumes and navigating the federal hiring process.

Each workshop is tailored to a specific audience, so be sure to attend the session that best fits your needs:

Coconino County Elections Department Completes City of Page Recount with a 100% Match

COCONINO COUNTY — The Coconino County Elections Department has officially concluded the court-ordered recount process for two races in the City of Page. The Recount results confirmed, without discrepancy, the originally certified election results.

This outcome reaffirms the integrity and accuracy of the electoral process conducted in Coconino County.

Sedona Arts Center — Check Out Our Winter Art Workshops Lineup!

Intuitive Abstract Painting
with Casey Cheuvront
December 15: Sunday, 11am–4pm

This workshop focuses on intuitive, instinctive mark-making and painting, allowing student painters to work without preconceived plan or design, and permitting intuitive elements to occur naturally through the creative process.

We will begin with a brief review of basic art principles, a brief demo, and move into materials management and hands-on painting.

Coconino Coalition for Children & Youth — Join us for our next Prevention Council Zoom meeting on Dec. 5 to share your story

COCONINO COUNTY — Please join CCC&Y for its next Prevention Council Zoom meeting at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 5. Our meetings provide our coalition partners with the opportunity to share the latest news about their projects that support children, youth and their families in Northern Arizona.

The guest speaker for this week Jennifer Hernandez, project manager, College & Career Pathways — Northern Arizona for the Center for the Future of Arizona. She is presenting information on the center’s youth internship program.

The Council meets the first Thursday of the month.

Want to be a guest speaker at our next meeting? Send an email to CCC&Y Executive Director Virginia Watahomigie at coalition@coconinokids.org​​​​​​​ to be placed on the agenda or to receive a Zoom link to our next meeting.

Beulah/University Realignment Project – Roundabout to Open

FLAGSTAFF — The City of Flagstaff and Eagle Mountain Construction, along with the Arizona Department of Transportation, are set to open the new Beulah Boulevard extension and roundabout that accesses University Avenue, Yale Street and Beulah Boulevard on Friday, December 6. The opening of the roundabout will also include access to the new shared-use paths, crosswalks and bus-only lanes. The bus-only lanes along a small section of Beulah Boulevard are to be used exclusively by Mountain Line buses. Please note, the pedestrian crosswalk along Beulah Boulevard will remain closed for the time being while we wait for final components. Please utilize the crosswalks at the roundabout to cross Beulah Boulevard.

Flagstaff Festival of Science — Giving Tuesday — Campaign Extended: $1,000 left to raise!

We have $1,000 left to raise towards our goal! With supporters like you, we are confident that we can make this happen!

Will you make a contribution before it is too late and help us unlock our generous 1:1 match of $5,000?

In 2023, our In School Speaker Series, where we connect STEM professionals with classrooms, reached 6,000 students in N. Arizona! These presentations are so meaningful because students get to meet real scientists one on one. Connections like this can change the course of a young person’s life.

Flagstaff Regional Plan – Happening This Week!

The 60-day public review of the Flagstaff Regional Land Use Plan 2045 began October 20th and concludes December 19th. As we enter the final weeks of the review period, there are still multiple opportunities to learn about the draft plan, talk to staff, and provide feedback. Join City and County staff this week for anonline webinar and Friday office hours! 

December at the Museum of Northern Arizona

As the year winds down and the holiday season is in full swing, I invite you to find inspiration and calm at the Museum of Northern Arizona. A great place to start is in our new Poetry Maps exhibition, offering unique perspectives on the landscapes we hold dear.

This coming weekend, we’re hosting our annual Winter Market and Open House, a beloved tradition highlighting Indigenous artistry and craftsmanship. It’s a perfect opportunity to find thoughtful, one-of-a-kind gifts while supporting Indigenous talent. If you’re still searching for something truly unique, take advantage of our Museum Shop. It’s a delightful space where you’ll discover regional handcrafted treasures, surrounded by the quiet charm of the Museum.

Amid the holiday hustle, a visit to the Museum can bring moments of peace and reflection. Whether you’re exploring exhibits or just taking in the season’s beauty, we hope to see you here soon.

Warm wishes for a joyful December,
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona

Sedona Arts Center — Call to Artists

Development Program (SEAD)
March 8-9, 2025
APPLICATION DEADLINE: JANUARY 3, 2025
The Sedona Artist Entrepreneurial Development Program (SEAD) is a 2-day intensive opportunity that empowers visual artists to see their creative practice through an entrepreneurial lens. The SEAD curriculum explores tools to organize, plan, and sustain a creative career, with the goal of developing an individualized business plan to prepare each artist to take their creative endeavors to the next level.

Participants will learn about topics including strategic planning, creating your artist statement, resume and bio, marketing, accounting and more. Participants who successfully complete the program and create their strategic plan within a year will each be eligible to apply for a $500 grant for implementation. This program is conducted in partnership with USDA Rural Development.

The NAU Review — NAU partners with Univision to launch new scholarship, Improving Arizona’s transit systems, meet a future PA

Incoming first-year students for the 2025-26 school year can apply for the scholarship by submitting a 250-word essay describing the impact their college degree will have on both their personal trajectory and the Hispanic community at large.

Friends of Flagstaff’s Future — Today is Giving Tuesday!

Giving Tuesday is a global annual celebration of generosity that takes place each year.

By making a gift to Friends of Flagstaff’s Future today, you will help us to achieve a sustainable, just, and thriving Flagstaff.

Every contribution, no matter the size, has a tangible impact on our work. You can make a donation today at https://www.rfr.bz/f525c1d

We appreciate your support!

Michele James

Executive Director

United Way of Northern Arizona — Help Us Reach Our Campaign Goal on Giving Tuesday!

Welcome to the biggest single day of philanthropy on the calendar – #GivingTuesday. Can we count on you to help us reach our 2024 Campaign Goal during this international day of giving?

When you donate, you help LEAD THE WAY and support early childhood development programs and help our youth live up to their full potential. You also help fund programs that meet our community’s needs, quickly and efficiently, in times of crisis.

During our campaign kickoff, we announced a goal of $1.2 million. Today we are two-thirds of the way there, but still need $400,000 to reach our goal. Can you help us bridge the gap today?

2024 Festival of Science — It is Giving Tuesday! Your donation is matched!

Give now and amplify your support for the Festival of Science’s In School Speaker program! Getting kids excited about their world and beyond is what we care about. In 2023, the In School Speaker program reached more than 6,000 students in Flagstaff and the surrounding areas! We are steadily growing our impact year after year!

For a limited time, your donation will be matched 1:1, helping us achieve our goal of $10,000 faster.  

Tynkertopia — Please Support Us on Giving Tuesday

iving Tuesday, an International Day of Giving.
Please Donate HERE.

Two Tynkertopia parents,
Reba Allen and Renea Atiemo,
have pledged to match all gifts up to $3,111.

If you have been considering a gift to Tynkertopia, we hope
you will use this opportunity to double your impact and contribute to
Tynkertopia, Flagstaff’s STEAM education center!

Bilingual report — Northern Arizona Interfaith Council to present ‘Let’s Talk About the Current State of Immigration’ on Dec. 4

FLAGSTAFF — The Northern Arizona Interfaith Council will present “Let’s Talk About the Current State of Immigration” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 4 at Killip Elementary School, 2300 E. 6th Ave., Flagstaff.

Language interpretation available.

Hear from Flagstaff Police Chief Sean Connolly, incoming Coconino County Sheriff Bret Axlund and other public officials and legal experts.

Discover Flagstaff — Elf: The Musical, Theatrikos Playhouse, Thanksgiving Brunch, more events

Friday-Sunday, November 29- December 1
Elf: The Musical, Theatrikos Playhouse.

This candy cane twirling modern-day holiday classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner elf. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear. Fri-Sat 7:30 p.m, Sun 2 p.m.

Grand Canyon Weekly Wrap-up: Nov. 25-29, 2024

The 2024 Fall Astronomy Volunteers. This team put on dark skies programs 4-5 nights per week through the fall season, connecting tens of thousands of visitors to the stars. Thank you for your stellar service to your national parks and to Grand Canyon’s dark skies! Left to right: Bernie Sanden, Robyn Tan, Steve Dimse, Lian Tan, Tyler Cherry, Rader Lane, CC Cogswell, Joey Green.